no risk, no return
f1 driver!momo x f1 driver! reader au — fluff, angst if you squint
[keji sent a note!]: first of all, i've been in such a writing slump and this fic helped me to get out of it! i'm sorry if it took really long!!! here it is <3 ++ this is a series btw! @saiidahyunie here it is pookie i hope u have a blast reading it 🙏
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for most of her life, momo has only known what it feels like to win. born to one of the wealthiest families in japan, it's like opportunities come falling to her lap even if she didn't ask for it. but, there's one thing she pursued.
it's the thrilling, blazing speed of having to be in closed circuits— going around and around until you're flying, getting ahead of everyone else. it's a lavish, fun, and insanely challenging lifestyle.
momo thinks that she's everlasting in facing every single golden trophy that comes her way, and she'll do anything to take it.
for you, winning was a privilege. it was always something that not only you worked on.
you started racing because your dad enrolled you into a free session, and totally fell in love with karting. many years and sacrifices pass, but still, you're in love with the speed and the feeling of flying on the ground.
every golden medal and trophy is earned by you, the people who helped you and everyone else.
you'd do everything to win, as momo does too.
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on one rainy f2 race, it was either a hit or miss, and one move equates to a life.
“we can't continue this,” momo arugues, standing up.” “spa has been a killer, even when dry. do you want your lives to be at risk?”
you scoffed, “why, afraid to lose your points, hirai?” you looked at her and everyone agreed.
this was racing, and you know there were risks. with the advancement of technology in these fast cars, risks were lessened, and you're now confident that you could still fight. you just can't back down after being so competitive, fighting for the championship. if anything else, why the hell would hirai momo scour away from this?
“look,” momo sighs. “i just want safety. we all know it's not safe-”
you stood up now, looking at her with a fire in your eyes. “then go to the damn back of the grid if you wanna play safe?”
momo steps closer to you, looking at you straight into the eyes. “if you die tomorrow, i don't mind if you're head is flying off because of me. got it?”
you smiled, sinister and scary. “of course, hirai. my head would say hi and fall onto your lap, too.”
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“you guys are so damn funny.” sana laughs after you've woken up from your coma. she's been your number one friend since diapers, and this sport was one of the things she pulled you in with her. sana was the extrovert friend who always said hi to everyone else for you, and you couldn't take her more.
you sighed in defeat as momo was right. after the rise at eau rouge, and a blind spot, even blinder when raining at the turn in radillion; you were too busy that your attention shifted to the upcoming car that wanted to take over your position in that corner, that you missed the turn, and only you came to a huge spin, hitting the wall at almost 250 km/h. it was a miracle that you were still alive.
you know that the person in that upcoming car was pushing you to the limits, rightfully so in this sport, but you hope they know it isn't their fault. if anything, it was yours.
“momo won, by the way.” sana reminds as she fixes your blanket.
you scoffed, “yeah, right, of course she'd win.”
“all of this wouldn't happen if you just,” sana makes her hands into like two lips, making it kiss and showing you a demonstration. “you know…”
“sana,” you whined. “even over my dead body. no. never.”
sana laughed, “you'll eat your words someday, y/n.”
you dismissed as you rolled your eyes, “and i won’t be full of it because i’ll eat none.”
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[breaking] carrera scaglietti’s world champion, hirai momo moves to jyp shinhan racing team for the 2024 season.
your eyebrows creased into the middle of your forehead, your attention shifting away from the data after you've read the news. momo was through and through red, loud, powerful, rich— very much like the italian scaglietti team. why the hell would she choose to go to jyp?
“oh, that's crazy,” hyunnie takes a peek at your phone, very amused at what is happening. “maybe she fought with her teammate?” hyunnie wonders.
“i doubt,” you sarcastically say. there's a high chance that momo had a dispute with her teammate. but you doubt, her teammate was minatozaki sana, she could literally turn anyone her teammate if she wanted to. “but it's momo, so we never know.”
“right,” hyunnie just agrees with the statement, and proceeds reading the data of the wind tunnel for the new car. you two were checking data in the factory for the new season. “don't you think it's a bit stuck up in the middle?” hyunnie points out at the monitor, seeing the air flow ruin the aerodynamics. it was important for the development of the car, and you're glad that hyunnie was reliable to point it out.
after the first stream of the air through the front wing, it doesn't continue to flow the same to the front wheels, making it scattered which results in it being slower.
“soobin!” you call onto your lead engineer loudly, and he comes running with a couple of coffees in hand. “look, it's not going up the wheel,” both you and hyunnie pointed. “that's gonna cost at least a tenth of a second in the straights.”
“yeah, yeah,” soobin kindly hands your coffee and nods. “better front wheel wing, and a smoother air inlet to have a great slipstream.” he suggests, sitting down on his desktop and setting a new creation into reality. “hey, y/n, have you seen the news?”
hyunnie laughs, “trust me, y/n’s the first person who saw it.”
“really,” soobin condescends, still concentrating on his work. “you know, you'd see her a lot this season.”
