The countdown began.
And Melissa flew.
Aika's stomach dropped the moment the bike surged forward not from fear, just from the sheer sudden reality of speed. She didn't even have time to process it before they were already leaning into the first curve, the cold air hitting her face like a wall.
Okay this is fast.
This is actually really fast
Melissa leaned deeper into the next turn.
Aika's grip on her jacket tightened automatically. Both hands. Firm. From both sides.
This is FAST FAST
She tried to track it scientifically for half a second speed, angle, centrifugal force, the math of it and then immediately abandoned the entire effort because her brain simply could not multitask physics and survival at the same time.
She gave up.
Just held on.
Face pressed slightly against Melissa's back, eyes open because she didn't want to miss it even while being terrified.
"NOEL BE READY TO LOSE!!"
Melissa screamed it into the wind, voice completely unhinged with joy.
Aika blinked her eyes open just in time to see
Oh.
Noel's bike. Right beside them. Almost level. Both of them coming up on the same curve at the same time, practically side by side for one suspended second before the track forced them apart again.
Someone is actually about to lose this, Aika realized with sudden clarity. This isn't just noise. This is real.
From somewhere near the sidelines, distant but audible even over the engines
"GO MELISSA GO!! YOU'VE GOT THIS !! FASTER !!"
Ken. Practically vibrating. Voice cracking halfway through. Completely without shame.
Aika held tighter, heart slamming.
This is insane.
I love it.
The final stretch came up fast.
Melissa was screaming something Aika couldn't make out anymore, leaning further forward, pushing everything she had.
This is it, Aika thought, gripping tighter. This is actually it
Then a blur from the outside lane.
The girl in black. Coming up so fast neither Melissa nor Noel had registered her there until she was already level with them.
She pulled in right alongside Noel matching him stride for stride, both of them pushing now, neither giving an inch and they crossed the line together.
Exact same moment.
Melissa, just half a second behind, threw her visor up the second they slowed down.
"...what just happened."
Noel pulled his helmet off slowly. For the first time all night his expression wasn't completely unreadable just the faintest flicker of something. Surprise maybe. Or respect.
The girl pulled her own helmet off, not even out of breath, and looked over at him.
"Tie," she said simply.
Noel looked at her for a long second.
"Tie," he agreed.
Melissa threw her hands up. "I was SO close"
"You were third," Ren called out, already laughing, pulling up behind them.
Aika sat there quietly behind Melissa, looking between Noel and the girl.
Huh, she thought. So someone CAN actually match him.
Interesting.
Behind them, the rest of the pack started rolling in.
Airon first. Then Siara right after him.
Then finally, several seconds late .Julius.
Last. By a significant margin.
He pulled off his helmet looking thoroughly unbothered by this fact, like finishing dead last was simply part of his personality and he had made peace with it long ago.
Aika watched him roll in at his own leisurely pace and felt something dangerous build in her chest.
Oh my god.
He came in DEAD LAST and he looks COMPLETELY FINE WITH IT
A laugh was already rising. She felt it building, felt her mouth already starting to betray her
Then she caught movement at her side.
Cecilia. Standing right next to her. Close enough that any sound Aika made would not go unnoticed.
Aika clamped down immediately. Pressed her lips together hard. Forced her face back into something neutral.
She stared very intently at the ground.
Do not laugh. Do not laugh in front of Cici. Do not give her anything—
Beside her Cecilia hadn't said a word.
But Aika could feel her watching anyway.
To be continued...