Archive of Our Own

"What do you mean, 'what is love?'"
Mayano Top Gun was thoroughly entertained.

"Well, you heard me! I've thought it over again, and again, and again, and really, you're wrong! I know exactly how love feels! Your heart races, and you feel real hot, and that's just like a race, isn't it?"

Oh Teio…

Tokai Teio is very stubborn. Tokai Teio is also very clueless.

Mayano squeezed her pillow, giggling to herself. She was glad to know that even after receiving worldwide acclaim for a miraculous victory to mark an era just months before, Teio hadn't changed in this regard.

"Are you still hung up on when I teased you for not knowing what love meant? It's like I'M the upperclassman! Hey, you should call me senpai, Teio!"

Teio groaned.

"You… you have no idea what you're talking about either! Heck, your only idea of love comes from those romance novels you read!"

"Better than nothing, tee hee! You never know, Teio; maybe my next big, strong, handsome trainer romance is just down the line!"

Like a bolt of lightning, inspiration struck.

"I should ask Prez! Of course! She'll know."

Gosh, I'm so smart. It's scary sometimes.

Teio beamed as Mayano's eyes sparkled with amusement.

"You know, given how you act with McQueen, I thought you'd have realised by now."

"What?"
"Nothing!"

---

Symboli Rudolf was a paragon of hope and inspiration for all Umamusume. Her many responsibilities were outweighed only in magnitude by her era-defining race record. To call her a legend almost felt inadequate.

This legend was currently occupied with the pointless ramblings of a scorned child bouncing on her couch.

"Um… Teio?"
"And you know, Maya even said that I'm like a child! I'm not at all! I'm all grown up and cool, just like you, aren't I? I mean, I couldn't win the triple crown, but I clinched an unwinnable race, didn't I? Wasn't I so cool?"

Tokai Teio has multiple shortcomings. An endearingly short stature, a shorter attention span and a somewhat undeveloped social sense in certain regards – the list went on. And for as much as she was likely Rudolf's favourite underclassman, so innocent and earnest…

She just never.

Stopped.

Talking.

"And what's more, she even claims that she knows more than me! What could she possibly have over me in terms of experience?"
"Teio."

"She's never gone out with anyone either! Realistically, she's just as clueless as I am."
"Teio?"

"I mean, what's even so special about having a crush? I have special bonds with people too! Like McQue—"
"TEIO."

Rudolf held onto the bridge of her nose.

"Do you not see that I'm… in the middle of something?"

And as Teio got up off the couch and stood up, a certain wide-eyed Director Akikawa was indeed sitting in a small chair opposite Rudolf.

"O-oh."

Director Akikawa was thoroughly unaffected by the distraction; in fact, she'd maintained her status quo smile for the entire 20 or so minutes Teio had been speaking for.

"Amazing! Incredible! Tokai Teio, for all of her blessings in racing, academics and dancing, is utterly clueless in regard to romance! And from the looks of it, social cues! One may wonder what her interactions with the Mejiro heir could possibly signify otherwise!"

Teio pouted, as Akikawa laughed behind her fan. Why did people keep saying that? Seriously, you get caught linking tails while studying once and they never let it go.

"Teio. Have you tried speaking to anybody your own age? It could help to get a perspective more similar to your own. That being said, I don't believe this is something that could be very easily... conveyed, at least with words alone."

She sighed, sinking back onto the plush couch.

"Well, who would I ask? Spe is with Suzuka in America for the next week, Scarlet and Vodka both have exams, and McQueen has been stuck at physical therapy for a couple days."

"What about Gold Sh—"
"Absolutely not."

Well, she should have expected that. For the student who they'd specifically set aside a damages and lawsuit budget, it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that she wouldn't exactly be of great assistance here.

"In any case, Teio, I'm sorry, but your question will have to wait. This is important business we're conducting here."

"Awww, but where will I go? Are you really going to leave your little old Teio hanging?"

As much as she clasped her hands together and widened her eyes (interestingly enough, Akikawa seemed invested), a thoroughly unamused Rudolf refused to acknowledge her charms.

"Teio. Get out before I need to drag you out again."

---

Well, that was a bust.

Teio sighed, wandering through the halls of Tracen Academy.

Man, what a let down. Maybe I should get something to eat?
Teio was no stranger to boredom. After all, any time at all she spent doing something which didn't personally interest her was boring.

But seriously, how is everyone in Spica gone, all at the same time?
Even Mayano had left a note on her bed.

Standby, gone AWOL. I wish you luck in your journey, tee hee!
What was it with her and planes anyway? AWOL? Really? Geez.

