"Rampage-saaaan! Mind if I join you—oh, are you studying?"
"Even if I wasn't, you're a nuisance."
"Scathing as always... though I do like that about you."
"Drop dead."
Rampage was alone at a corner table in the cafeteria, books and notebooks spread out before her as she wrote furiously. While it functioned as a dining hall, the cafeteria was also used by students for studying. However, there was an implicit rule that one should yield seats to those eating—especially given the voracious appetites of horse girls.
Normally, studying here would be impossible. But Rampage, being decidedly unlike a typical horse girl, was making full use of the space, working diligently with a black coffee in hand.
That was when Flora—in a sense, her biggest fan—approached.
"Let's see, what is this... 'The Correlation Between Race Intervals and Track Conditions'... What is this? Some kind of thesis?"
"I wrote that. Put it back."
"You wrote this, Rampage-san!?"
Flora had picked up one of the reports at random, and sure enough, the author's name was listed as Mejiro Rampage. Judging by the title, the content was extremely serious and stiff. A glance inside revealed complex terminology and data assembled like a puzzle. Flora, having the education to understand it, began reading smoothly, but Rampage snatched it back midway.
"It's unfinished. I haven't even proofread it yet."
"No, it was incredibly interesting. Up to where I read, there weren't any typos, and it was fascinating."
"Thanks for that... Wait, you understand this stuff?"
"Well, my family is of fairly good standing, you know... I mean, compared to the Mejiro family, it's different, but..."
It was easy to forget when looking at Flora, but the Agnes family was a legitimately prestigious lineage. While they might struggle if compared directly to super-famous houses like Mejiro or Symboli, they were undeniably a distinguished family that included names like the Oaks winner, Agnes Lady.
"The difference in physical load on a horse girl caused by Japan's high-speed tracks versus overseas tracks... this is deeply intriguing. The depletion rate per race, the shifting advantage of inner versus outer gates, the differences based on running style... And you pulled all this information from your own race history, didn't you?"
"I can only run one way, after all."
Data pulled from her own battle record. A comparison derived from 29 races. Not only was the reliability high, but it also included comparisons with overseas dirt and turf.
"But what are you going to use this for? It looks like a report you'd submit at a university."
" The URA asked for it. They buttered me up, saying, 'We wish to utilize the data of the Great Rampage-dono for future overseas expeditions...' so I'm giving them data."
"Ah... Well, it's certainly full of precious information... It's natural they'd want to accumulate it."
Data on Rampage, who had spent nearly a year overseas, was even more valuable than data on Sirius—especially the metrics from her Arc victory, which were something everyone coveted. Knowing that the perverse Rampage wouldn't just hand it over obediently, she had decided to compile it herself.
"If it were just for the URA, I wouldn't bother. But if it helps the guys who want to head overseas in the future, I figured I should go all out. I don't care about the URA's methods, but if it's going to be done, I might as well be the one to summarize it. The bit about high-speed tracks is just a jab at the URA."
"I thought it might be."
Most likely, there would be horse girls inspired by her to attempt a "Great Escape" or copy her schedule. The term "Rampage Rotation" had already been born on the internet—similar to the historical "Matsukuni Rotation"*.
This report was a warning and a caution against that. It was documentation intended to make them realize that if they didn't run in a way that suited them, they would end up broken before they could win a single race, let alone set a record.
"How should I put it... For someone who claims to live by momentum, you think a lot, don't you, Rampage-san?"
"I can read the flow because I think. The only ones who can live on momentum without thinking and actually get by are those with insane luck or natural-born instincts."
Though she said that, Rampage did rely on momentum quite a bit... She might classify as the "insane luck" type, considering her encounters were off the charts. Regardless, the next generation would likely see more horse girls heading overseas. Thinking of that, there was no harm in making preemptive moves.
"Rampage-san, what are your plans for the next race? Arima Kinen again? If so, I'm running too."
"I'm thinking about it. I haven't been back from America that long. Let me think a little more."
"But I want to run with you."
If only she could always ask normally like that, I wouldn't treat her so roughly, Rampage thought, feeling a twinge of regret.
"In the first place, I won the Arc and the BC Classic. Even if I retired right now, no one would complain."
"If you put it that way, yes. But I think everyone in Japan wants to see Rampage-san running in Japan."
"Running, huh..."
"Yes. After all, if you go to the Dream Trophy League, you'll be running against Oguri-san and Tama-san, right? Wow, I'm curious about that... wait, will I be able to go...?"
"You're technically a Japan Cup Horse Girl, aren't you?"
"But I only have one G1 win..."
Watching Flora munch on a fried horse mackerel while groaning about needing to win more, Rampage realized that she, too, wanted Rampage to keep running.
It was natural. She had shown them a dream—a dream larger than ever before. A dream they had given up on as unreachable, a dream they had decided was impossible, a dream they had pushed away. She had made it come true. It was only natural for them to dream of her running forever.
Thinking this, Rampage packed up her notebooks and downed the rest of her coffee.
"Well, take your time eating."
"Oh? Are you leaving already?"
"I'm busy. Getting called from all over the place."
"I see. In that case, shall I heal you when you get back?"
"Refused. Categorically."
She heard a voice cry "Whyyyy~!?" from behind, but decided to ignore it completely. She headed straight for the Director's office.
Inside, the Director and Tazuna were waiting. Hatenkou spotted her, sprinted over with incredible speed, and perched on her head.
"Welcome!! Does your arrival mean it is finished?"
"I haven't proofread it, but you said you wanted to see it in this state, so I brought it."
"Yes, let us take a look."
She handed the report to the two of them. They looked over the document, backed by her battle record, with deep interest, and then raised their voices.
"Umu! I judge that no corrections are necessary!!"
"Are you sure about this? I'm sure you could get an exemption, Rampage-san..."
"Ah, no, no. I have zero intention of owing the URA any favors. It's best not to be in debt."
"Understandable. In that case, we will proceed as is. Is that acceptable?"
Saying this, Tazuna accepted the report and handed a certain document to Rampage. Rampage checked it, signed her name, and handed it back.
Seeing this, the Director smiled slightly.
"Fufufu... truly smooth sailing!! Coordination with the local training centers is also excellent. This is all thanks to your name value."
"They're probably getting excited over there, too. Bound to get fired up."
"But I think only the Director would seriously consider this. It is because of your power, Rampage-san, that we are here today."
"It's because the Director has the drive to act. My popularity is just the invincibility on top."
"Correct! Ah, exactly so!!"
""Yo! Madame Director!!""
Rampage and Tazuna cheered in unison, mimicking a Kabuki shout to match the Director's tone.
On the work desk of the laughter-filled office lay an envelope. Written on it were the words:
[URA Finals, URA Legend Race]
(Note: Matsukuni Rotation: To explain briefly, this is a rotation aiming to secure a horse's second life as a stallion by showing aptitude for both the mile and the middle-distance classic distance. It involves winning the NHK Mile Cup (3-year-old Mile King) and the Japan Derby (3-year-old Classic Distance). While many racehorses achieved greatness this way, many also retired due to injuries like tendonitis.)
(Note: Rampage Rotation: A rotation challenging the Shuka Sho or Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and finally the Japan Cup or Champions Cup. It is a maniacal schedule of three G1 races in a single month. Specifically, the gap between the QEII Cup and the Japan Cup is only one week (middle 1 week), so normally one wouldn't even consider it. However, the person in question has completed this two years in a row, so the danger hasn't been fully publicized.)
That's probably how it's described on the internet.
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