Once the Takarazuka Kinen draws to a close, summer descends in an instant. For Umamusume, heat is a mortal enemy. Consequently, the racing calendar is devoid of G1 events during the sweltering months, making it customary for teams to spend the season at training camps to sharpen their abilities.
Team Pleiades was no exception. Despite being in their very first year of operation, they were heading off to camp—a move some called premature. Rampage, however, hadn't cared for the "proper" timeline; she had been fully prepared to fund the entire excursion out of her own pocket if the academy hadn't approved it.
"I am so excited for this camp! Howdy beach!" Taiki Shuttle cheered.
"You're just excited for the BBQ, aren't you, Taiki?" Rampage teased from the driver's seat.
"That too! Absolutely!"
Rampage was currently at the wheel of a Hiace van borrowed from the Mejiro estate. Her mother, Asama, had offered a professional chauffeur, but Rampage had declined. Driving the team herself was half the fun of a summer road trip.
After several hours of the van swaying through winding coastal roads, the team arrived at a cottage overlooking a pristine stretch of white sand. Like the van, the lodge was Mejiro property—a testament to Rampage's connections being firing on all cylinders.
"It's a gorgeous cottage!" Suzuka remarked, stepping out.
"Are we really staying here?" Dober whispered. "It feels more like a luxury vacation."
"The view is incredible," Air Groove said, her eyes tracing the shoreline. "Running along the water's edge would feel… refreshing."
"The breeze is perfect~" Sunny added, stretching her arms.
"I've stayed here before," Rampage noted, unloading the trunk. "The stars at night are something else. You'll see."
"Yawn… Finally, we're here," Stay Gold muttered, stumbling out of the van.
With the arrival formalities out of the way, the girls began hauling their luggage inside. Rampage had pre-ordered the groceries and equipment, so everything was already waiting for them. She'd ensured everyone had their own room, and she set her own bags down on a large table in the common area.
"Alright, listen up!" Rampage called out. "Change into your swimsuits and meet me on the beach."
"Oh! Swimming! Yes!" Taiki shouted.
"Taiki, we aren't here for a holiday," Air Groove snapped, crossing her arms. "Rampage-san, tell her—wait, what are you doing?"
Air Groove and Dober had turned to their trainer for support, only to find Rampage pulling a cooler and a giant inflatable donut out of the supply closet.
"What? We're at the beach. It'd be a crime not to swim," Rampage said flatly.
"B-But the camp… the training…" Dober stammered.
"Part of this camp is about deepening our bond as a team. Do you really plan on being wound tight for the next two weeks? That's inefficient. To get the best results, you need to find your oriai—your rhythm. Play with everything you've got, rest with everything you've got, and when it's time to train, you give me your life. That's how you actually get stronger."
"It's like pacing yourself in a race!" Sunny realized.
"Exactly."
The logic was sound, yet Air Groove and Dober, who had arrived with their competitive fires burning at white heat, felt a bit like the wind had been taken out of their sails.
"I… I actually bought a new swimsuit for this," Suzuka admitted shyly. "I was worried I was being too flighty, but I'm glad I brought it."
"Me too…" Dober whispered.
"Me too!" Taiki chirped.
"…"
"What's wrong, Stay? Not interested?" Rampage asked.
Stay Gold was looking away, arms crossed. Air Groove assumed the rebel was on her side of the argument, while Dober worried she was just in a foul mood. But then, Stay Gold reached for her shirt and pulled it over her head, revealing a stunning gold-and-black bikini underneath.
"Let's go already!" Stay Gold shouted, heading for the door. "The ocean is calling!"
"You're the one most excited?!" Air Groove yelled.
"And that bikini is actually… really stylish," Dober noted, impressed.
"Fun is only worth it if you go all out, right?" Stay Gold threw a sexy pose and a wink back at them, looking infuriatingly photogenic.
Air Groove and Dober felt a surge of irrational annoyance. They felt foolish for ever doubting the "fun" part of the agenda. As the others scampered off, Rampage placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Like I said, finding your rhythm is an essential talent. Knowing when to rest is a skill. Knowing when to eat is a skill. If we just grind 24/7, we'll hit a wall before the summer is over. Go change. I know you both brought something other than the school-issue swimsuits."
"W-Well… I did think I might have a moment of free time…" Air Groove muttered.
"I have a new one too…" Dober added.
"Then go put them on and meet us on the sand."
Rampage began organizing the gear as the two girls hurried off to change. Despite their protestations, both had come prepared with fashionable swimwear. When they finally reached the beach and saw that everyone—even their trainer—was dressed for the occasion, the tension finally left their shoulders. Fine, they thought. If we're going to play, we'll be the best at that, too.
"Everyone here?"
"WOW!"
"Incredible…"
"Look at those lines!"
"Hmph. You actually have a pretty feminine figure when you aren't in a suit."
Rampage's entrance silenced the group. She was wearing a sleek bikini with a black pareo wrapped around her waist, a look that accentuated her powerful, athletic curves. Normally hidden by professional attire or her racing silks, her physique—the "violent" beauty of a world-class athlete—was on full display.
"Alright, officially: Welcome to the Team Pleiades Summer Camp. Our policy isn't going to be 100% intensity every day. Your bodies are still developing; overdoing it now would do more harm than good. Our 'real' first day starts tomorrow when Katsuragi Ace arrives to show you what a legend's workout looks like. But for today? Enjoy the hell out of this ocean!"
It was the calm before the storm—a moment of paradise before the inferno. Rampage wanted them to fill their "mental tanks" with joy so they'd have the spirit to endure what was coming. (Though, truth be told, Rampage just really wanted to go for a swim herself.)
"Hey! Beach flags! Whoever beats me gets an extra-fancy lunch!"
"Is it BBQ?! I'm in!" Taiki roared.
They spent the afternoon sprinting across the sand, swimming out to the buoys, and playing a fierce game of watermelon splitting. Before long, even Air Groove and Dober were laughing and splashing along with the rest of them.
Later that night.
"Don't… take… my watermelon… you fool…" Air Groove mumbles in her sleep.
"She's out cold," Rampage whispered, looking over the group.
After a massive dinner and a soak in the hot bath, the girls had collapsed into a deep, dreamless sleep. The exhaustion of travel and an afternoon of high-intensity play had drained their batteries completely.
Rampage moved through the rooms, ensuring everyone was tucked in, before returning to the common area. She sat at the large table with her laptop open, a cold beer in one hand and some leftover snacks in the other.
"Their form on the sand was messy across the board. Need to add toe-strengthening drills to the menu. Stamina is higher than I expected for most… balance and core stability looks solid based on the watermelon game…"
She hadn't just been playing. She had been collecting data. Every beach flag sprint told her about their explosive power on soft surfaces; every swim told her about their cardiovascular endurance; every swing at a watermelon told her about their equilibrium and spatial awareness. She was compiling individual profiles that would dictate tomorrow's training.
"Right. Time for me to turn in too."
Rampage finished her beer and looked out at the summer stars. The camp had truly begun.
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