"Goddammit... They could've picked anyone else for this crap."
"Aw, c'mon. The trainer's never been there, so you're my only shot."
"Even so... You said you'd just watch, and you did. But nah, you drag me out to Saitama to drive your ass around... I'm still a total newbie behind the wheel, froglet and all."
"Why a tadpole, though?"
Even as she griped, Mejiro Rampage—now earning whispers as the top active mid-distance Uma Musume—navigated the highway with practiced ease. Slouched in the passenger seat of her beloved Impreza sat her teammate, the freshly minted G1 Uma Musume, Twin Turbo.
"So, you satisfied now?"
"Yep!! Got to thank Akiyama-nii properly, and we snagged photos too!!"
"Well, glad to hear it."
Tucked in her phone's gallery was a single shot: Akiyama, the rare breed still tearing up mountain passes in an AE86 hot hatch, flanked by his little sister—with Cherry Blossom Stakes champ Ray and trophy-hoisting Turbo squeezed right between them. Turbo's "Dokkan Turbo" (or as she dubbed it, the true Dokkan Turbo) owed its birth to these two. She'd twisted Rampage's arm for a straight shot to Saitama just to say thanks in person.
"Akiyama-nii~!!"
"Turbo?! What's up? Right after the Cherry Blossom Stakes, no less..."
"Ehehe! Thanks a million!! Dokkan Turbo's finally done—thanks to you!! You watched, right?!"
"O-Of course... Wait, you seriously dragged yourself all the way out here just for that?! Made Rampage drive?!"
"It's ridiculous, right? That's why they roped me in. And hell, I couldn't say no to her."
"H-Hahaha... Damn, you're a force of nature—way bigger than I figured."
Akiyama's shock melted into a grin as he shared Turbo's joy. He called over his sister in no time; she wheedled a signature, he beamed back, and soon Turbo was begging for a group pic. She poured out her heartfelt thanks, every bit of it.
"I'll win the Oaks next too!! With Dokkan Turbo!!"
"You got it—I'm rooting for ya. This time, I'll cheer from the stands. Give 'em hell!!"
In the end, she'd gained a rock-solid fan in Akiyama, and Turbo seemed to swell with even greater resolve. But ahead loomed a mandatory retreat: days of intensive recovery at the Mejiro sanatorium. Ideally, she'd dive right in post-race, but she flat-out refused without clearing her thanks first. No choice—Rampage had floored it to Saitama in the Impreza.
"But hey, Turbo—can you even use the Mejiro spot?"
"No biggie. If we let Nature and Rice crash there, what's one more?"
"True that."
For these two, it was teammate perks, sure. But Turbo's tie ran deeper: distant kin to the Mejiro clan, blood thicker than with Nature's crew. The snobs griped when those girls tagged along, but this? Ironclad—no complaints.
"Turbo, you're G1 material now. From here on, everyone's gunning for you. For real."
Up till now, the spotlight lingered on her Canopus crew status—Rampage's shadow loomed large, her style echoing Turbo's own frantic front-run. But the Cherry Blossom Stakes? That was Turbo's solo roar. Full marks incoming.
"Means I gotta train harder, right? No slacking for this Turbo!!"
"Good attitude. But it ain't enough."
Shifting gears, Rampage pressed on.
"You've got two killer edges: raw front-run frenzy, and Dokkan Turbo—literal turbo boost."
"The true one!!"
"True Dokkan Turbo, yeah—but it's half-baked. That blowout win? First-time shock value. Rivals panicked mid-chase, lost their rhythm."
"So... whatcha mean?"
"Catch up already... You slipped away on surprise, but no more gaps like that. They'll counter hard next time."
Dokkan Turbo: a savage speed spike, ditching rivals who'd nearly reeled her in. But telegraphed? They'll prep.
"So, what do I do?"
"Simple. True Dokkan Turbo plus front-run frenzy—you're already packing two finishers."
"Even more confusing~"
Turbo couldn't fire Dokkan Turbo at will—100% reliability? Nah. It was a pinpoint surge from a sweet spot. She built it mid-front-run, banking stamina, then unleashing at peak. But her "banking"? Still raw.
"You need distance to stockpile power now. That 1600-meter Cherry Blossom build-up? Dumb luck, straight up."
"Muu..."
Her method's green, so it sways wild with form, mindset, track, weather—stockpile swings huge. The Oaks revenge hype juiced that one. Rampage, who'd tuned Dokkan Turbo from the ground up, pegged mid-distance as her sweet spot: grind reps, master the build, or it's dead weight.
"Daily runs: full-throttle front-run, no mercy. But for the kill shot? Rein it in, stockpile. Nail the switch, and you'll pull off mind-game escapes like mine."
"So—Turbo's your apprentice now?!"
"Hell no!!"
Front-run wild every day; Dokkan Turbo for the deciders, shaking 'em off. Force the dilemma: chase the ghost or brace for blast? Like history's Tanabata and All-Comer—feint or surge. But to lock it in? Hone Dokkan's edge, bulk stamina too...
"Sigh... Fine, whatever. But if you're calling yourself my apprentice, half-assed runs won't cut it. Brace for that."
This tested Turbo's grit. Rampage shone—good or ill, she drew eyes. Claim her as mentor? Drama snowballs. She'd spare the kid that mess if she could. Just had to confirm... But a glance over? Turbo, dead to the world.
"Battery's drained, huh..."
"Wehehehe... Turbo, max throttle... Gyurugyuru dokkaaaan..."
"Smiling like an idiot in dreamland. Mountain pass joyride, maybe?"
Let her crash—Cherry Blossom burnout's real. Straight shot to the sanatorium it is. Then, Oaks prep: dialed in, no excuses.
"Nail Dokkan Turbo, and you might smoke Teio—or hell, even me. Prove it: turn that 'outdated' tag into a new era."
"Yay!! Ran's my master now!!"
"You were awake, you little shit?! Ah—take it back, take it back!! No apprenticeship for you!!"
"Hehe Gotcha on tape!! Phoned it all!! Bragging to the crew later!!"
"Quit screwing around!! Don't play me like that, you sneaky punk!!"
Akiyama-nii modeled after Koichiro "DK" Akiyama from Initial D, the Corolla Levin drifter. Smart Muscle vibes too, huh? Eh, details—close enough!!
-----------------------------
I'm still fairly new to translating, but I genuinely love doing it. I've set up a Patreon as a small corner to share my work with everyone. There you'll find early access to chapters and some special content just for you.
I hope this Patreon can grow and become a place where I can connect with you all in the future. If you'd like to take a look or support me, you can visit:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]