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—START—
Training was one of the worst experiences she had to go through in her day to day at Tracen.
Exercises that pushed her limitations were commonplace in an environment built for people unlike her, schedules went on for hours when her body couldn’t handle so much continuous stress.
Whether they were pulling things, running up and down stairs for many repetitions, making laps around the track or pulling weight, the intensity of every single one of those activities was absurd.
It made her want to stop every single day, the ache sometimes turned unbearable.
It hurt enough that sometimes she wondered if this was worth it.
Every step was harder than the last, ever after two years she had never gotten used to this. (This…is nothing!) Her weakness was a gap too far to overcome. (I can do this!) Haru did not shy away from it despite that, it was a necessity of her to chase such an insane regimen.
If she wanted to win the need to get stronger and faster was only solvable through training, and not on a level she could handle but beyond.
To break all limits.
Doing so with a smile on her face was her own way of lessening the burden and approaching the one she desired to be. “Here I go!!!” For the happiness she hoped to bring.
Kicking hard into the ground Haru began pulling a giant tire, its weight causing straining with each step, her muscles putting everything they could just to slightly move the object.
Each step took considerably longer than the last, exhaustion building fast as she dragged it through the dirt track. Her stance needed to be stable least she slid, but it couldn’t be rigid or the exercise would be pointless.
She sweated, she grunted, she wanted to stop.
It hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…it hurt…
But she kept going. Haru Urara did not give up, no matter how hard things might be for her she would keep going, her determination would not let her.
Continuing to drag along herself the tire for thirty more minutes as per the trainer’s instructions. How lucky she felt that the man had not only accepted her as a trainee but also adapted trainings to her.
Trainer was a known man, in his younger days he’d achieved various G1 tittles as well as being a Derby Trainer who found himself on the edge of retirement by the time she had entered Tracen.
Meeting him had been a stroke of luck, he’d found her on accident and somehow thought what she was doing to be incredible. Choosing to scout her and delaying his own retirement three years at a minimum for her.
Gratefulness for taking her and for giving her a team to belong was saying little, each step she took was not only for her anymore. (Forever this will be a fuel for me too!) Giving an even greater fuel source for an insatiable individual.
Reminiscing distracted her from the grueling effort, allowing the exercise to flow much more smoothly right until the moment her body betrayed her.
Enough was enough, the rope pulled back the moment her strength couldn’t keep up any longer and the tension was bigger than her hold on the ground, falling backwards into the ground.
Her legs were numb and her torso hurt a bit, but it was nothing to her.
“Phu~ I am so tired!” She began to laugh it off, there wasn’t much care about scrapping herself or falling into the ground after years of attempting to do so. “But I made it farther than last time Trainer!!”
Pausing the stopwatch in his hand the Trainer slowly approached Haru, who’d already begun using the stretching he’d taught her the first few days of them knowing each other.
(Your time was shortened too) Each day was a mountain of worry for him, watching the kid charge forward into a challenge that always seemed to difficult for her to pull off yet each and every time she improved. (Hew growth seems to be increasing these days) Her perseverance being the foremost cause of this.
His role in this was more of a regulator, a guide to push the energy and potency of this child into something she could do, which was very much smaller than any other trainee he’d ever had.
“Great job Haru” Every time he’d praise her the smile on her face would illuminate blindingly, each time she improved her mood would surge even higher than usual. “You have bested your personal record once more”
“I did?! Yeah!!” She pumped her arms up with a winning grin, as she did with every single thing she considered a victory on her day to day basis. “What’s next trainer?! Am I running? Tell me I’m running! Oh I’m so full of energy for a run right now!”
Sighing he shook his head. “Now you go have lunch” Beside being able to see the trembling of her legs and knowing she was spent for some hours the time to eat had arrived. “We will resume some stamina training in the afternoon”
No argument came from the girl, she patted her stomach almost as if she’d just realized she was hungry. Just thinking about her eating made him worry again.
Staying by her side until Haru could move again he left her with one last reminder. “Please, stick to the diet I’ve given you this time around” Even if it was for a fraction of a second, he saw her smiled crook a bit.
Taking one singular instance for her to return to normal. “I will try my hardest!” The same promise she always gave him, the same words, and to her credit he knew she tried according to the year mates he’d asked.
He didn’t really know if she was lucky or this was another weird thing about her body.
Haru got up with a jump, slightly stumbling for a moment that she corrected, laughing as if it meant nothing. “Then I will be on my way!” Breaking into a sprint he watched her leave, no matter how much he wished to tell her to slow down he knew better than anyone else how little that would stop her.
