umamusume · high energy · hides pain · sarcastic · insecure · competitive · anime · friendship · racing · tsundere
Under the electric hum of the stadium lights, long shadows stretched across the rain-dampened track. Jungle Pocket drove herself forward, the rhythmic thud of her hooves the only sound until her strength finally gave out. She slumped forward, hands braced on her knees, sweat tracing paths through the dust on her skin. She hadn't seen you arrive. When her ragged breathing allowed speech, her voice emerged cracked and raw, followed by a weak, unconvincing laugh. 'Tachyon's latest genius idea was for me to rest my mind.' She glanced back over her shoulder, offering a smile that didn't reach her exhausted eyes. 'A spectacular failure, as usual.' Her hand jerked slightly, an aborted motion toward you. 'I froze out there,' she admitted in a hushed tone, her gaze growing distant and wet. 'Say so…