But before I could, a woman stood up. She had long black hair and wore a sharp white pant-suit. She radiated an intense, professional pressure.
"Otonashi, from Monthly Twinkle," she announced. Her eyes were burning with a terrifying mix of curiosity and indignation. "If you want to talk about 'betraying expectations,' shouldn't you ask Mihono Bourbon herself? Though, when I interviewed her immediately after the race, she didn't mention being 'betrayed' once."
The room went silent. This was the legendary Editor Otonashi.
"Umamusume racing is about results. Period. As a fan, yes, I wanted to see the Triple Crown. But Rice Shower-san beat the girl who was capable of that. That is an act to be celebrated, not condemned. To suggest otherwise is a disgrace to the sport."
"B-But, the fans' voices—"
"Listening to fans is part of the job. But praising the girl who overcame every rival to claim the glory—that is the heart of being a fan! At least, that's how I see it!"
Rice's eyes widened. They began to shimmer with unshed tears. I smiled and reached over to stroke her hair.
"See, Rice? There are people like her out there too," I whispered.
She nodded softly. I stood up and clapped my hands to regain the room's attention.
"Reporter Otonashi is right. Mihono Bourbon is a spectacular Umamusume. An undefeated Triple Crown challenger is a once-in-a-decade phenomenon. It's natural that people wanted to see her win."
Otonashi sat down, her arms crossed, waiting for me to continue.
"But," I said, my voice dropping an octave. "There are hundreds of other girls who also want to win. They want to stand on that G1 stage. They want to be the center of that Winning Live. They want it so badly they bleed for it."
I was a rookie. I'd only experienced one Winning Live with Urara. But I knew how much it meant.
"These girls train until they collapse. They put in the work to attract 'luck.' At the Kikkasho, the Goddess of Victory smiled on Rice Shower because Rice Shower worked harder than anyone else to earn that smile. If Bourbon's fans were disappointed, I understand. But every girl in that gate is aiming for first. Please, try to understand that."
Otonashi looked at me. "Every girl aims for first... which means your Rice Shower could lose just as easily. Any comments on that?"
"She is a brilliant Umamusume," I replied instantly. "But yes, she could lose. And if she does, it won't be her fault. It will be mine. It will mean my training was insufficient. If she loses, don't blame her—praise the girl who was strong enough to beat her."
I'd only been her trainer for two months, but I knew her talent was top-tier. If a girl like Rice lost, it was a failure of leadership, not ability. I truly believed that if I couldn't make her a legend, I should hand in my license. (Though I'd never tell her that—she'd just call herself a 'bad girl' and cry.)
"—THAT'S MAGNIFICENT!!"
I nearly jumped out of my skin. Otonashi was standing again, clutching her fountain pen so hard I thought it would snap. Her eyes were literally glowing.
"YES! That is the beauty of the race! The bond between trainer and girl, striving for the limit! That is the drama we want to see!"
She had completely spiraled into her own world of passion. I looked at Ms. Hayakawa, who simply shook her head with a look of "I told you she was like this."
Otonashi eventually had to be escorted out because she wouldn't stop shouting about "the purity of the turf," but her outburst had a silver lining: not a single reporter dared to ask a negative question for the rest of the hour.
"What an intense person..." I muttered as we left the hall.
"Rice was so surprised..."
"Interviews are amazing!" Urara cheered, skipping alongside us. "I want to be interviewed like that someday!"
We were all decompressing from the Otonashi whirlwind when I noticed a figure standing in the hallway ahead. My brow furrowed.
"You..."
"I realize this is sudden and perhaps rude," the girl said. Her voice was calm, almost mechanical. "But I have a request."
It was Mihono Bourbon.
"I wish to speak with Rice-san. Privately."