Rice Shower

Biodata

Background / History

Rice Shower won the Kikuka Sho and Tenno Sho Spring during her racing career. She also experienced an accident at the Takarazuka Kinen. After retiring, she decided she wanted to become a nutritionist to help other Horse Girls stay healthy 158 162.

At Mejiro McQueen’s request, Rice joined Kitasan Black’s mountain training camp alongside Silent Suzuka. Though hesitant around Kitasan Black’s energetic welcome, she agreed to help the juniors run races they wanted to run 154 155. Over the following weeks, she became one of Kitasan Black’s regular training partners, helping her practice long-distance running and withstand the pressure of close pursuit 158 160.

Appearance

Rice Shower is a petite Horse Girl with a delicate face 154.

• Long black hair with a faint purple sheen at the ends 154.
• Light-purple eyes and unusually long ears 154 155.
• A small, deep-purple iris-shaped hat on her left ear, decorated with a pale-blue rose 154.

Personality

Rice is introverted and initially struggles to open up to others. She speaks timidly, sometimes refers to herself as “Rice,” and worries that voicing a concern might sound like criticism 155 160. She is nevertheless attentive to her juniors: she commits herself to helping them race happily, checks on Kitasan Black during training, and cooks meals specifically for her 155 158 162.

Abilities & Skills

Close marking

Rice’s running style relies on sustained focus on the Horse Girl ahead. Anjing Zhen and Silent Suzuka single out her ability to stay close despite the distractions of a race 157.

• In paired runs, her pursuit makes Kitasan Black glance back even though Kitasan Black normally has little trouble maintaining concentration 157.
• As a training partner, she helps Kitasan Black practice opening a gap and coping with pressure from behind 158 160.
• Footage of Rice’s race against McQueen shows her holding position through an agonizing final turn before launching her decisive attack 762.

Long-distance racing

• Won the Kikuka Sho and Tenno Sho Spring 158.
• Was selected for Kitasan Black’s camp in part for endurance-focused training and her distinctive tactics 158.

Cooking

• Prepared meals for Kitasan Black at the training camp; both Kitasan Black and Silent Suzuka praised her cooking 162.

Relationships

• Mejiro McQueen — Asked Rice to assist Kitasan Black at the training camp; the two also faced each other in a remembered race showdown 154 762.
• Kitasan Black — Her junior and training partner. Rice helps her adapt to close pursuit and makes food for her 158 162.
• Silent Suzuka — Fellow camp assistant and former academy training partner. They support Kitasan Black using contrasting running styles 155 157 158.
• Anjing Zhen — Kitasan Black’s trainer, who invited Rice for the camp and values her close-marking ability 157 158.

Notable Quotes

“But if it means doing what Rice can for the juniors, helping them run the races they want, races that make everyone happy... Rice will definitely do everything possible to help... Because... That is what the name Rice Shower means...” 155