Seeing me lost in thought, Rice's self-doubt flared up again. She looked ready to disappear. I couldn't help but sigh.
"No, that's not it. Like I told you last night, you're an incredible Umamusume. If anything, I'm the one who's going to be a bother. I'm scared that I won't be able to draw out your true strength."
The Chairwoman praised me, but the idea of a rookie handling a G1 star was still absurd. It was like a local little-league coach suddenly being asked to manage a Major League MVP.
Rice took my words the wrong way, her head drooping further. Seeing this, Urara leaped onto my back, wrapping her arms around my neck and dangling there.
"Nooo! I want Rice-chan to stay with us!"
"Your voice is too loud and you're choking me—!"
I tapped out as my windpipe constricted. After a bit of coughing, I grabbed Urara's head and gave her a playful noogie.
"I'm talking here, behave yourself... Anyway, Rice Shower."
Rice was watching us, a look of quiet longing on her face. Seeing that expression made me realize there was no turning back.
"I've only been a trainer for six months. I've only ever raised Urara, and everything I know about turf stayers comes from a textbook. Honestly, I think I'll be learning more from you than you will from me."
She was the winner of the Kikuka-sho. One of the greatest runners in the Academy.
And yet, she was also a girl whose hard-won glory had been stolen by spite, leaving her in a pit of sorrow.
"If you're okay with a fledgling trainer like me... let's do this together."
She was the one who had made the offer, but I held out my right hand, giving her the final choice. An invitation to walk the same path.
"And you get me too! It's a bargain!" Urara added.
"Urara, you sound like a grocer having a clearance sale..."
Understanding my intent, Urara stopped tugging on my clothes and offered her hand as well, beaming.
"...Are you... really sure? Rice is... just going to bring bad luck..."
Rice looked back and forth between our hands. Now that the moment was actually here, she was hesitating.
"I don't give a damn about 'trouble' or 'bad luck.' Like I said, Urara and I are plenty of trouble ourselves. It's simple, Rice Shower. You have two choices: take our hands, or don't."
It would have been easy to just push her into saying yes. But I didn't.
She talked about being a burden or being cursed, but anyone in a dark place says things like that. Her wounds were deeper than most, which was why this choice had to be hers. Choosing for yourself is the first step toward standing on your own.
"..."
Rice looked at us in silence. Then, her trembling right hand slowly rose. Tentatively, she reached out and took my hand.
"I look forward to working with you, Rice Shower."
"...Yes! Yes!"
I smiled, and Rice nodded, tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes.
"Yay! We're gonna have so much fun, Rice-chan!"
Urara immediately pulled Rice into a hug, practically nuzzling her. Rice looked overwhelmed, but she was finally laughing.
Watching them, I slowly tightened my grip into a silent fist of resolve.
(A G1 Umamusume...)
I didn't know if I was up to the task. But I knew one thing: I would do everything in my power to be the trainer she deserved.