"So, Your Highness, what was the verdict?"
"It was the best! Absolutely incredible! So this is a Japanese G1 race... that feeling of the entire crowd cheering as one is just spectacular!"
"The passion in Japan is truly something else," her attendant added. "Back home, we tend to 'witness' or 'observe' a race, but here? The roar of the crowd has a pressure to it, as if the fans are running right alongside the girls."
Watching the Tenno Sho from the VIP box, Fine Motion was the picture of satisfaction. She had spent so long watching these races through a screen; finally being able to set foot in the stands and see it in person had her over the moon. She delighted in the differences between Japanese and Irish racing, particularly how the racecourse itself felt like a grand festival. In this world, horse racing was a weekly staple, fueling a massive following and a booming economy. It wasn't an exaggeration to say the country's prosperity was riding on those tracks.
"So, where are you headed today?" Rampage asked.
"Today, I've been invited to the Mejiro estate. So, that's where I'll be!" Fine chirped.
"The Mejiros? I take it the Great Grandmother sent the invite?"
"Yes. She said she was very keen on having a chat."
Meeting a Princess of the Irish Royal Family was technically a monumental political event, but since Rampage hadn't received a word about it, he figured the Matriarch didn't think his presence was necessary. Fine by me, he thought. I'll just focus on my job. He had his own goals to pursue today anyway.
"Fair enough. I put a bento together just in case—want to take it with you?"
"I do! Thank you!"
With that settled, Rampage headed out to the Tracen Academy. He'd already given Fine and Piccolo Player spare keys to his place, so he left the locking up to them. Once he arrived at the office, he decided to brew a pot of coffee before diving into his paperwork. Just as the aroma began to drift, Hana Tojo walked in.
"Morning, Hana-san. I'm just brewing a pot. You want some?"
"I'd love some. Your coffee is always a treat," she replied. "And good morning to you."
"No guarantees on the taste today—it's a bit of a gamble."
"Even your 'gamble' is better than anything in a vending machine."
"Setting the bar a bit low, aren't we?"
He chuckled, finishing the brew. Today, he'd gone with a blend leaning heavily on Hawaii Kona. He handed a cup to Hana, who took a moment to lose herself in the rich fragrance before taking a sip.
"Mm... it's mellow but bold, with just the right amount of bitterness. This is exactly how I like it. I'd say you pulled a 'Great Luck' blessing with this batch."
"Glad to hear it. Oh, by the way—how are Hayahide's legs? That final spurt looked like it took a hell of a toll on her."
Rampage's concern wasn't unfounded. In his memory of "history," Biwa Hayahide had finished fifth in this race, only to retire shortly after due to tendonitis. In this world, she had secured second place and looked energetic during the Winning Live, but he couldn't shake the worry.
"She's fine," Hana assured him. "Rigil policy mandates a hospital check-up after every race. The doctors gave her a clean bill of health—said she's perfectly fit, aside from some standard fatigue."
"Is that so...? I don't know, it just looked to me like Neicha and Tanhoiza pushed her into a gear she wasn't ready for."
"Ah, so you saw it too? I had the same thought. But when I talked to her, she seemed at peace with it. She said she was only doing what you would do."
When Hana recounted the words Neicha had said after the race, Rampage found himself nodding in reluctant realization. That style of running... in a way, it was him.
"Afterward, Hayahide actually bowed to Flora," Hana continued, her tone shifting to one of mild disbelief. "She asked her, 'Please, tell me how much I currently resemble Rampage-senpai. I want to fix my flaws and rebuild my foundation from the ground up.' Then, they watched the race footage together. When I heard Flora's critique... honestly, I was a little creeped out. That girl is obsessed with you."
Hana began to mimic Flora's intense, rapid-fire delivery:
『"First, your form. This posture is a near-perfect imitation of Rampage-san's. However, while you've tried to raise your average speed without fully committing to his 'Full-Body Drive,' that style doesn't actually synergize well with a Front-Runner strategy. If you're going to go that far, you should join Brian-chan in adopting the Full-Body Drive properly. If you're sticking to a Lead-Leaping strategy, your current form is actually perfect as-is. Next, your cornering. You're mimicking Rampage's lines, but you fundamentally lack his raw power, so you're compensating with technique. Rampage's turn-in is only possible because of the power he built through 'Shinzan Iron' training. Your current technical approach clashes with that line—you should fix it. You could train for more power, but that would ruin your technical balance, so for now, leave it. Now, moving on to the next point—"』
『"Wait! Uh, um... I'm taking notes! Give me a second!!"』
Hana let out a sigh. "And it went on like that."
"...Cringe."
Rampage's blunt, two-syllable reaction summed it up perfectly. Hana couldn't help but agree. Watching Hayahide's race while describing it as if Rampage were physically running right beside her—all while pinpointing every minute technical difference—was nothing short of haunting. Hayahide had been scribbling frantically, but by the time Flora was done, she had filled over a dozen pages of her notebook. Even Hayahide, the stoic intellectual, had looked visibly shaken by the sheer volume of Flora's obsession.
"Anyway," Rampage said, trying to change the subject. "What's the plan for her now?"
"Who knows... I don't think she's thinking about the future at all right now. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if she just decided to retire as she is."
"Is that a very 'Trainer-like' thing to say?"
"Controlling her is impossible," Hana laughed. "Though, maybe if you took a whip to her, she'd listen."
"And have me swat her backside? No thanks. She'd probably just moan and enjoy it. I'm passing on that."
"...True."
—It would be a reward! I understand perfectly!—
The two of them blinked, both seemingly picking up a stray "poisonous thought-wave" from a certain obsessed girl nearby. Rampage shook his head, pouring a refill of coffee to clear his mind as he looked out at the sky.
"Still, the overseas expansion is getting intense... Teio, Turbo, Rice... and now even Bourbon is heading abroad."
"The Hong Kong Cup, I believe? Kuronuma said if the results are good, they might aim for the Arc de Triomphe next year."
Ever since Rampage's own successful expedition, the number of girls challenging the world stage had skyrocketed. He wondered if this was the result of the "dream" he had fought to keep alive.
"Well, first comes the Breeders' Cup," Rampage mused. "Are we going to trample both the turf and the dirt this year? Poor America."
"Don't talk about them like their defeat is a foregone conclusion," Hana chided, though she had a small smile on her face. "Even if Lady Saber and Amazing Dyna are currently tearing up the American dirt circuit..."
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