"Yo, big sis!"
"Hey, Nature, brace yourself."
"Wait, wait, wait!!"
Mid-May, with the NHK Mile Cup behind and the Oaks looming, Rampage's excitement surges. Teasing Nature with mock intimidation has become routine.
"Ugh, you don't have to scare me when I'm joking!"
"You don't get to call me big sis."
"Cool big sis trainer!"
"Alright, Nature, errand time. Go taste-test Yomotsuhegui."
"You're indirectly telling me to die and come back!?"
Why Nature's "big sis" shtick? It stems from Rampage's rumored "mysterious cool trainer" persona from a suited-up outing, now a hot topic at Tracen Academy.
"Especially the middle-schoolers call you big sis, Ran."
"What's that? They're too impressionable."
"That's just how it is for the 'it' girl."
The "cool trainer" rumor persists, growing wilder with tales of a phantom trainer or legendary Uma Musume. Tama teases Rampage over it; Creek consoles her with maternal warmth.
"My only sister's Rice."
"That's your issue?"
"Get called big sis by a pure, precious girl like her. Could you say no?"
"Nope."
"Exactly."
Since becoming sisters, Rampage and Rice have grown closer, training with Canopus or running together. Tanhoiza says many juniors admire Rice, copying her "big sis" call.
"Any luck with Rice's trainer?"
"She's running this month's selection race. I said Canopus is open, but she wants to prove herself first, not lean on her big sis."
"So pure and precious."
They grin, imagining Rice's resolve. Her charm, true to her blessed name, effortlessly spreads joy.
"What about your prep, Ran? Oaks is next week."
"Think I'm not ready?"
Rampage tosses off her shoes with a thud—Shinzan iron, five times heavier than normal. She runs effortlessly now, no discomfort.
"Time to break in regular shoes…"
As teammates watch her jog off, Nature picks up the discarded shoes, assuming they're fine.
"What the—?"
She gasps. The Shinzan iron, despite being custom-made for durability, is heavily worn—uniformly so. Uma Musume find such weights light, but this wear is shocking.
"She runs long distances with Rice… in these?"
What does this mean?
"Tokyo Racecourse, Race 10—the Oaks, awaited by many! Blessed with clear skies and good turf, who will etch their name in this dazzling tiara's history!?"
Oaks day arrives. Over 160,000 pack Tokyo Racecourse, drawn to witness the queen's crowning. Equal to the Japan Derby, the Oaks' glory—the queen's tiara—belongs to one. Who will claim it?
"The Oaks, where Uma Musume vie for the queen's crown! Who will reign!?"
"Third favorite, No. 20 Agnes Flora in Gate 8, seeking Cherry Blossom revenge. Can Rigil show their pride!?"
"Gate 1, No. 1 Ikuno Dictus, second favorite. Runner-up in the Cherry Blossom and Flora Stakes, countless fans hope for her coronation today!"
Rigil's Flora or Canopus's Ikuno? Ikuno's gate gives her an edge, but the top favorite is unshaken.
"And the top favorite, undefeated in nine races, including the Hanshin Juvenile and Cherry Blossom! A win here means a second tiara, one step from the Triple Tiara! The turf's dictator, Mejiro Rampage!!!"
Roars erupt. Rampage, Gate 4 No. 8, is the star, her undefeated streak fueling Triple Tiara hopes. Less advantageous than Ikuno's gate, but she's no pushover.
"All Uma Musume are in the gates, ready to start."
Cheers quiet as the crowd awaits the start. What race will unfold? Who will dominate?
"Start! Oh, Daiichi Ruby stumbles, but Agnes Flora takes off! Mejiro Rampage surges ahead, the dictator breaking free! Followed by Front Punch, Setsuna Sapphire, and Ikuno Dictus in fourth!"
Rampage's signature big lead opens a 10-length gap, but Ikuno's restraint surprises the crowd.
"Rice-chan!?"
"Sorry, the bathroom was packed…"
"No worries, you made it!!"
Canopus, with Rice, refocuses. Ikuno, usually tailing Rampage, holds back, eyeing the flow.
"Ikuno's holding back, rare."
"At 2400m, even she can't keep escaping. She's sticking to her strengths," Tanhoiza explains.
"Big sis… what'll happen?"
"Go, both of you!!"
Turbo cheers as Rampage widens her lead, a dictator's dominance. Others hesitate to chase.
"Why isn't anyone chasing Ran, Trainer?"
"Cherry Blossom. Flora got crushed chasing her. They know burning stamina early is fatal, so they pace themselves. Ikuno's doing it, so others follow."
("Don't chase recklessly. My pace ensures victory. Just run my race…!")
Flora, in sixth, feels certain. Ikuno ahead confirms it—no need for reckless speed. Save energy, strike with her final kick. Rampage's style forces restraint, but Flora's endgame can win…!
"Backstretch! The dictator's big lead—15 lengths!? Will she escape? The pack holds back!!"
"I wanna run like that!" Turbo exclaims.
"So fast—already over!?" Nature gasps.
"Not yet," Tanhoiza counters.
"Can't tell what's next," Trainer adds.
"Huh?" Rice murmurs.
Canopus turns. "What's up, Rice-chan?"
"Big sis… she's holding back."
"No way, with that lead?"
"Why think so?"
"Look."
Rice points to the clock. They expected a record-breaking pace, but it's slow—too slow for such a big lead.
"Damn, I've been tricked!!"
Ikuno realizes too late. She planned to pace and unleash her final strength, but Rampage set a trap—her elusive escape. Speeding up now, or it's over.
"Ikuno Dictus surges!! Agnes Flora moves too—the race heats up! They close on Mejiro Rampage, down to 10 lengths!? Fourth corner, Rampage's legs hold strong, but others charge! Six, no, four lengths! Can they catch her as the straight nears!?"
"Can I catch up? No, I have to!" Ikuno grits.
"I can win!" Flora hopes.
Three lengths away, victory seems close. Rampage smirks.
"Been a while, but it worked. Legs? Fully charged—let's go!!"
In a flash, Rampage vanishes. Flora spots her leaning forward, accelerating, widening the gap.
"What!? After that lead, she's still got legs!?"
"Ugh!!"
"Another gear shift! Ikuno Dictus overtakes Flora but can't close on Rampage! Four lengths, now five—she's pulling away!! This is the dictator's run! Ikuno chases desperately, but it's futile! Mejiro Rampage claims the Oaks crown!! Double Tiara achieved, one step from the Triple Tiara! The turf's dictator seizes another crown! Second, Ikuno Dictus; third, Agnes Flora; fourth, Front Punch; fifth, Daiichi Ruby!"
"She led big, subtly slowed to trick even Ikuno, then unleashed her saved legs to escape. Her consistent big leads made Ikuno miss it," Trainer explains.
"Ran planned that?" Turbo gasps.
Rampage basks in cheers, her brilliance sinking in.
"Amazing, big sis…" Rice whispers.
"Even Ikuno didn't see it…" Nature marvels.
"Wow…" Turbo breathes.
Her escape and pace control are masterful, forcing rivals to recalculate. Terrifying.
"Double Tiara down… one left," Tanhoiza says.
"I'll take the final tiara too. I'm the dictator, after all."
---------------------------------------------
🚀 Want more?
📖 On Patreon you can read 20+ chapters ahead, plus there will be exclusive stories available only there.
💖 If you'd like to support me, check it out: patreon.com/Greyhounds
🔓 Patreon will always stay ahead of the public release — and some stories won't be published anywhere else.
✨ All support is completely optional — even if you don't join, I'm still grateful to have you here reading!