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On the race track, just past the finish line, Pocket was panting heavily. She tried to calm her breathing, but she was too happy and proud. She raised her clenched fist high in triumph. At that moment, the audience roared, cheering for Pocket. Everyone celebrated the victory Pocket had achieved.
But there was one figure who caught Pocket's eye. Amidst the cheering crowd stood Tachyon, still wearing her lab coat. Pocket had expected Tachyon to come, but she hadn't expected Tachyon to look at her with such admiration. A smile widened on Pocket's face, and she began waving to Tachyon. Seeing this, Tachyon immediately looked away and quickly turned to leave. Pocket looked puzzled by the reaction, and although she tried to ignore it, she couldn't help but wonder what it meant.
+----------+--✧--+----------+
The break bell rang, and the Uma who had been sitting quietly in class began to wander around. Pocket, however, remained still in her seat, propping her chin on her hand resting on the desk, her gaze vacant outside the window.
Pocket’s silence was broken when Dantsu tapped her shoulder.
Pocket was startled and spontaneously turned around.
“D-Dantsu! You scared me!”
Dantsu chuckled softly. “Goodness, Pokke, what are you thinking about?” she asked casually.
“Nothing much.”
“Hmm? Is it about Tachyon?” Dantsu tilted her head slightly.
Pocket’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Is it that obvious?”
Dantsu sighed. “Lately, you seem to be paying attention to her all the time…”
Pocket scratched the back of her head. “Lately, her behavior has been a bit different than usual, hasn't it? I’m just a little curious…”
“No idea… I haven’t paid that much attention to her.”
“Well, then, I’ll just go ask her directly!” Pocket declared, immediately darting out of the classroom.
“Huh?? Pokke, wait!” Dantsu quickly followed Pocket.
+----------+--✧--+----------+
In Tachyon’s dimly lit lab, she was watching the Japan Cup race replay over and over. Her gaze was fixed on Pokke. She continued to analyze the figure incessantly. Unaware, her cheeks began to flush. Her focused gaze slowly relaxed, as if she was still in awe of Pokke’s performance. She pulled both of her legs onto the chair, resting her chin on her knees. A small smile slowly appeared on her face.
At the far end of the room, Cafe, who was sipping her coffee, noticed Tachyon’s unusual behavior. “Hmm? I think this is the first time I’ve seen her this impressed,” she murmured.
The tranquility was shattered when the lab door was loudly slid open. Pocket and Dantsu stood outside, then stepped into the lab.
“Ahh~ Pokke-kun! What brings you here?” Tachyon spun her chair to face Pocket.
Pocket saw the replay of her Japan Cup race on Tachyon’s monitor. “Oh! You were observing me, huh? That means you’re ready for a rematch!” Pocket said excitedly.
Tachyon stood up from her chair, smiling as she looked Pocket directly in the eyes. “Ahh~ It seems you’re gaining confidence in your own abilities, aren’t you? I admit, your performance at the Japan Cup was truly extraordinary!” Tachyon said with genuine admiration.
Pocket puffed out her chest. “Of course! I can’t believe I managed to beat THE T.M Opera O there!” Pocket answered proudly.
Pocket clenched her fist tightly. “Honestly, I still can’t accept losing to you two times in a row,” she extended her clenched hand toward Tachyon.
“Tachyon! I challenge you to a rematch!”
Hearing the declaration, Tachyon smirked. “Oh~? Pokke-kun seems to be getting arrogant after beating the Conqueror, isn't it?”
“T-That’s not what I mean! Besides, she’s not my biggest obstacle!” Pocket protested.
A few seconds later, Pocket remembered something she wanted to ask. “Oh yeah…” Pocket started looking at Tachyon more seriously. “Tachyon… Did my performance at the Japan Cup mean something to you back then?”
Tachyon was stunned, not expecting the question. “W-What do you mean?” Her smile began to feel awkward.
Pocket scratched the back of her head. “Hmm, how to put it? You seemed more than just impressed back then… And… You looked shy when I looked at you…”
Tachyon’s eyes widened, but she maintained her usual smile, though it wavered slightly. “You’re thinking strange things, Pokke-kun? I admit I was impressed by you… but that’s all, nothing more.”
After that, an awkward silence enveloped them. Both Pocket’s and Tachyon’s eyes were reluctant to meet again.
In the midst of the silence, the class bell rang, seemingly hitting them.
