Rampage had just performed an action guaranteed to "burn the brains" of the new students with maximum intensity: guiding them around campus. While she completed her duty—winking at her Mejiro sister mixed among the crowd—she received a barrage of gazes. However, with her schedule already packed for the day, she tossed the rest of the tour duties to Minami-zaka and shifted gears to manage the Finals operations.
Fortunately, since Minami-zaka held a charismatic position as the Team Trainer of Canopus, the Uma Musume didn't seem too disappointed. In fact, they seemed delighted to have the chance to watch a mock race live, so it all worked out.
"Alright then. The mock race hosted by the Aggressor Team 'Nemesis' will now begin. Run with everything you've got. Other Trainers are watching this race too, so make sure you appeal to them properly."
"Yes, ma'am!!"
The Aggressors were a unit originally designed to play the role of "enemies" in training. Conceived by Chairwoman Akikawa, it was a newly established team with the dual purpose of improving the abilities of Uma Musume who hadn't been scouted by a Trainer or team, and preventing injuries through proper schedule management.
However, one cannot enter the Twinkle Series while remaining a member of Nemesis. That would go beyond the role of an Aggressor. If they want to become a protagonist, they have to spread their wings and leave this nest.
Belonging to Nemesis meant exactly that: transforming one's own misfortune into happiness. Striving to achieve that goal.
As the Uma Musume participating in the mock race fired themselves up to show their skills, they noticed the members of Nemesis forming a huddle. Just as they wondered what was happening, the Main Aggressor, Sunday Silence, roared at the top of her lungs.
"Listen up, you lot! You are indeed the villains. So what?! There's no rule saying the villain can't become the protagonist! Devour the main characters! Seize the throne! You didn't come here to lose; you came here to win!! Turn your own damn misfortune into happiness with your own two hands!!"
"TEAM NEMESIS!! YA-HA-!!"
A roar of spirit surged toward the sky. It sounded like the chant of an American football team. Despite racing being an individual sport, Sunday Silence had incorporated this collective fire.
Yes, everyone here was a distinct rival. They were competitors fighting to steal the leading role from one another. But their circumstances were the same: they were gathered here because they shared the frustration of not being scouted by a Trainer.
Even so, once the race started, that shared bond became irrelevant. They couldn't stay friends forever. That was exactly why she fired them up. To change their own fate with their own hands.
"Sounds like American football, doesn't it? I'm just relieved she didn't say, 'You didn't come here to win, you came to kill the protagonist and steal their place.'"
"——Ah, that would have been better. Should I change it?"
"Stop it. It's bad for their education."
Rampage sighed at Sunday's usual roughness while tapping away on her tablet.
As the General Chief, Rampage constructed the practice menus for the entire team. Sunday would then take those menus, add her own on-the-spot arrangements, and implement them. Rampage would make corrections on site, or call in Uma Musume and Trainers she had connections with to point out fine details or serve as training partners. That was the basic flow of Nemesis.
"Yo. Looks like the Aggressors are in full swing. Everyone has a good expression on their face, and their body balance is solid."
"As expected of a pervert, your point of view is sharp."
"Pick one: are you praising me or insulting me?"
"Isn't it both?"
"Probably."
"It's a reasonable assessment."
"You guys..."
Approaching Rampage were top-tier Trainers: Okino, Tojo, Kuronuma, and Minami-zaka. For the new rookie Trainers starting this year, the sight of a newbie surrounded by such an elite group would be terrifying. But for Rampage, these were adults she had a long history with, so there was zero tension.
"So, what's the team policy?"
"Using Canopus as a foundation, but with Sunday-san kicking their asses. Since the goal is to use this place as a stepping stone, it's pointless if their basics are shaky."
"That's something we appreciate, honestly. Teaching the basics takes time. If they already have fundamental physical strength, it makes a huge difference in shortening that process."
The Aggressors also based their style on Canopus's focus on fundamentals. To begin with, the common factor among Uma Musume who couldn't join a team or get scouted was often a lack of basics. Many girls kept failing because they tried to force advanced techniques despite lacking the necessary levels or stats. After discussing it with Sunday, they decided to adopt a basics-heavy stance.
