It was only natural that the Pleiades training camp would reach this level of intensity. Last year, they had been blessed with the presence of international challengers, but this year, Rampage had been more deliberate in his planning. When he sat down to decide who the team needed most to push them to the next level, two names remained at the top of his list: Maruzensky and Tamamo Cross.
"Come on, move those legs! This is barely even a warm-up!"
Tamamo Cross, the "White Lightning" who had famously clashed with Oguri Cap over middle and long distances, was a paragon of mental fortitude. Even at Tracen Academy, few could match her sheer grit.
"Now then, keep up with your Big Sister! Here we go~!"
Beside her, Maruzensky moved with the refined grace of a veteran who could cover everything from sprints to middle distances. Her speed was overwhelming, her technique flawless.
"Pick up the pace, you slackers! Run like you mean it!"
And then there was Sunday Silence—the ultimate all-rounder, equally lethal on turf and dirt. Her style was sheer, violent power backed by surgical precision.
Ultimately, Rampage had asked these three to take the lead. Tamamo was a godsend for Mayano Top Gun; as a specialist in the distances Maya would eventually dominate, she could provide the psychological "spark" the flighty girl lacked. Maruzensky, meanwhile, took charge of the milers and leaders. It felt a bit cruel to pit Silence Suzuka, Sunny Brian, and Taiki Shuttle against the legendary "Supercar," but Maruzensky had accepted the task with a wink and a smile.
"Hey! What's the matter?! Ready to surrender already?! You want a break that badly?!"
"Not a... chance in hell!"
"Then show me some damn spine!"
"Gladly, you old hag! Bring it on, Sunday Silence!"
Sunday Silence had crashed the camp under the guise of mentoring Special Week—the girl she had discovered but entrusted to Pleiades. However, another girl had caught her eye: Stay Gold.
"Urgh! You brat! You've got a hell of an attitude!" Sunday barked.
"Then get out of my way! You're clogging up the track!" Stay Gold shot back.
"I ain't going anywhere! You move!"
"Make me, you piece of—!"
"Oh? You wanna go?! Step up then, you little punk!"
"H-Hieee! They're so scary! Mommy, save me...!" Special Week wailed from just behind them.
The two were locked in a vicious verbal spar while sprinting at top speed. In the history of racing, both were known for their explosive, often difficult temperaments, and as Horse Girls, that translated into a terrifying aura. Being able to speak only made it worse; they traded barbs with such vitriol and killing intent that Special Week felt like she was trapped in the middle of a yakuza turf war.
"Yikes... Spe-chan is really caught in the crossfire, isn't she?" Maruzensky remarked, glancing over.
"I'd heard the rumors, but seeing 'em act like proper thugs is somethin' else," Tamamo added, shaking her head in pity for poor Spe.
"I thought this was a daily occurrence in Osaka," Rampage joked.
"What exactly do you think Osaka is like, Rampage?" Tamamo snapped.
"The national headquarters for the mob?"
"Oi! Watch your mouth about my hometown! ...Wait, if I react like this, I'm just proving his point, aren't I?"
Rampage's perception was largely shaped by rumors that the Osaka police's Fourth Division—the organized crime unit—was often more terrifying than the criminals they chased.
"Jokes aside," Rampage asked, his tone shifting. "What do you two think of Stay Gold?"
"Honestly?" Maruzensky said. "If you can ever actually get her head in the game, she'd be unstoppable. But that's the trick, isn't it? Her raw physical specs are already insane, and since you've been drilling the fundamentals into her like a madman, she's becoming a monster."
"Yeah," Tamamo agreed. "The issue is motivation. How do you make her want to win a race instead of just wanting to fight?"
Rampage nodded. That was the core of the problem. It confirmed his decision to foster internal rivalry. Against average opponents, Stay Gold could win without trying, which led to boredom and a loss of interest in the sport. She needed to hit a wall—or a rival—that forced her to exert herself. Whether that meant using team members or looking toward international competition was something he'd have to decide soon.
