"Sorry to drag you into this, Rampage," Ikuno said, her tone earnest.
"No big deal!" Rampage grinned. "If this helps every Canopus member snag a G1 win, I'm all in."
"Much appreciated," Ikuno replied, her resolve unwavering.
Fresh off her Japan Derby tie with Teio, Nature wasn't about to let Ikuno lag behind. At Ikuno's request, Rampage joined her for a joint training run. Truth be told, Ikuno was getting stronger by the day. She hadn't clinched a G1 yet, but only because Rampage had been in her way. Ikuno had the potential to dominate, and she was dead-set on proving it at the upcoming Yasuda Kinen, ensuring every Canopus member could boast a G1 victory.
"Well, once Rice and the others debut, that 'everyone's a G1 winner' title might not last long," Rampage mused.
"Even a fleeting moment etched in memory is enough," Ikuno countered. "Only the media obsesses over keeping records forever."
"Fair point. Alright, let's keep running!"
"Please!"
As they ran side by side, Rampage couldn't help but admire Ikuno's strengths. She acknowledged what deserved praise, never slacked on her own training, and wasn't shy about asking for help when needed. Most would hesitate to train with someone like Rampage, but Ikuno made her requests with confidence. And Rampage? She always rose to the occasion.
"Man, the press is out in force lately," Rampage noted, glancing at the cameras lining the racecourse. "Yasuda Kinen's getting close, huh?"
"Likely," Ikuno agreed.
The training grounds were buzzing with reporters, their lenses trained on Canopus. They'd passed Tressen's screening, so they were probably legit, but still…
"Nature's Derby win probably stirred things up," Rampage said.
"Undoubtedly," Ikuno replied. "But let's focus on what we need to do. You've got the Teio Sho coming up, don't you, Rampage?"
"Yup."
Training was crucial, no question. But a nagging worry gnawed at Rampage—Teio's legs. In history, Teio won the Derby but fractured a bone during the race, a stumble that haunted her career until retirement. Here, though… what would happen? The thought made Rampage uneasy.
"You seem distracted, Rampage," Minamisaka observed, her sharp eye catching the shift in focus.
"Huh? Just… thinking about Teio's running."
"Teio's?"
"Yeah. Her style's insane, but it's gotta put crazy stress on her knees, right? It's so intense."
Rampage couldn't mention historical facts, so she kept it vague. Teio's explosive stride—often compared to a cheetah's—was powered by her flexible joints. But that kind of running had to take a toll. Rampage worried Teio might be hurting herself.
"Indeed," Ikuno said. "Her flexibility is like a smaller version of yours, Rampage. But your sturdy frame handles the strain. Teio's petite, so your concern's valid. She went to the hospital after the race."
"What? Is she hurt?"
Minamisaka smiled reassuringly. "She did sustain an injury, but it's just muscle inflammation from pushing too hard against Nature's long spurt. It'll heal in a week. Trainer Okino was visibly relieved."
"Good… that's good," Rampage said, exhaling.
As a racing fan, Rampage felt a thrill. In history, a fracture had crushed Teio's Triple Crown dreams. Knowing she'd get to chase that dream here, in this world, was exhilarating. What kind of champion would Teio become?
Nature's early spurt had thrown the other Uma Musume off their pace, draining their stamina. That chaos gave Teio enough space to avoid stumbling, preventing the fracture.
"You look happy, Rampage," Ikuno noted.
"Do I? Just… I want Teio and Nature to settle things properly. If she got sidelined by injury, it'd leave a bad taste."
"True," Ikuno agreed. "I want Nature to win next time."
"Nature got a full check-up too," Minamisaka added. "Just fatigue—no issues with bones or muscles."
Another wave of relief washed over Rampage. So, what was next for Teio? If her comeback race was the Osaka Hai, then after the Kikuka Sho… maybe the Arima Kinen? Or would she follow Rudolf's path and aim for the Japan Cup? Rampage's own Japan Cup experience wasn't great—she'd advise against it, but still…
"Yasuda Kinen's coming up, Ikuno. Time to kick it into gear!"
"Bring it on. This'll be my first G1, no question."
"Uh, am I cramping your style here?" Rampage teased.
"No malice intended," Ikuno said with a sheepish smile.
Ikuno's grin held no resentment. If anything, she saw competing with Rampage—and being teammates—as a stroke of incredible luck.
"I used to think race experience was everything," Ikuno said, her voice steady as she ran. "That effort alone wasn't enough—that races would push me to new heights. But I'm here because of you, Rampage. You're an incredible teammate and rival. Training with you, pushing each other, I know I'm getting stronger. So I'm winning the Yasuda Kinen. Watch me."
With that, Ikuno surged ahead. Rampage watched, chuckling with a hint of exasperation.
"Man, how does she say stuff like that with a straight face?"
"She's right, though," Minamisaka said. "Having a rival you refuse to lose to is a powerful thing."
"Sure, but… fine. If it's for her, I'll go all out too. If she gets stronger, so do I."
"Exactly. So, here."
"What the—? This is heavy!"
Rampage staggered as Minamisaka handed her a hoof iron. It was a Shinzan iron, but heavier than any she'd used before.
"This is the heaviest Shinzan iron yet—ten times the weight of a standard hoof iron. That's the limit."
"Ten!? Not nine!?"
"I figured you'd want a little extra."
"Don't treat weight like a deli shop freebie!"
The jump from eight to ten was massive. Even one step up had been tough to adjust to, and now this?
"Master this, and you'll dominate on turf or international dirt," Minamisaka said.
"You're not messing with me, right?"
"I joke, but I don't lie."
"Thought so. Alright…"
Rampage fastened the Shinzan iron to her shoes. It was heavy, no question. But conquering this weight would prove she had the strength to compete overseas. That thought transformed the burden into something almost comforting—a challenge to crush.
"Let's do this, Southie!" Rampage roared, charging forward.
Even with the tenfold Shinzan iron, her power was undeniable. Minamisaka watched her go, then glanced at her tablet's schedule.
"She's already ready for the world stage," Minamisaka murmured. "This should be fine. Now… let's finalize things at the training camp."
Nature's long spurt and pace control had thrown the other Uma Musume into disarray, draining their stamina and giving Teio the space to avoid a stumble. Her fracture ATG: fracture was avoided.
And so, Teio will race in the Kikuka Sho.
-------------------------------
Want to read the latest chapters before everyone else?
Support me on Patreon!
You'll get early access to the next 30-40 chapters and this can help me continue translating the story regularly.
👉 [patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you for your amazing support! ❤️