She pulled out her phone, carefully taking stock of her options.

One certain notification caught her eye.

Mejiro_McQueen (2 unread notifications):

Mejiro_McQueen: My physical therapy will conclude within the hour. It's been dreadfully boring business without you.

Mejiro_McQueen: If you'd like, I'd appreciate it if we could go out somewhere in an hour or so.

Teio's eyes lit up. Perfect timing!

MyKingdom4Hachimi: For sure! Hey, do you want to check out that new cake store by the dorms you keep mentioning?

Mejiro_McQueen: I would love to!

She thought to herself for a second. Well, it was as good a place as any to ask, she supposed.

MyKingdom4Hachimi: Oh, and also

MyKingdom4Hachimi: I have something that I've been wanting to ask you for a bit now

MyKingdom4Hachimi: It's sort of embarrassing, and I don't want anybody else around when I do so… prepare yourself!

Mejiro_McQueen: Status: Seen

Huh. Weird.

---

McQueen was utterly frozen.

She looked at Teio's messages once, twice over, ensuring she'd read them correctly. The warm glow she felt in her chest every time she spoke to Teio felt uncomfortably hot.

Because from the looks of it, Teio was going to confess.

Looking around momentarily for any observers, she closed her eyes.

Before grabbing her phone to her neck and squealing to herself like a little girl.

Teio! Her Teio! Confessing!

No, no. She had to calm down. She cleared her throat, regaining her composure. After all, the message was nothing concrete.

Mejiro_McQueen: I'll look forward to it, Teio.

Mejiro_McQueen: Just to check, could you tell me what the question would be about?

MyKingdom4Hachimi: Well… you'll just have to see! It's not really something I could say online anyway.

Well, clearly there was no other way of interpreting that.

"McQueen-sama! Could you please come back in?"

As she got up to her feet, a massive smile refusing to leave her face, she winced.

"Ah. You mentioned your knee felt especially painful today?"
"It is of no matter. I can still finish today's physical therapy."

Just another hour of ankle rotations and pole walking. One more hour. Gosh, I had no idea Teio even harboured such feelings! She's always so clueless!

She approached her therapy with a newfound vigour.

---

Well, McQueen was certainly correct about one thing. Tokai Teio is very clueless.

Reading McQueen's reply, she punched the air.

Yes! I can hang out with McQueen! Just gotta wait…

She deflated.

Oh yeah. I still gotta occupy myself until then.

Teio sighed to herself once more. Seriously, why were the three goddesses being so mean today? Well, she'd been locked up at the Mejiro estate for a week now. An hour was nothing.

Someone brushed past her. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar head of red hair.

"Natie!"

Nice Nature saw her, colour draining from her face. She hid behind Ikuno Dictus, who she'd been speaking with just seconds before.

"Quick, tell her I was never here."

Teio bounced her way over.

"Man, it's great that I found you! I had something I wanted to talk about! But all of Spica is gone, and McQueen isn't available for a pretty long while, so I had no idea what to do, but now you're here!"

Natie crumpled as she saw Ikuno wordlessly move out of the way.

Thanks for nothing, I guess.

"W-well, we were on our way to the library to study for that upcoming biology exam. Could this wait till later?"
"Oh, I'm super good at school stuff! Ask McQueen, she'll tell you! We compete all the time! What do you need to know? You know that Umamusume have 20% more cardiac muscle than regular people! Our isovolumetric ventricular contraction, also takes up about 12% more of our cardiac cycle than average! Well, at least that's what McQueen said."

Now this was the Tokai Teio that Nice Nature knew. Not just the invincible monarch of the turf, but the infallible chatterbox who never knew when she was overwhelming the other person.

She is an undeniable achiever, though… And definitely preferable to Turbo.

She motioned to Ikuno, who spoke up.

"You can come with us, provided you maintain a volume at least below 45 decibels. The library will be open for at least 2 more hours. I expect you'll be studying with us."

Ikuno Dictus dragged Nice Nature with her, who nodded a silent thanks. Surely, she'd be quieter at the library, right?

---

She was not.

"But it's just like, what could they mean, yknow? They say it's completely different from anything else someone could feel, that it's sweeter than candy, that life itself gets more beautiful, but isn't that just how you should feel about anything? About anyone? I love all my friends!"

Ikuno closed her textbook. Clearly she wasn't going to get work done today.

"Teio, have you considered that maybe it's something you just have to feel for yourself? You must understand that it's a deeply personal experience."

Nature spoke up.

