"Phew! I'm stuffed. You really are a marvelous cook, little lamb."
"Yes, my heart—and my stomach—is full to bursting."
"Forgive us. We've placed a considerable burden on you this evening."
"Well, I figured doing nothing for you three would qualify as divine disrespect," Rampage replied dryly.
In the end, she had spent the entire evening entertaining the Three Goddesses. Despite their status, they were apparently no different from any other Uma Musume when it came to their appetites; she had used up every scrap of meat she'd bought for her weekly meal prep.
Now, they had transitioned to post-dinner drinks. As an enthusiast of the finer things, Rampage's home was well-stocked with beer, wine, whiskey, and sake. When she asked for their preference, they had unanimously requested sake.
"So," Rampage said, pouring a round. "I assume you didn't descend from the heavens just for a free meal. The Three Goddesses showing up at a trainer's house for Tonkatsu is a bit much to swallow... I mean, are you actually, literally, goddesses?"
"A bit late for that question, isn't it?" Darley Arabian laughed, leaning back. "We really are goddesses. We exist, we are here, and we are quite real. If you're still doubting, you're welcome to reach out and check if I'm an illusion—feel free to start with the chest."
"I don't have those kinds of hobbies, thanks."
"Oh? Even with the soul of a man inside?" Darley's eyes twinkled with mischief.
Rampage shrugged, letting the comment slide. It was true she had been a man once, but after years of living as an Uma Musume, one became "feminine" whether they liked it or not. She could wear women's clothing without a second thought now—even if she still didn't go out of her way to be trendy.
"So, what is it? Did you come to explain why I ended up as 'Rampage' in the first place?"
"We just came to hang out!" Darley chirped.
THUD.
Rampage's forehead hit the kotatsu table with enough force to rattle the sake cups.
"You are the only one who came here with that pathetic level of motivation," Byerley Turk snapped at Darley. "Do not lump us in with you."
"Oh, dear. I didn't think I was being that casual about it," Godolphin Barb added with a soft smile.
"Then at least try to rein her in," Byerley sighed, looking at Rampage. "My apologies. Having me as the only one to provide the 'straight man' commentary is a losing battle."
Apparently, there was a serious reason for the visit. Byerley Turk seemed to be the most reliable of the three—which made sense, given her deep historical ties to the Symboli family's disciplined lineage.
"To be serious for a moment," Byerley began, "we came to offer our blessings for your success and the advancement of the racing world. We have nothing but gratitude for what you've done."
"I haven't done anything special," Rampage countered. "I just chased the things I wanted to do until I hit the end of the line."
"Even so, the results are worthy of praise. You saw a stage that needed to exist and you built it yourself. It is the purest expression of what it means to be an Uma Musume... and the 'other' Rampage is happy, too."
The words struck a chord. Byerley wasn't talking about the woman sitting in the chair; she was talking about the original soul who had occupied this body before the suicide attempt.
"To be blunt, her story was a tragedy. She had the vessel to change the world, but she was toyed with by a cruel fate."
"A fate you three orchestrated?" Rampage asked, her voice narrowing.
"Don't be ridiculous," Darley interjected. "We aren't that cruel."
Rampage knew that. If they were truly malicious, they wouldn't have appeared to her in Dubai, nor would they have allowed her to find peace with her past. She had only asked to test them.
"The reason we are here tonight," Godolphin Barb said, "is because your soul has been surfacing more frequently lately. We need to discuss the balance."
"Let me guess... the dreams about the twins? The fact that I'm starting to actually enjoy the 'Mama' role?"
"Exactly! As expected of my little lamb, you're quick on the uptake!" Darley cheered.
"Stop calling me yours."
"Oh, why not? It's not like it costs you anything." Darley gave her a seductive wink.
"Every Uma Musume possesses an 'Uma Soul,'" Byerley explained, steering the conversation back. "The strength of that soul varies. But you possess a foreign human soul as well. Now that you've retired from racing, the balance has shifted."
"Did my Uma Soul get smaller?"
