The morning sun stretched gently across the streets.
And beneath its warmth, two Umamusumes walked side by side along the pavement.
Though neither admitted it, their excitement kept slipping into their steps, making them walk faster… skip lighter… laugh louder than usual.
But neither paid attention to it.
Because all their attention was already occupied by each other.
They giggled.
Lightly chased one another down the sidewalk.
Even raced side by side gently, though carefully, since Mary still hadn't fully recovered.
Most importantly...
They reminisced.
Every road they crossed.
Every crack on the pavement.
Every tiny imperfection they used to pass on their walk home from school.
Things they never thought they would miss.
Mary was still the calmer one between them, yet even she couldn't fully hide her eagerness anymore.
Soft laughter came from her again and again, usually because of Urara's little antics or clumsy mishaps.
And before they realized it, they were already back on the train.
Once again heading toward the town square like they used to.
The train door shut, and they settled into their seats. Before they knew, the train began moving.
Immediately, Urara twisted around toward the window behind her, eyes sparkling as she watched the scenery rush by.
"Whoa… The train is going again!"
Meanwhile, Mary, unlike before, didn't stay quietly composed.
Instead, she turned as well.
Watching the world outside together with Urara.
"It's so cool! Isn't it, Mary-chan?!" Urara exclaimed, eyes glistening against the passing scenery.
Mary gently nodded, a soft smile resting on her face.
"Yeah…"
"It is."
There, the two remained kneeling against their seats, watching the ever-changing world spin past the windows together.
From buildings, to fields, to rivers.
Everything blurred beautifully before their eyes.
Until eventually—
Urara grew restless, and the two settled back into their seats properly, leaning lightly against each other side by side.
Then, casually, Mary reached into a small pouch and pulled out a pair of earphones.
She plugged them into her phone before extending one side toward Urara.
"Want to listen to some music?"
Instantly, Urara lit up.
"Whoa! Sure, Mary-chan!"
Without hesitation, she took the earbud.
Soon—
One ear each was connected, and soft music played between them as the train continued onward.
The two quietly hummed along, sharing their moment together.
And the time slipped by far faster than either of them realized.
Eventually, the train screeched softly as the station announcement broadcasted overhead.
Mary's ears perked immediately.
Unlike Urara, who was still completely absorbed in the music.
Mary then nudged her gently.
"We're here, Urara," she reached.
Only then did Urara snap out of it.
"Whoa! That was fast!"
Then, together, they stepped off the train and continued onward toward the town square.
And before long...
They arrived once more at Obiyamachi Itchome.
The same place they once visited together.
The same place they hung out for the very first time.
And the same place—
They were forced to leave behind too soon.
But today—
Today was different.
Today would be filled with excitement.
With freedom.
Today was the day they would finally fulfill their promise.
The day to continue where they had left off.
The day to fill the gap that was carved out, as Mary's father forcefully took her away.
But...
Now that he no longer controlled her, no longer in the picture.
And Mary felt ever lighter, happier even.
More excited than she had been in years.
But, beside her, Urara overflowed with energy as usual—
To a degree no one could rival. Not even Mary, with liberation from years of restrictions.
And right before they entered the street fully, Mary paused slightly and looked up at the entrance sign.
"This place... really hasn't changed much since last time… has it?" she murmured with a faint smile.
Then she turned toward Urara.
"So… what are we going to—"
She stopped, froze.
Completely taken off guard as Urara...
...was gone.
Completely vanished from beside her.
"…Urara?!" Mary called out in alarm.
Then—
Far ahead down the street—
Urara appeared, already all the way ahead, waving wildly at her.
"Mary-chan! Over here!" she shouted brightly, "Come quickly! I found something fun!"
"Quick!" she added before instantly darting off again.
Mary stood there for a second, blinking.
Completely stunned.
Then—
She softly chuckled.
"…Of course," she added.
"It's Urara after all."
Then, Urara suddenly popped back into view again.
"Mary-chan! What are you waiting for?! Come on!" she hurried once more.
