At last, Rampage stood upon the Classic stage, the Triple Tiara already in her sights. All that remained was to climb the path to its peak.
"So, Minami-chan, what's my schedule looking like?"
"Yes, much like Ikuno-san, we'll focus on building a body suited for the Classics for now."
"That's it? Didn't Ikuno say something about racking up experience?"
"That's important too, but your opponents have likely already studied both of your abilities."
Rampage and Ikuno had each run six races, their experience forging undeniable strength. But that same strength made them targets. In the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, the heavy track from snow played a role, and Rampage's Shinzan Iron-forged power let her overcome it—but that was partly luck. To win purely on skill, they needed further honing.
"So that's where the body-building comes in… I said I'd trust you with the series, so no complaints. When's my next race?"
"Let's see… Since you're on the Tiara route, the Ouka Sho is confirmed. I'd like to slot something in before that."
"Then let's go with the Tulip Sho."
"The Tulip Sho?"
Minami couldn't help but double-check. The Tulip Sho was a G2 race, sharing the same distance and racecourse as the Ouka Sho—a critical stepping stone for any Uma Musume on the Tiara route. It was a logical choice, but—
"I wanna dominate it just like Chan-senpai did."
"—Ah, I see. That's the plan, huh?"
"Yup♪"
Mejiro Ramonu's Triple Tiara was said to surpass even Symboli Rudolf or Mr. C.B. She didn't just win the three crowns; she triumphed in the trial races leading up to them, earning her the title of "Perfect Triple Crown" among some. That's why she's often said to have outshone the others.
"Not going for the Fillies' Review?"
"Nah, I've never run short distances, so I don't need to copy Chan-senpai that closely. I'll just get results in my own range."
"Fair point. The Anemone Stakes is another option, but that's out."
The Anemone Stakes, another mile-long trial, was at Nakayama, not Hanshin, making its conditions too different from the Ouka Sho to consider.
"Hey, Minami-chan, can I ask something?"
"What's that?"
"My crossover step—does it actually help in regular races?"
It was a question about her signature move. Both Asama and Trainer Tojo had taken notice of it, but after all her races, she hadn't found a chance to use it, so she boldly asked if it was practical. Minami gave a wry smile before answering.
"To be honest, using it directly is tricky. The crossover step moves you laterally, so in races where everyone's charging forward, it's mostly useful if someone's falling back from the front."
"So it's useless for an escape artist like me?"
"Well, we're leveraging it in another way."
"Another way?"
Minami tapped her knee as she explained.
"Your greatest asset is your knee strength. Years of crossover steps have made your naturally flexible joints incredibly robust. That's why we chose Shinzan Iron—to build on that foundation, turning your knees into a weapon for a forward-leaning running style."
"Ohhh… so that's how it is."
"If you push full throttle now, your knees should handle the strain just fine."
Hearing this, Rampage marveled at Minami's foresight. Not only had she pinpointed her innate talent, but she'd crafted training to maximize it as a weapon. Having her as a trainer was a blessing—facing her as an opponent would be terrifying.
"With that in mind, for the Classic races, I'd like you to tackle a new menu, Rampage-san."
"Got it. What do I do?"
"You'll use… this!!"
With a heave, Minami lifted a box from the corner of the clubroom onto the table. It seemed heavy, stirring déjà vu. Opening it revealed… a shiny new horseshoe.
"Custom-ordered Shinzan Iron for you, Rampage-san. Heavier than the last one."
"No way…"
"And starting this year, we'll incorporate hill training aggressively. Leg strength is non-negotiable for conquering the Classics."
"Hill training with this…? You're kidding…"
Trying to lift it, she found it even heavier than the previous Shinzan Iron—maybe five times the weight of a standard horseshoe. Running hills with this? She wanted to scream, What am I, the hill-training demon? (For the record, she's already enrolled.)
"This is straight out of Trainer Kuronuma's playbook, huh?"
"Actually, I had him consult on parts of it."
"For real…?"
Trainer Kuronuma, Tresen Academy's infamous Spartan, nicknamed the "Dragon of Tresen." Feared yet respected, he excelled at optimizing distance and running style, with an uncanny knack for knowing limits—pushing just shy of breaking. Trainers admired his skill; Uma Musume dreaded his rigor.
"Don't worry, Rampage-san. I believe you can handle it."
"Your trust is heavy, Minami-chan… like, physically heavy. That's not okay…"
But this was also a chance to train under the guidance of the coach who raised Mihono Bourbon. If she could conquer this, she'd be more than ready for the Classics. Framing it positively, she fitted the new Shinzan Iron to her shoes.
"By the way, I gave Ikuno-san Shinzan Iron too—same weight as your old one."
"Ikuno too…? Then I can't let myself fall behind when I've been at it longer. Bring it on!!"
If Ikuno was pushing through, Rampage couldn't afford to falter. Why? Because to make Canopus the strongest at Tresen, she absolutely couldn't lose.
"That's the spirit! Shall we head to the hill?"
"You got it!!"
"Your voice is shaking."
"Read the room."
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