Chapter 101: So-called Support Card Full-Clear Event

This is something of an open secret—one that even the fans have figured out by now—but I enjoy self-training.

It’s like anything else: the preparation phase is the most fun, right? For a school trip, it’s the night before. For a cultural festival, it’s during setup. For a TCG, it’s deck-building. For games, it’s when you’re still progressing through the story. You tackle one challenge at a time toward a goal, steadily expanding what you can do and what you’re capable of. That process fills you with a real sense of accomplishment.

For me, self-training feels exactly like that. I push myself to my limits to gain an edge in the next race, assembling the perfect preparations so I can run a heated, satisfying match. It’s fulfilling in its own right, and the more I do it, the more clearly I can feel myself growing stronger—until I’m completely absorbed in it. If I had to compare it to something, it’s like grinding levels in a game.

That said, real-life strength training isn’t the same as leveling up in a game. At its core, it’s an act of tormenting your own body, so of course it hurts and feels miserable. Honestly, it wouldn’t be strange if I felt more aversion to it than I do.

In my case, though—thanks to that thing from my childhood—my senses are a little off. Or maybe I’ve just built up an abnormal tolerance. When it comes to running, no matter how painful it gets, I don’t really feel like I hate it.

Because of that, Ayumu-san is a trainer I mesh with extremely well. He puts together optimal, borderline-spartan training plans that precisely gauge where my limits are.

The harshness of his training is notorious even among the central Uma Musume. Well, in truth, it’s less “harsh” and more “appropriate,” I’d say. Even when I feel like I can still go, he’ll often tell me, “Rest for now.” That said, if I still have stamina left despite being mentally exhausted, it’s also true that he’ll fire me up with a sharp, “You can still go!” That part tends to stand out.

I can’t really judge myself objectively, but being pushed to the brink of losing focus and risking injury is probably brutal for most Uma Musume. The new first-years who’ve come by several times this year—persistently trying to get Ayumu-san to sign them—almost all dropped out immediately after experiencing his training firsthand.

Unless you’re like me and have a high tolerance for pain—or a reason strong enough to run straight through it—training under Ayumu-san is probably rough. On the flip side, if you can endure that mental pressure, it’s an unparalleled opportunity to grow under the best trainer imaginable.

Now then. Under that sadistic—no, spartan—trainer, I, Hoshino Wilm, am receiving rigorous guidance, and on top of that, I’m still doing extra self-training. Part of me wonders if this might count as overwork… but that’s that, and this is this. They say dessert and self-training go into separate stomachs, after all.

Besides, Ayumu-san plans my training menus with the assumption that I’ll be doing self-training anyway. At this point, there’s really no reason to stop. I am a free woman.

And… these days, self-training isn’t something I do alone anymore. For the past few months, I’ve had an earnest junior who keeps me company.

It was a March night, the chill slowly giving way to warmth, darkness wrapping everything in quiet. On the sidewalk near Tracen Academy, in the Uma Musume–only lane, the footsteps and voices of two Uma Musume echoed.

"Hah, hah, huff…!"

Running beside me was a black-coated Uma Musume I’d grown accustomed to seeing lately—Rice Shower-chan. She’s a promising newcomer who will likely compete with Bourbon-chan in the Classic races someday. To me, she’s one of the factors tied into my contest with Ayumu-san, and at the same time, one of my adorable juniors who’s grown attached to me.

Today, like every other day, the two of us were hard at work on nighttime self-training.

It’s been a few months since Rice-chan started joining me. Our self-training is fairly rough-and-ready—mostly nonstop running, with the occasional stretch or anaerobic exercise mixed in. Still, perhaps thanks to the results of her daytime training, Rice-chan has clearly grown stronger.

"Man, Rice-chan, your stamina just keeps increasing. As expected of a stayer type."

"But compared to you, big sis… huff… not at all…"

"Well, you’re one year post-development, and I’m two years. I’m not about to let you beat me that easily."

Even if it’s not as intense as the menus Ayumu-san puts together, I take pride in my self-training being fairly demanding. I don’t push the pace excessively—we just keep running continuously. For a Classic-grade Uma Musume to keep up, the physical and mental strain should be considerable.

