"Hahaha! I lost, totally lost. You're strong—world's fastest, even if it's unofficial. Don't get cocky, though, ex-world champ here!" Unbridled grinned.
"Big talk for a loser. Makes me wanna shut that mouth," Rampage shot back.
"Seal it with Minami's lips, then."
"I'll shove a super-hard blade in there!"
"Scary, scary!"
Rampage had crushed Unbridled in the Champions Cup. Unlike last year's exhausting Japan Cup, a year of grueling training had toughened her body. Dirt's lower strain helped, too—dirt Uma Musume often had longer careers for a reason.
"Great job, Rampage," Minamisaka said.
"Can't let the ex beat the current, right?" Rampage smirked.
"Please, don't phrase it like I'm swapping women!" Minamisaka groaned, sweating.
"She's got a point, though," Rampage teased.
"It's not wrong, but stop!" Minamisaka pleaded.
"What, Minami, am I nothing to you now? Was that rainy night in bed a lie?!" Unbridled chimed in, mock-dramatic.
"Minami-chan…" Rampage played along.
"Completely false! And what's with this tag-team act? Where's the pre-race tension?!" Minamisaka snapped.
Uma Musume—athletes in general—bonded deeply after fierce battles. Rampage and Unbridled were now near-friends. Minamisaka felt a pang of regret; with her guidance, Unbridled might've dominated the Breeders' Cup back-to-back. But that was all.
"So, Minami-chan, the promise—you haven't forgotten, right?" Rampage asked.
"Promise? What's that about?" Unbridled perked up.
"If Rampage won the Champions Cup, I'd spill about myself," Minamisaka admitted.
"That sounds juicy!" Unbridled exclaimed.
Rampage's drive wasn't just beating Unbridled—it was uncovering Minamisaka's past. The prospect thrilled her.
"Is it okay to share, Minami?" Unbridled asked.
"We've been together long enough. It's only fair," Minamisaka replied. "Right, An-san?"
"Fine by me if you're cool with it," Unbridled shrugged.
"Wait, Ludo-san's involved too?" Rampage blinked.
"That's one way to put it…" Minamisaka said. "Ludo-san, huh? Cute nickname."
"Isn't it?" Unbridled grinned.
This was getting bigger than expected. Minamisaka's past snippets—trade company work, handling complaints, big clients—had hinted at something. Now, sipping tea, she began.
"You probably guessed, but I was in America before becoming a trainer."
"With Ludo-san's ties, figures," Rampage nodded.
"I trained Ludo-san because she was my boss's daughter."
"Your boss? What was your job?" Rampage pressed.
"Ever heard of the FBI?"
Rampage's face twisted. "The FBI? You mean—"
"Yup. I'm a former FBI agent."
It was beyond imagination—yet somehow, it fit, like she'd been a secret agent all along.
The FBI, America's federal police, handled cross-state issues in a nation where states operated almost like countries, with varying laws, even on matters like the death penalty. The FBI bridged those gaps.
"Why're you a trainer then?" Rampage asked.
"My dad asked Minami to mentor me," Unbridled cut in. "Oh, and my dad's the FBI director."
"That's huge! What kind of role gets you that gig?!" Rampage demanded.
"Cybersecurity division," Minamisaka said.
"I'm done…" Rampage muttered, piecing it together. No wonder she could jack monitors like in some anime.
"While training Unbridled, I realized I wanted to be a trainer—close to Uma Musume, touching their hearts," Minamisaka explained.
"Then she quit, shocked my dad, and bolted to Japan!" Unbridled laughed.
"So you sent her here, Ludo-san!" Rampage accused.
"Hehe!" Unbridled giggled.
It was staggering. No wonder Minamisaka hesitated to share. "The Japan Cup intel… your FBI connections?" Rampage asked.
"Yup," Minamisaka confirmed.
"That's insane…"
Was knowing this a blessing or a curse?
"Is it safe that I know?" Rampage worried.
"It's fine. I'm fully retired," Minamisaka assured.
"Dad wants her back, though," Unbridled added.
"I declined. Even told the president no," Minamisaka said.
"I'm pretending I didn't hear this," Rampage groaned.
So, Minami-chan's a former FBI agent. Not that shocking, I guess!
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