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“And first over the line is Oguri Cap!! Another sensational run for the ashen beast!!”
Words that had already become familiar to fans of the sport over the past year.
“Ya did well, Ogurin.”
Again, words that had already become familiar to Oguri as well as her rival, the White Lightning: Tamamo Cross.
“I damn near had ya in the 3rd corner, but that feint to the inside was pretty crazy. Yer comin’ up with new ways to trick me every time, huh?”
“Mm.. I guess it was just instinct.” - Oguri responded, plainly as ever.
“Aww man.. I wish I could see it that simple, I can’t help but try coverin’ my bases as best I can..”
In Tamamo’s mind, Oguri was actually the one opponent she didn’t mind being tricked by mid-race. In fact, she almost looked forward to finding out another way she could be surprised by Kasamatsu’s hero.
“Tamamo..”
Oguri seemed somewhat anxious, despite how many times this scene had already played out.
“Today felt.. different than our other races.. like.. we were the only ones out on the track..”
“....!”
Tamamo was caught off guard by such an honest comment, even if it should have been expected given Oguri’s overall demeanor. Something about Oguri looking directly in her eyes affected her.
“Well.. we took a pretty early lead, eh?”
“Yeah.. but.. it was like the only thing I could see on the track was you… like the others didn’t even enter my field of vision.”
“Hey now! they’re still around here, don’t be ignorin’ yer fellow racers, dummy..”
Oguri lowered her head in meekness. There was still more she had to tell.
Tamamo turns to wave to the cheering crowds.
As a reporter takes a shot of the two posing together, Oguri’s hand around Tamamo’s shoulders, something about the whole affair felt more tense than before.
In the dressing room after everyone else had already left for the post-race press conference, the grey-haired pair stood in silence, looking in different directions.
“...”
“...”
“...”
“Hey, Ogurin..” - Tamamo breaks the long silence.
“I’m happy about what ya said, really. It’s nice to feel like we’re really competin’, ya know? And…”
Oguri turned to look at her rival.
“I mean…” - A quick glance back at Oguri was enough to cut Tamamo’s thought short.
“Tama…” - Oguri perked up, sensing Tamamo had something important to say.
“It’s just that.. I really do like racin’ with ya, Ogurin.. So much so that…”
“So much so that I might just up an’ quit if YA did!”
“Tama!”
Oguri jumped up and grabbed Tamamo by her upper arms, the two were now face-to-face.
“O-Oh!.. Yer face is too close..” - Oguri stared directly at Tamamo’s blue averted eyes.
“That’s.. what I was going to say..” - Oguri said softly, a cute blush swelling on her face.
“Hah.. well.. in that case I agree. I wouldn’t wanna race without ya.” - Tamamo smirked, centimetres away from Oguri’s face which was still sweaty from the race.
Tamamo’s heart rate was rising faster than she expected herself, even though this type of scenario had crossed her mind before.
Oguri’s glance turned away from Tamamo’s eyes.
“It’s like fate meant us to run together..”
“..!!”
Such embarrassing, cliché words that only Oguri could make them sound genuinely exciting.
“ohhh.. whaddya mean..?” - Tamamo sighed under her breath before lunging forward.
A warm kiss.
A white lightning is sudden but surprisingly delicate when it strikes.
“Ogurin..” - Tamamo breathes out in between.
She chuckles as she pulls away from Oguri’s now fully flushed visage.
“Tama, I-”
Oguri doesn’t even finish before placing both hands on Tamamo’s cheeks and pulling her back in.
Only a moment ago their mouths were dry from running their hearts out, yet both are now replenished with relief and excitement.
The pair exchange kisses...
“Ah… Ogu-..mmf...” - The fresh race winner doesn’t want to let go.
“I love running with you, Tama! I want to run with you forever!” - She finally exclaims.
“Oh geez..” - Tamamo utters, catching her breath.
“I don’t know but I’ve never felt like this before!.. I think this might.. I mean like..!” - Oguri stumbles over her words.
“Easy now, Ogurin, I know how you feel.”
“When I run, yer the one on my mind as well.. though it might be just because I’m always chasin’ ya!” - Tamamo laughs nervously.
The reassuring words seemed to calm Oguri down somewhat. On the other hand, Tamamo’s palms were sweatier than during the race.
“I love runnin’ with ya too, and.. if there’s anythin’ ya wanna tell me about how ya feel, don’t worry.”
“I love ya, Ogurin.”
“..!!!!”
“That’s it! I think I love you, Tamamo!”
“...!!!!!”
The pair fall silent again.
Tamamo cannot look Oguri in the eye after such a dramatic confession. Though she knows it’s hardly a confession anymore.
“Oh, but.. I really don’t know this kind of stuff so.. I don’t know if this is appropriate of me at all or anything..”
Smiling at her dearest rival, Tamamo responds: “Hey, we’re partners! What I don’t know, you’ll teach me.. and what ya don’t know.. I can teach ya.” - Tamamo assures Oguri once again, brushing up against her neck, taking her hands into her own and clasping fingers.
Oguri closes her eyes and lets herself feel Tamamo’s pecks on her throat.
Tamamo shifts her hands onto Oguri’s sides and pushes her to sit down on the dressing room bench. She straddles Oguri’s lap, once again facing her dear rival head-on.
Both of their racing jackets fall to the floor after one another.
They must be able to hear each other’s heartbeats by now.
With the race well over, the silver pair can still only see each other.
Maybe it was fate?
“D’ya think it’s too early for a rematch?” - Tamamo mischievously questions Oguri, whose eyes shine with adoration for her.. “partner” as the girl in question put it.
The press conference ran quite late that time.