"The Blue Rose of Happiness"
Once upon a time, there was a mysterious garden. In that garden bloomed roses of every color, and they brought happiness to everyone who visited.
But one day, a rosebud appeared—an entirely blue rose that no one had ever seen before.
When the other roses and the visitors saw the blue rose, they all said, "A blue rose is creepy," "It must be a flower of misfortune."
Hearing that, the blue rose became sad and thought, "I'm a worthless flower." Gradually, it began to wilt.
Then one day, someone called "Big Brother" came before the wilting blue rose.
When Big Brother found the blue rose, he smiled gently and serenely and said:
"Wow, a blue rose! How wonderful! It will surely bloom beautifully. Please, let me buy it!"
Big Brother who bought the wilting blue rose moved it into a new pot and spoke to it every day.
Touched by Big Brother's kindness, the blue rose bloomed into a beautiful flower.
That beautiful blue rose was placed on the windowsill of Big Brother's home, where it brought happiness to all who passed by.
---
"…This picture book is Rice's most favorite story. When I was really little, my mother read it to me for the first time, and I still love it."
"It's such a lovely story! I think I've come to love it too!"
"Thank you, Lily-chan. Rice is really happy. …You know, I thought…I want to become like that blue rose too. Not someone who brings misfortune to everyone… but a blue rose who can make everyone happy."
The black-haired girl finished reading the storybook and shared her dream with the white-haired girl. Hearing this, the white-haired girl looked straight at her, smiling brightly, and replied:
"Then, my blue rose is you, Rice-chan!"
"…Eh?"
With a smile sparkling like the sun, the girl said:
"Because when I'm with you, Rice-chan, I feel so happy! So Rice-chan is my blue rose!"
"…I'm the blue rose…"
That pure, completely untainted smile made her chest grow warm.
"…Lily-chan is amazing. When I'm with you, my heart feels warm. …For me, Lily-chan is my blue rose."
"Waa! …Ehehe, that makes me so happy."
Her smile, her heart, her kindness—everything was so, so beautiful—
"I love you…I love you so much, Lily-chan."
"I love you too, Rice-chan!"
---
(…That dream from when we were little. …How nostalgic.)
Rice Shower awoke from a dream of the two of them as children. Nostalgic, warm, a very precious memory.
Today was the day of her first graded stakes race—the Kyoto Junior Stakes. They had stayed the night before at a nearby hotel, and beside her, Shiro no Lily was peacefully asleep with a serene expression.
Since the alarm hadn't gone off yet, she must have woken up a little early. Thinking she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, she simply gazed absentmindedly at Lily's face.
(…She's so pretty.)
While looking at her face, she recalled the races so far.
Her races were brilliant and dazzling. Her powerful finishing sprint that tore through the turf was like a flash of light. Her radiant smile shone brighter than the sun. Every time Rice remembered, her chest burned warmly.
Now that Lily had already won a graded race, you could say she had gotten ahead of Rice. Before entering Tracen Academy, Rice had been the one ahead, but now Lily was the one in front. That made her happy—but also a little frustrated.
(…Ever since back then… ever since we were little, Lily-chan has been Rice's admiration. But I don't want to just admire her anymore. …I want to walk beside her, always.)
Determination lit up in Rice Shower's eyes.
(…Because I love her.)
---
Before the race, in the waiting room, the trainer came over to Rice Shower. Rice seemed to be in a good mood today—she was sitting on a chair, humming and swinging her legs.
"What's up, Rice? You're in an amazing mood. Did something good happen?"
"~♪ …You know, in my dream today, I saw Lily-chan and me when we were little. It was nostalgic, and so warm. That made me really happy… But that's not all. Today is my first graded race, so I get to show Lily-chan and Sister how cool I am!"
Rice answered with a big smile. Seeing that, the trainer also smiled.
"I see, I see. Then Lily and I will be looking forward to it together."
"Please expect great things, Onee-sama! …I'm off now!"
"Go get 'em, Rice!"
---
Clop, clop… Light footsteps echoed through the underground passage. They sounded cheerful—no trace of nerves.
(The weather is clear, the sun is beautiful. The wind today is a little cold, but for me right now, it's just right.)
The cold wind that hinted at winter's approach passed through Rice Shower. From that wind, she could smell the fresh scent of the green turf.
—Her blood boiled. But this heat was a bit too hot. Grateful for the cold breeze, she continued walking.
(If just thinking about today makes me this fired up… then if I were racing Lily-chan today… Just imagining it makes me feel even hotter.)
