As more months passed, the seasons turned. Springs flowed into winters, and then into springs again. Finally, the pre-school period came to an end.
Throughout the days after meeting Mary Jane, Urara often watched her from afar. Right after school, she would see the girl running, training relentlessly under the golden light.
Yet, every time she approached Mary, Mary's hostility would rise, and she would try to run away from her.
"Get away from me!" Mary would run, "Stop interrupting me!" Mary would detest. However, this did not stop Urara from trying to get close to her.
On weekends, given that Mary only trained in the evening, Urara seized the chance to train herself. This time, she wasn't mimicking Akitsu Teio—she was trying to follow Mary Jane. She thought, maybe, just maybe, she could do it too.
But her lack of experience and stamina betrayed her.
Each attempt ended the same: she barely scratched through a lap before tumbling down onto the muddy grass. Then, stumbling home, covered in mud from head to toe.
"What happened to you?!" Her mother would always be startled by her muddy return.
"I went racing!" Urara would chirp before immediately turning toward the living room. "I'm going to watch TV now!"
"Not until you take a shower," her mother insisted, catching her by the collar and dragging her to the bathroom.
"No, I don't wanna!" Urara squirmed and struggled every time, but she always yielded in the end.
"Geez… what is it with you not wanting to shower?" her mother muttered, drying her hair with a towel afterward.
"Time is of the essence!" flashing a proud thumbs-up.
Her mother raised an eyebrow. "And when did you learn that?"
*********************************************************************************
As the years rolled forward...
It was the day—Urara's first day of elementary school.
Once again, dressed in a new uniform, she stood tall in the living room. Her father was overwhelmed with bliss and excitement again, snapping photo after photo of her, just as he had when she began preschool.
This time, however, the journey was different. On her first day, she was to go by train. Urara was thrilled, almost bouncing with joy at the idea of the adventure.
With a cheerful farewell to her family, she set out alone. Despite the nerves of traveling alone overwhelming everyone around her age, she made her way to the station, bouncing without a care, marching toward her platform with wide eyes and a heart racing with excitement.
She was simply bouncing on the spot restlessly.
Then—
As she waited by the train, a small miracle happened. Standing on the platform a short distance away was someone familiar. It was Mary Jane—alone as well, wearing the same crisp school uniform.
Urara's face lit up with joy. She charged toward her with arms waving. "Mary-chan!" she shouted, dashing across the station.
Mary Jane turned at the sound, and her expression immediately sank.
Quickly, she tried to look away and walk off.
Just as Mary thought she was safe from that pink gremlin.
"Whoa~!!! You look adorable in that outfit! We're the perfect match!" Urara exclaimed, shuffling with excitement.
But Urara was faster, cutting through the crowd before she could slip past.
She sighed.
"Thanks," Mary replied flatly, her eyes uninterested.
"Hey, hey! We should hang out more! We can grab something to eat together! We can study together! Oh, oh! We can even train together! Isn't that great?!" Urara continued, practically bouncing in place.
"No thanks. I'll pass," Mary responded coldly.
"Oh! How about visiting my house? I promise you my mom makes the best carrot rice in the world! You should totally try it! If you want, I can share it with you!"
"No thanks."
"How about—!" Before Urara could finish, the train screeched to a stop at the platform. Mary immediately seized the chance, stepping inside without hesitation.
Urara followed right after, sliding into the seat beside her with a grin. She leaned in close and whispered, "We should totally sit together if we're in the same class! It'll be so exciting!"
"I doubt it," Mary muttered, still facing away.
"Hey, hey, we should go do something—"
"I will pass."
"Hey, what about—"
"No thanks."
And so it went, the beginning of Urara as an elementary schooler.