Okay, now that I've decided to become Rice Shower's trainer, there are a lot of things I need to do.
After telling Urara and Rice Shower to start their warm-up, I headed to the Principal's office to officially inform them of my new role.
I received the data left by Rice's previous trainer from Ms. Hayakawa and left the office, but...
(Heh, I see... I've learned that I know absolutely nothing.)
It seems the previous trainer just compiled Rice Shower's daily reports and submitted them as work logs. The documents only contained information like what kind of training she did, what races she entered, and the results. At least the daily reports were submitted properly.
"What am I supposed to do with this?!"
WHACK! I slapped the stack of papers on the hallway floor. Then, coming to my senses, I frantically gathered them up.
It seems there's a certain number of horse girls who train on their own, with a trainer's name attached as a formality. There are various reasons for this; some horse girls are engrossed in research, some are obsessed with other horse girls, and some are interested in coaching and train themselves.
Also, there's a shortage of trainers, and it's impossible to properly train all 2,000 or so horse girls at the Tracen Academy. That's likely why situations like "name-lending" occur. I hear there are also trainers who get rejected by every horse girl they scout, which, well, includes me.
The number of horse girls who train on their own with a trainer's name and then win a G1 race, like Rice Shower, is extremely small. In fact, she might be the only one.
As a result, I was left with a useless stack of papers for a reference. Ms. Hayakawa did give me DVDs of all of Rice Shower's past races, but I'd have to watch all of them from scratch, which is a lot of work.
(Damn it... Should I just storm that trainer's house right now...)
I considered it, but storming his house wouldn't change the useless documents in my hands. It would be a million times better to go back and watch Urara and Rice Shower's training.
Looking at the documents, it seemed the previous trainer felt guilty about earning Rice Shower's prize money. He only took the necessary expenses and a minimum fee, with the rest of the money being deposited directly into Rice Shower's account. But that's no consolation to me.
I did get some information about Rice Shower's previous trainer. He was apparently skilled enough to have another horse girl compete in the Kikuka Sho at the same time as Rice.
(I need to change my way of thinking. Yes, I've now been given the right to compile all of Rice Shower's information myself. She's a G1 horse girl, you know? That information is valuable and will be useful for my future as a trainer... So why didn't that idiot compile it from the start, DAMN IT!)
I slammed the papers on the floor again. Please forgive me for this. I just... I can't even.
With Urara, I have all the information from the very beginning of her training. I've recorded what kind of training she did, the results, and how it affected her running.
I've meticulously recorded everything: her height, weight, foot size, arm length, arm and leg circumference, and how her muscles developed. That's how I was able to quickly realize that Urara was growing more than my initial predictions and how I can compare her information with other horse girls to figure out how to train her to win.
But I have none of that for Rice Shower. I've taken on her training, but where do I even begin, and what's her full potential?
Rice Shower probably knows a lot about her own body. She might not remember the exact lap times, but if I ask her about her training and check her body myself, I should be able to figure most of it out.
(I'll have to go beg my fellow rookie trainers for information on turf horse girls, compile useful training data, gather information on the horse girls in the turf classics, and then find all the races Rice Shower can aim for... Phew, I might die.)
I tried to straighten my face, but it didn't change my reality.
Sadly, I can ask for help from my fellow rookie trainers, but I can't rely on the senior trainers at all. My peers are all training horse girls of the same generation as Urara, so our races rarely overlap. But that's not the case with the senior trainers.
(I can use the information on training a G1 horse girl as leverage for a good deal with my peers... but the senior trainers are a no-go... Haha, the difficulty level is so high it's almost funny.)
The only reassuring thing is that Rice Shower's level of completion is high enough to win the Kikuka Sho.
If I can just manage her to prevent injury and have her spend some relaxing time with Urara to help with her mental state, she might recover quickly.
(But, well... I've already taken on the job, so...)
