Four years ago...
Morning sunlight spilled across the school that was far from Tracen as students hurried toward their classrooms before the morning bell.
It was an ordinary school morning.
Until—
A rhythm of footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Amongst the students from the corridor. One by one, the conversations quieted.
All heads turned, and eyes followed.
And the figure walking through the corridor carried herself with sheer elegance, pride, and authority.
It was none other than...
King Halo. Or a young version of her.
Her posture was impeccable, and her uniform was immaculate.
Every step she took seemed purposeful, as though the hallway itself were her stage.
As she approached her classroom, whispers immediately spread among the surrounding students.
"There she is..."
"The pride of our school."
"She's so elegant..."
"I wish I could be friends with her."
"My heart skips a beat every time I see her."
"The daughter of promise..."
"King Halo."
Meanwhile, King paid little attention to the admiration surrounding her as she simply continued walking.
Only occasionally, she acknowledged the crowd with a graceful wave.
Or gently flicking her hair over her shoulder.
Small gestures that were enough to remind everyone of the position she carried.
However... Not everyone had admired her the way many did.
Among the whispers came different voices.
A list of less welcoming ones.
"It's her again..." said one of them.
"Look at that smug expression."
"She really thinks she's above everyone."
"I'd love to wipe that arrogant look off her face if I got a chance."
"Everything she has is because of her parents."
"I wonder what she'd be without their reputation."
The comments drifted through the hallway, left and right.
Sometimes, King heard them.
Perhaps... She always did.
Yet her expression never changed.
Without a single glance in their direction, she continued toward her classroom.
Maintaining the same composed pace from the start until she reached her seat.
Right in the center of the room.
Despite being the center of attention wherever she went...
She was, in many ways... Alone.
Few dared approach her.
Some believed they weren't worthy of standing beside someone of her status.
Others kept their distance out of jealousy... Or resentment.
King never concerned herself with either.
To her... Friendships, idle conversations, and meaningless gossip.
They were all distractions.
Her only goal was simple.
To become someone worthy of her mother's acknowledgment.
To prove...
That she was enough.
She was enough to be a product her mother was proud of—a testament to her own greatness.
Sudenly—
"Hey, did you hear?"
"I heard we're getting a transfer student today!"
"Yeah! I heard she's joining our class!"
"I wonder what she's like!"
"Maybe she's another King Halo."
"Someone from a prestigious family, too?"
"Who knows? But I'm looking forward to meeting her!"
Another student pointed toward the empty desk near the center of the classroom, directly in front of King.
"Ever since Far-chan transferred away..."
"That seat's been empty."
"The one right in front of King?"
"Yeah, I've always wanted to sit there..."
"But every time I think about King sitting behind me..."
"I get nervous."
"I feel like she'd be staring into the back of my head the whole lesson."
The others laughed.
"Too late."
"That seat belongs to the transfer student now."
"I guess you missed your chance."
Before long...
The first-period bell rang.
Students who had been lingering outside hurried back into the classroom.
And conversations gradually died down as everyone quickly returned to their seats.
A few moments later...
The classroom door slid open.
Their homeroom teacher stepped inside.
And this time... She wasn't alone.
Walking beside her was a brown-haired Umamusume.
Her horse ears twitched curiously as she looked around the unfamiliar classroom, her eyes gleamed as she did.
Her long hair swayed behind her.
And so did her tail.
Rather than walking formally...
She practically skipped into the room.
The teacher smiled before addressing the class.
"Good morning, everyone."
"I'd like you all to welcome your new classmate."
"And please be kind to her."
The girl immediately stepped forward.
With a bright smile, she introduced herself.
"Good morning, everyone!"
"My name is Asaji Zan!"
"It's nice to meet you all!"
"And I like carrots!" She bounced lightly as she finished.
The classroom instantly filled with whispers.
"Wow..."
"She's really lively."
"She's got a lot of energy for someone on her first day."
"She seems a little airheaded."
Unlike everyone else...
King didn't even bother looking up.
She remained focused on the notebook resting on her desk.
Quietly reviewing her notes while the introductions continued.
The teacher glanced around the room before pointing toward the empty desk.
"Asaji, why don't you take the seat in front of King Halo?"
"That one should be yours from now on."
"Then, we'll begin today's lesson afterward."
The girl straightened immediately.
"Yes, ma'am!" She saluted before cheerfully making her way toward her new seat.
