Rice Shower

The track, moments ago alive with the rhythmic thunder of hooves and the sound of laughter, now lay quiet beneath the setting sun.

Team Sirius had finished for the day — footsteps echoing faintly as they left together — all except one.

You noticed her small figure still lingering near the far end of the track.

Rice Shower, her silhouette faint against the dusky sky, stood motionless. Her hands clutched the hem of her skirt, her head slightly bowed. Even from afar, you could sense the tremble in her stance — that mix of nerves and self-doubt that always crept in before a big race.

You walked toward her, your footsteps soft against the turf. When you called her name, she flinched a little, turning around slowly. Her violet eyes met yours, wide and uneasy.

“Ah… T-Trainer-san… I-I didn’t notice you were still here…” She tried to smile, but her voice wavered.

You asked why she hadn’t gone back with the others.

"Everyone else looked so confident, and I—” Her gaze dropped to the track again, fingers fidgeting with the ribbon of her sleeve. “If something goes wrong again, it’ll be my fault. I don’t want that to happen anymore…”

Her voice trailed off into a whisper, nearly lost in the evening wind. The tension in her small shoulders was visible — she was trying not to shake, not to show how afraid she was.

You stepped closer, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. She stiffened at first, then blinked up at you. Your words were simple — calm and steady — reassuring her that it wasn’t her fault, that she had been doing incredibly well. That Team Sirius believed in her. That you did.

Her ears drooped slightly, then twitched at your words.

“I… I’ve really been doing okay?”

You nodded, smiling faintly, and reached up to pat her head softly. The moment your hand brushed over her hat, she froze, her tail twitching once before she looked away, her cheeks pink.

“Ah— T-Trainer-san…! I-I… you really don’t have to—”

She stopped mid-sentence when you simply told her it's okay.

For a few seconds, the world was quiet. The sun dipped low behind the track’s fence, painting the clouds in gold and lavender. Finally, Rice leans closer into your hand, and whispered, almost as if to herself.

“Hehe… Then I’ll keep running, keep doing my best. Even if I’m scared."

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the sakura trees that lined the Tracen Academy courtyard, scattering soft pink petals across the cobblestone path. The breeze carried the faint laughter of students in the distance, but the far corner of the courtyard was quiet — a small pocket of calm untouched by the usual bustle.

That’s where you saw her.

Rice Shower sat on a bench beneath a blooming cherry tree, her short frame nearly swallowed by the book she held in her hands. Her dark hair shimmered faintly in the light, the small blue rose pinned to her hat swaying with each passing gust. Her legs dangled slightly above the ground, gently swinging as she read.

Curiosity tugged at you, and quietly, you stepped closer — your shoes barely making a sound on the path. As you came up behind her, you tilted your head just enough to see the title printed in soft gold letters: “The Blue Rose of Good Fortune.”

Her favorite. Of course.

You smiled faintly, watching her lips move as she whispered the lines under her breath, almost reverently. It was one of those rare moments where her usual tension melted away — where she seemed peaceful, completely absorbed in a world of her own.

You leaned a little closer to catch what page she was on — and that was when she suddenly turned it. Her ear twitched.

Then she froze.

“—T-Trainer-san!?”

Rice jolted upright, nearly dropping the book as her hat tilted precariously to the side. Her face flushed a deep red as she spun around on the bench, wide violet eyes blinking up at you.

“W-were you—? You were peeking again, weren’t you?”

You raised your hands defensively, explaining that you were just curious. But that only made her puff her cheeks, clearly torn between embarrassment and disbelief.

“T-Trainer-san, that’s… that’s sneaky! You can’t just… sneak up like that! My heart’s still racing…” Her ears flicked nervously as she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm herself down.

After a moment, her gaze softened, though she still pouted slightly.

“...But, um… I guess it’s okay. Since it’s you.”

You apologized playfully and asked about the book, which made her brighten — just a little.

“It’s… The Blue Rose of Good Fortune. I know I’ve read it a hundred times, but… I always find something new in it. It’s like… even small hopes can bloom again if you believe in them.” She looked down at the open page, her voice barely above a whisper. “I like to remind myself of that before a big race…”

You nodded, sitting beside her on the bench. For a few moments, neither of you said anything — the only sound was the wind and the gentle rustling of paper. Then, quietly, she smiled.

“Trainer-san, next time, you can read with me, okay? But promise you won’t sneak up again.”

It was one of those soft, sunny mornings where the air carried just the right amount of warmth — the kind of day perfect for slowing down.

You met Rice Shower at the station near Tracen’s front gate. She stood there waiting, wearing her casual outfit — a cream-colored long-sleeve dress trimmed with chocolate-brown accents, a small ribbon at her collar, and her signature beige headband nestled between her ears. Her hair shimmered faintly under the sunlight, brushing softly against her shoulders.

When she noticed you, she gave a small wave, holding a tiny paper bag in her other hand.

“T-Trainer-san! Um… I didn’t make you wait, did I?”

You told her she was right on time, and she smiled — a shy, gentle curve of her lips that matched the spring air. She held up the paper bag nervously.

“I made some sweet rice dumplings… I thought it’d be nice to share, since it’s our day off.”

The two of you wandered through the quiet streets, heading toward a small park near the edge of town. Rice seemed relaxed, though her steps were still soft and careful, as if afraid to disturb the calm around her. The scent of blooming flowers followed wherever she went.

At the park, you both found a wooden bench under a large tree. You sat together, the dappled sunlight painting warm gold spots across her cream dress. She opened the paper bag and offered one of the dumplings to you, eyes brightening when you complimented the taste.

“Hehe… I’m glad. I tried using a bit more red bean paste this time. It’s… um, Maruzensky-san’s recipe.”

You asked if she learned it just for today, and she turned away slightly, cheeks pink.

“W-well… maybe. I thought it’d make today more special…” She spoke quietly after that, her fingers idly smoothing the folds of her skirt. “It’s nice, isn’t it? Having a day where you don’t have to rush anywhere… You work so hard, Trainer-san. I… I wanted you to relax for once.”

You smiled at her sincerity, and she beamed back — though bashfully, as always.

The two of you spent the rest of the afternoon walking through the park, stopping by a small sweets shop and watching the koi pond shimmer beneath the sunlight.

As the sun began to dip low, painting the sky in orange and violet, Rice looked up at you, her voice soft but sure.

“I think… I really like days like this. Just walking, talking… being with someone kind.” Her violet eyes met yours for a brief second before darting away again. “Ah—! I-I mean, um…! I just mean that… it’s nice not to feel unlucky for once…”

You couldn’t help but laugh, and she smiled shyly, hiding her face behind her hands.