Friday night, Rice Shower had a dream.

She dreamed she was floating in the sky above the familiar training grounds of Tracen Academy.

The sun was already sinking toward the horizon, yet several Uma Musume were still training diligently on the track below.

From her vantage point, Rice Shower realized there was another "Rice Shower" down on the track, running alone, without the lucky charm around her neck. She seemed like the Rice Shower from several days ago.

Is this a dream? But why does everything feel so real? My mind is clear too—it doesn't feel like a dream at all. It feels like a memory.

Her own memory? But why was it presented to her in this strange way?

"Ugh…" Rice Shower felt dizzy, unable to make sense of the situation.

"Huh? What's that?"

At this moment, Rice Shower suddenly noticed a gloomy woman floating above the head of the "Rice Shower" in the memory, accompanied by a floating label identifying her:

[Avatar of Misfortune]

"Goddess of Misfortune?"

Rice Shower instantly understood. No wonder she had been so unlucky in the past and inadvertently brought trouble to others—she had been possessed by the Goddess of Misfortune!

Yet, lately, no more misfortune had befallen her. So, how exactly had the goddess left?

As Rice Shower wondered, a man in black clothes approached the track, a floating sign above his head reading: [Mizuno Sora].

"Onii-sama?"

From this godlike perspective, Mizuno Sora's [Doctor's Outfit] did not hide his presence. Rice Shower instantly recognized him.

But Rice Shower was puzzled. The first time she had actually met Mizuno Sora face-to-face was after Haru Urara's Selection Race. Before that, Mizuno Sora had simply asked Urara to give her the lucky charm. They had never directly interacted before.

So what was Onii-sama doing here?

When Mizuno Sora took the lucky charm from his pocket, Rice Shower understood immediately. Mizuno Sora had come that day specifically to give her the lucky charm—to drive away the Goddess of Misfortune's avatar.

However, when Mizuno Sora got within ten meters of "Rice Shower," the Goddess of Misfortune flicked a finger.

Thud!

Mizuno Sora crashed face-first onto the ground.

Rice Shower suddenly experienced Mizuno Sora's pain herself, vividly and entirely.

"Ow—!" Rice Shower clutched her nose, tears forming from the intense pain.

The agony of smashing her nose into the ground took a while to fade.

So this was Onii-sama's memory from back then… Rice Shower gazed sorrowfully at Mizuno Sora.

Back then, he had endured this much suffering just to help her, beaten down mercilessly by Misfortune herself.

Yet the "Rice Shower" in the memory didn't know the figure approaching was Mizuno Sora; she didn't even recognize him, mistaking him for a ghost and fleeing in fear. Mizuno Sora tried to chase after her but was repeatedly tripped by Misfortune.

Onii-sama went through all that just to give me this lucky charm… Rice Shower drifted down beside Mizuno Sora, trying to help him up.

But this was just a memory; she couldn't interact with it. Her hand passed through him as if through mist.

Misfortune, gleeful at winning this first confrontation, began to boast arrogantly:

"Every time I torment Rice Shower, I accumulate more energy, making her even more unlucky."

"In the end, I'll have her trip during a race, break her leg, and then tragically smash her head onto a stone left uncleared on the track. She'll die right there, on the racecourse."

"Hahaha—!"

Rice Shower heard every cruel word clearly.

"Ah…" Rice Shower's face turned deathly pale.

Would I really die like that on the track…?

A wave of terror seized her heart, leaving her paralyzed by the thought of that grim future.

But at that moment, she saw Mizuno Sora chasing after the possessed Rice Shower once more.

"Oh? Instead of fleeing, you dare approach me again?"

"If I don't get close, how can I drive you away from Rice Shower?"

"Hoho, come closer then!"

Mizuno Sora was immediately tripped again by Misfortune's power, slamming painfully into the ground, nose bleeding.

"Ugh—!" Rice Shower again felt the pain sharply.

But Mizuno Sora didn't give up, even after falling three times. He abandoned all dignity, crawling desperately forward like a wounded dog.

Even when Misfortune bound his arms, he didn't stop. He curled into a ball and rolled onward.

And then…

Bang!

Mizuno Sora was struck violently by an unknown Uma Musume summoned by Misfortune, leaving him paralyzed.

"Onii-sama…" Feeling the intense pain, Rice Shower's heart shattered, guilt overwhelming her far more than the physical agony.

What kind of determination drove Onii-sama to endure so much? To sacrifice his dignity, to bear such unbearable pain… just to help me!

Yet the "Rice Shower" from before had known nothing, leaving with Misfortune still attached.

"You can't move anymore. Even knowing my true nature, what can you do now? Just lie here obediently, waiting to be crushed by other Uma Musume!" Misfortune mocked him arrogantly.

Mizuno Sora could only helplessly watch "Rice Shower" leave, lying broken and alone on the ground.

A knight who wished to save the princess had fallen short on his journey.

But later, a miracle happened: Haru Urara stumbled upon the barely conscious Mizuno Sora, who weakly took out the lucky charm, as if entrusting his last wish.

"Urara… could you help me with something…?"

"Sure! Urara will absolutely do it!"

Rice Shower knew what happened next. Haru Urara had delivered the lucky charm, dispelling Misfortune from her body. From that day on, Rice Shower's luck turned completely around, and she experienced happiness every day.

If Onii-sama hadn't given everything to deliver the charm to her, she wouldn't have this life filled with joy and contentment.

It was no exaggeration to say her very life and happiness were gifts from Mizuno Sora.

"Onii-sama… why…" Tears filled Rice Shower's eyes, threatening to spill over.

If he had told her the truth, she would've gladly dedicated the rest of her life to repaying him.

She would have done absolutely anything he asked of her!

So why had Onii-sama never said a word, hiding everything instead?

...

The scene shifted, now depicting the first time she had seen Mizuno Sora in person, after Haru Urara's Selection Race.

At the time, Rice Shower had called Mizuno Sora "Onii-sama," causing him to nearly faint on the spot—but that wasn't important. What mattered was what happened afterward.

After they had parted ways, Mizuno Sora watched Rice Shower's retreating back and quietly murmured to himself:

"Because rather than turning Rice Shower into someone who exists solely to repay me, I'd much rather watch her from afar as she pursues her dreams with all her heart, celebrates the good fortune in her life, and lives happily… That alone would make me content."

"That's just how Onii-sama are."

...

The dream faded, and Rice Shower woke up abruptly in bed.

Through the window, she saw a ray of sunlight struggling out from the cracks of night. Soon, more sunlight followed that first ray, spreading across the entire sky.

The rising sun illuminated the earth—and her heart.

Rice Shower clutched the lucky charm tightly against her chest, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.