"No!! Running isn't just about your legs—it's your whole body! Your running's only fast because of your legs, but that'll get you devoured eventually! Use your entire body! Move as one!!"
"Yes, ma'am!!"
The air crackled with shouts as the grueling training session unfolded—an unusual spectacle for Canopus. While Ramone kept an eye on the entire team, Monsny was different. She zeroed in on Rampage, barking instructions non-stop.
"Talk about intensity…" Tojo muttered, watching from the sidelines, almost overwhelmed by Monsny's commanding presence. "So that's Metjiro Monsny, the Uma Musume once called Seabiscuit's greatest rival… I'd love to see her race."
"I racked my brain plenty trying to counter her back in the day," Okinoshima added with a wry grin.
Even Tojo, a seasoned trainer from Rigil, felt the weight of Monsny's aura. It was enough to unsettle a veteran like her. For Okinoshima, watching Monsny brought a shiver down his spine, stirring memories of the classic races he'd fought alongside Seabiscuit.
"Not bad. You're getting better," Monsny said, her voice sharp but approving. "But better isn't enough. You're still a clumsy rookie. Your individual strengths are top-notch, but you're not using them right. Know why?"
"Uh… because I'm not coordinating them?" Rampage ventured.
Monsny smirked. "Looks like you're starting to get it."
With a sly grin, she gave Rampage's shoulder a firm pat, then asked permission to check her form. Her hands moved methodically—legs, knees, thighs, hips, arms, shoulders.
"Your body's tough as nails," Monsny said. "Not just tough—your knees are flexible, with an incredible range of motion. You've got a rare gift, the kind that screams natural talent. You start with a high top speed, and you've got the specs to push it further, even overdo it. But that's exactly why you're wasting energy."
As she spoke, Monsny pulled a herb cigar from her pocket and lit it, exhaling a plume of smoke. Rampage couldn't help but feel a spark of camaraderie—Monsny smokes too?—but the older Uma Musume's weathered coolness made Rampage's own attempts at flair feel childish by comparison.
"You can still push your top speed higher," Monsny continued, "without straining your body. What we're doing now is an overhaul to make that happen. Your upper body balance is better than I expected, so it won't take long. The real issue is how you use it and how you connect it all. Master that, and you'll step into a realm even Ramone couldn't reach."
"Even… Ramone-senpai!?" Rampage gasped.
"I guarantee it," Monsny said, her cigar smoldering. "I pulled it off, but Ramone couldn't. Cruel truth is, I didn't have her raw talent. She was a genius overflowing with potential; I was just an ordinary nobody with nothing special."
She paused, letting the words hang as she puffed on her cigar.
"But you," Monsny said, her eyes locking onto Rampage. "You can do it. You're already a Double Tiara winner—that proves it. Up till now, you've been coasting on raw talent. Now make it yours. Take everything I've got."
"—Yes, ma'am!!"
"That's the spirit. One more time!"
Monsny's gaze followed the newest Metjiro recruit as she took off running. A pang of envy twisted in her chest, and she couldn't help but laugh at herself. The true way of running she'd discovered—unlocking every ounce of latent potential—hadn't been enough to beat Seabiscuit. The gap in their natural talent was brutal. Seabiscuit was a genius; Monsny, a mere mortal bound by her limits. But what could this girl achieve with that same technique? How far could she run?
"Is this… how it's supposed to feel!?" Rampage called out, her voice brimming with effort.
Talent and relentless effort—she was the ideal honor student. But Ryan had mentioned something surprising: a shadow always lingered over her. Watching her run, Monsny understood. That shadow had forged her strength, but strength alone wasn't enough. She needed light, too, and the Metjiro family had to be that light for her.
"Raise those legs higher! Swing your arms faster!!"
"Yes, ma'am!!"
Monsny had no intention of racing again. Offers for Dream Trophy events came now and then, but she turned them all down. She'd given everything as an Uma Musume and had nothing left to prove. That's why she'd become a trainer, even earning her certification. She'd considered taking over as the next Metjiro trainer, but…
"Rampage-san, I think you should lift a bit more here," a voice called out.
"Oh, you're right… What about here? Should I lower this part?"
"In that case… let's try adjusting it bit by bit."
It seemed Rampage didn't need her in that role. She already had the perfect trainer—Minamisaka. He'd not only grasped Monsny's methods but had internalized them, making them his own. He wasn't just any trainer; sometimes, Monsny wondered if he was even human. All that was left was to pass the baton.
"Rampage, it's up to you now," Monsny said. "No matter how perfect the technique, it's useless if the runner can't keep up. That's where I fell short. Master it, Metjiro Rampage."
"—Yes, ma'am. I'll take it and make it mine."
"Minamisaka, she's yours from here. She'll need time to adjust, so I'll keep an eye on Canopus in the meantime. She won't master this if she's distracted."
"Sorry for the trouble," Minamisaka replied.
"No trouble at all," Monsny said with a shrug. "This is all a retired Uma Musume can do."
"Ramone's too soft on you lot!" Monsny barked. "Next, you're tackling my regimen, you little brats!"
"Let's do this!! Turbo's gonna blast through with a kaboom!" Turbo shouted.
"Wait, you don't mean literally pulling out livers, right?" someone teased.
"That'd be a disaster!" another chimed in.
"Exactly, exactly!!"
"First Ramone-san, now Monsny-san! Oh man, this is gonna be awesome!"
"I'll give it my all, too! Hiyah, hiyah, pow!!"
"Alright, let's all run together!"
"Heh, let's see how this plays out," Monsny said with a sly chuckle.
"Talk about Spartan training," someone remarked. "Monsny-san's intense."
"When you're in the thick of it, you don't have time to think about that," Rampage replied, panting. "You just focus on keeping up, or you'll never get it down."
It felt like her old way of running had been torn apart, piece by piece, only to be rebuilt with every movement synchronized. The process was so demanding she didn't have time to dwell on the pain—unlike Minamisaka's regimens, which were brutal enough to make pain a luxury.
"But this approach makes sense," Minamisaka said. "It's not just about strengthening your legs. This technique is why Monsny could go toe-to-toe with Seabiscuit in those legendary races."
"Even you think it's impressive, Minami-chan?" Rampage asked.
"Absolutely," he nodded.
A running style that unified the entire body, minimizing strain while maximizing efficiency—the ideal form for an Uma Musume. The sheer effort it must have taken Monsny to perfect it was staggering.
"Let's try it again," Minamisaka said. "This time, we'll clock your speed."
"You got it, Minami-chan!" Rampage replied.
As she glanced at Monsny, Rampage couldn't believe the woman called herself ordinary. Ordinary? No way. But Monsny's conviction, her ability to make others believe it, came from her skill and sheer force of will. If Rampage could master this technique, what could she become? The thought sent a thrill through her, her heartbeat racing with an exhilaration she'd never felt before.
"Let's do this… I'm Metjiro Rampage, and I'm gonna unleash!!"
The Rose Stakes, the trial for the Shuka Sho, arrived. Rampage took her place at the starting line, but her gaze wandered, distracted.
"Rampage-san, what's wrong?" Ikuno asked.
"Have you seen Flora?" Rampage replied, her voice tense.
"Now that you mention it…"
They scanned the crowd for Agnes Flora, but then an announcement crackled over the speakers.
"Attention: Agnes Flora, scheduled to race today, has withdrawn from the event."
"Flora… withdrew!?" Rampage exclaimed.
"What happened to her!?" Ikuno gasped.
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