There were several reasons why I—Viola Regina—decided to rope Rice Shower into a trainer contract.
First, even though I couldn't be officially employed by Tracen Academy due to my age, my trainer qualification was still valid. That meant I could operate as a freelance trainer. I couldn't earn a salary, but I could legally sign contracts and receive a share of a horse girl's prize money. It was a loophole, but a powerful one.
Still, I knew the odds were stacked against me. I was young, had no track record, no experience, and no connections. Convincing a horse girl to trust me would be nearly impossible.
But then Rice Shower appeared—almost like fate—and I seized the moment.
I practically tricked her into the trainer's room.
"Is this really okay?" she asked, voice trembling.
"Of course!" I beamed, flashing my biggest smile.
And just like that, the contract was signed.
One reason I chose Rice Shower was simple: she seemed easy to persuade. But that wasn't all.
Her physical ability was undeniable. The strength in her core, her legs, and her hips—like a tree rooted deep in the earth—was something I felt firsthand when we collided. She was a hidden gem, a blue-chip prospect. It made perfect sense to choose her.
And then I learned her name: Rice Shower.
That changed everything.
In this world, names carry the weight of destiny—sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse.
Rice Shower was the name of a well known horse. A horse who, despite his tragic fate, once defeated the mighty Mejiro McQueen in the Tenno Sho (Spring)—a race McQueen was expected to dominate.
That meant the girl standing before me had inherited the legacy of a horse capable of toppling giants. She had the potential to be the strongest of her generation. If I trained her well, if she ran hard and won big, we could earn serious prize money.
But it wasn't just about fortune.
It was also about fate.
Rice Shower's legacy is steeped in tragedy—three bone fractures, a career cut short, and a reputation misunderstood. I couldn't let that happen again. As her trainer, it was my duty to protect her. No injuries. No missteps. No broken bones. Not even once.
If everything went perfectly, she might even challenge for the Triple Crown. Though… Mihono Bourbon might be a tough rival in the same era.
And then there's her reputation.
Even if Mejiro McQueen is a beloved icon, it would be unbearable if Rice Shower were labeled a villain—a "black assassin," a record-breaker turned villain. I had to shield her from that, too.
So I made up my mind.
First step: feed her. A lot. Build up her body, her strength, her stamina. She needed fuel, and I would make sure she had it.