"What a crowd…" Rampage murmurs.
Post-entrance ceremony, classes end early, and Canopus's tryout draws a massive turnout—over 40 hopefuls, surpassing Rigil's numbers. Rampage feels responsible.
"More than a class!" Turbo cheers.
"Team's getting wilder," Ikuno says.
"What kinda girls?" Tanhoiza wonders.
"Juniors!" Ticket squeals.
"Congrats, Ticket-san," Rice nods.
Newcomers Air Groove, Dragoon Lance, Hishi Amazon, and Sakura Laurel join, led to the revamped, larger clubroom—necessary with Canopus's growth.
"Air Groove, Tiara route!" Air Groove declares, tense, eyeing Rampage.
She winks back. "Your Twinkle Series starts now."
"I'll race proudly, claiming my identity!" Air Groove vows.
"Cool goal—being yourself, not just winning. Shining newbie!" Nature praises.
Air Groove, the only freshman to pass, won the 1000m against seniors, a future star. Rampage grins, Future empress.
"Dragoon Lance, reporting! Tiara route!" Dragoon Lance salutes.
"You too?" Rampage asks.
"No way I'm racing Brian. Long distances? Nope," she laughs.
A stream buddy and '94 generation, she's Brian's peer.
"I'm Hishi Amazon, Tiara route. I'm taking the Triple Tiara!" she boasts.
"I won't lose!" Dragoon Lance retorts.
Hishi Amazon, also '94, chose Canopus over Rigil, balancing the powerhouse team with Opera O, Grass, and El.
"Sakura Laurel. Honored to join. I'll give my all," Laurel says, poised.
"Polite one!" Tanhoiza cheers.
Laurel, a resilient dreamer, toppled Brian and Top Gun in the Tenno Sho (Spring), eyed for the Arc de Triomphe.
"All '94, except Air Groove's '96. Wild mix," Rampage notes.
"It'll be busy, Nan-chan," she tells Minamizaka.
"Ticket's the only debut this year, so it's manageable," he replies.
"But Rice and Tanhoiza's Satsuki Sho's soon," she counters.
Ikuno, Turbo, Nature in senior races, plus Rice and Tanhoiza's classics, strain the expanded team. A new sub-trainer joins.
"Newbie trainer? Harsh start," Rampage says.
"They've got potential," Minamizaka assures.
"Not just me feeling uneasy?" Rampage quips.
She trusts him anyway.
"Rice, Tanhoiza, aim to topple Mihono Bourbon's plan in Satsuki Sho," Minamizaka instructs.
"On it!" Rice says.
"I'll try!" Tanhoiza adds.
What plan? Rampage wonders.
"Ikuno, Nature, Turbo for Tenno Sho (Spring)," Minamizaka continues.
"Turbo, seriously? 3200m's brutal!" Rampage exclaims.
"Gotta beat Teio!" Turbo insists.
"Too long for you," Rampage worries.
Arima's 2500m was Turbo's limit, but her Osaka Hai loss to Teio fuels her. Minamizaka can stretch her stamina, but it's on Turbo.
"Ticket's debut is July in Hakodate," Minamizaka says.
"Finally!" Ticket roars.
She's fired up, matching TaiShin and HayaHide's prep.
"Newbies, we'll assess your runs for schedules soon," Minamizaka says.
"Hyping me up!" Hishi Amazon shouts.
"Debut next year!" Dragoon Lance adds.
"Exciting," Laurel says calmly.
Air Groove fidgets. "When's Rampage-san leaving for Europe?"
"At least June," Minamizaka says.
"July, likely," Rampage adds.
Air Groove beams, eager to train with her idol.
"Rampage, as team leader, guide the newbies," Minamizaka says.
"Leader? Me?" Rampage blinks.
"Who else? Your record's unmatched," Nature laughs.
Canopus Newcomers' Paths:
Dragoon Lance: Tiara route Hishi Amazon: Tiara route Sakura Laurel: TBD Air Groove: Tiara route
Tiara team, huh?
------------------------------
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