"Good grief... I can't believe Maya insisted on staying the night, too."
"Mufufu~! Rampage-san, your cooking was so delicious! Maya was super surprised! I didn't know a world like that even existed!"
"Do you see it now? It really is incredible, isn't it?!"
After her gallop with Flora, Rampage had ended up taking the girls to the Touge for some mountain pass running. Thanks to that, her brand-new tires were in a wretched state. They were fine for normal driving, but they'd worn down enough that an early replacement was definitely recommended.
The shop she frequented had recently become a pseudo-sponsor for her streams, asking for subtle plugs in exchange for service—she just hadn't expected to need their help again quite this soon. Interestingly, since she'd mentioned the shop on her stream, their sales for that single week had reportedly equaled their usual monthly revenue.
"Anyway, Suzuka," Rampage said, adjusting her disguise. "For today, I'm officially Maya's mother. I'll be treating you as my daughter as well for the time being. Is that alright with you?"
"Yes, it's no problem, Mother," Suzuka replied instantly.
"Man, you adapt fast."
Naturally, Rampage was heavily disguised again. Whenever Maya was around, the "Mother and Daughter" cover story was the easiest way to avoid suspicion, and they used it frequently. Maya seemed to genuinely enjoy the role-play, and now Suzuka was joining the "family." Despite being unmarried, Rampage had somehow become the mother of two elite horse girls.
"Three carrot juices, please," Rampage requested at a stall.
"Coming right up!"
"Mama~ Maya wants to drink it now~!" Maya chirped, clinging to her arm.
"Yes, yes, I'm getting them. Here, Suzuka, this one is yours."
"Thank you, Mother."
"Oh my," the stall vendor chuckled. "What lovely daughters you have, ma'am."
"Fufu. They are my pride and joy," Rampage said with a graceful smile. "But no flirting with them, or I'll have to be firm."
"Whoa, tough lady! Tell you what, I'll upsize your drink for free, so please have mercy!"
Rampage expertly parried the vendor's banter while feeling half-exasperated by how well the two girls were playing their parts. She was also slightly annoyed at how naturally she had settled into the "feminine" role herself. I guess I really am a horse girl at heart, she thought as Maya pulled her hand toward the stands and Suzuka walked a half-step ahead, scouting the path.
"Mama~ Carry me~!"
"Oh, Maya. You always get so clingy when it's race day. Fine, come here."
"Yay! It's because I can't see the track from down there~♪"
Maya took full advantage of the situation, relishing the chance to be held by Rampage. Even though she was technically older than Suzuka, she had no shame. Suzuka didn't feel jealous; if anything, she felt a deep sense of respect for Maya's ability to be so honest with her affection. I wish I could be that proactive, Suzuka thought, settling for a protective position right by Rampage's side.
"Now then... I wonder who will take the Japan Cup today."
Since Rampage's own legendary victory, the Japan Cup had seen a streak of domestic winners: Flora's triumph, and then Teio's hair-thin victory by a mere two centimeters. But this year was different. El Glutz, the conqueror of the Arc de Triomphe, had returned. Other foreign powerhouses had arrived as well, all seeking to challenge the "Tyrant's" legacy. To meet them, Japan had assembled what could only be described as its strongest lineup in history.
"The stage is set for a legend! But standing before the glory of the finish line is a myth of invincibility! The Japan Cup is about to begin! Every foreign challenger entering the turf today has declared they are here to shatter the world record set by the Absolute Tyrant, Mejiro Rampage. It seems her shadow still looms over the world—but there are those here who intend to sweep that shadow away! The race where legends are born starts now!"
As the announcement echoed, the horse girls began to emerge from the underground tunnel.
"Leading the way is the third-generation Triple Tiara winner, the victor of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup—Twin Turbo! Following her is the Canopus vanguard: the Derby winner Nice Nature, and the Black Blessing, Rice Shower! Then comes the Iron Lady of the Yasuda Kinen, Ikuno Dictus; the Universal Performer seeking her first G1, Machikane Tannhauser; and this year's Derby winner, Winning Ticket! The Canopus squad marches out like a royal guard protecting the glory of their leader!"
"I'm going for back-to-back G1s!" Turbo shouted.
"I'm aiming for the win too. I won't lose!" Nature added.
"Rice... won't lose either..."
"Naturally, neither will I," Ikuno said firmly. "Protecting a rival's honor is part of my duty."
"I'm going to win this time for sure! Ei, Ei, Mun!" Tannhauser cheered.
