"What is it you want?" Rush demanded, her eyes sharply locked on Mary.
She still hadn't forgotten that day how Mary had lashed out at Urara.
"I can see that you're getting closer to her than I expected," Mary replied calmly, "But I still don't understand why. Especially someone of your standard."
Rush scoffed. "What is this—mockery? A warning?" She narrowed her eyes. "I know who you are, Mary. You're here to insult Urara again, aren't you? Just like last time."
Mary didn't flinch.
"You think you're above all of us," Rush continued, "That you can crush anyone with words alone. And yet Urara still talks about you—still thinks you're her friend. That's so stupid. And why would someone like her even want to befriend you? Besides, you have no right to judge me about my 'standard'"
She took a breath. "You didn't deserve her."
Mary's expression didn't change. "I'm not here to belittle anyone," she said quietly. "I'm merely here to request you not involve her in your piteous scheme."
Rush blinked. "What…? What are you saying? What's it with you? Since when did you start caring?" she snapped. "Are you a tsundere or some sort? I thought she was just an obstacle to your success."
"She is," Mary answered without hesitation. "And she always will be."
"She trusted you, Rushing," Mary continued, "That's why it's your responsibility to look after her, not drag her down to drain with you—if you're going to stay by her side."
Rush clenched her fists. "You don't get to say that! You have no right to lecture me—or anyone! You're ruthless, obsessed, and cold-hearted. And why should I listen to you?!"
Mary met her glare at last.
"Because," she said evenly, "you're no better than me, Rushing."
Those words struck Rush harder than she expected.
"I know what your intention is behind all this," Mary continued evenly. "And you're no saint, Rushing."
Rush choked.
"Grouping yourself with those weaker than you," Mary clarified, pacing toward Urara's seat, her finger tracing across her desk, "so you can shine by comparison. So you can feel useful. Superior. Better."
She paused, glancing back at Rush,
"But... It's not noble. It's convenient. Even scummy, wouldn't you say?"
Rush was shocked, speechless.
Not because she had no answer—but because it was the truth, a truth she couldn't deny.
What was she supposed to do? Fight back with anger? Turn away and accept it? Or pretend it wasn't true?
"Huh?" Rush snapped, forcing a laugh. "What are you even talking about? Don't you dare downplay my relationship with Urara just because yours failed."
She chose denial.
Mary paused.
"I see," she murmured. "You're coping."
"But it doesn't matter," Mary continued, turning slightly away. "I don't care about your motives. Or the excuses you tell yourself to feel righteous."
She glanced back once more.
"As long as you make sure that pink dimwit stays happy," Mary said quietly, "and can keep her away from that deplorable scheme of yours—then I'm satisfied."
"Consider this a warning," Mary continued as she paused by the threshold, "If you're going to retain Urara in that despicable scheme of yours, I would see to it myself... Farewell, Rushing, may we never speak again."
With that, Mary finally walked off, fading down into the corridor.
Meanwhile, Rush remained where she was.
Alone.
She was stuck because for the first time, she couldn't tell whether Mary was wrong…or terrifyingly right.
But Mary was right about one thing. She wasn't innocent. She surely wasn't pure.
And standing next to someone like Haru Urara—someone who ran purely for the thrill, the fun, without motive, without a hint of stepping on others.
She was indeed the evil one.
Maybe this really was the end.
The end of her relationship with Urara. One forged out of ill intent.
After all, she really didn't deserve her, especially not with that.
Either way, maybe she should hold on to their relationship, probably until the end of the relay race.
Then, maybe she will decide. Decide which path they shall be.
***
***
***
A few days passed, and the relay race loomed just one day away.
As always, Mary trained on the school track under the supervision of the assigned trainer. Every tread, every breath, every movement was recorded.
She sliced through the course and crossed the finish line with ease, almost as if she had repeated it every day for years.
"There's a new record, Mary!" the trainer called out, excited. "At this rate, you'll be in the Twinkle Series before you know it!"
"Is that so…?" Mary replied flatly, not a joy in her face as she caught her breath and slowly walked to the bench.
She picked up the towel and wiped the sweat from her face before placing it back in her truffle bag.
As she took a brief sip of water, she turned back toward the track and the trainer. "Let's go again."
The trainer blinked. "What?! Again? We've been training for hours already."
Mary stopped and looked at him. "Am I a record holder?"
"W-well… yes," he answered hesitantly. "You just beat your personal best."
Mary shook her head. "I mean the world record. The URA record."
The trainer checked his stopwatch, then looked away. "A... No… not even close."
"B- Bu- But you're still young, Mary!" The trainer continued, "There are still many years ahead of you; you shouldn't rush things like-"
"Then training it is," Mary intruded, already walking back to the starting line.
"…Alright," the trainer sighed, following her. "Ready."
Mary lowered her stance, muscles coiling.
"Set…"
Her focus locked and...
"GO!"
She launched forward, faster than before, vanishing down the track immediately.
Leaving nothing but the dust.
***
***
***
Meanwhile...
On the other side of the region, near the field beside Urara's house, Rush trained alone.
She ran in circles—again, and again, and again—until her legs finally gave out. She flopped onto the grass, staring up at the sky, chest heaving as she caught her breath.
"I'm beat…" she murmured.
"If only I had more stamina…"
"If only I… if only… if only…"
Her voice sagged away.
"If only I were special…"
She closed her eyes and let the wind wash over her.
The breeze carried the warmth of the day, brushing against her sweat-damp face as daylight slowly faded into the evening.
It was a serene touch, one Rush slowly, and surely...
