A day off. For the hardworking masses, it is a literal oasis in a desert of labor. One would expect the same to hold true for Trainers, but for those managing a team, reality is rarely so kind. When a race looms, "holidays" are traded for extra training sessions and strategic planning. It isn't uncommon for a Trainer to be glued to their charge's side, or to spend their entire break working solely for the girl's sake.
And how did the "Tyrant," Mejiro Rampage, choose to spend such a precious day?
"Alright, that's the laundry done."
"All done~♪"
She was doing housework.
Rampage had gathered her own clothes, along with those belonging to Fine and the SP Captain, and was currently hanging them out to dry with Fine's help. To any outside observer, she looked like the quintessential housewife.
"Cleaning's done, laundry's out, and I already took out the trash. Finally, I can relax. Want some tea?"
"I want the green kind!" Fine chirped.
"Sure thing. I'll break out the manju buns, too. I think the ones 'Su-chan' gave me are around here somewhere..."
The SP Captain watched the scene, lost in thought. If this were being live-streamed, no one would believe their eyes. It was hard to reconcile this domesticity with the world's fastest, strongest Umamusume—the "Dictator Tyrant," Mejiro Rampage. By birthright, she was a lady of the prestigious Mejiro family; she could easily leave these chores to a caretaker. In fact, she held a status equal to Fine Motion, who was currently helping her but usually had a fleet of maids for such tasks. Yet, Rampage chose to do everything with her own two hands.
"Here you go. Tea's served."
It was... strange, the Captain realized. This was the woman who had conquered the world, defeating the finest Umamusume across the globe. She was the Fastest. The Strongest. Yet, she was incredibly approachable and possessed an uncanny lightness of spirit. In terms of "regality," Symboli Rudolf looked far more the part of a sovereign. And yet, it was this girl—this casual, tea-serving girl—who had captivated the world. The Captain was no exception.
"What do you want for dinner tonight?" Rampage asked.
"Ramen!!" Fine shouted.
"Vetoed. I made you a whole pot of that the other day."
"Booo!!"
"And you, Captain?"
"Oh, um... something traditionally Japanese, perhaps?"
"'Japanese style,' huh?" Rampage smirked. "You know, in this country, omelet rice and Salisbury steak count as 'Japanese style.' You're gonna have to be more specific than that."
The Captain realized that, at some point, she had become comfortable enough to speak her mind freely like this. It was a testament to how enjoyable their time in Japan had become. Rampage grumbled about picking something at random, but the Captain knew that, despite the complaints, Rampage would end up making something elaborate and delicious that would leave Her Highness perfectly satisfied.
"It's almost time," Rampage said, picking up the remote. "Turning on the TV."
The screen flickered to life, showing the Kyoto Racecourse. The gates had just swung open, capturing the exact moment the race began. Today was the day of a G1 event: the Shuka-sho, the final leg of the Triple Tiara.
"Oh! This is the one my best friend ran in!" Fine exclaimed.
"Indeed," the Captain added. "Lady Flora mentioned it once—that this was the only race where she ever managed to run ahead of you, Lady Rampage."
"Yeah, for about five seconds before I blew past her," Rampage replied with a grin.
Rampage had wanted to take Fine to the track in person, but after discussing it with the SP Captain, they decided the security risks were too high. Instead, they had promised to take her to the upcoming Tenno Sho. Since that was the anniversary of the race where Rampage and Fine first met, Fine had happily agreed.
『And they're off! The Shuka-sho, the final battle of the Triple Tiara, has begun! All eyes are on the leader, the Oka-sho winner, Dragoon Lance! Hot on her heels is the Oaks champion, Oguri Roman! Following them is a dense pack: Agnes Parade, South Prince, and Silver Queen!』
As expected, the spotlight was on "Dra-Ran" and Roman. The crowd was buzzing, wondering which of them would secure a second crown. But they were looking at the wrong part of the pack. This year's Tiara line was a "Big Three" era, much like the BNW rivalry. And lurking at the very back was the girl who had snatched the spot of the #1 favorite: Hishi Amazon.
『"IT'S A SHOWDOWN!!"』
『Hishi Amazon is showing incredible spirit! You can practically feel her fighting aura vibrating through the screen! In this Shuka-sho, the favorite isn't the Oka-sho winner or the Oaks winner—it's her! Can she live up to the expectations?! Show us what you've got, Hishi Amazon!』
"Ama-chan's really fired up," Rampage noted.