“Pokke! Let’s go to class! The bell rang!” Dantsu said. She immediately pulled Pocket’s arm out of the lab.
“W-Whoa! Dantsu!” Pocket was surprised by the sudden pull, but eventually, both of them left.
Tachyon sat down in her chair, letting out a breath. Pocket’s spontaneous question made her think. “Did I really look that impressed? I thought I looked normal…” Tachyon mused.
Tachyon raised her right leg onto the chair, then kicked her left feet, causing her shoe to slip off. White bandages were wrapped around her ankle.
Cafe, who had been silently sipping her coffee, finally spoke. “How long are you going to keep this a secret from her?” she asked.
Tachyon could only manage a faint smile. “I don’t know, maybe I’ll keep quiet until the end of my life…”
Cafe placed her cup on the desk. “Sooner or later, she’s bound to find out, you know…” Cafe looked worried.
“Oh, God, Cafe… Don’t scare me like that… I still don’t know how to face her after ‘this’ is revealed…” The smile on Tachyon’s face slowly faded.
+----------+--✧--+----------+
The dismissal bell rang, and Dantsu approached Pocket, who was lost in thought. Dantsu poked Pocket’s cheek, making Pocket jump slightly from her seat, and she quickly glanced at Dantsu.
Dantsu chuckled softly. “Pokke! I heard there’s a new café that just opened, want to go together?” she said, her eyes sparkling.
“Sounds good, but I want to train first,” Pocket replied.
Dantsu sighed. “Oh my, Pokke… You really love running all the time…”
“Of course! I don’t want to lose to Tachyon again!” Pocket answered passionately, standing up and placing her hand on Dantsu’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Dantsu, we’ll go to the café after my run!”
After that, Pocket grabbed her bag and dashed out of the classroom.
Dantsu chased after Pocket. “Pokke! Wait for me!”
+----------+--✧--+----------+
The blue sky was slowly overtaken and bathed in golden-orange light. On the training track, Pocket ran with all her might. Dust flew up with every stride she took. The track ground even left her footprint marks. Sweat soaked her cheeks, and her breath came in gasps. Despite this, her smile never faded. Her eyes were sharp, looking forward, as if saying, “I can do more than this!”
Dantsu chased Pocket from behind. Her breathing became erratic. Her posture began to wobble. The further she ran, the slower her steps became. Until finally, she stopped completely, trying to calm her frantic breathing.
“P-Pokke… wait up…” Dantsu said, still out of breath.
Unnoticed, Pocket had already completed one lap. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her arm.
“You didn’t have to push yourself so hard,” Pocket said with a tone of concern.
“Hah… Pokke… I don’t want to fall behind you… How should I explain it? Seeing you run, it makes me want to run too… Ah, is that too much?” Dantsu said, still panting.
Hearing that, Pocket’s cheeks immediately flushed, and she smiled. “Dantsu, isn’t that a bit excessive?” she said, smiling.
Dantsu’s cheeks also flushed. “M-Maybe it is a bit much? I myself don’t know how to express it, haha…”
Pocket smiled. “Well then, we have a date at a café, don’t we? Let’s go straight there after changing clothes.”
Dantsu nodded, her eyes sparkling again.
From a distance, inside Tachyon’s dimly lit lab, Tachyon watched Pocket and Dantsu training on the running track. Her smile was faint. “I wish I could run like that again…”
+----------+--✧--+----------+
The golden sky began to set. The moon started to appear, its light blending with the glimmer of the streetlights. Stars scattered across the night sky.
On the side of the road, Pocket and Dantsu matched their strides. Pocket slowly sipped the warm tea she had bought. Dantsu, meanwhile, nibbled bit by bit on the pink donut she was holding.
“Today was so fun, Pokke~” Dantsu smiled while chewing the donut in her mouth.
“I didn’t expect the food there to be that good, thanks for inviting me!” Pocket replied.
Dantsu smiled softly, her cheeks beginning to flush. She slowly tried to lean her shoulder against Pocket’s.
“I think I’ll challenge Tachyon again tomorrow. Why does she seem to avoid my challenges all the time?” Pocket mused.
Hearing that name mentioned, Dantsu immediately frowned. She furrowed her brow. “Pokke~! What is this obsession you have with Tachyon??”
Pocket was surprised to hear Dantsu’s straightforward remark. “O-Obsession?? It's not like that…”
Dantsu looked away. “If it’s not an obsession, why do you keep bringing her up? You’ve been talking about her ever since you started racing.” Her tone sounded annoyed.
