Mihono Bourbon asked to speak with Rice Shower. Hearing this, I led them away from the interview venue and toward the infirmary, the place where I had first met Rice.
After the commotion we'd just caused, having Rice and Mihono Bourbon seen together would only lead to more trouble. Also, judging by Mihono Bourbon's demeanor, I figured she wouldn't want any onlookers.
"B-Bourbon-san... um, what about your leg...?"
"I must report that my condition is unfavorable. I am trying to recuperate under my Master's instructions, but the time required for a full recovery is currently unmeasurable."
Her way of speaking was quite unique, but I gathered that there was no end in sight for her recovery. Mihono Bourbon sat on the bed, favoring her right leg, which wasn't in a cast or splint.
Mihono Bourbon's "Master" is a trainer known for his spartan training methods among the trainers at Tracen Academy. However, he also has a reputation for raising strong Uma Musume like Mihono Bourbon.
"I understand your request to speak with Rice one-on-one. But Rice has the Arima Kinen in two days. Sorry, but Urara and I will also be present."
I doubted Mihono Bourbon would harm Rice, but you can't be too careful. Even if she didn't intend to, she could still unintentionally hurt Rice's feelings.
So, I sat in a nearby chair, making it clear I wasn't going to move. Urara seemed a little confused but copied me, pulling a chair over and sitting right beside me.
"...Understood. I was the one who intruded, after all."
Mihono Bourbon pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. She then looked at Rice and opened her mouth—hesitating, she closed it again.
"...This is problematic. I don't know how to approach this conversation."
"B-Bourbon-san, you can just talk the way you want to, you know? Rice will wait as long as it takes."
Rice seemed flustered but was clearly eager to talk to Mihono Bourbon. She stood in front of her, ready to wait as long as needed.
"Talk the way I want... Understood. Please wait a moment."
Mihono Bourbon gazed into the distance, spending several seconds thinking. Urara looked puzzled beside me, but she must have sensed that this was an important conversation for Mihono Bourbon, as she remained quiet.
"Analysis complete... First, Rice-san. I must apologize to you."
With that, Mihono Bourbon bowed her head. This was an unexpected start for Rice, who tilted her head in confusion.
"W-What for? Rice doesn't have anything you need to apologize for...?"
"Yes, you do. The behavior the audience displayed at the Kikuka-sho winning live... I later determined that I should have stopped it. However, at the time, I couldn't understand why such a thing was happening, and my system was experiencing multiple errors."
Upon hearing "Kikuka-sho winning live," Rice's expression tensed. I nearly stood up from my chair but stopped myself when I saw Mihono Bourbon's face. Despite her mechanical way of speaking, her expression was twisted in regret.
"I had a dream of winning the Triple Crown. And under my Master's guidance, I was confident that I had trained enough to achieve it. But I lost to you, Rice-san."
"..."
Rice didn't respond. She just lowered her head at the truth Mihono Bourbon was speaking—
"Don't look down, Rice."
I cut her off. I told her from behind that there was nothing to be ashamed of; she should be proud.
"That's right, Rice-chan. Rice-chan just worked super hard, that's all."
Urara also chimed in, agreeing with my words. Yes, Rice had simply worked hard to beat Mihono Bourbon and succeeded. That's all there was to it.
"My apologies. My words were misleading. I did not set up this meeting to accuse you, Rice-san. On the contrary."
Mihono Bourbon immediately apologized for her poor choice of words.
"...On the contrary?"
Rice looked up, meeting Mihono Bourbon's gaze. Mihono Bourbon looked into the distance again, searching for the right words.
"Many of the errors that occurred within me at that time were due to the question of why I lost to you. I won the Satsuki-sho and the Japan Derby. The Kikuka-sho was a bit... no, quite a difficult distance for my aptitude, but both my Master and I analyzed that I had trained sufficiently to overcome that disadvantage."
Mihono Bourbon's face showed little emotion as she spoke. However, to me, I could see the emotion of 'regret' shining through.
"But I was defeated. I understood you were behind me. I understood you were making various efforts to win against me. However, I ran thinking I would win, I would definitely win... and I was defeated."
