"Yo, you're actually eating properly today, huh?" Tamamo Cross teased.
"Got an earful about it, so yeah," Rampage replied.
"With a body like yours, you've gotta fuel up right," Super Creek added.
"Yeah, not like me," Oguri Cap said with a grin.
"You eat too much," Tamamo shot back.
As Rampage dug into her meal, Tamamo, Oguri, and Creek slid into the seats across from her, their chatter filling the air. Ever since their first meal together, these group lunches had become a regular thing.
"Here, try my favorite," Creek said, sliding a dish toward her.
"Thanks," Rampage said.
"And this salad's mine," Oguri added.
"Whoa, I'm good, really—I've eaten plenty," Rampage protested.
"What're you talking about?" Tamamo said, plopping a piece of her fried mackerel on Rampage's plate. "Your debut's coming up. Eat more, get stronger."
Thanks to these three, Rampage's picky eating habits had improved significantly. Still, they kept piling their favorite dishes onto her plate, probably thinking they were doting on her. She wasn't complaining—it felt nice, in a way.
"So, when's your debut race?" Oguri asked.
"June's the plan," Rampage said.
"June, huh? Alright, if the date lines up, I'm cheering you on," Tamamo declared, slurping her miso soup.
"But what about the Takarazuka Kinen?" Rampage asked.
"Who cares about that?" Tamamo waved it off.
The G1 Takarazuka Kinen was already on Tamamo's schedule, yet she was ready to prioritize cheering for Rampage? It was flattering, but Rampage couldn't help thinking Tamamo should focus on her own prep instead.
"No need to worry," Creek said brightly. "We'll adjust our rest days to match your race."
"Seriously, Creek-san, I feel kinda bad about that," Rampage said.
"Don't," Oguri cut in. "We're doing it because we want to."
"Yeah, just focus on your race and don't sweat it," Tamamo added.
Tamamo's tone left no room for argument, and Rampage sighed, conceding defeat.
"Fine, if you seniors say so, I won't argue. Not that you'd listen anyway."
"Hah! You catch on quick," Tamamo grinned.
"Such a good sport," Creek said with a giggle, reaching over to pat Rampage's head.
"Why do you always pet me like that?" Rampage groaned.
Every chance she got, Creek ruffled her hair. Even Creek didn't seem to know why—she just felt compelled to. It didn't feel bad, but being treated like a kid was a little unsettling.
"By the way, Rampage," Oguri said, "heard you went out in a suit?"
"How'd you know that?" Rampage asked, startled.
"It's all over campus," Tamamo said. "Some newbies saw this 'mysterious adult trainer' and got everyone talking."
"Ugh…" Rampage buried her face in her hands.
Apparently, when she'd gone out in her suit, some freshmen mistook her for a trainer instead of a fellow student. Now the middle schoolers were buzzing about it. All because she'd avoided feminine clothes and opted for a suit. Great.
"We got asked about it too," Oguri said. "Had us wondering if there was some new trainer we didn't know about."
"Yeah, Rokubei said there's no such trainer," Tamamo added.
"Same here," Creek said. "Then Ines-chan was like, 'Wait, could it be…?'"
"What a mess…" Rampage muttered.
The top guess had been Rigil's Trainer Tojo, but he'd been with the Academy's director that day, so that theory fell apart. Now the rumors had spiraled, sprouting all sorts of wild details.
"Why'd you go out in a suit anyway?" Tamamo asked. "And why do you even have one?"
"I finally grew tall enough to wear it properly, so I wanted to try it," Rampage said.
"Was it a gift or something?" Creek asked.
"Nah, I just took it. It's… my dad's suit."
That's right—the suit belonged to her father, one of the few remaining ties to her parents. Most of their belongings had been taken by her aunt and uncle, but a handful of things, like the suit, had survived. With her human soul's memories of an office job, wearing it felt natural—comforting, even. It was like having her father close by.
"Well, I bet your dad's thrilled up there," Creek said warmly.
"Most daughters would shy away from their dad's clothes," Tamamo said. "Wearing it? He's probably over the moon."
"Yeah, makes sense," Oguri nodded.
"Hope so," Rampage said softly.
Glancing at the clock, Rampage realized time had slipped away. She grabbed her tray, bowed to the trio, and headed off. As they watched her go, Tamamo's eyes burned with determination, vowing not to lose her next race. Oguri met her challenge with equal fire, while Creek smiled at their antics. But then Tamamo froze.
"Wait a sec," she said.
"What's up, Tama? Need something from Ran?" Oguri asked.
"No, something's off about what she said," Tamamo replied.
"What do you mean?" Creek asked.
"Why does Ran even have her dad's suit? Bringing it all the way to Tracen Academy? And wearing it?"
"…Now that you mention it…" Oguri and Creek said in unison.
It was strange. If it had been her mother's suit, maybe it'd make sense—a gift for a big moment. But her father's suit? Why bring it, and why wear it? The question nagged at Tamamo. Then she remembered Rampage's picky eating, her comments about coming from a modest background, calling their meals a "feast," and working part-time even before Tracen.
"Could it be…" Tamamo's voice trailed off.
"What's wrong, Tama?" Oguri asked.
"Got a hunch?" Creek pressed.
"Oguri, Creek," Tamamo said, her tone deadly serious. "We're definitely cheering her on. We can't let her feel alone."
The intensity in Tamamo's words caught them off guard, but they nodded without hesitation. Tamamo wasn't joking—she'd sensed something deeper. They couldn't leave Rampage to face it alone. Silently, they resolved to ask their trainers to adjust their schedules.
"Hey, mysterious trainer lady!" Nice Nature called out, grinning.
"Oh, come on, Nature, give me a break," Rampage groaned.