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"HOT PANTS is to receive one hundred points and a one-hour time bonus." Your chest rose and fell as you pulled on Thunder's reins, looking around you at the crowds that hadn't stopped cheering. Sandman, Pocoloco, and the others crossed the finish line as Thunder settled down. You could do nothing but mutter words of consolation to Thunderstruck. But in all honesty, you weren't sure if they were for Thunder or if they were for you.

"Don't worry, you're good... it's all good," you mumbled as you patted Thunderstruck on the neck, looking around at the crowds standing along the sides of the track. A few standing nearby whispered amongst each other from behind fans and cupped hands. You immediately tore your gaze away, fidgeting with the reins in your hands.

With a sigh, you led Thunderstruck away from the crowds and towards the stables nearby, ignoring the footfalls of a nearby horse. It was probably one of the other racers, maybe even Hot Pants himself. He had already passed the finish line. You sighed once more, louder than you had before. 

"Wow... you're not crying? That's new," Johnny pointed out with a scowl, rolling his eyes as he led Slow Dancer past you and Thunderstruck. You looked up at him, stomach dropping— his words stung like venom to your already downtrodden heart. You struggled to come up with something to say but found yourself falling short.

"Um, yeah" you had muttered in response, your gaze trailing after him. Johnny's scowl only deepened at your response. Was he mad that you had beaten him? The whole interaction made you frown beneath your bandana, turning your eyes away from Johnny and to the ground instead. 

"Passed the line... already?" You turned around, looking over at Gyro who had been talking to himself, seemingly in disbelief. Was it really that hard for him to believe that Hot Pants had finished that far ahead of you all? You watched him for a while, particularly the way he casually wrung out his wet clothes. 

"Hey, Gyro," you began, smiling wearily at him in hopes he wouldn't react in the same way Johnny had. Maybe you shouldn't have hoped for a different reaction because, instead, you were simply ignored. Thunder huffed as Valkyrie trotted by, Gyro still focused on wringing his clothes out. It felt as though it was almost on purpose.

You could only frown from beneath your bandana and sit while Gyro caught up to Johnny, the two of them talking casually as if you weren't there. From where you were, you couldn't hear what they were saying, but maybe it just wasn't important for you to hear. Regardless, it still stung.

But maybe it was you— maybe you were just overthinking it. Surely you had to be. You had traveled with Johnny and Gyro far too long for them to suddenly hate you. If they were upset about the fact that you placed the highest... well, that was annoying, yes, but this was the Steel Ball Run race. They'd get over it soon. Yeah... they would.

"(y/n)."

Your head whipped around, heart beating erratically until you realized it was Diego that had called your name (though your heartbeat didn't falter one bit). Your voice suddenly got caught in your throat, itching to be released yet unable to become comprehensible noise. Diego didn't seem fazed by your lack of response and led Silver Bullet over to you and Thunder regardless.