Chapter Text
—START—
From the other end of the corridor the long drawn out cry from someone was accompanied by the rhythm of horseshoes hitting the tiles in the floor made her ears perk up.
Someone approached her quickly from the hall, her first instinct was to jump ship and being running in the opposite direction and not have them be near her.
But it was a familiar voice to her, a bright cheery chirp that even in her worst days would manage to paint the faintest of smiles on her face. “Riiiiiiiiiceeeeeeeeee!” Haru Urara was coming.
A pink streak cut through the air in her direction, the flying mass of limbs and happiness nearly crashing into her with reckless abandon .
Instead of backing away she stood her ground and waited for her friend to arrive. “U-urara!” A pair of arms wrapped around her neck as all the speed abruptly came to a halt into a hug.
“Rice hi!” Holding her close to her Haru chirpily explained why she had come down the corridor as if chased by a pack of hyenas. “We had this cool idea in the morning of having an awesome party today with our friends so I thought ‘hmm who do I bring?’ and I just thought of you!”
The words party, friend and you rattled inside of Rice’s head as her friend released her, still processing exactly what had just happened. “A-a party?” Once she did her first idea was to refuse right then. (Rice doesn’t want to ruin everyone’s fun with her tragedy)
A sorting of all the different occurrences that would ruin a celebration just by her presence were already being given as excuses as to why it was a bad idea to invite her.
“Yeah! Since I almost won yesterday I thought we could make a party out of it” And once again Haru dismantled her refusal with simple optimism and a simple desire to have her there.
“Uhw” Her ears flopped slowly with every inch of resistance disappearing as those pink eyes stared past her defenses. “A-alright Rice will b-be there” Feeling her friend pull away a bit she felt enough freedom to turn away and not look at her directly.
“Yay! Oh this will be so much fun” Clapping Haru smiled with that radiance that overshadowed everything, the kind of smile even Rice couldn’t resist.
(Urara is so shiny) They were thoughts that always invaded the girl whenever she saw it. (Rice wished she too could be as shiny as Urara) To be such a radiant person that nobody around you would ever think of hating you, of not loving you.
It was a slight envy that couldn’t compare to the love she had for her friend.
Her eyes darted to something, an anomaly in the whole design that was Haru Urara. Every piece of body language spoke of happiness, that she was in a great mood today yet something, one thing only did not fit.
Her tail.
She didn’t say anything and eventually the hug was completely broken off as Haru turned to the hall and then back to Rice. “I need to go prepare then!” Ruffling trough her clothing she took out what appeared to be a hand drawn invitation towards the aforementioned party with its location and hour. “There’s lot of stuff to do!! See you later Ricee!”
Watching her leave Rice couldn’t help but stare as she watched the most determined Uma Musume she knew run towards the exit, a little hole in her gut that constantly wished she was half the Uma Haru was.
Still she wonders what had gone on with her that she had such a miserable looking tail.
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Fuji Kiseki had allowed them the use of one of the common rooms in the dormitories.
For a while after they left from lunch Haru, King, and Opera worked on the small but significant celebration together, in an ambient of cheer and friendship as they waited for the rest of the group to arrive.
Paper decorations, snacks and even a cake were all part of this. Everything was set up, as they left the last of them prepared the three sit on one of the couches in the room comfortably, casually talking.
Right up until the same question was asked once more.
“Haru, are you alright?” It was the fourth time today someone had pointed it out, the second one coming from King.
It created a slight worry within Haru, was she being too different from usual? Were her attitude and words too much today and she needed to dial it back? Was she finally slipping enough for the cracks to show? “Why does everyone ask me that today?” Such internal conflict made it so that her words came a bit harsher than usual.
Which in Haru terms was nothing but a slight pout and an adorable frown, yet that was enough for King to assume something was indeed happening. “It is a simple observation, while nothing seems outwardly wrong many have noted that your body language isn’t matching your speech today”
“Of course, being a first-rate roommate and friend, I noted it immediately” Her words were enough to send Haru’s mind into an overdrive, trying to figure out what was wrong with her way of acting before she worried more people and trying to make them less suspicious of her.
“It is quite evident oh dear subject” Opera chimed in as well, circling around the couch to stand just behind the pink haired girl. “Your shine is magnificent, but it points with even greater magnitude to those parts of yourself that currently aren’t matching it”
Trapped between asking what exactly this evident thing was and trying to come up with any justification, a cold sweat ran down Haru’s neck. (I need to figure this out) She didn’t even feel bad today, she was really happy.
And still, any person can have a bad day. It is a natural thing, yet for Haru Urara that was not an option in her eyes.
To become who she wanted her heart and positivity came before all, such a thought process made her very strict with her own portrayal of herself — a very irrational one —
Since Haru Urara would never feel bad she felt she couldn’t do so either.
