I Just Wanted a Quiet Life... So Why Am I an Uma Musume Trainer?!

Chapter 497 - 496 Grace

Rice's POV

At the Nikkei-sho earlier this year, I ran as the first favorite and crossed the finish line in first place. I still remember the voices then—people saying "Congratulations" and "Good luck in the next one."

But today was different. Today, I finished the Tenno Sho in first place.

Last year, when I crossed this same finish line, the stadium didn't erupt. It didn't cheer. It was… silent. A heavy, suffocating silence. And if it had just been silence, maybe it would have been okay. But because I was the one who stopped Mejiro McQueen's three-year winning streak, the world turned on me. I was called a villain. A black rose.

I didn't have a single happy memory of Kyoto Racecourse.

The only reason I'm still standing here today is because back then, my Big Brother got angry for my sake. He fought for me when I couldn't fight for myself.

A year has passed since that day. I was still a little afraid, but I gathered my courage and looked toward the stands.

"—!!!"

The sound hit me like a physical wave.

Every single person in the audience was standing, their hands coming together in a thunderous rhythm, their voices raised in a deafening roar.

"You're incredible, Rice Shower!"

"Congratulations on the back-to-back win!"

"The greatest stayer in Japan!"

"What a race! Thank you, Rice!"

"Rice-chan! Congratulations!"

The voices were nothing like last year's. There were no hushed whispers denying my victory, no cold glares. There was only a storm of celebration, washing over me and telling me that I belonged here.

Announcer: "An absolutely magnificent performance by Rice Shower! She becomes only the second person in history to achieve back-to-back Spring Tenno Sho victories, following Mejiro McQueen's legendary run two years ago! One can only imagine the heights she'll reach by next year!"

Color Commentator: "Indeed. To win by such a margin against a powerhouse like Biwa Hayahide… she is truly in a league of her own as a stayer."

Announcer: "And listen to this crowd! Last year, she was met with boos for shattering a dream, but today is different! Today… it's as if the fans themselves were reborn. They are showering Rice Shower and the eleven other brave runners with the respect they deserve!"

"It's… it's amazing…" I whispered, my breath hitching.

"Rice-kun. That was a beautiful run."

I turned. "Ah… Biwa Hayahide-san."

"I couldn't even close the gap," she said, her expression composed but her eyes burning with a quiet intensity. "You truly are the strongest in the Senior Class. As I am now, I simply can't reach you. I'll have to go back to the drawing board and start from zero."

"Um… thank you. For today."

"I should be the one thanking you," Hayahide replied with a stiff but sincere nod. "This loss will make me stronger."

She gave me a final look of respect before turning toward the underground tunnel. I bowed deeply to her back, then followed.

— The Underground Tunnel —

"Rice. I have been waiting for you."

"Bourbon-san!"

"Congratulations on defending your title," Bourbon said, her voice steady as always, though her eyes softened. "Your performance was… optimal. Truly wonderful."

"Ehehe… thank you."

"Good work out there, Rice," a familiar voice called out.

"Big Brother! Thank you for—" I stopped mid-sentence, my eyes widening. "Wh—?! M-Mom? Dad?! Why are you here?!"

"Your trainer invited us," my father said, a warm smile spreading across his face. "He asked if we'd like to see our daughter's triumph in person."

"Rice-chan… you were so, so incredible…" my mother choked out, before pulling me into a tight embrace.

"M-Mom! This is embarrassing! People are watching!" I squeaked, my face flushing red.

"I'm sorry," she whispered into my hair, her voice trembling. "But I'm just so happy…"

It was embarrassing. But more than that… I was happy. So incredibly happy.

"...Bourbon, you want to head back to the waiting room?" I heard Big Brother mutter nearby.

"No. I shall take my leave now," Bourbon replied. "Trainer-san, you should go ahead."

"...Right. Rice, I'll be in the waiting room. Take a few minutes to talk with your parents."

Always so thoughtful. Big Brother slipped away, giving us the privacy we needed.

"Rice, did you hear them?" my father asked. "Everyone in that stadium was cheering for you. I was so moved… it felt just like that day in France, seeing the world acknowledge your strength."

"I felt the same way," my mother added, wiping her eyes. "Seeing you so loved by everyone… and seeing how much you've grown… it's a dream come true."

"Yeah," I said softly. "I was scared at first. But when I heard them, all the fear just… vanished. But it's all thanks to Big Brother. If he hadn't saved me last year, I don't think I'd be here to hear any of it."

My father went quiet for a moment, his expression turning serious. "...You're right. If your trainer hadn't stood up for you on this very ground last year, you might have walked away from racing forever. It only takes one wrong turn to lose everything. I can never thank him enough for what he did."

"Truly," my mother agreed. "If you had quit because you learned to hate the track, I wouldn't have known how to help you. He didn't just save your career, Rice. He saved your future."

They were making it sound like a grand, dramatic epic… but I knew they were right. It could have all gone so differently. That was why they looked at Big Brother with such profound gratitude.

— The Waiting Room —

"ACHOO!"

Hachiman rubbed his nose, looking confused. (I don't think it's cold in here, but I just got a sudden chill. It wasn't a bad feeling, exactly… just weird. What was that?)

— Bonus —

Speed: "Hmm… it seems there is no longer any need to cancel the arrangement."

Taliato: "So it seems. Whatever the public actually thinks in their hearts, they've at least learned to keep their vitriol to themselves. That is a form of growth, I suppose."

Speed: "I agree."

Taliato: "Then there is no need to transfer her to America."

Rudolph: (Freezing in place) "Wait. Lady Taliato… what did you just say?"

Taliato: "Oh, didn't you know? If the crowd had reacted the same way they did last year, I intended to move Rice Shower to the American circuit to protect her. I had already discussed it with Hachiman. But it seems the move is unnecessary now."

Speed: "To go that far… though, Hachiman told me he couldn't make such a decision on his own."

Taliato: "Yes. I told him to consider it as a final resort. I left the thinking to him."

Rudolph: "But… Brother never said a word to us about this?!"

Taliato: "Take that up with Hachiman. If he kept it a secret, that's his responsibility. I never told him to stay silent."

Rudolph: (Her eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint) "...Then I shall do exactly that."

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