The day had come.
Urara's visit to Tracen Academy.
There she stood...
...Right before it.
The academy of dreams.
A place filled with promises and ambitions.
Home to the prodigies, legends, and stars.
Where champions' names shall resonate far beyond the track.
And there was this pink little critter.
Standing before this imposing Academy.
"Whoa!" she gasped.
"It's huge!"
Students in purple uniforms then rushed past her one after another, each moving with purpose—to the classroom, being part of a world she hadn't stepped into yet.
And Urara, too, couldn't bear it any longer.
"Let's go, Mom! Dad!" she beamed, already running ahead eagerly.
"Yes, yes," her mother chuckled softly, and slowly followed along with her father by her side.
In the meantime, her father's eyes lingered, glancing around in awe, too.
"Whoa… this place really is something else…!"
"Yeah… It's been a while since I was here," her mother casually added,
Her father paused, blinking.
"Wait... You were here?"
"Well… It's a long story," her mother resumed, a faint smile forming.
"But, you see... I used to dream big, too. I wanted to become a legend! I would say. I mean, for an Umamusume, it wasn't much of a surprise. Every one of us dreamed that."
She then looked ahead and sighed.
"But this life just… isn't for everyone," she continued softly.
"And I remember that day very clearly."
"It was the same day I came, and the same day I walked away..."
"...It was genuinely heartbreaking…" Her head slightly lowered.
"But I moved on."
Then she glanced at him.
"And then… I met you."
"So… it wasn't half bad, I guess."
"I— I see…" her father replied, lowering his head slightly with a gentle smile.
"Enough of that sappy talk," she waved, "let's get back to our daughter."
With that, her father nodded, and they resumed their walk in a brief silence...
...
...
Until—
They came across the crowded place.
And they found it.
The notice board.
Packed with Umamusume searching for their names too.
Urara's parents exchanged a look.
Knowing their presence would only make it more crowded.
So they decided to step aside.
"Why don't you go on ahead, Urara?" said her mother, "Your father and I will be waiting for you here."
Urara then nodded and sharply turned back to the crowd.
"Alright, here comes Urara!" she declared as she dove into the crowd without hesitation.
Pushing forward.
Squeezing through.
Step by step...
Until—
She finally reached the board.
Standing there, surrounded by murmurs.
She bounced slightly on her toes as her eyes scanned the lists.
From one sheet to another.
And Another.
Then—
She sharply paused.
Slightly narrowed her eyes for better precision...
...and...
She found it!
She found her name!
Haru Urara.
Under Bracket C.
And her face lit up instantly.
"Yay! I found it! I found my name!" She cheered.
But she didn't stop there.
She decided to linger further, continuing to check her competitors' names.
See who she was going to compete against.
Trying to study her opponents before the race.
Though she knew none of the list.
Besides, based on her character, she was very unlikely to research them either way.
Until—
She froze.
One name immediately caught her eye.
That one familiar name she was anticipating.
Right there.
Right below hers.
Mary Jane.
And her eyes immediately widened, gasping in disbelief.
There she was.
Same bracket.
Same race.
"Mary-chan is in the same race as Urara?!" she uttered in disbelief.
"I can't wait!" and cheered.
Then, she instantly sharpened with determination.
"Alright!"
She clenched her fists.
"I have to win this!"
"I have to win against Mary-chan so I can finally befriend her again!"
With that out of her mind, she continued.
"Hmm..."
Reading more of her opponents' names.
Until...
...she was bored.
Only then did she finally decide to push her way out of the crowd.
And gasped for air after it.
"Haa… haa…"
Then—
She straightened up immediately.
Fists raised before her.
"Alright! Urara is more pumped up now!" she declared under her breath.
"I can't wait to race against Mary-chan! It's been a while since we promised that we would race together—"
Suddenly—
"Urara?" A voice interjected.
And Urara froze, her ears perked.
That voice, that tone, and that presence...
It was familiar.
As if it belonged to someone she...
...knew?
She turned—
And her eyes widened instantly.
She was right.
It indeed belonged to someone she knew.
It belonged to Mary Jane.
Standing before her.
Waving.
Urara instantly grinned.
"Mary-chan!" she shouted as she dashed toward her.
"How have you been! It's been so long, Mary-chan! Oh my god, you won't believe it—I actually got accepted into Tracen! And we're going to race together! Isn't that exciting?! So, have you been training? Because Urara is go—"
Before Urara could continue, Mary raised her hand.
Stopping her.
"Urara…"
She spoke calmly.
"Yes, I'm doing fine."
"And yes… I've been training."
"And yes... I saw the announcement."
"But…"
A brief pause.
