I'm a young horse girl(Uma Musume)—and an orphan.
I can study just fine, maybe even better than most. But growing up in a facility meant I missed out on learning how to be feminine. The place was designed for humans, not horse girls, so I never learned the basics of Uma Musume care. I didn't know how to wash a horse girl's body properly, and tail care? I was clueless until Rice Shower gently taught me. As a trainer, I'd studied advanced grooming techniques, but without the fundamentals, everything I did was awkward and misapplied.
And now, another gap in my upbringing had come to light.
"You don't have any plain clothes, do you?"
That was the issue.
It was June—two months after enrolling—and Rice-chan and I had been eating well to fuel our intense slope training. Our bodies were changing. Rice, already over 12, wasn't growing much taller, but I, not even 10 yet, had only grown about a millimeter. It was frustrating. I wanted to complain to the universe about the injustice of it all.
But while our height barely budged, our bodies had started filling out. Our chests and hips had grown noticeably. Thankfully, the school uniforms were stretchy enough to accommodate the changes, and new underwear helped. But Rice began to worry—her casual clothes no longer fit.
"How about you, Viola? How are your clothes holding up?"
"I'm fine. I just wear my uniform or gym clothes."
"Wait… you don't have any casual clothes?"
"I don't."
"Ehh?!"
Technically, I had an old shirt and shorts from the facility, but they were hopelessly outdated. I didn't wear a bra back then, so now they'd be uncomfortable, see-through, and just… inappropriate.
I didn't have money to buy clothes, so I stuck to uniforms and gym wear. I wore underwear to sleep, so I hadn't thought much about it—until now.
"Viola, you need to buy clothes! Proper ones!"
"But what if I grow more? It'll be a waste."
"Then we'll buy more later!"
"I don't have any money."
"I'll buy them for you!"
It felt a little like I was being spoiled, but I didn't have much choice. Rice-chan, despite her modest demeanor, seemed to come from a wealthy background—her family's business was in shipping, apparently.
Even though I felt guilty, I decided to let myself be pampered just this once.
"Viola, are you free next Sunday?"
"I am. Then it's settled that day will a shopping date."
"D-Date?!"
"What, you're not calling it a date?"
"No-no.. it's a date okay.."
Rice turned bright red. I was just teasing her a little, but maybe it was too much for someone so innocent.
She's such a romantic at heart—it's fun to mix in a little playful teasing. And honestly… I do like her.
Rice Shower is delicate, earnest, and surprisingly bold when it matters. She's the kind of girl who'll carry you up a slope when your legs give out, then blush furiously when you call it a date. She's a maiden in every sense of the word, and it's hard not to be charmed by her.
And so, our shopping date was set—with Rice Shower taking charge of dressing me up apparently.