"Can you imagine that speed?! The agility of this Umamusume! Number 1 crosses the finish line by five lengths! What a true beast incarnate! After all, she's the prodigy, the future of Kochi—the one and only, MARY JANE!!!"
The cheers erupted louder than ever.
At the finish line, Mary Jane lifted her head and gazed toward the stands. Spectators rose to their feet, chanting her name again and again.
But among the mass—
Her eyes locked onto one figure.
Her father.
He clapped calmly while he sat with a small, satisfied smile on his face.
He looked satisfied.
But not fulfilled.
Mary remained still. Her fist clenched.
No celebration. No wave.
Only cold composure.
She then bowed once before turning away, leaving the other runners behind with the winds—some left in awe and some in quiet resentment.
Perhaps that was the nature of a so-called prodigy.
...
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the school grounds, Urara, Rush, Lidden, and Young gathered together, waiting for the main event—Rush's next race.
"It was amazing! Truly astonishing how you both performed!" Young said, energized.
Lidden nodded quickly.
"I—I can't believe you pulled off such a miraculous move! You outran everyone, even though you were four lengths behind in the last stretch! It was really cool, Rush!"
Urara puffed her chest and rubbed her nose proudly.
"Of course! We're both top-notch Umamusume after all!"
Meanwhile, Rush scratched her head awkwardly.
"Well… It's not that amazing compared to others. I was just lucky to finish third."
"But still! It was a sight to behold! And Urara—your courage to finish despite being last was incredibly admirable and inspirational too!" Young added.
"I—I can't wait to run next year! I want to be just like you two!" Lidden said excitedly.
"And I'm sure Lin-chan will be just as good as both of us!" Urara bounced.
"I—I can't wait!" Lidden grinned.
A brief silence was then settled between them as the broadcaster's voice echoed across the field from behind.
Young finally crossed her arms and broke it.
"Anyway… what now that Sky has advanced to the main race?"
"I don't know," Rush replied. "Probably waiting for the next qualification match to finish."
"And which match is it now?" Young groaned. "I can't bear this anticipation anymore! I want to see you win the main event already!"
"M-Me too!" Lidden chimed in quickly.
"Me three!" Urara added brightly.
Rush blinked.
It was the first time she felt this kind of support—everyone around her, rooting for her.
She smiled and nodded.
"Alright then. I'll then try my best and win this race—for all of us."
"It's a promise then!" Urara declared confidently.
"H-How about we do a celebration chant to channel more power to Rush? So she can even defeat the prodigy, Mary Jane!" Lidden suggested nervously.
"That's a good idea!" Young and Urara agreed at the same time.
"I don't think… I don't think that is needed, guys…" Rush blushed, waving her hands in refusal.
But the three of them had already formed a small circle, hands stacked in the center.
They turned toward her in unison.
"Come on, Rush-chan! Join in!"
Rush sighed in defeat, but she faintly smiled as she rushed to them.
"Alright… alright… I'm coming…"
She stepped forward and placed her hand on top of theirs.
Young shouted first, "As long as we're here! We'll claim the victories for us! For the victory!"
"For the determination!" Lidden followed.
"For Rush-chan!" Urara declared proudly.
Then—
Silence.
All three of them turned toward Rush.
Waiting for her to finish the chant.
Rush blinked, caught off guard by their stares.
"Wh—what…?"
"Say it, Sky!" Young urged.
"Do it, Rush-chan!" Urara also chimed in.
"B— but... Fine…" Rush sighed as she lowered her head.
She then cleared her throat.
"For us!" she added.
On the count of three, they thrust their hands into the air and cheered together.
With that, they celebrated together a little more before the group returned to the trackside, watching the remaining qualification races while waiting for the main event.
Urara ran back to her parents immediately.
"Oh my god! You were absolutely dazzling, Urara!" her father exclaimed.
"I know, I know!" Urara replied proudly, striking a pose.