Still, I have to do what I can. For now, I'll have to compile Rice Shower's information while also continuing Urara's training. In fact, I need to start today, or I'll be in trouble. I only have about a month and a half until the Arima Kinen.
Lost in thought, I returned to Urara and Rice Shower, where I found Rice Shower helping a seated Urara with a forward bend.
"Wow... Urara-chan, you're really flexible."
"Ehehe... My trainer told me never to get hurt. I was super stiff before."
Urara, talking to Rice Shower, bent forward and touched her forehead to the ground. It's going to get colder soon, so flexibility will be even more important now.
"Are you about done with your warm-up? Ah, wait, Rice Shower."
When I called out, both Urara and Rice Shower reacted immediately.
"I've reported to the Principal and Ms. Hayakawa. I'm officially your trainer now. Once again, it's a pleasure to work with you."
"N-nice to meet you, Trainer-san!"
Rice Shower bowed her head at my words. She still seemed so timid, it was hard to believe she was a G1 horse girl.
"When you're done with your warm-up, Rice Shower, you'll... Oh, actually, before that, is it okay if I call you Rice, just like Urara does?"
It felt strange to call Urara by her nickname but not Rice Shower. When I asked, Rice Shower nodded repeatedly.
"Y-yes... Rice would like that, too."
"Alright... Then, Rice. First, I want you to show me how you run. I've seen the Kikuka Sho race footage, but there's a lot you can only learn by seeing it in person."
I said this to Rice Shower—Rice.
Even after watching the race footage from last night, I could see how incredible her running was, but there's a big difference between a video and seeing it in person. So, like when I started training Urara, I decided to first check Rice's athletic ability.
"Trainer, what about me?"
"Urara, you'll run on the dirt course as usual... No, first, I want you to watch Rice run with me. And if you can, cheer her on."
"Okay, got it!"
I had planned for Urara to run on the dirt course, but I changed my mind and told her to watch. After all, it's the sight of a G1 horse girl, Rice, running. Just watching should be a valuable lesson.
Also, I wanted to see how Rice would react to Urara's cheering.
"Alright, the distance will be 3,000 meters on the turf... the same distance as the Kikuka Sho. Don't overdo it and get hurt, but can you run as fast as you can?"
"O-okay... got it."
Based on the distances of the races she's entered, Rice is suited for middle-to-long-distance races. She's likely a true stayer. Her running style seems to favor staying ahead of the pack, but she might have other strengths too.
Since she was running alone, I left the running style up to her, but I wondered what her time would be as I held my stopwatch.
"Ready? Alright, on your mark... GO!"
"!"
At my signal, Rice shot forward.
She kicked off the ground, starting with an incredible burst of speed and accelerating quickly. Unlike Urara, who struggles on the turf course, Rice looked completely at home.
"Wow! She's so fast! Rice-chan is so fast!"
"......"
Urara jumped up and down with her hands in the air. Her tail wagged furiously, showing her excitement at Rice's speed. Perhaps hearing her cheers, Rice slightly increased her speed and entered the corner.
"Go, go! Rice-chan! Go, go! Rice-chan!"
Urara continued to jump up and down, clapping her hands above her head. I had told her to cheer, but for some people, it might be distracting. It calms me down, though.
Rice's cornering was magnificent. She consciously avoided swinging wide, maintaining her speed as much as possible and taking the shortest path.
I kept checking my stopwatch and watching Rice's run. Urara was still cheering beside me, but I silently observed Rice's running... and tilted my head.
(As expected from a Kikuka Sho winner... but...)
Rice's running in the Kikuka Sho footage didn't quite match her current running, and a feeling of unease grew inside me.
(Maybe she can't perform as well without someone in front of her, like when she chased down Mihono Bourbon and beat her at the end? Or is she just not in good shape... Hmmm...)
Rice's running was definitely fast. But unlike when she passed Mihono Bourbon, I couldn't see the same fierce will to win at all costs.
(She's probably saving her energy since it's just practice... but her running style feels off.)
