Sanemi walks out of the bathroom, his hair still damp and his expression guarded. He sees Genya sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone. Genya looks up at him, concern evident in his eyes despite trying to appear casual. Sanemi sits down on the opposite end of the couch, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words.
"Couldn't sleep again?" He asks gruffly, trying to mask his own exhaustion. Genya shrugs, putting his phone down. "I was just studying. How was the race?" He asks, attempting to sound indifferent but failing to hide his curiosity. Sanemi leans back, crossing his arms over his chest. "I won. No surprise there." He says with a hint of pride, though his tone remains flat. Genya nods, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
"There's someone new, isn't there? Someone who's been challenging you?" He asks, recalling the rumors he heard at school. Sanemi's eyes narrow slightly at the mention of Mizu. "Yeah. They call themselves Mizu. Fast, but not fast enough to beat me." He says with a slight smirk, though his mind flashes back to their earlier encounter. Genya studies his brother's expression, noticing the subtle change.
"You seem... interested in them. More than your usual opponents." He observes, testing the waters of Sanemi's mood. Sanemi's smirk fades, replaced by a scowl. "Don't be ridiculous. I just find it amusing how they think they can keep up with me." He snaps defensively, though he knows there's more to it than that. Genya raises an eyebrow, not convinced by Sanemi's dismissal.
"Whatever you say, Nemi. Just be careful, alright? These underground races are getting more dangerous." He says with genuine concern, knowing his brother's tendency to take unnecessary risks. Sanemi stands up abruptly, clearly done with the conversation. "I'm always careful. I'm going to bed." He mutters, walking away from Genya and into his room, closing the door behind him. Once alone in his room, Sanemi collapses onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
His thoughts drift back to Mizu again, and he can't shake the feeling that this mysterious racer might actually be a threat to his dominance on the track. Sanemi reluctantly gets up and grabs his university textbooks from his desk, knowing he has a paper due tomorrow. He sits down and begins writing, his mind occasionally wandering to thoughts of his next race against Mizu. The clock ticks away as Sanemi works through the night, his handwriting becoming increasingly messy from exhaustion.
He finishes the paper just before dawn, feeling both mentally drained and oddly restless. The thrill of the race still lingers in his veins, mixing with the frustration of academic deadlines. Sanemi glances at his phone, checking the time. He should get some sleep before his morning classes, but he knows he won't be able to rest well. He decides to take a quick nap, hoping it will at least help him function through the day.
Sanemi drifts off, his dreams filled with the roar of engines and the blur of streetlights. When he wakes up, it's already mid-morning, and he has missed his first class. His best friend, Obanai, called him 23 times. Sanemi groans as he sees the missed calls from Obanai, realizing he's going to get an earful when he finally calls back. He picks up his phone and dials Obanai's number, knowing he can't avoid him forever.
"What do you want, Iguro?" He answers gruffly, still half asleep. Obanai's voice comes through the phone, sharp and annoyed. "Where the hell have you been? I've been trying to reach you all morning. You're late for class, and I know you were out racing again last night." Sanemi rubs his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "I overslept, alright? And I don't need a lecture. I can handle myself." Obanai sighs heavily on the other end.
"You're going to fail if you keep this up. The professor was pissed, and I had to cover for you. Again."Sanemi can hear Mitsuri and Rengoku laughing in the background. Sanemi's mood sours further at the sound of their laughter. "Are you with them? Put me on speaker, I need to talk to all of you idiots." There's some shuffling, and then Mitsuri's cheerful voice comes through.
"Hey Sanemi! We were just discussing how worried Obanai was about you. You really should take better care of yourself!" Rengoku's booming voice follows. "Sanemi! My friend! You should join us for lunch instead of skipping class! The cafeteria has the best tempura today!" Sanemi rolls his eyes, but can't help the small smile that tugs at his lips at their concern.
"I'll pass on lunch. I need to get to the next class before I miss that one too." Obanai interrupts again, his tone more serious. "Just... don't push yourself too hard. You know you can talk to us about whatever's bothering you, right? Even if it's about that new racer." Sanemi quickly gets dressed and grabs his bag, ignoring Obanai's last comment. "I'm fine. I'll see you guys later. And stop worrying about me like I'm some fragile child." Mitsuri pouts audibly.
"But Sanemi, we care about you! It's what friends do!" Rengoku laughs heartily in the background. "He's as stubborn as ever! Have fun at class!" Sanemi hangs up and heads out, his thoughts already shifting back to the upcoming race. He can't shake the feeling that he needs to find Mizu and prove he's still the best racer around.
He jumps on his bike, revving the engine with a determined look in his eyes. The wind whips through his hair as he speeds towards campus, his mind racing with plans to gather information about Mizu. Sanemi keeps his racing life separate from his university persona, only his closest friends are aware of it. He's careful to maintain a facade of a diligent student during the day, hiding the adrenaline junkie that emerges at night.
He arrives at campus just as the second class starts, slipping into his seat unnoticed. The professor glares at him but doesn't say anything, having already been informed by Obanai. Sanemi struggles to focus during his classes, his mind wandering between notes and the sound of engines in his head. The day drags on as he fights to stay awake, occasionally checking his phone for any news about Mizu.
Sanemi glances at Giyuu's seat, noting how the black-haired boy, with blue tips, seems completely absorbed in his studies. They've never spoken much outside of the races, but Sanemi recognizes him as a formidable opponent. Giyuu suddenly looks up, catching Sanemi staring. Their eyes meet for a brief moment before Giyuu turns away, seemingly indifferent.