""…Thanks for the meal.""
"25-minute break, then back to work. Got it?"
The overseer, a former Ban'ei Uma Musume—over 2 meters tall, muscle-bound, power dwarfing most—sips tea in the corner. No one dares defy her. They focus on resting.
"Ugh… How long must we keep this up?"
"Till the debt's paid. How many times do I need to say it?"
"I know that!!"
The exchange is stale. He still loves Akari, but repeating this argument dulls emotions, letting them rot. He's accepted this life; Akari still refuses to regret her actions.
"Damn it, it's all her fault! Repay the inheritance!? She'd be in an orphanage without us!!"
She kicks the wall, ranting. He wonders if that'll add to their debt—maybe he's already given up on her. Cold self-awareness stings.
"Gate-in's nearly done! Will Mejiro Rampage or Agnes Flora claim the Victoria Mile!? The G1 showdown starts NOW!!"
"Turn it off!!"
"No remote. Ask her. Can we?"
"Denied. I'm watching."
"Tough luck."
The overseer holds the remote, so Akari fumes but sits, grumbling. He ignores her noise, eyes on the race.
"Mejiro Rampage, holding back in fourth, mid-pack! Agnes Flora leads!! Will she finally snag a G1!?"
"Lots of front-runners boxing her in, but she's unusually restrained."
"Stay there, lose, Rampage!!"
Akari's hyped for Flora's win, but he's skeptical. Forced to watch Rampage's races here, he sees she's deliberately holding back, not pacing but banking stamina.
"Shut up."
"You shut up!!"
"You're the loud one. Scared of her whip? Dumb or senile?"
"Eek!!"
Ban'ei Uma Musume haul tons on rugged dirt tracks. She moves loads without forklifts. One slap would floor anyone. Ignoring Akari, he watches the final stretch. Rampage, still fourth, bolts from the pack, accelerating ferociously toward Flora.
"Mejiro Rampage breaks through!! She's out, taking the lead!! Agnes Flora fights, but the gap widens!! Second-place battle heats up!! Rampage leads! Strong, unstoppable!! A crushing win!! Six lengths ahead of Agnes Flora, Rampage claims the Victoria Mile!! The undefeated myth lives!! Mejiro Rampage conquers the Tiara Route!!!"
"Ughhh!!"
Akari grits her teeth, stifling her outburst under the overseer's glare. He's quietly satisfied.
"Back to work."
"Time's left."
"No, let me."
"…Hold on."
The overseer steps out to check. Akari glares.
"You feel nothing!? She—Rampage—put us here!!"
"We did this to ourselves. It's fine—no debt collectors, steady work, food, shelter."
"You call this slave life fine!?"
It's not slavery. They work at Mejiro's construction factory, tightly watched but fairly treated. Given their deeds, it's almost too kind. Intentional leeway, maybe.
"We see it differently. I'm done with her."
"What?"
Her eyes scream disbelief, but he's resolute.
"You said 'next time'!!"
"How, then? She's a living legend. Anything we do gets buried, and we'd take the hit."
"Don't screw with me!! You said we'd take the inheritance!!"
"That's why I'm done."
She grabs his collar, slaps him, and he hits the floor. The overseer returns, pinning Akari down.
"You hurt?"
"I'm fine."
"Good. Work's approved, but hit the infirmary if it aches."
"Got it."
"Hey, help me, you jerk!!"
He bows, leaves the break room, and heads to work. Not remorse—defeat. He'll serve this punishment, part with Akari, and live quietly far from her. Realizing her worth, regretting his folly, despair led to acceptance.
"Starting work."
"Your niece hit nine G1s, huh?"
"Impressive… Let's go."
With the foreman's nod, he resumes. Regret and despair linger, but he accepts and moves forward. Apologies? She wouldn't want them.
"Hmm… Turbo's a genius."
"What's up?"
Back in the lounge, Rampage, fresh off her Victoria Mile win, looks grim.
"My feint escape flopped, got boxed in. Tried Turbo's Dokkan Turbo with a crossover step to break out, but… no edge. It's her move."
She planned a feint escape, but Flora sniffed it out, speeding up with others, swallowing Rampage in the pack. Unfazed, she broke free with a fierce sprint to win, but…
"Last-minute move, but it's not my style."
"Flora exposing you gave us new challenges."
"Yeah, overseas won't forgive sloppy prep. Same vibe as the February Stakes. Learned I need rear-guard tactics sometimes."
A reminder: big escapes aren't enough. Other strategies are vital for the future.
"Next up, Nature, Turbo, Ikuno… then Rice and Tanhoiza. Canopus is slammed."
"Totally. Help out, Rampage."
"Count on me, especially for English."
Family hits Rampage hard. Sirius grew closer to Su-chan. Support's likely Su-chan.
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