"Well now, talk about an unexpected guest," Rampage said, leaning against the doorframe. "I don't recall ever giving you my address. How'd you sniff me out?"
"Tazuna-san gave it to me," Kamizuru replied, looking her over with a mix of relief and professional scrutiny. "I'm glad to see you actually made it home in one piece. Ohana-san appointed me as your official watchdog. My orders are to make sure you actually get some sleep."
"Good grief. Ohana-san is really going all out, isn't she? What, does she think I'm some kind of problem child?"
"On a scale of one to 'disaster,' I'd say you're a certified handful," Kamizuru said bluntly.
Rampage let out a dry chuckle. "Hey now. I'll have you know I spent my whole career drifting right on the edge between 'safe' and 'catastrophic.' I'm a pro at it."
She stepped aside to let him in. As Kamizuru entered, he took in the space. He had expected something grander—a sprawling estate befitting a member of the prestigious Mejiro family. Instead, the home was surprisingly modest.
"So, this is where the legend lives… I have to admit, I expected a Mejiro heiress to have a mansion with a literal army of butlers."
"If that's what you're looking for, I can drive you over to the main Mejiro estate," Rampage said, heading toward the kitchen. "But I was a late arrival to that family. At my core, I'm still just a commoner."
"I don't think there's another world-class, 'strongest-in-history' athlete on the planet who considers themselves a 'commoner.'"
"Well, you're looking at the only one."
Kamizuru sat at the table, watching her rummage through the fridge. He noticed a single trophy sitting on the cabinet—the mark of the first Mid-Distance Legend Race Champion.
"Is this the only one?" he asked, surprised.
Rampage was a living legend with an astronomical number of G1 victories, both domestic and international. He had halfway expected to walk into a museum of gold and silver.
"If you want to see the rest, go to the Canopus clubroom," Rampage called out over the clinking of glasses.
"The clubroom? Why there?"
"Because I achieved those wins as a member of Canopus. That's where they belong."
She set down a few snacks—vegetable sticks, marinated eggs, and the braised pork she'd mentioned earlier—along with a bottle of sake. For Rampage, the trophies themselves were just metal and wood. The memory of the victory was what mattered, and she carried those within her. Aside from the Tenno Sho trophy, which her grandmother had insisted on keeping, she had gifted them all to her team. Minamisaka had complained more than once that they were running out of shelf space.
"That trophy on the cabinet is the only one I won for myself," she added.
"The only one for yourself…" Kamizuru whispered, looking at the Legend Race award.
"Anyway, since you're here, I might as well play the host. I assume you can hold your liquor?"
They settled in, the table laid out with a spread of savory snacks.
"Drinking sake out of a glass? How sophisticated," Kamizuru teased as they toasted.
"Zip it. My house, my sake, my money. In this castle, I do what I want."
"Fair enough."
Kamizuru watched as she downed a generous pour with the practiced ease of a heavy hitter. He decided to match her pace—carefully—knowing that the best conversations always happen once the guard comes down. It was time to get to the heart of the matter.
"You know, you could try leaning on the people around you a little more," he said. "That's why Ohana-san sent me here."
"I prefer doing things myself," she countered, picking up a piece of pork. "If you want me to delegate, find me someone who can actually keep up. Then I'll consider it."
"That's not what I mean. You… you treat your own body like it's an expendable resource. You completely disregard your own limits."
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"