"Yeah, it's me… 'You don't give up, do you? No matter how many times you call, I'm staying in Japan 'til the end of the year.'"
"Why not?! You could race in this year's Arc de Triomphe!"
"I've got my own stuff to deal with here, Elgutz. Cut me some slack."
Rampage lounged in the driver's seat of her Impreza, phone pressed to her ear. On the other end was Elgutz, an Uma Musume she'd faced in the Japan Cup. These calls had become a regular nuisance—always about the same thing: protests and pleas for Rampage to run in the Arc de Triomphe. Frankly, she was getting sick of the routine.
"I want to race you as soon as possible! You'd definitely hold your own over here!"
"That's not for you to decide. It's between me and my trainer."
"Then my trainer and I will vouch for you!"
"Why the hell do I need you vouching for my strength?"
Rampage couldn't help but roll her eyes. Elgutz's desperation was almost comical.
"Why are you so obsessed with racing me? Just wait 'til next year. Or, hell, come run in the Japan Cup or Champions Cup yourself."
"No way! I have to race you in the Arc!"
"You're such a pain in the ass!" Rampage snapped. "Screaming about your own agenda and expecting me to bend—what's your deal?"
"I underestimated you. But in a flash, you surged so far ahead I couldn't even touch you."
Elgutz's voice carried a raw edge. Most Uma Musume had pegged Oguri Cap as the one to watch in Japan. Rampage, the least favored in the Japan Cup, was seen as a mere pacemaker—a rabbit meant to set the stage for Oguri's victory. So they'd written her off, focusing on the favorite.
Big mistake. Rampage had no intention of playing second fiddle. She'd blasted through the race at a breakneck pace from the start, and by the time her rivals realized their error, it was too late. She tore up Heartbreak Hill, slipping through their grasp like a phantom. All Elgutz could do was fend off Oguri Cap to cling to second place.
"I admired you," Elgutz confessed. "You won on Japan's greatest stage, carrying its name. That's why I want to face you again on the Arc de Triomphe—the stage worthy of you!"
Her words were a fervent cry, born from a single race that had seared itself into her heart. They'd run in the same Classic class, and Rampage's all-out charge had shattered her, leaving her smitten. Now, she yearned to race her again on her own turf's grandest stage.
"Just wait 'til next year," Rampage said flatly.
"Wait, what?! No, that's not how this works! You felt it, right? That was the moment you were supposed to say yes!"
"You're the only one feeling that vibe. I don't know what you're on about."
Elgutz's passion was met with Rampage's brick-wall indifference. Sure, people saw her as all instinct and momentum—and yeah, that was mostly true—but beneath it, she was calculating, level-headed. Even if she went to the Arc now, she wouldn't be at her best. So, no deal.
"In Japanese manga, this is where you'd agree to go!"
"Lay off the manga, you idiot. Don't mix fiction with reality like some woke crusader."
"Don't lump me in with that!"
Rampage sighed, exhaustion creeping in. She decided to humor Elgutz, just to wrap this up. "Look, can't you flip your thinking? Picture this: Elgutz, the Arc de Triomphe champion, taking on the Japan Cup victor on her home turf. Isn't that straight out of a manga?"
"Uh… wait, yeah! There is a story like that! The champion builds herself up to beat the rival who defeated her, then dares them to come challenge her!"
"Exactly. If you're such a manga nerd, think like one."
"That's perfect! Alright, I'll win this year's Arc, so you better show up next year, Ran! Or I'll kidnap you myself!"
The call cut off, leaving Rampage staring at her phone. Kidnapping? What kinda manga is she reading? She sighed. That phrase wasn't even that rare in comics, now that she thought about it.
"What a pain in the neck… Acts all tough but falls for scams so easily. I'm worried about her. Ugh, why am I so drained?" She glanced at her call log. "Fifteen minutes? Damn, this phone bill's gonna hurt…"
The undefeated legend shivered not at the thought of global challengers but at the looming specter of her phone bill. Shaking it off, she stepped out of her Impreza and locked it.
"Phew… one more Flora," she muttered.
"What about me?"
"Gah—!" Rampage stumbled back, startled as Flora popped up out of nowhere. Where the hell had she come from?
"Flora, when did you—?!"
"I heard from Hana that your car's an Impreza," Flora said with a smile. "I was checking it out, thinking it might be yours, and then you showed up. Honestly, I'd know it was yours just by the vibe, even without the tip."
"That's beyond impressive—it's straight-up creepy," Rampage said, eyeing her warily.
Flora giggled. "Only for you."
"That makes it worse. What are you, a yandere?"
Rampage was genuinely spooked now. She half-wondered if Flora's real-life jockey—Matoba, the so-called Hitman who'd ridden Rice and Grass—was rubbing off on her.
"So, what's this about me 'increasing'?" Flora asked, tilting her head.
"Forget it. Just an annoying stalker turning into another you."
"Oh, I see. A new rival, then," Flora said, catching on instantly.
"How'd you get that from—?"
Rampage tried to deflect, but Flora's smile grew sharper, almost unnerving. "So, it's Elgutz, second in the Japan Cup, right? Or maybe Bestroutine, who came in fifth?"
Rampage froze. "…"
"Why're you backing away? I'll follow you, you know."
"You're freaking me out! How do you know all this? It's just creepy!"
Flora shrugged. "I ruled out the dirt racers—they're too fired up to beat you themselves. So, it had to be the Japan Cup, where you were the underdog. Elgutz, the favorite who fell to second, makes the most sense."
How did she nail it so perfectly? Flora wasn't just a top-tier Rigel member with stellar grades—she was burning with the drive to surpass Rampage. That obsession gave her an almost uncanny insight.
"That's… a bit much, don't you think?" Rampage stammered.
Flora's smile softened, but her eyes gleamed. "It's my dedication—my resolve. Or, you could say… love."
"…"
"No, no, not like that! Don't go silent and back away!" Flora waved her hands frantically. "I'm not that kind of—well, probably not!"
"Sorry, Minami, get to the parking lot quick. My virtue's in danger," Rampage deadpanned.
"Nooo, stop it!" Flora wailed.
"It's not like that, I swear!"
"Sure, sure," Rampage said, her tone dripping with mock skepticism.
"You're not buying it! I can tell by your voice!"
"What, is that your 'love' talking again?"
"Exactly—wait, no!" Flora caught herself, flustered. "I mean, it's not like that!"
"Sounds like it is!"
Their back-and-forth took on the rhythm of a comedy skit as they walked, until Minami spotted them and waved them over.
"Oh, Flora's with you too?" Minami said. "Hana's here as well—don't you need to check in with her?"
"I got her okay," Flora replied. "I'm tagging along this time."
"Sorry, Minami," Rampage added. "She's got me in her crosshairs."
"Business as usual, then," Minami said with a chuckle.
"No, this time it's getting seriously scary. I'm shaking here."
"It's not like that…" Flora mumbled, deflating.
Minami waved it off. "Alright, enough teasing. Let's move—they're waiting."
Sure enough, the rest of Canopus was already gathered, looking a bit impatient. Rampage decided to pin the blame on Flora for the delay.
"You're late, Ran!" one of them called out. "We're about to head to the gate—what were you doing?"
"My bad, my bad. Got held up by a particularly clingy stalker."
"My reputation's taking a nosedive here!" Flora protested.
"Flora, I get wanting to catch up to Ran, but stalking's a no-go, okay?" another teammate teased.
"It's not like that!" Flora groaned.
"Alright, settle down," Minami interjected. "It's almost time—for the Japan Derby."
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