Chapter Text
Wind blew through the trees of an orange autumn at tracen academy, the tail end of classic years and the beginning of a white-brushed winter, one of the last days before the inevitable snow falls from the sky and lays a shivering blanket of frost over the campus.
Classes had concluded for the day, and the sun was threatening lower as commotion plagued the halls of the tracen academy dormitories. The same culprits of nearly every other incident, infamous rivals, those who could have a public and brash argument in just about every setting.
“That was a fluke! Besides, if it wasn't for your late night studying I wouldn't have been so distracted, you practically sabotaged me!” Screamed vodka, an uma with dark brown hair with a small highlight of white, dressed in her usual racewear, a dirt stained leather jacket being the centerpiece of it all.
“You blame me for your shortcomings?!” retorted the other uma, Daiwa scarlet, a girl with auburn hair in two ruffled twintails topped with a tiara, similarly dressed in her very own racing wear. “you and I both know my studying had nothing to do with your distraction, and you can't admit that because that means you’ll admit I beat you fair and square!”
The two continued their argument, slowly but surely devolving into nothing but petty and low blows. The two were sufficiently heated, the pairs cheeks doused in deep red of ridiculous anger.
“Wow, they're surely something, aren't they? you think they’ll ever get along?” Asked a small ginger girl, Mayano Top Gun, watching the two from afar.
“Maybe one day, but as of now, I'm not so sure..” replied Tokai Teio, the girl's roommate, a small look of worry drowning her usually upbeat expression as the pair continued on. “Maybe we should give them some space..”
“you know what? I’ll prove that it wasn't a fluke, okay!? Tomorrow night at the training track, you and me, call it a duel!” Blurted vodka, desperate to prove herself.
“Wha- Tomorrow night?! you- you dummy, that's past curfew!” Daiwa was taken aback, she couldn't imagine, no, fathom a late night one on one. Her mind of built up insults was overtaken by the possibilities of getting caught, or worse, actually losing to Vodka.
“What's wrong, you scared? scared that you'll be up against a real challenge? you might as well admit your defeat now if you’re not up for it!” Vodka quickly realized her oversight, but being so stubborn she only pushed forward, too caught up in the moment to even try and backtrack.
Daiwa fumed in response, wallowing in angered silence as she weighed out the pros and cons, staring daggers at Vodka, cursing her tilted grin and the fire that shone through the gold of her eyes. “..you conniving dunce. leave me no choice, do you?” she whispered to herself, bitterness lining her lips.
“Whadya say, princess?” vodka mocked. Her voice dropping and her eyes narrowed.
“I said,” Daiwa took a step closer to vodka, practically nose to nose, ears twitching as vodka could feel her breathing brush against her lips. “You'll wish you never dared to attend this school.”
Just as quick as she moved in she placed her hands on her hips and turned on her heel, subsequently hitting vodka in the face with her twin tails and she sauntered down the halls, not a single other word being uttered as she walked out of sight.
It took vodka a few seconds to comprehend what had just happened, blood creeping down from her nose before shaking her initial shock off as she called out “So that's a yes right? right?!” No response could be heard. She let out a sigh, mentally kicking herself for the idea- now she’d actually have to race, now she'd actually have to win.
She dragged her feet as she practically crawled off to the cafeteria, too embarrassed to return to the dorms where she presumed Daiwa was heading. She haphazardly pinched her nose so as to not ruin the hallway carpet and get another lecture from Fuji about “sanitization” and “biohazardous materials.”
Daiwa turned a corner, quickly making sure she wasn't followed, she then bolted down the halls to her dorm, ignoring the “no running in the halls” rule that was at this point, more of a suggestion. She grabbed the knob of her dorm's door at light speed, quickly rushing in and slamming it behind her.
She slowly slid down the door, a heavy sigh leaving her body, groaning as she berated herself over the interaction. “Stupid! augh, “you’ll wish you never dared to attend this school”? ridiculous…” she pouted, wrapping her arms around her curled legs.
“So much for subtly..” she murmured. she unconsciously started to recall the interaction, the determination that filled Vodka's voice, the twitch of her nose, the shimmering colour of her eyes as they ever so subtly widened, the slight gap in her cracked lips, the tinge of pink blush that covered her cheeks.. she could feel a love-stricken smile creep up- of which she quickly snapped herself out of. She bolted up to her feet, holding her head, thinking maybe she was sick, certainly it wasn't her own mind of her own will creating these thoughts, right?
