As the race persisted...
Ishida remained beside the woman; he casually turned his attention back to the track.
His eyes followed Urara as she continued to run.
Then he spoke.
"By the way..."
"I can't help but be amused by how you reacted to that runner."
He glanced sideways at her.
"You're actually supporting her?"
"D-Did I...?" The woman visibly flustered.
"W-Well, I didn't realize I was...!" She then waved both hands frantically.
"I-It's not like that!"
"Is that so...?"
Ishida raised an eyebrow before looking back at the track.
"To be honest...I figured as much." He sighed.
"I mean, who wouldn't?"
"The way she runs."
"The way she's constantly falling behind."
"The way she struggles with even the basics."
He paused briefly.
"The fact that she's simply..."
"...pathetic in so many ways."
Upon hearing that, the woman's expression slowly stiffened as her head lowered.
Her fists tightened at her sides.
Meanwhile, Ishida continued.
"Most trainers wouldn't even spare someone like her a second glance."
"Especially an Umamusume with so little promise." He folded his arms.
"Honestly, I still don't understand what the Tracen officials were thinking."
"Wasting potential, wasting seats for someone more suitable than that unavailing figure."
"And they should've kept their prestigious status."
"Instead, allowing someone like her into this race is practically a disgrace in itself, don't you think—"
"That's... that's not true!" The woman suddenly blurted out.
Her clenched fists trembled slightly.
"Can't..."
"Can't you see she's trying?"
"Can't you see she's doing everything she can just to catch up?"
With that, Ishida turned to her,
"Is that so...?" he calmly asked.
"Yes!"
"She is!"
Then a silence settled between them as Ishida slowly turned back toward the track.
His eyes narrowed.
And there she was.
Urara.
Her running form had already begun to fall apart.
She lagged behind the others by several lengths.
Yet...
She never stopped.
She continued chasing after the pack with everything she had left.
Refusing to slow down.
Refusing to give up.
Even knowing the outcome was all but decided, she still gave everything she had.
Without looking away from the track, Ishida spoke at last.
"And why should we care?"
The question hung heavily in the air.
The woman's eyes widened, but she kept her head lowered.
Her fists tightened.
"Why should we care about someone who's trying their hardest..."
"...when the results say otherwise?"
He kept his gaze on the track.
"Doesn't that simply prove..."
"...that she was never meant to be a racer?"
"That she'll never amount to..."
"...anything?"
Instantly, the woman snapped toward him, standing up while anger flared in her eyes.
"And what gives you the right to decide that she'll never make it?!" She pointed at him.
"How can you judge someone based on the beginning of their career?!"
"Don't you think that's unfair to her—?!"
Ishida interrupted calmly, "And that's life."
"Life has never been fair to anyone."
"Can't you see?"
"Reality has already spoken through her performance today."
"No matter how hard she tries..."
"No matter how determined she be..."
"...she won't make it."
"And that's the harsh truth."
"You don't know that!" The woman shot back immediately.
"You don't know whether she'll make it or not!"
"She..."
"She..."
Her voice faltered as tiny droplets suddenly emerged and gathered at the corners of her eyes.
As if she were on the verge of tears.
Seeing that, Ishida's expression softened slightly.
"Uh...Miss." He blinked.
"Your eyes..."
"Are you alright—?"
Before he could finish—
She raised her voice again.
"How dare you judge our worth from a single glance!"
"What if we prove everyone wrong?!"
"What if one day..."
"We finally soar into the sky..."
"And claim a victory of our own?!" She then stared directly into his eyes, leaning closer.
"What would you say then?!"
"What would you—?!"
Before she continued, Ishida interrupted, blinking.
"...Wait, wait."
"'We'...?" His brow furrowed.
"What do you mean..."
"...'we'?"
Immediately, the woman's eyes widened, and she froze in her spot.
Realization dawned over her.
"I..."
"I..."
She stumbled over her words with her face turned bright red.
Before Ishida could ask another question—
She hurriedly stepped back.
"I-I'm sorry!"
She bowed repeatedly.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—!"
"Please forget about it!"
Unable to face him any longer, she quickly turned around and ran.
And right before Ishida could reach out.
"Wait! Miss!"
The woman had already disappeared into the distance, leaving only his voice echoing through those empty seats.
"I was only..."
