After returning to school and finishing her training, Myriad Dreams dragged her somewhat exhausted body slowly along the path back to the dormitory, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
The early spring breeze still carried a hint of chill, yet it was much gentler than the biting winds of winter.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past, and a familiar small hat with a blue ribbon came rolling to a stop right at her feet.
"Ah! My hat!" A panicked and timid voice called out from the top of the nearby stairs.
Myriad Dreams bent down to pick up the hat and looked up to see Rice Shower scurrying down the steps in a flurry, her face masked with anxiety and apology.
"I-I'm so sorry! Myriad Dreams-san! I've caused you trouble again!"
Rice Shower ran up to her and bowed repeatedly, her voice so faint it was nearly scattered by the wind.
"It's fine, it's fine. It was just picking up a hat, no trouble at all." Myriad Dreams smiled and handed the hat back, thinking that the girl was simply far too nervous.
Rice Shower took the hat back cautiously, as if holding a fragile treasure, a grateful blush rising to her cheeks.
She seemed to want to say something more, but as she turned to leave, her foot accidentally caught the edge of a step!
"Kyaa—!"
With a short cry of surprise, Rice Shower instantly lost her balance.
She was about to tumble down the last few steps, then...
"Careful!"
Myriad Dreams was quick and sharp.
Almost instinctively, she lunged forward with open arms and firmly caught the falling Rice Shower in her embrace.
A faint, fresh scent, almost like daisies, wafted into her nose. The body in her arms was light and trembling slightly.
"I'm s-sorry! I'm sorry! Myriad Dreams-san!"
Still shaken, Rice Shower realized she was being held entirely in Myriad Dreams' arms. Her face turned bright red.
She struggled to stand properly, her voice thick with self-reproach and a hint of tears.
"It's all because Rice is so clumsy! I've caused you such a huge mess again! I am so, so sorry!"
She apologized incessantly, as if she had committed some grave sin.
Myriad Dreams steadied her gently, and only let go once she was sure the girl was standing firm.
She patted Rice's shoulder with a helpless yet kind hand, soothing her in a relaxed tone: "It's really okay, Rice. You don't need to keep apologizing."
"We're classmates, it's natural to help each other out. I'm just glad you didn't fall."
Her smile was lazy as ever, yet warm enough to suffice.
Rice Shower looked up at Myriad Dreams' open, friendly smile.
Her eyes grew slightly hot, and the terror and guilt in her heart were finally dispelled by this warm current.
She said in a small, solemn voice: "Th-Thank you very much, Myriad Dreams-san..."
The early spring afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled spots of light.
Looking at the still-somewhat-awkward Rice Shower, Myriad Dreams realized it had indeed been a while since they'd had a proper chat.
The victory at the Fuyo Stakes didn't seem to have entirely cleared the gloom from the girl's heart.
"Rice, how have you been lately? Are you adapting to the new training?"
Myriad Dreams didn't leave immediately. Instead, she leaned against the nearby railing and asked casually, trying to lighten the mood.
Rice Shower held her recovered hat tightly with both hands, like an amulet. Hearing the question, she answered in a small voice.
"I-I'm doing okay... the Trainer has made a new plan for me, it's just... sometimes I still feel like I can't quite keep up with everyone..."
Her voice grew smaller as she spoke, and her head lowered.
"Everyone has their own rhythm," Myriad Dreams said, her voice slightly muffled as she chewed her gum, yet carrying a reassuring certainty.
"Look, just like in the Fuyo Stakes— wasn't your final sprint at the end super amazing? Even I was startled."
At the mention of that victory, Rice Shower's eyes lit up slightly, like stars being ignited.
She stole a glance at Myriad Dreams before quickly looking back down, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift into a tiny, joyful arc.
"Th-That was because... Myriad Dreams-san was cheering for me... Rice didn't want to let your expectations down..."
"So you see, you clearly can do it."
Myriad Dreams smiled and reached out to gently ruffle Rice Shower's hair, the soft strands felt good to the touch.
"You need to have a bit more confidence in yourself. After all, Rice is a strong Uma Musume capable of winning G1 races."
The sudden intimate contact made Rice Shower's body stiffen slightly, her cheeks instantly staining a deep crimson like a ripe strawberry.
But this time, she didn't dodge away like a startled fawn.
Instead, she let that warm hand linger for a moment as a warm current of being recognized and encouraged welled up in her heart.
'Myriad Dreams-san's hand... is so warm... she said Rice is... strong...'
"Mm..."
Rice Shower responded in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. Gathering her courage, she lifted her head slightly.
"Rice... will keep working hard! In the next race... I-I also hope to show Myriad Dreams-san a better version of Rice!"
"Then I'll be looking forward to it."
Myriad Dreams withdrew her hand, her smile radiant.
"I'll definitely go cheer for you again when the time comes. If you win, let's go celebrate together again, just like last time?"
"R-Really? Is that okay?" Rice Shower's eyes brightened completely, filled with the light of anticipation.
"Of course. It's a promise." Myriad Dreams held out her pinky.
Rice Shower was stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant.
Feeling shy but also solemn, she extended her own pinky and gently hooked it with the other's.
'A promise... a promise with Myriad Dreams-san... Rice will definitely win!'
"Pinky swear, whoever breaks it has to swallow a thousand needles!" Myriad Dreams shook their hooked fingers, completing this childish yet incredibly sincere ritual.
The sunlight was just right, and the breeze was mild.
Seeing the smile that finally bloomed on Rice Shower's face, one filled with hope and determination, no longer clouded by her previous timidity and gloom, Myriad Dreams felt her own mood brighten.
This feeling of accompanying someone and witnessing their growth made her feel as though the exhaustion after training had mostly dissipated.