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“Looks like I owe my trainer for dinner tonight.” Nakayama shrugs, staring at the familiar face standing in front of her amongst the grounds of the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport arrivées gate. Even though her mood had just been put down by the fact she had to remove her beanie during security again, it looks like she won’t catch a break for a while. The other girl stands proudly with a hand to her hip and the other designated to hold up a sign for Nakayama herself. At least she had the courtesy of not putting her weird pet names on there.
Nakayama had just touched down in France. Preparing herself for of course — the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe. The gate to the world that has barred Japanese umas for so long. That horribly thrilling thought of surpassing and breaking through the gates of France, it’s as if it pumps Nakayama’s own breath and blood. Conquering all odds, all possibilities, every single stakes there are, and of course allowing her teacher to bear witness to that dream.
“Aw you seriously bet I wouldn’t cheer my beloved junior — no, roommate on in such a major race?” Sirius grins, looks like Nakayama’s staying strict to her usual thrill searching. Though, if she judged it on the fact that she stayed in Tracen during last year’s Arc; perhaps this time there was a method to her madness. Or maybe she just wants to deny how much her roommate truly cares for her but even Sirius herself sometimes hesitates in admitting the same despite her current gesture.
Nakayama simply grins at Sirius’ usual teasings. She snatches her roommates board, getting a better look at the refined cursive her very own name is written in“Can’t say I’m disappointed with the shining star of Japan herself giving lil’ ol’ me a personal pick up though,” she looks back and up to Sirius with a smirk. “Is this a sign from Lady Luck herself?” Until rubbing off Sirius’ penmanship with her sleeve, leaving a black smudge across her jacket.
“Nope, just me,” Sirius puts her hands up as if she’s guilty for some petty crime but still takes a step right towards Nakayama. “Trying to cheer on my dear puppy of course.” Sirius murmurs as she flicks a finger up to Nakayama’s chin, effectively getting her ears to perk up and send her entire body into a cold shiver looking up at Sirius’ bold red eyes.
Easily though, she swipes her arm right away. “Okay okay, yeah go on with that puppy schtick I guess. You know that I am well aware it’s a front and besides, what audience are you even doing it for?”
Nakayama starts to take a look around and Sirius follows. The Arrivals gate of the Charles de Gaulle airport has never looked so desolate, particularly in terms of a potential Arc racer arriving down to France. Even the long shots from other countries had received some sort of coverage but for Nakayama, that isn't the case at all. No flashes of media cameras bombarding, nor the clamor of journalists and invasive microphones. She takes a glance at Sirius, her eyes widen; surprised at such desolation. Perhaps this atmosphere is the complete antithesis to the spectacle she received when she raced.
No interest, nor even expectations for the Umamusume Nakayama Festa.
Has the flame of passion for Japan in the Arc truly fizzled out? Or is this just the perfect set up for a thrilling jackpot?
Maybe it’s both even. All the more of a breathtaking gambit.
Though, Nakayama did want to have at least one journalist to take interest in what they have planned for her. But for now, all that stood within the Paris airport there was two roommates, on the other side of the world and underneath the blue Paris sky as aeroplanes fly in and out the city of romance.
“Well just so you know, you’re one of the last people I’m racing for.”
“I know, I know.” Sirius shrugs. It’s far from anything even personal, it’s simply the truth and Sirius knows that quite well. Perhaps the only person besides Nakayama’s own trainer who know of her. “Yup,” Nakayama pops her lip as she replies. “So… what do you have planned besides having your eyes on me?” The conversation seems to trudge on out of mere formality as Nakayama looks out towards the sea of planes.
Sirius replies with some basic small talk, activities too mundane for the thrill seeking Nakayama. She does mention a couple restaurants she has reserved to make another visit from her last trips and that maybe she’ll recommend one for her and her trainer. Although Nakayama does not even have a comparable budget to Sirius so most likely Nakayama will end up testing out some “local gems” as usual.
The conversations draws on, only a quarter of it seems to go into Nakayama’s head. Her gaze stays stuck upon Parisian sky.