It was less like a desired person she wanted to be more akin to an ideal to strive, an ideal that was very much impossible to reach.
“Lean upon us, for we would move mountains for your well-being!” Opera exclaimed with cadence and a certainty that spoke of how much her friendship meant to Opera.
It was heartwarming, it made her feel sick.
To be cared for this much by them, to not be the person she wanted to be.
The door clicked open a moment later and the conversation was left to the side, with immediate awareness Haru’s tension vanished. (Enough people have pointed out I don’t seem well today) It was better she tried to forget about that for now, focusing on the party ahead.
Special week came by first bringing snacks of her own with her, Grass Wonder and Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi arrived not long afterward chatting amongst them while bringing a few drinks.
A shy Rice popped her head not much after, in her hands a ‘small’ carrot cake she’d bought before coming here.
Seiun Sky came late — a common matter — being dragged inside By Narita Top Road — Who had warned she’d come late — after she had found her sleeping near the stump in the courtyard.
For each and every one of them Haru was sure to receive them with a smile on her face, genuine affection on every greeting. “We can start finally!” Quickly she ran around the room, giving everyone a drink.
She was radiant, joyful and very excited to spend time with them. They saw that joy, basked in it and appreciated the effort their friend was making so everyone had a good time.
But they also saw the outlier in her posture, the part of her that did not match the rest. (I can feel the stares) It worried her, she needed to shift their eyes from whatever it was as soon as possible. (I’ll investigate what is it that weirds them out so much later)
-CLINK-
Glasses hit each other as the shouting of ‘cheers’ echoed in the small room. Mingling with each other, the room became a lively environment of fun with each girl joint in talks and activities.
“To a better half of the year and finally reach my first victory!” Haru cheered from the bottom of her heart as she lifted the glass with juice into the air, the emotion so contagious that all of the others screamed some sort of confirmation or encouragement after her.
Despite the small bumps, questions and her ever-present fear of whatever made everyone point out today that she didn’t seem great hanging over her head Haru had a feeling today would be a grand day.
“It is great to see you make progress” Grass politely offered her encouragement in the way she always did. “One day you’ll achieve it I’m sure”
Energetically Tsuyoshi jumped into the space beside Grass. “Totally, you just got to keep believing in yourself and nothing is impossible” Hitting herself in the chest as a sign of strength.
Unfortunately she did so hard enough that it sent her into a coughing fit. “Careful there Tsuyo” Grinned Seiun as she was laid back into one of the couches, a potato chip dangling in the hold of her mouth. “But they’re totally right, you’re killing it out there” Gifted her a thumbs up before she refocused on eating that chip.
“Thanks guys!” It warmed her heart that they all believed in her so much. “You’ll see how next time I’ll bring home the gold!”
It was quite ironic that G1 — Save for Tsuyoshi, but she had aG2 under her name so still far above whatever she had gotten to race ever — winners like them would have more faith in her than her own parents.
“THAT IS NOT FAIR” “NOT A FAIR COMPARISON AT ALL”
“If they knew what you were they’d deem you unable to win too”
Imperceptibly she froze. (Ah…mom and dad) It had been a long time since she’d heard from them. (Not right now Haru, not with everyone around) Forcing that train of thought to the deepest corners of her mind.
“hehe, we don’t doubt that” Narita agreed with a smile on her face. “Maybe if the schedules align, we can all go cheer for you!”
“Quite the magnificent idea Top Road” Pulling the mentioned Umamusume from her shoulder into hers Opera laughed. “I relish to see the day our friend reaches the banquet of a victor”
“Banquet?!” Special Week — if she wasn’t convinced enough already with simply seeing her friend succeed — the idea of a feast after such an achievement was more than just convincing.
Even if the times didn’t align well, she would certainly be there.
“This one can see it” King nodded to herself, a hand on her chin as she stared through a window. “So it is agreed that we will go watch all as Haru conquers her first victory, do we not?”
“Uhm R-rice will go if Urara w-wants Rice to go” Timidly added. “She’ll even cheer her l-loudest” A weak fist pump to the air was made but it was still significant in the face of who Rice Shower was.
Haru Urara loved it, she loved every second and every word from them
Her heart felt so warm being surrounded by so many people she loved so much. Despite every struggle and issue she had with herself, despite every time she may have doubted why she chose to embark on this journey, despite still not being the Haru Urara she wanted to be.
In moments like this that little girl who watched someone run with everything with more love than anyone was reflected into the world in its purest forms as Haru Urara.
It was when she was around these people she cared so much for that the line between Haru Urara and herself became so thin that it might as well never exist.
Only with them by her side was she truly herself.
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In her race number 101, Haru Urara placed 7th out of 8
—END—
—Mystic—