Smiling softly, Rice walked forward. Clop, clop, her footsteps sounded as she reached the blinding light ahead.
(…Wait for me, Lily-chan. I'll catch up to you soon.)
The black-haired girl advanced. …Now, it was time for the race.
---
"Now, let us introduce today's notable Umamusume! Second favorite—Matikanetannhauser!"
"A highly skilled runner who reliably finishes on the board. Can she aim for victory today? Eyes are on her."
"But today's star is unmistakably her! The favorite—Rice Shower! She's undefeated with two straight wins!"
"Every race she's run has been overwhelmingly strong. There's no doubt that the key to this race will be figuring out how to defeat her."
In the paddock, the Umamusume racing today were being introduced. As a leading contender, Rice Shower drew attention from both competitors and spectators.
"Wow~! Rice-chan looks so cool! Ruru-chan, look!"
"She trained super hard for today. Rice is gonna win!"
Of course, Shiro no Lily and the trainer were cheering her on too. They both knew her strength well and felt confident in her victory.
"Well, nothing is ever guaranteed in a race, but if I had to say… I'd declare that Rice is the strongest one here."
"Yes! And also, Rice-chan is my best friend, someone dear to me… and also my rival!"
The trainer smiled and patted Lily's head as she proudly puffed out her chest. Seeing her smug grin made the trainer smile even more. The fanfare sounded, and the Umamusume began entering the gates.
"The race is about to begin… Look, Lily. Rice's face—she looks like she's having so much fun."
"She really does! I can feel the excitement from here!"
A hush fell over them. In the long-yet-short silence, with a clank, the gates burst open and all the Umamusume sprang forward.
"Go, Rice-chan!"
"Do your best, Rice!"
Her first graded race. She thought she'd be super nervous. But she was wrong. What she felt was—
(—This is fun.)
Rice Shower sprang lightly from the gate, easily taking the third position near the front, keeping the whole field in view.
(There are nine runners today, and the one I'm watching—Tanhoiser-san—is marking me from behind. Yep, this is fine.)
In all her previous races, Rice had taken a front-running strategy, staying in a good position. She figured Matikanetannhauser was aiming to mark her and then pass her in the final stretch.
(Lily-chan is watching. Onee-sama is watching. …I can't show them anything uncool.)
At first glance, the race was unfolding normally. Not a particularly fast pace, not slow—just normal. But as they exited the corner, the eight other Umamusume felt a massive pressure descend upon them.
—Onto the lush green turf, a jet-black madness rained down.
A grinding, crushing, black pressure. It felt as though their entire bodies were being wrapped in lead. The Umamusume running across the turf felt fear.
Their legs felt heavy, their bodies wouldn't move, their throats dried up, their breathing faltered. —Who is…?! Only one small black-haired girl ran unfazed by the pressure.
—Why was this girl the only one able to run… No. That's wrong! That's not it!! This girl—this black girl is radiating this pressure!!
"—You found out."
"But, it doesn't matter."
"—Because Rice is going to win."
The black girl unleashed a pressure incomparable to before.
"...Unbelievable. She's overwhelming…"
From there on, it was one-sided. Crushed by the weight, the other Umamusume lost precision, their stamina drained. Even when they tried to cling on, they couldn't catch up. Rice Shower crossed the finish line 10 lengths ahead.
Barely, Matikanetannhauser finished second, 10 lengths behind. The others were even farther back.
The trainer trembled at Rice Shower's strength. She had been hiding it… no, she just hadn't needed to use it. She hadn't been running seriously until now.
Terrifying, even if she was their beloved horse girl. With a slight panic and cold sweat, the trainer wondered—how would that girl react upon seeing this? She glanced at the girl beside her.
—She was trembling. But it wasn't fear… it was joy.
A smile brighter than the sun, golden eyes shining more than the stars in the sky, were fixed solely on the black-haired girl.
The white-haired girl couldn't speak. Her face, her chest, burned with heat. Her heart was ablaze. She couldn't take her eyes off the black-haired girl—someone she loved, cherished, adored more than anyone.
—Beautiful. Her obsidian-like night hair, her amethyst-like shining eyes, her small, huggable body, and above all, her kindness—it was all unbearably precious.
Noticing the white girl's burning gaze, the black girl turned and smiled enchantingly. —Ah, it's hot.
---
—I really wasn't planning to use it. But I couldn't hold back.
I've been waiting for so long. Ever since we promised to run together, I've waited years. I thought I could hold on just a little longer… but I couldn't.
Hey, Lily-chan—
In the depths of her bewitchingly shining eyes, a blue light flickered.
—Look only at me.