"Yeah, if you'd really felt it before, you'd know. Have you never seen a trainer in a new light one day? Teio, have you never felt something… deeper for someone you know?"

Well, that was easy to answer. McQueen. They were closer than anybody else at the academy after all, and it was undeniable that the bond they shared was deeply special.

She was an irreplaceable fixture of her life.

But a crush? Nahhhhhh. She could feel all those things for a friend, couldn't she?
Even if that friend were, in Teio's unbiased opinion, the most beautiful Umamusume in the school.

Seeing Teio stare blankly, Nature sighed. Something interesting twinkled in Ikuno's eyes.

"You know, McQueen speaks of you very highly. Do you know that she viewed the tape of your final race roughly 80 separate times within a week of that day? That's not counting all the times she's watched it after. Her obsession is rather discomforting, to be honest."

"Oh! That's nice of her. To be fair, I was really, really cool that day."

Ikuno paused for a beat before returning to her textbook.

"Well, in the meantime I don't think that I'll be able to change your mind. How about you just… play a game on your phone or something?"

"Oh, yeah! Maybe McQueen has an update for me!"

As she excitedly pulled out her phone, her ears drooped as she checked her notifications.

Awww, no McQueen. Shame.

Another notification caught her eye regardless.

ViewFromTheLead (1 unread notification):

ViewFromTheLead: Are you available? Special Week wanted to video call with everyone back at Spica, but nobody's picked up their phones.

Well, that made sense. Everybody was busy.

She had no idea what Gold Ship was doing, though. She didn't really want to either.

MyKingdom4Hachimi: Yeah, sure! I'll call in a sec. Everyone else at Spica is busy; I'm bored out of my mind.

ViewFromTheLead: Great. Spe is super excited to speak with you.

"Well, thanks, Ikuno! You too, Natie! Gotta go!"

---

Ring ring ring.

Ring ring ring.

Special Week always answered the phone instantly. That's strange.

The call picked up, and Special Week's face greeted her.

"Hey, Teio! Suzuka's bringing in groceries right now. I just finished bringing mine in."

"Spe! How's America?"

She shuddered.

"Right now? Way too hot. I don't know how Suzuka races in this weather."

Teio bounced her knee. How was she meant to approach the topic?

"Hey, Spe. Do I come across as someone who doesn't... understand love to you?"

Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't that.

"W-well, I wouldn't know much about that. Have you tried asking—"

"Yeah, I've spoken to Mayano, Prez, Natie, and Ikuno, and I'm going to ask McQueen in a bit when we go out together. We're checking out that cake shop that you wanted to go to after summer camp!"

How exactly was Special Week meant to say that she thought Teio had a crush on McQueen already?

And that she knew McQueen had a crush on Teio?

"I, um… I think that… that you… oh, hey Suzuka!"

"Spe! Spe! Look at what McQueen sent me! She said she thinks that Te—"

Suzuka looked at the phone screen.

"Why, hello, Teio. Um. How have you been?"

Weird.

"Hey, I was just in the middle of asking Spe something I've been asking people around the academy!"

Special Week whispered into Suzuka's ear, the discomfort on both their faces growing.

"…Um, Teio?"
"Hm?"

Wide-eyed Teio, how were they meant to tell her she was on a journey to break a heart?

"Are you sure McQueen is the best person to ask that question? I would think it over a bit more. Perhaps McQueen will be too tired after her physical therapy to answer such a loaded question. It is a significantly draining process, as I'm sure you'd remember."

"Well, yeah! Who else am I meant to ask? She knows me better than anybody else at the academy! And didn't you go out with us to the city all the time, even during your physical therapy?"

Unbeknownst to Teio, Special Week and Suzuka were fighting an internal war.

We should tell her! We can't let her break McQueen's heart!

No, Spe. At least for the meantime, we should just direct her away from the topic. Revealing something like that will only complicate things.

Well, can we at least tell McQueen that she's walking into her doom?

…No. We should try to defuse the situation while also preserving both their feelings.

"Um, you guys are looking at each other really intensely. Are you fine?"

"Don't worry, Teio! We're just… It's an America thing!"

Teio looked at them even more confusedly.

"In any case, Teio, do you think there's a reason that she's the one you'd like to tell all this to? That she's the one you always want to go out with?"

A respectable attempt at salvaging the situation and an undoubtedly valiant effort to get her to accept her feelings.

"No, not really. You're the same with Spe, aren't you?"

An utter failure, unfortunately.

"Well, Teio, you really should think it through. This is a very personal question you would be asking, and, err, I just think you should wait."