"...fooling around." He muttered.
But it was too late.
She was already gone, leaving him standing there alone.
He then rubbed his forehead.
"...Great."
"There goes my chance."
"What a way to waste, Ishida." He sighed before slowly turning back toward the track.
And when he did—
The race had already progressed.
Urara and the rest of the runners were approaching the final bend.
Preparing for the homestretch.
Reaching in for the decisive sprint.
And right before they could...
...
...
...
A few moments later...
Far from the racecourse.
Far from the crowd.
The woman sat alone on a quiet bench.
She let out a long sigh.
"What am I even doing...?" She lowered her head.
"Why did I get so worked up over that...?"
Then, almost immediately, she folded her arms. Her cheeks puffed in annoyance.
"...Well."
"It's his fault for making me like that!"
"What a rude man."
"If only he hadn't said all those things—"
But before she sulked further—
"Hey."
A familiar voice suddenly came from beside her.
The woman jolted so hard she nearly jumped off the bench.
"W-What?!"
She hurriedly turned toward the source. Only to find Ishida again casually approaching beside her.
Her eyes widened.
"Wh-what?! Y-you again?!"
"H-How did you find me here?!"
She quickly scooted away.
"Did you follow me?!"
"Are you some kind of stalker?!"
Ishida quickly raised both hands helplessly.
"Relax..."
"I..."
"I just wanted to say that..."
"I... I'm sorry about that."
The woman slowly turned toward him.
"About...?"
"The things I said."
Ishida scratched the back of his head.
"Those harsh words."
"The way I kept putting her down."
"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable that way."
The woman quietly looked away.
Her gaze settled on the path ahead, where a few Umamusume walked past after finishing their events.
A soft sigh escaped her.
"N-No..."
Her shoulders slumped.
"I-I'm the one who should apologize."
"I shouldn't have lost my temper..."
"Especially over the things you said."
She paused.
"...And especially because..."
"They're not entirely wrong."
With that, Ishida gently sat down silently beside her as she continued.
"You're right about her..."
"Someone with her abilities..."
"...is objectively below the others."
"And you were right to be against the idea that..."
"If trying harder would really make any difference..."
"...or if the outcome would stay the same."
She lowered her head.
"I..."
"I just couldn't accept that."
"Not when I watched her try as hard as everyone else."
"Push herself just as much."
"And yet..."
"...none of it seemed to matter."
She clenched her hands together.
"It hurts."
"I can't accept the truth that sometimes..."
"...even after giving everything we have..."
"...we still can't reach the same result as everyone else."
She laughed bitterly.
"Isn't that... such a cruel reality?"
Hearing that, Ishida blinked again, confused by her 'we' once more.
But this time, he decided not to pry; instead, he let out a quiet sigh.
"Then..." He looked straight at her.
"Will you do it?"
The woman blinked.
"...D-Do what?"
"Scout her." He answered without hesitation.
"Will you recruit her?"
"Scout... her?"
"Yes."
He nodded.
"If you truly want to prove everyone wrong..."
"If you want to show that someone with hidden potential can still shine one day..."
"If you want to make a difference..."
"Will you do it?"
"Will you take responsibility for training her?"
"Will you shape her into someone greater than she could ever become on her own?"
Without another word, silence fell between them.
The woman simply stared at him.
One second passed.
Then another.
Nearly a full minute went by before she finally gave him an awkward smile.
"I-I think you've got the wrong idea..."
"What do you mean?" Ishida blinked.
"You see..."
She rubbed the back of her neck.
"I'm..."
"...not actually a trainer."
"...What?"
"As a matter of fact..."
"...I'm only an assistant trainer." She sheepishly chuckled.
"I haven't gotten my trainer's license yet..."
"So I can't officially recruit anyone."
"...At least, not unless the trainer I'm assisting approves it."
"Wait... WHAT?!"
Ishida shot upright.
"T-Then what— why— how did you—?!"
She scratched her cheek, looking thoroughly embarrassed.
"I-I'm sorry, I'm really just an assistant..."
"I was hired to help a licensed trainer while I work toward qualifying myself..."
"It's basically... an internship."
Ishida slowly lowered his head.
Then buried his face in both hands.
"So you tell me..."
"All this time..." he muttered, utterly defeated.
"I wasn't even talking to..."
"...an actual trainer?"