And yet, Rice-chan hangs on impressively. When I first started self-training last year, she’d get winded after just a short distance and need frequent breaks. Now she can keep up reasonably well. Part of it is her increased stamina, but she’s also clearly grown accustomed to matching my pace. Maybe, just like Ayumu-san said, Rice-chan really does have a talent for syncing with others.

Rice-chan’s main running style is “front-runner.” In a sense, it’s known as the style that most easily allows you to bring out your true ability.

A pure leader naturally runs at a high pace from the start, consuming stamina quickly. If other Uma Musume don’t apply pressure properly, it can be difficult to draw out fighting spirit or grit. Closers often get boxed in by the front group, and it’s not rare for them to be affected by tiring runners ahead. Deep closers are even more susceptible to course conditions and traffic, making them highly dependent on how the race unfolds.

Compared to those styles, front-running is less subject to luck.

That’s why girls confident in their specs—top-tier Uma Musume like McQueen-san or Teio—often choose it. In Rice-chan’s case, though, it may be because of her talent for “keeping up.”

Put simply, front-running is a strategy of sticking close to the leader. A runaway leader sets the pace at the front, and the front-runner clings to them, preventing the gap from opening too wide. Then, in the later stages—around the third corner—they kick into a sprint, close the distance, overtake, and finish at the goal.

It’s a near-flawless strategy, befitting its reputation as the orthodox approach. Of course, it isn’t without weaknesses. Running near the front at high speed requires a strong start dash and ample stamina. Because it’s the orthodox style, competition within the front pack is fierce, so you also need power, grit, and quick judgment to prevail. Overall, since your specs directly translate into results, the demands placed on you are correspondingly high. …That, by the way, is what Teio proudly explained to me while I was hospitalized last year.

That said, I think Rice-chan is actually well-suited to front-running. After all, even at a jogging pace, she has the sense and guts to stick with me—a leader-type runner. And compared to last year, her stamina has been increasing at an impressive rate.

If I had to point out one concern, it’d be her quick thinking… or rather, her composure. When I run with her, small bouts of bad luck sometimes crop up, and in those moments she tends to fluster.

Still, some girls behave completely differently in races compared to everyday life. I’m a bit like that myself. Just like in my past-life anime, there’s always the possibility she only awakens during races—eyes blazing blue as she smashes through every obstacle like a powerhouse character.

If that happens, Rice-chan could become a truly formidable rival. A McQueen-like Uma Musume with long legs, locking onto her target and never letting go—like an assassin.

Man, I’m already looking forward to racing against the future Rice-chan. How close will she push me? How far will she corner me? Just thinking about that day sends shivers down my spine.

…Now then. To wait for that bright future, to beat Ayumu-san, and to let Bourbon-chan enjoy the Satsuki Sho… Operation: Power Up Rice-chan is officially underway.

"Rice-chan, Rice-chan—have you been practicing your start dash?"

"Hah, hah… huh? Ah—whoa!?"

"Whoa there."

Reflexively—“Anime Reincarnation,” activate.

In a world that feels almost frozen as my thoughts accelerate, I take in the situation through sight and sound. Rice-chan… yeah, she’s losing her balance. Maybe because she was already lightheaded from fatigue when I called out to her, she seems to have caught her foot on something and nearly fallen.

We’re only jogging lightly, so even if she fell, it’d probably just mean scraped knees at worst—but still, preventing accidents is always better. I quickly organize the situation and my body movements in my head, then successfully support Rice-chan as she stumbles.

“Anime Reincarnation” might be a bit plain to call a cheat ability, but in terms of convenience, it’s top-notch. Activating it immediately keeps you from panicking. Even though it can’t be used again for several hours afterward, it doesn’t seem to cause any lasting strain. Better to use it than let it rot unused. The activation condition is “while running,” but if you really want to, you can apply it to more than just running. It feels a bit like exploiting a glitch, but hey—I’ll use it liberally.

…Oops. Focus. This is about Rice-chan.

Making sure she doesn’t twist her ankle or contort herself awkwardly, I gently lower her from my arms.

"Are you okay? Sorry for calling out to you so suddenly."

"N-no, not at all! I should be the one apologizing—no, thank you very much!"

"It’s fine, it’s fine. I’d feel awful if you got hurt. This is a good spot—let’s take a break. You’re pretty close to your limit, right?"

As if only then noticing her fatigue, Rice-chan nods weakly. …Yeah, her legs are trembling. Probably best not to make her walk.