She looked straight into her eyes.
"You're not going to win, Urara."
A faint smile formed.
"Because I am going to."
Urara was taken aback slightly, but she grinned.
"No!" she shot back. "I'm going to win!"
"Is that so...?" Mary replied, tilting her head slightly.
"Yes! Just you wait, Mary-chan! When we finally race, I'll show you the true power of Urara!"
"And you'll be amazed by how powerful Urara has become!"
Mary blinked—
Then let out a soft chuckle.
"Sure… I can't wait."
"Only if you could pull that off..." she added.
"Don't worry! I will!" Urara shot back with a determined smirk.
With that, Mary turned.
Already walking away.
"Then…"
"I'll be seeing you—"
She slightly glanced back over her shoulder.
"…at the race."
Urara nodded. "Aye! I'll be seeing you, Mary-chan! And may the best of us win!"
At that—
Mary smiled and continued walking away.
But before she got too far, she spoke again.
"And one more thing," she added.
"This track isn't like the one we used to race on."
"It's softer, firmer, and longer."
"It's better if you get familiar with it beforehand."
"Otherwise…"
"You'll be at a great disadvantage because of how different it is."
"And I don't want to see you fail because of that."
She then paused briefly before adding,
"And... that's all I wanted to say…"
"…Good luck, Urara."
"…See you."
She gave a small wave as she continued walking.
"Alright!" Urara replied brightly, waving back. "See you!"
And just like that—
Mary disappeared into the distance.
After a short moment, Urara also turned and returned to her parents,
bringing her day at Tracen to a close...
...
…
…
A few hours later...
After the night had fallen...
Back at the hotel,
Urara sat between her parents, watching TV.
A legendary race was replayed on the screen.
And one name was cheered repeatedly—Oguri Cap.
The three of them lay across the bed.
Relaxed.
Except her father...
Who was already asleep.
Snoring softly.
Meanwhile, her mother, too, was yawning, her eyes growing heavy.
All except Urara remained awake.
Eyes still fixed on the screen.
Watching silently.
Until—
"Mom…"
Urara finally spoke.
"Hm…?" Her mother stirred half-awake, blinking slowly.
"It's going to happen soon," Urara said.
"The promise I made to you."
"…The promise?" Her mother was taken aback, tilting her head.
Urara nodded.
"Yes!"
"The promise that I'll become the greatest Umamusume… and bring the biggest smile to the world!"
Her mother paused.
Startled.
But then she gently smiled, reaching out to stroke her head.
"Sure… sure," she added.
"You can become all the greatest you ever wanted..."
"But…"
She added softly,
"That wasn't the promise we made."
Urara turned.
"Huh…?"
"Our promise wasn't for you to become the greatest in the world, remember?"
She then tapped Urara lightly on the forehead.
"It was for you to become the greatest…"
"In your own eyes."
"My… own… eyes?" Urara repeated, confused.
"Yes," her mother nodded.
"But…" Urara frowned, resting her cheek on her hand, "I don't understand…"
Her mother chuckled softly.
"Trust me… you'll understand when the time is right."
"But I want to know now!" Urara protested.
"Well…" her mother hesitated, scratching her cheek, "It's not easy to explain, but I'll try…"
She paused, inhaling.
"Let's just say… You have to start running for yourself. Not for others."
"Learn to enjoy the run. And not enjoy it because of the validations."
"Because the greatest… aren't shaped by others' expectations."
"They're shaped by their own."
"And if you don't…"
She paused.
"You'll collapse under expectations before you even reach that point."
"Only then… will you become the best version of yourself without losing your head over it."
"So remember—run because you love it, not because you feel you have to."
"And it's always okay to take a break," she added.
"Just remember not to break yourself in the process."
"I see!" Urara nodded enthusiastically.
As if she understood everything.
"Then that means I must become the Greatest Haru Urara ever! Is that right?"
Her mother froze.
"…Well, I guess that works?" She added while scratching her head.
"Anyway… It's getting late, Urara."
She then casually adjusted the blanket over her, switching off the TV.
"Get some rest. You've got a race to run in a few days, remember?"
"Right!" Urara beamed.
"And Urara promises she'll run to become the Greatest Urara ever! Only then, she will make mommy proud because of it!"
"Sure… Urara. I got it," her mother smiled. "Goodnight, Urara. Sweet dreams."
"Goodnight!"
With that—
Urara finally closed her eyes.
And within seconds.
She was already snoring.
There, her mother sighed.
"What a troublesome girl…"
As she took one last glance at her daughter.
Make sure she was asleep.
Only then did she turn over, settling in as well.
Closing her eyes.
And just like that...
The night quietly took over...