Mejiro Rampage was weathering a storm of a completely different nature.
It had all started with a "mock race" organized in preparation for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Somehow, the roster of participating Uma Musume had ballooned to the level of a Dream Trophy League. When Symboli Rudolph caught wind of it, she had approached Rampage with a heavy, suffocating pressure, demanding to know, "And why, exactly, was I not invited?"
Even Mejiro Ramone had joined in, wearing a look of melancholy, distant sorrow. "Oh… so you didn't invite me either? I see… how very interesting…" she'd remarked, her eyes trailing off as if wounded.
Rampage had been forced to play damage control ever since. Since the mock race had been a case of "act first, ask for forgiveness later," she was technically blameless, but the explanation fell on deaf ears. To make matters worse, Mr. C.B. had sensed the scent of something interesting and crashed the event anyway. The result was a race so absurdly high-level it would have given the URA a heart attack, live-streamed to the world on Rampage's channel in an act of pure narrative audacity.
While the URA officials were still likely foaming at the mouth, time marched on. Finally, the day of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup arrived.
"The main event of the day—the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup! A massive crowd of over 130,000 spectators has descended upon Kyoto Racecourse to witness history! And for good reason: this year's Cup is unlike any other! Today, we welcome a challenger from overseas—the peerless racer who went toe-to-toe with the legendary Mejiro Rampage! Waiting to intercept this invader are Japan's own Triple Tiara winner and the Iron Lady herself! What kind of legendary battle are we about to witness?!"
The presence of an international Uma Musume was enough to set the news cycle on fire. The fact that she had fought Rampage to a standstill at the Irish Champion Stakes only heightened the tension. Could any Japanese racer win without Rampage on the track? The question burned in the fans' minds, eclipsed only by the pure, raw excitement for the spectacle about to unfold.
"Hey, hey! Give me a shoulder ride!"
"Fufu, alright. I suppose you won't see much otherwise. How's this?"
That excitement was shared by everyone in the stands. Among the crowd were families; parents hoisted children onto their shoulders so they could see over the sea of adults. The air was filled with the joyful chirping of kids as their horizons suddenly expanded. The surrounding adults watched with gentle smiles, waiting for the gates to open.
"Hey, hey, who do you think is gonna win?"
"Well now, who do you think?"
"Hmm… Maya doesn't know yet!"
The girl on the shoulders was Mayano Top Gun. The one carrying her was Mejiro Rampage. Both were in disguise, of course, which led everyone to assume they were mother and daughter. Earlier, when they'd bought carrot juice at a stall, the shopkeeper had told Maya, "Isn't it nice to be out with your mommy?" Rampage couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt toward Maya's actual parents.
"Hmph! Maya's not a baby, you know!"
"As long as you keep pouting that cutely, you're still a child to me."
"Then what do I have to do to be a grown-up?"
"Who knows? But once you're an adult, all you'll want is to be a child again. It's a bit like how you feel now, wanting to grow up. So, for now, just enjoy being young."
"Hmm, I think I get it, but maybe I don't… Oh! Look! Turbo-san and the others are coming out!"
As they spoke, the racers began to emerge one by one from the underground tunnel. Whatever philosophical thoughts Maya had were instantly replaced by cheers. Rampage was here with her because the rest of Team Pleiades had gone to cheer with Team Canopus. Since Rampage had to watch from a distance in disguise, they decided she should be accompanied by a teammate to complete the "family" look. A game of Rock-Paper-Scissors had decided her companion, and Maya was the winner.
In truth, the pairing of the petite Maya and the tall, stately Rampage was the perfect cover; they looked exactly like mother and daughter. Though Maya grumbled about being treated like a kid, she grudgingly accepted it if it helped "Ran."
"Gate 18, Frame 8! The Triple Tiara winner, Twin Turbo, makes her grand entrance! She is the third favorite today. Will she bring the house down with her signature 'Great Escape'?! And following close behind is the second favorite, Gate 10, Frame 5—the 'Iron Lady,' Ikuno Dictus! The backbone of Team Canopus has arrived! Can she prove to the world that her legendary three-peat at the Yasuda Kinen was no fluke?!"
Ikuno appeared, followed by the rest of the elite. Vega and Hokuto Vega, the stars who had defined this year's Tiara line, were also in the mix. This was the final battlefield for the Tiara generation, and every racer was a refined thoroughbred of the highest caliber.
Then, the "invader" made her appearance—the Silver Comet.
"And here she is! Her speed is so overwhelming it transcends the realm of Uma Musume, evoking the raw power of motorsports! A global powerhouse who once traded strides with the Tyrant himself—the G1 champion, Silverstone, has entered the track! Today, she sits as the odds-on favorite, usurping the top spot from Twin Turbo and Ikuno Dictus!"
"SILVER! SILVER! SILVER! SILVER!"
"Listen to that! A massive 'Silver Call' is erupting from a section of the stands! We're told the F1 team her parents belong to has flown in just to support her! With such a thunderous cheering section behind her, she won't feel like an outsider for a second. We are in for the performance of a lifetime!"
Silverstone's parents and their colleagues had indeed arrived in force. Silverstone had mentioned they were in the country for a Japanese F1 race, but their passion was staggering. Is this what motorsports fans are like? Rampage wondered.
"Silver-san's cheering section is amazing! Maya wants fans like that too!"
"Then you'll have to train hard, polish your charm, and make everyone fall head over heels for you. A powerful run is the best way to capture a heart."
"Yeah! Maya's gonna give it her best!"
Rampage felt a surge of gratitude toward Silverstone. She had been trying to keep Maya's motivation up, but this spectacle would likely do more for the girl's training than any lecture. Unaware of the impact she was having, Silverstone moved toward the gates.
"The runners are moving into the stalls. Under the watchful eyes of the Hinomaru and the Union Jack, who will claim the crown on the turf of Yodo?! Will it be the Iron Lady, Ikuno Dictus? The explosive Twin Turbo? Or the Silver Comet, Silverstone?! They're off!"
The international battle had begun.
Character Profile: Mejiro Ford (Colt)
The third foal of Mejiro Rampage, sired by the legendary Mejiro McQueen. His name is derived from the actor Harrison Ford.
Contrary to his cinematic namesake, Ford possessed a timid, lonely disposition and an absolute loathing for being crowded in a pack. To solve this, he adopted the "Great Escape" strategy—the signature move of his mother—and found immediate success. Though he narrowly lost the Kikuka-sho by a nose, his finishing time was nearly a course record.
He finally achieved his dream G1 victory at the Tennō Shō (Spring), fulfilling the Mejiro family's greatest ambition by leading the race from start to finish. While the "Great Escape" is often viewed as a reckless gamble, Ford was remarkably consistent; once he committed to the lead, he almost always finished in the money. Because of this reliability, he was affectionately known by fans as the "Stable Escapist."
His jockey, Eiji Nakadate (renowned for his skill with front-runners), once remarked: "He reminded me a lot of Twin Turbo, but he was a highly intelligent, gentle soul who always looked out for me."
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