Toudou was suspiciously silent for the next week and a half. Only two texts and one phone call a day. Tadokoro was constantly asking him if he and his girlfriend were fighting and Onoda tiptoed around him like he was going to explode. Kinjou raised an eyebrow at him as they passed in the hallway, but nothing more. Makishima was glad the others hadn't noticed as much. As usual Imaizumi and Naruko competed constantly. Teshima and Aoyagi were always training together. (Though Makishima has suspicions it wasn't always training.) Sugimoto was a lost hope in noticing social oddities.

'Even worse than me,' Makishima laughed to himself.

"Ah, Makishima-san? Did you say something?" Onoda timidly asked.

"Hm?" Makishima froze a bit. He'd forgotten Onoda was still there after their one on one training. "No, nothing."

"Oh, okay." Onoda said as Makishima's phone rang. They both jumped as it echoed through the team room.

"Ah your phone! I'll let you- I mean not let you, it's your phone and I-" Onoda stopped himself. "I'm going to go home. Bye Makishima-san!" He grabbed his bag and practically ran out of the team room.

Makishima let out a breath at the climber's hasty exit. 'Maybe one day he won't be terrified of me' Makishima thought as he answered his phone.

"Maki-chaaann! That took you six rings! SIX! I'm your best rivial it should take you three AT MOST!"

"What do you want Toudou?" Makishima asked, used to this sort of greeting.

"I found our next race Maki-chan! It's even in Hakone how perfect is that!"

Makishima's heart shot to his throat. "Our next race?" He managed.

"Well duh Maki-chan! We have to fulfill our bet!"

Makishima stopped breathing. His blush was quickly reaching the level of his highlights again. 'Toudou will be the death of me.' He thought, taking a deep breath. "And why Hakone? Isn't that a little far?" 'Delay. Postpone. Good plan.'

"No Maki-chan it's perfect! You can come here and race then you can just stay here so you don't have to go home all tired! Perfect!" Toudou seemed to have made up his mind.

"Fine. When is it?" Makishima needs time to prepare for this. Maybe die a little. Whatever it takes to get Toudou in panties out of his head.

"This weekend!" Makishima could feel the grin over the phone.

"This wee-"

"Oopsie homework time see you at the race Maki-chaaannnn!" The phone clicked.

Makishima flopped back onto the bench. This weekend. He put his hands over his face. 'There is no way I can prepare myself for THAT.' He sat back up and pulled himself off the bench. "I guess I have no other choice." Makishima took another deep breath and prayed to anyone listening he could keep his imagination under control.

It was Friday, the day before the race, and Makishima was sure he was going to die. He slumped down onto his desk. He hasn't been able to concentrate in any of his classes. He takes his notes, but nothing is going through his brain. He practices the same way. His feet turn the pedals, his body dances up the hills, and his brain is in a constant struggle.

He would love to fantasize about Toudou in different styles of panties. He's tried distracting himself when the climber pops into his mind, but it never works. He tried watching movies. They all had some sort of romance. Nope. He tried reading. The fantasies on the pages turned into entirely different fantasies. Not working. Homework? Nothing. He even tried one of Onoda's shows. He only lasted about three minutes before he started imagining Toudou in the main character's outfit. Try again. In desperation, he tried reading gravure as if the girls on the page would cleanse his mind of his rival. His mind was not at all cleansed. Not even close.

He decided imagining would be detrimental to both himself and his friendship/rivalry with Toudou. He actually had a good thing going with Toudou. He could be annoying and overtalkative sure, but he made a real effort to get to know Makishima. No one else did that. Tadokoro and Kinjou were his friends, but they didn't get together or just talk unless it involved cycling. Toudou usually called him to figure out his condition at first, but they would always gravitate to other topics. It was as simple as how their days went or about books they both liked. When it's only them talking, Toudou drops his vain, fangirl needing act. Makishima knows that's something special, and he never wants to lose it. He can't risk whatever they have because he can't keep his thoughts under control. As a result, Makishima has kept his mind as blank as possible.

The final bell rang and Makishima sat up. At least classes helped blank his mind. Now he has to go home and wait. Kinjou made practice a rest day so he couldn't distract himself with cycling either. He packed his books into his bag and left the room. Makishima began his walk home. He was about halfway there when his phone beeped. Pulling out his phone, he peeked at the outer screen. From Toudou of course, but this was a picture message. Makishima burned red. He shoved is phone back into his pocket and doubled his pace.