As she spoke, Mihono Bourbon's ears and tail drooped.
"I couldn't understand why, and I couldn't understand why the winning live was the way it was, which caused many errors in my system."
Mihono Bourbon's attempt to achieve an undefeated Triple Crown was an extraordinary feat. It was clear from her physique that she had put in superhuman effort to achieve it.
And yet, she lost to Rice. She was suffering because she couldn't comprehend it.
"I couldn't understand my own emotions. And in my attempt to understand, I was slow to realize the position you were in... That is what my earlier apology was about."
(She was frustrated she lost to Rice... no, was it her first time even feeling frustration?)
That's what I thought as I listened to Mihono Bourbon, and I quickly realized something and gave a bitter smile.
(Of course... This girl was on the verge of an undefeated Triple Crown. I don't know why she talks like a robot, but this was her first defeat, and she couldn't understand her frustration...)
She was similar to Urara, who could say "that was fun" even after losing, but completely different. Mihono Bourbon had experienced her first defeat as an Uma Musume, and the emotions she felt were too overwhelming for her to comprehend.
Mihono Bourbon had worked hard for victory. That was an undeniable fact. To be on the verge of an undefeated Triple Crown, her obsession with victory must have been exceptional.
But, simply put in terms of results:
The difference came down to Mihono Bourbon, who tried to win the race, and Rice, who tried to win against Mihono Bourbon.
Mihono Bourbon had the ability to finish first, and it was because she was so strong that Rice, who surpassed her, was able to win the Kikuka-sho.
Nothing is absolute in a race. However, Mihono Bourbon's running was so incredible that it gave viewers a sense of certainty about her victory.
Was it a twist of fate that Rice set her sights on her and displayed a run that surpassed Mihono Bourbon?
(No, calling it a twist of fate is an insult to Rice... Mihono Bourbon was desperate, but Rice was even more desperate. That's all.)
Thinking about how that win in the Kikuka-sho led to that winning live, my stomach churned with anger, even now. I was already angry, but hearing Mihono Bourbon and Rice talk felt like my anger was reignited.
Still, I would not show this anger. I was not the one who was angry, sad, or hurt; it was Rice. Only Rice, who had tearfully told me that she was a bad girl and that she made everyone around her unhappy, had the right to be angry.
(But that's why Rice is the way she is... She takes all the blame... Ugh, damn it...)
It was because Rice was the kind of person who would take all the blame herself that I wanted to support her. If she had the mental strength to say "losing is your fault" when she was booed at the Kikuka-sho winning live, I wouldn't be training her. In fact, Rice wouldn't have asked a rookie trainer like me to train her. She would probably be training alone right now.
As I was stewing in my inexpressible emotions, Mihono Bourbon continued to speak, looking at Rice.
"After that, I wanted to talk to you many times. But I couldn't... I am the one who tarnished the glorious victory you claimed. I... I couldn't bring myself to speak to you."
Mihono Bourbon bowed her head again. It wasn't an apology, but an involuntary gesture of self-reproach.
Rice seemed confused by her, but she quickly pursed her lips and asked in a trembling voice.
"Then, why... did you talk to Rice today?"
The question was sincere. From Rice's perspective, the person who just said she couldn't talk to her had gone to the trouble of creating this opportunity for them to talk.
Mihono Bourbon's gaze wavered, and for some reason, she looked at me.
"I had judged that it was not necessary. However, today, I have once again caused trouble because of me..."
At her words, I furrowed my brow. It sounded as if she was talking to Rice just to escape her own self-reproach.
But Rice seemed to think differently. She simply waited for Mihono Bourbon to continue.
Mihono Bourbon was trembling, but eventually, she whispered as if squeezing the words out.
"You are an amazing Uma Musume, Rice-san."
"...Huh?"
The words seemed to have exceeded Rice's wildest expectations. She widened her eyes as if to say, "What did you just say?"
"In the final straight of the Kikuka-sho... the moment you overtook me. I despaired at the shrinking distance I couldn't close. But at the same time, I thought. How incredible is the Uma Musume running in front of me..."
