Chapter Text
It was the Takarazuka Kinen, and Mihono Bourbon was watching the race unfold intently. Her own career had subsequently ended two years ago from a leg fracture that stopped her from running any longer, but nonetheless she was there to support her former rival, Rice Shower. That was if former was the right word. Bourbon still considered Rice her rival, in a way she couldn’t explain.
Rice was tearing down the Kyoto racecourse. She was hanging back at third place, waiting for her chance during the homestretch. She was determined to win this race. She had never been voted fan favorite for a G1 before, her previous wins labeling her a heel, a black assassin. Seeing public opinion of her shift, knowing she was closer than ever to achieving her goal of becoming the blue rose she so dearly adored. It drove her past all exhaustion.
The Umamusume were approaching the third corner. Bourbon’s hand clenched by her side, acting on its own. ‘She’s gotten faster’ She thought to herself, watching Rice chase after the two racers in front of her. They reached the third corner, which was the moment Bourbon’s eyes tensed slightly. Rice had started to speed up on the third corner. ‘What is she doing? She never-’ Her pupils contracted. Her hand shook. She leapt over the stands as fast a she possibly could
Rice felt something wrong about a third of the way through the third corner. She had started to accelerate unintentionally. When her next step fell, she felt a sharp and agonizing pain blaze through her left leg. Time slowed for a short moment. Her eyes widened in panic as the ground started to come closer and closer to her face. Her left leg had given out.
Bourbon was sprinting as fast as her body would allow. If an Umamusume falls at top speed, they can die. She had seen the exact second that Rice started to panic. Before she could reach the small girl, Rice hit the ground once with a sickening impact, bouncing and rolling. She was completely at the mercy of her own speed. “Rice!” Bourbon shouted, voice filled with desperation. Before Rice could impact the ground a second time, she crashed into Bourbon, who had thrown herself into the girl's path. The effect was intended. Rice stopped most of her momentum, cushioned by Bourbon who had been knocked a few feet back by the strength of the impact. Her head was bleeding, but she didn’t care.
Everything hurt. Her left leg was almost completely numb, and the rest of her body was scraped and bruised, a constant stinging pain from every little part of her. Her ears were ringing, her field of vision was blurred and swaying as she lay on her back. “-ice!” she heard a muffled shout from her left. “Rice!” again, she could hear it clearer, which means she could hear the desperation and fear as well. A figure appeared above her. “Please Rice… stay with me.” She saw the hazy outline of Bourbon above her. ‘What… happened…’ She tried to reach her hand out, but her arm wouldn't move. “Bour- bon… I’m scared” Her voice was fearful, quivering with the tears starting to stream down her face.
Bourbon’s face was naught but unrestrained terror. Her robotic exterior had been entirely torn away. Her own eyes were overflowing with a salty substance akin to water that she didn't know. Her heart was in torment, a gale of emotions that she couldn't name. Her voice was shaking for reasons she could not define. “Rice, Rice please just stay awake. Please.” she begged, tears free flowing from her eyes. She took Rice’s hand, seeing her arm twitch. “Just stay- No no no please!” Rice’s eyes had flickered closed, her face streaked with dirt and tears. “We need a doctor! Please someone!” Bourbon’s breathing was speeding up, her heart rate was faster than a race. “Rice!” another voice called out, filled with the same dread the Bourbon shared. It belonged to Rice’s trainer, whom the small girl only ever called “Big Sis”. She had run from the stands the second she saw Rice fall. “Oh god…” the trainer said, voice nearly inaudible. Trainer Ana, if Bourbon remembered her name correctly, touched Rice’s cheek with a shaking hand before collapsing to her knees on the turf, sobbing.
After what had felt like hours, a stretcher arrived to take Rice away to be treated. Bourbon was seated in the hospital, in a long hallway a small distance down from the room Rice was in. She hadn’t been allowed in to see her, as she was undergoing emergency surgery. Her leg had been fractured beyond repair. Upon hitting the ground the first time it had shattered her left shin. Whether she would be able to walk again was an uncertain thing, but her career was over. That was a guarantee. Trainer Ana had been sitting with Bourbon, with a lack of dialogue however. She had just been pulled aside by a doctor to talk in private. ‘I was… too slow.’ Bourbon thought to herself, feeling a hand along the bandage on her head from stopping Rice.
Ana left the room with the doctor. Her face was downcast, and her eyes looked dead. She walked over to the seat beside Bourbon, letting herself sink into the chair. Bourbon turned her head to the trainer who was usually an outgoing presence. “Whats the news?” Bourbon asked softly. Ana clutched her pant legs tightly. “The- the impact on her head put her into a coma. They don’t know when she- when she will wake up.” She said, voice quivering. Bourbon felt like someone had just stabbed her, but she could not fathom the reason because the feeling was unbeknownst to her. Was it sorrow? Was it guilt? Was it fear? “I didn’t make it to her in time. It’s my fault.” Ana had known Bourbon for a while before this, she used to be Rice’s rival. She was used to Bourbon’s robotic mannerisms, so hearing her so distraught was not something she was used to. Her eyes softened “Oh, Bourbon… please don’t blame yourself. If it wasn't for you Rice would be-” what was at the end of that sentence she could not bring herself to say. “I could have run faster” Bourbon looked blankly ahead. She suddenly felt a hand on hers. She turned to face Ana. “Bourbon. Rice is still alive because you were there.” Ana said through her tears. Bourbon felt another pang of something she didn’t know. Again she felt the things that she could only guess were her own tears against her face. “Ana? What is it called? This ache that I feel. I’ve never experienced it before.” Ana couldn’t give her an answer right then.
Bourbon laid on her back, looking up at the ceiling of her room. She had moved out of Tracen academy once she was no longer able to run, and bought a small building within walking distance of the campus because she was doing volunteer work there. She wanted to do something with it someday, but didn’t know what yet. Her funds were substantial enough. Racing was over for her, but it was a prestigious career, and with prestige came profit. She couldn't stop repeating the day in her brain. She had stayed at the hospital until late midnight, but she couldn't get herself to sleep. She saw the track, the leadup to the race. But her brain always stopped before the fall. It wouldn’t let her relive that god awful moment.