“i know, don't worry,” you laughed. “i'm ready for it. it'll be a breeze beating her.”
[breaking] f2 champion y/n to gochiya skyline after being offered a 5 year contract.
“i thought she'll be in vantage?” momo sighs under her breath. they were in the middle of a break from a team photoshoot for the new season. momo throws her head back in a deep disappointment that can be felt across the room.
jihyo greets with a smile, both of their helmets in her hand. “what's that, champ?”
“news,” momo blatantly answered, shutting her phone down. “and just news.”
“i think i know,” jihyo says, having that little amused smile on her face. “it's y/n moving to a different team, no?”
momo just nods. she can't believe that this woman knew exactly what she was thinking.
jihyo chuckles, “well, it's nice to know that we have someone on the grid who can put up a fight.”
jihyo’s not wrong. momo dominated the last season, nearly winning all 24 races. 5 were won by her previous teammate, minatozaki sana, and 2 were won by jihyo in jyp shinhan.
well, it was no shocker to her after your coma, you'd make it to f1. as she said to herself, you were a champion, just like her. you fight like hell with your car, and you in this cup isn't any different.
but, in racing, there's only going to be a sole winner, although three people share the podium— there's always the sole, shining golden first place, and she can't give that up for you.
jihyo tapped momo's shoulder as the photographers came and called her. “c’mon, i think they need us back.”
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the next thing you know is that you're already starting the season. after long hours of development in the factory, it's finally set to be used in bahrain. this was nothing like your previous tiers of racing before, and it's something you've only seen from the surface level, but now that you're in it, you can't help but feel a little nervous.
it was a thursday, and the pit lane was full of people from the media. you spot your best friend from just a few meters from you, talking to her old teammate. from that scene alone, you know that momo's reason for leaving the scaglietti isn't a teammate thing.
“hey.” you greet sana as momo leaves to be interviewed by a sports channel.
“you look constipated,” sana holds down your shoulders, looking you in the eye, worried about your state of health. “you okay?”
“it's hot, dude,” you said, panting. “uh, anyw-”
“sana,” you saw momo come back from the interview, and she was already taking sana by the wrist. “let's go.”
“give me a minute,” you dismissed her, your palm outward to let her know that you were still talking to your best friend. “i’ll let you have her after we talk, okay?”
momo yanks at sana's arm in disapproval, making your best friend wince, “no, what the hell-”
sana was already angry at this point, her eyebrows meeting in the middle. “oh, come on!” she sighs. “okay, y/n, what is it.”
you smiled in confidence, “hyunnie invited the whole grid to a party tonight. well, as she calls it a party, but it's not the club type of thing, though. one last before the actual testing, you know, just to get everyone familiar with each other.”
momo stares and scoffs under her breath, “like we aren't tired of each other enough.”
“you have a choice in declining, though!” you smiled at sana, but you said it loudly that momo hears. “and yeah, drinks are on her, sana. you don't have to worry about that.”
“that's nice,” sana smiles. “um, i’ll get going now with grumpy pants number two here. i’ll catch up with you later, hm?”
“yeah, yeah.” you waved at sana, winking at her. “i’ll just text you the location!”
momo fakes gagging on her own spit at your reaction, “gross.”
“nah, you like it,” sana nudges at her as they walk back to their teams. “why the hell do you pretend to hate each other?”
“sana, you know i can’t pretend,” momo sighs. “if you're still convinced that we have some sexual tension going on… maybe you're blind i don't know, get your eyes checked.”
“you can pretend, i’ll give you that.” sana laughs, patting momo on the back. “but you're not too good at lying, are you?”
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the rookies all got on for the media interview for the day, which included you, and chou tzuyu, the newest addition of carrera scaglietti. you two were the newest addition to the grid, and you know tzuyu well that you know she could compete with you.
“um, hello y/n, hello tzuyu,” the reporter flashes a smile to the both of you, anticipating their question. “the grid has made some pretty solid adjustments following the data made from the practices. as two fairly experienced drivers, do you think that you have a shot at winning at least a grand prix for the year?”
“oh, that's,” tzuyu then smiles, finding the question to be quite expectant of their performance. “it's not impossible, but it will be really hard. as you said, the adjustments for the cars are huge. it will be very competitive, and we will race. but you also have to be a little considerate on the part that we've only been to f1 testing at least twice in our f2 careers, and tested just now, so it's a bit of a mix for us getting used to the feel of the car first, then winning.”
“exactly,” you follow. “although i think i've been through more testing than tzuyu, we're now driving in a completely different car from our teams. i don't wanna brag about the experiences that i have, sorry, tzuyu,” you comfortably tap her arm as you slightly bow with your head, showing your apologies for the little arrogant move. “but, it's pretty fair to say that i can and will compete. i can say that our car is competitive, and from the data, it could catch up to last year's scaglietti’s top speed. so, we're definitely putting up a fight.”
