As the race stretched on to its near culmination.
Participants rounded the final corner, and they entered the homestretch.
The very moment every strategy had been building toward.
The pace they had carefully managed.
The stamina they had painstakingly preserved.
The positions they had fought to secure.
Everything...
Had been saved for this final stretch.
That one moment that would decide the winner.
That one moment that would determine their position in Tracen Academy.
Meanwhile...
Among the field, still trailing at the very back, was Haru Urara.
Despite her poor stamina and lack of endurance, she had somehow managed to hold on far better than she had during her previous Trial Race.
She was still last.
But unlike before...
She had not been completely left behind by miles.
She was still within reach.
Still chasing.
Still refusing to let the pack disappear from her sight.
Then—
As the leading Umamusume completed the final turn.
Crossing the invisible threshold into...
The final stretch.
Instantly—
Every runner tensed.
Their muscles tightened with their breaths hitched.
Their feet dug deep into the turf.
Every racer was prepared to release everything they had left.
Then—
With one final push—
*BOOM!*
The entire field exploded forward.
One after another, they launched into their final sprint.
No longer conserving stamina.
No longer calculating their pace.
No longer worrying about what remained.
Everything they had left was poured into a single objective.
The finish line ahead.
The air erupted with cries of determination.
Each shout louder than the last.
Each racer desperately fighting to be the first to cross that white line.
Far behind them—
Urara, too, clenched her fists with her expression stiffened.
Then—
She, too...
Exploded into her sprint.
Her feet pounded against the turf.
Her pink tail streamed wildly behind her as she accelerated with everything left inside her body.
Meanwhile, from the stands—
Three familiar voices cheered together.
"Come on, Urara!"
"You can do it!"
"You're almost there!"
"Give it everything you've got!"
It was King, El, and Grass who leaned over the railing, cheering over Urara.
Urara heard them.
Even amidst the roaring wind.
Even amidst the pounding of dozens of racing feet.
She heard them.
Then, a smile instinctively tugged at her lips.
As she shouted back.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!"
A roar burst from her throat.
A roar she didn't even know she still had inside her exhausted body.
She kept pushing.
Harder.
And harder.
Every muscle screamed.
Her breathing had long since become ragged.
Her vision blurred.
Yet she refused to slow.
Not now.
Not when the finish line was finally within sight.
Three lengths.
Two lengths.
One length.
Closer.
Closer still.
And then—
And then...!
And then!
The world slowed once again.
Every heartbeat thundered inside her ears.
Every footstep slammed against the turf repeated.
Again.
And again.
Each step demanded more than the last.
Her lungs burned as though filled with fire.
Her legs trembled beneath her.
Her heart pounded so violently she thought it might burst through her chest.
Yet—
She continued.
One more step.
Then another.
Another.
Another.
There...
She...
She crossed it.
She crossed the finish line....
Bringing an end to her second attempt to remain at Tracen Academy.
Bringing an end to her second Trial Race.
And the race had officially ended...
...
...
...
By the time all post-race procedures and written evaluations had concluded, evening had already settled over Tracen Academy.
Golden sunlight stretched across the academy grounds as students gradually left the assembly hall in small groups or with their parents.
Standing outside were four familiar figures.
King Halo stood with her arms crossed, with Yuiji beside her.
A short distance away stood Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa, chatting quietly while waiting for the same person.
Then—
"Everyone!" A bright voice called out from the entrance.
"Thanks for waiting!"
There, a familiar pink-haired Umamusume dashed out of the building while waving both hands enthusiastically.
And it was Urara.
She then hurried toward them with the same bright smile she always wore.
And the moment she did, King sighed.
"There you are."
Urara stopped before them.
"Hehehe..."
"So?"
King folded her arms.
"How was the written test?"
Urara scratched the back of her head.
"I..."
"I don't think I knew any of the questions..."
King slowly closed her eyes and sighed again.
"...I figured."
"But!"
Urara suddenly perked up again.
"At least I did better on the track today!"
"Sí, mi amiga!" El immediately gave her a thumbs-up.
"You ran much better today!"
"You've definitely improved," said Grass from the side with a gentle smile.
"Hmm hmm hmm!"
Urara proudly puffed out her chest.
"Of course! I learned from the very best!"
King visibly flinched.
"...Don't say things like that."
"But it's true!"
Urara replied without hesitation.
"You trained with me every day!"
"If I improved, then that's because you taught me!"
King looked away awkwardly.
"...Hmph."
Urara continued excitedly.
"However... It was so close today!"
"I was so close to winning!"
King sighed once more.
"I'm... not entirely sure I'd describe it as 'close.'"
