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“Oh no, what is it this time...?” Air Groove heard the familiar sound of Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka going at it.
The two had developed a fierce and near-legendary rivalry, the likes of which was rarely seen at Tracen Academy, despite many famous rivalries developing over the many years of the Academy and the Twinkle Series’ existence.
“Excuse me, coming through. Student council business.” She apologized as she squeezed through the crowd of Umamusume watching the latest in rival banter entertainment.
Air Groove reached the edge of the crowd, only to see her fellow Vice President already there.
“B-Brian?” She surprised. Narita Brian glanced over and made eye contact.
“Mm, you heard it too, huh?” She turned back to the scene before them.
Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet yapping about gods knows what.
“W-why aren’t you doing anything?” Air Groove huffed, taking her place by Narita Brian’s side.
“..You really wanna try and intervene now when they’re this fired up? ..Best let em’ wear down first.” The twig in her mouth twitched a bit.
“IT WAS TOTALLY MY IDEA FIRST!” Vodka barked.
“NU-UH! I HAD THAT IDEA WEEEEEEKS AGO…!”
The crowd of Umamusume watching the fight looked back and forth as each side tried to come out on top.
“THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY ANYTHING, HUH?!”
“I DID! YOU JUST DON’T LISTEN!”
“BECAUSE YOU NEVER SHUT UP!”
“OH, EXCUSE ME?!”
“VODKAAAAA!!!”
“SCARLETTTT!!!”
The two names echoed like war cries, bouncing off the courtyard walls as if Tracen Academy itself had learned to brace for its impact.
Air Groove pinched the bridge of her nose. “Every time,” she muttered. “Every. Single. Time.”
Narita Brian didn’t look away, twig shifting slightly between her lips. “..Mm. They got stamina, I’ll give ’em that.”
At the center of the storm, Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet were now basically nose-to-nose, sparks practically visibly flying between them. Vodka’s hands were waving wildly, jacket half-off her shoulders like she’d pulled it back one dramatic time too many.
“I’m tellin’ you, Scarlet, if you’d just admit it was my call, we wouldn’t even be here!”
Daiwa Scarlet planted her hands on her hips, chin high, eyes blazing. “As if I’d steal one of your half-baked ideas! Mine was fully thought out, thank you very much!!!”
“Half-baked?! You!”
“YOU!”
The crowd leaned in as one, breath held.
“...You’re... i-impossible!” Vodka finally snapped, turning away with a dramatic scoff.
“Oh, I’M impossible???” Scarlet shot back. “You’re the one who barges ahead without thinking!”
“Yeah?! w-well, someone’s gotta actually do something!”
“And someone’s gotta do it right!”
They froze, both breathing hard.
For a heartbeat, it looked like round two was inevitable.
Then Vodka laughed.
It slipped out before she could stop it: a short, incredulous bark that startled even herself. “Pfft... listen to us... We sound like idiots...”
Scarlet blinked. “...You started it.”
“Did not!”
“You totally did~”
Vodka turned back, grin creeping in despite herself. “Oh yeah? Says the girl who yells like a busted megaphone.”
Scarlet’s lips twitched. “At least I enunciate.”
That did it.
Vodka burst out laughing properly this time, shoulders shaking. “You’re such a pain, y’know that?”
Scarlet crossed her arms, trying and failing to keep a straight face. “Humph. Funny, I was just thinking the same about you.” She grinned.
The tension melted, draining away like it had never been there at all. A few Umamusume in the crowd exchanged confused looks. This was usually the part where things escalated, not... whatever this was.
Vodka stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Still... you looked kinda cool back there. All fired up.”
Scarlet flushed instantly. “W-what?! Don’t say weird stuff out of nowhere!”
“I mean it,” Vodka said, scratching her cheek. “You’re scary when you’re mad. In a good way.”
Scarlet looked away, ponytail swishing. “...Y-you weren’t so bad yourself. Loud, sure, but, decisive...”
“Whoa,” Vodka blinked. “Was that a compliment?”
“Don’t get used to it!”
They both laughed again, quieter this time. The crowd began to disperse, disappointed murmurs rippling outward as the show ended not with fireworks, but giggles.
Soon, it seemed only the two of them remained in the courtyard.
Vodka leaned back on her heels. “Guess we kinda blew it outta proportion, huh?”
“Yeah,” Scarlet admitted. “But it’s your fault.”
“Hey!”
“I’m kidding,” she said quickly, then hesitated. “...Mostly.”
“You always do that.” Vodka grinned.
“Do what?”
“Act all serious, then sneak in a joke like you’re testing the water.”
“You notice too much.” Scarlet huffed.
“Only about you.”
Silence fell; thick, awkward, charged.
Scarlet’s face turned red. “D-don’t look at me like that!”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re... thinking stuff!”
Vodka laughed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Can’t help it... You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
“I am not cute!”
“Oh, absolutely you are!”
Scarlet stepped forward, poking Vodka’s chest. “Say that again...”
Vodka swallowed, heart thumping as she put on a brave yet smug face. “Cute. Very cute.”
They were inches apart now, both grinning, both clearly aware of how close was too close.
Then:
“Ahem.”
The sound was quiet. Controlled. Terrifying.
Vodka and Scarlet froze in place.
Then, slowly, very slowly, they turned.
Air Groove still stood there, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Beside her, Narita Brian also watched with mild interest, twig tilting as she exhaled. “..Huh.”
The color drained from Vodka’s face. Scarlet let out a noise that could only be described as a strangled squeak.
“...Y-you saw nothing!!!” Scarlet yelped.
“NOTHING!!!” Vodka echoed, already backing up.
Without another word, the two spun on their heels and bolted in opposite directions; only to trip, scramble, and end up sprinting the same way, disappearing around the corner in a blur.
Silence.
Air Groove massaged the back of her sore neck. “...I suppose that resolved itself.” She sighed.
Narita Brian smirked faintly. “..Heh. Pipsqueaks.”