Echo is holding a letter; her parents look at the letter behind her in worry.

  The letter in Echo’s hand belongs to the Centra Tracen Academy.

  After several long seconds, she grinned.

  “I got in!”

  Both of the parents jumped up in happiness as they hugged each other. Their daughter got into Central Tracen Academy! It meant that their daughter is now a prospective professional racer!

  “You did it, Echo!”

  “I’m calling my friends about it!”

  They celebrate and dance in the living room, ecstatic about their daughter's enrollment.

  While they dance and sing, Echo re-reads the letter again.

  [Central Tracen AcademyStudent Affairs & Athletic Registration Office

  To: Echo Eclipse

  We are pleased to inform you that, following evaluation of your aptitude and recommendation review, you have been granted admission to Central Tracen Academy as a first-year trainee for the upcoming academic and racing term.

  You are hereby instructed to report in person to the Academy grounds on:

  Date: Monday, April 5th, 1984Time: 06:00 (sharp)Location: Main Gate, Central Tracen Academy, Tokyo

  Upon arrival, please proceed to the Reception Hall where your registration, uniform issuance, medical assessment, and initial aptitude verification will be conducted. Late arrival by 10 minutes will be regarded as withdrawal of admission unless prior authorisation has been granted by the Student Affairs Office.

  Please note that admission to the Academy does not immediately grant race participation eligibility. A licensed trainer will be assigned after evaluation, and your official debut race may only occur following approval of your training pn and physical examination.

  You are advised to arrive in proper physical condition and prepared for immediate assessment activities.

  We look forward to your continued development as a trainee of Central Tracen Academy.

  Central Tracen AcademyStudent Affairs & Athletic Registration Office]

  She shivered and giggled in happiness. She doesn’t know why, but reading it over and over again makes her happy and happier every time. As if it is the confirmation of her existence.

  “I’m going to see trainer Kiyaka!” Echo shouted out before running out of the house and jogging along the designated path for Umamusume.

  …

  ..

  .

  “Old dy!”

  Kiyaka throws a towel at Echo’s face.

  “I keep telling you over and over again, I am not an old dy!”

  “Hehe!”

  The trainer huffed after seeing such a happy mood coming from the uma.

  “I guess you got your enrollment letter, ey?”

  Echo nodded happily.

  “You’re excited to race others?”

  She nodded again, her tail wagging like a dog.

  Kiyaka scoffs. “If someone told me that you were part dog, I would've believed it.”

  “Hehehe~”

  “Too pure like always,” She sighed before poking Echo Eclipse's forehead.

  “Ow!”

  “Oi! Back to earth!”

  “What!”

  “We have some time until next year, want to be trained by me?”

  Echoes looked at her in shock.

  “EH?!”

  “Why are you acting so shocked?”

  “Because I'm still in my 1st blooming stage, wouldn’t it be detrimental to my health if I get trained professionally?”

  Kiyaka scoffed and rolled her eyes.

  “Only when you are trained beyond limits. I’m only training you lightly, light training. Got it?” She poked Echo’s forehead again, making her whine.

  “Stop poking me!”

  “Only if you stay silent.” She smirked.

  “Hmph.”

  “Heh.”

  “So how am I going to train?”

  Kiyaka sat down on her bench and gnced at the uma in front of her.

  “How about you tell me what you think you need to improve on?”

  “Eh me?”

  The trainer nodded.

  “Um…” Echo Eclipse tilted her head as she tried to think, then she figured that she could use the system to find out.

  [Name: Echo Eclipse

  Track Affinity: [Dirt: A] | [Turf: S]

  Running Affinity: [End: E] | [Late: C] | [Pace: A] | [Front: S]

  Distance Affinity: [Sprint: A] | [Mile: A] | [Medium S] | [Long: B]

  Speed: 101 (F: Beginner)

  Stamina: 132 (F: Beginner)

  Power: 102 (F: Beginner)

  Guts: 71 (G: Newbie)

  Wits: 121 (F: Beginner)

  Zone: —

  SP: 0]

  “My instinct?”