“But hey, back to the races” Nakayama immediately catches herself back within Sirius’ ramblings. As if Sirius rang a bell right against her ear to catch her attention and with Nakayama back in focus, Sirius takes her right in.
She sets her voice deep into a murmur and places her index finger right against her lips.
“If you win, I might just give you the night of your life.”
Although she simply jokes with her usual facade, Nakayama seems to notice a spark within her eyes. The thought of hope being brought back to Japan, that same chaos and stubbornness needed to break down the Arc’s Gate. All of it seemingly encapsulated in the constellations of wonder that sparkle within Sirius’ eyes. She truly is the Brightest Star of Japan.
Of course, Nakayama won’t dare to say that out loud. Just as Sirius won’t admit the hope she has for Nakayama.
“Pssshh. Like I said, I don’t need your half assed offers to get me fired up,” and this time, Nakayama takes the lead “I’ll win with my own hands. I’ll bust down that door and show her—the world even— how truly alive I am.” Nakayama bears one nasty grin upon her face, her eyes widened and teeth fully showing as she gets goosebumps from the thrill of it all. The match hasn’t even started, the racers haven’t even been introduced; just what gambit even awaits her if she’s already feeling this visceral passion within her?
Looking at the insanity laid into Nakayama’s expression, it looks like Sirius' little bits of comfort she was intending on wasn’t needed at all for this freak of nature. Or maybe more like a freak of a gambler would be more suitable of a description.
“If you’ve got nothing utterly riveting for me,” she gestures to point her thumb towards probably where her trainer is situated. “Then I’ve got to sit down and write a letter so…” she begins to walk past Sirius, placing her hands in her pockets.
“I’ll see ya when I win.” Though she can’t see it, Sirius can already feel the smug grin that Nakayama holds on her face as she walks by. Sirius simply scoffs at her boldness, though she can’t blame her. Any uma that dares take on the Arc has to be the most stubborn and crazy in all of Japan at that very moment. And the two of them fit perfectly into that mold.
“Oh. Right,”
Nakayama stops in her path and manoeuvres her head back over to Sirius, though not looking at her with her gaze hesitantly averted. As much as the both of them try, it looks like they can’t help but not leave off with a perfectly smooth goodbye.
“That little gift you snuck into the side of my bag… it helped a bit through landing.” Nakayama tries to shrug it off with a cool demeanor but the way she fiddles with her hair and her cheeks flush, reveals she is failing to do so. Quite adorably in fact. But Sirius might just cut her some slack this time just so she can bet on seeing Nakayama flustered once more.
“Ah, don’t worry about that. I’ve gotten pretty used to handling air pressure, I just keep a couple packets of gum in the plane for anyone else who needs it,” Sirius smiles at this acknowledgement. Of course, the plane she means is one of her own. “So, it was no problem on my behalf. I did however purposefully choose to give you the grape flavor.” Especially due to the time one of their drawers was filled with grape candies and lollipops for a good couple of months after betting she could easily clear them out in a week.
Spoiler alert, she couldn’t. She ended up getting completely sugar rushed for one night and then got faced with the drowsy aftermath for a good week.
But the fact she was able to clear them out eventually (with Sirius stealing her own portions from time to time) without growing tired of it, was probably enough to show she does have a particular liking to the flavor.
Ultimately, Nakayama simply replies with “Yeah…” being just as reminded of that period of time as Sirius. “Anyway, I’m gonna head back to see how my trainer’s doing with Mei and jet lag will probably kill me but… we’ll see what happens,” She begins to continue on her way out.
“I’ll see you later, Sirius.” She gives her roommate one last goodbye with a soft smile on her face.
“Don’t go eating a heavy dinner, Nakayama. Otherwise the jet lag will be the death of you.” Sirius yells as she sees Nakayama slowly walk away as she drags her suitcase across the ground. And when she’s far enough, Sirius looks up at the open Parisian sky. Although the stars may be unseen for now, all it takes is the turn of the night for them to be reignited amongst the sky and Sirius says to herself,
“Perhaps the world will get to see violets bloom upon the Longchamp Racecourse this year.”