"Hey, Ran, heard you've been tearing up the hill lately. Does it really work?"
"Try it yourself before asking."
"My trainer'd have to schedule it first~"
During meals, other Uma Musume often joined Rampage to eat. Today, it was Teio. Despite her challenge to race, they didn't always clash, keeping things relaxed off the track.
"Saw Canopus practicing the other day. Who was that new girl?"
"Someone Minami-chan called in. Retired, but brought in for a fresh perspective."
"Spica doesn't do stuff like that…"
Teio didn't seem too curious, which suited Rampage's plan. The mystery girl was Kaburayaoh, who wanted to stay low-key and disguised at Tressen Academy, even during the Sacred Hoof Festival, to avoid attention. For her, going undisguised was unthinkable. Rampage mused that her own cross-dressing outings might count as a decent disguise.
"The mask and hill training—that from her 'fresh perspective' too?"
"Yup. Builds lung capacity."
"Like high-altitude training, huh?"
"Exactly."
Teio caught on quick—far sharper than Turbo, no offense.
"Races can get tough at 2400 meters. Plus, the 2500-meter Arima's coming up. For someone like me aiming overseas, stamina's key."
"Got it~… hehe!" Teio suddenly giggled, barely containing herself, prompting a puzzled look from Rampage.
"What's so funny?"
"Just… got excited. I'm racing there too, and knowing we'll run together again makes me happy!"
"Happy your rival's getting stronger? What's that about?"
"I wanna be like Kaicho! To do that, I need to race strong opponents and grow. Knowing you're tough makes me train harder!"
"Such a protagonist vibe…"
Rampage admired Teio's passion. She'd rather strategize around weaknesses than get that fired up.
"Overseas, huh… that stage at the festival blew my mind."
"Not that shocking. Rudolph planned overseas races too."
"I know, but it's so different—country, culture, environment, everything."
Teio wasn't wrong. Racing abroad wasn't like switching from central to local tracks. Everything—culture, environment—bared its fangs, making it hard to imagine.
"I was gonna jump on stage and challenge you again," Teio admitted.
"Bold move."
"But I backed off. That guest lineup was insane."
"Tell me about it. Good call holding back."
"No way! I marched up, ready to face Kaicho, but then her grandma was there too! Total chaos!"
Rampage got it. Even she was floored, and those two claimed it was "coincidence" despite clearly planning it. Sneaky.
"Then Kaicho and her grandma dragged me around the festival! Kaicho called me over, and her grandma was all, 'Call me Su-chan♪' with this huge smile, hugging me like a doll. Kaicho didn't help—she just grinned and gave a thumbs-up! I couldn't enjoy the festival at all…"
"Su-chan, huh…"
Probably a reaction to Rudolph and Sirius holding back. To Sirius, little Teio, who admired her grandson, was adorable. Rampage saw Asama like a grandma too, but big and small "grandkids" hit differently. And Rudolph—stop dumping your role on Teio.
"They told me to keep calling her Su-chan and gave me pocket money. Kaicho said, 'Look after her.' What do I even do?"
"Give up."
"Isn't it 'until the match ends'!?"
"But you're Su-chan… That grandma's playful enough to crash my streams. She'll probably keep doting on you like a grandkid. She does it to me too."
"Ugh…"
Teio likely hoped Rampage could intervene. No dice. They were close, but only as friends—she couldn't meddle that deep. She could ask for moderation, but whether they'd listen was another story.
"Kaicho should handle her own grandma."
"She says it's too embarrassing to lean on her."
"So she pushes it on others? Typical."
Historically, Teio was Speed Symboli's great-grandchild, so the grandma treatment wasn't wrong… but still. Speed Symboli likely wanted Rudolph to lean on her too. Rampage would gently pass that on later.
"I'll talk to Kaicho and Su-chan for you."
"Thanks… I don't hate it, but it's overwhelming. How do you call her Su-chan so casually?"
"I'm probably just numb to it."
Worst case, Rampage could use the "double grandma attendant" card to force them onto her stream. Things had improved, but drastic measures might be needed. If Sirius got roped in, she'd toss the blame to Rudolph.
"Achoo!"
"Cold?" Minamisaka asked.
"Nah, just my nose. Better take some cold meds."
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