Year-end, December at Hanshin Racecourse, where snow fell softly but steadily. The flurry that began that morning wasn't too fierce, allowing the race to proceed, but a piercing chill assaulted the air. Despite the cold, the racecourse thrummed with an abnormal heat—befitting a G1, the highest grade of race. Crowds flocked to Hanshin to witness the spectacle.
"Brrr, it's freezing~…"
"You okay, Turbo? Here, I got you some cocoa. Trainer-san, you too."
"Thanks, Nature-san."
The temperature, worsened by the snow, barely reached single digits—peaking at 4°C and dipping to 0°C. In the paddock, Uma Musume in their winning outfits performed meticulous warm-ups. Many outfits—dresses, skirts, or skin-baring designs—made spectators shiver just looking at them, so Turbo's trembling voice was understandable. Yet the racers themselves, perhaps drawing strength from their outfits, showed no signs of cold.
'And here comes the top favorite, gate 2, number 3—Rampage!!'
The crowd gasped as Rampage stepped into the paddock. Her winning outfit wasn't the usual dazzling dress or cute ensemble. Draped in a long coat that fluttered in the icy wind, she strode forward confidently, clad in black-and-red long pants and a pristine white shirt. It wasn't beauty that captivated but her commanding, fierce presence that stole their words. Then—gripping her coat, she flung it off in one swift motion, slinging it over her shoulder with a bold grin and a quiet declaration.
"—Sorry to keep you waiting."
'Ooooohhh!!!'
Her words ignited the paddock, erupting in deafening cheers. Boyish Uma Musume weren't new, but none had ever embraced a winning outfit with such audacity. Perfectly owning the look and seizing hearts with her entrance, she enthralled everyone.
"So cool, Ran!!"
"Kyaa, you're amazing!!"
"Lookin' sharp!!"
"We're cheering for you!"
"Yeah, Nature, I'll deal with you later."
Rampage tossed words back to her Canopus teammates as she left the paddock, unbothered by the intense stares from other Uma Musume. As the top favorite, being marked was expected—welcomed, even.
"Weeei!! Ran, that outfit is straight-up fire!!"
"Yo, Heli-chan, you're here too? Weeei!"
"Weeei!!"
Ignoring the myriad gazes, Rampage slipped her coat back on and bantered with Helios. And then—the race was upon them.
'Under the snowy skies of Hanshin, the fiery hearts of Uma Musume aiming for queenship gather!! The path to the Classics—Hanshin Juvenile Fillies!!'
It was time to enter the gates. The snowy conditions made the track heavy—not quite bad, but close enough to be grateful it wasn't worse. The biting wind lashed at their bodies, but it couldn't shake their resolve. Each Uma Musume carried fierce determination into the Juvenile Fillies, and the one with the strongest will would claim victory—they all believed it would be them.
'Looking to next spring, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies—'
"—Alright, let's do this."
'—starts now!!'
The gates burst open, and all launched forward. The start was slightly uneven, but one shadow predictably shot ahead.
'Leading early is Rampage with a stellar start, but the battle for the front is heating up fast. Trailing her are Daiwa Helios, Kokuyoudea, and Silver Better. These four are vying to set the pace!'
'They're marking the top favorite, Rampage, with no intention of letting her escape. Will it pay off?'
"No way I'm letting you this time!!"
"You think your dictatorship will hold in this G1?!"
"Weeei, so many escape artists today—super fun!!"
All but one of the front-runners locked onto Rampage, determined to thwart her signature breakaway. Helios alone ran her own race, carefree. To Rampage, Helios was the real threat—those fixated on her weren't.
'They pass the first half in 44 seconds!! That's a blistering pace—can they keep it up?! Rampage maintains her lead, running her reckless solo act, shrugging off pursuers as she blazes through at ultra-high speed!!'
'To sustain that speed on this heavy track—her stamina and power are incredible.'
The heavy track demanded power, and Rampage was ready to show what her Shinzan Iron training had forged. As she approached the fourth corner, she lowered her stance, channeling strength into her knees and legs. Then, unleashing it, she surged forward.
'Here, Rampage kicks into high gear!! She makes her move before the fourth corner!! She's fast, blazing fast! Kokuyoudea and Silver Better chase desperately but fall behind Daiwa Helios, who's losing ground too! Only Helios keeps pace, but Rampage—Rampage crosses the corner first!!'
"Look at me now!!"
Hitting the final straight, she shifted up another gear, six lengths ahead of Helios. The gap held steady—Helios, laughing, showed incredible legs but couldn't close it. Rampage tore through the track.
'The stands quake with this roar!! The crowd demands her reign!! Dictator Rampage crosses the finish!! The queen of December's Hanshin is Rampage!! A tyrant yet a true monarch, Dictator Rampage reigns supreme!!'
Bathed in deafening cheers, as if the crowd had willed her victory, the queen allowed herself a small smile.
"Yooo, Ran, that was unreal!! That final sprint got even me hyped and laughing!!"
"Thanks, Heli-chan. You kept up pretty damn well on this track."
"Haha, grit and soul♪ This ain't enough to break my vibe!!"
Helios, taking second, grinned wide. Her run was brilliant, but Rampage had outpaced her. Helios' free-spirited escape secured her second, while Kokuyoudea and Silver Better, who'd pushed beyond their limits to match Rampage, fell far back. Running one's own race was indeed a strength.
"Alright, let's make the live show even more hyped!!"
"Hell yeah."
Rampage took a few steps, struck her signature Charizard pose, then slung her coat over her shoulder with a wink.
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