Mihono Bourbon put her hands to her face, pouring out her words like a sinner confessing.
"I wanted to catch up to that back... I thought that. But you, who I felt that about, were criticized instead of praised... which caused even more errors... I became lost. I wanted to win against you, even beyond the dream of the Triple Crown that I had held since I was a child... I..."
Mihono Bourbon probably didn't fully understand her own emotions. The words she was spilling out while trembling were incoherent—and for that very reason, I believed they were her true feelings.
"Despite that, you stood back up. After watching the practice race you ran two weeks ago, I was certain. Rice-san... you will become even stronger and faster with that trainer... But I can no longer... catch up to you!"
Despite my intention to stay silent, the content of her words and the tears welling up in her eyes made me open my mouth.
"Don't tell me, your right leg..."
"...It's been about two months since the Kikuka-sho. I've been trying to recuperate, but it shows no sign of improvement. I suppose this is the price for challenging a distance for which I am not suited."
Mihono Bourbon said with a self-deprecating laugh. Hearing that, I clenched my teeth so hard they made a sound.
"What did your trainer say?"
"My Master said... that he had pushed me too hard, and he apologized... even though he simply didn't deny my dream and encouraged me..."
Mihono Bourbon spoke sadly, but there was not a trace of negative emotion toward her trainer. On the contrary, she trusted him completely, and it seemed her trainer trusted her just as much.
"Of course, I haven't given up on running again... but I predict it will take a considerable amount of time to recover."
After saying that, Mihono Bourbon seemed to realize something and shook her head.
"No, I did not come here to talk about myself. Rice-san, I came here to ask you a favor."
"Huh... A favor, for Rice?"
"Yes... If you would permit me, I would like to cheer for you as you run the Arima Kinen. That is all I wish for."
Rice asked, looking perplexed. Mihono Bourbon nodded with a serious expression.
"I want to cheer for my hero... that is all."
"――――"
At Mihono Bourbon's words, Rice fell completely silent. However, her silence did not stem from a feeling of denial.
(...Rice?)
An invisible fervor, so intense it made me hesitate to speak to her. I didn't know what Mihono Bourbon's words had touched in Rice, but an astonishing passion seemed to be swirling within her.
"Rice, it would be so reassuring if Bourbon-san could cheer for me."
"...Then?"
"Yeah... if Bourbon-san wishes, I want you to cheer for Rice."
When Rice replied, a smile broke across Mihono Bourbon's face. It was a joyful expression that came from the bottom of her heart—and I was speechless.
Mihono Bourbon left the infirmary. And there, Urara and I were just staring at Rice.
"Trainer-san... Rice really is a bad girl, isn't she..."
Suddenly, Rice muttered. Even Urara, who would usually immediately deny such a statement, was silent this time, waiting for Rice's next words.
"I know Trainer-san is thinking so hard for Rice... But, Rice..."
Her words were followed by a presence, a heat, so intense it compelled us to listen.
"—I want to win the Arima Kinen."
A statement filled with a sense of resolve, so passionate it felt like the air itself was trembling.
"Bourbon-san said Rice was amazing. She called me her hero..."
I am not Rice herself. Therefore, I cannot claim to understand all the emotions she is feeling right now.
But, I know this. I could tell that the words Rice was weaving were coming from her true, unfiltered heart.
My trainer's sense was screaming at me to stop her. While Rice's body was recovering, it was not yet ready for such a strain.
However, as a fan of Rice, and as her trainer, the words I had to say were completely different from what my rational mind was telling me.
"Go and win, Rice."
Rice knew that her body wasn't ready for such a strain. But even so, she wanted to win and meet Mihono Bourbon's expectations.
Of course, it wasn't guaranteed that Rice's body would break just because she gave it her all. I had done my best to take care of her body since we met.
It was not something that could be talked about in probabilities; you wouldn't know the outcome until the race was over. She might be completely fine afterward.
At the same time, there was also a possibility that she could reach her limit.
And yet, my reason for encouraging Rice was a very simple one.
I mean, of course, it was, right?
