Hearts, racing
Playing racing games at the arcade: still their favourite way to unwind after a full day, even now that they were finished with school.
Makoto swerved around the corner, speed picking up to overtake, and then she was well in front of Minako, who'd spun out of control, trying to avoid her as she sped by.
"Ugh, Mako!" she cried. "You road hog!"
"All's fair in love and racing, Mina," she laughed.
"Oh, well, I'll bet you'll like it when I do this then," Minako said, accelerator flush with the floor, and gaining. Makoto tried to match her speed, but Mina was coming up close, close enough to butt against her car. She kept pushing, pushing, before she pulled back, only to ram into her again, this time with enough force to send her off the road and straight into the side rails.
Just after, the screen in front of her flashed with a big, fat GAME OVER.
"Well, I guess I brought that on myself…" Mako said.
Mina gave a devilish giggle in response, poking out her tongue and raising a victory sign.
"You have to know her competitive streak by now, Mako," Rei softly chided.
"And yet, I still didn't expect her to be so intense about it, like, wow."
"In future, don't goad her, 'cause it will only end bad for you, trust me."
"No, I do," Mako grimaced, Minako still crowing in the background. "Believe me, now I do."
"I am the uncontested champion!" Minako shouted. "Is there no one who can beat me?"
"I'll give it a go," came an unfamiliar voice.
Minako faltered for but a second.
"And who so dares challenge the reigning queen of racing?" she said with renewed gusto, hands on her hips, standing straight and tall.
"I don't have such a fancy title, but you can call me Seiya," he said, shooting her a lopsided grin.
Seiya, huh?
A very boyish charm about him, Mako would say; not overly tall, and more on the slender side, but despite that, there was this look in his soft, brown eyes that spoke of a playful, if troublemaking spirit.
He was… kinda cute.
Rei raised an eyebrow at her, knowingly – sh-she must have caught her staring.
"What?" Mako said, trying to play it cool. If she let on, there'd be relentless teasing later, she was sure. Still, she couldn't help the warmth creeping up her neck.
Oh, help her! If she started getting flustered, then it would be all over!
Rei just chuckled and shook her head.
Thankful for the mercy she'd shown, Mako gave an internal sigh of relief, and returned her attention to the unfolding spectacle.
The two contestants were eyeing each other off, Minako almost glaring, and definitely in the other's face. How long would this stand off last, Makoto wondered?
"Okay, you're on, pretty boy, but be warned, I won't go easy on you!" she said with a wink, and retook her position at the wheel.
"Wouldn't want it any other way." He smirked, hopping into the other driver's seat.
Coins at the ready, it was only a matter of seconds before it'd start, and with the burning conviction both of them shone with, Mako wasn't sure who would be crowned victor at the end.
The petty part of her wanted Mina to lose…
And, well, her more romantic side wasn't opposed to it, either.
Oh, god, she was a terrible friend! Shame burnt across her cheeks.
She really had to get herself together!
3…
2..
1.
The game counted down, and then they were off to a screeching start.
Soon enough, Minako was in the lead, but Seiya was keeping an even pace, until they hit the first bend and he accelerated, using the momentum to push him in front. Mina, losing speed at the bend.
Cursing, she floored it, but Seiya kept swerving to block her overtake.
"You dirty little-" she cut herself off as she slammed into the side of Seiya's car. For the next few Ks, there were sparks as their cars grinded against each other, neither one giving in to the other's push.
"You know, for someone who calls herself a queen, you seem an awful lot like a tyrant to me," Seiya said, trying again to push her to the edge.
"No. I just rule with an iron fist!" she said, pulling back to slam into him.
"Shit!" he hissed, trying to right his car as it jerked to the side.
Minako cackled.
"You really are a tyrant," Mako said, her voice aquiver. Such dirty tricks… And she just kept using them! Who knew her friend could be so coldblooded?! Absolutely ruthless!
Someone had to take her down.
Makoto didn't feel so guilty about wanting Seiya to win now.
"Long live the queen!" Minako cried, speeding off into the distance.
"Hey! I'm not done yet," Seiya said, coming up again behind her. He still had a lot of ground to cover, Mina having taken full advantage of the time he'd spent trying to regain control of his car.
That didn't stop him from pushing through. She'd gotten comfortable, and now he was neck and neck with Minako, his speedometer maxed. Mina accelerated to get ahead of him as he started encroaching, but it wasn't enough. It took time to build the speed; he was going to overtake, and there was nothing she could do… logically speaking.
But Mina's competitive streak knew no logic. She'd either win, or take the enemy down with her.
Her kamikaze tactics led her to angle her car towards Seiya's side door. And in a final burst of speed, they both went flying over the rails, cars rolling to a fiery stop.
Both screens flashed.
GAME OVER.
"What the hell was that?!" Seiya yelled, standing up from his seat.
Minako gave a nervous giggle, scratching the back of her head. "I don't know, I panicked!"
Mako was apprehensive about what would happen next. She looked to Rei for her opinion, not realizing she'd disappeared, likely off to the café part way through the game. She'd been so absorbed in the race.
But when Seiya laughed, she knew her worry was unfounded.
"Oh my god, girl, you're crazy!" He had to lean against his chair as laughter split through him.
"Well, you know what they say, it's always good to think beside the circle…" She gave another forced laugh.
"I… don't think anybody says that, but you play one hell of a game!"
"Aw, thank you!"
"But I hope you know I can't leave it like this. My honor has been besmirched, and until I've bested you, I will know no rest."
"So you… want a rematch?"
"Absolutely."
And then, they were off again. Both, as bad as each other.
Mako almost had to laugh. Almost.
As much as she wanted to stay and see whether Seiya really could get the better of Minako, it was too much excitement for one day.
She'd go join Rei in the café, and maybe when they'd tired themselves out she'd come and introduce herself properly…
Maybe.
She felt herself going red again.
Oh, come on, Mako! she thought.
"Hey," she heard someone call. It was Seiya.
"When I've wiped the floor with this one, did you want to have a go?" He was talking to her.
Oh, dear. He was talking to her!
"As if," Mina said to his insult.
"Ah, s-sure!" Mako stuttered. "I'd love that…"
"Then don't go too far," he said, shooting her a smile. "This won't take long."
Her heart sped up.
"As. If." Mina repeated.
But whether it took a moment, or the longest time, Makoto didn't really care.
She'd look forward to it.