“Is it really that often?” Pocket scratched the back of her head.
“Very. It’s been happening more often lately.” Dantsu pouted.
Pocket sighed. “I see her as my rival, I guess. Honestly, I was frustrated when I first lost to her… Initially, I thought I was great, but then I found someone even better than me… From that point, I became ambitious to surpass her. Even when I thought I had tried my best, I still kept losing to her… I really want to overcome her, but it feels like I’m stuck behind her shadow…”
Hearing that, Dantsu lowered her gaze. She was no longer pouting but seemed thoughtful.
Pocket’s gaze started to focus. “After hearing the news that she was taking a break from racing, honestly, I couldn't believe it at all… But no matter what, I had to keep training… Until finally, I managed to win for the first time. At that moment, I was so proud, I shouted with relief, I finally won. But…” Her gaze dropped. “Did I win because of my own ability, or did I win because Tachyon wasn’t there? Can this victory truly mean I’m better than her?”
Hearing those words seemed to tear at Dantsu’s heart; she looked as if she wanted to cover her ears. She tightly clutched her skirt.
“Maybe I am obsessed with Tachyon. She motivates me to keep running…” Pocket smiled faintly. “I want to be better than her. That’s why I want a rematch with her.”
Pocket’s sincere words were like a sharp knife stabbing Dantsu’s chest hard. ‘Her words are so sweet, but why does my chest feel so tight?’ Dantsu thought to herself. Despite that, she could only force a smile at Pocket.
“You sound really sincere, Pokke…” Dantsu said faintly.
Pocket smiled innocently. “Hehe… I’m just trying to express how I feel.”
Hearing Pocket’s words, Dantsu began to look gloomy. She tightly gripped her skirt. Slowly, her steps moved away, as if creating distance between them.
+----------+--✧--+----------+
Today was a holiday. In Tachyon’s lab, still enveloped in a dim light, Tachyon leaned her hands against the windowsill, staring far outside. But unlike usual, she stared blankly with tired eyes. She watched several Uma training on the running track without a single word being uttered. Her mind wandered here and there, but none led to a definite conclusion.
The sound of the door opening loudly immediately broke the silence. Tachyon spontaneously looked back. Standing there was the figure Tachyon had expected, and she started to smile cynically.
Pocket, in a neatly fitted racewear, stepped into the room. Her gaze was sharp, piercing Tachyon’s eyes. Her smile radiated a burning competitive spirit.
Seeing this, Tachyon turned her body and leaned casually against the windowsill.
“Tachyon! I challenge you to a rematch!” Pocket exclaimed excitedly. She clenched her right fist, then slammed it hard into her left palm in front of her chest.
Hearing that, Tachyon’s smile slowly widened. She stood up from her leaning position, stepping slowly toward Pocket.
“Ah~! Your spirit truly never fades, Pokke-kun!” Tachyon said in a teasing tone.
“Of course! I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time!” Pocket declared firmly. Her face moved closer to Tachyon’s.
Smiling faintly, Tachyon opened her mouth. “Oh~? You seem really obsessed with me, huh? You really want to beat me~”
Pocket was slightly surprised by the remark, but her eyes remained burning. “I still can’t accept losing to you twice in a row!”
“But you’ve won twice since then, haven’t you? You even beat the Conqueror, you know~”
Hearing that, the determination on Pocket’s face slowly faded.
“Yeah, but—”
“I refuse.”
Tachyon immediately cut Pocket off, her voice cold and firm. “You’re already the greatest now, aren’t you? Are you challenging me just to embarrass me?”
In that moment, Pocket’s spirit instantly vanished. Her eyes widened, her breath seemingly caught in her throat. A feeling of shock and guilt began to gnaw at her. “That’s not what I meant! I absolutely had no intention of doing that!”
“Then what?” Tachyon was still smirking faintly. The brief remark felt cold, cutting, and made Pocket’s chest tighten.
Pocket gritted her teeth, her fists tightly clenched. “I… I’m haunted by a dilemma. Even now, I still wonder, did I win because of my own ability… or because you weren’t there?”
Hearing Pocket’s honest confession, Tachyon’s eyes widened. Tears trembled behind her eyes, but she tried to remain composed. “I’ve analyzed every one of your races countless times…” Every word she spoke was shaky. “You’ve already far surpassed me… Is this enough to win your little heart… Pokke?” Her breathing became heavy, and the smile on her face slowly crumbled.