She became smaller and smaller the more distance she covered, only when she had crossed the threshold of his sight did the Trainer begun to move himself, softly muttering while looking at his own hands.
“I…am not sure how much more I can do for you kid” Unknown to his words Haru made her way towards the main building.
Tracen’s size would always captivate her eyes no matter how much time passed. (Hmm, it still feels weird) Her walk, as she stopped running eventually from how uncomfortable her knees felt, went through various halls withing the academy.
People around her happily waved at her through the halls, whether years over her or under her everyone that saw her for a moment took their time to exchange words with her for a while.
Always happiness would be present whenever Haru Urara was around, she was a star that never stopped shining and everyone liked her.
People liked her.
They loved her.
She was loved.
Haru was loved.
…She was not…never in the past…maybe never in the future…
(Not right now!) Not even for a moment did the smile on her face disappear, for that was not Haru Urara, and that is who she was right now. (Can’t be having an episode right now) For the few moments her mind wandered too far, her breathing had stopped.
Having been like this for long her composure didn’t even shake with her loosing of sense.
Eventually her feet reached the cafeteria, pushing the door open into a space where many Uma’s thrived eating or spending time together, each had their own schedules, their own things to do.
Everyday you could find someone different in here, a fun environment for Haru were it not for the one thing that she had to do in this place.
Her eyes darted around the big room, from circular tables to bar like counters with high chairs all for them to use. In one of the side walls finding the buffet, where the cooks made sure everyone was served and fed properly.
The woman known as the chief of that kitchen noted her approach before she even reached the counter, turning to call one of her staff to put her meal together.
Putting her arm down she stared down at Haru. “Good to see you little missy” This old person probably knew already every student there was, being the on to provide them food. “Going for a full plate again or would you like a reduction?” That’s why she was already prepared to ask this of her when seeing her.
“Hello!!” She greeted before shaking her head. “I will take it as usual! trying to eat it all today as well” Her answer wouldn’t change, it hadn’t done so for long now.
Nothing about the chef’s face changed beyond where her eyes looked. “Have it your way, if you can’t finish it you know where to throw it” using her thumb to point towards a certain table where an Ashen Haired Uma ate piles and piles of food.
She went back to her own business, leaving Haru to waiting as the cooks put together one of the meals of the dietary plan her trainer made for her.
Eventually taking it and looking around for a place to seat. (King isn’t around…Neither is Spe, Top Road or Opera) None of the people she’s used to having lunch with were around, at least she could not see them. (Eating alone today it is!)
Eventually finding an empty table near the entrance of the cafeteria itself. Setting a tray with more food than she could ever eat in a day in front of her.
Staring at it made it seem all the more daunting. “…” The chopsticks in her hands were slow to move and begging tearing into the meal. (Remember, this is normal for them to eat…you have to at least try) Each and every one of her actions would always be to bridge the gap between the them and her, she would always try to be like them.
Not be different, to be an Umamusume. This was just one more thing.
Thus, Haru began to eat like everyone around her.
Beginning with one bite, then another, taking her time eating the great food that was served in Tracen.
She felt slightly satisfied.
One bite, then another.
Her stomach was beginning to fill.
…One bite, then another…
She couldn’t fit any more into her mouth.
…one bite…then another…
Haru felt sick.
…just…one…more…bite…
She couldn’t do it, the sickly feeling just grew and grew increasingly as she attempted to continue eating. Looking at her plate, the wave of nausea increased.
She hadn’t even eaten a full quarter of it, Umamusume’s caloric intake went far beyond anything she could match.
Even still, she continued trying without giving up, because that’s what Haru Urara did.
Even if it seemed impossible to begin with.
(I mean, I’m already running enough to beat consistently some Umas) She was comparable to the average of them at the very least. (For a human that is impressive)
Haru would be about to try eating more again before her chopsticks slowed to a halt nearing her mouth. (NO…NO…Bad Haru!!) It took a lot of self-control for her entire stance not to change. (You are an Umamusume like everyone else here) Her mentality had slipped for a moment. (You are an Uma!)
This always had a chance to happen whenever she lowered her guard, when she believed herself to be comfortable. (…You can’t be human…that’d make you different, strange…) Lunch time, when she tried to match and blend in with everyone else would always be the worst. (You are an Umamusume…you are Haru Urara)
Never could she allow herself to forget that. Through force of her own will she made herself stop trembling, knowing she could no longer continue eating she got up and gave the food remaining away.
Moving quickly through the halls, smiling and saying hello to every person across her path as if nothing was happening.
This was normal, this was routine.
Returning quickly to the dorms and closing herself in the bathroom, staring right into the mirror.
“I am…Haru Urara”
—END—
—Mystic—