"Alright, stay still for a moment."

"Huh? Ah—eh!?"

Once again, I slip my arms around Rice-chan’s back and knees, lifting her into a princess carry.

If I were still human, this would’ve put a serious strain on my arms. But an Uma Musume’s strength far surpasses a human’s, and despite that, our body weight isn’t all that different. On top of that, as an athlete, I train my upper body properly, not just my legs. That’s exactly why I can pull this off.

"E—fuh—eeeh!?"

"Hey, hey, don’t struggle. Come on, let’s sit you down on the bench."

I restrain the flustered Rice-chan and carry her over to a nearby bench. Honestly, panicking whenever something unexpected and unlucky happens is one of Rice-chan’s bad habits. Well… suddenly scooping her up like that was definitely a breach of personal distance—borderline bad manners. I’ll admit that much.

Still, now that I’m holding her again… she’s incredibly light. Her build is about the same as mine—my own stubbornly refusing to show much growth—but she feels far lighter than I expected. If I had to compare it to my sense from my human days, it’s like holding a five-kilogram bag of rice.

Rice, of all things.

…Rice, of all things!

I sit Rice-chan down on the bench and hand her a sports drink I bought from a nearby vending machine. While sipping on my own, I keep a close eye on her condition.

She takes small sips, trying to steady her breathing. Her legs are still trembling… no, her hands are shaking too. Her focus is barely holding together, and even her gaze wavers slightly.

…Hmm. She’s more exhausted than I thought. Or rather—was she really pushing herself all the way to her absolute limit? Even in her past-life anime, she was portrayed as absurdly stoic. Maybe—no, probably—she’s the same type as Ayumu-san: a demon of effort who tends to overdo things.

"Rice-chan, you shouldn’t run until you’re that unsteady. If it’s tough, you need to say so properly."

"B-but, I’d be a burden to you, big sis…"

"Keeping pace with a cute junior doesn’t feel like a burden at all. …And I’ll be a bit blunt here, but if you got injured because of that, then it really would become a problem."

"Y-yes… you’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll be careful."

"Good. And if you don’t listen, I’ll get mad, okay?"

After lightly driving the point home, I move on to the main topic I’d brought up earlier.

"Now then, back to it. Rice-chan, have you been practicing your start dash?"

"Um, well… ah—can I really say…?"

“Can I really say,” huh. Ah… right. Of course.

"Ah—sorry, that was a rude question. Forget I asked."

After all, I belong to the same camp as Bourbon-chan, who could very well be Rice-chan’s rival. Asked like that, I’d sound exactly like a spy trying to steal information.

Personally, I want Rice-chan to win—or rather, since it’d be sad if Bourbon-chan’s own wishes didn’t come true, maybe not “win,” but at least “have a good fight.”

To be blunt, as things stand right now, there’s an unbridgeable gap in specs between Bourbon-chan and Rice-chan.

Like Ayumu-san said in our strategy meeting, in the upcoming Spring Stakes, Rice-chan only has a shot if “Bourbon-chan doesn’t awaken her Domain, and Rice-chan does.” And to be even clearer, when Ayumu-san said “can win,” he really meant “a winning chance can occur.” In practice, it would require Bourbon-chan getting overexcited and bleeding stamina, the race unfolding in a way perfectly suited to Rice-chan, and Rice-chan opening her Domain on top of that. Only then would victory even be possible.

Of course, the race is at mile distance—conditions favorable to Bourbon-chan and unfavorable to Rice-chan—which is why the gap looks this wide in the first place.

Honestly, Bourbon-chan’s growth is just insane. According to Ayumu-san, she has “a body that grows very straightforwardly—though not quite as much as yours.” And on top of that, she trains with that absurdly stoic attitude. Bourbon-chan has both the talent to grow and the talent to work hard. Of mind, skill, and body, it’s fair to say her innate gifts lie in mind and body.

Compared to that, Rice-chan has aptitude in mind and skill, but her physical talent lags just a bit behind. Even if I teach her everything I know, that would only bring her close to even.

Honestly, if Bourbon-chan continues developing under Ayumu-san’s production, she might reach the point of taking the Triple Crown undefeated. If that happens, she’ll naturally enter races like the Japan Cup or the Arima Kinen this year—which means she’ll be racing against me, too. And then there’ll be Rice-chan, capable of fighting Bourbon-chan on even footing; Nature, weaving spiderweb-like strategies; Teio, just absurdly strong; and McQueen-san joining the fray as well…

Heh. I can’t wait. The final festival of the year is going to be incredible. No—I’m going to make it that way.

