"Today, I'll surpass you…!!" "The mountain's not that easy. Like fundamentals, it doesn't give way overnight."
Shinzan's training was added to the camp, ramping up its intensity. After daily routines, Rampage heads to the mountain, joins Shinzan, climbs, descends, and climbs again in the afternoon. This cycle began as the camp hit August.
"I'm staying at a nearby inn. Sweet old couple cooks heaps for an Uma Musume." "Nice."
Despite her fiery competitiveness during training, Rampage gets along well with Shinzan off the track. They've swapped contacts, friended in-game, and Shinzan's confirmed as a guest for Rampage's next stream.
"Didn't peg you for a stream viewer." "Haha! An undefeated world record holder streaming? Hilarious. I hate the media, so I love how you stick it to them." "Wanna go big for the next stream?" "Nice. I'll pull strings. How about Kaburaya Oh? Big front-runner like you. Or Ten Point, Green Grass… Toshoboy'd be fun. Who'd you pick?" "Big names just rolling out like it's a 3200m turf race. Don't casually call up the TTG! (Is Toshoboy CB's dad? Wait, wasn't his trainer his 'dad'? Thinking about Uma Musume ages is as pointless as this…)"
Shinzan's connections are insane—names that'd make TV stations quake. Rampage can only laugh.
"(Wait, isn't Shinzan older than Su-chan?)" "What, think I look like an old hag?" "No way, Shinzan-senpai's a stunning beauty!!" "That's better♪"
Despite being from an earlier generation than Speed Symboli, Shinzan looks youthful—a true ageless beauty.
"Why not stay at our hotel? You're not strapped for cash." "Not my style. Fancy hotels are stifling." "Fair, but some folks here'd love to chat. Like our president." "Ugh, Rudolf?"
"Surpass Shinzan" was the slogan, her legacy that massive. Symboli Rudolf finally matched it, and when she rose, news flooded that she'd surpassed Shinzan. Su-chan said Rudolf was hyper-aware of her.
"Nah, I hate stuffy formalities. She'd probably give a grand speech." "Yeah, sounds like Prez…" "I'm all about chill vibes with like-minded folks." "Get that." "We're on the same wavelength."
Shinzan snaps a popsicle, handing half to Rampage.
"Thanks." "Best with folks who get it." "Totally. Canopus is like that—inside jokes galore."
The summer heat melts under the popsicle's chill. They chomp in sync, wincing from brain freeze, then charge up the mountain again.
"You're getting used to this climb." "Daily ups and downs'll do that." "Mind if I check your legs?" "Go for it. Got a trainer at Tresen who does that unprompted." "Haha, what? They're asking for a kick."
She laughs it off, not knowing it's true—and worse, it's a Triple Crown Uma Musume's trainer.
("Daily climbs and fundamentals are bulking her muscles. Solid frame, flexible joints… pure talent. This kid's a gem.") "You've got a rare build." "Thanks. Tresen's weirdo said the same." "What's with Tresen now? All about skill, even with oddballs?" "Dunno your era, so can't say."
Her words are brushed off. Meanwhile, Okino, watching Turbo, sneezes big, suspects a summer cold, and downs medicine at the hotel.
"Your full-body running, powered by those iron hooves for a big front-run… undefeated ten-crown makes sense. You'd dominate globally. Why not go?" "'Should' isn't enough. I need 'will.' " "Want certainty?" "Rushing blinds you. Slow, grounded training reveals the big picture. I can't bounce across the earth like some Triple Crown."
She's seen overseas strength in the Japan Cup but isn't rushing. Using her hooves? Cocky junior. Worth toughening up.
"Then I'll grind you down. Run so hard they rename those hooves Rampage iron." "Cool with that?" "Hate these things. Take 'em. Shinzan Memorial's enough for me."
If they're useful, let them be. Her trainer'd be thrilled. She never thought she'd run again after retiring, yet here she is, blood pumping, craving a race. She laughs at herself.
"Now, beach training. Don't call me Shinzan—I hate hassle." "Why not stick to the mountain?" "Said I'd grind you. Can't back down." "That's the spirit! Razor-sharp finisher! The Uma Musume who climbs the god's mountain!!" "Hahaha, keep it coming! Oh, and my Shinzan's not 'god's mountain'—it's 'stretching mountain.'*3" "For real?"
"You… Shinzan-sama!?" "(Crap, Shinzan-senpai, they saw through you!)" "(I can still dodge.) What? I'm no big shot." "I've longed to meet the five-crown god of Uma Musume!" "No way to dodge this, Ran! They're not listening!" "Told you mountain was safer… Minami, help!" "No chance…"
1: Mr. CB's mom, CB Queen, and dad, Toshoboy, debuted in the same race—classmates who married. 2: Official term: ice cream headache. 3: Trainer Takeda named him after grandson Shinichi Kurita's "Shin" and "yama" (mountain) for his steady presence—Shinzan.
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T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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