On one late evening, Haru Urara, as she normally did, was engrossed in the pre-recorded race while in her pajamas.
As the broadcast voice shattered through the corridors, behind the wall stood two figures—her parents.
Her mother was speaking quietly to her father outside, discussing their daughter.
"It seemed our daughter still loves the racing," said the father with a faint smile, peeking in at her.
Her mother sighed. "Yeah, but the issue is she is no longer interested in fields. I'm beginning to worry about what Urara will become. Will she become the other Umamusume or just an ordinary Umamusume?"
Her father retorted, "Come now, there's nothing wrong with becoming a normal Umamusume... Besides, there are other perks that might benefit her, too."
"Like what?" Her mother's horsy ear twitched.
"Like an... accountant?" her father tittered.
"You seriously really want our daughter to become a 9-to-5 worker?" Her mother's voice sharpened, infuriated by his remark.
Seeing the bubbling frustration in her, the father panicked. "Not that I'm against the idea of her racing! It's just that we might need plan B for her future! What if it doesn't work out? Maybe she can become something else... The future can't speak for itself."
Her mother exhaled, rubbing her temple, about to end the discussion. "Let's keep it next time. After all, Haru Urara has yet to go to pre-school, let alone elementary. Maybe we should discuss—"
There, they froze. At the edge of the doorway, they saw young Urara peeking out, eavesdropping on them, her wide eyes startled as their conversation was interrupted.
"Urara, what is it?" Her mother tried to play it off.
"I will race!" said Haru Urara with her chest puffed. "Urara will become the greatest Umamusume! Urara will make mommy and daddy proud!"
Her parents quickly glanced at each other awkwardly, pausing before turning back with a smile. "Alright... alright, it's getting late, now go get some sleep."
As her mother guided Urara to her room in her pajamas, Urara yawned. "I want to race."
"Alright, alright, we'll keep that in mind," her mother said softly.
With that, the day ended lightheartedly...
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The next day.
Haru Urara was still at home, running around, playing in the corridors.
*plink*
A mailman came, pressing the doorbell. Her mother rushed to the door. "Coming!"
It was the utility bills. Like any other time, Haru Urara was curious and peeked a little as her mother thanked the mailman and walked back inside with stress. "Bills again, huh?"
As she opened the letter, her face immediately turned frazzled. "Geez... It's getting more expensive these days..."
Then, she noticed Urara nearby. "Oh, Urara, what are you doing here? Aren't the cartoons about to begin?"
"Urara promises mommy!" said Urara, her small hands clenched and wavering. "One day she will become the great Umamusume, so you won't need to worry about the mailman anymore!"
Her mother was startled by Urara's response, "It's not the mailman-"
Her mother halted, knowing Urara wouldn't understand.
Then, in response, she chuckled, kneeling to stroke her hair. "Fine... A promise it is!"
"Pinky promise!" said Urara, hovering her pinky.
"Pinky promise!" her mother responded, as she hooked her pinky with Urara.
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Years passed...
The stay-in-home days were finally over. Haru Urara was about to go to pre-school, the time for her to finally begin her schooling.
Dressed in her cute school uniform, she stood proudly in the small living room. Her mother clapped her hands in delight, admiring her daughter's adorable figure.
Meanwhile, her father was already tearing up, mumbling through a trembling voice, "Our daughter has finally grown up!" He wiped his tears with the edge of his sleeve.
Urara herself was captivated by the outfit. She tugged at her clothing, peeked inside her slingbag, and then her eyes lit up. "I like it!" she declared with confidence.
She spun around in her tiny, fragile body, twirling just to see the fabric move with her.
Her father, unable to resist, quickly pulled out his old-fashioned camera and snapped several pictures. "Look here, Urara! Look here!" he cheered, as if she were already a star on stage.
"Alright... alright..." said her mother as she interrupted this little fiasco, took her small, fragile hand, and guided her toward the front door.
Together, they crouched down to put on their shoes.
Just before stepping out, Urara turned back to her father with a bright smile. "Bye, papa! Haru Urara will do her best!"
"And she's off!" she called as she leaped outside.
"Be careful, Urara, you might fall!" her mother said beside her.
Then, after bidding their farewell, leaving her father still tearing up in their house, they walked down the early morning quiet, slumberous street.
Urara frolicked by her mother's side, humming the cheerful tune in her lighthearted voice.
Her mother walked in silence, her fingers gently clenching around the warmth of her daughter's soft hand.
The walk lingered in calm until Urara tilted her head upward and asked softly, "Mom, do you think I will become a good Umamusume? Do you think I will win races?"
Her mother was startled. "Uh…" she froze, struggling to find the right words.
Only to muster a cursory reply, "Of course...! You will!"
"Then, Urara will win many races for her mother to see!" declared Urara, puffing her chest proudly. "So she can think her daughter is something she's proud of!"
At those words, her mother stopped walking.
She knelt down in front of Urara, gently tidying the collar of her small uniform. "You see, Urara…" Her lips curved into a faint smile.
"I don't actually need you to become the best Umamusume ever. Not in terms of racing or not that it was a bad thing..." she quickly corrected.
"But all your mother wishes is for you to grow up healthy, happily, and to choose what you do best—not what others want you to do best."
"You are what you are, Urara. You can win races. You can even become a legendary Umamusume. But that's not what your mommy or daddy wants. All we want is to see you smile. To be happy with yourself, with the world, with everyone. That's what we want from our Urara."
With one last twist to straighten the collar, her mother lifted her gaze to meet Urara's eyes. "So, Urara... Don't run wearing our shoes; run with yours. Because you can't always fit the same shoe size as others!"
Urara's eyes widened, her face lighting up as she listened intently.
"Well... You see," her mother continued softly, "sometimes we put ourselves in the eyes of others and forget what it means to live to the fullest. We chase greatness when the true greatness is to achieve what you really want."
She paused, letting her words settle, "Your daddy and I have seen many legendary Umamusume, and just as many who failed."
"But remember, you are who you are, and you should become what you are. As long as you stay happy, stay smiling, and stay true as our Haru Urara. That's what we want—to see you becoming something not what we're proud of, but what you're proud of!"
"Keep smiling even after many challenges; keep trying even after many failures!"
"It's because sometimes good things will come late, right before the bad things! Just like how heroes are always late for the rescue!"
" So, just remember! Smile, never give up, and fight on!"
Her mother paused once again. Before ushering her, "Come on, Urara. It's getting late for your first day of school!"
Before she stood up, Urara declared.
"Then it's a promise!" said Urara, her small fists clenching with determination. "Urara will bring smiles to everyone by running! Then she will win races and make everyone even more 'smilier'!"
Her mother was shocked but chuckled faintly as she stood back up with a small grunt, holding Urara's hand tightly once more.
"Alright, alright... Shall we go?"
"Let's go!" Urara echoed brightly.
Together, they continued their walk to the pre-school. As the days went on, Urara spent her time among her classmates. Many talked about wanting to become the next greatest Umamusume, others dreamed of becoming trainers, or of getting rich.
But Urara—she already knew her goal. She understood, deep down, that what she wanted wasn't simply to be the greatest Umamusume.
She wanted to be the one who brought smiles to others, especially those who believed her.