Chapter Text
And that was the tenth lap.
Nature’s hands fell on her knees as she tried her best to catch her breath. She could feel the world start to spin under her feet along with the rapid pounding that could almost burst her head.
The trainer had told her that she has to lessen her pace a bit during training but how can she not? If anything, even the rate she is going at is still too slow compared to the other shining runners.
Nature gritted her teeth as her fingers dug deeper into her knees. The wave of frustration threatened to overtake her as memories from Kikuka Sho came flooding back in. It was so foolish of her to feel like she even had a chance with a prestigious race like that. She thought that winning four races in a row to even be able to land a spot in the Kikuka line up in the first place would at least mean something. But after getting fourth in the end, it just made the whole thing redundant.
Especially since she originally signed up to Kikuka Sho in the first place to race against Teio…
As if on queue, a certain uma’s face with bright blue eyes suddenly appeared right in the corner of Nature’s vision and it made the poor uma jump.
“Woah,” Teio laughed as Nature tried to relearn how to breathe. “That height you just got could be a new record.”
“Teio…?” Nature gasped, “What are you doing here?”
Nature tried her best to at least compose herself, dusting off the remaining dirt from her sleeve as she struggled to maintain eye contact with the shining uma in front of her. She was the last person the redhead wanted to see.
“I was just on my way back from visiting the infirmary.” Teio tossed a bag of ice in the air and caught it again with her palm. “And I ended up coming here to look at the track. I didn’t expect to see you still out here putting in some extra training though.”
“Yeah, well…” Nature said as she looked away. The sun had started to set behind the trees and a reddish orange hue began coloring the track course. She didn’t know that it had gotten this late. A part of Nature wants to know how long Teio had been here to watch her train but for the sake of taller uma’s sanity, she’d rather not ask about it. “I’m just doing what I can. To catch up to you.”
Teio grinned at that statement. “Well then, you better make the most of what you can! Before you know it, the invincible Teio-sama will be back on her two feet again!”
“Yeah yeah…” Nature sighed. She really didn’t need another reminder of the storm that’s gonna come back soon. Even though Teio had been on break for a while now, Nature raced against Teio enough times that she still can’t get the sight of her back away from her head.
Nature picked up her track bag and made her way through the course gates with Teio following alongside her. Nature stared down next to her to find that Teio still had a slight limp in her steps. “How’s your leg feeling anyway?”
“Hmm it could be worse.” Teio pondered. She let out a light hum as she trotted, “My trainer had made sure to do some light training where I don’t have to put too much strain on my leg. It’s been working out pretty well so the doctors are saying that I might be able to run properly again in a few weeks.”
“I see…”
That answer should’ve been expected. For someone who just lost their dream of achieving a triple crown, Teio somehow never lost her peppy charm. For other runners, it would have been soul crushing but Nature couldn’t even find a hint of hopelessness in Teio’s voice. Even with a broken leg, the only thing on her mind is her next race. A spirit that truly can’t be broken.
Teio really is one of a kind after all…
“TEEIOOO-CHAAN!!”
Just then, an orange blur blasted by Nature and almost made her fall onto the turf. After the redhead quickly tried to adjust her balance, she caught sight of a shorter uma clinging by Teio’s side as she shook the uma’s shoulders in a panic.
“Teio-chan!! Maya’s been looking everywhere for you!! Where have you been!? The show is gonna start in a few minutes!!”
“Oh… I’ve… I’ve almost… forgot about… that…” Teio tried to say in between her gasps as her head went up and down from the other’s shaking.
Nature found herself stuck in an awkward predicament, feet shuffling back and forth. It kind of feels like she is intruding in something. Is this the part where she should just walk away? But that would be just weird and impolite. She hadn’t even said goodbye yet.
Before the redhead could make up her mind, the mystery uma’s ears twitched and she turned around. Orange eyes made contact with Nature’s silver pair and she flinched at the sudden attention.
“Ah! A new face!” the orange girl got off Teio and hopped her ways toward Nature. For some reason, the redheaded uma found herself staggering backwards as the shorter uma flashed a bright smile at her. “Teio-chan, who’s this?”
Nature gulped as she took another step back, quickly overwhelmed by the uma before her. She hadn’t been able to get a proper look at the shorter girl as she only got the view of her back earlier but now that she could see her face, Nature found herself not knowing where to look. What was immediately apparent was the long flowy orange hair that reflected the red sunset. The bright orange strands swoop around her cute face with her orange eyes carrying the same shine similar to Teio’s as the ecstatic uma looked up at Nature expectedly.
“Oh right. I’ve never introduced you two yet.” Teio properly slung her ice bag over her shoulders as she nodded towards Nature. “This is my friend, Nice Nature. We sometimes run together. Nature, this is my roommate-”
“Mayano Top Gun!” the cute uma grinned as she gave Nature a salute in greeting. With sparkling eyes, she clapped her hands together excitedly. “So you’re Nice Nature! Mabechin has told me a lot about you!”
“M-Mabechin!?” Nature exclaimed. The gears started to slowly turn in her head as she tried to catch herself up with the hyper uma. “W-wait, do you mean Marvelous!? Just what did she say about me…!?”
“Ehehe,” Mayano giggled as she hopped cheerfully, “It’s good things! I promise! Like for starters, she mentioned that…”
Mayano’s words trailed off for a bit, her face going blank. That was enough to make Nature start to sweat. Listen, she knows that Marvelous is a sweet and caring uma, but all the possible things that her roommate could’ve said, especially to an uma that Nature has never met before, just makes her want to dig up a hole and live in there for the rest of her life.
“A-ah! Right! The show!” Mayano suddenly gasped. She then zipped around and grabbed Teio by the shoulders, anxiously pushing her back to the dorms. “Come on! Come on! It’s gonna start soon! They’re gonna reveal the killer in this episode!! We can't miss it!”
“Okay! Okay! But please go easy on my leg, Mayano! I still haven’t put ice on it!”
“Awh forget it! Just let me just carry you! Get on!” Mayano swooped down on Teio’s legs and quickly lifted her up in her arms in a swift motion. Teio almost dropped her ice bag in the process and the pair staggered back and forth to try to regain their balance.
Once Mayano’s feet had settled, she turned around to give Nature a quick smile. “It was nice to finally meet you, Nature-chan! Bye-bye!”
Nature barely had enough time to register that Mayano had already dropped their formalities as the energetic uma has already zoomed out of view. In the end, the redhead was left staring blankly at the horizon where Teio just got kidnapped. Or er... reversed kidnapped.
Just… what was with that uma…?
And what the heck did Marvelous say about her.