Hachiken discovers that Komaba has lost not only the Championship, but the last chance for him to settle the debts of his farm and is forced to quit school and look for a job to help at home. Despite knowing that there is not anything he can do about it, Hachiken can't bear to accept the fact that Komaba was forced to give up on his ambitions before he could even get the chance to fight for them.

Despite knowing that there is nothing he could do for Komaba's sake, Hachiken claims to Mikage that it is fine for them to rely on him and they pay a visit at Komaba's farm to pay their respects as all their cows are seized to pay for their debt. However, Mikage's farm is also in dificulties and when they are forced to sell all their horses, she comes with an important decision with Hachiken's support.

Hachiken returns home to Saporro to obtain his brother's study guides for Mikage and has a frustratingly insightful encounter with his father. Afterwards Hachiken's mother visits Ezonoo to better understand the school he choose and leaves knowing that he is growing into a better person. Finally, as the winter season approaches, Hachiken and his friends begin planning their respective futures.

Hachiken wakes up at the hospital and comes face to face with his father, who wastes no time blaming the Ezono institution for Hachiken's fatigue. Meanwhile, Mikage and the Equestrian Club work their hardest to make the festival a success and praise Hachiken for all his hard work upon his return.

Determined to follow her dream of working with horses, Mikage is allowed to work under her uncle instead of inheriting her father's farm under the condition of making into college and Hachiken agrees to help her.

With the Ezono Festival fast approaching, the Equestrian Club begins work on Ban'ei horse racing track, despite Hachiken tasking himself with way too much work. Afterwards Hachiken takes initiative and asks Mikage out on a date and his feelings for her are revealed by her friends. However, on the morning of the festival, Hachiken suddenly collapses on the race track

The newbies from the Equestrian Club have their first jump class, but Hachiken is the only one who fails to have his horse jump an obstacle, bringing some unpleasant memories of his past to surface. Claiming that it needs more than words to have him figure out the reason why, Mikage takes him to a competition where he sees some jockeys and horses in real action.

Hachiken finds an abandoned puppy during cleaning and decides to adopt it. However, taking care of his new dog is not an easy task, as not only he needs money for vaccines and registration, but have to train it.

The seniors from the Equestrian Club appoint Hachiken as the new vice-president against his will. Troubled about it, he later witnesses Mikagi crying after having a serious conversation with Komaba and can't stop worrying about them as well, even after they tell him to forget about it.

The time has come for the Regional Baseball Championship and the students cheer for Ezono's team, hoping for them to reach the National tournament, specially for Komaba who is one of the team's highlights.

Hachiken participates in his first official jumping competition. In the occasion he and Mikage have a short meeting with Ayame Minamikujou, Mikage's childhood friend and self-proclaimed rival, and is startled when meeting his brother again by surprise.