"Suzuka, get back here right now!"
"...Yes, ma'am."
The day before the Japan Cup, an unfamiliar sound tore through the training grounds: Rampage's voice, raised in a rare, thunderous roar. As the administrative lead for Nemesis, she frequently gave orders in a loud voice, but she almost never lost her temper—that was usually Sunday's job. Though she wore many hats at Pleiades, Rampage was known for her composure. And yet, there she was, bellowing at Suzuka to halt her practice run.
"Maya, that scared me… I didn't know Rampage-san could make a sound like that," Maya whispered, eyes wide.
"Me neither," Dober added, sounding equally shaken. "I've never heard her yell like that before."
Even those closest to Rampage had likely never seen this side of her. Perhaps only Ryan had witnessed it back in the day; Rampage simply wasn't the type to get angry over trifles. In fact, as Suzuka trotted back to her, Rampage took a long, deep breath, visibly letting the pressure drain out of her posture.
"What's gotten into you?" Rampage asked, her voice dropping to a stern murmur. "You're pushing the line way too hard. I told you, this is a preparation period. The worst thing that could happen to me right now is for you to get hurt by being reckless."
"..."
"Look at this."
Rampage reached out and pushed back the sleeve of Suzuka's jersey. Her arm was covered in abrasions. These weren't from a single stumble; they were the tell-tale marks of someone who had scraped against the inner rail repeatedly.
"This is what happens when you force a line you aren't ready for. You're trying to mimic my style before you've finished developing. What are you so rushed for?"
"It's not exactly that I'm rushing," Suzuka said softly. "It's just… I wanted to see the scenery that lies at the end of a run like yours, Rampage-san."
"Good grief..." Rampage sighed, rubbing her temples. "That's such a 'you' answer, but as your trainer, you're giving me a heart attack."
It was typical of Suzuka—her overwhelming desire to be at the front sometimes overrode her common sense. It was something that required a firm hand.
"It's true that I used to shave the corners by hugging the rail, but the prerequisites for me and you are completely different."
"I understand."
"You got lucky this time with just scrapes. A little further, and your neck would have followed your arm into the rail."
Ever since her time spent at the Touge (the mountain passes), Suzuka had been obsessively studying entry angles and footwork for cornering. Rampage had stayed quiet because she admired the girl's motivation, but this was the limit.
"No more cornering practice," Rampage declared.
"...Yes, ma'am."
"From now on, you practice with me. I'll take the inside line."
"What?" Suzuka looked up, startled.
Rampage was looking back at her, exasperated but with the faint trace of a smile tugging at her lips.
"I suppose I should have shown you a proper example. But honestly, my cornering is pure brute force. I support the turn with enough raw power to defy centrifugal force. You don't have that kind of build, and it wouldn't suit you anyway. That's why you shouldn't be trying to fight the force like I do—you need to learn how to make it your ally."
"Make it… my ally? Yes!"
Rampage started to run, and Suzuka immediately fell in line behind her. Adjusting her speed, Rampage guided her into the corner. Suzuka watched her every move with predatory focus, absorbing the technique. Watching them from the sidelines was the trainer, Minamisaka.
"A trainer who runs alongside them… In a literal sense, that really is the ideal form for a horse girl's trainer," he mused.
Rampage was still technically a "rookie" trainer in terms of years on the job, but she had already achieved a level of "completion" that most veteran trainers could only dream of.
"Well, Suzuka? Can't quite copy it, can you?" Rampage asked as they straightened out.
"No. It was like you weren't even running on the turf—you were gripping the very earth beneath it."
"Exactly. There aren't many people who can pull that off. So, how are you going to run?"
"I won't be able to surpass you until I perfect my footwork… but I keep getting thrown by the G-force. Please... take me to the mountain pass tonight."
"Wait, why?"
"I think I can find a hint in the 'drifting'!"
"My tires..." Rampage groaned, already hearing her bank account cry.
Minamisaka watched them with a tinge of envy. To run as a horse girl, to witness their struggles firsthand, to consult and find solutions through shared experience—it was a bond a human trainer could never truly replicate.
"What's this? Is Suzuka going somewhere? Maya wants to go too!"