Without the slightest hesitation, the girl skipped happily toward the empty seat in front of King.
She dropped into her chair alongside her bag with a cheerful smile.
Meanwhile, King remained focused on her notebook, paying her no attention.
Then—
The girl suddenly spun around.
"Hi! You must be King Halo!"
There, King visibly jolted.
Her eyes snapped up from her notes.
"Wh-what?! H-Hi...?"
And the nearby students immediately stiffened.
"Oh my gosh..."
"Did she just...?"
"...interrupted King?!"
Completely oblivious to the atmosphere, the girl beamed.
"I'm Asaji Zan!"
"You can just call me Asaji!"
"It's nice to meet you!"
"And I'm looking forward to being your classmate!"
She happily extended her hand toward King while King simply looked at it for a brief moment.
Then quietly lowered her gaze back to her notebook.
"Sure..."
She made no attempt to return the handshake.
The girl's hand remained hanging in the air for a second before she simply laughed it off.
"Then I'll be in your care, King Halo!"
She bowed brightly before turning back to face the front of the classroom.
And the class resumed normally. Despite the girl already dozing off during the first period...
...
...
...
A few hours later...
The lunch bell eventually rang, and students immediately gathered into their usual groups.
Laughter and chatter quickly filled the classroom.
As always, King calmly reached into her bag, ready to take out the neatly prepared lunchbox her servants had packed for her.
Just as she was about to pull it out—
Asaji suddenly turned around again.
"King!"
"Would you like to have lunch together?"
"I think it'll be fun!"
King paused.
She blinked once, clearly caught off guard.
Before she could answer, Asaji continued with the same bright smile.
"Well! My mama always says..."
"Food tastes better when you eat it with someone else!"
As Asaji continued, the nearby students gasped.
"W-Whoa..."
"Did she just ask King Halo to have lunch with her?"
"She's unbelievably brave."
"I remember someone tried asking King before."
"King didn't even answer."
"She just ignored them completely."
"I wonder how she'll survive under King's pressure..."
It wasn't without reason.
King always ate alone.
Not once had she shared a table with anyone.
To her...
Someone of her standing deserved the finest seat.
The largest table.
The most elegant atmosphere.
Her luxurious lunches, carefully prepared by the household staff, were meant to be enjoyed with dignity.
Sharing a table...
Simply wasn't first-rate.
At least...
That was what King had always believed.
That had been King's routine.
Until today.
Asaji looked at her expectantly, still waiting for an answer.
King simply raised her eyes and shot the girl a sharp glare.
A silent warning: "Stay away."
Unfortunately for King...
Asaji wasn't very good at reading people.
In fact...
She blinked before suddenly gasping.
"Oh!"
"You're right!"
"There's not enough room!"
King silently nodded, assuming the girl had finally understood.
Instead—
"Then we'll just put our desks together!"
Before King could react, Asaji happily pushed her desk against King's with a loud bang.
"Perfect!"
King froze.
"What...?!"
Without another thought, Asaji had already unpacked her lunchbox while sitting directly over her.
The lunchbox was relatively small and simple in comparison to her grand, delicately prepared one.
Just right enough for one person.
She then clasped her hands together excitedly.
"I wonder what Mama packed for me today!"
King simply stared at her, speechless.
Ever since enrolling at the academy...
No one had ever dared to sit this close to her.
Much less invite themselves into her personal space.
Yet this girl... Had done exactly that.
Without permission, without hesitation.
Without even realizing it.
It irritated King...
And somehow...
It also amused her.
King then quietly let out a sigh.
According to her mother, a proper aristocrat never raised her voice over something so trivial.
Even when inconvenienced.
So... She tolerated it.
Without another word, King reached back into her bag and carefully took out her own lunchbox.
Asaji looked over while happily chewing her food.
"Oh!"
"If you want some of mine, I don't mind sharing!"
She spoke with her mouth still half full.
King's eyebrow twitched; that single manner irritated her even more.
How utterly uncivilized...
Still...
She chose to ignore it.
With practiced elegance, she placed her own lunchbox on the desk.
Then she slowly opened it.
Layer...
After layer...
After layer...
A magnificent multi-tiered lunch unfolded before them.
Each compartment held a different dish, meticulously arranged.
A meal worthy of a noble household.
Asaji's eyes instantly sparkled.
"Wooow!"
"That's so much food!"
King simply sighed, choosing not to respond.
