After officially stepping onto the path of becoming an "Empress," Shirayuki began learning from Air Groove how to radiate her own presence. During training, Tokai Teio tried to come over several times, only to be mercilessly driven away by Air Groove. Later, Teio brought Rudolf over with great momentum, and the two of them were driven away together.
In short, when training, Air Groove demanded absolute silence around Shirayuki. No outsiders were allowed to disturb them. She was even more like a trainer than an actual trainer.
At the same time, Chiya's side was not idle either. For some reason, Mejiro Dober had developed an intense competitive spirit and was absolutely determined to defeat Shirayuki thoroughly in the race. Because of that, Chiya had no choice but to accompany her in training.
After school, there were almost no figures left on the training grounds. Only Mejiro Dober was still running.
"Trainer, what's the next item?" Mejiro Dober stopped beside Fujiwara Chiya. The man looked at the training plan in his hands. It was a full third longer than everyone else's.
"Take a break first and eat, Dober. We'll train again later. If you're hungry, your training efficiency will drop a lot."
Mejiro Dober hesitated for a few moments, then nodded.
"You're right."
Even if she was not hungry, Trainer definitely was. In truth, she was already delaying his time after work. Mejiro Dober knew that she had already been selfish enough, so she did not ask Trainer to stay here.
"I'll go run a few more laps. Trainer, please go to the cafeteria first."
"Hey, Dober!"
Before Fujiwara Chiya could finish speaking, she had already run off.
Can this really continue?
Compared to whether Shirayuki won or lost, Fujiwara Chiya was more worried about Mejiro Dober's body. With this level of training intensity, she might collapse from overtraining before the race. There was less than a month left until the Tulip Sho.
"Onii-sama~"
A small black figure approached Fujiwara Chiya. Rice Shower swayed her ears. "Is Onii-sama still training?"
"Mm." Fujiwara Chiya patted her head.
"Onii-sama is working so hard."
"I'm fine. The ones working hard are all of you."
Although an Uma Musume's strength was related to training volume, a trainer also had to properly understand the Uma Musume's physical condition. It was true that tightening training before a race could make up for weaknesses and increase the chance of winning. However, if they trained too much, fatigue would accumulate. Their condition would be poor during the race, and their muscles would not have recovered, leaving their acceleration weak.
That kind of rushed training could instead lower an Uma Musume's chance of winning.
That was why constantly observing an Uma Musume's condition was a required lesson for trainers, and also the most difficult one. There were many things an Uma Musume would not say. Even if Fujiwara Chiya asked Mejiro Dober whether she was tired, there was a very high chance she would answer that she was not.
How was he supposed to understand her physical condition like that?
Helping an Uma Musume increase stamina while also maintaining her condition was not easy. Even senior trainers were often troubled by that problem.
Seeing Fujiwara Chiya's concern, Rice Shower reached out and gently touched his face.
"Onii-sama, rest on Rice for a while."
"On you?"
"L-lap! Rice means on Rice's lap!" Rice Shower lightly tapped his chest with her small fists. "That kind of thing should be done in a room…"
"…"
Fujiwara Chiya could no longer look at Rice Shower with the same pure gaze as before. This little girl had already climbed the staircase to adulthood and experienced things that could not be taken back. Honestly, it would not be wrong to see Rice Shower as a smaller version of Hayakawa Tazuna. Usually, she was a cute, considerate little comforter, but once only the two of them remained, she would show another face.
Every single Uma Musume was a frightening existence. For Fujiwara Chiya, the only safe Uma Musume at the moment was Shirayuki.
Of course, under normal circumstances, they were still very reliable.
Rice Shower leaned against Fujiwara Chiya's back, stroking the man's head while murmuring, "There, there~"
Listening to her voice, Fujiwara Chiya's mood calmed down strangely, allowing him to think about Mejiro Dober's problem more clearly. He had to admit, Rice Shower's little-sister-style comfort was quite effective.
He remembered that not long ago, Director Akikawa had given him a hot spring voucher. After trying it once, he had found the relaxation effect truly impressive. If he could let Mejiro Dober go once a week before the race, then let her relax for two days before returning to the current training intensity, perhaps he could avoid the negative impact of excessive fatigue on the race.
Of course, he definitely could not buy hot spring vouchers for ten people. Fujiwara Chiya could not afford that. So he would buy one only for Mejiro Dober. She should be able to find the way herself.
Thinking that, Fujiwara Chiya's tense heart finally relaxed. He felt that in the next race, Mejiro Dober would definitely achieve a good result.
"Onii-sama is always thinking about other people." Rice Shower's fingers moved from Fujiwara Chiya's hair to the corners of his eyes, gently massaging them for him. "Just now, Onii-sama solved another problem for Dober-san, didn't you?"
Just by observing his expression, Rice Shower could guess that the issue troubling Fujiwara Chiya had been solved.
"It's just work."
"Rice knew Onii-sama would say that. Rice sees all the effort Onii-sama puts in. In places other people can't see, Onii-sama helps them solve one problem after another. They don't know who is helping clear the road ahead of them. They don't know what Onii-sama thinks about or does every day. But that's all right. If nobody praises Onii-sama, Rice will praise you. Onii-sama is the best."
Rice Shower hugged Fujiwara Chiya tightly and whispered beside his ear.
Somehow, the atmosphere felt a little subtle.
Originally, Rice Shower should have been a little-sister-type Uma Musume, the kind who was soft and fragile and needed protection every day. But now, Fujiwara Chiya felt a dependable, almost maternal warmth from her.
Was this normal?
It was not normal. Fujiwara Chiya could only think of one explanation.
He… had become a lolicon.
However, Fujiwara Chiya denied it in his heart. Although he and Rice Shower had already crossed certain lines, from beginning to end, Rice Shower had never been within his "target range" because of that. The reason Fujiwara Chiya could accept her was simply because she was Rice Shower, not because she was small or childlike.
"My preferences shouldn't have broadened in some weird direction, right? They haven't, right…"
Fujiwara Chiya raised his trembling hands and held his head. From the woods behind them came a rustling sound. A pink figure emerged from inside. Pink eyes the same color as her hair looked at Fujiwara Chiya.
Kyoei March!?
Why are you here?
A few fallen leaves dropped from her head, giving her a faintly sage-like air.
Don't tell me you were cultivating in there!
She glanced at Rice Shower, who was hugging Fujiwara Chiya from behind, and her expression twisted.
"Pervert."
"Wait! She and I are… are…"
Are what?
Innocent?
He and Rice Shower were absolutely not innocent.
Kyoei March huffed and walked away with leaves still on her head and shoulders.
"It's okay. Even if Onii-sama is a pervert, Rice still likes you!"
Please.
Let me calm down for a moment.