After explaining everything, Fujiwara Chiya began the day's training. According to the plan, everyone would start with warm-up exercises.
Fujiwara Shirayuki quietly stepped out from the group.
"Hm? Shirayuki, the team's over here!" Gold Ship called out.
"Shirayuki's going to start from the very basics, so she won't be joining your warm-up."
"Wait, there's something more basic than warming up?" Gold Ship blinked in disbelief.
"Of course there is. She's starting with walking."
"…That's a thing?" Gold Ship looked genuinely shocked.
Right now, Fujiwara Chiya was splitting his attention in two, controlling his own body while also controlling Shirayuki's. It was like sitting at a desk with two monitors, running two completely different systems at the same time.
He needed to get used to it first. Running was too complex. Until he fully adapted, he had to start with something simple.
"Trainer… I think I'm worse than Shirayuki," Meisho Doto said hesitantly. "C-can I start with something even more basic?"
"More basic? What, you want to walk too?"
"…I was thinking maybe… starting with crawling…"
"If you want to crawl, go do it somewhere else. Now get training."
Fujiwara Chiya waved her off impatiently.
Honestly, none of these Uma Musume gave him any peace of mind. Rice Shower was the only one who actually listened. If he told her to do something, she would do it without question. As for Gold Ship, the best outcome during training was simply her not causing trouble.
And Meisho Doto…
He didn't even know how to evaluate her. Her actions weren't intentional, but she was still a walking disaster.
Back then, Fujiwara Chiya felt like he was carrying the entire team by himself. Trying to push a team like this to the level of graded races was like attempting a nightmare difficulty run.
But things were different now.
Now he had Fujiwara Shirayuki.
Through her body, he could finally understand what Uma Musume truly needed, what they wanted, and what it felt like to run on the track.
Know yourself and know your opponent, and you will never be defeated. Only by understanding their hearts could he step into their world and lead them to give everything they had to win.
This wasn't just about raising Uma Musume.
It was about proving himself as well.
"Alright. Let's start walking."
Controlling Shirayuki's body, Fujiwara Chiya took a step forward.
Her foot pressed into the soft grass. The texture of the soil traveled through the sole of her shoe, into her skin, and then into her mind.
It felt completely different.
Even though she was only walking, the sensation beneath Shirayuki's feet was nothing like his own. Each step felt light, as if something invisible was gently lifting her body.
So light… unbelievably light…
It felt like if she pushed just a little harder, she could take off into the air.
Before she realized it, her pace began to quicken. The wind rushed past her ears, and the scenery around her blurred.
Fujiwara Chiya had watched countless Uma Musume races before, but actually stepping onto the track in one's body was an entirely different experience.
What should have been a simple step produced explosive force while also placing a heavy burden on the body.
This was what it meant to be an Uma Musume. Their average strength was three to five times that of a human, and their top speed could surpass a high-speed car.
…So I can do this too?
Just as Fujiwara Chiya focused all his attention on Shirayuki—
"Onii-sama…"
The voice pulled him back.
The petite girl in the purple hat stood behind him.
"Rice Shower? What is it?"
"Warm-ups are finished… Rice Shower would like Onii-sama to give her training instructions."
"Same as before. Complete your basic training. Just follow the schedule."
To be safe, Shirayuki slowed down. If she lost focus and tripped at that speed, it wouldn't end well.
"The schedule… Rice Shower understands." Her gemstone-like purple eyes wavered with unease, as if she had something she wanted to say.
"What is it, Rice Shower? Do you have something on your mind?"
Even if he wasn't particularly good at reading girls, Fujiwara Chiya could tell she was holding something back.
"Rice Shower… Rice Shower wants Onii-sama to watch her train."
She clenched her small hands and finally spoke.
"Watch you?"
"Yes." She bit her soft lips. "Rice Shower wants Onii-sama to see her growth."
"Alright."
With just that one word, the tension in her expression melted away.
"Let me see how strong you've become."
"Strong might be too much… but Rice Shower has been working very hard."
As she spoke, her gaze flickered briefly toward the white-haired girl running in the distance.
Then she stepped forward.
"Then… please watch, Onii-sama. Rice Shower's training results."
She stepped onto the track and began to run.
Her black hair flowed behind her as her small frame cut across the field with surprising strength. Seeing her run, Gold Ship and Meisho Doto stood at the side, cheering loudly.
Seriously, could you two at least train properly…
Thinking that to himself, Fujiwara Chiya focused back on Rice Shower.
To be honest, he hadn't thought much of her at first. He had seen her a few times on the track before. Her running form didn't stand out, and her small build put her at a disadvantage. Against larger runners, even a slight collision could drain her stamina.
No natural talent. No physical advantage.
Before she even debuted, she had already been labeled as lacking potential.
Several mock races passed, and no trainer chose her.
Fujiwara Chiya had been one of those trainers.
But then, by chance, he saw her sitting alone in a corner, looking up at the sky.
Thump.
He heard it clearly.
Thump.
Again.
Her heartbeat echoed as if right beside him.
How could such a small body produce something so strong?
Surprised, Fujiwara Chiya kept watching her.
About ten minutes later, she suddenly stood up.
"Alright… Rice Shower is ready."
She clenched her fists, her expression firm.
At that moment, Fujiwara Chiya made his decision.
"If you don't mind… would you become my Uma Musume?"
Back on the track, the small figure accelerated.
In just a few seconds, she completed half a lap.
Ahead of her, Shirayuki's white figure moved across the field.
Rice Shower lowered her body.
Then—
She burst forward.
In an instant, she overtook Shirayuki.
From Shirayuki's perspective, Fujiwara Chiya saw it clearly.
Those eyes, burning with a faint violet glow, glanced at her for a brief moment before locking forward again.