"Quite the opposite," Godolphin said. "It's growing. During your racing days, your instincts—your drive to win—were constantly being vented on the track. Your human soul acted as the 'governor,' keeping the pressure in check. But now that you've retired, you've found peace. The human soul has relaxed its grip, but the Uma Soul is still accumulating power without an outlet."
It was like a dam that had stopped releasing water; the reservoir was just going to keep filling up. Rampage felt a hand on hers. The Three Goddesses had reached out, their hands overlapping on hers.
"My, it really has become quite large. Splendid," Darley murmured.
Byerley glared Darley into silence, while Godolphin just smiled. After a moment, they withdrew their hands. Rampage didn't feel any different, but the air in the room seemed lighter.
"We haven't done anything radical," Godolphin explained. "We've simply allowed your Uma Soul to settle into its new container."
"To be clear," Byerley added, "this isn't going to change who you are. We've simply prevented a 'possibility' that might have occurred otherwise."
"...Such as?"
"Such as your personality being completely overwritten," Darley grinned. "You might have woken up one morning as a perfectly poised, high-class lady who spoke in nothing but flowery honorifics."
"A fate worse than death," Rampage shuddered.
If she had suddenly turned into a prim and proper "Ojou-sama," everyone would have assumed she'd suffered a total mental breakdown. Even Flora would have been horrified...
—Actually, I'd be totally into that!!—
Rampage winced. "I just felt a sudden surge of... psychic pollution."
"I felt it too, little lamb," Darley noted.
"You are loved by some very strange things," Byerley sighed.
"It's a form of love, I suppose," Godolphin added charitably.
"That's not love, that's an obsession," Rampage corrected.
Regardless, she felt a wave of genuine relief. She owed them one for sparing her that particular fate.
"You really are an interesting one," Darley said, her form beginning to shimmer. "We'll never tire of watching you. From now until the end, our eyes will be on you."
"Just try to respect my privacy occasionally," Rampage muttered.
"Of course."
"Naturally."
The three figures began to fade, their outlines turning into soft particles of light. Seeing them like this, Rampage was finally struck by their overwhelming, supernatural presence.
"Farewell, then. And thank you for the meal."
"We'd love to come again. We'll be sure to give you advance notice next time," Godolphin smiled warmly.
"Please don't... But, yeah. See ya."
Byerley and Godolphin vanished first, their expressions peaceful. Darley Arabian remained for a final second, taking Rampage's hand one last time.
"Until we meet again. And this time... don't think about any more foolish exits. Live this life to the very end."
"I'm planning to live until I'm a wrinkled old hag," Rampage promised.
"Good. Bye-bye!"
With a playful blown kiss, she dissolved into stardust.
The house was silent again. It felt like a dream, but the lingering warmth in her palm and the used sake cups on the table were proof it had happened. Rampage looked at her hand, then at the empty seats.
"Man... as far as goddesses go, they're actually pretty great women. Maybe I should have asked for a number?"
She chuckled to herself and began the dishes. For the first time in a long time, her heart felt completely clear.
"RAMPAGE-SAN! GOOD MORNING!!"
"Whoa. You're as loud as ever... Morning."
"Wait... Rampage-san... actually answered me?! Is this it?! Is this the legendary 'Tsundere' behavior I've heard so much about?!"
"Go die, Flora."
"Now it's 'Dere-Tsun'?!"
"I'm ignoring you now."
"Haaaah! ☆"
The peace lasted exactly until she ran into Flora the next morning.
[Postscript: Mejiro Rampage After Retirement]
One day, while Rampage was resting in her favorite spot in the paddock, she suddenly stood up. She let out a long, powerful neigh toward the heavens—three times, loud and clear.
The grooms watched in surprise, but almost immediately after, Rampage laid down and fell into a deep sleep. She passed away peacefully in her slumber.
Coincidentally, that very day was the debut race of her great-grandchild. The jockey in the stirrups was none other than her old partner. At the exact moment her descendant and her partner crossed the finish line in victory, Rampage had neighed her final salute and closed her eyes.
She was 37 years old—an extraordinary lifespan for a Thoroughbred. She had lived her second life to the absolute fullest.
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