Chapter Text
The world was a blur of green and white as the Umamusume thundered down the racetrack.
“And they’ve rounded the final corner! They’re onto the final straight! The real race begins now!”
Nice Nature dug her foot into the ground as hard as she could, making her way to the front of the pack.
The final stretch seemed to loom on forever ahead. Her legs and lungs were burning up. The sounds of the crowd were deafening.
Nature ran anyway.
“Nice Nature makes her move! She pushes to sixth! Fifth! Unbelievable! She still has stamina left! But will she make it all the way?!”
Nature gritted her teeth. She kept pushing. She was in fourth now. Third. I can do this. I can do this. I can--
“Nice Nature is in third! She’s still gaining! It’s a battle for first! But Tokai Teio holds onto her lead! Beside her is Mejiro McQueen! Neither of them are giving up an inch!”
Her steps faltered.
…No.
I can’t do this.
“Nice Nature starts to fall behind! Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen are still battling for the lead!”
Teio surged forward. McQueen followed her. All Nature could do was watch.
“It’s Teio! McQueen! Teio! McQueen! This race is going to come down to the wire!”
At the last possible moment, Teio managed one final burst of speed.
The race results flickered to life on the scoreboard.
“Teio takes it!”
The crowd erupted into cheering.
Teio beamed and raised a peace sign. McQueen smiled and waved at the crowd. The cheers grew in volume, thousands of fans screaming their names.
If anyone called out to Nature, she wasn’t listening for them. She didn’t need to. After all… Why would someone cheer for someone like her? She sighed to herself and began walking off the track.
Nature felt a hand on her shoulder and froze.
“You ran well today, Nature.”
McQueen’s voice.
Nature let out a weak chuckle. “Not like you, you make it look easy.”
She heard Teio bound over. “Oh, don’t beat yourself up about it! Third is still on the podium!”
“Yeah, but it’s not noteworthy.”
“Sure it is! Your consistency is pretty admirable!”
The words had a slightly different impact than what Teio had probably intended.
Nature shied away from her. “...Don’t say it like that.”
Teio blinked. “Huh?”
“Makes me sound like I belong in the same conversation as you, is all.”
“Of course you do!” Teio said it like it was obvious.
“Teio,” McQueen warned. “Do not press her.”
“I’m not pressing her!”
McQueen laughed softly before turning back to Nature. “I apologize if I was too direct. But… I stand by what I said. You ran well.”
Nature twirled some of her hair around her finger, a nervous habit. “Mm… We should get ready for the Winning Live,” She said, a little too quickly. “Especially you, Teio.”
Teio nodded. “Alright! See ya, Natie!”
“My name’s not--” Nature sighed. “See you later.”
“Goodbye, Nature,” McQueen waved.
“Yeah.” Nature turned away. “Later.”
As Nature walked off the track, the sounds of the crowd faded behind her.
The Winning Live would be soon. Like she had said, she had to get ready. But her mind was elsewhere.
You ran well today, Nature.
Your consistency is pretty admirable!
Nature shook her head. Why was she still thinking about that? It didn’t matter. It was just politeness, and nothing more.
Nothing more.
––––––––––
The dorm was silent when Nature returned. Marvelous must’ve already been asleep. She closed the door as quietly as she could.
The silence was a little disorienting after the noise of the day.
The race, the Winning Live, everything felt distant now.
Well, almost everything.
Despite everything, the conversation from earlier lingered in her head.
Nature sighed and set down her bag, collapsing onto her bed. After the race and the Winning Live, she was thoroughly exhausted. For a few moments, she just stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to purge Teio and McQueen’s words from her mind.
It didn’t work.
Nature turned over, planting her face into her pillow. Stupid, she thought to herself. It doesn’t mean anything. They’re just nice. Teio encourages everyone. McQueen is always polite. They’re on a whole other level, but don’t want you to feel bad about it.
…
Why did that explanation feel so unsatisfying?
Were they really?
Teio, maybe. But…
Have I ever seen McQueen touch someone like that?
Nature frowned, lifting her face from the pillow.
Of course she had.
Had she?
McQueen was friendly, polite, and considerate. Surely this was just something that she did, right?
But Nature couldn’t remember ever seeing her touch someone.
…Well, besides Teio. But Teio was usually the one to initiate.
“...Tch.”
Marvelous stirred, but didn’t wake. Nature winced. Better not make any more noise.
She rolled back over, facing the ceiling again.
It doesn’t mean anything, she repeated. By tomorrow you’ll forget about it.
Nature closed her eyes.
You ran well today, Nature.
Damn it.