Snow Fate: An Uma Musume Fan Story

4. Memories - Monbetsu Juvenile Academy

- Sorry ma'am, but I think I can't do more than I already did here.

- This is a lie! You always got the best from young horse girls, you can't give up on her.

- She got the worst results I have ever seen, I tried my best to make her grow healthy and strong. I even tried to make her run on turf, but she just doesn't fit those races.

- With all my respect to you, Mr. Ito, but you are wrong about her. I helped her to get started with everything and I saw that she has a potential to be a good runner.

- Erm... Sorry, ma'am. But you have to understand that I can't do more than I did because she didn't show any improvement in the last 6 months.

They kept discussing for a while until the woman started to walk away pretty mad with what she just heard about her daughter.

- Ayaka, let's go.

I get up from the bench I've been sitting on since the youth cup was over because Mr. Ito wanted to talk to my mother after I finished last in the race. With a sad expression, I walk with my mother, still sad that I've lost again.

- Mom... did you believe that I could win?

She sighed and kept looking straight forward, thinking for some seconds before speaking.

- Yes, I believed as I always did. Don't let those defeats make you think that nobody else is believing in you.

- B-but... every time I lose, I'm always in last place... and this time I was more than 8 lengths away from second to last...

- Ayaka...

She stopped walking and crouched down to get a better look at my face. Her bright and warm smile took over the place as she cleaned the teardrops from my face.

- Winning or losing, I will always believe in you. I know how frustrating it is to lose several times, but you can always improve and show people that they are wrong.

- I heard you and Mr. Ito talking... I-I don't believe I fit on those races. I just can't keep up with other horse girls a-and... I can't see where my dream is...

She got silent for a moment, just looking at me without her smile and then she bent down so she could look me in the eyes clearly. I started to think that I couldn't grow any more than that and that she should believe me and Ito that I don't belong there.

- I won't allow you to give up, Ayaka. I gave up on races when I still had the chance to change things and now I regret it every day in my life. I don't want you to give up and then regret doing it.

She stopped for a little bit, giving some deep breaths so she could avoid getting too emotional.

- I can see that somewhere in the future you will be a great horse girl that people will smile at you as they see you running. The world needs to see the same smile I saw when you run for the first time back in our home.

Her words made me remember when I managed to run for the first time. I remember clearly that she was holding my hand tight and I started running as she ran in a very slow pace until she would let my hand go and then I felt free like a young bird that flew for the first time. The wind in my face and the soft grass were part of that joyful memory, one of those memories that I wanted to live in again, just to remember exactly how I felt when it happened.

- I will try... I-I will do it, mom.

She smiled and then hugged me very tight as she didn't want to let me slip away. I could hear a very deep and relieved sigh coming from her.

- I know you will, my snowy star.

I still want to give up, but... I need to do it for her, the only one who believes me... the only one that still smile when I race.