「RAMPAGE-SAAAAAN!!! Taki-chan and Fla-chan won't talk to me anymore! They're actually, seriously ignoring meeee!!」
「Serves you right, you moron. Laurel—welcome back. Good work out there.」
「Thank you. I gave it my all.」
Flora and Laurel had finally returned to Japan. Unfortunately, Minamisaka had already headed to America with Turbo; by now, they were likely meeting up with Super Creek and Teio to begin preparations for the Breeders' Cup. Having finished their overseas campaign, the two girls had headed straight to the Pleiades clubroom, where Flora immediately tried to launch herself at Rampage in a sobbing mess. Rampage, showing off the leg strength that made her a legend, planted a foot firmly in Flora's face to keep her at bay while offering Laurel a nod of approval.
「Brian was watching you closely, you know. You've grown, Laurel.」
「No, it's only because you ran with me, Rampage-san. Taking second at the Arc... I put everything I had into that dirt. I'm satisfied with the result.」
「If you have no regrets, then that's all that matters. Now, go on. Bakushin-oh and Chiyo-chan-senpai are waiting for you.」
「Understood. If you'll excuse me, then. Also... please look after Flora-san.」
「I'd really rather not...」 Rampage muttered.
With a wry smile and a bow, Laurel departed. Rampage then gave the still-clinging Flora a solid kick to send her tumbling back. She held back enough to ensure no injuries, though she wouldn't have particularly cared if she hadn't.
「Taki-chaaaan... Fla-chaaaan...」
「Of course they're mad. You spouted that delusional nonsense during a worldwide live broadcast. Naturally, they're repulsed. Tachyon even called me, screaming that she'd finally reached her limit.」
『This time, I am truly, officially done with her!! Rampage-san, I expect you to give her a piece of your mind!』
『Whoa, take it easy. You're really seeing red, aren't you?』
『Red? I'm incandescent! I am beyond "furious"! To use a term from the games Pocket likes, I am in a Permanent Enraged State!』
(Ah, so Pocket likes Monster Hunter. Maybe I'll invite him to a hunt later,) Rampage had thought idly while trying to soothe the seething Tachyon. It was no use. Tachyon had gone from the heights of sisterly pride and respect back down to the pits of embarrassment in a matter of seconds.
『To think I actually cried for her! I was so happy! I've already called Mother and Father and formally requested we disown her!』
『Damn. You really are pissed.』
Rampage had served as Tachyon's emotional punching bag for nearly two hours. The rant lasted long enough for Rampage to get up and brew a fresh pot of coffee. When Tachyon finally started to simmer down, Rampage asked the obvious question.
『You're surprisingly light on the complaints toward me, though. I'm technically the one who turned her into this kind of obsessive weirdo.』
『Don't be absurd. She's the one who chose to degenerate into a deviant. I am not so dull-witted as to blame you for her lack of self-control.』
『Fair enough. Cheer up. Next time, I'll take you to that place the Twin-Tail owner runs—the one with the killer fried shrimp.』
『Hmph. I fail to see the logical connection between this conversation, twin-tails, and fried shrimp... but I suppose I shall look forward to it.』
「What am I going to do...? If Taki-chan and Fla-chan never speak to me again, I won't be able to go on living...」
「Wait, what about World? Is she talking to you?」
「War-chan was actually kind! Though... she did have this incredibly pitying look in her eyes...」
Likely, World had seen how nuclear Tachyon and Flight had gone and realized that if everyone abandoned her, their sister might actually snap. According to Okino, World was the observant, caring type, so she was probably playing damage control.
「Anyway, are you really entering the Legend Race again?」
「Of course! This is the last year you can definitely participate, isn't it, Rampage-san?!」
It was true. From next year onward, the members of Pleiades would be debuting one after another. Rampage would have to prioritize the team over her own career, shifting her focus fully toward being a trainer. This year was her final guaranteed appearance; after this, any races would be irregular at best.
「It's middle-distance again this year, right?」
「Hah... fine. I'll put in the recommendation for you. From next year, I'm delegating the recommendation process to the President and the others, so in a way, this is your last shot at me, too.」
「I'm going to win.」
「I'd like to see you try.」
In an instant, the air between them turned heavy and cold. It was the crushing pressure of two "Arc Umamusume"—the absolute aura of strength that only a handful in the world could ever possess. They stood as rivals who acknowledged one another's power, each declaring that they would never, ever lose. They held the tension for a long moment before both broke into light, knowing smirks.
「Oh, that's right. I almost forgot. Rampage-san, I brought a guest with me.」
「A guest? You kept them waiting this whole time while Laurel was here?」
「They said they didn't mind waiting as a courtesy, so it should be fine.」
「Still, I've got to apologize. Making someone come all this way just to wait in the hall is bad form.」
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