She sped over to the washroom, leaning over the sink and splashing her face with cold water. She stared into the mirror, makeup leaking down her face. She wonders what's come over her, how a single person could do so much to her perfectly curated person.
Suddenly, she swells with determination. Determination to beat vodka in the race, to prove that she's better than her, to prove that she's worthy.
“Pull yourself together, Scarlet.” She growls to herself, gripping the shining porcelain of the sink. “You wear this crown for a reason.”
She hastily pulls a towel off its hanger, wiping the stains of black, blue and pink from her face, leaving a blank canvas and a scowl. She was seen as effortlessly pretty in the eyes of others, but in the mirror she only ever saw someone who didn't work hard enough, who needed to push herself in every aspect. She had to be prettier, smarter, stronger, she needed to be number one, and she wasn't going to let these thoughts of Vodka get in the way from becoming the best.
-
“Give me my drink you stupid machine!” Vodka pleaded, kicking the bottom of the vending machine that had taken her money for nothing in return, not gaining anything besides a pain in her foot. She nearly fell to her knees in anguish, the day just kept getting worse.
“Is something wrong, Vodka?” startled, she quickly turned her head to the voice, Oguri cap standing behind her, most likely having seen her display of desperation.
“Oh, It's just you Oguri..” she sighed, relieved. “The stupid machine wont give me my drink! I gave it an extra few bucks too..”
“Is that it?” Oguri questioned, stepping up to the machine and lightly hitting the side as if it was some secret code. After a few seconds of rigid mechanical sounds, out fell two cans of soda.
Vodka nearly dived for the cans, picking them out with exasperated excitement. “Thank you so much oguri! You- you want the other one? I only needed the single can..” she offered, earning a small smile from the white-haired uma.
“What brings you down here? I don't usually see you so late.” Asked oguri, the two now sitting at a small table in the practically empty cafeteria.
“I didnt wanna go back to my dorm..” She said, taking a swig from her now flat soda. Her entire presence oozed of self pity.
“mmm, did you and Daiwa get into another argument?" Oguri inquired, already having finished her can of soda.
“Was it that obvious?” Vodka sulked. dropping her head in defeat onto the table. “It was so stupid.. I shoulda just kept my mouth shut, but I just had to be stubborn.”
Oguri placed a hand onto her shoulder reassuringly. “Im sure she’ll forget about it in a few days, you two always bounce back, no?” her attempt at comfort got a low grumble from vodka in return.
“..If you think what happened will do something to your relationship, maybe you could try to apologize? I know it can be hard for you, but it'll make you a better person in the end, and get you out of this little slump.” Oguri said, her voice genuine as she's seen first hand what the two can do to each other on more than one occasion.
Vodka lifted her head, looking up to oguri with heavy eyes. “You think so? maybe- maybe I should try and talk to her, maybe talk her out of it..” She whispered the last part. Vodka seemed to genuinely consider it, her hopes rising from the kind words. “Hey, uh, thanks again, Oguri.”
“Dont mention it.” she gave a fuller smile. Though, as she looked closer at vodka she spotted something out of place. Dry flakes of red surrounding her nose. “Vodka.. were you bleeding?” she asked bluntly.
“Oh! oh, that uh- yeah, you know how it is with me.” She let out a small laugh, brushing her nose in an attempt to get the remnants off.
Oguri tilted her head in confusion. “I thought you only got nosebleeds with romance and stuff of the likes.. Is there.. something you haven't mentioned?” She knew she was sticking her nose in places it didn't belong, but the words simply fell out of her mouth with no thought.
She watched as Vodka froze, and her cheeks turned a shade of deep pink, embarrassment obviously overtaking her. “No! no, nonono. nothing happened y’know! she didn't do anything- uh- nothing happened between us! er- uh,” She went on, messily trying to persuade the other as her words betrayed her.
Oguri was obviously not convinced, raising an eyebrow at her words.
“Oh man.. this is so uncool..” Vodka whined, once again dropping her head in defeat. “It's just, she got a little close to me and said some.. stuff.” she said softly, seconds of silence passing by before she realized her words and shot up. “Not like that! I didn't mean like that! she was just all confident and intimidating and kinda towered over me- not in a weird way! but- like-” She kept digging herself a deeper grave. Groaning in frustration she finally shut herself up.