Meanwhile, Lidden and Young went off to grab something to eat.
Then, there's Rush, alone, leaning quietly against the rail, eyes fixed on the track.
She didn't return to her family.
Not yet.
Not when she hadn't proven herself enough.
Not when she was afraid that seeing their faces would remind her of how ordinary she still was.
So she remained where she was, leaning against the fence, watching the races unfold one after another. Studying the runners. Their pacing. Their strategy. Their bursts. Their finish.
Until—
"If it isn't Rushing Sky…"
A familiar voice came from behind her.
One she remembered very well.
The one that made her body stiffen.
The one that once crushed her dream of becoming a racer.
"Murashi…" she muttered as she turned.
There stood Ryu Murashi — the Dragon that Seized the Sky.
"I saw your performance," Murashi said calmly. "I will say… it wasn't half bad."
She paused slightly.
"But improvement can still be sown from it."
Her gaze then sharpened.
"After all… You hesitated."
"However…" Murashi added as she stepped closer, leaning against the fence beside her, "You changed a little."
"At first, I truly thought you were going to dive like last time," she continued. "Premeditatedly forfeiting yourself from the crown of winning."
"But then," Murashi went on, "I saw a flicker. A spark in your eyes."
She smirked slightly.
"One I didn't know existed. Or perhaps… one I lost sight of after our first race."
"What you want... Murashi," she asked.
"You were once a confident, haughty Umamusume, Rushing," Murashi said. "But after I splashed some mud on your face, you changed. You downplayed yourself. You gave up your dream. You forfeited before the true race even began."
"You were a loser. A quitter."
Upon hearing that, Rush clenched her fist tighter.
"But…" Murashi tilted her head slightly, gesturing toward the stand where Urara was still frolicking before her parents, "that girl you were with. Whatever her name was."
"She changed you more than anyone else. More than me. More than your family."
"And especially more than yourself."
"Still," she added calmly, turning her gaze directly at Rush, "I have not seen your finest performance yet."
"Not when you didn't secure first place."
"And not when you have yet to race me… with the full extent of your heart."
"I expect more from you, Rushing Sky," Murashi continued. "And I expect you to race me properly this time—with the true, dignified goal of winning."
She stepped away from the fence slightly.
"I want you to feel your own sensitivity. Not others'. I want you to burn through your tenacity—not run on the fuel of expectation."
Her eyes sharpened.
"And I will be waiting… to crush your dream for real this time."
"Not with that half-arsed, half-performed race we shared before. I want a real race. One where you actually have a chance."
Her lips curved faintly.
"And one where I will genuinely destroy you."
A brief silence.
"As for now, I will bid my farewell," Murashi said, pushing herself off the fence. "My race is next. And I can't delay any longer."
"Watch me run, Rushing Sky. I hope you will learn something from me."
She then turned and walked away.
And midway through her departure, she stopped again and turned back one last time.
"I want no more handicap from you, Rushing Sky."
Her gaze locked onto hers.
"I want the true…"
"…Rushing Sky."
And with that, she turned as she waved, heading toward the track's entrance point.
Meanwhile, Rush remained where she stood.
Head lowered as she leaned back to the fence.
Hands gripping the fence tightly.
Once again, doubt crept in.
What if she regained her confidence… only to be proven ordinary again?
What if she poured everything into this… only to be crushed once more by her?
Or perhaps…
Maybe she truly was just ordinary.
Maybe...
Her grip on the fence tightened further, and the noise of the crowd began to blur.
Until—
"Rush-chan!"
A familiar bounce landed beside her.
Urara beamed up at her, eyes shining.
"I can't wait for your next race! And I know you got this, Rush-chan! Mary might be strong, but you will bring it home for us!"
Rush blinked.
The dull haze in her eyes flickered—
And reignite again.
"Urara…" she muttered softly.
Then she chuckled and nodded.
"Alright… alright. I'll take this home for you..."
"...for us."