Only then, without wasting another second, Mary laughed softly and broke into a run as well.
"Yes, yes—I'm coming!"
And just like that—
Their long-awaited hangout finally began.
They wandered through the streets together, stopping by pastry stalls and sweet shops.
Urara dragged Mary toward every colorful display she could find, pressing her face against windows while gasping dramatically at figurines and trinkets.
At one point, Urara insisted on trying to match hairpins, only to somehow place them backward on herself and proudly declare it "fashion."
Mary laughed so hard she nearly lost her balance.
They browsed little stores together, shared snacks while walking, and even competed over who could spot the weirdest item in the gift shops first.
Sometimes they raced lightly down the sidewalks.
Other times, they simply walked side by side quietly.
And before they knew it...
The daylight slowly faded away around them.
And their enjoyment had made them lose all sense of time.
With that, the golden hour had arrived.
The warm sunset painted the streets orange as the end of the day approached.
The two now sat together on a bench.
Urara happily sipped on a carrot honey drink beside Mary.
As usual, she swung her legs while humming to herself, still overflowing with energy as if she hadn't spent the entire day running around.
Meanwhile—
Mary had finally begun to tire from keeping up with Urara's endless excitement.
She slumped slightly against the bench, quietly catching her breath.
"Today was exciting, wasn't it, Mary-chan?!" Urara exclaimed brightly.
Mary smiled softly.
"It really was…"
"And I already can't wait to do it again!" Urara continued before taking another loud slurp from her drink, before turning back at her again.
"When do you think we can hang out again, Mary-chan?! I can't wait!"
At that—
Mary suddenly turned silent, and her smile faded slightly.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze toward the horizon, where the golden sun was beginning to disappear.
"I…"
"…I don't know," she murmured.
"How about next week?!" Urara immediately suggested, "I'm free next week!"
Mary let out a small laugh.
"Aren't you leaving for Tokyo tomorrow? Your orientation starts two days after that."
"But Mary-chan is going too, right?!" Urara replied instantly, "Then we can just keep hanging out there!"
She threw her arms into the air dramatically.
"Just thinking about it already makes me excited!"
"Right?!"
Mary blinked slightly at her enthusiasm.
Then slowly straightened herself, smiling faintly.
"Well…"
"I'm not going to Tokyo, Urara."
Urara froze.
"I'm not enrolling in Tracen Academy anymore."
"Huh…?" Urara turned sharply toward her, "But from what Mary-chan can do, she would definitely get accepted!"
"There's no way she got rejected!"
Mary then shook her head softly, "You're right, I didn't..."
"It's more like… I've moved on," she added.
"You see..."
"...I'm done chasing someone else's dream."
"It's about time I chase my own, don't you think?"
"But… wasn't your dream to become the greatest Umamusume?" Urara asked quietly, "To become unstoppable?"
"Not really…"
Mary lowered her gaze.
"It was more something that was insisted upon."
Then she looked back up again.
"Besides!"
She forced a small smile.
"I don't really have that option anymore anyway…"
Her eyes drifted toward her legs.
"My legs have reached their limit."
"And they're not what they used to be. Or perhaps to be stressed like they used to."
"Then!" Urara suddenly exclaimed, leaning toward her, "I don't want to go either! Not if Mary-chan isn't going!"
Mary laughed softly in disbelief.
"What are you talking about…? You can't do that."
"I don't want you throwing away your journey just to match mine."
"But—!" Urara protested, "I haven't spent enough time with you yet! I still want to hang out more!"
"I don't want us to be separated again!"
Her voice lowered.
"After all... We just got to be friends, and we barely got to…"
"I'm sorry, Urara…" Mary interrupted gently, shaking her head.
"I can't."
"Even if you gave up Tracen… I still couldn't stay."
Then—
She looked toward the sunset once more.
The golden light reflected quietly in her eyes.
"Because I'm leaving, Urara..." she added.
"I'm leaving Kouchi..."