"Please, come in."
"Thank you."
Guided by Tazuna into the chairman's office, Rampage's eyes skipped the lavish decor, landing on a petite figure. She looked like a child, but her love for Uma Musume was boundless, willing to spend her fortune for them.
"Welcome!! So glad you're here, Rampage-kun!!"
Brandishing a fan inscribed with "Welcome!!" in elegant calligraphy, Yayoi Akikawa, Tresen's chairman, greeted her. Rumors swirled she might be Northern Taste, but who knew? Also, the cat on her hat was adorable.
"Sit first! We'll talk after some tea!!"
"Here, please."
"Don't mind if I do."
Settling into a guest chair, Rampage faced Yayoi, thinking, She's really a kid… and that cat's cute. Tazuna served tea, and after a sip, Yayoi cut to the chase.
"Straight to it!! We got a call from people claiming to be your family—Tomohito and Mei."
At those words, light drained from Rampage's face. Her gaze, fixed on Yayoi, turned vacant, as if shadowed. A void expression—pure emptiness—stared back. Yayoi was struck. Expressionless wasn't just muted emotion; it was nothing.
"…"
"Rampage-san? Rampage-san?"
Tazuna's calls went unanswered—no joy, no anger, just void. Worried, she touched Rampage's shoulder, shaking gently.
"Rampage-san!!"
"—Sorry, just…"
"You okay? I should be asking you that."
"…A bit."
Clutching her head, Rampage insisted she was fine, but her face now strained, suppressing something. Uma Soul's pain, sorrow, and loneliness surged at those names, thought buried. Her Human Soul flared with anger, her expression hardening as they watched.
"What did those two say?"
"They want to meet and apologize."
"Apologize, huh? That couple… What for, Chairman? Any guesses?"
Covering her face, she let out a stifled, bitter laugh. Yayoi sensed it—her bond with them was not just strained but utterly broken.
"No clue, but I'll say it clearly, Rampage: you shouldn't meet them."
Despite her youthful appearance, Yayoi's words were resolute.
"I don't know what happened, but your reaction says enough. Don't meet them."
"I agree," Tazuna added. "You're not yourself just hearing their names. With a crucial time ahead…"
Their words were warm, genuinely concerned. They didn't need reasons—seeing a Tresen student in pain was enough.
"If you want, I'll handle it. I've got status and connections, so rest easy!!"
Yayoi flashed her fan, now reading "Relief!!" Rampage wanted to quip about the changing text but—
"Thanks, but no. They're my prey."
She couldn't yield. Ending this herself was non-negotiable. Yayoi and Tazuna's faces hardened, but Tazuna sat, ready to listen.
"Then tell us."
Rampage hadn't meant to say it, but they seized her resolve. They wouldn't let go until satisfied, and with Minamizaka's endorsement to trust Tazuna or Tojo in crises, she spoke. They listened silently, without interruption.
"…!!"
"Meow!"
"Sorry, Hatena*1."
"Sorry, Hatena-chan."
When anger flared, Yayoi's cat, Hatena, meowed, snapping them back. They apologized and kept listening.
"That's the story…"
"Mew?"
"Thanks, Hatena. I'm okay. Back to the Chairman."
"Miaow."
Rampage had grown tense mid-story, but Hatena had climbed onto her, soothing her. She finished.
"That's why I need revenge. Your offer's kind, Chairman, but…"
"Understood. But… Fury!! That's unforgivable!!"
Yayoi slammed the desk, startling Hatena onto Rampage's head.
"Chairman, calm down…"
"Why should you suffer like that!? Family supports each other! If you lost your parents, that's their duty!! But they stole your inheritance and ran? Now, after your G1 win and Junior Crown title, they want to meet!? Utter nonsense!!"
"They're after money," Tazuna agreed. "Don't meet them."
Their outrage, like Asama's warmth, touched Rampage.
"I'm glad you feel that way, but I want them to regret it—absolutely."
"Your resolve's firm. It feels justified, meticulous for revenge."
"Returning the inheritance is your right, but are you sure?"
"They're not my family anymore—I'm a Mejiro Uma Musume."
Her smile eased their tension, their expressions softening. They understood she'd never forgive them.
"If they want to meet, I'll do it. Dragging it out or refusing risks media nonsense. Better to settle it quick."
"Mrr… Fair point."
The Twinkle Series' Classic races loomed—a once-in-a-lifetime Triple Crown shot. She'd expected contact later, but their timing was early. Resolving it now benefited her and Tresen. Handle it before leaks.
"What can we do?"
"Name it!! I'll do everything I can!!"
"Can you set up a private meeting spot, no eavesdroppers?"
"Done!!"
"And—"
They finalized details, Yayoi and Tazuna listening intently despite occasional surprise. The meeting was set for two weeks later.
"Thank you, Chairman, for indulging me."
"No trouble at all!!"
"She's pushed for conveyor-belt sushi before—this is nothing," Tazuna teased.
"What's that, Chairman!?"
"Meow!"
"Ouch!! Why the punch, Hatena!?"
1: Northern Taste had a famous cat connection, a three-generation bond. Hatena, the second, was named for her tail and rear resembling a question mark.
The first was a stray, Chibi, who became a staff favorite. Hatena, the second, wandered into Teio's handler's home and rode Northern Taste calmly. The third, Jason, a bold name, once swiped at Narita Top Road but spared Northern Taste.
Retired horses and cats are common—think Meisho Doto and Met at Northern Lake Farm.