Her lap times were quite precise, maintaining her pace with less than a second's error per furlong. The course she was running on didn't have as many hills as the Kyoto Racecourse, where the Kikuka Sho was held, so it should have been easier for her and allowed for faster speeds.
Near the third corner of the Kyoto Racecourse, there's a slope called the Yodo Hill with a 4.3-meter elevation difference. It's so difficult that it's known as the "Heartbreak Hill." Since this course didn't have it, the burden on Rice should have been lighter, and she should have been able to go faster.
While I was lost in thought, Rice finished the 3,000 meters. I stopped the stopwatch as she crossed the finish line and frowned when I saw the time.
(3 minutes, 11.4 seconds... On this course, that's...)
It wasn't a bad time, but it wasn't a good one either.
Rice's time in the Kikuka Sho was exactly 3 minutes and 5 seconds. That was a race record, but her time just now was more than 6 seconds slower, even though this course was much flatter and easier to run.
(Is she really not in good shape? It's only been a day since she joined. And her form was a little strange...)
What felt off about her running was her form. It wasn't completely wrong, but it was far from perfect.
In the Kikuka Sho, she was running to her absolute limit to pass Mihono Bourbon, so it wouldn't be surprising if her form was a bit messy. But running with an incorrect form during practice could lead to injuries.
"Hah... Hah... H-how was it?"
Rice Shower asked, breathing heavily. Even for a stayer horse girl, running 3,000 meters must be exhausting.
"You were amazing, Rice-chan! You were so, so fast!"
"Y-yeah... Thanks, Urara-chan. I think it's because I heard your cheers."
Urara, who had been watching Rice's run, was incredibly excited and hugged Rice. Rice looked a little surprised but hugged her back.
It was a heartwarming sight, but as I watched Rice's body movements while she hugged Urara, I asked,
"Rice, how's your body feeling? Does anything feel strange when you run?"
"Huh? My body feels... normal? Trainer-san, how was my running?"
"It wasn't bad... but it wasn't good either."
I told her honestly and showed her the stopwatch. Rice's eyes widened in surprise.
"Oh, i-it's true... Oh, I didn't hold back..."
Thinking I was angry, Rice lowered her eyes and ears. I was secretly a little shocked, wondering if I looked that angry, but I managed a wry smile on my face.
"It hasn't been that long since the Kikuka Sho, so it's not a problem for your condition to be a bit lower. But still... hmmm... I wonder what it is."
I walked in a circle around Rice, observing her closely from head to toe, but since she was wearing the long-sleeved, long-legged Tracen Academy tracksuit, it was hard to tell.
(I can't exactly tell her to take off her clothes right here... The way her form broke, is it her legs?)
I told Urara to move away from Rice and knelt right next to her.
"Rice, can you pull up your pant legs? I need to see your legs."
"Huh? M-my legs? My... legs?"
"Yes, your legs. I need to see from your thighs to your ankles. Oh, if you have a pair of shorts, it would be a big help if you changed into those. Short sleeves would be good too."
When I told her to go change since it was hard to see, Rice made a difficult expression. But she nodded slightly and ran off to change, returning in less than five minutes.
"H-here...?"
"Thanks... Let's see, then."
I thanked Rice, who had changed into the designated Tracen Academy gym shorts—not a skirt—and carefully examined her legs.
In the back of my mind, I felt like a voice was saying, "Didn't that sound a bit questionable?" but I decided to ignore it.
It's a rare opportunity to carefully observe the body of a G1 horse girl. It will be important for Rice's future training plan, and I might be able to find something that I can apply to Urara's training.
Rice is about 5 centimeters taller than Urara, but her physique seems a bit more delicate. Her body is toned with muscles, but she gives a thin impression overall.
While Rice is a Kikuka Sho winner now, considering her small size, she was probably even smaller and thinner in middle school. It's not to say that a bigger build is always advantageous for a horse girl, but body size can directly relate to stamina.