Suzuka was scrambling for a solution at this point. Special Week huffed.

"Teio! She didn't want me to tell you this, but McQueen thinks that you're trying to—"

Suzuka's hand shot towards the phone screen.

"Spe? Hello? Spe?"

Suzuka hung up.

Weird.

---

McQueen couldn't wait.

What should I wear? Should I put on perfume? Maybe she'll just want to come in our uniform.

She really, really, couldn't wait.

"Doctor! Could I be excused early today?"

"Well, that's different from normal. Someone you're waiting for?"

McQueen hummed to herself, lost in a different world.

He laughed to himself. She was so obvious it was endearing.

"Go on then. We're finishing up anyway."
"Thank you, doctor!"
She zoomed out of the room, making her way back to the wider Mejiro estate. On the way, she wondered to herself.

How would someone like Teio choose to confess? Would she be coy about it? No, my Teio would be completely direct! No, but she could also get shy and go all pink-faced before letting her actions do the talking… I simply cannot wait!

"Well, someone's happy. Did you make a breakthrough today?"
Mejiro Ryan, on her way back from her second trip to the gym that day, noticed McQueen visibly buzzing with excitement.

"Physical therapy wise? I can't say so; my knee was acting up rather painfully today. However, that's entirely inconsequential."
She broke into a fit of giggles as she walked, Ryan alongside her.

"…You going to meet up with Teio?"

???

"How on Earth could you tell? I gave no such indication!"

Well, your tail is wagging so fast it's a blur, and you're so dopey that your ears are down for once. It'd be more impressive if I didn't.

"Just a hunch. Hey, have you decided to confess to her yet? Teio's not gonna realise for a long time. I reckon you need to get a head start on things."

McQueen stopped in her tracks, turning to Ryan with her cheeks in her hands.

"See, that's just it! I think Teio is confessing to ME! Today! Can you believe it, Ryan?"

…Honestly, no. I can't.

"… Are you sure? All I hear about Teio is that she's seriously clueless. When has she called you anything but a friend?"
A slight flicker of doubt crossed McQueen's face.

"You shouldn't go out there with the wrong expectation. I say this because I value your feelings, McQueen."

"No. I'm sure of it. Teio is going to close the gap by tonight."

Without another word, McQueen, who had reached her room, entered and shut the door in Ryan's face.

---

Mejiro_McQueen (1 unread notification):

Mejiro_McQueen: Teio. I'll be there in around 20 minutes. I look forward to seeing you there!

MyKingdom4Hachimi: 👍

Teio hadn't seen McQueen all week, and she wanted to make sure that they were going to have a great time. Mayano sat on her bed, watching Teio look between her clothes.

"You know, Teio, what are you going to do if she's expecting something else from today? Your messages could give someone the wrong impression."

Teio threw a pair of torn jeans to the floor.

"Well, what do you mean? She's my best friend! We're just gonna hang out."

She sifted through her shirts, settling on her choice. To Mayano's horror, she had picked up her yellow patterned t-shirt that she had worn to death in the past.

"You… you aren't going to wear that to your date, are you? You haven't seen her in almost a week!"

Teio looked confused. Notably, she ignored Mayano's phrasing of the term 'date'.

"What's wrong with this? I like this outfit! McQueen says it's cute..."

Teio looked rather defensive. Still, Mayano wasn't going to let her ruin this.

"Look, Teio! Look! You own so many nice clothes; why do you never wear them?"

"Rudolf takes me shopping pretty often. She and Sirius like to buy me clothes; they say I'm like their dress-up doll!"

Perhaps a more mature Umamusume would have commented on the blatant favouritism. Mayano was not one to care. They decided on a white polo shirt, with a dark green cardigan, and a comparatively lighter pair of green shorts. Teio was so excited!

---

McQueen stood impatiently. She donned a long navy blue skirt which went down to her ankles along with a matching dark blouse, which she tucked into her waist. On top lay a cream-coloured coat, completing the aesthetic. She looked chic, but hopefully not over-dressed?

As she stared into a fountain, beginning to doubt her choices, she saw Teio out of the corner of her eye, running towards her.

"MCQUEEN! I'm over here!"

And oh goodness, she'd dressed up today. McQueen had half expected her to show up wearing her normal casual outfit, not this sleek, modern cafe-style garb.

She's truly pulling out all the stops for today, isn't she?

"Hello, Teio! I notice you've put some more attention into your attire today?"

"Well, today's a special day for us, Queenie!"

Oh Teio, how bold of you!

