"Rampage-san, what's with that Uma-tter post?!" McQueen demanded.
"Yeah, Ran! Why were you with Grandma?!" Ryan added.
"And she was all smiles! What happened?!" Palmer pressed.
"Whoa, calm down!" Rampage yelped.
Checking Japan Cup articles, a human-era habit of reading newspapers had resurfaced. At Tressen's shop, cigar in hand, she skimmed the news, missing horse racing but eyeing Oguri's feature when McQueen, Ryan, and Palmer stormed in.
"What's the big deal? Me on Uma-tter that funny?" Rampage asked.
"Not that! How'd you end up snapping a pic with Grandma and posting it?!" McQueen insisted.
"Well…" Rampage shrugged.
Asama saw her Uma-tter post about shiny Iron Treads and Roaring Moon. Learning Asama played Pokémon—Scarlet for Rampage, Violet for Asama—they traded and battled.
"This gen's legendaries are wild… That goofy dog vibe is adorable," Rampage said.
"Oh, absolutely. I grew so attached. When it popped out for a sandwich, I couldn't help but say, 'What a good kid!'" Asama replied.
"Right?! When the second Koraidon looked all sad, it was so cute…"
"And Miraidon's regal but sweet moments…"
"Koraidon's just a big dog to me. Ceruledge had such presence, but Armarouge? Total flop," Rampage laughed.
"Fufu, same," Asama giggled.
"That's the kinda chat I had with Grandma," Rampage explained.
"Grandma… playing Pokémon?" McQueen blinked.
"No way…" Ryan muttered.
"She does," Rampage confirmed.
Their Pokémon talk made the sanatorium fun. Asama suggested a photo, partly to check "vulgar" critics. It went viral, trending Mejiro Pokémon trainers.
"But why'd Grandma visit you? She could've cheered Ryan," McQueen said.
"True," Palmer agreed.
"Nah, I'd have been too nervous to run," Ryan admitted.
McQueen nodded, but why visit resting Rampage? That's why they came.
"Simple. She threw gas on my fire," Rampage said.
"What's that mean?!" Palmer asked.
"She lit a fuse."
Asama feared burnout after Rampage's Triple Tiara and Japan Cup world record. Achieving Ryan's promise and such feats could sap her drive or push her to retire. Grandma came to gauge her spark.
"She gave me my next goal," Rampage said.
"Next? After an undefeated five crowns, what's left?" Ryan asked.
Eight crowns to surpass Rudolf? The three pondered as Rampage folded the newspaper, tucked away her cigar, and stood.
"Obvious, right? Run stronger, faster, higher. That's what we Uma Musume do."
Her words stunned them with their simplicity. Tossing the paper in a bin, she headed for the student council room.
"Yo," Rampage greeted.
"Rampage? I didn't call you," Rudolf said, surprised.
"Sorry, heard someone's hiding challenge letters meant for me. Thought I'd hear their excuse before ratting them out," she smirked.
Rudolf froze. Ramone shook her head—not her. Then who…?
"Sorry, you seemed uninterested in overseas races. I thought easing you into it was better than forcing it," Rudolf confessed.
"Thanks, but my mail's my mail, Prez," Rampage said.
"Fair point. My bad. Here," Rudolf handed over letters in English, French—summaries of defeat in the Japan Cup but boasts of home-turf revenge. Some were just race pamphlets, many for dirt tracks. Then, the last one:
"I'll defeat you at the Arc de Triomphe."
"Well, damn, Prez, hiding some spicy stuff," Rampage grinned.
"Sorry… It's the Arc, the world's pinnacle. You said you weren't interested, so I hesitated. Ramone and I were discussing how to spark your interest—"
"One look at this, and I'm in," Rampage cut in.
"What?" Rudolf and Ramone gasped in unison, their ten combined crowns sounding foolish.
"Show Minami-chan first, and he'd probably hype me up. I'd be like, 'Hell yeah, Minami-chan, let's do this!' Overseas challenge accepted," Rampage said.
"That… easy?" Rudolf stammered.
"Decisions are all vibe and momentum, Chan-senpai," Rampage grinned at Ramone.
"Huh? What?" Ramone blinked, startled.
"The Arc's in France, right?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm hitting up real French food," Rampage declared.
What audacity. Noble families rarely met such boldness, making Rampage magnetic. Rudolf felt it too, eager to cheer her on.
"I'll support you. Symboli will too, fully," Rudolf pledged.
"Sweet! One favor then?" Rampage asked.
"Name it," Rudolf said.
Ten minutes later…
"Why're you, Prez, and Ramone-san making a heart pose in a three-shot?! Not fair, Ran!" Teio wailed, storming over.
"It's a Triple Crown thing," Rampage teased.
"That makes no sense!"
Teio freaked over Rampage's Uma-tter post:
Mejiro Rampage @dictatorship
"Fifteen crowns together! Got a pep talk from my seniors."
A photo of the trio in a heart pose. It blew up online.
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