“Even so!” Pocket’s voice rose, hiding frustration behind every word. “What’s wrong with racing just one more time!?” Pocket tightly gripped her chest, which was suffocating her heart even mor
Tachyon was stunned, her breath catching for a moment before she finally opened her mouth. “Why are you so stubborn!? Our rematch is meaningless now!” Tachyon’s voice grew even shakier.
“Why are you always avoiding me!?” Pocket’s voice trembled even more, her emotional outburst growing stronger.
Suddenly, Pocket grabbed both of Tachyon’s shoulders tightly. She took a few steps forward, causing Tachyon to lose her balance. Realizing this, Pocket quickly released her grip. The sudden release, however, only made Tachyon’s legs wobble more, until her body fell back onto a chair. A light sound was heard as her left shoe slipped off, hitting the floor softly.
Pocket instinctively looked down. She was stunned to see the condition of Tachyon’s left ankle wrapped in white bandages. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“T-Tachyon… Is this why you stopped running?” Pocket asked softly, still trying to process what she was seeing.
Tachyon nodded slowly. “So what if it is?”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you hide this from me?”
“If I had told you then, would your spirit have remained the same?” Tachyon’s voice became softer.
Pocket fell silent, unable to utter a single word.
“Your main motivation… the thing that kept you wanting to run… was the frustration of losing to me back then, right?”
Pocket could only nod.
“I don’t know when I’ll be able to run again…” Behind those words, Tachyon held a sense of guilt. “If you had known from the start… maybe your spirit would still be great…” Tachyon’s voice grew even quieter. “But… would it be as great as it is now?”
“Tachyon…” The tears that Pocket had been holding back finally broke free. “I… I was so worried, you know…” she sobbed, her voice breaking with pent-up pain.
Seeing Pocket like that, Tachyon’s eyes also welled up. She managed a faint, wry smile.
“You’re such a crybaby…”
Pocket’s hands trembled. Slowly, she gently held both of Tachyon’s shoulders again.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Pocket’s face looked utterly distraught. Seeing her, Tachyon’s tears slowly streamed down her cheeks. She raised her hand, gently touching Pocket’s cheek, then guiding that face to look at her again
“Idiot…” she said softly, with a smile full of warmth.
“I’m not blaming you at all.”
Staring into Tachyon’s tear-filled eyes made Pocket sob even harder. She hugged Tachyon tightly. Tachyon was surprised by the sudden embrace, but she hugged back. Slowly, Tachyon stroked Pocket’s shoulder.
+----------+--✧--+----------+
The afternoon felt warm. Tachyon’s lab, usually dimly lit, was now filled with soft sunlight. The atmosphere was warmer.
In the middle of the room, Dantsu arrived, carrying a pile of colorful sweets. She placed them on the table.
Cafe, who was sitting nearby, nearly choked on her coffee at the sight of the mountain of sweets on the table.
Pocket’s eyes immediately lit up. She swallowed, her gaze fixed on the donuts and cakes laid out.
Tachyon let out a long sigh, staring at the sugar-laden table. “Dantsu~ why did you bring this many sweets to my lab?”
Dantsu chuckled softly, scratching the back of her head. “Ehehe~ I accidentally bought too much… so I thought I’d share with you all.”
Though she protested initially, Tachyon finally sat down next to Pocket. With a small, almost imperceptible movement, she nudged her thigh slightly so it brushed against Pocket’s. “Oh well… if that’s the case, let’s enjoy them together.”
Pocket took a strawberry-glazed donut. She took a small bite, and her eyes instantly sparkled. “It’s so good!!”
Seeing that reaction, Tachyon became curious. “Oh? I want to try some too~”
“Sur—”
Before Pocket could finish speaking, Tachyon suddenly leaned in and bit into another part of the donut Pocket was holding, right in front of her face.
“Hmm… it is good,” Tachyon commented.
Pocket’s face instantly flushed crimson. “D-Don’t do that out of the blue!!”
Seeing Pocket’s cute reaction, Tachyon giggled softly. “You’re overreacting, Pokke-kun~”
“Ugh..” Suddenly, Cafe clutched her stomach, her face tight with pain.
Dantsu started to panic, immediately holding Cafe’s shoulder. “C-Cafe!? Are you okay!?”