Meanwhile, Teio was thinking more along the lines of:

Well, we haven't met up for a bit now! Might as well dress up! Gosh, she looks good today.

As Teio came bounding over, she stopped in her tracks.

"McQueen, are you wearing makeup today?"

Of course she noticed! She's always so attentive, oh Teio!

"Why, I felt it necessary. After all, we have a long day ahead of us, don't we, Teio?"

She fidgeted with her collar.

"Do you… like it?"

Yeah, she did. Quite a bit. There was rarely a point to showing up to training with makeup on, so the occasions McQueen was able to properly let loose with her appearance were always exciting for Teio.

"You look great! Hey, we'd totally rock an anime outro right about now. We should record a music video together sometime!"

McQueen smiled, hiding her blush under her coat.

"Well, you look very dashing. This change of pace was a pleasant surprise."

They walked in a familiar rhythm together, Teio humming and kicking random sticks or stepping on particularly crunchy-looking leaves.

Such habits that McQueen had found distracting and annoying had become a sweet familiarity to the two. Besides, McQueen looked so refined in comparison, so who was she to complain?

"How's the physical therapy been going recently? I know it's a huge pain. I hated having to move so slowly, and, oh, don't even get me started on the shots."

Teio shuddered, memories of a familiar metal glint and a certain family doctor resurfacing in her mind.

"It's nothing to concern yourself about. I'd like to say I'm satisfied with my progress so far."

Teio knew that recovery wasn't a linear process. On some days, it felt like taking one step forward, then 3 steps backwards. The frustration, the hopelessness – it wasn't something she could wish on anybody else. Especially not someone as pure as McQueen.

"Are you sure? You're limping on your knee a bit more than last we met. Did you skimp out on painkillers today?"
McQueen had, in fact, in her excitement, forgotten to take her medication. Her knee was bothering her quite a bit.

"It is of no matter. They don't call me one of the strongest stayers in Japan for no reason."
Regardless, Teio motioned to sit down on a nearby bench.

She pulled out her phone.

"You really should change that password, Teio. Now that all of Spica knows it, I don't think it's safe to keep it as that particular string of numbers anymore."

And also, seriously, who has their password as just zeroes?

Teio, remarkably, ignored this completely.

"So, here's the route we're gonna take. If you're fine with it, I wanted to go to karaoke, and then we can check out that cafe? I haven't gone in weeks, and my singing voice might get rusty."

The Dream series races, a comparatively lower-stakes and lower-risk affair than the Twinkle series, were still far off. This meant Teio and, admittedly, McQueen were both itching to perform once again. Not that McQueen could participate for the foreseeable future, but hey, she could sing along to Teio's winning live!

"Fine with me. I've missed the feeling of a microphone in my hands too."

And I can't wait to see you singing your heart out again! You were so regal performing 'Running to our Dream', but you're just too cute when you're singing your silly little ballads!

"Now, in the meantime…"

Teio got up, signalling to McQueen to stay down. She was clearly searching for something, leaving McQueen confused but compliant.

Teio picked up a stick around the length of her forearm.

Before kneeling down and lifting McQueen's skirt gently.

"T-TEIO? What are you… what are you doing?"
"Just shush. Let me do this for you. Trick I picked up from my fracture days."

She lightly unwrapped the bandages, being sure not to move McQueen's leg too harshly. McQueen felt her heart exploding in her mouth as Teio's finger lightly grazed the top of her calf muscle.

Stay calm. You are a Mejiro, for crying out loud.

But how else can I react when she looks so… heroic!

The angel of embarrassment and the demon of dignity were having a fierce argument on McQueen's shoulders. McQueen covered her face with her hands, refusing to look at Teio. The occasional glimpse of skin-to-skin contact and the small sounds of Teio's effort were more than enough to give her a heart attack.

"All done!"
She had created a makeshift splint with the stick now fastened into the bandages.

"I-Impressive technique. I commend you."

Teio rubbed the back of her head, catching her ponytail.
"Yeah, well, I've had more than a bit of experience."

That much was true.

---

The splint worked like a charm.

"Lead the way, Teio."

They opened the door, a jingle of bells sounding as they entered. A thoroughly bored employee took out one headphone, asking how many people were renting.

As McQueen pulled out her wallet from her purse to foot the 500 yen bill, Teio stepped forward with her phone, tapping the bill away. She smiled victoriously before dragging McQueen by the hand to their room.

Look at how proud she is! You'd think she just bought me a diamond ring!"
As McQueen's thoughts were clouded with images of Teio kneeling on one knee, Teio sat down on the couch.

"So… what song do you want to do first?"

