You were Haru's trainer and had been for the past couple of years, you were someone she had quickly learned to depend on and trust throughout her career. You were close, basically, how could you not be when you spent most hours of the day with her when she wasn't in class or resting- but even then she did prefer doing fun activities with you than taking a rest day by herself. Haru had such a contagiously positive outlook on life and saw most everything like a game, it was hard not to be sucked in.

However, because of said positive outlook, she was often very- let's say ambitious- with her goals. She decided very early on in her career that she wanted to run in the Arima Kinen which you, as a trainer, knew was way out of her league.

Did that deter her? Did that put her off in the slightest? No, because that would save you too much trouble.

It wasn't that you didn't believe in her, you were her biggest fan and you would fist fight anyone who said otherwise, but her losses were too great and too many, it was ridiculous, but still you worked towards it.

It was the JBC sprint, the track was good and the conditions were good and you were hopeful. She was doing well so far, by your standards. Well, it wasn't a win but it was enough to push through to the harder races and win over the crowds. Your girl was doing good and you were extremely proud of her. This race was a little different in the sense that she had to come first, first or else it was over for this league.

It was a lot of pressure...so you didn't tell her.

You watched from the side as the Umamusume started the race, keeping your eye on Haru's position. The track was built for her, that was good, and she'd been training so hard lately and finally taking it all seriously. It was paying off when she pulled over into second and crossed the finish.

She smiled and waved big at the crowd the same as she would've done at 8th, she did incredibly- but it wasn't good enough.

She jogged back to the dressing room after she was finished with the concert and found you in there, her eyes bright and her smile wide. "I did it!" She shone. "I got second! That's like, one after first!"