I decided to attend the party.
It was a send-off celebration—meant to cheer on the horse girls of the family who had entered the Tracen Academy. When I got there I was terrified of the upper-class atmosphere, but thanks to the guidance from Rice Shower's parents (who now insisted I call them Mom and Dad), I was well-prepared.
With advance information and time to rehearse, I can handle most things. They told me I only needed to greet people as Rice's trainer, and otherwise I could just chat or quietly eat in a corner.
I wore the outfit Mom had picked out for me. It was elegant and appropriate, so I had no worries there.
I thought I'd just relax and observe.
But the first surprise? The party was massive.
Rice's family wasn't one of the famous houses like Mejiro or Symboli so I didn't expect such a crowd. Seven classmates, ten seniors, and a sea of trainers and parents—easily over a hundred people.
Then came the second shock.
The organizer was none other than Kurifuji—a legendary undefeated Triple Crown mare, now a grandmother. She's in textbooks. Even I, a grade-skipping trainer, knew her name.
Wait… Rice-chan is part of the Kuri family!?
"Grandmothers are amazing," Mom said casually. "But Kurifuji isn't that active in racing anymore, so don't be nervous."
Don't be nervous? Yeah right. I was panicking!
There was no mention of Kurifuji in the family name. So I had no idea.
Other trainers were either confidently composed or just as stunned as I was.
The party was a standing buffet, but I didn't get to enjoy it. Rice and I were called up to greet everyone.
Apparently, we were the opening act—because Rice was the youngest and had already signed with a trainer.
Start with someone more experienced, please!
My mind went blank. The greeting I'd prepared vanished. I blurted out the first thing that came to mind:
"I'm Viola Regina. I've recently signed a contract to train Rice Shower."
Then—silence.
Help me, Rice-chan!
Thankfully, Rice was unfazed. She took the microphone and declared boldly:
"Rice's goal is to win the Classic Triple Crown and the Emperor's Sho three years in a row!!"
Ooooooooh—Rice-chan, that's a huge goal!
I don't deny her talent, but still… that's a mountain.
Before I could stop her, she continued:
"Once upon a time, the Kuri family produced many great horse girls, including my grandmother Kurifuji. Sadly, our recent performances haven't been great. But Rice will become a horse girl who surpasses all her predecessors!"
She said it with a proud smile.
I was still reeling when a voice cut through the crowd.
"Ambition is good—but is it really possible? Viola Regina, trainer of Rice Shower."
It was Kurifuji herself.
Her voice was sharp, not frail. She looked down at me—not cruelly, but with the amused air of someone watching a child make bold claims.
She was giving me an out. A chance to laugh it off.
But something in me pushed back.
"Of course it's possible. Nine crowns to surpass Symboli Rudolph? Let me tell you—nine crowns is just a cucumber."
I don't know where that came from.
The momentum, the pressure, the sting of being underestimated—it all boiled over.
I grabbed Rice's hand, our matching dresses swaying, and stepped off the stage.
The rest of the party was torture. I smiled through it all, suppressing the urge to bury my face in a pillow and scream.