"Haaaaaaah!"
"Good spirit! But don't think for a second I've slowed down enough to lose to the likes of you!"
Two shadows blurred across the turf. One was Team Rigil's Biwa Hayahide; the other was Mejiro Rampage. While she usually acted as a training partner for Winning Ticket over at Team Canopus, Rampage had accepted a personal request from Rigil's Trainer, Hana Tojo, to push Hayahide to her limits. The challenge today, however, was the distance. They were prepping for the Kikuka Sho—a grueling 3000-meter trek.
For Rampage, this was uncharted territory. Even so, she was the world's fastest and strongest. She wasn't about to let a Classic-class girl get the better of her. She maintained a masterful stride, proving her reputation wasn't just for show.
"Alright, let's see it! I'll show you what Godspeed looks like!"
"I won't... lose!"
On paper, the long-distance stage should have played right into Hayahide's hands. Rampage herself admitted that her long-distance aptitude was a 'B' at the very best. Before the start, she'd even warned everyone that she'd have to cap her output at eighty or ninety percent just to finish the three kilometers. Yet, as they hit the final straight, Rampage did the impossible: she began to accelerate.
"Oraaaaa!"
"Haaah!"
Rampage tore away, leaving Hayahide in her wake. She crossed the finish line with a commanding five-length lead. The watching members of Team Rigil felt their throats go dry. This was it—the pinnacle. Even outside her specialized distance, the "World's Strongest" was a force of nature.
"Haah... haah... Dammit, you stayed on my heels better than I expected. I was planning on winning by a mile."
"I... I specialize in long distances, after all..." Hayahide panted, leaning heavily on her knees. "But to maintain that velocity for that long... how?"
"Believe it or not, I was holding back," Rampage grumbled, leaning against the railing and staring up at the sky as her breath came in ragged gasps. "I can't quite pace myself as smoothly as Mejiro Palmer does..."
Hana Tojo approached and offered a respectful nod. "I'm sorry for pushing you, but that was an invaluable experience for her."
"Happy to help, as long as you don't ask for a second set right away... I'm beat."
"Even for you, long distance is a foreign country, it seems," Hana remarked. "Though your time was still terrifying."
This was a practice heat, and times recorded in training rarely translate perfectly to a crowded race. However, Rampage had clocked in at 3:05.1. It was a hair's breadth away from the record Rice Shower had set at the previous year's Kikuka Sho. The fact that a retired runner with a low distance aptitude had posted that time was nothing short of monstrous. Had she actually trained for distance during her career, she likely would have swept the Tenno Sho (Spring) without breaking a sweat.
"Sister. Here's a drink."
"Ah, thank you... phew."
Narita Brian handed the bottle to Hayahide. Rampage watched the younger sister for a moment. It had been a while, and Brian looked sharper, more dignified. The timidity she once held was fading, replaced by a bold, aggressive aura. She was starting to look like her counterpart from the "game," and while Rampage felt a flicker of pride at her growth, she also felt a twinge of bittersweet nostalgia.
"She says she's bad at long distances, yet she runs like that," Hayahide sighed. "It's maddening."
"She isn't called the world's fastest for nothing," Brian replied.
"True enough. But I learned something today," Hayahide said, her analytical mind already churning. "That cornering technique of hers... I think I've figured out the theory behind it."
"—You already copied it?" Brian asked, surprised.
"I had the perfect model right in front of me. Bridging the gap between theory and practice was simple enough."
"Good grief," Brian sighed. "You're a monster too, Sister."
"I'll still never catch up to you," Hayahide replied with a small smile.
As they spoke, another Uma Musume approached Rampage and offered a drink with a wink. Rampage didn't miss a beat.
"You've grown into quite the heartbreaker, Fuji. I bet the juniors are screaming your name every time you walk down the hall."
"A-ahaha... It's been a while, Rampage-san. I thought for sure I could sneak up on you since it's been so long... but you caught me instantly."
"Like I'd ever forget the face of my cutest junior."
Rampage reached out and ruffled Fuji Kiseki's hair. Fuji narrowed her eyes happily, looking for all the world like a contented kitten—it reminded Rampage of Suzuka.
