Honestly, back when Fujiwara Chiya first signed with Rice Shower, his reason had been simple. He saw that this child had great potential. She was a promising seedling. If he carefully trained her, she might be able to run good results.
It had been very pure, and very accidental.
Later, he discovered that Rice Shower had a tendency toward self-doubt. Out of his responsibility as a trainer, Fujiwara Chiya constantly encouraged her. Whenever Rice Shower felt sad, she would run off somewhere empty and stay there alone. At those times, Fujiwara Chiya would take her out to clear her mind. Of course, it was basically like comforting a child. He would hold her hand, walk with her along the riverbank or through the shopping street, and buy her some snacks.
This method was extremely effective on Rice Shower. Every time they went out, her face would brighten.
After the incident where two Uma Musume terminated their contracts, Fujiwara Chiya's career fell to rock bottom. At that time, it was Rice Shower who came to comfort him and helped him walk out of the shadow.
One could say that Fujiwara Chiya and Rice Shower had supported each other all the way here, and Fujiwara Chiya had treated Rice Shower as his younger sister, caring for her seriously.
After that came Shirayuki's appearance. Through Shirayuki, Fujiwara Chiya recruited more Uma Musume, gained access to the student council's resources, and found many opponents who could help her grow. His work began to improve.
It was also around this time that Fujiwara Chiya realized Rice Shower had developed a personality that could no longer separate from him. His relationship with Rice Shower had long surpassed trainer and Uma Musume. Whether it was Rice Shower's unconditional acceptance of him or her deeply emotional confession, Fujiwara Chiya could tell that Rice Shower had already entrusted her heart to him.
This was why those seniors always said that trainers had to keep distance from their Uma Musume. Once that boundary was not handled well, the relationship could easily develop into something else.
The emotions of Uma Musume were different from those of humans. Their feelings were far deeper than human emotions.
Unfortunately, Chiya had already missed the chance to maintain that distance.
Lying on the bed, Fujiwara Chiya looked at Rice Shower beside him, dressed lightly for sleep and leaning close to him. Her eyes shone in the dim room. Chiya had only seen that kind of glow in the eyes of large predators in certain documentaries.
Even though he knew the one giving off that glow was Rice Shower, Fujiwara Chiya still could not help feeling his heart pound nervously. He asked carefully,
"Rice Shower, aren't you going to sleep?"
"Rice... wants to see Onii-sama's sleeping face."
Moonlight shone on her face. Rice Shower revealed a gentle smile.
Perhaps it was only his imagination. Rice Shower's smile was still as cute as before. Fujiwara Chiya reached out and gently stroked Rice Shower's cheek. She narrowed her eyes and let Fujiwara Chiya's hand brush across her jaw and neck.
Rice Shower made a comfortable sound.
Relax. This is not the first time anyway.
"Onii-sama is too far away from Rice."
"We're already right next to each other."
Rice Shower turned sideways to face Fujiwara Chiya.
"Onii-sama, closer."
If he got any closer, they would be hugging.
Looking at Rice Shower's puffed cheeks, Fujiwara Chiya turned sideways and placed his hand on her shoulder. Her small body pressed against Fujiwara Chiya's chest. Perhaps because she had just taken a bath, Rice Shower's body carried a faint milky fragrance. Even the air she breathed out had a pleasant scent.
Calm down. Calm down...
Fujiwara Chiya took a deep breath. This was not the first time he had embarrassed himself in front of Rice Shower. Rather, it happened every time. Whenever Rice Shower did even the slightest thing to him, Fujiwara Chiya's body would start ignoring his will. Tonight, he was sleeping beside Rice Shower only because he wanted to satisfy her wish to be cared for. There were no extra conditions attached.
"Onii-sama, your heart is beating so fast..." Rice Shower placed her long ears against Fujiwara Chiya and spoke softly.
"Go to sleep, Rice Shower. At the end of the month, I'll take you to the hot spring inn to relax properly. You've really worked hard during this period."
"Hot spring inn... Just Rice and Onii-sama?"
"The whole team."
"That isn't relaxing, Onii-sama."
"It isn't?"
"If it's two people, then it's a date. If there are many people, then it isn't."
Fujiwara Chiya nearly failed to breathe.
He had never expected to hear those words from Rice Shower's mouth. When had Rice Shower become so mature?
Fujiwara Chiya briefly fell into confusion.
"Then on the weekend, I'll go out with you. How about that?"
"Really? It's a promise, Onii-sama."
"It's a promise."
The voices quieted. After Fujiwara Chiya told Rice Shower to sleep early, he closed his eyes.
Looking at Fujiwara Chiya as his breathing gradually became even, Rice Shower's excited expression slowly turned lonely, almost as if her face had changed.
Even after saying those things, even after doing those things, even after they were hugging so closely, Onii-sama still did not make another move.
Today was Rice Shower's happiest day. Rice Shower wanted to leave behind the most precious memory with Onii-sama. But Onii-sama was still so passive. It had been the same during summer training camp. Onii-sama had clearly kissed Rice Shower like that, yet nothing else happened.
That day, Rice Shower had felt so warm she could hardly bear it.
If Onii-sama would not take the initiative, then Rice Shower would.
Rice Shower liked Onii-sama. She absolutely would not let Onii-sama's first time being held so dearly by someone else be taken away.
That night, Fujiwara Shirayuki was woken by a strange sensation. It felt as though someone kept touching her body. At first, Shirayuki thought it was Mejiro Dober. But when she opened her eyes and looked around, she found Dober sleeping soundly on her bed.
Was it an illusion?
Fujiwara Shirayuki rubbed her eyes and lay back down.
But very quickly, a strange warmth spread through her body. The sudden stimulation made Fujiwara Shirayuki twitch as if she had been shocked. She touched her own skin, feeling a strange sensation wandering through her body.
Fujiwara Shirayuki sat up. That odd feeling grew stronger and soon made her entire body feel numb and weak.
What is this?
Fujiwara Shirayuki sat upright and looked at herself. She felt as though something was touching her, but when she actually looked, there was nothing there. While Shirayuki was confused, her heart suddenly began beating rapidly. Her body also started heating up and sweating.
In this strange state she normally could not feel at all, Fujiwara Shirayuki hugged the blanket tightly and curled up on the bed. Since Mejiro Dober was still sleeping, Shirayuki did not want to wake her. She could only cover her mouth and force herself not to make any sound.
It felt as though some invisible weight was pressing on her. Shirayuki's heart beat faster and faster. She reached out, trying to fan herself and cool down, but it had no effect. She could only let the sweat soak into the bedding.
Could this feeling be...
Shirayuki gripped the blanket. She had already realized what state she was in. Thinking back to Rice Shower's earlier behavior, she should have understood it sooner. Although Shirayuki wanted to open her eyes, the thought that Chiya might see something dangerous through her senses made her desperately suppress the impulse.
What could she do now? Things had already reached a point where they could not easily be stopped. To prevent Chiya from waking up and making the situation worse, Shirayuki closed her eyes, forced her thoughts to go blank, and decided to wait until tomorrow to deal with it.
That strange sensation continued for a long time. By the time it finally faded, Shirayuki's body felt completely drained. She lay weakly on the bed.
The next morning, Mejiro Dober opened her eyes. She smelled a faint, subtle scent drifting through the room. Mejiro Dober rubbed her eyes and looked toward Fujiwara Shirayuki.
Shirayuki had buried her head under the blanket, while half of her body was exposed outside. Her pale thighs caught Mejiro Dober's eyes.
Really, Shirayuki. Why do you sleep so messily at night?