By the time Yayoi Natural finished breakfast, Maruzensky had already come downstairs.
She sat at the dining table and watched Yayoi Natural set a plate in front of her.
It wasn't anything lavish.
Just something simple.
Maruzensky studied the food for a moment before giving her verdict. "Looks pretty good."
"As long as you like it."
Only then did Yayoi Natural sit across from her.
They sat there for a beat, looking at each other.
In the end, Maruzensky was the first to dig in.
Before long, she finished, dabbed her mouth with a napkin, and looked to Yayoi Natural. "Shall we go?"
"No cleanup?"
"I'll take care of it when we're back tonight~"
As she spoke, Maruzensky walked over to Yayoi Natural, reached out, and took her hand. "Come on—out we go~"
And just like that, Yayoi Natural was swept along.
Afterward, Yayoi Natural found herself on an extremely straightforward date.
Or rather, "straightforward" was the wrong word—
It was… too ordinary.
An aquarium, a few artsy spots, dinner, a movie.
Ordinary enough that Yayoi Natural had to fight a yawn.
But… once night fell, all of that vanished.
Everyone knew Maruzensky loved speed—but not quite the way most Umamusume did.
For one, she chased speed on the road, too—except…
"Aren't we… going the wrong way?"
The road ahead was getting darker and darker. Yayoi Natural turned to look at Maruzensky.
Maruzensky answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "How could that be?"
And with that, Maruzensky finally let loose in front of Yayoi Natural.
The engine roared. Yayoi Natural was shoved violently into the seat.
Her heartbeat spiked instantly.
"Natural, the place we're going next is a mountain road~"
Maruzensky glanced at Yayoi Natural.
Only after checking her seatbelt did Maruzensky continue. "I'm not slowing down from here."
Then, like she remembered something, she called again. "Natural?"
Yayoi Natural's face had gone deathly pale. She was in no state to answer.
Noticing that, Maruzensky simply returned her gaze to the road.
"Natural—when we reach the top, I'll ask you one more question."
Eyes squeezed shut, Yayoi Natural couldn't even manage a sound.
Maruzensky didn't press her. She just kept driving.
About ten minutes later, the red sports car came to a stop at the mountaintop.
When the car finally settled, Maruzensky turned and faced Yayoi Natural head-on.
Yayoi Natural looked white as a sheet, as though Maruzensky's sprint through the curves had drained her dry.
Maruzensky switched on the hazard lights, unbuckled, and leaned in—closing the distance as much as she could.
Now that the car had stopped, Yayoi Natural finally managed to pry her eyes open.
And the first thing she saw was Maruzensky's face.
So close.
Close enough that their bodies nearly touched—close enough that she could feel Maruzensky's breath.
"Maruzen…?"
"Aw, you woke up. What a shame~"
Maruzensky slipped back into the driver's seat and looked at Yayoi Natural. "Want to experience it again?"
"Are you trying to kill me?!"
"Mm… maybe a little?"
Yayoi Natural froze for a second—then she caught it.
So she said it. "Maruzen, you…"
"Hm?"
"You're jealous, aren't you?"
Maruzensky didn't get mad. She didn't even bother denying it—just looked at Yayoi Natural.
"Mhm. I am."
Yayoi Natural watched her, then asked, "And now?"
"I'm still jealous~"
Maruzensky didn't stop there. "And Natural, you know something?"
"What?"
"In Japan, investigations into traffic accidents—especially accidents from speeding on mountain roads—are pretty slapdash. If it's not tied to an election, something like that can drag on for a year or two, easy~"
The blunt hint made Yayoi Natural go still.
She understood what Maruzensky was planning.
And as she stared, Maruzensky finished calmly. "But the two of us would only 'die' on paper. Just like before."
As she spoke, Maruzensky reached out and lightly rubbed Yayoi Natural's ear between her fingers.
"Back then was really nice, wasn't it? You with no identity at all… and me being the only one you could rely on…"
Every soft word carried Maruzensky's own brand of jealousy—hidden so well you could almost miss it.
Yayoi Natural lowered her head, thinking for a while, before she looked back up at Maruzensky.
"Then why don't we do it your way?"
Maruzensky froze.
She hadn't expected that answer.
Catching herself, Maruzensky adjusted her posture, sinking deeper into the driver's seat before she asked, "You're not scared?"
"I'm terrified."
Just like Maruzensky, Yayoi Natural didn't try to hide it. She only looked at her.
"But if it's you… you've already covered everything we need to watch out for, haven't you?"
"I'm still worried about Mochizuki and Teio, but…"
Like she'd already decided, Yayoi Natural went on.
"Roman-nee is taking care of them too. So… even if you want to do that, it's okay…"
Hearing her, the expression on Maruzensky's face tightened.
"You… do you really mean that?"
"…Does what I want even matter?"
The question stopped Maruzensky cold. She truly hadn't considered it.
And now that she had, Maruzensky fell silent.
For a moment, she didn't know how to answer.
But just like years ago, when it came time to choose—
Now, too, it was time.
So—
"It matters."
Maruzensky buckled her seatbelt again and turned off the hazard lights. "Let's go back. Together."
---
T/N: MARUZENSKY :SOB: THIS IS NOT HOW YOU RIZZ
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