—Because Rice, my Uma Musume, wants to win.
"...Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. That's what you want, Rice. You want to absolutely win, you want to show Mihono Bourbon what you look like when you win... right?"
"...Yeah."
Rice looked surprised at my words and then smiled happily.
"Then go and win, Rice. The Arima Kinen is a waypoint. It's not the finish line. I'd... prefer you not to overexert yourself, but go and show the fans, and Mihono Bourbon, just how amazing the Uma Musume Rice Shower is."
—That was all I could say.
And so, the day of the Arima Kinen arrived.
The sky was a clear blue from the morning, and the weather wouldn't change all day. The track was undoubtedly in good condition, which would be a tailwind for the Uma Musume running today.
It was definitely a good thing for Rice, too.
The Arima Kinen was the 9th of the 10 races held today, but there was no doubt that it was the main event at Nakayama Racecourse.
The number of visitors at the racecourse had already exceeded 150,000, and it was expected to increase even more as the Arima Kinen approached.
I arrived at the Nakayama Racecourse with Urara and Rice, and we waited for the moment the Arima Kinen would begin.
It had been two days since Rice and Mihono Bourbon spoke, and Rice's resolve had not changed. If anything, it had grown stronger and firmer over the past two days.
Rice's demeanor was so different that even Urara was finding it difficult to interact with her as usual. She would try to talk to Rice and then come back to me with a troubled look, repeating the cycle.
(The time has finally come...)
Since it was the Arima Kinen, we chose a light final adjustment to avoid leaving any fatigue. Rice quietly followed my instructions, but I could feel the tremendous passion contained within her.
At this point, there was little I could do. But that small role was what would determine Rice's result today.
My role—was to choose who Rice should mark.
The Uma Musume, dressed in their uniforms, were being introduced in the paddock, showing off their figures. I had to decide who Rice would mark by watching them. I should have decided much earlier, but the contenders for the G1 race were all so strong that I couldn't make a decision until I saw their condition on the day.
Rice was more motivated than ever today. But what would happen if I chose the wrong opponent to mark?
The favorite was last year's undefeated Triple Crown contender, Tokai Teio. After that, it depended on their condition today—
As I sent Rice off and waited for the paddock show, the moment finally came.
"Lane 1, No. 1, Nice Nature!"
The first to appear was Nice Nature. She was highly rated as the fourth most popular in the Arima Kinen, probably because she consistently performed well in most races. She hadn't won a recent race, but she almost always finished in the top three.
I stared at her, with her slightly bright chestnut hair tied on both sides and her black one-piece uniform.
(Her body looks in good shape, and she's motivated... Just as you'd expect from the leader of Team Canopus...)
Perhaps because it was a big stage like the Arima Kinen, Nice Nature showed some signs of nervousness. However, at the same time, her expression held a sense of expectation and resolve for the big race.
She specialized in leading and closing, so she was likely to compete with Rice. And above all, being in Lane 1, a favorable starting position for long-distance races on turf, was a big advantage.
"Lane 2, No. 3, Mejiro Palmer!"
The next person I carefully checked was Mejiro Palmer. She was ranked 15th in popularity today, almost at the very bottom. She had a poor track record in recent races, finishing 17th in the previous Tenno Sho (Autumn) and 9th in the Kyoto Daishoten before that.
However, she had won the two races before that, and one of them was the Takarazuka Kinen, which, like today's Arima Kinen, was selected by fan votes.
Her hair was a unique chestnut color, different from Nice Nature's, and it reached down her back. Her uniform was a yellow shirt, a short vest, and a green mini-skirt, giving her a gyaru-like look.
(Hmm? This girl...)
I stared at Mejiro Palmer's legs. I couldn't be sure from a distance, but they seemed to be in very good condition. And when I checked her expression, she seemed calm despite the Arima Kinen, and at the same time, she looked motivated.
(She looks like a different person from her last two races...)
I had only watched the videos of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Kyoto Daishoten, but the atmosphere Mejiro Palmer was exuding seemed to have changed significantly.
Her running style was a rare "grand escape" style, where she would either win by a landslide or lose by a sudden reversal.