“thank you y/n, and thank you tzuyu,” the reporter smiles once more. “can i have a little request from the both of you to say something for the rest of the guys on the grid?”
tzuyu raises her hands in happiness and says, “let's all have some fun!”
“cute,” you cooed, but then, your face went serious afterwards. “there's no turning back for us now. no risk, no return, and i hope you know i'm fighting for the same thing you're fighting for. let's race!”
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the party was a quiet one, with only most of the women in the grid attending. it was held at a small speakeasy at a hotel, and hyunnie rented it all for the night. pretty impressive, as she was, well, quite occupied with your best friend.
you're left to mingle with a couple of guys from the other teams, saying and wishing well that you have a good time, clinking margheritas.
“hey,” mina, another gem from lagonda vantage, smiles as she makes her way to sit beside you on the bar table. “thank god you're here.”
you looked around to spot her teammate, “kazuha didn't come?”
“she's more of a…” mina then takes a sip of her wine. “couch potato.”
you nodded, understanding the preference of the real rookie, although you know that her teammate was your teammate last few years ago. “well, that's unavoidable,” you laughed, also taking a sip of your own drink. “um, how's everything in vantage?”
“same old, same old green car livery,” mina dismisses. “how's everything at skyline?”
“a whole lot of testing,” you exclaimed and sighed. “a whole lot more than vantage in f2. i'm so shocked to see them make me run a lap just because they read something wrong.”
“you don't get babied there anymore, aww,” mina cooed in sarcasm. “anyways, i know that the car is definitely in deep shit right now for us, so, it's good that you moved there.”
“hey, don't say that,” you deny. “but then, i don't think it's time for me to be a champion yet.”
“it's not you who'd determine that, though, stupid,” mina lightly budges at your arm. “it's the race that does, and you know damn well that you're beating the race even if it means to put a carbon fibre part in your skull.”
“i think everyone does,” you sigh, looking blankly at your drink. “we're not here for a good time. we're here simply to win.”
“jesus,” mina scoffed. “look, i'm doing all of these as a hobby. i’ve only seen a few people be like this with racing, and there's only two of them. you and momo. always talking about the same shit— i'm here to win. you think the same even if you don't get along and that kinda scares me.”
“what…?” you then stared blankly at her as she just nodded at affirmation.
“can i get a sazerac, please? and can you please add a little bit more of the lemon zest? thank you!” you heard a familiar voice order from your back, and mina just full on smiled at you.
mina just tapped your shoulder as she stood up with her drink, off to someone else, “there's your answer.”
you looked down at your own drink. it was a sazerac with a little bit more lemon zest. you think it's a good way to lessen the strongness of the bitters and the cognac.
“oh,” momo sighs deeply, knowing that you were beside her. “good evening, y/n.”
trying to be civil and playing it safe? “good evening too, hirai.” you reply with a smile as you take a sip of your drink. you saw the bartender finally completing hers and you watched her take a sip.
“look,” momo looks directly into your eyes— showing you the littlest, slightest scowl, but her ears tell a different story. it was beet red that you were a tiny bit afraid that all her blood was pumping only in that one part of her body. “i'm not trying to be friends, but,” momo sighs deeply, once more. “i hate being in front of newspapers and these people tell me that i have a bad attitude.”
you scoffed and took a sip of your drink, “what does that have to do with me?”
momo deeply sighs, completely facing you now. “you're the new shining thing. you have all the spotlight from all the media people, and you have their eyes, ears— literally everything locked on you the moment you're on track.”
“do i have to repeat that again, hirai?” you then looked at her once more, half scowling at her at this point. “what does that have to do with me?
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momo thought about it until she tucked herself to her hotel bed. she doesn't know anymore.
she doesn't know if she'd feel guilty for treating you badly since that karting race when you were twelve, impeding her advancements to the scaglietti driver program that you rejected, that one overtake in the japan f4 cup, that one crash in f3, and your crash in f2. she has a list in her mind on how she hates and grieves your presence on how she was literally formed because you were beating her.
you sure know how to create warfare in momo's head. she couldn't sleep well that night.
“jesus fucking christ,” you tucked your pillows between both sides of your ear, trying not to hear the noises coming out of your teammate and bestfriend's room. “please stop, my god …”
more sounds came out of the other side, trying to make you uncomfortable in your bed.
the only way is to get out, so you went out of your room, still hearing them in the hallway until you reached the elevator.
you sighed, finally escaping from the noises and you pressed the button to the cool, high place, the top of the hotel. it was nice, windy, and the greenery spread all around, making you calm.
you went and took a rest on one of the padded benches, closing your head eyes but not fully sleeping.
you thought of how momo approached you, surprisingly a little friendlier, like she's really willing for a change. you really were no stranger to change, as you've been recreating and dying for yourself to create another version of you for another day, for other people to fit their needs and preferences.
you think about how adorable momo was when you were younger, karting— her hair held up by sanrio hair clips before she gets on her helmet, and she stomps after getting at the podium for a second place. you know she absolutely hates losing, but that's exactly why she hates you. you're the reminder of her loss, her guilt, and her dissatisfaction in everything.
you sighed as you took a look at the countless stars of the night sky, wishing that you two just grew together normally. like how you and sana did. momo was a constant in every step of your career too, she did well with sana, but how come that she didn't even spare her meaningful conversations with you? how come she can't share her victories with you? how come she didn't want to be in the same space with you yet continued to reach for her dream?
