"Hohoho!" Rampage's hearty laugh rang out.
Heavy thuds shook the ground, stark contrast to her lively voice. She trained with Shinzan Iron weights strapped on, running ladder drills.
"Ran's amazing! Turbo wants in!" Turbo cheered.
"Minami-chan, got Shinzan Iron for Turbo?" Rampage asked.
"Actually, beginner sets arrived for everyone. Classic members get double-weight ones," Minamisaka said.
"Double's still brutal compared to regular shoes," Nature sighed.
Turbo buzzed with excitement for Canopus's new Shinzan Iron, while Nature groaned at the tougher training ahead, though both brimmed with enthusiasm.
"Ikuno's on the standard ones, right?" Rampage asked.
"Yes, four times regular weight," Minamisaka confirmed.
"Four times is 'standard'?" Rice blinked.
"Rice-san, pre-debut, so 1.5 times to start. Get used to it," Minamisaka said.
"What about me?!" Ticket piped up.
"Not yet for you, Ticket-san. But we've got custom power anklets," Minamisaka replied.
Rice, still building strength, started light. Ticket, a year younger, wasn't ready for Shinzan Iron but got lead-weighted anklets instead.
"500 grams each, so 1 kilo total on both legs," Minamisaka explained.
"No biggie! I could dash 1000m like this!" Ticket boasted.
"Don't underestimate it, Ticket," Rampage said, sipping a drink with a towel around her neck. "Seems light, but it creeps up. Minami-chan's got a pretty face but crafts brutal menus."
"I'm flattered," Minamisaka smirked.
"Sarcasm, dude," Rampage shot back.
"Turbo's fine with this!" Turbo said, hopping like a rabbit with her Shinzan Iron on, proof of her leg strength from running with Ikuno and Rampage.
"Let's make it a game," Rampage proposed.
"Game?!" Turbo's eyes lit up.
"Everyone but me, 1000m dash with Shinzan Iron. Test your speed," Rampage said.
"Sounds fun!" Turbo cheered.
"I'm curious, I'm in," Rice nodded.
"Me too!" Ticket joined.
"Count me in!" Nature added.
"Can't lose," Ikuno said.
"Caught me napping, huh?" Minamisaka chuckled, as Rampage flashed a sneaky V-sign.
"It's a game, so there's a prize," Rampage teased.
"What is it?!" Turbo asked.
"Secret. Undefeated five-crown guarantees it's good," Rampage winked.
Lured by the prize, everyone lined up. Minamisaka signaled, and they bolted. Ikuno led, her experience with standard Shinzan Iron showing—she could race with them. Impressive adaptability.
"Ikuno's ready for five times soon," Minamisaka noted.
"Small weight changes shift the whole game," Rampage said, wearing eight-times weights, the heaviest.
"Gonna be Teio's rival!" Turbo shouted, her run sharper since her promise with Teio. Her stamina was climbing, undecided between Classic or Tiara routes but poised for success either way.
"Not losing!" Nature yelled.
"Pass, don't follow!" Rice pushed.
Nature's long sprints and Rice's stamina shone. Despite the 1000m challenge, both showed surprising speed.
"It's kinda tough!" Tanhoiza grunted.
"Alright, here I—ugh, my legs got heavy!" Ticket groaned.
Tanhoiza, a natural stayer, struggled with the short distance but powered through. Ticket, past halfway, felt the 1-kilo anklets drag, slowing sharply.
"Feels fine at first, then hits hard. Different kind of pain," Rampage mused.
"Guts! GUTS!" Ticket roared, pushing through fatigue and fading focus. Shinzan Iron tested mental and physical limits. Ikuno crossed first, followed by Nature, Turbo, Rice, Tanhoiza, and Ticket.
"Good work. How's Shinzan Iron feel?" Rampage asked.
"Brutal… You do this all the time, Ran?" Turbo panted.
"Times several. Now you get why I call Minami-chan a demon," Rampage said.
"Learned the hard way…" Nature gasped.
"It was… tough…" Rice wheezed.
"Gonna take time to adjust…" Tanhoiza said.
"Mine's lighter, and I'm toast…" Ticket groaned.
"Ikuno, you're a beast," Rampage said.
"Mental edge," Ikuno replied.
"Next, five times for you," Minamisaka said.
"Bring it," Ikuno nodded, unfazed, ready to upgrade.
"Who won, Ran?" Turbo asked.
"Who said it's a contest? Ikuno was always gonna win. That's no race," Rampage said.
"So the prize was fake?" Turbo pouted.
"Nah, I don't play dirty." Rampage pulled a paper from her pocket. "Mejiro sanatorium invite for all. Grandma's approval secured."
"No way! I wanted to go back since last time!" Turbo cheered.
"It was amazing!" Rice beamed.
"Can't wait!" Nature said.
"Really exciting!" Ikuno added.
"When?! Let me see!" Tanhoiza begged.
"Me too!" Ticket chimed.
Canopus erupted in joy. Rampage and Minamisaka grinned—Asama had greenlit inviting the team, and it was a hit.
"Now, Minami-chan, my menu?" Rampage asked.
"Dirt course, eight times," Minamisaka said.
"It's time, huh? Set?" she asked.
"Applied. They were shocked," he said.
"No kidding," Rampage laughed, lighting a cigar.
Her next race: G2 Tokai Stakes. On dirt, not turf.
"A turf star switching to dirt? They're floored," she said.
"Checked multiple times if it's real," Minamisaka said.
"It is," Rampage grinned.
"Tokai Stakes tests your dirt aptitude. Training stays intense," Minamisaka warned.
"Got it, Coach," Rampage saluted.
"Hello, konnichiwa, ciao! Today's guest is…" Rampage began.
"Hey, everyone! Been a while, Maruzensky here!" Maruzensky waved.
"Today, we're…" Rampage started.
"Stealing your gazes!" they said in unison.
"Arresting them!" they finished together.
"Another legend?!" the comments screamed.
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