…Oops. My thoughts wandered again. For the sake of that end-of-year goal, I need to focus on Rice-chan right now.

"I’m not trying to pry information out of you. More than anything, we’re partners who train together like this, so I just want to help however I can."

"B-big sis… but what about Bourbon-san…?"

Ah—she’s kindhearted. Rice-chan’s worried about my position.

But it’s fine. I got permission from the trainer to make it a fair fight… and after that, I made sure to confirm it directly with her as well.

"It’s okay. When I asked if I could lend you a hand, she said, ‘There’s no problem. I will simply aim for victory together with my Master.’"

I didn’t tell Rice-chan this, but she went even further.

“Meeting my Master was thanks to Wilm-senpai. At that point alone, I’ve already received more than enough help from you. Please don’t worry about me, and do what you believe is right.”

My junior is just too good of a kid. Hearing that almost makes me want to help Bourbon-chan too. Well, Ayumu-san’s there, so she probably doesn’t need me anyway.

At best, what I can do is adjust the “game balance” a little—so Bourbon-chan can truly enjoy racing Rice-chan.

"So, I’d like to help just a little. With you, Rice-chan. It might be bothersome—just my own selfish ego—but… would that be okay?"

When I say that, Rice-chan smiles brightly.

"Big sis… you really are big sis."

I mean, I’m not actually your sister, but… maybe it’s about time I asked.

"By the way, Rice-chan—why do you call me ‘big sis,’ anyway?"

"Ah—um… is that… not okay…?"

"No, it’s not that it’s not okay. Wait—there’s no blood relation or anything, right?"

I mean… there’s no way that kind of twist is happening, right? I finally sorted out my feelings toward my parents—if some secret child or half-sibling popped up now, I don’t think my heart could handle it.

As I stand there confused, Rice-chan places a hand against her flushed cheek, still warm from exhaustion, and opens her mouth.

"Um… when I say ‘big sis,’ it’s Rice’s… admiration."

Looking a little embarrassed, Rice-chan begins to tell me about her past.

She’s had terrible luck ever since she was little, and because of that, she became deeply afraid of “bringing misfortune to others.” What supported her heart through all of it, she says, was a picture book called The Blue Rose of Happiness.

In a garden, a single rare blue rose blooms. Because of its unusual nature, people avoid it, fearing it brings misfortune. Even the blue rose itself can’t endure that loneliness, and in the end, it withers, on the brink of dying.

That’s when “big sister” comes to take the blue rose away—a woman who isn’t afraid of it, who instead recognizes and cherishes its beauty. Bathed in her love, the blue rose blooms brilliantly and is placed by the window of her home, bringing happiness to all who pass by.

And they all lived happily ever after.

…Apparently, that’s the story.

Rice-chan probably ended up overlapping herself with that blue rose. Just by existing, she brings misfortune to others—that’s how she sees herself.

That’s why a story where such a blue rose is saved felt like salvation to her. It made her feel as though she herself had been saved.

When Rice-chan finishes telling her story, I tilt my head slightly.

“…Huh.”

Wait a second. If that’s how the story goes… then calling me “big sis” means—

A bad premonition washes over me, cold sweat beading on my skin. Rice-chan looks up at me, a little shy, but her eyes sparkle brightly.

“And then Rice watched the Satsuki Sho and learned about you, big sis! At first you weren’t expected to do much, but you kept running anyway, and you made everyone smile. You looked so cool… and Rice thought, Rice wants to be like that too!”

“O-oh, I see…”

S-so that’s what it is? It’s true that until I won the Hopeful Stakes, I wasn’t popular at all—and during the Satsuki Sho, I was practically treated like a villain.

Given Rice-chan’s circumstances, I guess she ended up projecting herself onto me…

“…And Wilm-senpai said, ‘Rice can change,’ ‘Change with your own strength.’ You said you’d be waiting beyond that. So to Rice, senpai is a goal—an Uma Musume who guided her. From the garden to the window, you showed Rice the direction she should run toward… You’re Rice’s ‘big sis.’”

…Uh.

O-okay.

