Rice Shower's POV
"The world is in quite an uproar," Bourbon-san remarked, her voice as steady as ever. "Even here in the hospital, it's all anyone is talking about."
"I know, right?" I replied with a nod. "When Big Brother first told me, I was so shocked I didn't know what to do. But enough about me—how are you feeling, Bourbon-san? Are you getting any better?"
The press conference yesterday between Big Brother and the URA Vice President was incredible. I watched it from the dorms, but the moment Big Brother announced my next race, everyone piled into my room at once. It was a little overwhelming...
That's why I'm here today. I've made it a point to visit Bourbon-san once a week. Even in the hospital hallways, I could hear people whispering about the news.
"I am told my progress is 'satisfactory,' but it is a frustrating sensation," Bourbon-san said, a flicker of longing in her eyes. "My desire to run stands in direct opposition to my body. It began with lameness, progressed to periostitis, and now a fracture... I am still far from a full recovery."
"I see..." I felt a pang of sadness for her, but I forced a smile. "But Rice will be waiting! No matter how long it takes."
"Yes," Bourbon-san replied firmly. "Our score has yet to be settled. I took the Satsuki Sho, we drew at the Derby, and you took the Kikuka Sho. One win, one draw, and one loss each. We will face each other again."
"Right!"
I want to run with her again so badly. There isn't much I can do for her right now, but I can at least give her all the cheers in the world.
Slide—
The door opened, and a familiar face stepped in.
"Oh, Rice. You're here again? Sorry to make you come all this way every week," Trainer Kuronuma said.
"Oh, no! I come because I want to," I said quickly. "I just want her to get better so we can race together again."
"...I see," Kuronuma-san said, his expression softening. "I'd like to see that too. Nothing beats watching the two of you push each other to the limit."
I used to think Trainer Kuronuma was really scary, but after talking to him during these visits, I realized he's actually a very kind person. We've become quite friendly lately.
"I saw the conference," he continued. "France, huh? That's a big stage. Give it your all."
"I will! Thank you! Well, Bourbon-san, I'll be back again soon!"
"Understood. Until next time," Bourbon-san replied.
This is the first time overseas for both me and Big Brother... I have so much to prepare for! Not just the race, but... but table manners and things like that, too!
[Tracen Academy – Library]
"The Prix de Royallieu..." I whispered, surrounded by stacks of reference books. "Big Brother told me the basics, but I need to do my own research. Let's see... it's a long-distance race held at the Paris-Longchamp Racecourse, 2,800 meters. I knew that part. It says it's for 'Classic Class and above'... oh! So even girls my age can enter! What else? It only recently became a G1 race, and the distance used to be 2,500 meters... The prize is 250,000 Euros. I wonder how much that is in Yen?"
(Hey, Rice-chan! 250,000 Euros is currently about 35,132,500 Yen! So, roughly 35 million Yen. I'll just leave this note here for you! —The Author)
"...Huh? Where did this note come from?" I blinked, reading the scribbled text. "Wait... th-thirty-five MILLION?!"
"R-Rice-san!" Zenno Rob Roy hissed from across the table. "Please be quiet in the library!"
"I-I'm so sorry!" I squeaked, covering my mouth.
Thirty-five million? Can people really get that much money? I mean, it doesn't matter much to me, but I hope Big Brother is doing okay financially. I've won four G1 races, so I don't think he's struggling, but...
(While I'm at it, here's a breakdown for Rice-chan and everyone else!)
Hopeful Stakes: 70 million Yen!
Tokyo Derby: 200 million... but since it was a dead heat, it's 140 million!
Kikuka Sho: 120 million!
Tenno Sho (Spring): 200 million!
Total: 530 million Yen! (And that's not even counting the smaller races!)
(Note: These are modern prize values, not historical ones. But still, one wonders how much of a cut the Trainers get...)
"Uuuu..." I groaned, my head spinning. "Wait, there's another note. I have to stay quiet this time... I can't scream. I can't... FIVE HUNDRED MILLION?!"
"R-Rice-san?!" Rob Roy cried out in despair.
"I'm sorry! Excuuuuse meeee!" I scrambled out of the library as fast as my legs could carry me.
[The Trainer's Clubroom]
"Fwaaa... that was so embarrassing," I sighed, slumped over the table. "But could it really be true? Big Brother never said anything about having that much money..."
"Did I do something?"
"Hya-waaa?!" I jumped nearly a foot in the air. "Oh... Big Brother."
"Sorry, didn't mean to spook you," Hachiman said, leaning against the doorframe. "So, what about me?"
"Well... um... I was researching the next race, and I found out the prize money is 250,000 Euros. That's 35 million Yen."
"You went through the trouble of doing the currency conversion? Impressive," he said. "Though it's a bit less than the G1s you've won here."
"N-No, that's not it! This note told me everything!"
"..."
If the note was right, that means Big Brother is sitting on... on six hundred million Yen. I don't want to believe he'd keep secrets from me, but...
"Rice," Hachiman said, his voice flat and honest. "Let me be clear. I do not have that kind of money. Yes, winning races brings in prize money, but no one just hands a trainer hundreds of millions of yen in a single go."
"Oh... really?"
"Did you think I was embezzling your winnings?"
"Um... maybe a little."
"I'd never do that," he sighed, looking tired. "If I actually had that much money, I'd be giving it to you and your parents."
"I knew it! Big Brother would never do something so mean! Oh, what a relief..."
But if those numbers are real... where in the world is all that money actually going?
Bonus Track
Hachiman: "Hey."
Author (Namayakeniku): "Yes?"
Hachiman: "Cut it out. Don't go messing with Rice's head like that. She's too innocent for your meta-nonsense."
Author: "Hey now, I was just stating the facts! The prize pool is public record!"
Hachiman: "You know full well that common sense in your world and common sense in this one are two different things. Don't confuse her."
Author: "...Are you a genius?"
Hachiman: "No, you're just an idiot. Get back to writing and stay out of the scene."
Air Groove: "I agree. You've had quite enough screen time lately."
Hishi Amazon: "I'm still not over what you wrote in the last chapter, ya jerk!"
Author: "...Okay, okay! I'm leaving! I value my life too much to stay here!"
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