One by one, she placed each tier of her lunchbox perfectly on the table.
Every layer revealed another carefully prepared dish.
Perfectly arranged vegetables.
Fresh seafood, premium cuts of meat.
Delicate side dishes.
An assortment fit for royalty.
It was the kind of lunch most children could only dream of eating.
Just as King picked up her chopsticks—
She paused.
Asaji was staring at the meal. Her eyes sparkled.
A small trail of drool even threatened to run free from the corner of her mouth.
King's eye twitched.
After letting out another sigh, she finally spoke.
"If you'd like to try some, feel free..."
"My appetite isn't large enough to finish all of this by myself."
"Really?!" Asaji's eyes lit up even more.
She leaned so close their faces were only inches apart.
"Sure..."
King answered with another resigned sigh.
The moment permission was given—
*Snap*
Asaji's chopsticks shot forward with incredible speed, sending King slightly aback.
She then grabbed a piece of meat before King had even taken her first bite, and she stuffed it into her mouth.
There, when she chewed, King simply watched with a smug smile.
"Now she'll understand what true quality tastes like," she said to herself in her thought as she could already imagine the praise.
The admiration.
The compliments toward her and the chefs who had prepared it.
Instead...
Nothing came.
Asaji slowly turned toward her.
Her face had gone completely blank.
"What is this...?"
She tilted her head.
"Plastic...?"
King's smug expression instantly vanished.
"What?!"
Asaji chewed once more before swallowing.
"It's so bland."
"It feels like I'm chewing plastic."
King's eyebrow twitched.
"W-What?!"
"It was prepared by some of the finest chefs!"
"How dare you criticize their craftsmanship after all the effort they put into preparing such an exquisite meal!"
Asaji simply shrugged.
"Maybe, they did... But clearly they didn't do a very well done job..."
Then her cheerful smile returned.
"Why don't you try mine instead?"
She happily pushed her own lunchbox toward King.
"Maybe you'll like it!"
"W-What?!" King stared at her in disbelief.
"Why would I ever do that?"
"It looks so oily..."
"...And completely unrefined."
Asaji simply grinned.
"But it tastes good!"
"Trust me!"
"I... don't think I—"
"Oh, come on!"
"Just one bite!"
"If you regret it, I'll make it up to you!"
"I... I...!"
King then sighed, slumping her shoulders.
"Fine..." She uttered in complete defeat.
"If you insist."
"But only a tiny bite."
"Okay!"
Instead of giving her a small piece...
Asaji picked up an entire slice of meat and dropped it into King's lunchbox.
"There!"
"Try it!"
"It's really good!"
King stared at the piece of meat, and she hesitated.
Her chopsticks slowly lifted it from the lunchbox.
Grimace was clearly exhibited all over her face.
But she didn't stop.
Closer...
And closer...
She pulled the meat toward her mouth.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Then...
She took a bite.
The moment she began chewing...
Her eyes widened.
The flavor spread instantly.
The meat was tender and juicy.
And richly seasoned.
It was clearly...
Far better than the meal prepared by her own chefs.
There, Asaji folded her arms proudly.
"See? I told you!"
King immediately looked away.
Trying her best to hide her surprise.
"...It..." She cleared her throat.
"...It was acceptable."
Asaji laughed.
"Well!"
"If you want more, go ahead!"
"I don't mind!"
King glanced back at the lunchbox.
Almost unconsciously...
Her chopsticks began reaching for another piece.
But right before she could, suddenly—
The bright classroom around them gradually dulled, and the lively chatter faded away.
The warm sunlight vanished in an instant.
In its place...
A gloomy sky stretched overhead.
In front of her...
Asaji's expression twisted with grief as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry..." She lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Halo..."
"I don't think..."
"I don't think we were ever meant to be friends..."
King's eyes widened.
"Asa... ji...?"
As she reached out, Asaji's figure suddenly drifted farther and farther away.
King desperately reached after her.
"Asaji, WAIT!" she cried.
But the distance between them only kept growing.
Then, far away, Asaji's silhouette flickered.
For a brief moment, another presence overlapped hers.
Urara's...
Only then—
She snapped back to reality, gasping for air.
In front of her, the classroom disappeared, and the memory faded.
She found herself standing on the track once again.
The breeze swept across the turf as Yuiji stood next to her.
Then, ahead of her...
Waited for the race she had just agreed to.
Against...
Seiun Sky.