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the next day was qualifying day, and you got up extra early. you savoured on your iced latte while reading some data gathered from the practices yesterday. then you suggested changes from your highlighted, printed out, tabbed fia rulebook (1, because you're a damn nerd; 2, you don't wanna break the rules; 3, you needed to beat their ass if ever they charge you for something ridiculous. it's better to be safe than sorry.)
the moment you changed into your race suit after a couple of interviews, you saw daehyun already suited up right in front of the garage, talking with her twin sister, dahyun.
“good morning guys,” you said to both of them from behind. they were watching the first few guys try out the track for practice already. “oh, good thing that you are both wearing your suits, or else i would have trouble telling you apart.”
“i'm taller though,” hyunnie mentions. “dahyun's a teeny tiny bit smaller.”
“shut up,” dahyun laughs. “anyways, goodluck to you two today,” dahyun gently pats her sister's shoulder and yours. she looks at you, “especially you, rookie.”
you smiled widely, “thanks.” you watched as dahyun waved goodbye before coming back to her team's garage. the integra team, where dahyun is at, is known for their humility and strength— and you're just so shocked at how dahyun contains all of it.
“how come you two don't fight?” you asked hyunnie as you went inside the garage.
“hm,” hyunnie smiles. “we fight only on track because we're sportspeople. not at home, not at parties, not at the dinner table since we're siblings and friends. the only time we got in a big fight was when dahyun crashed our father's car and drove crazy drunk.”
“people,” you repeat. “yeah…”
“you're blanking out, dude,” daehyun laughs, handing you over your gloves by hitting it playfully on your chest. “you go first, team orders.”
“ah, why,” you whined, removing the case of your helmet. “you go first, i was sleep deprived because of you!”
hyunnies eyes went wider, “what.”
“i’ll tell you later.” you teasingly showed her your tongue out then you put on your blue balaclava to cover your face, then your helmet.
you then went inside the car, and started it with the help of the crew getting your steering wheel. they checked everything from breaks, to temperature, to speed, to limits, to literally everything before they gave you the go signal to be on the track for testing.
a couple of teams had already completed their own session, and you were told that you could be sharing the track with scaglietti as they had 2 more laps left. there was no problem as the pace between this car and scaglietti was impressive, as your race engineer said through the radio that you'd gain a whole second after several laps.
“5 laps for you,” lewis, your amazing race engineer, says on the radio. “5 laps for you, y/n. pace increase in the first lap. pit lane exit cleared.”
“i understand, lewis,” you said at the radio, exiting the pitlane safely, starting your lap. “what's the fastest one here?”
“scaglietti's 1:31:23,” lewis clarifies as you make a turn. “it's set by chou.”
“great,” you chuckled, although lewis couldn't hear that on his end clearly as you were driving through your first sector. “what's my expected fastest?”
“1:29,” he says. “the car can push up to 1:29, y/n.”
“that's on medium tyres, right?” you clarified, as you know that on simulator, the car could run way more than 1:29, and it is on soft tires when you tried it out.
“we tested with kim last night and she said that her best lap time is 1:29 on mediums,” lewis says. “tyre degradation is minimal for the first sector, expect the tyres to be warmer on lap 2.”
you were already at the last turn of the first lap, and you throttle fully on the straight. you were focused in getting that 1:29, but the radio breaks out and says, “hirai from jyp is going to share the track with you for your last two laps,” lewis says. “hirai is going to share the track with you.”
“oh hell no,” you sighed under your breath, not even caring if your voice was heard through the radio or not (you surely hope that it wasn't, since the team records all radio for the duration of the races) “what's jyp’s predicted lap time?”
“1:32 on hards,” lewis clarifies on the radio. “that could be lower though, since it was driven by park on the data they've given.”
“oh,” you descend. “right, okay. i’ll try to make the lap time.”
“push as much as you want,” lewis says. “the car can take it.”
lewis wasn't wrong in any way, the car could take it. it was good and smooth on the corners, even on the hards, but there's a bright blue car, lined up with strips in chrome, flying by your side as you finish the lap.
“1:29:22,” lewis said over the radio once more. “box, box now, y/n. session finished.”
you sigh as you went to the pit lane, returning the car to its original place in your garage now that hyunnie was set to exit. you went out of the car, immediately taking off your helmet and the blue balaclava underneath.
“how’s the laps?” you asked your engineer, watching closely at the current world champion’s car gliding fastly on the track.
“it's as predicted, y/n,” he says. “the simulation did well at the temperature degradation as well, but be careful of the dirty air intake on the second sector during the actual race.”