The two sat in complete quiet, unable to cut eye contact as Vodka tried to silently relay her point, still to no avail.
“Vodka… Do you..?” Oguri slowly questioned. “No! no way! She's my rival thats- thats all!” Vodka cried out, neck deep in denial. “Just cause I think she's cool or- or pretty or smart, or really pretty… it- it doesn't mean I'm into her! you gotta understand that, you know what it's like to have a rival!”
Oguri could do nothing but nod along. She hadn't even finished her sentence and she was so quick to deny it. “right, right.. it's just..” she looked over to Vodka once more, the stress so visible on her face she swore she could see veins popping. “Nevermind, you’re right. Just because you're rivals doesn't mean you like her..” She watched as Vodka nearly fell back in relief.
“Exactly!” Vodka called out, nearly full can of soda still in hand. “I knew you would get it. You know what a real rivalry looks like.”
“Yeah, of course, though, shouldn't you be getting back to your dorm? it's getting pretty late, curfews soon, and I'm sure Daiwas worried about you.” Oguri relayed, unsure as to how else she could have handled this.
“Right!” Vodka hurried to her feet, saying a few last words to Oguri. “I knew you’d get me. Thanks again!” and off she was, hurrying back to the dorm with newfound energy. As vodka rounded a corner Oguri's eyes fell to her hardly drank soda, grabbing it and emptying it in seconds.
-
Vodka climbed the stairs up with determination, stepping with stone set power, she trudged up to her dorm with her head held high. She grabbed the knob and just as she went to open the door a wave of nervousness brushed over her. She could feel her stomach twist and her once grandiose smile wave the longer she held the silver shining knob.
She pulled back, shaking her nervousness off, did she come all this way just to get cold feet, at her own dorm? of course not. She regained a little bit of that confidence and with a step she burst through the door, coming straight into contact with a dark room.
She had originally prepared to call out to Daiwa, to capture her attention and call the duel off, but the room was silent, dark, and cold. She shut the door behind her, her eyes adjusting to the darkened room and spotting the silhouette that laid in the bed adjacent to her own.
She stepped closer, gazing down to her roommate curled in the sheets of her bed. Her tiara sat on her nightstand, perfectly and carefully placed.
She continued to stare as she wracked her brain, she couldn't wake her up now, but would she get a chance any other time? If she tried to call it off tomorrow, would Daiwa refuse, claim she got cold feet? Perhaps she should let it carry on, it's just a race after all, right?
She sighed, stepping back as she realized how creepy her staring could come off. She decided she would settle for an early night. She’ll wake up when Daiwa does, she’ll tell her then, apologize for the fight and call it all off, the two didn't need anymore races between their busy careers.
Vodka gathered her things, changed into her sleepwear, did her usual nightly routine which didn’t consist of more than two or three steps and climbed into her bed. She felt awake as she stared up to her dimmed ceiling, subtle sounds of wind brushing past the window as thoughts of nothingness flooded her mind.
She turned her back to the wall, facing the static silhouette of her roommate, unmoving and stiff. If she listened in hard enough she could swear she heard her ever so slight breathing, the rustle of her hair or the wrinkling of her clothes.
She wanted to reach out to her, to take a strand of auburn and pull her fingers through the silkened pieces at a crawling pace. Gently caressing the others face as she talked in whispers of sweet nothings- silently she yearned for the other, being so close to something she knew she would never have. The bond between them that once could have been is soured. They can't touch hands without an ensuing fight- it was an unconscious reaction at this point.
She tried to look at it from another angle, perhaps she was just as bad at spilling her heart, maybe, in some twisted way, those fights were proof of emotion, of true reciprocation. Those fights were a representation of love in their own way, and all the cruel words were masks for pet names and genuine memories.
She tried to dream up any explanation, any at all that puts Daiwa in her own poor, sullen heart. She reached out to Daiwa, not getting anywhere close, she wished she would just appear in her arms, or just take her hand, but it was no use.
She pulled back, turning to face the wall of the compact room, curling into a ball and soaking up all of her very own melancholy.
She fell asleep after what felt like hours. The room was finally unmoving, nothing but the howls of wind to fill the gloom that hung heavy in the air.