From the moment Chiya first met Rice Shower, he understood something. Inside that small, fragile-looking body was a power that could not be ignored. If guided properly, it would become something remarkable. The problem was her mindset. She constantly compared herself to others and believed she was at the bottom. Once that kind of thinking took root, it was far harder to change than any physical weakness.
Still, Chiya never gave up. Whenever she faltered, he reminded her again and again that she was special. Choosing to step onto such a competitive stage, chasing even the smallest dream, that alone was something worthy of respect.
"Go, Rice Shower!"
Chiya called out. As if she heard him, Rice Shower's ears perked up.
"Onii-sama… Onii-sama is cheering for me…"
Her pace quickened. She broke out of the pack and surged ahead, taking the lead. In the end, she crossed the finish line half a length ahead. A natural result. There were no top-tier rivals like Mejiro McQueen in this group, and none of the others seemed intent on fighting for first. Once she passed them, they simply followed.
To them, she was trying too hard. There was no reward for winning, no ranking, no recognition. But Chiya thought differently. If you were an Uma Musume, aiming for first should be natural.
Rice Shower ran straight toward him.
"Onii-sama… Rice Shower won."
"Yeah. I knew you could."
He gently patted her head. No matter how small the victory, he always acknowledged her effort. Success did not come from criticism, but from recognition. Little by little, he would help her move past her self-doubt.
"…And, um… Onii-sama…"
She fidgeted.
"Can I come to your room tonight?"
Chiya blinked.
"…Tonight?"
His thoughts immediately went in the wrong direction. He quickly shook his head. Calm down. Don't overthink it. Rice Shower wasn't like that.
"…Alright," he said. "I'll be waiting."
Her face brightened.
"Rice Shower will make Onii-sama feel better!"
"…Huh?"
He watched her run off, unsure what to make of that.
After her, Meisho Doto stepped up. Thanks to Chiya's constant supervision, she finished without incident, though there were a few shaky moments where she nearly lost balance on the turns. Chiya almost panicked, but she managed to recover.
Then came Matikanefukukitaru. She stood at the starting line, rubbing her hands together and muttering under her breath.
At this point, maybe stop praying and focus on the race…
"Heh… looks like I'm getting a big win tonight."
She dashed forward, but by the second turn her stamina dropped sharply. She finished fifth.
Yeah… we're fixing that tomorrow.
After his team finished, Chiya prepared to leave.
"Nice running form.""Her acceleration timing was perfect too."
He paused. Who were they talking about?
Looking at the track, Shirayuki saw a white figure running smoothly ahead. Her pace was controlled, her movements clean. She curved through the turn beautifully and crossed the finish line two lengths ahead. At the finish, she calmly raised a V-sign.
"Meek! That was amazing!" Special Week shouted.
Happy Meek. The rare runner with strong adaptability across surfaces. Her form was textbook perfect, without a single wasted movement. Compared to Tokai Teio or the Mejiro runners, she held her own.
So that's her…
Shirayuki watched carefully. A hidden gem Aoi had discovered. Happy Meek noticed her gaze and waved, flashing another V-sign. Shirayuki hesitated, then returned it.
She's going to be a problem in the future.
That evening, Chiya sat in his room, waiting. His thoughts wandered.
What if… just what if… she meant something else?
If he misunderstood, it would be bad. If he refused, he might hurt her. Either way, it was trouble.
He stared at the charm Fukukitaru had given him.
Please don't let this be that kind of situation…
"Onii-sama?"
He jumped. Rice Shower was already there.
"W-when did you get here…?"
"I knocked, but there was no answer. The door wasn't locked, so I came in. Did I interrupt anything?"
"No, no. Not at all. Come in."
"I brought some cookies. Would you like to try them?"
"Of course."
They sat on the sofa. Chiya took a bite while Rice Shower watched closely, her expression full of anticipation.
"How is it?"
"…Really good."
"Really? Hehe…"
"You made these?"
"Yes. You remembered?"
"…They taste like something you'd make."
Her smile widened.
After a moment, she straightened slightly.
"Onii-sama… could you lie down for a bit?"
Chiya froze.
"…Lie down?"
Rice Shower nodded, her voice soft but earnest.
"I want to help you relax."