"Yes," Fine agreed. "I can feel the intensity even through the footage..."
Fine had met Hishi Amazon through Rampage. When she saw Rampage calling her "Ama-chan," Fine had naturally followed suit. Amazon, showing a glimpse of her future "Dorm Leader" personality, had laughed and said, "Only Rampage gets to call me that... but fine, I'll give you a special pass," and the two had hit it off immediately.
"From a Triple Tiara winner's perspective," the Captain asked, "how do you see this race playing out?"
"Hard to say. Dra-Ran's in peak condition, and Roman is riding high after the Oaks. Those two are definitely a cut above the rest. Chokai Carol is decent too... but Ama-chan's pressure is on another level right now."
Rampage knew better than anyone how terrifying it was when mental fortitude translated into raw physical power. It wasn't quite the same as Flora's "miracles," but if directed correctly, it created a strength that was impossible to touch. The only question was whether Amazon could maintain that psychological peak...
『H-Hishi Amazon is moving up! We're at the midway point, and Hishi Amazon has begun a ferocious spurt! A long-distance charge from the back—it reminds one of Nice Nature's signature style!』
"Hold on," Rampage muttered, leaning forward. "She's learned how to use a 'Nature-style' long spurt too?"
"Too?" Fine tilted her head.
Amazon wasn't just using the "Catapult Nature" technique. She seemed to be employing a level of pace management similar to Ikuno Dictus. By the time they reached the mid-phase, the Umamusume running ahead of Amazon had their rhythms disrupted; they looked as though their stamina for a final spurt had already been sapped away.
"Those girls tried to shake her, but they got shaken instead," Rampage analyzed. "Wait... did she just pull off one of my moves?"
It wasn't exactly a "Debuff Reversal," but the nature of it was similar. Amazon had taken the psychological pressure from her opponents and made it look like their efforts had failed, inducing panic. It was a simplified version of the Rampage Ghost technique, combined with a long spurt and pace control to make it more versatile.
『They're hitting the final straight! Dragoon Lance is in the lead, but Oguri Roman is fighting her tooth and nail! And from the back, Hishi Amazon is coming! She's coming! SHE'S HERE! Hishi Amazon charges in! It's like she's screaming for revenge for the Oka and the Oaks! She's at their throats!』
"Come on, Dra-Ran! Roman!!"
"Give me everything you've got!!"
"I won't... lose to you... AGAIN!!"
The two leaders didn't buckle under the massive pressure; instead, their own fighting spirits flared up to meet it. But that was exactly what Amazon wanted. Using the heat of their ignited souls as fuel, Amazon's stride became even more powerful.
"My 'Duelist Soul' only burns hotter the stronger my opponent is! And for you, that heat is the fire of hell! LET'S GO! IT'S A SHOWDOWN!!"
『Hishi Amazon! Hishi Amazon breaks away in an instant! She's getting stronger, faster with every stride! Hishi Amazon takes the lead! She's one length ahead, now two! Dragoon Lance and Oguri Roman are desperately chasing, but every time they get close, Hishi Amazon kicks away again! Under 100 meters to go! Hishi Amazon maintains a five-length lead and... SHE CROSSES THE LINE! The final jewel of the Classic Tiara route, the Shuka-sho, goes to Hishi Amazon! She has brilliantly avenged her losses in the Oka and the Oaks! And with this, the 'Big Three' have split the three Tiara crowns between them!』
"HELL YEAH!!!"
Amazon's victory cry rang out, a roar of pride. With a beaming smile, she expressed her pure, unadulterated joy. Watching her, Dra-Ran and Roman could only shrug and offer their applause.
"Yay! Ama-chan won!" Fine was cheering, waving a glowstick she had produced from who-knows-where.
"That final stretch was incredible," the Captain remarked. "The other two were spurting hard, and yet..."
"The stronger the foe, the stronger she gets? What is she, a shonen manga protagonist?" Rampage joked.
The Tiara route had come to an end... but the Kikuka-sho was right around the corner. Narita Brian would be running for an undefeated Triple Crown. Rampage couldn't wait to see what kind of race that would be.
"Well, let's see how it goes."
Elsewhere, Mejiro Ardan—known as Flora—muttered to herself.
"What am I going to do, Rampage? My junior has become so powerful it's actually scary..."
Flora was looking toward Narita Brian. The younger girl was standing still, her focus absolute, while a flickering blue flame seemed to burn within her eyes.
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