"What a mess… What to do?" Rudolf muttered.
A pile of letters addressed to Rampage: handwritten notes, bold race invitations, glossy pamphlets—all from Uma Musume she'd crushed in the Japan Cup. American, French… but one stood out, a single sheet scrawled in brushstroke Japanese.
"I'll defeat you at the Arc de Triomphe."
The shaky, uneven characters betrayed unfamiliarity with the language and brush, yet the intent was clear—a challenge fueled by one goal: topple Mejiro Rampage.
"The Arc de Triomphe, huh…" Rudolf mused.
The world's pinnacle race, a near-mythical showdown for the strongest Uma Musume. Only three Japanese Uma Musume had dared it: Rudolf's grandmother, Speed Symboli; Mejiro Musashi; and cousin Sirius Symboli. Legends all, yet the overseas wall proved too thick.
"What would you do, Rampage?" Rudolf wondered.
Her own European dreams were cut short by a leg issue, leaving only an American expedition. She still longed to race on her grandmother's hallowed ground.
"Ramone, do you think Rampage would go for it?" Rudolf asked.
"No clue. That's all I've got," Ramone replied.
Their situations mirrored—both Mejiro, both Arc aspirants. Rudolf expected insight, but…
"Truth is, Mejiro elders have sent Grandma proposals urging Rampage to race the Arc," Ramone revealed.
"Expected, after that performance," Rudolf nodded.
Who wouldn't dream big after her run? Even Rudolf did, but—
"Some proposals have ulterior motives," Ramone said.
"Ulterior?" Rudolf raised an eyebrow.
"Not everyone likes her."
Rampage's place in Mejiro was delicate. Originally Ryan's friend, her sudden entry sparked resentment. Some scoffed at a "lowly" Uma Musume joining Mejiro, but she silenced them with an unbroken streak: debut wins, G1 triumphs, the Triple Tiara, and a Japan Cup world record.
"So they want her in the Arc to see her crushed by foreign Uma Musume. 'She won in Japan, but she'll break overseas,' they say," Ramone explained.
"That's vile," Rudolf growled.
"Agreed," Ramone said.
Rampage was too big for open opposition—pushback would backfire. So they'd push her to fall in the Arc, where defeat seemed certain.
"Grandma's torn," Ramone added. "She wants Musashi's regret avenged, but…"
"I feel the same," Rudolf admitted.
She'd love to race the Arc next year, to stand proud before her grandmother.
"But it's up to Rampage," Ramone said.
"Exactly. We'll need to talk to Minamisaka… and Ryan. They know her best," Rudolf concluded.
"Best bet," Ramone agreed.
"Big Sis, what're you reading?" Rice asked.
"Latin textbook," Rampage replied.
In Canopus's clubroom, Rampage read while "keeping watch." Rice peeked at her notebook, filled with Latin translations.
"Latin?! Are you planning an overseas run?!" Nature gasped.
"Nope. Why would I?" Rampage said.
"Then why Latin?" Ticket pressed.
"It's cool."
Her blunt answer left Ticket and Rice baffled, heads tilted. Nature, recovering first, pushed back.
"Cool? That's it?"
"Games use Latin, right? Like ancient wall inscriptions," Rampage said.
"Oh, like treasure hunter games!" Ticket nodded.
"Latin's got a cool ring. Same reason I learned German," Rampage added.
Ticket and Rice nodded, impressed. Nature sighed—here she thought Rampage was eyeing overseas races, but… "cool"?
"Plus, it'll help post-retirement. Maybe I'll commentate overseas races," Rampage said.
"Smart! Maybe I'll learn too!" Ticket enthused.
"If Big Sis is doing it, Rice might try… I know English, but…" Rice mumbled.
"I can teach German, French, Italian too," Rampage offered.
The clubroom buzzed with excitement. Nature glanced at their trainer.
"How far could Ran go overseas?" Nature asked.
"Hard to say. Shinzan Iron training gives her the power needed, so she could go far," the trainer replied.
"You're not pushing her there?" Nature pressed.
"She's got zero interest," he said.
"Right…" Nature sighed.
"Rampage… I'll crush you at next year's Arc de Triomphe!"
"Oh, wanna hit a French place tonight? My treat," Rampage said.
"Yay! Turbo's always wanted to try French food!" Turbo cheered.
Rampage's interest in going overseas? Absolutely zero.
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