Work Text:
Nice Nature has always felt like she was trapped under the weight of the number three. She comes third in races, she wins the third prize in raffles… last week, she played a claw machine, and it took her three tries to win a prize. If she lets herself lie to herself a little, be a little arrogant, she can even pretend she’s third in the affections of her one-sided rival Tokai Teio.
She would, of course, want to be first. But to want for that, for a main character to view her so highly that she’d overtake everyone else, a side-character like her? It’d be like wanting to become immortal. It’s irresponsible to even consider it.
Still, she couldn’t help but wish. To come first in races, to win first prizes, to be Tokai Teio’s number one. She sits and stews in her longing, dreaming about a world where she wins races, where Teio sees her just as she sees Teio. Shining and vibrant and charming and everything positive one could be all in one girl. Running side-by-side as equals in both races and in love.
Somehow though, even her dreams seem to slip away from her, and soon Teio surges ahead, leaving her far behind in the dust, crossing the finish line so far away and running, leaping, into the arms of Mejiro McQueen. Nature falls back into third place, her knees giving out under her as she falls over the finish line, and falls from her dream into the rude awakening of the sun through her curtains.
Nature gets through the majority of her morning routine before Marvelous Sunday even stirs. It’s the opposite from normal, but she hadn’t been able to get back to sleep. She’s just tying her pigtails when her roommate finally springs from her bed, greeting her in the same loud, excited voice she seems to always speak in.
“Goooood Marvelous Morning, Nature-!” She pauses, “Oh, you’re up early! …And you look sad again today too. Are you sick?”
“Huh? No, no, I’m fine. I just look this bitter normally, you should know that by now.”
Marvelous’ face shifts to an exaggerated frown as she balls her hands into fists, waving them around like a child having a tantrum.
“But you don’t! You’re always shining marvelously! Are you thinking about Teio again? You always end up thinking completely unmarvelous things!”
As she speaks, Nature feels a sort of shame bubble in her stomach. Really, she shouldn’t bog Marvelous down with her personal problems, especially not to the point that her roommate is seemingly able to recognise exactly what she’s been thinking about.
She goes to respond, but is quickly cut off as Marvelous continues.
“Every time you look at her, you look sad and frowny! You should just let yourself work towards your dreams, chase after her for real, I want to cheer for you as you shine even more marvelously! ☆”
“Marvelous…”
Nature pauses, feeling a little embarrassed, but it is sweet and a little fuzzy that Marvelous seems to believe in her even despite her pretty failing track record. Honestly, her belief gives Nature at least a little hope. She smiles a little, which seems to make Marvelous light up similarly.
“Don’t worry about me! Go and eat breakfast, I’m going to do some studying, OK?”
Marvelous smiles and nods enthusiastically, going on her way as excitedly as she does anything else. Nature waits until she closes their door, and takes her writing equipment from the drawer of her writing desk. While she does in fact want to study, she finds herself dwelling on her roommate’s words, and about the idea of chasing after Teio for real.
She knows it’s not possible, but she decides to at least write down her feelings. To get them out of her head, and to maybe let herself move on with them. She picks some nice paper, a nice pen, and writes as neatly as she can.
When she’s finished, words of affection and admiration and even jealously laid out in clean lines, she folds the paper into a small rectangle and tucks it back into her drawer. Well, time for breakfast.
She eats her breakfast that morning with her teammate Twin Turbo. With the others busy with their own tasks and interests, their table in the dining hall feels pretty empty. Empty enough, in fact, that Nature can see Teio across the room eating her own breakfast next to Mejiro McQueen and Special Week. She diverts her eyes before she can dwell on it too deeply, and decides to focus on her teammate instead.
“...So, Turbo… What’s your plan for your next race?”
Turbo, who’s maybe just as energetic as Marvelous, grins with bared sharp teeth and almost spits her breakfast in her speed to respond.
“Turbo’s gonna cross the finish line first! If I get there first, no-one else’s gonna be able to win!”
It’s technically true, but Nature can’t help but sigh at the absolute lack of an actual plan. Really, she should’ve expected this, this is always Turbo’s plan, and the way she seems to approach everything. Even her running style is focused on getting to the front first and away from the pack first. That’s just… Turbo.
“Right. I should’ve guessed… what if someone else gets in front of you?”
“They won’t! Turbo’s gonna take first place!”
…Yep, that’s Turbo. Her plan is basically a 50/50, and entirely based on her own speed and endurance. But it is technically true. Nature looks over at Teio and McQueen and considers,
‘If I get to her first, then maybe I can win too.’
After breakfast, she leaves for training with a lot on her mind.
Training is long and difficult. Her trainer can tell her head is elsewhere, and she doesn’t make nearly as much progress as she should. By the time she’s back at her dorm she’s exhausted, and she considers going straight to sleep until she remembers the folded-up paper tucked in her drawer.
Her feelings for Teio.
…If she gets to her first, then there’s a chance that she might win.
She takes it out and unfolds it carefully, reading her own thoughts back in contemplation. If she gets there first. If she tries, if she actually gives chase… maybe she can achieve what she wants. She sits, and thinks… and folds the paper back up neatly before clasping it tightly.
If she actually chases, if she gets there first, if she puts herself out there and stops just wallowing, maybe she can get what she wants.
She goes to find Teio.
She finds Teio in the courtyard singing some sort of concert song to herself.
She takes a second and prepares herself to approach, gives herself a chance to breathe and brace herself to prepare.
She thinks of everything bad that could happen, all the ways she could lose, and pushes them aside.
Holding her neatly folded note in her hand, she takes a second deep breath and blinks.
She blinks, and all of a sudden Teio isn’t by herself. In fact, Nature recognises that silver-purple hair from her nightmares. Teio and McQueen. As Nature hesitates to continue, she sees as Teio and McQueen take each others hands.
She watches as neither seems to notice her, as Teio’s face brightens at the sight of McQueen, as they link fingers and walk off together.
She watches Teio and McQueen walk off hand-in-hand, and feels the note she’s holding crumple under her now-clenched fist. A bitter sadness, jealousy even, bubbles deep in her gut, though she holds back any significant shifts in her expression as best she can until she’s sure anyone who might notice is out of eyeshot.
It was stupid to think that a side character such as herself could ever keep up with the main characters, be it in matters of racing or of love.
…But even so…
Even so.
Nature spends right up to her curfew screaming and sobbing into the tree-stump, broken-up sentences that don’t even make sense to her, then returns to her dorm and collapses face-first onto her bed. If Marvelous says anything, she doesn’t process it.