  “Oh? Can you tell me why?” Kiyaka smirked.

  “Dunno.” She cannot tell her that she used a system to find out her lowest stat.

  “Heh, instinct is only useful for long-distance races. What you need the most is Wisdom.”

  “Eh? Really?”

  “Yes, by improving your intelligence and mind. You can figure out which path is the best to take and which running style you should take and adjust. Allowing you to easily not get trapped between other umas.”

  “What about speed?”

  “Speed is equally important, but you’re already faster than most uma.” Kiyaka chuckles as she gnces at Echo’s eyes.

  “Well, for uma of your age.”

  “Enough! Let’s train!”

  “You just want to run, don’t you?”

  “Hehe~”

  She shook her head with a soft smile, and so Echo Eclipse runs through the passage of time.

  .,.

  ..

  .

  April 5th, 1984. It is 4 in the morning.

  “Fuh…” Echo breathes out cold mist as golden light paints the scenery. She is sitting at the train station, waiting for her train to arrive.

  She is wearing her new Central Tracen Uniform and only carrying her backpack. Which only has her shampoo, conditioner, brush, comb, underwear, casual clothes, sleepwear and a photo of her family and another photo of her and Kiyaka.

  “So quiet here…”

  She stretches in her new uniform, and she must say. She is enjoying the way it feels.

  She could run in it and stretch it to the limit, and it wouldn’t even break or rip apart.

  Her mother and father are dead asleep at home; they should be. They spent a lot of money to ensure that I get everything needed for Central Tracen Academy, including the tuition and the uniforms. I will repay them with my winnings.

  ‘System’

  [Name: Echo Eclipse

  Track Affinity: [Dirt: A] | [Turf: S]

  Running Affinity: [End: E] | [Late: C] | [Pace: A] | [Front: S]

  Distance Affinity: [Sprint: A] | [Mile: A] | [Medium S] | [Long: B]

  Speed: 152 (F: Beginner)

  Stamina: 182 (F: Beginner)

  Power: 155 (F: Beginner)

  Guts: 121 (F: Beginner)

  Wits: 161 (F: Beginner)

  Zone: —

  SP: 0]

  She was satisfied; all of her stats are in the 3 digits now.

  She closes the system and enjoys the peace.

  …

  Rumble.

  She can feel the slight rumble from the ground.

  “The train must be here.” She yawned and sat up.

  “Oi!”

  “Eh?!”

  Echo jumped up, startled by the shout. She turned her head around and spotted Kiyaka.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “T-The Central Tracen Academy?”

  “Without saying goodbye? Goodness!”

  She scoffs as the train finally arrives, the door opening.

  Kiyaka walks up to Echo Eclipse and hugs her, surprising her.

  “Wha…”

  “Do your best, Echo. Go creates massive waves in Tokyo.”

  “But there is no sea in Toky-”

  “It’s a metaphor, you idiot!” She poked her forehead before smiling proudly.

  Kiyaka had sneaked letters into Echo's backpack when they were hugging. She would have a big surprise once she read them.

  What lovely parents she has.

  “Now now!” She turned her temporary trainee around and pushed her onto the train.

  “Run and bring back home your victory.” She grinned widely.

  Echo Eclipse stared back for a few moments before smiling widely as she pointed at the very dy who had been persistent toward her.

  “You got it, old dy!”

  “I’m not an old dy!!” She responded, and the door of the train closed.

  “Hehehe~”

  Echo waved at her, which she responded to with an eye roll before waving back.

  “Watch me run, watch me.”

  “I will. We will.”

  {We are now leaving Hokkaido. Please take a seat. Our next destination is Tokyo.}

  The train started accelerating away from the station while Kiyaka stood there, feeling mencholic.

  She wished she could’ve been that uma official trainer, but she knew that she wasn’t capable of training her after a certain point. And local trainers cannot transfer to the Central Tracen Academy that easily.

  “Hmh. Don’t forget about us, filly.”

  She turned around and left the station.