"Will this really work…?"
Rampage eyes the Tokyo Racecourse paddock, her expression grim despite the Oaks looming. Turbo, Canopus's Tiara Route contender, is set to race, but doubts linger about her new strategy.
"Turbo gave her all. It'll be fine, right?"
"Practice isn't the real deal. Too many variables."
"Sis, you think Turbo can't win?"
"Not that. She can if she nails it—but can she get there?"
"Hey, found you!"
A voice snaps Rampage's attention. She extends a hand, met with a firm grip.
"Been waiting, Akiyama-san."
"Sorry for the wait. Thanks for the invite!"
"Couldn't leave out Turbo's mentor, right?"
Akiyama, the mind behind Dokkan Turbo, is here to cheer, invited by Rampage. His sister, Kazumi, joins too.
"Long time, Rampage-san."
"Yo, Kazumi-san. Eyeing other Uma Musume?"
"Your autograph's my target—mad?"
"Nah, just don't sell it."
"No way~"
Kazumi, Akiyama's sister, bonded with Turbo during their Saitama trip. As Rampage introduces them to Canopus, the top favorite enters the paddock.
"Gate 8, number 18, Twin Turbo. The crowd's favorite!!"
"Turbo's here!! Yo, everyone!!"
Turbo bounds in, brimming with energy. She's prepped, stamina honed, in peak form.
"Akiyama-nii! Kazumi-nee!"
"Here to cheer, Turbo! Crush it!!"
"Grab that second crown!!"
"Leave it to me~!!"
Turbo flashes a V-sign, radiating victory vibes, and heads off. Canopus is optimistic, but Akiyama probes.
"How's Turbo's condition?"
"Perfect. Physically and mentally—your visit's got her pumped."
"She's got this!!"
"Hope so. Twenty runners this time, way more than the Cherry Blossom Stakes."
Akiyama and Kazumi gulp. Twenty? A rare G1 mob, the Oaks' second Tiara leg.
"With that many, it's a brutal fight for position and pace."
"Yeah, falling back's rough. Course navigation's key."
Hearing Uma Musume racers shifts their perspective. Kazumi, used to Akiyama's downhill runs, feels a familiar tension.
"Turbo's escape helps—no getting boxed in."
"Just blast off first!"
"Nail the Dokkan, and she wins!!"
"Y-Yeah, she trained hard."
Akiyama smirks. Turbo's Dokkan, born from his AE86 mountain runs, is her trump card.
"Let's see how this plays out…"
"Tokyo Racecourse, Race 10—the Oaks! Cloudy skies, but the track's in great shape. Who'll etch their name in Tiara history!?"
Gate-in begins. Twenty elite Uma Musume assemble.
"Who'll claim the Oak Queen's crown in Fuchu!?"
"Third favorite, Gate 4, number 9, Gran Louvre, seeking Cherry Blossom redemption."
"Gate 7, number 17, Connect Toshou, second favorite. Runner-up last time—can she win?"
"Top favorite, Twin Turbo! After a stunning Cherry Blossom escape, following last year's champ, Mejiro Rampage. Can she conquer this stage!?"
Cheers erupt. Over 100,000 pack Tokyo Racecourse, matching Rampage's day. Akiyama and Kazumi, awed by the live roar, lock eyes on the race.
"All Uma Musume gated. Ready to start."
Cheers hush. What race awaits? Who'll dominate?
"And they're off! Clean start! Gran Louvre surges inside, but Twin Turbo rockets ahead!! She takes the lead!! Louvre trails, with Double Shout and Mejiro Roberta in pursuit!"
Turbo, as expected, bolts free, unchallenged.
"Go, Turbo!!"
Louvre shadows her, but Turbo's unfazed. Trailing Uma Musume eye their moment. Turbo's three lengths ahead, but her Cherry Blossom escape draws tight marks. She risks being caught.
"Sis, Mejiro Roberta's one of yours?"
"Nah, Mejiro's a big family. Technically, Turbo's Mejiro too."
Turbo's training with Rampage supercharged her charging speed. Minami's guidance helped control it, but Turbo's instinct-driven—she unleashes when charged, proof of peak condition and victory in sight.
"Alright, charging, charging—True Dokkan Turbo!!!"
"Nearing halfway—wait, Twin Turbo's accelerating!! That Cherry Blossom final surge! Insane speed!! Three lengths become six, eight!! Spiking here!? Can she hold it!? Turbo engine's uncontained!?"
"Reckless! Not even mid-race—that's too early!!"
"No, that's the plan."
Akiyama, no racing expert, calculates from his downhill experience—1000m Dokkan's too soon. But this time, it's right.
"Turbo's Dokkan shines when perfectly charged. Mistime it, and it's weak."
"Still too early…"
"That's why we trained."
"Big bro… Turbo!!"
Kazumi's call shifts focus. Approaching the fourth corner, the final stretch nears. Rivals surge, eating Turbo's lead. She'll be caught.
"Fourth corner! Turbo's held the lead, but she's fading! Gran Louvre's closing—one length!! She's pushing harder!! Is Turbo's reign over!?"
Turbo struggles, lungs burning, legs heavy—2400m's toll. Was Dokkan too early? She shakes it off.
"(No! Don't think that! That'd blame Bakushin O and Flower! Trainer and Ran's plan can't be wrong!! If I don't trust them, who will!?)"
Turbo clings on. Louvre catches her, neck-and-neck. One step from defeat, she sees Akiyama, who taught her Dokkan.
"The fastest on the turf is the coolest! Show me your style, your run!!"
Her heart races. Turbo gauge flares, blood surges, legs ignite. Perfect timing—she grins.
"Watch this! The real True… Dokkan… TURBO!!!"
Like a blast, a storm, Turbo leaves only wind behind, holding the lead.
"Not done!! Twin Turbo surges again!! A second-stage boost! Like a sequential twin-turbo, pedal to the metal!! Shaking Gran Louvre—one length, two!! This is the true Turbo engine—roar, Twin Turbo!!"
"DARYAAAAA!!!"
"Full throttle, Turbo engine escapes!! Twin Turbo first!! Following Mejiro Rampage, she claims the Double Tiara!!!"
A clean escape seals the Oaks. Turbo collapses post-finish, drained. Her all-out run stuns and moves everyone, including Akiyama and Kazumi.
"What a girl… Freaking cool!!"
"Amazing, bro!! She won from there!!"
Canopus cheers, but Rampage and Minami exhale in relief.
"Didn't think it'd actually work… Only nailed it once in practice."
"But it worked."
"Phew… I don't hate bad odds."
The Bakushin O-Flower training aimed for two Dokkan Turbos in 2400m. Turbo's win-or-nothing mindset meant beating both at 1200m. First Dokkan with Bakushin O, then another with Flower.
"Still, we gotta teach her proper charging and pacing. Camp for that?"
"Will plan."
For now—
"I did it… I DID IT!! Ran, I'm a Double Tiara!!"
Time to celebrate Turbo's second crown.
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