Cafe turned slowly towards Dantsu. “Escort… me… to the restroom…”
“OH! Let’s go right now!”
Dantsu helped Cafe stand up. They quickly hurried out of the room.
After Dantsu and Cafe left, the room, which had been lively, now felt quiet. An awkward tension hung between Pocket and Tachyon, who were now alone.
With a slight motion, Tachyon gently leaned her shoulder against Pocket’s. Although Pocket didn’t notice at first, the sudden warmth on her shoulder immediately alerted her. Pocket glanced over, and seeing Tachyon’s relaxed face also brought her a sense of calm. Pocket reveled in this comfort, and without realizing it, a faint smile began to form on her face.
“Fufu~” Tachyon’s sudden utterance broke the silence between them. “It’s just the two of us, isn't it?” Her tone was teasing.
Hearing the sudden flirtation startled Pocket immensely. Her face instantly turned red like a tomato. “T-Tachyon!”
Tachyon immediately separated their shoulders, which had been pressed close together. “Nee… Pokke-kun~” Now their eyes met again. Tachyon offered a mischievous smile. “You know what two people usually do when they’re alone, right?”
Pocket’s face grew even redder. “Why are you being so naughty?”
“Pokke-kun~!” Tachyon instantly pouted at the remark. “Don’t play dumb! You’re not that dense, are you?”
Pocket’s face felt intensely hot. “Is this okay?” Her mouth trembled due to the pressure of her nervousness.
Tachyon nodded slowly.
Seeing the reaction, Pocket swallowed hard. Her heart hammered wildly, as if it wanted to leap out of her chest. It was so loud, she felt Tachyon could hear it too.
Their faces drew closer. Pocket's warm breath softly touched Tachyon's cheek. They both closed their eyes. The warm air exhaled from Pocket’s mouth began to brush against Tachyon’s lips. Until finally, the two soft warmth met and pressed against each other.
‘Strawberry’—that was the first word that crossed Pocket’s mind. The softness pressed against Pocket’s lips felt incredibly cohesive, as if neither wanted to leave the other. Slowly, Pocket’s hand moved to the back of Tachyon’s head, pressing it gently.
Pocket felt she could do more than this. She pressed her lips harder, increasing the pressure she added from Tachyon’s head, making the sensation feel warmer and more intense.
Finally, the two soft pressures slowly separated, leaving a thin white string still connecting them. Tachyon was breathing heavily near Pocket’s face. Faintly, Pocket looked at Tachyon’s face. Her face looked very red and seemed to be yearning for more. Their eyes met for a moment, before closing again.
Their faces drew close again, this time without hesitation. Pocket darted out her tongue, slowly searching for an opening. She pressed her lips again, deeper than before. Tachyon hadn't expected Pocket to use her tongue, but she didn't protest at all. Tachyon began to tightly grip Pocket’s shoulders. Pocket was never satisfied with what she was feeling now. She pressed harder. Getting that reaction, Tachyon began to feel overwhelmed. She tried to lessen the pressure she was receiving, but the resistance only made Pocket strengthen her push. Pocket began to hold the back of Tachyon’s head, making it impossible for her to resist anymore.
Gasping for air, Pocket slowly released the pressure on her lips. Her face moved a few centimeters away from Tachyon’s. Again, a thin white thread was visible between their two soft spots. Her still-blurry gaze observed Tachyon’s overwhelmed face. Tachyon’s breathing was heavy and irregular.
“Pokke-kun~” Tachyon smiled naughtily. “I never thought you could be this wild.”
The loud opening of the door startled Pocket and Tachyon. They quickly tried to return to their original positions. Both their faces were completely flushed.
“We’re back!” Dantsu exclaimed cheerfully. She entered the room with Cafe.
Cafe noticed something: Pocket and Tachyon’s clothes and skirts both looked quite disheveled. She sighed. “Dantsu, have you tried this cupcake yet?”
“Woah~” Dantsu’s eyes sparkled. “This looks delicious!”
Cafe and Dantsu sat across from Pocket and Tachyon. Dantsu eagerly ate the cupcake.
With a slow movement, Tachyon reached for Pocket’s hand, then squeezed it tightly. Pocket was startled by the sudden warmth in her hand. She immediately looked over at Tachyon.
Tachyon smiled softly, which made Pocket’s eyes widen—she was utterly mesmerized. Pocket returned it with a shy, awkward smile.