"The day has finally arrived! The G1 Autumn Tenno Sho is about to begin. But this year, the atmosphere is unlike anything we've ever seen. The lineup is, quite simply, the most star-studded in history!"
The Autumn Tenno Sho had finally come. It was only natural for a powerhouse like Mejiro McQueen to be the center of attention, but this year's field was packed with elite talent from top to bottom. While many fans still wished deep down that Rampage herself were down there on the turf, they were equally electrified to see who would step into the void left by the undefeated legend—or who would seize the crown of a new era.
And watching from the sidelines, in a position she never expected to hold, was Mejiro Rampage.
"I'm your announcer, Akasaka. And today, we are joined by a very special guest in the commentary booth!"
"'Ello, 'ello, hola! Ciao-dy! I'm the girl who put the 'World' in 'World Record,' the Dictator Tyrant herself, the Undefeated Mejiro Rampage! Is everyone out there keeping up with their good karma? Because I'm here to call the shots today!"
"The legend needs no introduction! We are joined by the pride of Japan, the conqueror of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the BC Classic—Mejiro Rampage! Rampage-san, thank you for being here! To be honest, I'm so nervous and excited to be sitting next to you that I can barely keep my hands from shaking!"
"Take a breath, Akasaka. Deep breaths."
"...I am now incredibly calm."
Rampage had originally planned to just watch from the stands, but Montjeu, who was supposed to provide commentary, had been pulled away by an unavoidable emergency. Rampage had stepped in as the last-minute replacement.
"So, Rampage-san, how do you view this year's Tenno Sho? You probably know the members of Team Canopus better than anyone."
"True. They're my former teammates, and we're still close, so I know exactly what they're capable of," Rampage said, her tone shifting from playful to professional. "But honestly, the field is so stacked this year that the old cliché actually rings true: anyone could win this and it wouldn't be a surprise. It's an incredibly rich lineup."
"Since we have a few minutes before the gates, may I ask for your deeper insight?" Akasaka asked, clearly eager to hear the perspective of the world's strongest racer.
Rampage gave a casual shrug but leaned into the mic. "It's going to be a chaotic race. You've got Ikuno Dictus, coming off the legendary feat of three consecutive Yasuda Kinen wins. You've got Turbo, who holds the Triple Tiara. You've got Nice Nature, a Derby winner, and Rice Shower, a Tenno Sho winner herself. Even Tannhauser is at a level where a G1 win could happen at any second. And that's just the Canopus squad! Then you add Mihono Bourbon and Tokai Teio to the mix... honestly, if I were still active and saw this entry list, I would have let out a massive sigh."
"Even you? The great Mejiro Rampage?"
"Oh, I still would have run," she chuckled. "Minami-chan would have found a way to manipulate my heart—or just taunted me until I got fired up and signed the papers. That man is like a modern-day Zhuge Liang; he knows exactly which buttons to push to get me on the track."
Akasaka couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. He could perfectly visualize the soft-spoken Minamisaka playing the role of a master strategist, moving the "Great General" Rampage like a piece on a chessboard.
"That said," Rampage continued, her voice dropping an octave. "There are other powerful girls in this race. Everyone is here for the same reason. In a race, you never truly know what will happen. A fluke might lead to a killing blow, or a fluke might be overturned by sheer practice and passion... and then, there are those who can create a fluke on purpose."
"Creating a fluke... on purpose?"
"It happens. In the world of high-stakes gambling and racing, there are always a few people capable of manipulating the 'accidental' into the 'inevitable.'"
The audience in the stands and those listening at home felt a collective shiver. The words of a woman who had conquered the world carried a weight that was impossible to ignore. Some wondered if she was describing herself—the woman who made the impossible look like a foregone conclusion.
"And the one I'm keeping my eye on today," Rampage added, "is the opponent I'd want to face least if I were still out there."
"W-Who is it!?"
"It's..."
"It's!?"
"Ah, looks like we're out of time!" Rampage teased. "The racers are emerging from the paddock. First out is the 'High-Speed Engine,' Twin Turbo! It looks like she's aiming for another explosive getaway today. Akasaka, what's your take?"
"O-Oh! Right! Her charm is entirely in that runaway style! The crowd is already roaring; she's a fan favorite for a reason—wait, am I the one doing the commentary now!?"
Rampage had effortlessly hijacked the lead and then handed it back just as quickly. In truth, Rampage felt that almost everyone in this race was a "worst-case" opponent. Especially the Canopus girls—they knew her inside and out. If they forced her into a battle of pure willpower and spirit, even Rampage knew her win rate wouldn't be 100%.
"And here is Yamanin Zephyr!" Akasaka announced, regaining his composure. "After that heart-stopping Yasuda Kinen where she lost to Ikuno Dictus by a mere seven millimeters, she's back for revenge. She sits as the fourth favorite today. Can the 'Wind' that nearly toppled the Lady of Steel bring home a victory today?"
Yamanin Zephyr—the historical winner of this race. Rampage watched her closely, wondering if the "Wind" would prevail once more. But then, the next racer appeared.
Clad in a formal black coat that fluttered in the breeze, moving with an unmistakable air of nobility, she stepped onto the turf. Every movement screamed the prestige of the Mejiro line.
"And here she is, the favorite of the day: Mejiro McQueen! Having stepped over Tokai Teio, Ikuno Dictus, and Rice Shower to win the Takarazuka Kinen, the 'Great Actor' of the Mejiro family is here. Can she claim the Autumn Shield and uphold the honor of her house!?"
Beside the shouting Akasaka, Rampage scrutinized McQueen's form. The improvement in her lower body was staggering. Over the summer following the Takarazuka Kinen, she had forged herself into something even more formidable. Her muscle tone was lean and powerful; the sheer propulsive force she could generate now must be immense.
"The Autumn Tenno Sho," Rampage murmured, her voice carrying a poetic cadence. "A gathering of the finest steeds, all chasing a single shield of gold. To race for glory, to fly across the heavens... even to blink is a sin. To witness this is the highest honor. ...Or something like that. Just felt like being a bit poetic."
"That was beautiful, Rampage-san! You're going to put me out of a job at this rate. But the time has come! The racers are entering the gates. The Autumn Tenno Sho starts... NOW!"
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