"Seriously, that was wild. Turbo's rival for a reason—Teio's unreal."
"Pretty chill about it, huh? Thought you'd be moping, so I was gonna drag you out in the Impreza."
"I'd ride, sure—but next time? No telling, Teio."
The Satsuki Sho followed the Cherry Blossom Stakes, and Nature placed second. Toukai Teio clinched first, but by a nose—so drained at the finish, it was hard to tell who won or lost.
"Hah… hah… I did it, Nature…!!"
"Wow, Teio, unreal… but I'm not losing next time. Derby's mine~"
Teio, teetering on collapse; Nature, cool as ever. A glance at Minami-saka revealed why Teio won.
"Simply put… Teio misjudged her surge timing slightly. Still reaching that point? Staggering."
"Wait, that was a mistake?!"
"Spica likely studied Nature's past races, but misread her in action. Still, Teio forced a nose victory. Terrifying, that Toukai Teio."
Nature unleashed her planned long sprint; Teio surged at the fourth corner—too late. Ideally, she'd have pushed right on entry, winning by a length.
"Even scarier, then. Imperfect, yet that close…"
"So, I'm switching up my sprint timing."
"How?"
"Bit past halfway."
Everyone froze at the absurdly simple plan.
"Halfway… you planning a 1200-meter sprint?"
"Nah, 1000 meters."
"Still sounds nuts…"
How does she even think like this? Lose one timing battle, so go even earlier? Ideal if she can pull it off, but…
"So, trainer, sign me up for the Aoba Sho."
"Already did."
"Perfect! Worthy of Ran's trainer."
"Gratitude supreme…"
"But can you sustain that sprint, Nature?"
"Yep, easy."
Nature's breezy confidence stunned Ikuno, as if it were obvious.
"I've been running with Ran, Ikuno, and Turbo for years. Stamina's no issue. Plus, Turbo's all-out from the start, so don't lecture me on sprints."
"Fair point. Leaves us speechless."
True enough—Turbo blasts 2000 meters flat-out. Nature's stunt isn't that crazy… or is it? Teio beating this Nature is what's absurd.
"So, Ran, spar with me from now on."
"Teio's shadow's more Ikuno's vibe, no?"
"If I can outlast your long sprint, Teio's toast."
"Not wrong… Fine, I'm in."
Nature's got the raw power to say this casually—terrifying. Yet, it makes sense: years chasing an undefeated champ, a tenacious No. 2, and a Dokkan Turbo star forged her.
"Okino's probably rattled. One misstep was nearly fatal."
"I get it. That's why I expect counters—so I'm switching my timing."
One tiny misfire in a blind strategy, and it's this close. A real slip? Total collapse. Nature's become a monster.
"Hey, Nature! Turbo's got a genius idea!"
"New plan to crush Teio?"
"Your ultimate move's name!!"
"That's your angle?"
"Yep!! I helped too~!!"
"Even Ticket…"
Nature sighed, expecting Canopus's clown duo to goof off, but leaned in to hear their pitch.
"Behold—Catapult Nature!!"
"Sounds like it'd launch a Black Magic Girl."
"Nah, Synchro Summon vibes, senpai."
"Warrior style, then."
Rice and Tanhoiza tilted their heads, lost. Fair—no one's getting this.
"Not the worst name. Might not use it, but…"
"What?! It's badass!! Right, Ticket?!"
"Super cool!!"
"Really…? Ran, thoughts?"
"Eh, better than overcooked names. Gradual buildup feels catapult-ish, I get it."
"Turbo."
Ikuno stepped forward, cutting through Nature's grumbling and the duo's naming glee. Her aura was intense. Turbo and Ticket braced for a scolding—but Ikuno, dead serious, said:
"Name mine too."
"Knew it…"
"Got it!! Ikuno's so precise… Ikuno Pace!!"
"Stupidly simple, huh?"
Ikuno's totally the type. Suggest a Mentos-Cola prank? She'd show up with a jumbo bottle.
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