"Ugh… I'm beat," Rampage groaned, slumping into a chair with a cigar dangling from her lips, smoke curling from the corner of her mouth.
Minamisaka, flipping through a schedule book, gave her a wry smile. "Hang in there. This is the last one for today."
"I know, I know, but tired is tired," Rampage grumbled. "Minami-chan, let's grab some food. I'm starving for some mental nourishment."
"Alright, I'll treat you to dinner after this," Minamisaka said. "What do you want?"
"Chashu ramen, extra large, with bamboo shoots and an egg on top."
"That's… shockingly ordinary," Minamisaka said, blinking.
"It's a feast, isn't it?" Rampage shot back.
To be fair, it was a feast by common standards. Despite joining the prestigious Metjiro family, Rampage's tastes remained stubbornly down-to-earth. She spent most of her time at Tressen Academy anyway, so she hadn't exactly embraced the aristocratic lifestyle—hardly surprising.
"Maybe there's a good ramen joint around here," Rampage mused. "Heck, I'd even settle for the place where Ines is working part-time."
"Haha, speaking of which, the Kikuka Sho is coming up," Minamisaka said. "I hear Ines-san is fired up for it."
"Yeah, she's been hammering stamina training," Rampage said.
In real-world history, Ines Fujin retired after the Derby due to tendonitis, but as an Uma Musume, she was brimming with energy and a top contender for the Kikuka Sho, ranked second favorite. Still, her stamina was a concern, so she'd been grinding through intense training.
"Heard she's been running with Palmer and Heli-chan lately," Rampage added. "No telling how the Kikuka Sho will shake out."
"With Ryan-san aiming for the Triple Crown, it's bound to be exciting," Minamisaka said.
The Shuka Sho had been unpredictable, and the Kikuka Sho promised the same. Rampage hoped for Ryan's victory, but facing McQueen, Ines, and other heavy hitters would be a brutal challenge.
"Alright, gotta step up my game too," Rampage said, stretching. "A signing event, right?"
"Yes, a quick interview followed by a URA-sponsored signing session," Minamisaka confirmed.
"Obā-sama picked it, so it's probably fine," Rampage said. "Let's do this."
She couldn't keep whining about exhaustion. Fame came with these obligations, and Minamisaka had been coaching her on handling them since her Hanshin Juvenile Fillies win. It wasn't impossible—she just had to push through.
"Oh, by the way," Minamisaka said, "URA requested you wear the other racing outfit they gave you at the award ceremony."
"Tell 'em I'll consider it if every single URA staff member wears the same design," Rampage replied with a smirk.
"Figured you'd say that, so I politely declined on your behalf," Minamisaka said.
"Perfect, Minami-chan," Rampage grinned.
"The gratitude is mine!" Minamisaka replied with mock formality.
As they stepped out of the car, Minamisaka recalled his phone call with the URA staff.
"Could you ask her to wear the racing outfit we presented at the ceremony?"
"Rampage-san really didn't like the design, so I don't think that's happening."
"She… didn't like it? Please, can you negotiate—?"
"If all the staff—men included—wear matching outfits that day, she might agree."
"Uh… what?"
"Every single one."
"…Let's pretend this never happened."
"Understood."
"Heh," Minamisaka chuckled.
"What's so funny, Minami-chan?" Rampage asked.
"Just remembering that phone call with URA," he said.
"Spill it, now I'm curious!" Rampage pressed.
"I've been a fan since your debut!" a fan gushed.
"That's awesome to hear!" Rampage replied. "Keep cheering for me!"
"C-C-Could you sign this!?" another stammered, thrusting out an item.
"Sure thing," Rampage said. "Wait, you want me to sign that pristine white shirt? That's what you're hoping for, right?"
"Is… is that okay!?" the fan squeaked.
Rampage leaned into the signing event, trying to enjoy the fan interactions. Each reaction was unique—some cried during handshakes, others vowed to treasure her signature as a family heirloom. The variety kept things interesting.
"Next, come on up!" she called.
She steeled herself for the next fan, only to see a small Uma Musume hiding behind her mother. She looked about ten or eleven, not yet in middle school.
"Sorry, she's super nervous," the mother said with a warm smile.
"Haha, no worries," Rampage said. "Wait… have we met before, ma'am?"
"I don't think so," the mother replied, puzzled.
"Right, my bad," Rampage said.
The mother's soft eyes and striking eyeshadow felt oddly familiar, but Rampage brushed it off. The young girl finally stepped forward, her trembling hands clutching a signing board.
"C-Could you sign this…?" she asked, voice quivering.
"Of course," Rampage said. "Fan service is my motto."
With practiced ease, she signed the board, her movements fluid from hours of practice. The girl watched with starry eyes, and Rampage flashed her a grin, thinking to add a little extra flair. Then, the girl took a deep breath and shouted.
"I… I'm gonna be a strong, fast Uma Musume like my mom—and like you!"
Her outburst startled the staff, but they quickly broke into warm smiles. Rampage's mind flashed to a memory of Rudolf and Teio—a moment of inspiration. I'm in Rudolf's shoes now, she realized. I'm someone's idol.
"That's high praise," Rampage said, her voice softening. "But that's a tough road, becoming like your mom or me."
"I know!" the girl said, her eyes fierce with determination.
"Then I'll be waiting for you at Tressen Academy," Rampage said, handing back the signed board with a grin.
"What's your name?"
"A-Air Groove!" the girl declared.
"Air Groove, huh?" Rampage said. "Got it. I'll be waiting at Tressen."
"Yes!" Air Groove beamed.
Rampage ruffled her hair, and at her mother's request, they posed for a photo. The pair waved goodbye with bright smiles, but Rampage's mind was reeling.
(No way… that was Air Groove? Now that I think about it, she's totally a mini-Groove…)
The girl who'd one day be called the Empress was standing right in front of her. Which meant her mother might be Dynacar… or not? Dynacar was Seabiscuit's contemporary, so maybe an older sister? Rampage shook her head.
(Nah, let's not dive into that abyss.)
Despite the surprise, the signing event continued smoothly.
Note: The timeline mostly aligns, but surprises like this can happen. That mother might be Dynacar… or maybe just Air Groove's Dynacar-lookalike sister. Let's leave it at that.
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