August. The month when the heat truly bared its fangs. This year's swelter was intense, and Rampage felt a wave of relief that she'd prepared heat countermeasures well in advance. Even so, she threw herself into training day after day, the Shinzan Iron strapped to her hooves.
"Whoa..."
Nature watched Rampage dash by, the clanging far louder than any ordinary horseshoe. Gone was the girl who'd grumbled endlessly under the weight; now, she moved with her old stride restored. But just being able to run wasn't enough—her former speed was still absent. Still, Nature couldn't help but be impressed that she could manage at all with that heft.
"Look at that—Ran-san's already running like normal!!"
"But she's way slower. Is that really okay?"
Tannhäuser and Turbo's concerns made sense. From an outsider's view, the goal was to eventually sprint effortlessly with it on, so the road ahead seemed long. Glancing at Ikuno passing by only reinforced that thought.
"Trainer-san, why Shinzan Iron specifically?"
The question slipped out before Nature could stop it. Why that, of all things?
"Couldn't you just use power anklets or something as a substitute?"
"Good question, Nature-san. There are a few reasons, but first—where do you attach a horseshoe?"
"The toe, right?"
"Yes. It's fitted to the toe of the shoe."
The purpose of training with Shinzan Iron was to strengthen the toes and ankles. Most of Rampage's tactics leveraged her height for long strides, allowing her to cover vast distances and build immense speed. But those strides also placed heavy strain on the body.
"Ran-san is built tough enough to handle crossover steps, but that still puts major stress on her ankles and such. Over time, she's grown stronger, but injuries are never out of the question. By using Shinzan Iron, we're fortifying her ankles to withstand the load while preventing potential harm."
"It has that kind of effect...?"
"And it trains her to unconsciously lift her toes higher, which boosts foot turnover speed. Plus, it improves cornering."
"Whoa, talk about killing multiple birds with one stone. All upsides, huh?"
"Yes, but this method only works for Uma Musume with inherently strong bodies."
Shinzan Iron offered unparalleled benefits. Yet, few Uma Musume could handle it. A robust physique was a prerequisite; otherwise, it devolved into mere self-torment, risking damage to the legs that were an Uma Musume's lifeline.
"Even Symboli Rudolf considered trying it once, but her trainer, Tojo, stopped her due to the high risks."
"Even the Emperor...?"
The Emperor could probably endure it, but the injury risks were commensurate. Rigil hadn't approved it for enhancement purposes—and Minami believed that was the right call. Rampage was blessed with a sturdy build and strong ankles, so this was viable for her. To make them even tougher.
"Huff... pant... This is brutal... Damn, only after all this grinding can I finally run properly..."
As they discussed, Rampage finished her five laps and collapsed in front of them. To Nature, managing even that with those shoes seemed superhuman... but Rampage glared at her footwear in frustration, clearly unsatisfied.
"Hey~ Minami-chan, can I try running with normal shoes just once? I wanna see how much I've improved."
"No can do. Stick with them for training until one week from now."
"Fiiine... I'll follow Trainer's orders~..."
"Next up is upper-body strengthening. Ryan-san's waiting for you."
"Sheesh, you know saying that means I can't slack off, right? All prim and proper on the outside, but you're tough as nails, Minami-chan."
"I'm flattered."
Rampage shot her perpetually smiling trainer a resentful glance but obediently headed off. For all her attitude, she followed instructions to a T, so she was never labeled a problem child. No, problem children were more like—
"Ikuno~ Let's race!!! Derby distance—2400m!!"
"Sounds good. I've been wanting to test my current form."
"Alright!! Machitan~ Time us~!!"
"Okaaay."
"Wait, wait—don't just start without permission!!?"
—like Turbo, who tried to kick off races on a whim. In the end, after a scolding, they settled on the Phoenix Stakes distance of 1200m.
In the training room, Ryan was already hard at work, and Rampage joined her in weightlifting without missing a beat.
"Heh~ So you're training with that Shinzan Iron now, huh!!"
"Yeah, totally. Minami-chan looks all wholesome and boy-next-door, but she's merciless with the workouts. Still, it shows how seriously she's planning for me—right!!"
Ryan hefted her dumbbells with ease, and Rampage followed suit with a barbell. They eyed each other competitively, neither willing to back down.
"Oh, right, Ran— I'm racing in Sapporo next month. What about you?"
"Niigata Juvenile Stakes!!"
"That's this month already!! Can I come cheer you on!!"
"Go for it!! In return, I'll hit yours too!!"
"You got it!!"
They traded words like that, both aware of the other's steady wins. For Ran, it was her shot at a third victory in a G3 race; Ryan was in the same boat. Winning would fuel them further—toward simultaneously claiming the Triple Tiara and the Classic Triple Crown.
"Ran!!"
"Wha— yeah!?"
"Wanna race together sometime!?"
"Obviously!! Might as well make it on a G1 stage!!"
The implication was clear: a clash between Triple Crown hopefuls. Ryan smiled wordlessly in agreement, her resolve to win absolute as she set down the barbell and dumbbells.
"So then—"
"To make that happen—"
""Protein within 30 minutes of training!!""
Their voices harmonized, erupting into shared laughter as they hit the showers together before downing their protein shakes.
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