“okay,” you also watch the car on the screen, it's a live feed from the ones in cable, and you see that momo is doing really well on the straights, gaining much more speed as much as you did (you assume). “how's hyunnie doing?”
“oh, well,” lewis looks at the other data board, and checks on with sebastian, hyunnie’s engineer. “you two are the same on the 1st and 3rd sectors, but kim is getting dirty air intake on the second sector as hirai’s ahead.”
you cursed under your breath, “fuck.” you're fucked. momo was a champion way before you stepped flat out on the pedal and worked your laps around. she's not in any less team than scaglietti, and you might just think that she just took all the talent out of jyp to set a stunning 1:28:12. A whole second in front of you.
that's something momo does. she's always been ahead.
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that leads you to a spot on the grid, front row, but it sure is annoying to see that smug face just show on screen as she puts on her helmet for the race. you saw her as you were reviewing the strategy for the race today.
but despite all the anger, you can't deny that momo was an attractive entity. underneath that bright pastel pink and purple helmet was a woman with such a strong will to win. that image of her plunging in the ice bath, only in her compression underwear pops in your head. (you saw it on their social media okay, it's not something to be guilty about.) but you wriggle your head side to side still, brushing off the thought.
a formation lap later, your heart beats a thousand times more, and your throat gets a little stuck as you see the same red lights that indicate the start. this was it. you are so ready to see it.
and finally, “lights out and away we go!”
it felt like you're in the right place, playing the right game as on the first corner, you nearly overtook momo. but she won't let you do that and didn't even break a sweat.
it was safe to say that you're given a little bit of caution since you are a rookie, same thing with tzuyu on fifth, as it was said that she was keeping the other positions captive in their states as she was conducting a drs train. pretty impressive defence, but what's more impressive is that momo's on her 17th lap out of 57, and she's not even bothering to box.
better late than sorry, you go to the pit lane to get your overly worn set of soft tires into medium ones, just like what you practised last time and set the fastest lap time.
in the 52nd lap of the race, you and momo were chasing each other, quite literally, as she was going wheel to wheel with you. it has been going on for a few couple of laps already, and momo's worried that if the cars could talk, they'd already be best friends.
“let her pass,” lewis commanded over the radio. “just a teeny tiny bit, y/n.”
you just hummed and braked late on the next turn, making momo purposefully go ahead. you sacrificed a few milliseconds to gain a whole couple of seconds to push the whole car in the straight sections, and approaching that turn in front of momo locked in your chance to be the future world champion for the season.
“fuck,” you hold onto the steering wheel ever so tightly as you turned, just grazing behind momo's tires, going ahead of her. “did i do it?”
“smoked a little but you're in p1,” lewis says. “p1 is secured, go flat out.”
you were handed the mic as you fitted your cap, “how does it feel like to be the first winner of the season?”
“ah,” you smiled. “of course i'm very thankful for the team, to daehyun who kept her place defending, and for lewis keeping me in check for the whole race. thank you for the gochiya skyline team for guiding me on this journey.”
“that’s such a great thing for you, y/n,” the interviewer complimented. “you had an amazing drive from the last laps that you encountered on the track. it was a genius and smart race. what more could we expect from you in the future?”
“some more great racing,” you chuckled. “and some more wins, maybe even a championship if the races let me.”
momo, on the other side, tried to put on a face— one that smiles, but you just know the side of her lip was twitching to frown and launch at you when you went up the podium and received your trophy and medal.
momo couldn't sleep that night.
she hates that she has to see that smug little smile on your face after you knew you won over her, she hates the way you pop the champagne gently, careful to not spray her so hard, and how your hand brushed on hers kindly when you said your little ‘congratulations’ in your soft voice.
she hates that you fill her head ever so dearly like she doesn't feel guilt when she sees you.
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“what do you mean you heard us last night?” sana argues, laughing as you two made your way to the hotel elevator going to your floor. you had a couple of drinks with your best friend at the bar, and had a little celebration as well.
“sorry i have ears,” you jokingly plug your ears with your fingers. “you owe me those earplugs. i didn't know that you two were an … item.”
sana laughs. “what, you sincerely thought that i was fucking around with that jimmy choo model i told you?”
“i mean, she's hot,” you commented. “and definitely your type, so, who am i to question. but hyunnie?”
“yeah, why,” sana raised her eyebrow at you, suspecting. “she’s also hot and good at everything, especially in be-”
you rolled your eyes in sarcasm, “oh shut up,” you whined. “i don't need to know that.”
“hyunnie and i were talking about something last night,” sana laughs as you two go out of the elevator as you've reached your floor. “we kinda are still on that ‘y/n and momo would kiss someday’ agenda, but please hear me out,” she sighs, standing in front of you as she knows you'd deem it ridiculous and look at her with your eyes rolled upwards, showing your utter disgust. “we remembered momo literally smoked someone from vantage last year just because she didn't like them. that's why they played the villain card on her in the stupid documentary. but then, the guy's really just ass and mina complained about him too so, point valid…”
you looked at her, grounded her by holding her on her shoulders, “minatozaki, please tell me what you're trying to say.”