Just as she was about to fall asleep—
"Rush-chan! What're you doing here?!"
Rush jolted, scrambling upright and turning toward the voice.
There she was—of course it was her. Standing by the fence outside the field.
Haru Urara, bouncing in place as usual, her energy never ceased. Behind her stood a taller figure: Urara's mother.
"What are you doing here, Rush-chan?" Urara asked, trotting closer.
"The same could be said to you," Rush replied, managing a small smile.
"I live nearby! Remember?" Urara said, bending down toward her.
Rush blinked—right. Of course she did.
"Well… I was training," Rush admitted, brushing her hair aside. "You know the relay race is tomorrow, right?"
"Tomorrow?!" Urara gasped. "I thought it was next month!"
"Next month…?" Rush frowned. "It's tomorrow, Urara. Don't tell me you got the date wrong."
Urara froze.
Then—panic.
"WAIT FOR ME HERE, RUSH!" Urara shouted, already sprinting back toward her mother, urgently tugging at her sleeve and babbling at full speed.
"Wait a minute! URARA—!" Her mother's voice trailed off as both of them vanished into the distance.
Meanwhile, Rush watched her go, stunned, then sighed softly.
"…Unbelievable."
After a few minutes had passed, Urara—now alone—rushed back toward Rush, waving both hands high in the air.
"Thanks for waiting!" she called out brightly.
"Come on, let's train together! It's going to be a lot more fun!" Urara declared, planting herself right in front of Rush with clenched fists.
Her tail wagged so hard it looked ready to take flight.
"But—…" she wanted to reject, but, "sure…" Rush accepted either way.
Rush was already worn out from training alone for the past hour, but how could she reject that brimming little pink creature?
Immediately, Urara cheered, punching the sky,
"Alrighty then! Come on, Rush-chan! Let's go, go, go!"
Then—
Not even twenty minutes passed...
Urara already crumpled like crushed paper.
She collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air like a fish out of water, limbs twitching weakly.
"Urara!" Rush cried, rushing to her side. "Are you alright?!"
A few minutes later, after Urara had calmed down…
"Come on, you shouldn't push yourself so hard," Rush sighed, sitting beside her. "That could've ended badly."
Urara gulped down her water without hesitation. Then she wiped her mouth and declared proudly,
"Well, Urara surely did better than she was last time! She managed to do two laps now!"
Meanwhile, Rush sighed in defeat, but her enthusiasm made her smile.
"If only Urara could have Rush-chan's athleticism! She could've done a lot more!" she added, looking at the front.
Upon hearing that, Rush lowered her head slightly. "If only… huh…?" she murmured.
"Right, right!" Urara nodded enthusiastically, turning toward Rush as her eyes sparkled with certainty.
"If only Urara were as powerful as Rush-chan, Urara would be the greatest in no time—just like Rush-chan!"
Rush was startled, looking at Urara blankly. She still couldn't believe Urara really thought she was a prodigy or some sort.
She was truly naive...
In response, she just sighed and lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers.
Completely disagree with her through silence.
Until—
She rose and grabbed Urara's cheeks, squishing them like marshmallows.
"Wah—?!" Urara squeaked.
Rush leaned closer, her eyes serious."What do you see, Urara…?"
"Huh?" Urara blinked. "What do I see…? Oh! Are we playing I Spy?!"
"No, Urara," Rush sighed. "I'm serious. What do you see in front of you right now?"
"That's a strange question—even for you, Rush-chan!" Urara giggled.
"I'm serious," Rush narrowed her eyes.
Urara blinked out of confusion, "Well!" but she replied without hesitation.
"All I see is Rush-chan! A promising star of the future—Rushing Sky!"
"One Urara will run together with. One she'll become a star with!" Urara beamed.
"A pair of the greatest Umamusumes ready to inspire the world! Showing them the true flair of ours!"
Rush froze, speechless.
Then she chuckled. "You're funny, Urara. You're the first one who's ever said I'm a star."
"Besides... You know I'm not that fast… right?" she uttered.
Urara gently shook her head, even as Rush still held her cheeks.
"No, you're wrong, Rush-chan!" Urara declared, "You're faster than you think! You're much better than you think! You might not be Urara fast or anyone else… like Mary-chan! But that doesn't mean you never will be!"
Rush chuckled, "You're wrong, Urara," she retorted, "I'm just average, average like everyone else... And I don't want to say this, but… so are you. We were never meant for big dreams... or big leagues! Those are for prodigies like Mary Jane! Not us!"
"We're just two little ponies stuck in a world filled with giants. Even if we beat Mary or Murashi, what next? There'll always be a bigger fish in a bigger pond. So how do we manage that?"
Urara didn't hesitate.
"Then… we'll just do our part! By becoming the extraordinary of the ordinaries!"
"We don't need to be the strongest or the best!" Urara continued. "We just need to be ourselves and enjoy to the fullest in the meantime! Because in the end, there'll always be someone behind us, shouting our names like we're stars!"
"And that star is you!" Urara said warmly."Like my mom always says—no matter how ugly, annoying, painful, troubled, or lost you feel, there's always someone ready to lift you up to the sky!"
"It doesn't matter if it's us—or anyone else—but that person always has to start with you. With us!"
After hearing all that, Rush was completely stunned... and was quiet for a long moment.
Until... she started chuckling again, or better, laughing.
"You really are innocent, aren't you…?" she said while wiping her tears as she released Urara's cheeks.
She then turned her gaze toward the setting sun.
"Well… that's not how reality works."
She paused, then added,
"But I guess... this will have to do then."