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It was a rainy day today.
Rice and Bourbon had a planned friendship training today, but they couldn't, due to the rain.
...Well, it didn't stop Bourbon. She wanted to go outside to train, regardless of the rain.
"B-Bourbon, are you sure you want to leave?"
"Yes. I will not let the weather stop my training."
"Then I'm coming with you! I'm not letting you go alone."
Rice's statement shocked Bourbon, but in the end it gave her a warm smile.
They went outside, despite the heavy rain, they went onto the track.
They stood perfectly next to each other, ready to run and test their abilities to see who's the fastest once more.
The run starts!
Bourbon is in the lead, with Rice being 4 lengths behind.
They make it through the first corner, Rice making sure she doesn't fall behind, keeping a perfect pace.
The second corner. Rice beings to prepare her move, while Bourbon does her best to keep the pace going, ready to go faster.
The third corner. Rice is ready to make her move, Bourbon speeds up a little.
The fourth corner. Rice makes her move, releasing a burst of speed, Bourbon follows suit, can Bourbon keep up, or will Rice overtake?
They're almost there, Rice is head to head with Bourbon.
And she overtakes.
She reaches the finish line and looks towards the side.
Yet she sees people.
Yelling.
"What the hell?"
"What a heel!"
"She stole the triple crown!"
Rice sees a crowd of people, yelling at her for passing Bourbon. Just like that day. She tries to walk away, yet she can't hold back her tears. She falls to the ground onto her knees, her face filled with tears.
"Rice? Are you okay?" Bourbon comes up behind her, confused.
"I..I hear them again. The crowd. They hate me."
Bourbon wrapped herself around Rice.
"It's okay. They aren't real."
Rice didn't say a word back.
"Let's go back to the academy."
They made their way back into the academy, Rice wasn't able to mumble a word.
They went into RIce's dorm, as Zenno Rob Roy was gone, most likely in the library.
She sat Rice down on her bed, sitting beside her.
"Rice, do you want to tell me about what happened?"
Rice wiped her face.
"I...It's just, I keep getting reminded..."
"First the KIkuka Sho where I took the triple crown away from you, then the Tenno Sho, where I stole victory from McQueen, I still remember the crowd...calling me a heel, a problem, they didn't want me to win, they hate me..."
"But I don't hate you. Do you remember what I told you after the Kikuka Sho?"
"T-that you want me to run again?"
"Not just that."
"I told you that you're my hero. That still holds true to this day. They aren't good people if they can't appreciate someone's victory."
"But remember. I don't hate you, I never could."
"B-but Bourbon, I...I keep making new problems, even the rain, I bet it was raining because I'm still here."
"Rice. That's nonsense, the chances of that happening are tiny."
"Can I confess something to you?"
"Y-yeah, of course."
"Rice, you're one of the few people who made me feel true happiness, you make me feel emotions I never could've imagined."
"..." Rice remained silent. She wanted to scream out that it's all wrong, she wanted to say Bourbon should hate her, she wanted to say how useless she is, how she shouldn't be alive, but she didn't, she couldn't. She let Bourbon continue.
"I've experienced happiness like never before. One day, I made up my mind."
"Rice, I want to spend my whole life with you, to be by your side, while you are by my side."
"To love you forever, until death."
"Rice, I want to spend my life with you, therefore I ask. Will you marry me?" Though it might not have seemed like it, Bourbon was prepared for this moment, she kept the ring in a pocket, waiting for when she'd have a good opportunity to confess. Both of them have been busy recently and the training with each other was the best opportunity for it. Though, due to what happened, she only did it now.
"Y-you want to marry Rice?"
"Yes. That is what I'm asking."
"But...I could bring you misfortune, I'm not a good partner, I can't even take care of myself.."
"Then I will help you. I will help you take care of yourself, I will be there when you need me. I will make sure I can take care of you, like a hero, like what you have been to me."
"B-Bourbon, are you really sure you want this?" Rice started tearing up again, this time however, it was for a different reason, not one she knew necessarily, was it excitement? Something else? She didn't know.
"Yes. I am confident that we can be an amazing pair together."
"Then yes! Yes, I want to marry you!" Rice's face lit up, through her mix of emotions, she put up a light smile, one that Bourbon could never forget.
They talked for a bit more, then went to sleep in the same bed. Zenno Rob Roy was the first one to learn of their soon to happen marriage, simply because she was Rice's roommate.
The rain struck the windows in a comforting pattern, allowing Rice and Bourbon to have the most comfortable sleep of their life, for once, Rice didn't formulate a single negative thought.