"But... It was definitely an improvement."
Urara's eyes sparkled.
"Right?!"
"I managed to stay with everyone almost the whole race!"
"If only I were just a little faster..."
"I'm sure I'd win next time!" She pumped both fists excitedly.
As a matter of fact... Urara had improved considerably.
Except... She still finished last.
And that fact hadn't changed.
But unlike her previous Trial Race—
This time, she crossed the finish line only a single length behind the racer ahead of her.
Still last...
But... no longer hopelessly left behind like her first attempt.
And for someone like Urara...
That single length represented weeks of relentless effort.
It was a victory she alone could understand.
Then, suddenly—
Urara clapped her hands together.
"Oh!"
"I've got an idea!"
Everyone looked at her.
"Let's celebrate!"
"How about carrot rice for dinner tonight?"
Grass smiled warmly, "That certainly sounds lovely."
"Sí, sí!" El nodded enthusiastically.
"Let's go get some nice hot carrot rice! I'm starving!"
"Me too! I already miss the one my mom makes." Urara chimed in.
"But I'm sure someday I'll find one that's just as tasty!"
"But wait," King suddenly interrupted.
"Urara..."
"Hm?"
"What happens now?"
Urara tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
"Well... since you entered the Trial Race again, there has to be a reason."
"There must be some kind of condition attached to it."
"Otherwise..." She paused. "...why would they have you race again?"
Urara blinked, slipping into her usual thinking pose.
"Hmmm..."
But before she could answer—
"King."
Grass gently interrupted, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I think this conversation can wait."
"Urara's probably exhausted from today's test."
"So I think it makes more sense for us to head out now."
King turned toward her. "But—"
"Besides..." Grass said gently. "Your stomach has been growling all evening."
"W-wait...! D-Did it?!" King immediately looked down at herself.
"N-No way!"
She hurriedly straightened into her usual elegant posture.
"A first-rated Umamusume such as myself would never display something so crude—"
But before she could finish—
*Grrrrr...*
She froze.
Her face instantly flushed bright red while Urara stared at her in genuine surprise.
"Whoa! King! Did your tummy really just talk?!"
King immediately turned to her.
"S-St-Stop saying ridiculous things!"
"It was merely..."
"...bad timing!"
Grass quietly covered her mouth.
"My, my..."
El couldn't hold back either.
"Hahaha!"
"King, that was perfect timing!"
"Stop laughing!" King protested. "It's not funny!"
Yuiji looked as though he wanted to laugh, too.
The moment King shot him a glare—
He immediately straightened up.
"I-I wasn't laughing!"
"Good." King huffed.
Grass finally finished chuckling.
"So... shall we?"
"Let's go!" Urara cheered.
Laughing together, the group headed toward the academy gate.
But, just right before they could advance far—
Yuiji awkwardly raised one hand.
"U-Um... Hey, guys..."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Y-You see... I-I don't mind paying today."
"Really?!" they gasped.
Yuiji scratched the back of his head.
"W-Well... I just got my paycheck, so I thought I'd treat everyone today."
"And don't worry." He waved both hands nervously. "I really don't mind paying for everyone's meal."
"It's a once-in-a-while opportunity, so... I don't see why not."
Urara immediately threw both arms into the air.
"Whoa! Hooray!"
"Long live King's trainer!"
Yuiji tittered.
Before long, they resumed.
Continued walking together as their lively chatter once again filled the air.
And so—
Urara's second Trial Race had officially come to an end.
But...
Without her ever realizing it...
She had also taken another step closer toward her...
...dismissal...
...
...
...
As the group continued chatting as they approached the academy gate.
Then—
King noticed movement from the corner of her eye.
Someone stood a short distance away.
Discreetly waving at her.
She blinked while uttering, "M-Mr. Ishida?"
It was her homeroom teacher.
He deliberately remained hidden from the others.
Careful not to attract attention.
King instinctively slowed her pace while the others continued walking ahead.
Just as she prepared to approach him—
Ishida quickly shook his head. "No..." his lips moved.
He then pointed toward his wristwatch.
Afterward—
He gestured toward the classroom building.
King stared for a moment.
And instantly, she understood.
"Meet me next Monday in class."
With that, she gave the slightest nod.
And Ishida returned it.
Without another word, he quietly turned and walked away in the opposite direction.
Leaving King standing there.
Watching him disappear into the evening crowd.
Only after he was completely gone did she turn back.
But before she could—
"King, hurry up!" Urara called.
"The carrot rice is waiting!"
King blinked before smiling faintly.
"Yes, yes! I'm coming."
And just like that, together...
...they left the academy grounds.