"Lane 3, No. 5, Tokai Teio!"
The next person I checked was my main target and the clear favorite for the Arima Kinen. The Uma Musume who was naturally ranked as the most popular appeared—but something was off.
(...What? Is this Tokai Teio...?)
I was perplexed when I saw Tokai Teio in her red-themed uniform. Her long chestnut hair was tied in a ponytail, with a single white strand in her bangs. From what I could see, she didn't look like she was in good condition.
The Tokai Teio I had seen in race videos had a feisty, competitive demeanor and wasn't the type to have a sudden change in atmosphere like Rice.
I had studied her previous paddock videos since she was likely to compete with Rice, and Tokai Teio was an Uma Musume who was great at fan service and often showed a unique move called the "Teio Step."
It would be dangerous to judge her condition just because she didn't do that, and it was possible that Tokai Teio was deliberately feigning a poor condition. However, Tokai Teio was not the type to resort to such tricks.
Her running style was to take the lead from the beginning of the race and then accelerate dramatically from the final corner to the finish line, overtaking everyone.
Her running style was similar to Rice's, but while Rice was a "marker" who would mark the Uma Musume likely to win and then overtake them, this girl would just leave everyone behind and win first place as if nothing else mattered.
That's what she was supposed to be like—
"Lane 4, No. 8, Daitaku Helios!"
The next person I checked carefully was the 7th most popular, Daitaku Helios.
Her appearance was characterized by her slightly dark chestnut hair tied in a ponytail, with some blue hair mixed in her bangs. She wore a blue shirt, white shorts, and bracelets for style.
(This one... I can't quite figure her out. Looking at her previous races, she's clearly a sprinter or a miler... but last year she was in the Arima Kinen and finished 5th, and she finished 5th in this year's Takarazuka Kinen...)
Her condition didn't seem bad, but not good either. Her physique was as impressive as ever, but I judged her to be a step behind Rice.
"Lane 6, No. 11, Ikuo Dictus!"
She belonged to the same Team Canopus as Nice Nature.
Her bright chestnut hair was cut short around her shoulders, but a long strand from the back was braided and hung down.
Her uniform was a white shirt, a red tie, and white pants, with a green jacket.
This girl had won four times this year, but her victories were only in Open races or G3s. Even so, winning a major race made her a target to watch out for, but her record was inferior to the other Uma Musume. She was the 16th most popular in this Arima Kinen, which was clear to everyone.
She had recently run in three consecutive G1 races—the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Mile Championship, and the Japan Cup—but she had finished 9th in all of them, which was not a good record. However, her high experience from participating in many races, from short to long distance, made her someone to be wary of.
"Lane 8, No. 16, Rice Shower!"
Finally, Rice appeared in the paddock. She was pushed to be the second most popular, a testament to her popularity as well as her skill.
When Rice, dressed in her black dress-like uniform, appeared, various comments were heard from the fans in the paddock.
"I feel like she's got a lot of intensity..."
"Isn't she the one who stopped Mihono Bourbon's Triple Crown in the Kikuka-sho?"
"Her impression is completely different from the interview the other day."
Some were confused by the atmosphere Rice was giving off, others were filled with expectation, and some brought up the Kikuka-sho. The spectators in the paddock were all muttering, but Rice didn't seem to hear them.
Where had her usual timidness gone? Rice stood tall and proud, showing herself to the crowd.
(Lane 8, No. 16... The outermost lane...)
I reconfirmed Rice's starting position and furrowed my brow. Nice Nature in Lane 1 could run the shortest distance from the start, but Rice in the outer lane would have to run an extra distance. This meant Rice was starting with a significant disadvantage.
While thinking about that, I looked at the Uma Musume who had already finished their shows and were warming up for the race.
(Is that...?)
I saw Mejiro Palmer and Daitaku Helios talking happily. They looked like close friends, not rivals competing for first place, even though the race was about to start.
Mejiro Palmer's expression softened as she talked to Daitaku Helios, and she seemed to have shed any unnecessary nervousness. Seeing that, I desperately raced through my thoughts.