McQueen cleared the tambourine off the table, picking up the selection screen. Her eye went towards Teio's favourite karaoke song, 'Koi wa Derby'.

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to perform one for me?"

"Oh, for sure! You better cheer for me as loud as you can, though!"

---

Even as she sang and danced, Teio noticed something off about McQueen. She felt a lot more jumpy today, like every time Teio winked or pointed at her, instead of laughing and clapping along, she'd get embarrassed and throw off her rhythm.

And here I thought she was having fun… Didn't she want to see me singing?

The more Teio thought about it, the stranger she was acting. Even when she was applying her splint, McQueen refused to look at her entirely.

"McQueen, are you feeling alright? Should we go to the dorms?"

She let out a sort of squeak, moving her gaze up from the ground to meet Teio's eyes.

"Yes, I'm feeling perfectly fine. It's just… It's rather hot in this room, don't you think?"

"No, not really. I've been singing and dancing for a bit now, and I feel fine."

Maybe she has a fever of some sort?

She walked over, turning off the music. As she sat next to McQueen, she placed her hand on her forehead before doing so on her own head. McQueen's eyes shot open, her sentence dying down to a splutter.

"McQueen, you're really red in the face. Are you sure you can handle singing a song?"

"Apologies, Teio. It appears I… overestimated myself."

Perhaps in an emotional regard, not a physical one, but the sentiment remains nonetheless.

"Do you want to leave then? I've done the songs I wanted to; I was mostly doing them for you."
For me?

McQueen smiled.

"Let's go to that cake shop now. I think we've waited long enough."

They left the room, McQueen still looking skittish but now slightly more composed. It was darker outside than Teio had expected. They'd spent more time than she'd thought in the karaoke bar, and with a now-setting sun in the sky, the cake store was nearly empty, save for a few employees.

Taking a deep breath, McQueen opened the door.

---

The two sat down, both taking menus with them.

"Teio, what were you planning on eating here? I assume the honey swirl?"
McQueen read that last part with a judging lilt in her tone.

"Hey, before you judge me, it's a way less boring flavour than strawberry. Seriously, who goes to an additive-loaded confectionery heaven like this and orders strawberry cake?"

"Any normal person, Teio."

Bantering was as familiar as breathing to the two, and in what felt like no time at all, their cakes arrived.

"Hold on! Hold on! Before you try it, let's take a photo! We should commemorate today!"

They smiled for the camera.

"So, Teio, what exactly could be necessary to commemorate today? Is there… something significant I should be aware of?"

McQueen looked out the window, attempting to give off an air of natural curiosity. To any normal person, the anticipation of her rapping knuckles and bouncing leg would be clear to see.

Tokai Teio is not what one would call a normal person.

"Oh, yeah. I was gonna ask you, wasn't I?"

To be truthful, Teio had been having so much fun, her intellectual pursuit for the day felt completely meaningless. Who cares what love is or isn't when you're hanging out with your BEST FRIEND.

McQueen was taken aback. She'd… forgotten? A creeping doubt began to crawl through her mind.

Well, no matter. Everybody makes mistakes, and Teio wouldn't be Teio without being a bit of an airhead, right?

Ha ha ha…

"Well…"

McQueen shifted her posture, resting her head on her interlaced fingers.

"You can ask me now, Teio."

I need to hear this. I can't wait any longer.

Teio swallowed her cake.

"Alright, then. McQueen."

McQueen's gaze seared through Teio's skull.

"I've spoken to a lot of people about this today, and it seems like they all agreed on one thing."

She stood up slightly, making sure to hear every last word.

"What is it?"
McQueen spoke with a hushed tone. It was really happening. It was all going to pay off. Every stolen glance, every momentary touch, every last thought and dream, the wishes she'd made upon every last star in the sky were-

"Do you think I give off the vibe of someone who doesn't understand love?"

Teio took another bite of her cake.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Sorry?"

"Yeah, I spoke to Suzuka, Spe, Prez, Mayano, and to be honest, I still don't really get it. And what's more, everybody keeps saying I act weird around you."

The pleasant heat in McQueen's chest died. It curdled into a capsule of fear and disbelief as she repeated Teio's words in her head.

"Well… do you think there's a reason why you think people say that?"

She held onto her last vestige of hope.
"I don't know! We're just friends, but a lot of people look at us funny. Even Suzuka got all weird when I said I was going to ask you."

"B-but, was that all you wanted to ask me? You didn't come with any… any other intention at all? You didn't… you didn't dress up and plan out a date for a reason?"

Teio cocked her head in confusion.

