After Rice Shower stopped Mihono Bourbon from winning her third title, she faced a barrage of insults from disappointed spectators.
Later, before participating in her third Spring Tenno Sho last year, Rice Shower was completely underestimated and even lost the will to compete.
Fortunately, encouraged by Mihono Bourbon, Rice Shower regained her fighting spirit.
This time at the Takarazuka Kinen, the highly anticipated match was between the two Umamusumes considered to be the strongest on active duty, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
In the end, Rice Shower emerged victorious.
Actually, Rice Shower was somewhat worried that after being discharged from the hospital, she would hear people criticizing her for stealing the spotlight from Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
However, the result was quite the opposite.
Rice Shower not only didn't receive any criticism, but she also received a lot of concern from her classmates.
This made Rice Shower extremely happy.
Rice Shower definitely longed to continue running.
After waking up injured at the Takarazuka Kinen, her greatest fear was that she wouldn't be able to run anymore.
Now, with Sakura Baimu's help, her injury was healing at a miraculous speed.
Rice Shower naturally felt an immense longing to continue competing in the future.
Because Rice Shower had mastered her Zone, she had gained a deeper understanding of the world of Umamusume (race).
A Zone was indeed something that could quickly enhance her strength, but her current physical condition wasn't sufficient to use a Zone at this level.
Therefore, improving her strength was urgent.
Rice Shower recalled Sakura Baimu's words inviting her to train together, and she was deeply moved.
Especially the line, "I know you're not very good at getting along with others, so I won't force you to join my team," completely conveyed Sakura Baimu's considerate nature to Rice Shower.
Rice Shower knew.
Sakura Baimu's help wasn't for any other purpose.
It was purely because Sakura Baimu was kind-hearted.
While receiving care from Sakura Baimu in the hospital, Rice Shower repeatedly expressed her envy of the Umamusumes, members of Sakura Baimu's team.
She felt it was something she greatly admired that they had such a kind and gentle trainer.
Rice Shower had also considered joining TCB for a long time.
Both because of the immense help Sakura Baimu gave her after her injury, and her own desire to improve her skills.
It seems like they were all telling her the same thing.
That is—
Joining TCB was the right choice.
Rice Shower had once considered training with Mihono Bourbon.
However, after witnessing Kuronuma's extremely aggressive and serious training methods, Rice Shower immediately abandoned the idea.
Sakura Baimu was noticeably gentler.
She was even gentler than Rigil's trainer, Tojo Hana.
Just as Rice Shower was looking down, pondering whether to muster the courage to train with Sakura Baimu the next day, she suddenly felt her head bump into someone.
She looked up and saw five Umamusumes wearing sunglasses and masks, their faces completely obscured.
Rice Shower was intimately familiar with this scene. Before she could even speak, she heard the Umamusume with white highlights on her forehead and a brown ponytail standing at the front call out in a childlike voice.
"Daiwa, Vodka, Spe-chan, Suzuka, move in!"
Then, the Umamusume with long, light purple hair, the Umamusume with short black hair and white highlights, the Umamusume with chestnut-brown pigtails, and the Umamusume with brown princess braids all answered in unison:
"Understood, Gold Ship!"
Rice Shower took a few steps back in horror, muttering. "Isn't Ms. Suzuka still in America... ugh...!"
Before Rice Shower could finish her sentence, everything went black, and a bag was suddenly shoved over her head, followed by her being lifted up.
--
A moment later, the cloth bag was finally removed from Rice Shower's head, and she saw the faces of Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, Smart Falcon, and the two new students, with a look of horror on her face.
"Impersonating Spica is completely pointless!!"
Rice Shower couldn't help but yell in disbelief, wondering what the point was of these people impersonating Spica and revealing their identities to her.
"Excuse me, Rice," Tokai Teio said softly. "We mean no harm; we just wanted to ask if you'd like to join TCB."
Tokai Teio leaned down gently in front of Rice Shower, asking in an incredibly gentle tone.
Then Rice Shower saw Kitasan Black draw the curtains in the activity room, and Satono Diamond lock the door.
Rice Shower looked down at her own body, bound tightly and unable to move, and mentally screamed in horror:
"What do you mean no harm?!!"
"Uh, if Rice says no, would you let me go?" Rice Shower asked, her voice trembling.
The five Umamusumes of TCB all nodded in unison.
But then they suddenly realize something. Rice Shower refused to join the team, and all five of them stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
"What the hell?! Who would accept this?!"
Rice Shower looked at their expressions, utterly bewildered.
Did they think that by using such a forceful attitude, she would readily accept?!
"As expected, TCB's Umamusumes are even stranger than Spica...!"
"Huh? Why? Didn't Trainer-san invite Rice to join the team?" Tokai Teio asked. "I really want to run with Rice!"
"No, onee-sama didn't invite Rice to join the team..." Rice Shower quickly shook her head.
"Onee-sama?"
The five TCB Umamusumes reacted simultaneously, finding Rice Shower's address unbelievable.
"Well… Ms. Sakura said she wouldn't force Rice to join the team, but she hopes Rice will come and train with us…" Rice Shower spoke softly.
"Ah? Oh, I see!!"
Tokai Teio stared in disbelief, quickly untying Rice Shower's ropes. "Trainer-san didn't actually invite Rice Shower to join the team, huh? Ahahaha, how embarrassing."
"Could it really be out of kindness…?"
Mejiro McQueen's tone was full of doubt.
"Falco also feels its a little strange."
"This is so strange! Why don't you all trust your trainer?!"
Rice Shower finally couldn't help but shout out her complaint again.