Team Rigil—the elite squad of Tressen Academy, where top Uma Musume hone their skills under the iron guidance of Trainer Hana Tojo. Their strength shines like a first-magnitude star, none brighter than their emblematic champion: the Emperor, Symboli Rudolf.
"Sorry for the sudden summons," Rudolf said, seated across from Rampage in the reception room.
"No worries. I had time to deal with a creep," Ran replied coolly.
"A creep?!" Tojo groaned, clutching her head. "That idiot..."
The word "creep" instantly pointed to one person, and Tojo's frustration confirmed it. That a rival trainer from Team Spica, a powerhouse vying with Rigil, could act so foolishly was exasperating.
"As a fellow trainer, I apologize for his behavior," Tojo said.
"Yeah, guy reviewed my legs like they're pre-release merch," Ran quipped.
Tojo's face twitched, a vein pulsing. Maybe Ran shouldn't have said that, but Okino's antics were clearly a problem. Blame the guy groping legs, not her for calling it out.
"That must've been... rough," Tojo said, grimacing. "I'll talk to Okino. And I'll make sure his partner, Mr. C.B., drives the point home. That'll sting."
"Mr. C.B.?" Ran asked.
"You haven't heard?" Rudolf interjected. "Mr. C.B.—the Triple Crown winner."
Ran's jaw dropped. "That perv's partner is a Triple Crown horse?!"
Mr. C.B., the beloved Triple Crown champion, famously broke the "Yoshida Slope Rule" to claim his final crown. His iconic race call—"The earth trembles for Mr. C.B.!"—echoed even in this world, where he reigned as a Triple Crown Uma Musume. And then there was Symboli Rudolf, the Eternal Emperor, who followed C.B. with another Triple Crown, known for just three losses in a storied career. Their clash at the Arima Kinen, where Rudolf's victory cemented her dominance, was legendary.
"End of the world," Ran muttered.
"Seriously," Tojo sighed. "I know it's not my place, but as a trainer, I'm sorry."
"I'll take the apology, minus any diseases," Ran said dryly.
The sheer absurdity of this world hit her—two Triple Crown legends in the same school, and her roommate was the first Triple Tiara winner. It was enough to give anyone a headache.
"So, what's this about? Dragging a trainer-less transfer into a meeting?" Ran asked, cutting to the chase.
Tojo leaned forward. "I'll be blunt: join Team Rigil."
Et tu, Brutus? Ran thought, not entirely surprised. Her selection race had clearly caught Rigil's eye, but a direct scout from Tojo was unexpected. Rudolf chimed in.
"I watched your race," Rudolf said. "Your knack for pacing, disrupting opponents, and controlling the field was exceptional. I'd bet on you for a Triple Crown."
"High praise from the Emperor herself," Ran said, smirking. "Honored."
"Call me President, please," Rudolf said, a wry smile forming.
Rudolf, Tressen's student council president, seemed to like the "Emperor" title despite her protest. Fun fact: Mejiro Ramonu was vice president, with the other vice president slot still open.
"I heard from Mejiro Ryan it was your first real race," Tojo added. "To pull off that performance? You're destined to lead the next generation."
"Too much credit," Ran said, deflecting. "I'm not that big a deal."
Her human memories stirred. The generation after Oguri Cap—the '89 cohort—wasn't exactly legendary. Sandpearlis, a long-shot Elizabeth Queen Cup winner, was the standout, but that was about it.
"That final move, though," Rudolf said. "It was unreal."
"Agreed," Tojo nodded.
They meant her last-second pass, overtaking two Uma Musume from behind in a flash. Even Tojo, a seasoned trainer, had doubted her eyes. They needed answers.
"What was that?" Tojo asked. "I've seen countless runs, but nothing like it."
"No surprise there," Ran said. "It's not an Uma Musume move."
"What do you mean?" Rudolf pressed.
"Ever heard of a crossover step?"
Both shook their heads. Ran hadn't consciously used it, but Mejiro Asama's mention jogged her memory. She'd stumbled into it—and laughed at her luck.
"Before transferring, I delivered evening papers," Ran explained. "Stopping at every mailbox took too long, so I figured out a way to keep moving. That's how it came naturally."
"The crossover step?" Tojo asked.
"Yup. It's a technique from sports like American football. No wonder you didn't know it."
Her crossover step let her change direction—left, right—without losing speed. It taxed her legs, but her Uma Musume strength, sturdy bones, and years of delivery runs made it second nature. In a race, it was a game-changer.
"Even swallowed by the pack, you could break free with that," Tojo marveled. "You're something else."
"Ease up on the praise," Ran said, feigning nonchalance. "My cheeks are burning."
Her deadpan delivery left them thinking she was a tough nut to crack. Despite her raw edges, Ran's talents—racecraft, pacing, long strides, and that crossover step—marked her as a trainer's dream.
"What do you want from racing?" Rudolf asked. "What are you chasing at Tressen?"
Tressen drew Uma Musume with varied dreams: Triple Crowns inspired by Rudolf, Triple Tiaras like Ramonu, or consecutive Emperor's Cups like the Mejiros. What drove Rampage?
"What I'm chasing…" Ran mused.
What did she want? The question stumped her briefly, but the answer was clear as day. She held up two fingers.
"Simple," she said. "First, to repay the Mejiro family. They became my family."
"The Mejiros…" Tojo echoed. "You said 'first.' There's more?"
Ran stood, her voice steady.
"Yeah. The second's petty revenge—against the ones who screwed me over."
"Revenge?" Rudolf frowned. "What happened to you?"
"Sorry, that's as far as I go," Ran said, bowing. "Can't take the scout offer. I'm neither cheap nor pricey. Try me again later."
She left the room, her goals crystal clear. Most Uma Musume were pure-hearted, but her human soul carried darker edges—malice included. And she'd lean into it.
"I'll show them," she muttered. "I'll make them regret stealing my parents' legacy!"
Her reasons were simple: deep gratitude and burning anger. With those, she'd tear up the turf.
Footnote: Sandpearlis, the 1989 Elizabeth Queen Cup winner, stunned at 20th odds (430-1), paying 43,060 yen—the highest single-race payout in G1 history, still unbroken.