Chapter Text
The day should have been perfectly normal.
Nice Nature is on the track with Team Canopus. They are all supposed to be training, but her and Ikuno Dictus are the only ones actually running. The rest of the team has decided to have some eccentric strategy meeting for Twin Turbo’s upcoming race instead. Ikuno is insisting her form is improving, but honestly Nature mostly feels like she's just going through the motions today. Her mind keeps wandering and she finds her times stagnating early into training. The reason for her distraction is that some members of Team Spica are also doing some training today, which is normal, but what's bothering her is that her rival and friend? Tokai Teio keeps staring at her.
Nature has always looked up to Teio. Ever since her debut Teio has always been just out of reach, racing ahead to better and brighter things while she lagged behind. Nature may have an arguably more consistent race record, but she has never beat Teio in a race and hasn't even won a G1. Their dynamic started to change when Teio was in recovery for her fractures. Nature started to spend more and more time with her. She has had her fair share of injuries as well so they started off basically just talking about how awful being injured was, but it slowly developed into a genuine friendship. Well, logically Nature knows they are friends, but some part of her still doesn't quite believe it. There are better people for Teio to spend time with other than a third-rate uma like herself.
The other issue was for almost her whole career at Tracen she has had a massive crush on Teio. Teio is just too nice, and cool, and talented not to like, it's only natural. She of course has no plans of telling Teio, she knows Teio has much more suitable suitors than a downer like her. She's just happy that she actually gets to hang out with her on a semi-regular basis. She will take this silly crush to the grave.
But back to her issue, every single time Nature glanced over at where Spica was, Teio was already looking right at her. It had been that way ever since Canopus got to the track. When Teio saw Nature looking back she would just smile and wave then go right back to her training like nothing happened, oblivious to the fact that Nature was about to implode. After a particularly sloppy lap she pulled off the side and checked herself with her phone camera hoping to spot something she could fix. There was nothing on her face. Her tracksuit was fine. So it wasn’t her appearance. Maybe it was the way she was running? She's pretty sure Ikuno would have told her if she was running weird or really slow. Maybe Teio just wanted to tell her something? The thought sent her into another spiral, and she grew so preoccupied with figuring out what she’d done wrong that she missed several of Ikuno’s cues. Her pacing fell apart, becoming sloppy and uneven. Ikuno, of course, noticed. She started to shoot Nature concerned, then frustrated looks before eventually stopping her outright.
“I think it’s time for a break Nature. You need to take a breather.”
Nature agreed and decided to trudge over to where Spica was training to try to clear her mind. When she got over there she was greeted by McQueen who was also taking her break. She had also been spending more time with McQueen, her and Teio always seemed to be together after all. She and Teio work well together. Her calm, calculated personality works well with Teio’s loud and easily excitable one.
“Oh, hello Nature. Do you need something?”
“Not really, it's just that Teio keeps looking at me and I was wondering if she wanted to talk or something?”
At that McQueen visibly winced which only made Nature more confused and more than a bit concerned.
“That's probably because of Teio’s new ‘theory,'" She put theory in air quotes and looked quite embarrassed by the topic, “Teio has decided for reasons out of my understanding that you are good luck. I doubt she's doing it on purpose so there's no need to worry. You know how she gets when she's focused on something.”
“What?”
“It’s not a theory! It's 100% fact. Every time Nature is nearby I do way better!”
Nature nearly jumps out of her skin when Teio appears seemingly out of thin air to interject. And what is this theory of hers? Nature is some sort of good luck charm for her? Nature can see why McQueen was so confused.
“I'm pretty sure that's just a coincidence. You're probably just having a good day today. Honestly if I was some sort of lucky charm I doubt I'd be a good one anyways, I'd probably just make you get third in everything.”
Nature cringes at the self deprecating comment. She really needs to stop doing that. Nature isn't a very superstitious person so Teio’s logic doesn't really resonate with her. She obviously believes in luck to some extent, but she doesn't think it can really be influenced. It's just one of those things set in stone. But, she guesses if it means Teio looks at her more than normal she can’t really complain.
“Of course you're a good luck charm Nice Natie! It's not just today either, I always seem to make more progress in training when we’re sharing the track with Canopus. And also when we race together I always do better. Plus it's always more fun too!”
During the conversation Teio slowly inches closer and closer to Nature. She’s way too close, leaning forward so their faces were only a few inches apart. She doesn't mean anything by it, but it still causes Nature to desperately fight back a blush and quickly take a couple steps back in an attempt to calm her racing heart.
“W-well I guess if it makes you feel better. And it's Nice Nature.” She finally managed to stutter out a response after a couple seconds of just dumbly standing there trying to register her words through the sudden proximity. She prays no one notices how flustered she's getting, but the knowing look McQueen throws at her does not inspire confidence.
“It does! You should come to all of our trainings, we're doing stamina training tomorrow which sucks, but if you're there I’ll be able to swim at least a bazillion laps!”
Before Nature has a chance to respond, McQueen who has been quietly watching the interaction unfold quickly interjects.
“Teio,” She sighs, “Nature has her own training to focus on. You can’t inconvenience her based on a superstition.”
“But McQueeeeen,” Teio whines, “You were just talking about how I needed to improve my stamina. How am I supposed to train efficiently!”
“I'm sorry Teio, but McQueen’s right. I don’t have stamina training on the schedule for tomorrow, Turbo and I are going to work on our left lead.”
Teio pouts and seems to consider protesting further, but eventually decides to relent.
“Alright Natie, I guess I can do it on my own. But I’m totally right, just you see!”
At that Teio skips off back to the track and McQueen excuses herself to follow her. Nature makes her way back to the track herself, still mulling over the conversation intently. She has never even considered herself to be even a little lucky. But if Teio considers her so, is it really her place to argue? If it makes Teio feel better when she's nearby shouldn’t that make her happy? It does, she's mostly still anxious from the unexpected conversation, but she can feel a giddy feeling taking root in her chest. She wants to be near Teio and now Teio wants to be near her, it doesn't matter the reason she's going to take this as a win.
Getting back to the track and her team she feels a lot lighter. She thinks she could probably keep running for hours.
“Sooo Natie~ whatcha talking to Teio about.” Turbo leans over the divider between the stands and the track with a big teasing grin on her face.
“We were talking about training. Which is what you're supposed to be doing right now too by the way. You have a race next week!”
Turbo deflates, slumping over the barrier and whining. “I am training! Everyone always says I need an actual strategy so I'm coming up with one!”
“Alright then, let's practice your strategy. Get warmed up."
Nature watched in amusement as her teammate whines and complains while slowly getting up and trudging onto the track to start her warm-ups. She glanced back to the other side of the field to see Teio smiling and waving at her again, and this time she waved back.