Mejiro Rampage was, by all accounts, a very busy woman. Between her duties as the Aggressor Chief and her self-imposed mission to establish the URA Finals and the Legend Races, her schedule was packed. Toss in her role as a sub-trainer for Team Canopus, and from an outsider's perspective, she seemed to be at the absolute limit of human endurance. In reality, however, she handled it with a veteran's efficiency.
"I'll make sure to submit this as a formal agenda item for the next board meeting," I said, nodding to the regional official.
"Thank you so much! In that case… could you please sign this?!"
"I figured that was coming," I chuckled, taking the pen.
When I visited regional Tracen branches, I found that they usually had their affairs in order; their proposals were solid and required little adjustment. My role was primarily that of a bridge—a mediator between Central and the regional circuits. To be blunt, many in the regional circuits weren't fond of Central's bureaucracy, but they couldn't ignore a proposal from someone of my stature. Thanks to my influence, dirt racing was now enjoying a surge in popularity that rivaled turf, breathing new life into local economies.
"By the way, regarding dinner… our students have prepared a motsunabe feast using fresh vegetables grown right here at the academy and beef from a nearby ranch!"
"Oh, motsunabe? Now that sounds fantastic," I said, my stomach giving a hopeful growl. "Man, I'd kill for a drink with that, but I have to drive the Impreza back… I shouldn't have brought the car."
"In that case, please take this as a souvenir! It's the local liquor store's top seller: Junmai Daiginjo 'Holy Hoof'!"
I grabbed the pen again. "I'll sign as many boards as you want."
It was a simple cycle: when a race became a big event, people stayed to eat and drink at local establishments. Visitors from afar bought local specialties they'd never heard of otherwise. Those products gained fame, drawing more tourists, who then attended the races. I don't think I ever quite realized that I was personally moving the needle of the national economy.
"Tell you what," I offered. "Since you've been so hospitable, let's organize a mock race for any students who want to participate."
"E-Excuse me?! Are you sure?!"
"It'd be rude of me to take such high-quality sake and give nothing back. I brought my winning silks with me just in case."
"Please! It would be our greatest honor!"
"Yo."
Despite my travels, I still had my duties at Team Canopus. While Sasada was also a sub-trainer, he was still a rookie; the heavy lifting was done by Minamisaka. When I walked onto the grounds, the first thing I saw was Winning Ticket—Chiketzo—tearing down the track with fiery intensity.
"Ticket's really pushing it today, huh?"
"Yes," Minamisaka replied, checking his stopwatch. "She had a great showing at the Yayoi Sho. Now, all eyes are on the Satsuki Sho."
Ticket was right in the middle of her Classic campaign. Having performed well in the Satsuki Sho trial, the momentum was behind her. Minamisaka looked hopeful, clearly expecting a strong result in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
"Still, Taishin and Hayahide are just as fired up," I noted. "It won't be a walk in the park."
"Ticket knows that better than anyone. She said she wants to fight the best version of those two in the greatest Classic season ever."
I wiped a mock tear from my eye. "That's so noble I'm actually getting a little misty over here."
As the next potential star, Ticket needed a strong Satsuki Sho to build steam for her ultimate goal: the Tokyo Derby. I wanted to be there for her, but my schedule was a constant battle. And it wasn't just the Classic girls I had to worry about.
"Rice's Tenno Sho is coming up, too…" I muttered.
The Satsuki Sho meant the Tenno Sho (Spring) was right around the corner, and the lineup this year was nothing short of a bloodbath. You had Teio, aiming for a consecutive win and revenge for Osaka; MacQueen, carrying the pride of the Mejiro family; and as if those two weren't enough, you had Palmer, Tannhauser, Ikuno, and Nature all hungry for a G1. To top it off, Bourbon—now a literal cyborg who had completely mastered long-distance running—was moving in.
"Man… what a chaotic era," I sighed. "The field is absolutely stacked with monsters."
"You're one to talk," Minamisaka deadpanned. "You were the leader of those monsters until ten minutes ago."
"Hey, I only ran in the Senior circuit for a year before I went overseas. I was barely there."
Minamisaka watched as I lit a herb cigar. He looked at me with a sudden sense of nostalgia, realizing I wasn't wearing my usual business suit. I was in my full racing silks—my Winning Suit.
"The silks… does that mean you were running today?"
"Ah, crap. I forgot to change after the regional visit. Oh well… might as well give the girls a little tune-up."
In a heartbeat, the face of the professional trainer vanished, replaced by the countenance of a Horse Girl who lived and breathed the joy of the sprint. I was the "Trainer who runs with her students"—the living embodiment of the ideal.
"Hey, Chiketzo! Want to test yourself against me before the Satsuki Sho? If you can pass me, you're officially the best in the world!"
"Rampage-san!! Yes! Please!!" Ticket shouted, her face lighting up. "Wait, you're in your silks! Crap, I need to go change into mine too!"
"O-Onee-sama… Rice will go change, too!"
"Wait, you're running with Ran?! Turbo's coming too!!"
The moment they realized I was hitting the turf, the Canopus members scrambled to get their gear. Only the ones who hadn't debuted yet stayed behind. They seemed to understand that if we were using our Winning Suits, this was being treated with the gravity of a G1 race—a level of intensity they weren't yet eligible for.
"Should we open this up to the hopefuls who want to join Canopus?" I asked Minamisaka. "Dober seems pretty eager."
"She's more eager to learn from you specifically," he noted. "I have a feeling the moment you start your own team, she'll jump ship immediately."
"Is that a problem?"
"Not at all. Ambition is a good thing."
The "mock race" that followed drew a crowd that no practice heat had any right to attract. Top trainers like Tojo, Kuronuma, and Okino brought their entire teams to the fence, cameras ready, telling their students to "burn this image into your retinas." With a field full of G1-class talent, the atmosphere was electric.
The result, however, was a foregone conclusion.
"...I knew it. She could have stayed in the pro circuit easily," Okino muttered.
"She hasn't changed a bit," Hana whispered, her eyes fixed on the track.
"She's a hell of a target to aim for," Kuronuma added.
I crossed the finish line first, leaving the others in the dust by a massive margin. The fastest, strongest girl in the world hadn't lost a single step in retirement.
I pulled up, breathing easily. "I've only been retired for a few months. Of course I'm still fast."
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"