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Haru Urara is an umamusume! Or, so she says. Her ears and tail have not grown in yet, and it's starting to annoy her! She stomps her foot on the ground as she remembers all the times her classmates laughed at her dreams. She was so sure they'd get it eventually, but it's just so frustrating how long it's taking! Well, at least she still gets to hang out with her best friends after school! They're all also umamusume! But their ears and tails came in a while ago, and they're way faster than Haru can keep up with. For now! She's going to keep running with them anyway, and she'll get faster and faster until she gets first place!
Haru's big sister walks alongside her as they go to the park. Big sis always watches over Haru's races, or she used to, but she's been really busy lately. Apparently she's gonna go to a super fancy racing school called Tracen! Haru wants to go there too, but she has to wait for her ears and tail to come in. Hurry up already! So frustrating!
As they reach the park, Haru Urara can't help but take a deep breath of the springtime air, which her big sister giggles at. "You're so cute, Haru..." Urara could only smile widely, 'cause compliments from big sis were the best!
Oh! There are her friends, waving her over to the track! She quickly runs over, leaving her sister to find a bench nearby. "HI EVERYBODY!!!" Haru shouts, enthusiasm as infectious as ever. "HI HARUUUU!!!" came the chorus back. Ahh, this truly was the best part of the day.
They chattered, and chattered, and chattered some more, and then had a bunch of carrots together, and then chattered even more, and it was so much fun, but... "Hey, girls, let's race already!" My savior! Haru thought. She was jumping up and down already! Everyone else was excited too, and so they all stretched for a few minutes, and then finally, finally stepped onto the public park's track. Haru Urara's sister jogged up to watch the race and mark the start/finish line, as she usually did, and raised her hand for everybody to line up.
Once everybody was in position (Haru on the very outside to make sure she didn't get trampled), Haru's big sis finally shot down her hand, and the race was on!
. . .
"Your stupid classmates still don't believe you're an uma!?" One of Haru's friends asked, during their resumed chatter after the race. "That's dumb! And stupid! You're obviously an umamusume! You run like us, you love running like us, and you even talk like an uma!" "You smell like one too! Unlike those boring humans!" Someone else chimed in. Giggles all around, and someone else quipped "Maybe she smells like that because she hangs out on the track every day, haha!"
Haru Urara was only emboldened by this. "I spend every day I can training! I just know that one day, once my ears and tail grow in, I'll get first for sure!" A round of applause, and "WOO!" "Yeah! You can do it!" "Keep at it, Haru! Never give up!" came the cheers from her friends. The smell of grass and dirt covered the group as they all sat there talking until the sun went down.
Once it started to get dark, Haru Urara's big sister approached the group once more, and clapped twice. "Alright everyone, I'm sure you've had lots of fun, but it's getting late. You all should start heading home now before it's too dark and you get lost, okay?" Haru quickly stood by her sister's side and nodded solemnly. "If you get lost, we can't race anymore! That would be so sad, so don't do it!"
There was some mild protest, but everyone got up and nodded and thanked each other for the wonderful time, and started wandering home.
Haru held her sister's hand as they walked down the street, staring at the night sky. Suddenly, something twinkled, and streaked across it! "Oh, a shooting star!" Her big sis said, "That means you get to make a wish, Haru! But don't say it out loud or it won't come true, okay?"
Haru Urara nodded solemnly, and made her wish in as much silence as she could manage, even holding her breath and standing still while she thought it. I wish my ears and tail would grow in already so I can run alongside all my friends!
She let a deep breath out, then took a deep breath in, then smiled brightly at her sister standing in front of her. "I made my wish! I just know it'll come true!" "I'm sure it will," came her sister's reply, and Haru could swear one of the stars behind her sister winked at her.
. . .
Before going to sleep that quiet spring night, just like every night, Haru Urara picked out her favorite ear headband and tail belt, put her ear covers on, and turned on her horseshoe nightlight. She was going to sleep her best, because mama told her getting rest is important for growing!
She dreamed that night of running around a biiiiig track with lots and lots of people in the crowd! When she woke up, she felt her tail still wagging- WAIT, HER TAIL'S WAGGING?? Quickly, Haru tried to turn around and grab it, but it proved too elusive to catch! Then, she tried taking off the belt it used to be attached to, but the belt wasn't there! She felt her tail wag even more. It was finally happening! Just so be sure, she reached up to the sides of her head, and... No ears! She reached up to the top of her head, and... EARS! Fluffy, sensitive ears, that were so snug and warm in her favorite ear covers! They twitched excitedly under her hands. OH! I have to go tell everyone!
Haru Urara rushed down the hallway from her room faster than ever before. "MOMMY! MAMA! BIG SIS! IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!!!" Her cries drew everyone out of their hiding spots - one mother poking her head out from the kitchen, the other and her sister creeping out from their bedrooms. "LOOK! LOOK! MY EARS AND TAIL GREW IN!" Sure enough, everyone could see clear as day how expressive they were, and how happy Haru was about it. Certainly, once they were all awake enough to make sure it was real, the only thing left to do was celebrate. This really was a glorious spring.
When Haru Urara raced her friends in the park that day, she only came in last by ten lengths. That was by far the shortest distance it had ever been, and surely, out of everyone there, it was Haru Urara who's smile shined the brightest.