Just then, Sakura Baimu arrived at the activity room door. After trying the doorknob twice, she found the door locked from the inside.
She knocked and spoke:
"Why is the door locked? What are you doing?"
The Umamusumes inside the activity room, hearing Sakura Baimu's voice, instantly panicked.
They quickly hid the rope and bag, drew back the curtains, and opened the door for Sakura Baimu.
Sakura Baimu entered and saw Rice Shower, who was clearly frightened.
"Rice Shower, what's wrong? Did they bully you?" Sakura Baimu asked, only to see Rice Shower shaking her head repeatedly.
Sakura Baimu then looked suspiciously at the Umamusumes who avoided her gaze, and immediately understood what had happened.
She quickly bowed deeply to Rice Shower in apology.
"I'm so sorry, Rice. This happened right after I invited you to train with us. I apologize on their behalf."
"No! It wasn't onee-sama's fault. Rice didn't blame onee-sama!" Rice Shower's face was filled with obvious panic.
"Onee-sama took care of Rice for so long, and Rice recovered so quickly thanks to onee-sama. How could Rice let onee-sama apologize!"
Rice Shower quickly ran to Sakura Baimu and helped her up.
This whole incident had nothing to do with Sakura Baimu.
But Sakura Baimu took the blame for her trainees and apologized to her.
This didn't make Rice Shower feel any resentment; on the contrary, it made her even more aware of how lucky the TCB Umamusumes were to have a trainer like Sakura Baimu.
"Teio and the others are really fortunate to have a trainer like onee-sama. Even if they make mistakes, onee-sama will take the blame for them..."
Rice Shower thought to herself, having long since forgiven being brought here.
"Perfect timing, Rice. Why don't you come with us to the track? I can check on your recovery," Sakura Baimu said with a smile.
"Okay."
Rice Shower nodded obediently, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart at Sakura Baimu's concern.
Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, and the rest of the Umamusumes stared in disbelief as Rice Shower followed Sakura Baimu out of the activity room, motionless for a long while.
"Did... did she get her?" Mejiro McQueen asked, her purple eyes wide.
"Did she get her?" Tokai Teio nodded, equally shocked.
"McQueen, I'm a little confused now. Do you think our Trainer-san was acting, or was she really that kind?"
"Even so, it shouldn't be intentional, right? She didn't know Rice Shower would be kidnapped by us! If it was really an act, her reaction speed is too fast, isn't it? And she must know Rice Shower extremely well..."
Mejiro McQueen felt she couldn't understand Sakura Baimu either.
"Falco, it seems like Trainer-san also brought Falco in like this before, right? Trainer-san probably meant well, didn't she…?"
"She's alright, but her performance today was a bit too good, wasn't it?" Mejiro McQueen was still a little confused.
"Oh well, isn't the situation pretty good now!" Satono Diamond said happily, crossing her arms. "TCB has gained another member."
"Dia-chan is right, anyway, our Trainer-san is the best!" Kitasan Black shouted, then dashed out of the activity room and ran toward the track.
--
Sakura Baimu first arranged training for her team members, then took Rice Shower to the side of the track.
"Today is your first run since being discharged from the hospital. Take it slow. Although the doctor said your recovery, Rice, is nothing short of miraculous, it's still better to be safe."
"Rice understands."
Rice Shower nodded slightly and then began jogging slowly on the turf.
She started off extremely cautiously, at a very slow pace.
The nearly two weeks of rest had significantly impacted Rice Shower's condition.
It would take some time for her to regain her previous running rhythm.
However, Rice Shower was already very satisfied with her current situation.
"Do you feel any discomfort in your legs? Any other discomfort or pain?" Sakura Baimu asked.
"No. Rice feels a little rusty while running, but otherwise, I don't feel anything. In fact, I feel great this time!"
"Good! Rice, try running a little faster, but be careful not to get injured. Stop immediately if you feel any discomfort!"
Sakura Baimu pulled out a megaphone to enhance training effectiveness and shouted to Rice Shower.
"Okay!"
Rice Shower smiled and nodded, then started running again.
Round and round she went.
Rice Shower felt her condition recovering at an astonishing speed.
At first, Rice Shower thought it was an illusion.
However, when she realized she was running faster with each lap, gradually approaching her previous peak performance, Rice Shower was certain it wasn't an illusion.
It wasn't just a miracle, but like the rapid recovery of her legs, that Sakura Baimu brought her.
After running for what felt like the umpteenth time, Sakura Baimu handed Rice Shower a nutritional drink and asked with a smile,
"How are you feeling?"
"Rice feels fantastic! Rice even feels like she's almost back to her pre-Takarazuka Kinen state!"
"That's amazing." Sakura Baimu felt genuinely happy.
Not only because Rice Shower was fully recovered,
but also because Sakura Baimu confirmed that the system could truly heal even such severe injuries completely.
"Rice Shower's comminuted fracture and open dislocation can be healed, so what's there to worry about in the future? Even if McQueen gets shin splints again, or Teio breaks another bone, there's no need to worry."
Sakura Baimu thought excitedly.
What she feared most was that these Umamusumes, who had inherited the souls of elite racehorses from another world, would also inherit those tragedies.
Now she was certain that no matter what happened, she didn't need to worry.
What could make Sakura Baimu happier than this?
This scene of Sakura Baimu's excitement, observed by Rice Shower, naturally became an interpretation of Sakura Baimu's joy at her excellent recovery.
"Rice is rarely expected to succeed, and even when she gets good grades, few people are genuinely happy for her… But onee-sama is different. She looks forward to Rice's recovery every day and is happy for her healing."
Rice Shower crossed her arms, deeply moved.
Today, Rice Shower learned that besides Mihono Bourbon, there was someone else.
After finishing the nutritional drink Sakura Baimu gave her, Rice Shower felt her fatigue begin to recede at an astonishing speed.
She looked up at the sunset's afterglow, at Sakura Baimu's incredibly warm smile, and the clear, sky-blue eyes.
Rice Shower felt that Sakura Baimu's smile was an angelic smile that dispelled all her gloom.
Besides feeling at peace, she couldn't feel anything else.
"Onee-sama…"
Rice Shower made up her mind at that moment.
"Rice is joining TCB!"