"The second Uma Musume in history to claim the Triple Tiara. For Mejiro's shining star, Japan was too small. She challenged the world—and shrank it. The dazzling chestnut, Mejiro Rampage. On this day, Japan surpassed the world. To the globe, the Japan Cup!"
"This vibe never changes, huh?" Rampage says, gazing at Tokyo Racecourse with a hint of nostalgia.
"It's not supposed to," Nanzaka replies.
Rampage nods, a wistful look in her eyes. Today, foreign Uma Musume are here to challenge her—but she's not racing. They're chasing her previous year's world record instead.
"Can they beat you?" Nanzaka asks.
Countless pleas flooded in until the registration deadline—calls for Rampage to race, to face them, to lose. But she stuck to her plan: the Champions Cup. Despite the trash talk, she brushed it off.
"Man, that was annoying," she grumbles.
"I enjoyed you clapping back in their languages. Quite the show," Nanzaka chuckles.
"Stressful as hell for me."
Some Uma Musume even contacted her directly, unconvinced. She fired back in their tongues, stunning them, but rejected their pleas to race.
"They had the nerve to say the Japan Cup's worthless without me. Pisses me off," she says.
"You're the tentative world number one on 2400m turf. I get why they're mad," Nanzaka notes.
"Whatever. I'm here to enjoy the show."
She gets their drive to beat her but finds their disregard for her plans arrogant. Want a fight? Come to the Champions Cup, she told them. Those who whined about dirt got her blunt reply: "Break my world record then. Bet you'll crash and burn."
Her provocative words sparked boasts, but none grasped her point. Sighing, she scans the race program.
"Ardan's running too, huh? Hope she does well," Rampage says.
Not just McQueen but Ardan's in the Japan Cup—two Mejiros in the fray. Among them, Agnes Flora's name stands out. Rampage came to watch her, chuckling at the irony of Flora chasing her shadow, just like last year.
"Look at this, Nanzaka," she says, showing him the odds.
"Flora, huh? Oh, wow…"
Flora's 12th favorite, Ardan 9th, and McQueen the top pick. Flora's low ranking makes sense—she often races Rampage, racking up few wins. Still, she's nabbed victories in non-overlapping stakes, but the public undervalues her. Meanwhile, Mejiro's Ardan and McQueen carry high expectations.
"They miss the point," Rampage says. "This is Flora's shot."
"Flora's raced at a blistering pace for Rigil. Her experience rivals yours," Nanzaka adds.
"My fault, I guess."
Flora's record—18 races, 6 wins—doesn't scream star, but that's her edge.
"12th favorite. Fair enough," Flora muses, accepting the odds. McQueen, her peer, is the top favorite—impressive.
"Agnes Flora-san, let's show Japan's pride today," McQueen says.
"Mejiro Ardan. An honor to race with you," Ardan adds.
"Likewise…" Flora replies, flustered. She forgets, hanging around Rampage, that Mejiro's a noble house. These two are proper ladies, unlike Rampage's rough edge. Her own pedigree's decent, but still…
McQueen glances around. Foreign Uma Musume eye them with a mix of disdain and disappointment. They came for Rampage, settling for her record's stage. Their frustration's clear.
"They're here for Rampage-san. We're not enough," McQueen says.
"She's done incredible things. I won't let her outshine me today," Ardan replies, unfazed, her fighting spirit steady. McQueen nods in agreement.
"No matter who we face, I'll race as a Mejiro without shame. They want Rampage, but I'll show I'm just as much a Mejiro," McQueen declares.
"Cool! Not nervous?" Flora asks.
"After facing the Emperor and Empress at the Tenno Sho, this is nothing. You get used to it," McQueen says.
True—after that, most pressure feels light. McQueen turns the question back. "You don't seem nervous either, Flora-san."
"I'm not. I'm… excited."
"Excited?"
"Yeah—to challenge her."
Flora's eyes see Rampage, absent yet present, her shadow etched into the Japan Cup. She's the phantom everyone chases. Ardan laughs. "You look like you're in love with her."
"What?! Do I?" Flora panics.
"Like you're facing your crush. Rampage's too cool, I'll give her that."
"No way… if she saw this, she'd freak out again…"
Despite the Japan Cup's weight, the trio's tension is light. They exchange glances, steel themselves, and head to their gates.
"Let's do this," Flora says.
"I'm already freaked out," Rampage mutters.
Man, JRA's CM flair is unreal. Someone gift me that kind of style.
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