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She woke up in a slight daze and found herself in a white void. Just where is she?
She remembers being stuck sick, unable to move, as everyone watched on in worry and sadness.
The vivid image of everyone being sad left an acrid taste on her tongue and mind.
“Can you stand?”
A mysterious voice calls out from behind her, causing her to nearly jump in surprise as she scrambles to get up.
“Y-Yes I can…”
She took stock of herself, then her surroundings - featureless white as far as the eye can see.
“I know you’re confused. I have to say… you left a remarkable legacy.”
“Huh?”
The faceless, mysterious figure chuckled, deep yet lighthearted. “This might come as a shock to you, but… you passed away.”
She stood shocked.
That explains her recent memory.
She lowers her head in sorrow as the realization that she made others sad finally sinks in.
“I…”
“Don’t worry. As I’ve said, you’ve left a remarkable legacy.”
“I-” She raised her head in equal surprise- “I… did..?”
“And splendidly so,” the figure nodded to her in affirmation, “countless people all over the world gathered to support you, and you in turn gave them the determination to press on no matter how rough their going gets.”
Inspiring others to keep going… The words warmed her heart. She went through a lot herself, and knowing she was able to allow others to persevere, she’s beyond thankful for it.
“Th-Thank you… It means the world to me.”
“You’re welcome. Many people treasure you in their hearts, especially the people who took care of you.”
“I’m glad… I’m glad I could make people happy.”
“Come now, follow me.”
The figure calls to her and walks off, making her skip forward to follow.
After a moment, she spots another figure waiting in the distance, very much like her. They perked up as they heard them approach, a little surprised.
“Your companion has arrived.” The figure spoke, but she ignored it and approached the other one.
“Hey there! How are you? You look lonely…”
They looked away, not wanting to meet eyes. She immediately figured out the sadness in their eyes.
“What’s your name?” She asked as she made a small gallop, still eager to make friends.
“…Rice. Rice Shower.” They responded, finally looking at her, though still facing away.
“Ooh, that’s such a nice name! I’m Haru Urara, let’s be friends!”
“Friends…? No, you shouldn’t…”
“Why not? You look like a nice person!”
They turned away again, stepping out once.
“I… I’m just a bringer of misfortune,” they tried to hide the torrent of sadness by hiding their face, “all I’ve ever done is destroy others’ dreams, nothing good ever comes from me…”
“Mmm,” she tilted her head, clearly unconvinced, “I don’t think so. You look like someone who’d make others do their best!”
They looked back at her in disbelief, baffled by how she paid no heed to their history and saw them as a kind person despite this being their first meeting.
“Can we be friends?” She asks again, eyes twinkling with innocent earnestness.
Figuring that she won’t take no for an answer nor care about their past, they finally sigh with a small smile.
“Yeah, let’s be friends. Nice to meet you, Urara-san.”
“Yeah! Nice to meet you, Rice!”
“Come now, your futures are waiting.”
The figure who’s been waiting gently chided them, gesturing toward a faraway light.
“Go forth and start a life anew.”
She turned back to them and smiled. “Let’s go, Rice!”
They smiled in turn, finally looking happy. “Yeah. Let’s go, Urara-san.”
And together they ran towards the light, side by side.
“Let’s race towards it! C’mon!” She then starts running off to it, making the other chuckle gently and catch up in speed, only to quickly pass her moments later.
They realize she isn’t running fast at all despite seemingly giving it her all, and with it see that it didn’t matter to her if she could win races - that for her, to run is enough.
Lodging her belongings with her, today is the day Haru Urara is going to move into Tracen Academy. How she got in was a relative miracle - she hasn’t a single win in all of the races she’s in, but it seems her ever-vibrant and eternally-optimistic nature earned her a spot in the prestigious umamusume academe.
As she sat down on a bench near the Fountain of the Three Goddesses, she spots a sight that immediately caught her eye: a fellow umamusume with long, jet-black hair that curled up at the tips and covered her right eye, a beautiful hat over her covered eye, and overall timid yet poised - as if shy yet hiding a spirit waiting to show itself.
And somehow, despite the unknown uma’s neutral expression, Haru felt a pang of sadness washing over her the moment she saw the lonely uma sitting by herself.
“Hey hey, is this seat free?” An unknown, cheery voice nearly made her jump, but what greeted her vision was a pink-haired uma with a smile that shone the light of a hundred suns.
“Y-Yes…” She timidly replies, startled and scared, yet not wanting to drive this newcomer away.
“Hey hey, why do you look so sad?” The newcomer asks, curious yet worried too.
“W-Well… I’ve always brought misfortune with me…”
Silence followed for a moment, then-
“Hey, what’s your name?”
“R-Rice Shower…”
Then, another silence.
“Hmm, why does your name sound familiar? It’s like I’ve heard it somewhere before…”
“Eh…?” Rice sat dumbfounded from Haru’s admission.
“Well, it’s fine! You’ve got a nice name! I’m Haru Urara, nice to meet you!”
“Haru Urara… Haru… Urara…” Rice again felt dumbfounded, but this time, because it felt like she had heard that name before. Like she already knew that name before, looking for it, even.
“Hmm? Is something wrong?” Haru asked, innocent worry clear in her expression.
It felt like fate. Like they were meant to be brought together.
“No,” Rice shook her head with a soft smile, “it’s fine. It’s just that I think I’ve also heard your name somewhere before too.”
Haru beamed a radiant smile at her. “Ehehe, it seems like we’re destined to meet each other! Wanna be friends?”
Rice opened her mouth to tell her that would be a bad idea, but the words caught in her throat.
Haru’s big smile made her feel as if she wouldn’t care if all she brought was misfortune, and that she wanted to be friends just because she is her.
And so, Rice slowly smiled back with a nod, “Yeah, I’d love to be friends with you. Nice to meet you, Urara-san.”
Haru giggled happily, a wide grin on her face. “Hehe, nice to meet you too, Rice!”