"We haven't spoken in a week. It makes sense, doesn't it? I wanted today to be fun!"

McQueen slumped in her seat.

It wasn't real. It was never real. Teio saw her as a friend. Only a friend.

Ryan's words replayed in her head. 'When has she called you anything but a friend?'. God, she'd been so sure, she'd even messaged Suzuka.

Her field of view felt painfully narrow, and her eyes stung.

I got dressed up. I got excited. I let myself believe it with 100% of my being.

A light, almost imperceptible darkness crossed McQueen's face before vanishing.

I was the joke the whole time, it seems.

"I'm sorry, Teio. Today was rather draining; I'd like to return to the estate for the night."

McQueen placed a handful of bills on the table before getting up.

---

Well, it couldn't last forever, Teio supposed.

Today was super fun, though.
Teio watched as McQueen walked towards the exit; her tired gait and drooping ears were a dead giveaway that she was thoroughly exhausted. She looked back at her cake, McQueen's entirely untouched strawberry cake, sitting alone on its plate.

Man, I really put her through it today, didn't I?

'Sniff.'

…What?

Teio stared at McQueen's retreating frame. She brought her sleeve up to her face, rubbing her eyes.

Almost as if she were wiping away tears.

Teio stood up instantly.

Mejiro McQueen was by no means a crier. Unless it were truly a monumental moment, Teio did not know McQueen as someone who broke under pressure often.

"McQueen, did I say something wrong? What happened?"

She did not stop.

"I would like to be left alone if possible. I'm sorry, Teio."

She did not turn.

"…Queenie, can you please talk to me? I'm worried about you."

"I'm being serious, Teio. And don't call me that in public."

She stepped outside, Teio's saccharine voice a fresh gash on her heart.

But for as much as Mejiro McQueen was someone who never cracked under stress, Tokai Teio was not one to give up. She followed her outside, grabbing onto McQueen's arm.

A million thoughts raced through McQueen's head, an inescapable pit of shame swallowing her emotions whole.

Every last thought converged to the same destination.

No matter how much she had been told not to.

No matter how much her body commanded her not to.

No matter how much she knew it was a terrible idea, even though the one person in her entire universe who would understand was right in front of her.

McQueen ran.

---

It was freeing. For a moment, she was on the turf, chasing new highs, pushing her limits once more. But for all her temporary euphoria, one cruel, snaking thought crawled up into her mind.

I can't wait to run alongside my rival one more time.

McQueen fell.

---

Teio watched in horror, her shouts to stop completely ignored. She couldn't believe her eyes.

McQueen was clenching her leg on the floor, refusing to look up.

"What were you thinking?"
Teio ran over; the sky was nearing nighttime, and it was difficult to see clearly in front of her.

"Is your leg okay? McQueen, you can't run like that! Geez…"

McQueen was silent. Her gaze was on a nearby brown puddle. The murky water instantly soaked into her beautiful cream coat, one of her most prized possessions. Her purse lay scattered with her various belongings on the grass nearby.

"Don't you remember? Suspensory ligament desmitis is a degenerative disease! When it gets worse, it stays worse!"

McQueen sat still on the floor. She couldn't help but remember a different, rainier day.

"McQueen, please say something."

Mejiro McQueen was not necessarily soft-spoken. Mejiro McQueen, known by Tokai Teio, was one to gesticulate and raise her voice when she was conveying a point or was merely frustrated.

"Teio... what am I to you?"

But the ghost of a whisper that left her lips left Teio completely stunned.

Was McQueen… in love with her?

No, that couldn't be the case. McQueen couldn't possibly settle for someone like her. Teio knew McQueen lived in a different world from her.

Well, of course you're my best friend. And my one and only rival.

It was so easy. So why couldn't she say it?

"…"

What did she know?

'Maybe she has a fever of some sort?'

'Well… do you think there's a reason why you think people say that?'

'B-but, was that all you wanted to ask me? You didn't come with any… any other intention at all? You didn't… you didn't dress up and plan out a date for a reason?'

Teio's silence pierced through McQueen's already wounded heart.

"I'm so sorry, Teio. I-I projected such selfish intentions onto you; I should have… known better."

She attempted to stand up.

"I…"

Once more, she tried to get up onto her feet.

It was unsuccessful.

"I can't do anything for you anymore, Teio."

And as she turned face to face for the first time in what felt like years.

'Teio, have you never felt something… deeper for someone you know?'

Teio saw McQueen.

All of McQueen.

She saw piercing violet eyes, shivering with emotion and missing their normal shine.

