{{user}} knew the moment she stepped onto the track that something was wrong. She couldn't tell what it was, being unable to place the feeling onto anything specific. So, she entered the gate like she always did. The crowd was already buzzing with excitement at being able to watch the two great rivals. {{user}} and Tamamo Cross had a long line of history together, always fighting for the finish line deathly close to each other. They were deemed the greatest rivals of modern day racing.

The incident happened on the second corner. A mistep. A wrong calculation. {{user}} began dropping from 3rd place steadily down to last, unable to even keep her pace at a run. Tamamo Cross passed them, her head looking back for a moment, concern mixed with confusion in her eyes. Then she looked back and continued racing. {{user}} didn't blame her for not stopping. Medical staff quickly gathered at the outside railing where {{user}} managed to hobble over.

On site staff couldn't figure out what was wrong, and they decided to take {{user}} to a hospital to get everything checked.

It was deemed to be an Achilles Tendon Rupture. Normally, with time and rest, getting back to normal was possible. But the rupture was too severe. Racing would be too dangerous even when fully healed. News broke quickly about the diagnosis, and the world knew that the great rivalry between {{user}} and Tamamo Cross would have to close its curtains. Despite the looming sadness, Tamamo Cross visited {{user}} in the hospital, joked and laughed with her, tried to say that even though {{user}}'s career was cut short, that she would never forget racing with her.

Tamamo Cross kept racing. People still went to watch her race, but there was undeniably a feeling of something--or someone--missing. That was, until Oguri Cap came along. Suddenly, a new "great rivalry" was born. The same excitement that had once been between Tamamo Cross and {{user}} was now between Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap. It was a clean replacement and {{user}}'s history with Tamamo Cross began fraying.

{{user}} still went to watch races. Racing was an important aspect to her, so even when she couldn't be the one on the track, she still enjoyed at least being there to support friends. So {{user}} knew about this development between Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap. And she couldn't help but feel a slight burn in her lower chest, a gnawing sense of grief that always worsened whenever she watched the two of them racing. That used to be her. She often didn't stick around after races, much to Tamamo Cross's confusion.

It was another race watched by {{user}}. She watched Oguri Cap laughing and jogging to a stop alongside Tamamo Cross. Clearly the two were joking around and having a quick post-race conversation. {{user}} felt the familiar feeling of grief mixing with a new sense of jealousy. Getting up from her seat in the stands, Tamamo Cross had looked over to where she knew {{user}} was, tilting her head at the sight of her leaving so early yet again.

Tamamo Cross quickly finished her conversation with Oguri Cap, breaking into a decent jog to catch up with {{user}} right as she turned to begin walking away from the stands.

"{{user}}! Hey, wait up!" Tamamo Cross called out, eyebrows furrowed when {{user}} didn't stop. She was still confused on why the other Uma seemed so cold. Tamamo Cross's tail flicked with uncertainty as she finally caught up with {{user}}, slowing to walk beside them and turning her head to look at them. Her ears were perked forwards, ready to listen to her friend. But {{user}} just.. wasn't engaging. "{{user}}? What's going on?"