"So then, who is Rookie Trainer Mejiro Rampage's top pick?"
"Let's see... That one, maybe."
Rampage pointed with her herb cigar at a single Uma Musume. She had entered the gate with more intensity than anyone else. But the moment she was inside, the hot-blooded atmosphere she'd radiated until seconds ago vanished, instantly cooling into a single point of concentrated fighting spirit.
When the race started, she nailed her start dash, secured a good position on the inside, and then tucked herself into the slipstream behind the leader to conserve stamina.
"She's got good eyes..."
"Yeah. Until just before, she deliberately let herself get worked up without holding back, but the moment she entered the gate, she suppressed it all at once. It's proof she can control herself perfectly."
"Her body balance was good, too. Not too strong in the lower body, not too weak in the upper body—a nice, savory balance."
"Her start was skillful, and her positioning is quite something..."
The evaluation from the top trainers was high. From elsewhere in the crowd, voices of disbelief could be heard: "Are these really the girls who couldn't get scouted?"
In fact, the top four runners in the current race were all Nemesis members. The others were Uma Musume who had already been scouted or those who hadn't joined Nemesis but were participating to check their skills in hopes of getting scouted.
"Final straight! Ohh, that's some incredible late speed!!"
"No, the one in the lead is holding her own too."
"This is a battle of guts between those two."
"Which one will it be..."
The other Nemesis members weren't bad—in fact, they were good—but these two were leagues above the rest of the field. They tangled together as they entered the final straight, trading blows like fighter jets in a dogfight all the way to the finish line.
The result was a 6-length gap ahead of 3rd place.
"Waaaaah! I messed up the crucial point!!"
"We got outsmarted by those two agaaain!!!"
The wails of the 3rd and 4th place finishers echoed. Their performance hadn't been bad by any means, but they had clearly intended to win, so the frustration of defeat was natural. However, seeing several Trainers heading toward them suggested things weren't all bad. Meanwhile, the two who had finished almost simultaneously rushed over.
"Chief! I won, right?! I was the winner, right!!?"
"Don't give me that crap, it was obviously me!! Hey, Chief, tell her she lost!"
"Can't you do something about that tone when speaking to the Chief?! Also, the winner was me!!"
"I said it was me!!"
"Ah~ yes, yes. Both of you, calm down. The winner was... you."
Checking the infrared sensor placed at the finish line, the winner was the one who had chased from behind.
"Yessss!! See that?! It was me after all!!"
"Dammiiiiiiiit!!!"
One had magnificently devoured the protagonist role; the other screamed in the frustration of being devoured. This was the spirit of a Nemesis Uma Musume. As they watched the pair, scouts appeared immediately.
"Excuse me. I would like to scout you."
"I want to scout you."
"I'm gonna go for that one over there. If I polish her, she'll shine super bright."
Okino went to scout the 3rd place finisher. Tojo scouted the 2nd place, and Kuronuma approached the winner.
Being scouted so suddenly, the two who had been fighting just moments ago looked at each other in surprise. Then, immediately, they hugged each other, praising one another and expressing their joy with their whole bodies.
"Chief! I got scouted!! This is all thanks to you, Chief!!"
"Seriously grateful, Chief!! Gotta go tell Sai-san too!!"
"Yeah. Congratulations. You became a magnificent protagonist."
Watching Rampage offer words of encouragement as the General Chief, Minami-zaka couldn't help but smile. At the same time, he felt a twinge of fear for a few years down the line. She clearly had talent as a Trainer; the day she eventually became independent and launched her own team would be formidable.
"In that case—as of today, Offside Trap graduates from the Aggressor Team Nemesis!!"
"Likewise, Nemesis member Genuine graduates!!"
"I pray for both of your success. Go become true protagonists!!"
""Roger!!""
To do what I can to the best of my ability.
That was also Mejiro Rampage's dream.
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