"Well, I've got a few ideas," Rampage said. "But that's a Trainer's job. Sisters, I'm leaving Suzuka and the others in your hands."
"You got it! Leave it to your Big Sister~♪" Maruzensky chirped. She turned back to her group. "Suzuka-chan, Sunny-chan, Dober-chan, Taiki-chan! Break's over! Let's go again!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am...!"
"Ngh... I won't lose...!"
"Neither will I!"
"I won't lose either, no sir!"
Suzuka and the others scrambled to follow Maruzensky, who was already accelerating. They were the "lead" and "miler" front, and there was no better teacher than the woman who had defined those categories.
Tamamo Cross turned to her own charges. "Alright, what are you starin' at?! Get movin'!"
"Guh... Yes!"
"Maya's not gonna lose!"
Tamamo took charge of Mayano Top Gun and the newcomer Air Groove. Maya's genius-level talent needed Tamamo's iron discipline, while Air Groove's own stern nature meshed surprisingly well with Tamamo's bluntness.
"Hey, Sunday!" Rampage called out. "If you're going to keep hazing Stay Gold, I'll take Spe off your hands for a bit. Stay Gold, feel free to try and knock Sunday off her pedestal if you can!"
"Ha! You hear that? My Trainer gave me the green light! I'm gonna crush you and make my world debut over your broken ego!" Stay Gold shouted.
"Fine by me! You think you're ready for the world? If you can finish my menu and then outrun me, maybe I'll acknowledge you. But a punk like you on the world stage? Not a chance!" Sunday roared.
"WHATS THAT, YOU OLD BAG?! YOU WANNA GO?!"
"WAAAAAAAH! Rampage-san! It was so scaaaary!"
Special Week didn't wait for a second invitation. She bolted toward Rampage, tears streaming down her face, and clung to his arm. Even Rampage had to admit that being sandwiched between those two "tempests" was a fate he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy. He had successfully baited Sunday and Stay Gold into their own private war, leaving him free to focus on the newcomers.
"Spe-chan, it's okay now," El Condor Pasa said, patting her shoulder. "Rampage-san and Kamizuru-san will protect us!"
"Exactly," King Halo added. "It might be tough over here, but at least we won't be subjected to... whatever that was. Compose yourself."
"Waaaaah! Thank you, El-chan! King-chaaan!" Spe wailed, her relief only making her cry harder.
Rampage sighed. He'd have to have a word with Sunday later. On one hand, she was taking the pressure of Stay Gold off his shoulders, but traumatizing the rest of the team wasn't part of the plan.
"Alright, listen up," Rampage announced. "Kamizuru and I will be handling the three of you. Our goal is to forge a foundation that won't crumble, no matter what. Maya might be a debutante too, but she's already built her base—you three are starting from scratch."
"Team Pleiades follows the lineage of Team Canopus," Kamizuru added. "We prioritize the fundamentals. It's going to be a lot of repetitive, boring drills, but the proof of their effectiveness is standing right in front of you," he said, gesturing to Rampage. "He became the fastest in the world because of this foundation. So, don't doubt the process."
The menu was simple: squats in the waist-deep ocean, ball-catching on the dunes, and sand sprints. But there was one glaring anomaly.
"Um... Rampage-san?" Special Week asked, wiping her eyes. "Why are you tied to those heavy truck tires?"
"Because I'm training too," Rampage said casually. "I'm going to be walking through the surf for the next two hours with these in tow. Don't worry, I'll still be watching your form. Kamizuru, keep an eye on them from the shore."
"Got it," Kamizuru replied. "You're a glutton for punishment, you know that? You're retired."
"Got a Legend Race coming up later this year," Rampage grunted. "Gotta stay sharp."
With that, Rampage waded into the ocean, the massive tires splashing behind him. The three newcomers looked at each other, then turned back to Kamizuru with renewed focus.
"We're ready! Please, coach us!"
"Good," Kamizuru smiled. "I'll support you every step of the way. Let's start with the ball-catching drills."
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