"Nee-san, what are your thoughts on the matter?"
"By 'what,' what exactly do you mean, Taki-chan?"
Flora had returned home for the first time in a while. Although she was treated as the resident eccentric by default, to her younger sisters, she remained a dependable older sister they could be proud of. They adored her. However, there was an unwritten law in the household: Do not carelessly bring up the topic of Rampage in front of her. If it comes up, do not dig deep. If she goes berserk, change the subject immediately.
"Regarding my future? Or perhaps———Rampage-san's retirement?"
"Good grief. Your intuition really does sharpen to a terrifying degree whenever that person is involved."
"Because it's love."
"Then perhaps you should also learn why that 'love' constantly earns you the cold shoulder."
"True… I really am just a clueless idiot, aren't I?"
Don't use such uncharacteristic self-deprecation, Tachyon thought, though she didn't say it aloud. Instead, she pulled milk from the refrigerator. She tossed a banana, soybean flour (kinako), yogurt, and a small bit of carrot into the blender and hit the switch. It was a recipe Rampage had taught her, and it had become a favorite. The carrot was her own addition, but it blended surprisingly well.
"You cannot accept her retirement, can you, Nee-san?"
"To be honest, no. I haven't caught up to her even once. I haven't even gotten close. When I think about that back disappearing forever… it's truly frustrating and sad. It feels like a massive heartbreak."
"It can hardly be called heartbreak when the feelings were never mutual; it's merely unrequited obsession."
"You're harsh, Taki-chan."
Tachyon poured the shake from the blender into a glass, leaning against the fridge as she listened to her sister.
"On one hand, I think it's incredibly selfish of her. But on the other, I think it's just so like Rampage-san. You know, I recently had the chance to speak with Lady Saver and Amazing Dyna. I took the plunge and asked them: 'What do you think about her retirement?' And what do you think they said?"
『It's just like her, isn't it? Good grief… we can't beat her.』
『She got us. Retiring while completely ignoring our feelings? Truly, that is quintessential Rampage-san.』
Both of them had given the same answer. They accepted it.
These were the two who had battled her on the stage of the Breeders' Cup—the two who had tied for second place, falling just short of Rampage. They were considered the closest to her in ability, yet even they hadn't known about her retirement beforehand. But they weren't surprised.
"I asked them why. They told me they realized it during the Dubai World Cup."
"In Dubai?"
"They had a premonition that the next time they fought, it would probably be the last. That's why they honed themselves to perfection in America."
But Flora hadn't felt that. She, who was supposed to be more captivated by Rampage than anyone, hadn't felt even a fragment of that premonition. In a way, those words had shocked her deeply. Those two were viewed as legitimate rivals, the twin walls of Dirt racing.
So, what was she? She hadn't understood the premonition they felt. She had just kept running with the singular desire to win…
"It is simple, Nee-san. Your admiration for Rampage-san is too strong."
The one who answered her doubt was Tachyon. The younger sister who interacted with Rampage as a friend, building an equal relationship where they contacted each other frequently.
"Admiration is a troublesome sentiment. It grants great power to the physical body, but it inflicts a significant minus on the spirit. Blindness, obsession, fixation… there are many words for it, but the primary effect is that it renders you unable to see yourself."
"Myself…?"
"To stand beside someone. To surpass them. Certainly, those are wonderful goals. But if you aim for them too intently, you neglect your own footing. I believe there was a saying: Admiration is the emotion furthest from understanding. A quote from a manga that 'Pokke-kun' likes, but it is appropriate here."
Her little sister, who should have been much younger, was speaking to her with logic and reason, slowly melting the ice of doubt within her.
"Indeed, perhaps no one understands Rampage-san as well as you do, Nee-san. But simultaneously, no one admires her more than you. That is why you should discard that admiration right now. The next race is the last. Isn't that fine? Considering her achievements, she could easily retire right now without doing anything else, and I believe she should. But she stepped onto the battlefield. She gave you a chance.
In that case, you must challenge her. As a single horse girl—Agnes Flora. Rampage wasn't the only one who conquered the Japan Cup; you did too. Win. That would be the greatest farewell gift you could give her."
"…Haha. To think I'd be lectured like this by Taki-chan… As a big sister, I feel a little pathetic…"
"Then show me a side of you that befits a big sister. Become someone Flight-neesan can hope for, and someone Digital can be proud of."
"———Yeah. You're right."
For some reason, it felt as though a weight had been lifted from her chest. How long had it been since she felt this way? Perhaps not since the Classic season. She felt as though she had returned to those days when she was desperate to beat Rampage, the one who broke her undefeated streak.
"Taki-chan."
"What is it?"
"Could you make me whatever you were drinking just now?"
"With pleasure. Since it's a special occasion, I shall let you taste my Special Shake."
"Yay! I'm so happy, little sister♪"
That's right, Flora thought. To me, Rampage was too great. Because of that, she had been intimidated—or rather, her admiration had grown too large. This time, I will throw all those feelings away.
She swore to run solely to defeat the great Mejiro Rampage, as a fellow Japan Cup winner.
"Here you go. A milk shake with banana, apple, and carrot."
"Looks delicious! Itadakimasu!!"
Draining the drink her sister made, Flora slapped her cheeks to psych herself up and immediately dashed out the door.
She just got home, surely she could relax a little? But seeing that this was what her sister wanted to do, Tachyon saw her off without complaint.
As she was washing the blender, Flight appeared.
"You were surprisingly kind. Are you feeling okay?"
"That was part of it… but mostly, I just want to see it. Even if she loses to the Rampage-san she loves so much, I want to see the figure of my sister who never breaks and keeps running to win."
That was the version of her sister Tachyon loved best. She had merely injected a little stimulant into the situation… just a little push.
"Now then… is it about time for Nee-san to come back?"
"She just left, didn't she?"
"No, any moment now…"
As they spoke, the front door burst open with a loud bang. Looking over, they saw Flora standing there as predicted, but… for some reason, her eyes were glowing. Her body was emitting a faint blue phosphorescence. Flight's jaw dropped in shock.
Tachyon was laughing.
"Ahahahaha!! Just as predicted!!"
"Taki-chan, what did you feed me!!? I caught my reflection in a shop window and something incredible is happening to me!!?"
"Well, isn't it fine? You can run on dark night roads without needing a flashlight. But red and blue… Hahahaha!!!"
"This is not the time to laugh!!!!"
"Now then———I must inform Rampage-san of this development immediately. (Snap)"
"Stop that, please!!!!"
"Hm?"
"What's wrong, Ran?"
"Nah, just got a mail from Tachyon… Well, I'll look at it later. So, you wanted a big car?"
"The Impreza is fine, but I want something with more power."
"Then how about a GT-R?"
"Now that's good! That's damn good!!"
"It's amazing that people actually attack mountain passes in those things…"
"…I'm gonna do it too."
"Eh."
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