(Carla’s idea is a little half-baked)

Born in a rich, prestigious family and with high expectations as a trainer, Carla Espinoza’s path was set in place. She followed it. Growing up in an environment where Uma’s weren’t necessarily treated as equals, she always found it gross how her family continuously hammered the idea that everything between the trainer and trainee is transactional. She once asked why that was the case and was told, “Relationships are hard to hold on to. It’s a lot of work to continue a relationship, and it’s only 3 years you’ll stay with your trainee, so don’t bother. Everything is easy if it's treated like business. You’ll understand when you’re older,” She understood but didn’t agree with the idea.

Compared to her siblings, Carla grew up with a polite demeanor that her parents enforced her to hold since she was a child, and that’s her natural personality now. She does keep to herself and responds with short responses. She was given everything she could have wanted, making Carla feel detached from the ‘gifts’ she would receive from her parents, but she kept them out of politeness.

Fast-forward (since her life is the usual ‘kid left alone due to family being busy’), and an Uma just had to expose the harsh training placed under her. So, before Carla was sent to Tracen Academy, where her original goal was “Find the strongest Uma and train them under the family way.’ Carla was told to keep low until they were able to get the situation under control. Word spread, so the student council and Uma’s who had heard, were very of wary of Carla. The student council and director watched over Carla, and she knows- but stays quiet and obliges with what they say. She’s not like her family, so why should she be worried?

After moving into her dorm after meeting with Symboli Rudolf the day before, Carla took the time to decorate her dorm. She was going to stay for the next few years and wasn’t planning on visiting her home for a long while. One morning, she stumbled across Rice Shower for the very first time and quickly complimented her hat before continuing her day. Rice was left flustered - this was the first time anyone had complimented her hat, and she was unsure how to react to it. Later in the week, Carla decided to go to the training to look for someone to be her trainee, but most racers kept their distance from her. When she stumbled across Rice again, the racer was wary and somewhat scared - word had gotten to her. And she wished her bad luck came in and made her look like a terrible candidate for Carla to take in.

By now, Carla knew any Uma she would ask would decline or make an excuse; however, a subconscious part of her wanted to take Rice in to prove to herself she’s not like her family, not like the rumors. So, she scouted Rice, with a few Uma whispering with relief that the infamous Espinoza family would have bad luck bestowed upon them for what they’ve hidden. Rice was scared and worried, but mainly scared. But that same fear is what led her to accept Carla as her trainer, wondering if this was the punishment she was going to be given for constantly bringing bad luck to everyone. The worry was very clear in their first training session. Rice made sure she followed everything to a T. Subconsciously, Carla was treating their relationship purely as business, using the excuse that she had to stay away from Rice outside the training grounds to make sure she didn’t come under fire. Hishi Amazon was the first to take notice of Rice’s demeanor around Carla and offered to give a good beating to Carla if she did anything to her. Rice quickly assured that wasn’t needed, since she didn’t want to put strain on their already iffy dynamic.

Training sessions go by, and it wasn’t until Rice Shower’s debut did Carla realize how much she’s been pushing away her trainee, doing exactly what her family has been doing. Rice still ran away from her debut, cursing herself that even under an intense trainer like Carla, she still couldn’t do it, that she couldn’t live up to her trainer’s expectations, that she couldn’t follow directions. Carla found Rice hiding away and finally, finally, dropped her aloof tone and assured Rice that she’ll do better, that she won’t be like her family. Easier said than done, however, Rice sniffled, looking at Carla with those watery eyes, and wondered if she was telling the truth. Someone with Carla’s background had to be lying, and she couldn’t accept it. However, after Carla opened up just a little about her past, Rice was able to wipe away her tears and believe her.

The next few days pass, and Rice has been the one finding Carla in hopes of starting their friendship, but it was very clear Carla was still not forming a bond with Rice Shower. During this time, Carla took notice of another Trainer, Aoi Kiryuin, and the bond she had with her Trainee, Happy Meek. Ironic, since Aoi Kiryuin was the first trainer to question Carla and her family traditions, demanding why her family would do such a thing to their Uma.

The Tenmo Sho was nearing, the very first G1 race Rice was going to attend. Carla and Rice Shower worked hard to make sure she was up to par with the other racers, so that she could get her first win and hopefully get the audience to like Rice Shower. Before the race, Carla walked up to Rice Shower and assured her she’ll do great, that no matter her placing, she would be proud. With a small smile, Carla waved Rice goodbye and took her seat at the stadium. Rice was extremely nervous, but she had Carla supporting her and was determined to win.

Rice Shower won by a hair.

It was shocking to Rice that she managed to win by a hair, but she was proud and ultimately happy that she did. This was the first step to getting the audience to like her; it was an ecstatic moment. She looked over at the audience with genuine excitement, but was met with silence.

No one was cheering.

The stadium was silent, and no one uttered a word. And Rice could tell that the stadium was filled with disappointment. The fact that it came from an already disliked trainer made it worse. Carla, who was sitting on the edge of the bleachers, noticed the disappointment in the air. Carla could see the storm inside Rice — the guilt, the confusion, the heartbreak. That small hope she carried all this time had been shattered again, just when she thought she’d finally fly*.* She looked over to the side, saw a megaphone that was unoccupied, and knew what she had to do. She knew that what she was about to do was going to bring embarrassment to her family and to herself, but that didn’t matter.

She began to shout into the megaphone, praising Rice that she did great, that her win was hers to be proud of. The first boo came in, then the second, then the third. Rice stood on the track with stunned silence and shock, watching and hearing Carla praise her so loudly and proudly, something she had only dreamt of months ago. It was too much for her to handle. Her vision went blurry, and before she knew it, she was crying, out of joy, guilt, and shame at the same time. The fact that she made the audience disappointed, the fact that Carla was publicly making a fool out of herself in front of hundreds of people, in front of her family as well, tainting her family name. It was all too much. She ran off the track, and Carla followed suit. She didn’t make it in time since she was stopped by her older brother, who had that damn amused smirk.

“You never told me you took in that brat as your trainee,” He remarked with no shame, walking up to Carla.

Carla ignored what he said and cleared her throat, “Excuse me, but I have someone to see right now.”

Her older brother laughed with amusement, watching her little sister try to pass by him, only to get pushed back slightly. “And what was that out there? Shouting like a lunatic? Dad was furious at that!” He exclaimed.

The older boy looked down at his sister, watching as his younger sister tried her hardest to keep her cool. It was the first time she’s ever seen her act like this, and he was going to savior if he could.

Carla narrowed her eyes slightly, unable to hide her irritation from her brother. She ignored him again and finally pushed through him to get into their room, but not before hearing him say,

“Good luck with dad!”