“yeah, right,” she then snaps back. “if she really didn't like you, she wouldn't even bother to save face or be civil with you. even though i was all up and cuddly with hyunnie last night, i saw you two. momo has never made a move like that because she doesn't like begging, and you know that too.”
“maybe she's just helping herself, you know,” you chuckled. “it's really not that deep.”
“you're so…” sana hits you lightly. “you've been so empathetic with me but how come you can't see through momo?”
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you thought about that for days on end. how come you haven't seen through momo like you did with everyone else?
maybe it's the time, maybe it's the banter, or maybe, you're just too deep in thought when you're facing her. you're even so shocked when you realized just how self conscious you are around momo— you're hyper aware of how you look, if your clothes look decent, or if you smell good. like you're having a little crush.
it was already mid-season. you and momo were alternating from winning races. it was so funny because the fans say that you two give up each other's places so that you could create an alternating pattern, but that isn't really the case.
“ah, i'm really going crazy,” you sighed, finally taking a hit with your golf club after contemplating. you went out with jeongyeon, a fellow racer from the estrella racing team, and her teammate, nayeon. “i mean, you two know i've been doing really well, but i don't know. i can’t sleep and all.”
nayeon straight up laughs after taking a shot as well, the ball flying to the air, back to the ground, “sana was right, you are silly.”
you looked at them, puzzled as jeongyeon laughs with her wife, wrapping an arm around her waist. damn, they were even in sync leaning back as they laughed.
“you're just like her,” nayeon points to jeongyeon. “that's what she said exactly to me when she confessed.”
jeongyeon then finally stops throwing a laughing fit and puts a grounding hand on your shoulder, “maybe you two need a moment. like an actual talking moment. there's something to unpack between the two of you.”
you get antsy just thinking of it. maybe it was really something you needed, something you craved, but you just can't bring your mouth to say it.
────────────────⋆⋅🏁⋅⋆───────────────
being in formula 1 isn't just about the racing, of course, it's also a lifestyle. now, you figured it isn't easy to get out of momo's sight. you basically have the same social circle, and every single break between races, there's got to be a time where you parked beside each other, sat close to each other, talked to a common person, got the same drink, and said the same things.
“you act like you can't see me.” momo laughs silently, taking a sip of her drink. it was a night before going off to the race, and surprisingly, you also live at the same compound as her, and you were itching to get a drink. that's why you're at the local bar.
“just didn't want to bother you,” you sighed, getting more comfortable on your barstool as you ordered another drink. “you told me that, right? you don't wanna be bothered.”
“on the race, yes,” she sighs. “what, you wanna race me here too?”
“oh, no,” you laughed, immediately dismissing the idea. “i can’t go home shitfaced. i still need to pack my things.”
“you really are a crammer,” she mentioned. you looked at her, quite puzzled at how she knew about it. “sana told me, you know.”
“what,” you then turned to her, meeting the pool of her deep dark brown eyes that matched her leather jacket. “why?”
“i- um-,” she scratched the back of her nape as you observed the slight tinge of red shading the back of her ear. “visited you, when you crashed.”
“oh,” you uttered, holding your breath under your tongue. “um, well, thank you.”
“no need,” momo chuckles. “i'm the one who needs to thank you.”
you asked, “why?”
“nothing.” she shyly looks away from you once more and takes a drink. “aren't you scared?”
you looked at her, seemingly shocked at the question, “of what?”
“crashing,” she mused. “we're off to belgium and i guess you're quite sca-”
“i am,” you claimed, smiling as you looked at her. “i'm scared that i might do one split second decision that could absolutely ruin the whole race, the whole season again.”
momo turns to you again, “you're not afraid of dying?”
“a little,” you take a sip of your whiskey as you contemplate. “i would be more worried about the people blaming themselves, though. some of them don't know that i'm thick skulled and i want to do everything including the risks,” you said. “that one in spa isn't yours, it never was, so never feel guilty about it now that you've seen me.”
her eyebrows clinched together in the middle of her forehead, and her lips turned into a mocking smirk, “what?”
“you know it,” you return the same smirk at her. “that's why you're trying to be nice, aren't you? that's why you're working your ass off trying to tell me about the weather when we're on track, trying to pair up with me in those silly little games that the marketing team says. momo, you don't need to deny. i don't want you to feel guilty for me.”
“who the hell are you to say that i feel guilty because of you?” she scoffed.
“you reek of it,” you held her wrist, making her look at you. “and i hate to see it. you weren't this cautious with me before, momo. i hate that you have to sacrifice your breaks, your speed, just because you don't want the same thing happening. i want you to fight.”
she catches the lump in her throat and gulps, the rim of her eyes threatening to spill the tears, “i can’t do that anymore.” she removed your hold on her wrist and ran away to the door of the bar.
you then leave several bills on the table, letting the bartender know that you're leaving too, and you chase momo, who was just running a few blocks away.
you then start your car, pulling up and honking the horn as you roll down your window. “hirai!” you called out.
she then stops on her tracks, sitting down at the nearby bench. her eyes were bloodshot in tears, and you immediately came to her, taking her in the car.
you swore under your breath as you pulled out a box of tissues in your glove compartment, handing it to her as you reached out for her seatbelt.