"I can't even race with you anymore. Not with this useless obstruction. I'm a… a failure of a rival."

She saw quivering lips; the slight dimple on her right cheek that McQueen sometimes complained about, covered in flecks of mud.

'In any case, Teio, do you think there's a reason that she's the one you'd like to tell all this to? That she's the one you always want to go out with?'

She saw McQueen, riddled with tears, with frustration, with anger, with regret – who could understand but Teio?

She saw the most beautiful girl that she would ever meet.

And as McQueen looked back up at her, lavender hair splayed out behind her.

She glowed.

"…Do you remember when Turbo showed me that video of her race?"

McQueen, taken off guard, simply nodded.
"I still appreciate her doing that for me. But, to be honest with you, that wasn't what got me back on the turf."

Teio crouched down to McQueen's level.

"It was you, McQueen."
And as McQueen's eyes widened in shock, Teio realised.

'I know exactly how love feels! It's just like your heart races, and you feel real hot, and that's just like a race, isn't it?'

She realised, without the slightest modicum of doubt in her soul.

'They say it's completely different from anything else someone could feel, that it's sweeter than candy, that life itself gets more beautiful, but isn't that just how you should feel about anything?'

"When you told me that I could make a miracle as long as I worked towards it with everything I had, I didn't believe in myself."

She brushed a lock out of McQueen's face, cupping her cheek.

"But I believed in you. I knew that no matter what, I could trust in you. Even if it meant needing to believe in myself."

'Do you know that she viewed the tape of your final race roughly 80 separate times within a week of that day?'

"And when the time came and you needed me to make a miracle, that wasn't me, McQueen. It was yours."

She reached down, clasping McQueen's hand between her own.

"When I was on that turf, I didn't think of anything. I didn't see Biwa Hiyahide, or the crowd, or Team Spica. Because I knew that in the end, all that mattered was that you were watching."

McQueen's eyes glittered. And Teio drowned in her gaze.

Oh.

She was never unsure. She'd just been misguided.

Clearly, she'd known all along.

"Mejiro McQueen, I love you. I'm sure of it now."

McQueen choked back a sob, falling into Teio's arms. Teio held onto her, stroking the back of her head slowly as she finally allowed herself to let loose.

"I love you too, Teio. I love you. Please don't ever do that to me again."

It wasn't the confession of McQueen's dreams. It was messy, imperfect.

But for Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio, that was only natural.

---

Neither had spoken a word to each other on the way back.

Teio was carrying McQueen on her back, with her ruined coat wrapped around her arm. McQueen had destroyed the makeshift splint in her rush, but Teio was able to fix it without difficulty.

It was quiet, intimate, and ultimately perfect. McQueen couldn't ask for anything mo-

"You know, it seems like we get into these kinds of situations pretty often. If I had a nickel for each time I spoke to you on the ground after an injury flare-up, I'd have two nickels."

Of course.

Teio and McQueen giggled to themselves. She nuzzled into the back of Teio's neck.

"Both times were your fault. Don't forget that 'invincible monarch'."

"Oh, come on 'best actress'. Once that leg heals up, and it will, I promise we'll be right back on that turf, and I'll obliterate you just like I promised."

She let McQueen down from her back. They had reached the dorm entrance.

"Soo… do we hold hands now?"
McQueen grabbed her collar, planting her lips directly onto Teio's.

Teio, taken aback, slowly melted into it.

Mmmm, lavender.

She wrapped her arms thoroughly around McQueen's neck, deepening their connection through half-lidded eyes, as McQueen pulled her up by the waist, giggling into Teio's lips.

Life can't possibly get better than this.

"Ahem."

The two blasted apart at record speed.

"So, do you two ponies mind explaining why it took you…"

Fuji Kiseki checked the clock.

"…8 hours to reach the dorms?"

She smiled, watching the two as they fought against each other with conflicting explanations, faces looking rather similar to crushed tomatoes.

"We lost track of time!"
"McQueen needed my help; she was captured by aliens! Luckily, they were allergic to super-duper-cool brown-haired Umamusume."

McQueen nudged Teio, sheer confusion crossing her face. 

"I'll let it slide just this once."

She grabbed Teio and McQueen by the cheek, dragging them inside, to both their protests.

"But only because I've been waiting to see you two together."

As the two thanked her profusely, they walked down the corridor, hand in hand and tails interlinked.

While a certain Unsinkable Golden Battleship lay in a nearby bush. With a click of a phone camera, she immortalised their death sentence. She ran away to the Spica headquarters, cackling and howling to the moon.

Checkmate.