Sunday, the Ichibangai Shopping District just outside Tracen Academy.
The comprehensive shopping street, weaving together traditional Japanese and modern elements, was decked out with hot sale banners and balloons everywhere.
Crowds flowed endlessly, and shopkeepers stood at their entrances to beckon customers.
Perhaps because it was Sunday, it was even livelier than usual.
Kaito, dressed in a casual denim jacket, stood at the entrance of the shopping district waiting for Rice Shower.
Before long, a familiar, cute voice rang out.
“S-sorry for keeping you waiting!” “Not at all, I just got here myself.” Kaito smiled, looking at Rice Shower as she hurried over to him in a fluster.
She was wearing a dress.
The beige linen knit bodice was soft and snug, with knotted cords on both sleeves and deep brown pleated accents at the hem.
The overall gentle style, paired with Rice Shower’s petite frame, made it hard not to feel an urge to protect her.
Furthermore, Rice Shower had tied a white ribbon bow on her right ear today, adding even more charm to her already adorable face.
“Good morning, Rice Shower.” “Good morning, Onii-san!” Rice Shower greeted him with a cheeky grin, still carrying her toolkit for preventing unlucky incidents.
“You always carry this bag wherever you go, don’t you, Rice Shower?” “Because Rice Shower always has bad luck, you see.” Rice Shower scratched her cheek bashfully.
Although she still attributed misfortune to herself, she at least hadn’t outright called herself an unlucky child recently, which was progress of a sort.
Thinking about this, Kaito felt his confidence building efforts hadn’t been in vain.
A confident Rice Shower is the best!
“Alright, let’s head into the shopping district.” “Okay!” …
Fifteen minutes later, Kaito and Rice Shower were lost in the shopping district.
“How is this possible?” Kaito couldn’t believe it.
They were supposed to be looking for a highly rated Uma Musume sporting goods store here, but the moment they stepped in, they were swept away by the crowd, darted through a few alleys, and completely lost their bearings.
Even with a good excuse, getting lost in an area with such clear roads and signs made Kaito feel pretty embarrassed.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!
It’s all because Rice Shower is useless, because Rice Shower is an unlucky child!…” Rice Shower’s eyes reddened, thinking her bad luck had caused them to get lost, which made Kaito grit his teeth and stomp the ground in frustration.
Shopping district, you jerk, can’t you read the room?
Did you really have to make us get lost right now!
The shopping district answered with silence.
Just as Kaito was about to ask someone for directions, he suddenly heard a shout.
“Someone’s stealing things!” Kaito looked over and saw a biker gang member riding a motorcycle at breakneck speed through the crowded shopping street, with two bags hanging from the handlebars.
Seeing this, pedestrians hastily cleared the way, watching the man speed off.
Right behind him, an Uma Musume was sprinting in pursuit, her chest heaving with her run.
But even for an Uma Musume, it was hard to keep up with a motorcycle’s speed, and the girl was about to lose him.
The gathered pedestrians shouted.
“Don’t push yourself, little girl!
You can’t catch him!” “Call the police!” “Public safety has been really bad lately.
To think a biker gang would rob people so brazenly…” Judging by everyone’s expressions, no one thought she could catch the thief.
Just then, Rice Shower suddenly dashed out from beside Kaito.
“Rice Shower!” Kaito shouted, but she had already shot forward like an arrow from a bow, pleading as she chased him.
“P-please stop running!” “No way!
Catch me first if you can!” The biker gang member laughed loudly, continuing to accelerate down the road.
Because Uma Musume existed in this world, he knew better than anyone that they had their limits.
There was no way a mere Uma Musume could catch a motorcycle!
But as his speed increased, the sound of pursuing footsteps behind him didn’t fade at all; instead, they grew closer!
“What the hell?!” The biker gang member looked back in disbelief, only to find Rice Shower right on his tail!
“No way?” “That girl is fast!” “And she’s getting faster!” Amidst the gasps of the onlookers, Rice Shower gradually closed the distance to the motorcycle, until she was running right alongside it!
The initial acceleration honed by Interval Training, the cruising posture provided by the Positioning Pace Run, and the perseverance tempered by uphill training.
Rice Shower had inadvertently fused a week’s worth of experience together and caught up to the speeding motorcycle!
“Please stop running!” She grabbed the back seat of the motorcycle and literally lifted the entire bike and rider into the air, no matter how hard the biker twisted the throttle.
This has to be a nightmare.
Those words were practically written on the biker’s face.
A few minutes later, patrol officers hurried to the scene and took the biker and his bike away, leaving him slumped on the ground questioning his existence.
At the same time, the police bowed respectfully to Rice Shower.
“Thank you very much, student from Tracen.
May I ask your name?” “I-I’m Rice Shower.” “Rice Shower-san, you ran incredibly fast just now.
You must be very talented among Uma Musume your age.” “N-no, not at all…” Rice Shower reverted to her initial shyness, showing none of the recklessness she had displayed earlier.
But hearing them praise her speed still made her happy; it meant she was truly making progress.
“We truly appreciate your help.
We’ll be writing a letter of thanks to Tracen Academy!” The police officer chuckled, then turned to Kaito, who had finally caught up.
“You must be Rice Shower-san’s Trainer.
Thank you for raising such an outstanding girl!” Kaito really wanted to catch his breath, but his sense of duty as a Trainer kept him composed as he proudly declared.
“It’s because Rice Shower herself is a wonderful girl.
Please give her your support!” “Waaah…” The surrounding crowd erupted in cheers.
“Thank you, Rice Shower-san!” “Come to my shop and I’ll give you a discount!” “I’ll come cheer for you at your next race!
Thanks for helping out our shopping district!” Feeling the gratitude and encouragement from the shopkeepers and tourists, Rice Shower looked around in a bit of a daze until she saw Kaito’s smile and finally realized it.
Rice Shower had fans?
Seeing this, the police officer smiled with relief.
“Well then, please enjoy the hospitality of Ichibangai Shopping District to your heart’s content!” As the crowd gradually dispersed, Rice Shower lowered her head and turned to Kaito, pressing her fingertips together in apology.
“I’m sorry, Trainer-san.
Rice Shower shouldn’t have been so reckless, I just acted on instinct at the time…” She was worried Kaito would scold her.
After all, she hadn’t been wearing running shoes, and she could have been hurt by the biker.
Any accident would have rendered all of Kaito’s efforts futile.
Onii-san will probably give me a strict warning, she thought.
Just then, she suddenly felt a hand pat her head.
She looked up to meet Kaito’s eyes, seeing his helpless but fond smile.
“That just shows Rice Shower is a good girl.” Rice Shower’s small lips parted in surprise.
“Onii-san isn’t going to warn me not to do something so dangerous?” “Hmm…
well, if it happens next time, just tell me in advance.
It won’t be dangerous if Onii-san does it together with Rice Shower.” “…Okay!” Both of them broke into happy smiles at the same time.
Just then, an Uma Musume stepped forward.
Kaito glanced at her, and his eyes nearly got stuck on her chest.
The seemingly well-behaved Uma Musume bowed deeply.
“T-thank you both for helping recover the merchandise.
I’m Belno Light, a clerk at the Uma Musume sporting goods store in the shopping district.
If there’s anything I can do to repay you, please don’t hold back, just say it!” Belno Light?
Such a familiar name.
Kaito blinked, then took a proper look at her face for the first time and suddenly remembered.
Wasn’t this Oguri Cap’s good best friend?!