“i'm sorry,” you sighed as you continued to drive, and momo wipes off her tears. “i, um-”
“i know,” she chuckles. “you're guilty too, huh?”
“i guess it's just fair to say that,” you said. “mind telling me?”
“about what?”
“how you've been, since that day.”
“well,” she sighs. “guilty. like by a lot,” she laughs. “i shouldn't have let you. sana wanted to get you away from it but she was that much of a tolerator that she wouldn't mind crashing with you.”
“ah, well,” you paused for a while, greeting a red light as you thought. sana did talk to you about it, but she ended up getting upset with you as well before the race. “we actually fought.”
“oh,” she laughs again. “come to think of it, i should've collided with you during that practice, you know? that was a close call.”
you just nodded, it really was a close call as she was so aggressive with her drive that day.
“there's a lot we need to ponder on.” you sighed, lightening your grip on the steering wheel.
momo then looks at you, “wanna ditch the flight?”
that's how you ended up in momo's flat, playing mario kart and downing a couple cans of beer.
“no fair,” she pouts, seeing the result— it was wario who took the lead, and princess peach for the second. “i had the first place for like… most of the game!”
“it's all fair in mario kart,” you smirked as you stood up and looked at your watch. it was already 1:00am, and your flight to belgium with your team is at 3:00am. “i wish i could stay for longer but look,” you showed her the time on your wrist. “it’s a bit late.”
she then held your wrist, the one with the watch, seemingly not wanting you to leave just yet. “nice watch,” she laughs as she traces her fingers on the cold steel band of it. “it’s not late. come on, i didn't think you were this boring.” she then pulls you down again and hands you the blue nintendo switch remote. “just one more round.”
momo's one more round turned into two, to three, to four, and you didn't seem to mind the time anymore until you're bombarded with calls from your team manager.
“stay the night,” momo smiles as she takes the cans of beer with you to her trash can. “it's late anyway. plus, you won't catch that flight.”
“i know,” you laughed. “i’ll sleep on the couch.”
“no,” she insisted. “my bed is big enough.”
“alright,” you just nodded, as you were also getting caught on with sleep. “do you have like… a spare toothbrush though? i can't go to sleep with my mouth smelling like beer.”
“yeah,” she cackled and led you to her bathroom. “i keep these things if ever someone asks me to hand them over one.” she handed you a dental care set, complete with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a mouthwash in a small pouch.
“you're unbelievable,” your jaw dropped in just pure shock. you didn't know momo was this much of a girl scout. “you're ready for everything, huh.”
“of course,” she smiled. “just call me if you ever need anything else, hm?”
that night, you learned that: momo's a clean person and everything in her room was organised through and through, she likes to take the right side of the bed, and that she has trouble sleeping.
you've been lying on your side for what it seems like forever, and you don't even know why you can't sleep. you've shared beds with your friends for most of your life, most of them with the impeccable cuddle monster minatozaki sana, which you thought was the final boss when it comes to sharing beds.
but she says, “hey, aren't you asleep yet?”
“no, not yet,” you responded, still laying on your side. “i'm thinking of a good excuse.”
momo scoffed, “just don't. just tell them you'll book a direct flight to belgium.”
“that's rude.”
“it's not like they're gonna remove you out of the team,” she laughed. “if you really want it to be believable, try to lie. like your dog had an emergency or something.”
“i don't raise a dog on my own,” you then laughed and faced her side, surprised that she was also facing you. “they won't believe me.”
“then, tell them that you're with me.” she says.
“they're not going to believe that,” you grinned. “plus, i don't think that they'd take that as valid, you know.”
“then, what is?”
“i’d probably just tell them that i got something else to do.”
momo chuckles, “like what?”
“nintendo,” you laughed. “i mean, that's a valid enough reason, right?”
that's how you ended up with your limbs and arms tangled with momo's body.
you come to your senses as you feel a warm breath fanning your neck, and you slowly open your eyes into the morning light. you checked on your watch, surprisingly still there on your wrist, and it shocked you. it was already 12am.
it was 10:00 am, and yet the current world champion is cuddled up in her bed with you.
momo then grunts, stretching out her arms and legs but still keeping ahold of you by your wrist, and she opens her eyes, immediately dropping your hand and her hold.
“good morning?” you smiled.
“good morning,” she forces a smile back, immediately sitting down in nervousness? embarrassment? excitement? honestly, she doesn't know. she then clears her throat and asks, “slept well, rookie?”
“yeah, um,” you cleared your throat too and sat up, feeling the mattress beneath you. “you have a good bed.”
