"You summoned me, Madame Chairwoman? Or is this about me causing too much trouble for the government and finally getting the boot?"
"ASTONISHMENT!" Chairwoman Yayoi Akikawa shouted, her eyes wide. "What on earth would make you say such a thing?!"
"I'm being serious. I figured it was finally time for the 'exit interview.'"
"If we fired you, Rampage-san, we'd likely be the ones losing our jobs next," Hayakawa Tazuna added with a weary, knowing smile.
The Derby had concluded, bringing a fleeting sense of peace to Tracen Academy. While the campus was technically busy year-round with various girls preparing for their next races, it was no exaggeration to say they had cleared a major hurdle. The tension among the Trainers had noticeably thawed. In that relaxed atmosphere, Rampage had been called to the Chairwoman's office—and she felt loose enough to start the meeting with a joke.
"Allow me to offer my REJOICING!" the Chairwoman continued. "Team Canopus's Winning Ticket has conquered the Derby—a magnificent feat! This means Canopus has produced two Derby Girls in a remarkably short span. Truly extraordinary!"
"I mean, if we're talking about extraordinary," Rampage interjected with a mischievous glint in her eye, "you've got an undefeated Triple Tiara, Arc de Triomphe, and BC Classic winner sitting right in front of you."
The Chairwoman made a sour face at the intentional interruption. The small cat-like creature—Hatenna—perched on her head let out a chirp as if to say, "Give it a rest," so Rampage decided to drop the teasing for now.
"Regardless," Tazuna cut in smoothly, "Trainer Minamisaka isn't the only one whose reputation has soared. As sub-trainers, you and Trainer Sasada are being held in equally high regard."
"Huh. So even the assistants get a pat on the back, then?"
"Winning the Japanese Derby carries that much weight," Tazuna explained. "It is a turning point for everyone involved."
"'Winning the Derby is more difficult than becoming the Prime of Minister,' was it?" Rampage quoted.
It was a phrase often used to describe the sheer impossibility of the feat. The Derby wasn't just a race; it was the ultimate festival of Umamusume, the highest honor one could achieve.
"And so—as a special exception—I have decided to grant you official permission to establish your own team!" Akikawa declared.
Rampage had expected this to some degree. Minamisaka had already hinted that the administration would want her to lead sooner rather than later. Given her undefeated record and her experience on the world stage, they clearly wanted her to spread her expertise to as many girls as possible—to let her unique "seeds" of talent bloom across the academy.
"You're moving a bit fast, aren't you?" Rampage leaned back, crossing her legs. "I'm still just a rookie trainer who started this year. I'd say I'm a bit light on the actual credentials."
"Nonsense! Who would dare question your track record? Tazuna!"
"Right," Tazuna said, opening a folder. "Since April, you have served as the Chief Supervisor for the Aggressor Team, Nemesis. You have designed training menus, scouted trainers and mentor Umamusume, and managed the entire schedule. In addition to your duties as a sub-trainer for Team Canopus, you have personally overseen Silence Suzuka's development. We've received reports that even her academic grades are steadily rising under your guidance. Furthermore, your contributions to the establishment of the URA Finals and the Legend Races have been noted."
Hearing it all listed at once made Rampage realize just how much she'd had on her plate. Things had settled down recently, but compared to a standard trainer, she was living in a different gear entirely.
"A team, huh…"
"You don't seem particularly thrilled," Tazuna noted.
"Well, you know what they say: the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. I'm definitely going to have other trainers giving me the evil eye if I skip the line like this."
"Do you honestly believe anyone here has the audacity—or the stupidity—to try that with you?" Tazuna countered.
"Agreed!" the Chairwoman barked.
Truth be told, the idea of having her own team appealed to her. On the flip side, she had only ever managed Suzuka one-on-one. She felt a flicker of doubt: Can I really steer a whole ship? But then, her natural instincts took over. Doing things my way... that's the only way I know how.
"Well, if you're handing out the rights, I'll take 'em."
"EXCELLENT! Please, accept the offer. I will not impose a strict deadline for the team's formation. Take your time to carefully vet the girls you wish to raise. And if possible, I hope you raise them to soar across the world stage, just as you did."
"That's all down to fate and timing," Rampage said with a shrug.
With the meeting over, she stepped out into the hallway. The opportunity had come much faster than she'd anticipated—she'd figured it would be next year at the earliest. Who should I scout? she wondered as she walked.
Before she knew it, she had wandered toward the track, where she found Suzuka stretching. Noticing Rampage, the girl immediately jogged over.
"Rampage-san! What's on the menu for today?"
"Right, about that… Actually, hold on a second. I've got something to tell you."
"Something to tell me?" Suzuka tilted her head.
Rampage took a seat on a nearby bench and got straight to the point. If she was going to lead a team, Suzuka had to be the first to know—after all, she'd be the cornerstone of it.
"So, basically... even though I'm just a rookie, I've been given the green light to start my own team."
"That sounds… very impressive… doesn't it?" Suzuka asked tentatively.
"I get it. It's hard to gauge the scale of it, right?"
Honestly, Rampage felt the same. Her sense of "scale" was already warped from her previous life and her world-class achievements.
"Anyway, Suzuka, what do you think?"
"What do I think about what?"
"If I start a team, you'll be the first member. It means I won't be able to focus on you one-on-one anymore. I'll have to split my attention."
Despite her experience, Rampage was still technically a novice trainer. Handling multiple girls at once was a challenge. Even at Nemesis, she had mostly designed the menus while Sunday Silence handled the bulk of the actual coaching.
"It will be fine," Suzuka said firmly.
"Fine? Just like that?"
"Because it's you, Rampage-san. You can handle it."
"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence…"
"I just know," Suzuka said, her eyes locked onto Rampage's.
Rampage recognized that look. It was the same unwavering gaze Minamisaka gave her when he handed her a difficult task—the look of someone who understood her potential better than she did herself.
"Besides," Suzuka continued, "if we have a team, we can have practice partners for pacing. There are so many things we can do. Let's look at the positives instead of just the negatives."
Rampage let out a short laugh. "Ha! I can't exactly sit here being indecisive if my first student is already looking that far ahead… Alright! Let's do it!"
She felt the resolve take hold. The Chairwoman hadn't set a time limit, so she would build the foundation slowly and surely.
"I'll need to think of a name… any ideas?"
"Well…" Suzuka mused, "The top teams are usually named after stars, aren't they? I wonder which one would fit…"
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