"Uoooooh! I'm gonna win!!" Ticket roared.
The Canopus members were brimming with motivation. But the Japan Cup was a terrifying beast; momentum alone wouldn't secure a win. This was no ordinary G1.
"And here come the icons! Last year's champion, the victor of that legendary 1.7cm duel—The Emperor, Tokai Teio! And right behind her, the great actor of the Mejiro family, Mejiro McQueen! The Emperor's most formidable rival!"
"Hehe! I'm the one winning again this year," Teio smirked.
"I think not. That honor shall be mine," McQueen countered.
The soaring Emperor and the ascending Actor—two girls who were alike yet completely different. As the crowd erupted for them, the foreign challengers finally appeared. Their eyes were fixed on one thing only: Mejiro Rampage's world record. To them, the other girls were mere obstacles.
"And here she is! The top contender who suffered her only defeat at that legendary Arc de Triomphe—Alternative Seven! She is here to settle the score by overturning the world record!"
"If winning were that simple, I wouldn't have come this far," Alternative Seven murmured. "I will fight everyone on this field with everything I have."
Contrary to the hype, Alternative Seven wasn't just chasing a record. She simply wanted to run here—on the hallowed ground of the Tyrant. And she wanted to finally make a clean break from her past. She looked toward the VIP seats and flashed a smile at a specific person watching her. She would run for them.
"I've made it back... and today, I will be the one to win."
"She's here... The legend of this track cannot be told without her. One of the few who stood toe-to-toe with the Absolute Tyrant and conquered the Arc de Triomphe. El Glutz has returned to the turf!!!"
The stadium reached a fever pitch at El Glutz's entrance. The crowd was desperate to see a repeat of that miraculous race. Everyone, including the other foreign runners, was on high alert for her. But the Japanese contingent knew the most dangerous rival had yet to appear. She was the final one to enter.
"And finally—the horse girl who defined the myth of this land alongside Ikuno Dictus. The warrior who fought Mejiro Rampage head-on. The Japan Cup winner, Agnes Flora!!!"
Flora was in perfect condition. Seeing her emerge, O-Hana finally let out a sigh of relief. The psychological boost from the gallop with Rampage had been worth it, though the physical toll had required intense overnight care. O-Hana had worried about lingering fatigue, but seeing Flora's majestic, focused stride, she knew her ace was ready.
Then, Flora's footsteps faltered.
"Mama~ who do you think is going to win?" Maya asked from Rampage's arms.
"Well... it wouldn't be strange regardless of who takes it. What about you, Suzuka?"
"I... I don't know. But Mother, one day, I'm going to be faster than anyone down there."
"Fufu. How lovely. I believe you can do it."
What Flora saw in the stands wasn't just Rampage in a disguise. It wasn't just "maternal vibes." It was the pure, unadulterated essence of a Mother.
The sheer allure was overwhelming. The motherhood radiating from every syllable, combined with the elegant, refined clothing, evoked a sense of primal comfort—the kind of warmth one feels before even being born. Flora tried to suppress the tidal wave of emotions surging within her as she headed for the gate, but then—
"Look, your big sister is looking this way," Rampage said, waving toward the track. "Give her some encouragement."
"Haaai, Mama~♪" Maya chirped, waving back.
"Good luck, Sister," Suzuka added dutifully.
"...I think I might actually die today," Flora whispered.
Agnes Flora, moments before the start of the Japan Cup, was on the verge of "Ascending" from sheer emotional overload.
Data: Mejiro Suzaku (Colt)
The eighth-year offspring of Mejiro Rampage. His sire was El Condor Pasa. Following his father's naming convention, he was given a name associated with flight (the Vermillion Bird of the South).
As the child of an Arc winner and the horse who came closest to winning it, he was the subject of massive hype. After winning his debut and moving up the ranks, he claimed the NHK Mile Cup. In a bold move, he challenged the Arc de Triomphe during his classic year, finishing a brilliant second and electrifying Japan. The following year, he returned to France and successfully claimed the title, becoming only the second Japanese horse in history to win the Arc de Triomphe.
His regular jockey was Masayoshi Ebina. Ebina described him as a "pushover" who was normally hyper-vigilant but would immediately let his guard down if given his favorite food, bananas. However, if you pointed out this weakness, he would get grumpy and try to bite you. When he finally won the Arc, Ebina was seen in tears, repeatedly calling out his partner's name in gratitude.
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