"So, Fuji, you're debuting next year, right?"
"Yes, here with Team Rigil."
"Our Maya [Mayano Top Gun] is debuting then, too. Looks like you'll be clashing."
"I know. When she got into Team Pleiades, she certainly didn't miss the chance to brag about it to me."
To be honest, Fuji had been envious. When she committed to Rigil, she hadn't known Rampage was going to start her own team. But she wasn't the type to jump ship. Instead, she intended to take everything she learned at Rigil and use it to challenge Rampage's legacy.
"I won't be holding back," Fuji declared.
"If you did, I'd kick your ass. My Maya is something special, so you better be ready."
Rampage drained the drink in one go, stood up, and headed back toward Hayahide. Fuji watched her go, a spark of pure admiration in her eyes. I want to be just like her, she thought.
"Well? You want another round?" Rampage asked Hayahide.
"If you're willing, yes. But... are you alright?"
"Don't go worrying about me like I'm a child. Adults exist to be fuel for the next generation. If you can use me to get ahead, then I'm a cheap sacrifice."
"That is an incredibly expensive 'sacrifice,'" Hayahide noted.
"Hah! You've gotten cheeky since I last saw you, Brian," Rampage joked, glancing at the younger sister.
Brian huffed and turned away, looking inexplicably annoyed. Rampage blinked, confused, until Hayahide leaned in and pointed at Brian's hand. She was holding another bottle. It turned out Brian had brought drinks for both her sister and Rampage, but since Fuji had beaten her to the punch, Brian was now sulking. Her appearance had changed, but her heart was still the same.
"Actually, before we go again... I'm still a bit parched. Maybe I'll grab one more."
"...!" Brian's ears perked up. "Here. Drink this."
"Oh? Thanks, Brian. You're a lifesaver."
"Hmph..."
Brian turned away again, but her tail was wagging with a rhythmic, unmistakable joy.
"Hayahide," Rampage said, switching back into mentor mode. "On the corners, you need to lower your center of gravity even more. You were trying to mimic Brian's style, weren't you?"
"You could tell just by watching?"
"I have eyes, don't I? When you aren't used to it, your instinct is to stay upright to keep your balance. But in the Kikuka Sho, Ticket is going to be aggressive on the turns. You need a counter-strategy."
"I see. I'll give it a try."
As Hayahide moved off to practice her positioning, Brian finally asked the question that had been bugging her.
"Why?"
"Hm?"
"Why give my sister advice? We're technically the enemy. You're practically a member of Team Canopus, and you run Pleiades. Why lend your strength to Rigil?"
It was a fair question. The rivalry between teams was usually fierce. By helping Hayahide, Rampage was arguably betraying her own trainees.
"Simple. Hana-san asked me nicely. When a senior asks for a favor like that, you don't say no."
"I suppose. But still..."
"You want the real reason? Hayahide, Ticket, even Taishin—they're all my juniors. That's all there is to it."
To Rampage, team borders were secondary. She'd helped Team Spica; she'd sparred with Taishin.
"And more than that," Rampage continued, her voice dropping to a low, passionate resonance, "I want to see an interesting race. I want to see a race that makes my blood boil. If the strongest runners clash at their absolute peak, it's a better show for everyone. That's why I do it."
"Even if it means Ticket loses?"
"If someone is truly strong, they'll break through any strategy or obstacle thrown at them. At least, that's how it was when I was running."
"...No wonder you were so dominant."
With that, Rampage turned back to the track to rejoin Hayahide. Brian, who had already made her own debut, felt the gap between the newcomers and the Senior-class legends. Rampage's generation was a league of its own. But instead of being intimidated, Brian felt a shudder of excitement.
"That's fine by me," Brian whispered, her competitive spirit flaring like a hungry predator. "No matter who the opponent is, I'll just have to win...!!"
She was already manifesting that "noble hunger" Rampage always preached about. In fact, she was already standing in a place much higher than anyone realized. The "Monster" was awakening, and through her relentless training, that talent was being forged into something unstoppable.
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