No, wait—this is way heavier than I expected. Somewhere along the way, Rice-chan ended up liking me far more than I thought.

Honestly, at the time, helping Rice-chan was just, “She was cool in the anime, and it’d be nice if she got stronger. I want to have even more fun races.” That kind of feeling. But Rice-chan—who was apparently pretty cornered back then—took my words as a critical hit.

Interpersonal communication is hard. Sometimes careless words hurt people, and sometimes the opposite happens—casual words end up saving someone. I was saved by Ayumu-san’s words myself, so I get it.

I get it, but—!

When you’re actually on the receiving end of it, it’s really unsettling! I wasn’t saying that to save you or anything! I just wanted us to have fun running together!

And why me instead of Bourbon-chan?! I wanted you to go to Bourbon-chan! There’s demand for MihoRice, but nobody’s asking for HoshiRice!

While I desperately try to suppress my inner turmoil and calm myself down…

“So, um… if it’s okay with you, senpai, can I keep calling you ‘big sis’ from now on…?”

Rice-chan asks timidly.

Honestly, “big sis” feels like too much responsibility. I’m not some perfect super-darling who always has the right answer. I’m just me—Hoshino Wilm. There’s a clear gap between me and the image of the big sister who saves blue roses.

…But can I really refuse her?

Her build is about the same as mine, but since I grew up to be a college student in my past life, Rice-chan feels like a younger girl to me no matter what. And now that girl is looking up at me anxiously, eyes shimmering with tears, mercilessly triggering my protective instincts.

Can I refuse that? Really?

“…I’m not nearly as amazing an Uma Musume as you think, Rice-chan. I’m just a lucky girl who happened to meet the best trainer and be given the best opportunities. If you’re okay with that… then yeah, you can call me whatever you like.”

“Th-thank you very much!”

…Ugh. I’m weak. Way too weak.

But can you blame me? It’s Rice-chan—the unbelievably hard-working Rice Shower I watched in my past-life anime, who kept running desperately even in the face of adversity. There’s no way I could turn her down when she asks like that.

Anyone who could probably doesn’t have a heart.

…Or an Uma heart.

As I watch Rice-chan smile shyly with an “ehehe,” I quietly let out a sigh inside.

This is weird. I just wanted to see MihoRice, you know…

Alright. Accepting the “big sis” treatment is one thing, but it’s time to get back to the main topic.

“Okay then. Like I said, I’d really like to help you, Rice-chan. What do you think?”

“Yes, please! If big sis teaches me, that’s like having a hundred helpers!”

Rice-chan rolls up her sleeves and flexes, making a tiny muscle. Adorable. For a moment, I picture a clingy puppy and feel an overwhelming urge to pet her like crazy—but I suppress it with every ounce of self-control I have.

Damn you, bewitching black-coated girl…! You think you can tempt me that easily?!

“Thanks. And if I’m going to teach you something, I think we should start with the start dash.”

“Start dash?”

Sitting beside Rice-chan on the bench, I raise my index finger.

“See, your trainer doesn’t have that much experience yet, right? Being the same generation as Ayumu-san means—frankly—they’ve mostly handled Nice Nature, who’s a closer. So while they probably understand in theory how important the start dash is for a front-runner like you, they may not have fully grasped it in practice… that’s just my humble speculation.”

“Trainer-san is—”

Rice-chan starts to speak in their defense, and I quickly stop her with my hand.

“Ah—wait, wait. Like I said earlier, I’m not trying to get information from you. So it’s totally fine if you don’t tell me anything. Think of this as me just talking to myself.”

I’m fairly confident in my ability to lie or put on a mask—but if Ayumu-san ever asked me directly, “Please, tell me,” I don’t think I could refuse. That’s what they call being weak to someone you’re in love with. To protect Rice-chan’s information advantage, it’s best that I don’t know any secrets in the first place.

…Well, it’s unlikely Ayumu-san would ask something like that anyway.

“Anyway, I don’t actually know whether your trainer has taught you proper start dashes or not. But even if they have, learning the physical, experiential side of it from me wouldn’t hurt, right? So I’m going to go ahead and teach you my way.

The very first thing Ayumu-san taught me. Something I’ve been practicing again recently. The focus inside the gate that Uma Musume who run escape or front-running styles need to master…

In Ayumu-san’s words, it’s called ‘concentration.’”