The seasons shifted from autumn to winter. The temperature dropped further, and clouds heavy with the promise of snow began to shroud the sky more frequently.
As the days counted down toward her retirement, the atmosphere at Tracen Academy grew heavy. Many students would tear up simply upon seeing Rampage in the hallways. While she appreciated the sentiment, it made her feel guilty, as if she were doing something terrible to them.
"And that is why I have decided to stay in the clubroom."
"That is hardly a 'why' or a valid reason."
Minami-zaka, having discovered Rampage relaxing in the clubroom when she should have been in class, couldn't help but offer a reprimand. As a student, she ought to be dedicating herself to her studies. However, Rampage had a prepared answer for that.
"I took the exemption exams before the overseas expedition, remember? I checked with Tazuna-san, and she said they're still valid."
"Good grief… You really are a free spirit… my beloved horse girl."
"Took you long enough to say that."
Tilting her chair back, she flashed a theatrical grin. It was a phrase she had wanted to hear from him. Savoring the weight of those words while staring up at the ceiling, she heard Minami-zaka throw a question her way.
"What will you do once you retire?"
"Well, I'm graduating this year too, so until then, I'll be treated as the Supervising Chief of the Aggressors… I'll be managing that, running a bit, and I'm sure I'll be busy with the Finals and everything else."
"Ah, that is right."
Minami-zaka likely saw through the entire future she envisioned. After all, they were partners who understood each other without words.
"If I wasn't doing that, I wouldn't have planned the Finals or the Legends in the first place. Even if I could do it, normally I wouldn't touch something so troublesome with a ten-foot pole!!"
"But you end up doing it anyway, Rampage-san. Even though it is troublesome."
"Yeah, well… I'm the type who does things if there's meaning in them."
"That, I know very well."
If she weren't that type, she never would have gone all the way overseas to snatch big titles—certainly not the insane rotation of the Arc de Triomphe followed by the Breeders' Cup Classic.
"…Hey, Minami-chan."
"Yes?"
"People ask me sometimes… why do they think you and I are dating?"
Occasionally, people made assumptions. But she and Minami-zaka were not in that kind of relationship. While they might fit the tropes of a comic book romance, they were strictly a trainer and a horse girl. There were no romantic feelings involved. True, they spoke happily together and sat next to each other with zero hesitation, but to them, it was a mystery why that level of closeness triggered such suspicion.
"Perhaps because, for better or worse, we lack reserve and our physical distance is quite close."
"Should we put some space between us then?"
"But if we do that, it would cause significant hindrances to our work…"
"Right? Then let's leave it as is."
"Let's do that."
It was annoying to be misunderstood, but trying to correct it would create problems on a different front, so the idea was summarily dismissed. With that settled, Rampage voiced a doubt regarding her next and final race.
"Come to think of it, there aren't any overseas horse girls in the Arima Kinen, are there? Even though they're in the Japan Cup."
"Please do not speak of it so lightly."
There were scheduling issues, of course, but also the damage inflicted by Japan's high-speed turf. The faster the track, the greater the burden on a horse girl's legs. It was a huge strain even for those accustomed to it; for an overseas horse girl to challenge the Arima Kinen just three weeks after the Japan Cup on unfamiliar ground was bordering on reckless.
"Eh? Is a three-week turnaround that tough?"
"That applies only to you or Ikuno-san."
Rampage, who had done a one-week turnaround—let alone three—couldn't quite grasp the concept. In fact, considering she had done the Arc-to-BC run, her perspective was completely unreliable. Only anomalies with abnormally robust bodies like Rampage or Ikuno could endure such a schedule.
"It is technically an international race, so I believe this will be a first. It is the final opportunity to run with you, Rampage-san… Many horse girls have already registered. I hear it has become an all-out war just to secure a participation slot."
Rivals of the same generation and juniors alike were raising their hands for the year-end grand stage. Who would get to run with Rampage? The battle had already begun. Nature, Ikuno, Teio, McQueen, Palmer, Bourbon, Rice, Tanhauser… many names she knew well were hoping to run. Everyone desired a showdown with the world's fastest and strongest horse girl.
"I'm in trouble if they expect too much… 2500 meters is my limit, you know."
"It lacks persuasive power coming from a World Record holder, but practically speaking, that is true."
"Well, I'll do it… I intend to enjoy my last race."
Her 30th race. The Arima Kinen, her retirement run. No matter what happened, she intended to squeeze out every last drop of herself. She would leave the Twinkle Series without regrets and put a period on her career as an active athlete.
"Minami-chan. I put you through a lot."
"Why say that now? If anything, I am the one who put you through a lot, all things considered."
"Ah, like suddenly making me use Shinzan Irons or making me drag tires during the training camp."
She really had given him trouble, but he had thrown sudden, unreasonable demands at her too. It was her own choice to fulfill them… but she knew she was only here today because of him.
Rampage pulled Minami-zaka into a hug.
"I'm seriously grateful, Minami-chan. I'm here because of you. ———I dedicate this next race to you."
With those words, Rampage grabbed her jersey jacket and walked out of the clubroom.
After watching her retreating figure disappear, Minami-zaka looked at the Arc de Triomphe trophy and took a deep breath.
"The gratitude… is entirely mine."
Carrying various thoughts and emotions, time flowed on. And gradually, the era began to shift toward the next generation.
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