"Why am I here?" Rampage groaned.
"For the award," Minamisaka replied.
"Why an award?"
"World record."
"Can't I skip?"
"Nope."
"Ugh… Didn't we have this talk before?"
Even on her second URA Award visit, Rampage griped nonstop. Inside the lavish URA building, reporters eyed her from the stage, but she ignored them.
"Just send a trophy," she muttered.
"Come on," Minamisaka urged.
"I get it. Being here's the honor," she sighed.
The URA building was a rare stage—Dream Trophy League announcements or annual awards. Multiple visits meant unmatched excellence as an Uma Musume.
"Hey, Ran!" Ryan called.
"Yo, Ryan! Lookin' like a true Mejiro heiress in that dress. Unlike this commoner," Rampage teased.
"You're a Mejiro heiress too!" Ryan shot back.
"What heiress is this crude?" Rampage laughed.
"You're extra prickly today," Ryan noted.
Ryan, also being honored, wore a dress. Rampage stuck to her signature suit, true to form.
"Ryan, it's starting—oh," a slender man with a sharp expression joined them. Rampage didn't know him, but Minamisaka bowed.
"Congrats on guiding a Classic Triple Crown," Minamisaka said.
"Flattering… but your undefeated five-crown is bigger," the man replied.
"Minami-chan, who's this?" Rampage asked.
"Didn't I introduce him?" Minamisaka said.
"First time. Kinda intimidated," Rampage admitted.
"Where?" Ryan smirked, eyeing her usual swagger.
"Uh, hi. I'm Okuyama, Ryan's trainer," he said.
"Yo, Mejiro Rampage, new dual-track Tyrant," she replied.
"I watch your streams!" Okuyama said.
"A fan? Want the usual greeting?" Rampage grinned.
"Save it for when I'm a guest," Okuyama said.
"Sneaky, like Ryan's trainer. Alright, you and Ryan are invited," she agreed.
"Yes! Uh, thank you!" Okuyama beamed.
His shy facade cracked, revealing a vibe like Rampage's. "Okuyama's all-in when he's hooked. Trains with Ryan, even lifts 90-kilo barbells now," Minamisaka said.
"Compared to Ryan…" Okuyama trailed off.
"Don't compare to Uma Musume!" Rampage laughed.
The ceremony began—Classic division awards. Oguri, retired from Twinkle Series, won Senior honors and was busy devouring food. Classic.
"For the Classic division! First, Mejiro Ryan for her Classic Triple Crown!"
"Uh, honored!" Ryan said.
"Classic Tiara division! First undefeated Triple Tiara in history, second Tiara Triple Crown, Japan Cup world-record holder, and Horse of the Year—Mejiro Rampage!"
"Yo, thanks," Rampage said.
Flashes lit up as they took the stage. Oguri clapped, munching, while her trainer, Rokuhira, clapped with a wry smile.
"What are your future goals?"
Ryan took the mic, hesitating. "Last year, I fulfilled my dream and a promise with a friend, bringing the Classic Triple Crown to Mejiro. I'm proud but not done. I want to race Ran."
Reporters snapped furiously—a Triple Crown declaring war on an undefeated Tiara. Surely Rampage would react—
"My turn already?" Rampage asked casually.
"Yup," Ryan nodded.
"(That's it?!)" reporters thought.
Rampage grabbed the mic like swapping game controllers. "I wanna race you too, Ryan. And Mac Queen, Ines. All the Classic crew. You're not special—catch me if you can. I'll keep escaping," she smirked.
"Talk big while it lasts," Ryan teased.
The friendly banter turned into a fiery rivalry spark. Reporters scrambled to catch up. Okuyama gulped; Minamisaka smiled, "Classic Rampage."
"To honor their achievements, new win costumes!"
Here it was—Rampage's dread. Takanotsume said the designers were confident, but…
"Ugh," she muttered.
"What's wrong?" Ryan asked.
"There," Rampage nodded subtly.
A group—likely the designers—glared with intense expectation. They really wanted her to wear it. She'd check it in the dressing room.
"Not bad… they tried," Rampage said, inspecting the costume.
No overexposed dress this time. It echoed Mac Queen's End of Sky or Teio's Beyond the Horizon—pants to the knees, less revealing. But her waist was bare, and the shoulder-baring jacket hugged her figure tightly. More masculine, but… odd.
"Why the midriff obsession?" she grumbled.
It was tolerable, but she preferred her current outfit.
"Rampage-san, what do you think? The designers are waiting," Takanotsume said.
"Not bad," Rampage said.
The team cheered—progress from her last outright rejection. URA designers aimed to highlight new facets of an Uma Musume's charm. It worked, but…
"Still…" Rampage started.
The team froze.
"Not bad, but I'd stick with my current one," she said.
They collapsed.
"Really hated it?" Ryan asked.
"Nah, not hate. Just… meh. Middle ground," Rampage said.
"Half-baked, huh?" Ryan nodded.
"Okuyama, if they begged, I'd wear it reluctantly. But never by choice," Rampage said.
"Like stiff dress shoes you gotta wear," Minamisaka offered.
"Exactly!" Rampage agreed.
"A win costume called dress shoes?" Ryan laughed.
Team Leader: "No dresses! Focus on coolness, draw out femininity through it. She'll love it!"
Designers: "Hell yeah!"
Ran: "…Meh."
Team: "Why?!"
New Designer: "What if we went with a Rudolf-style military look with medals?"
Ran: "I'd wear that. Better if it's not a skirt."
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