(I was planning to have Rice mark Tokai Teio, but can she really aim for first place in that condition? Daitaku Helios and Ikuo Dictus seem stronger than the other Uma Musume, but it's still questionable if they can aim for first... Then...)
At this point, I decided to remove the most popular, Tokai Teio, from my mark list. I couldn't feel the intensity of her wanting to win first place from what I saw in the paddock.
I had been wary of her since she won the Japan Cup, but the current Tokai Teio looked like a balloon with all the air let out. If this was an Open race, a unmotivated Tokai Teio might still be able to win, but this was the Arima Kinen.
Choosing between her past record and performance or her current condition was a difficult one, but Tokai Teio had no spirit.
"Trainer-san."
Rice came over to me as I was lost in thought. Her gaze, from across the paddock fence, was straight and seemed to be waiting for my decision.
"...Our pre-race plan was to have you mark Tokai Teio. But from what I see today, I don't think she'll do well."
"Yeah, Rice thinks so, too. Teio-san today isn't scary."
Rice agreed with me. She nodded without hesitation, and I nodded back.
"Given that, who should you mark... is the question..."
I looked around, unsure of what to do. Other than the five Uma Musume I had been wary of, there weren't any who seemed to pose a threat to Rice.
And of those five, I decided it was okay to remove Tokai Teio, Ikuo Dictus, and Daitaku Helios from the list.
That left Nice Nature, who was 4th in popularity and in Lane 1, and Mejiro Palmer, who was 15th in popularity.
Looking at the lane number, her popularity, and her physical condition, the one to mark would be Nice Nature. That's what I thought, but—
(Mejiro Palmer is giving off an aura that she's going to do something crazy... Is she going to make a grand escape and run away in front of over 150,000 spectators? Or does she have a secret plan? Her track record in long-distance races isn't that great, not to mention her middling distance race performance... I don't think she can last for 2,500 meters...)
The race was approaching. I didn't have time to be indecisive. But Rice was quietly waiting for my decision.
Urara, standing next to me, was anxiously wagging her tail. She looked at me and Rice in turn, shaking her clenched fists up and down.
Seeing Urara like that, I let out a sigh of relief. And after patting her head, I turned my gaze to Rice.
"Rice, I'm about to suggest a foolish plan."
"Yeah, tell me. Rice will do anything and believe anything you say, Trainer-san."
I had narrowed down the opponents to two, but I couldn't make the final decision. I didn't have enough experience as a trainer to decide with certainty.
So, I decided to put my faith in the power of the Uma Musume, Rice Shower. I believed that she, in her current state, would be able to answer the difficult question I was about to pose.
"Of the people we were wary of, Nice Nature and Mejiro Palmer seem to be in good condition. But, judging from her recent races, I don't think Mejiro Palmer can last the whole distance even if she makes a grand escape. On the other hand, I have doubts about whether Nice Nature can simply win first place."
"Yeah."
"So... I want you to mark Nice Nature, but if Mejiro Palmer's legs don't slow down after the third corner of the second lap, I want you to go and close the distance from there."
That was hardly a plan. It would be nearly impossible to mark Nice Nature while keeping an eye on Mejiro Palmer in the 800-meter stretch from the third corner of the Nakayama Racecourse's 2,500-meter course to the goal.
While I could watch the race from the outside, Rice would have a limited view from the track. However, if she were to mark Mejiro Palmer from the beginning and she made a grand escape, even Rice might not have the stamina to close the distance from the back.
I thought it was a half-baked plan and a foolish one that would put a burden on Rice.
But Rice just smiled and nodded without asking any questions.
"Leave it to me."
Her smile was filled with a passion for the upcoming race that she couldn't hide. I was about to warn her not to get too worked up, but Urara spoke up first.
"Good luck, Rice-chan! Me and Trainer are cheering you on!"
"Yeah... I'm going, Urara-chan."
Rice's eyes widened slightly, and she relaxed her body and smiled. Seeing that, I patted Urara's head and watched Rice's back as she went off.
And on this day.
I was about to see the true form of the Uma Musume, Rice Shower.
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