Observing Rice's body, I can understand why her previous trainer only lent his name. But I still can't accept it.
(As expected of a G1 horse girl, she has good muscles... but maybe they're a bit too thin? Her upper arms are thin too... Hmm? What is this...? Huh?)
I was observing the muscles in Rice's legs, but I let out a stupid sound in my mind. A flurry of question marks appeared in my head. Wait, no, hold on, I'm getting confused.
"Hey, Rice... I hope you can tell me I'm wrong, but did you injure your right leg before?"
"Huh? Y-yes... I broke it last year."
Rice answered as if breaking a bone was a normal thing. If she meant it figuratively, it would be fine, but if she physically broke a bone, that's not a laughing matter.
-------------
And realizing that this was no joke, I broke out in a cold sweat.
"…When and how did it happen?"
"I-it was at last year's Fuyo Stakes, when I came in first... After I finished running, I noticed something felt strange, and it was broken..."
Hearing Rice's words, I put my hand to my face and sighed.
"The balance of your muscles is off on both sides..."
I had a feeling something was off with her form, but now that I found the cause, I felt a headache coming on.
For example, if a human injures their right leg, they'll often shift their weight onto their left leg to compensate, which can then cause an injury to the left leg as well.
So what about a horse girl, who has a higher physical ability than a human and can run at over 60 kilometers per hour?
Her condition isn't that bad right now. Rice only compensated for it unconsciously, so it probably took a while for the negative effects to start showing.
But Rice Shower has been training on her own. If the strain on her body continues, in the worst-case scenario, her left leg could break during a race.
With that thought, I looked at Rice's back and hips.
"Rice, I know it's the turf, but can you lie down on your stomach for a bit?"
"Huh? O-on here?"
"Yes, right here. Lie down... No, lie down now."
When I said the last part a bit more forcefully, Rice timidly laid down on the turf.
"I'm going to touch your back and hips too, not just your legs. I think you'll be fine, but if it hurts at all, tell me right away."
I said that and began pressing on Rice's legs and muscles with my fingers. I checked how her muscles were developing and felt my expression getting more and more grim.
"Trainer? Your face looks like a mask I saw on TV."
A hannya mask, yes, I know. But that's a female mask, so it's not the same, is it?
I tried to ignore the anger bubbling up inside me by thinking such things.
I'm not a professional osteopath, but checking muscle development is something I learned in training school. My only practical experience has been with Urara, but even with that, I could tell enough.
"Rice... First, let's go see a doctor."
"...Huh?"
The doctors affiliated with Tracen Academy would see her right away. So I decided to cancel today's training and take her to the doctor immediately.
-------------
The results weren't great, but not the worst either.
The bone in her right leg that she had broken had healed cleanly, but as I suspected, her muscle balance was off.
This was probably a side effect of not receiving proper guidance from a trainer. I didn't know whether to be angry at Rice for overworking her body or to go storm the previous trainer's house.
I made Rice go back to the dorm even though she was reluctant, and I went to check on Urara, who had to train on her own today, staring into the distance.
(First, I need to do some light, easy training to get rid of her fatigue and balance her muscles, not just in her legs but throughout her whole body... The Arima Kinen... is it possible? She can probably race in it, but can she be at a level to win?)
I want to believe that I can get her to a point where she's recovered to a certain extent. But no matter how much of a horse girl she is, injuries don't heal immediately, and a distortion that has been created over a long time will also need a long time to fix.
Right now, it's a distortion that isn't severe enough to be called an injury. However, that distortion could gradually eat away at Rice's body. In a way that's fatal to a horse girl, it could suddenly show up during a race.
(Physical therapy, nutrition, osteopathy... What should I refer to... all of it? Tracen Academy probably has all the materials I need for that... It looks like I'll be working overtime after I take Urara back to the dorm.)
Just like with Urara, I don't regret taking on Rice's training.
But thinking about what comes next, I couldn't help but hold my head in my hands.
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