May 31st, the final day of May, marks the Japan Derby. The air at the racecourse feels charged, distinct from any other day. The Derby carries a weight of expectation, a shared reverence that sets it apart in everyone's eyes.
"Um, Rampage-san, is it really okay for you to be here with us?" Air Groove whispers to Minamisaka, glancing at Rampage, who's joined them in the stands.
Rampage is set to head to Europe soon—a fact everyone knows. If she's spotted, it'll cause a frenzy, yet here she is, mingling in the crowd.
"It's fine," Minamisaka says with a grin, pointing. "Look."
A woman approaches, effortlessly rocking a black-and-white long-skirt dress, a wide-brimmed hat, and tinted glasses.
"Is that… her?" Air Groove blinks.
"No way…" Laurel murmurs.
"Seriously?" Amazon gasps.
Laurel, Amazon, and Draran stare, dumbfounded. They're not used to seeing Rampage like this. The woman strides up, lifts her glasses, and winks.
"Hey, sorry I'm late," Rampage says.
"It's really you, Senpai?!" Amazon exclaims.
"Pretty good, right? I clean up nice," Rampage smirks. "Figured I'd go all out with a classy look to throw off my usual vibe."
Up close, her makeup is impeccable. To an outsider, she'd pass for a refined Uma Musume from a prestigious family—which, as a Mejiro, she technically is. But her usual antics overshadow that, making this disguise surprisingly effective.
"But what if someone talks to you?" Draran asks.
"I'll just switch languages," Rampage replies coolly. "Most people here will assume I'm a foreigner. If I don't speak Japanese, they'll back off."
"Smart," Laurel nods.
As they chat, the competing Uma Musume enter the turf, and the crowd's excitement surges to a fever pitch.
"Next up, third favorite, Machikane Tanhoiza! She took third in the Satsuki Sho, proving her mettle. Can she topple Mihono Bourbon? And here's the second favorite, Rice Shower! As a Canopus teammate, is she fully prepared to face Bourbon's might?"
"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for—the top favorite, Mihono Bourbon! Undefeated and charging toward the Derby, aiming for her second crown. Will her front-running dominance prevail, or will Machikane Tanhoiza and Rice Shower stop her? The anticipation is electric!"
The crowd's here for one thing: to see if Bourbon can claim an undefeated Triple Crown or if an Uma Musume will rise to dethrone her. Rampage feels a flicker of worry—will Rice face the same villainous treatment as her real-world counterpart? It's too early to tell, but if she races Bourbon head-on, that fear might resurface. For now, though, it seems unfounded.
"Go, Rice-chan!" a fan shouts.
"We're rooting for you!"
"The Blue Rose Society's here in full force!"
"You've got this!"
"The Blue Rose Society?" Rampage mutters.
"Interested, miss?" a young man nearby chimes in, noticing her curiosity. His chest sports a blue rose accessory, identical to the one on Rice's hat.
"Oh, the Blue Rose Society?" Rampage asks, her voice soft and feminine—a stark contrast to her usual brash tone.
It's so polished, so unlike her, that it rivals her New Year's stream greeting. The Canopus crew—except Minamisaka, who just chuckles—gapes in shock.
"You bet!" the fan beams. "We're Rice Shower's biggest fans! Her delicate charm, that sharp, commanding presence on the track—it's the perfect contrast. We're her unofficial fan club, the Blue Rose Society. Members wear this blue rose on their chest."
"That's wonderful," Rampage says warmly. "It really unites you all."
"Her smile's our blessing!" he declares, grinning ear to ear.
His enthusiasm eases Rampage's mind. Rice has a passionate, loyal fanbase—no way she'll be cast as a villain. Her real-world counterpart was a beloved horse too. As the gate-in approaches, Rampage thanks the fan and rejoins her team.
"They seem thrilled," Minamisaka observes.
"Yeah," Rampage says. "Think we should make it official?"
"Could be fun to reach out," Minamisaka agrees. "Rice would love it."
"I'm in!" Amazon adds.
"Turbo too!" Turbo chimes in.
The idea gains traction. Incidentally, Rampage has her own fan club, aptly named "The Gathering of Subjects Under the Tyrant's Rule." When she first heard it, she called it brutal but admitted it was weirdly perfect.
"So, what's the outlook for Rice and Tanhoiza?" Rampage asks.
"We've done everything we can," Minamisaka replies. "Now it's up to fate."
"Fate, huh…" Rampage glances at the cloudy sky.
The track's slightly heavy, demanding more power. Rice and Tanhoiza have honed their strength with Shinzan Iron, but so has Bourbon—and her training intensity surpasses theirs. It's a head-on battle with near-identical conditions. The only edge? The 2400-meter distance favors the stamina of stayers like Rice and Tanhoiza.
"Think it'll work out?" Rampage asks.
"They've trained hard with you and Turbo," Minamisaka says. "They'll be fine. We just have to trust them."
Rampage nods. She and Turbo drilled them relentlessly, preparing them for Mihono Bourbon's strategy. Their plan?—
"The Japan Derby has begun! Oh, what a start! Rice Shower and Machikane Tanhoiza rocket out of the gate—a textbook launch! They've already got a two-length lead. How will this unfold? Here comes Mihono Bourbon, the undefeated Satsuki Sho champion, making her move! When will Rice Shower and Tanhoiza strike? Wait—they're not waiting! They're pushing forward! Are they… running a front-running race too? What an unexpected opening to the Japan Derby!"
"They're cutting off the front with that start," Amazon says, wide-eyed. "Is that the plan?"
"It's a plan, alright," Minamisaka says with a sly smile. "A damn good one."
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"