"Actually, Maya-san hasn't joined us yet. You should definitely come along," Suzuka invited.
"I don't know what's happening, but I'm in!"
"Hey, hold on! Are you serious? The Japan Cup is tomorrow!" Rampage protested.
"But Maya and the others aren't running in it," Maya pointed out cheerfully.
"And we can go straight to watch the race together afterward," Suzuka added.
"...Fine, fine! I'll take you. I'd better call the tire shop… I can't believe I'm already relying on them again."
Minamisaka felt a wave of sympathy for her. Rampage was beginning to experience a very specific kind of hardship, albeit different from Okino's. Though, considering her wealth and sponsors, at least the financial burden wasn't a real concern.
"It's certainly lively over here."
"Oh, well, they've got that Canopus blood in them—wait, Tojo-san?"
As Rampage was dealing with the two youngsters, Trainer Tojo (O-Hana) approached, with Flora trailing behind her. To be honest, Rampage didn't want to deal with this. Specifically, she didn't want to deal with Flora. But O-Hana was her senior, and someone she owed a debt of gratitude to from her racing days. Ignoring her wasn't an option.
"I'm sorry to ask this the day before the Japan Cup, but I'd like to request a pacing partner for a gallop."
"Now? Today?" Rampage asked.
"Won't she get too tired?" Suzuka added.
Their concerns were valid. Normally, such a request would be made much earlier. But O-Hana began to explain her reasoning.
"I know it's unorthodox… but I want to bring Flora's mental state back to where it was during your active years. This girl's greatest goal was always to beat you."
"So you want her to pace with me… With Flora, huh..."
"Hey! What's with that look of pure disgust?!" Flora interjected.
"I get what you're trying to do, I really do, but..."
"I understand your reluctance," O-Hana admitted.
"Even you, O-Hana-san?!" Flora cried.
Despite the personal friction, O-Hana was determined. Flora had been competing overseas and was undoubtedly world-class, but her performance could be inconsistent. To ensure victory in the Japan Cup, O-Hana wanted her to remember the fire of her intense battles with Rampage.
"I know you don't want to do anything that might lower the win percentage of your Canopus members," O-Hana said. "But—"
"Oh, I don't care about that. If they lose, that's on them and Minami-chan. Fine, I'll do it. But you're buying the green peppers and chicken meatballs at the next drinking party."
"It's a deal."
And so, the gallop between Flora and Rampage began. Standing side-by-side with Flora, Rampage felt a strange mixture of physical danger and nostalgic familiarity.
"Just once. That's it," Rampage warned.
"I know, I know… Wow, I can't believe I get to run with Rampage-san again. I'm so excited! Ah, I can smell the lovely scent of shampoo and sweat from your hair…"
"You're a freak."
"It was a joke! Don't look at me like I'm a monster!"
"I'm not listening..."
The gallop started. It was supposed to be a light breeze-through, but Flora turned it into a serious contest. Dragged into the rhythm, Rampage's competitive spirit flared, and the two ended up sprinting the full 2400m at max effort.
O-Hana clutched her head at the sight of her ace exerting herself so much the day before a major G1—but when Flora finished, her expression was one of total focus and peak condition. O-Hana knew then: tomorrow, the world would see Flora at her absolute best.
Data: Mejiro Southern Cross (Colt)
The seventh-year offspring of Mejiro Rampage. His sire was the legendary Northern Taste. Because he had a cross-shaped blaze on his forehead, he was named Southern Cross.
It became a hot topic among bloodline enthusiasts that the "mainstream" elite blood of Northern Taste had finally been introduced to the eccentric Rampage line. The result was a "monster" in every sense of the word. While Northern Taste was famous for being remarkably small for a Thoroughbred, Southern Cross grew into a massive powerhouse.
In his first G1 victory, the Sprinters Stakes, he weighed in at a staggering 604kg—surpassing even Hishi Akebono. He became known as the "Strongest Mejiro Sprinter" and was affectionately nicknamed "The Southern Cross" by fans.
His regular jockey was Hiroshi Kawachi. Kawachi noted that while the horse was intelligent enough to understand his role and the race situation perfectly, he always wanted to run at full speed, making him an exhausting challenge to restrain.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 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!"