“you're lucky,” she stretches. “you're the first one to know that.”
what? “um,” you gulped. “sorry?”
“sana always slept on the couch when she comes over,” she chuckles. “i owe you breakfast, let's go.”
“and a flight,” you corrected and she nodded, making her way to her kitchen. “you'll cook?”
“of course,” she laughs, taking out some thickly sliced bacon, and some eggs. she saw you quite skeptical about her choice of breakfast, “why, would you like something else?”
“uh,” you thought for a little while. sliced bacon and eggs are exactly what you needed, but, “do you have some coffee?”
“yep,” she says. “if you'd be of some help, then you could make our coffee.”
you then nodded and she handed you over two mugs, getting ready for coffee as she heats a pan on her stove.
“ah, this is great,” momo says as she looks over her window, drinking her cup of coffee and eating her sandwich. “ever had a breakfast this great?”
“yeah,” you smiled. “in monaco, my hotel was just overviewing the whole city so…”
“i won that one though,” she teased. “how's the dnf?”
“awful,” you joked. “like really, it's my first race there and the engine suddenly fails me. that's pure unluckiness.”
“don't worry,” she comforts. “you'll stick around for a long, long time.”
“i know,” you chuckled. “unless i don't find the spark in it anymore.”
“same,” she then looks at you, bringing her cup of coffee down on her wooden table once more. “who do you think will win the race this week?”
you bat your eyelashes at her, “wanna bet?”
“oh, of course,” she laughs. “i’d bet $100 on you.”
“okay,” you then laughed too. “i’ll bet $200 on you, too.”
she looked at you, puzzled, “why?”
“you didn't say that i couldn't bet on you,” you sighed. “and based on the race status, you're ahead of me by several points, you won last week, then, it's just right for me to nominate you.”
she stretches her hand, “deal?”
and you shook it with yours, “deal.”
────────────────⋆⋅🏁⋅⋆───────────────
“y/n,” daehyun, back at the hotel, looks you in the eyes and sits in front of you. “why the hell did you come with hirai momo, and even riding the same plane as hers? and she even took you to her private pl-”
“yes, i know, but please calm down,” you held her by the shoulders and made her a little grounded so you could talk to her. “we sorted things out,” you sighed. “and it went well. we stayed up all night playing nintendo, so i missed the flight and she let me stay.”
“she let you what?”
you looked at her, puzzled. “let me stay?”
“did you kiss?”
“no,” you dismissed. “that's weird.”
“ah, fuck,” she sighs. “really?”
“yes, really,” you said. “please don't be weird about it. she's trying to really change for the better, you know?”
she smiles and stood up, “yeah, alright, i get it,” she said. “lewis is so pissed with you though, good luck with that.”
hyunnie wasn't lying. your race engineer called you unprofessional the moment you step at the team garage for the day, but you sorted it out by saying you had to attend to something personal. (in this case, the personal was playing nintendo with the current world champion, but you didn't say that part because he didn't ask for it anymore.)
friday came and practices were on. you worried as it was your first race in this car with this weather— surprisingly cold and overly wet. the track was wet, the seat inside of the car was wet, and everything just slid. just like before your crash.
the fear creeps up through your veins, but it doesn't let you not hold onto the wheel. you raced, as promised and as dealt with in your bet with momo. you don't want to lose a couple of hundred dollars because of her.
it rained on the track heavily over the weekend. you successfully finished and secured a pole position for the sunday race, with momo taking place just behind you on the grid in third.
“44 laps, y/n, we're opting for a safe plan a,” lewis says over the radio. “keep your tires guarded and we'll do two stops if needed.”
“okay,” you said. “is the rain expected to worsen during the race?”
“not exactly,” lewis confirmed. “but expect it to seem a little heavier on laps 22 to 34, since the downpour is expected to be harder on those parts.”
“got it,” you said. “careful and fast.” you repeat to yourself until it was lights out.
two things were on your mind during the race: one, is that the rain will get worse and potentially knock people off the track so you're extra careful, and two, why was hirai momo so damn slow?
in lap 29, the rain started pouring harder, but you continued to lead. as expected, the tyres held on for longer as it wasn't that hot nor too slippery, and it feels as if you're just gliding on the ground.
“box, box.” lewis says on the radio, and you immediately put the button ‘okay’ to pit.
you enter the pit lane safely, but you saw a huge spin off just not so far away from the pit exit. it wasn't a crash (thankfully), but it was a spin-off causing drivers to pass by that leading driver.
“who's that?” you asked over the radio as you exited the pit lane safely.
“it was hirai,” lewis updated. “nothing too serious, no calls since she re-entered the track.”
“okay,” you said. your heart skipped a beat the moment you heard her name, but then, you're just glad that she's back on track. “am i still p1?”
“yes,” lewis confirms. “expected to keep p1 till the end of the race.”
you then wondered, “who's behind?”
“hirai,” lewis says over the radio. this is where it starts. “team ordered to switch. watch out for eau rouge.”
“got it.” you confirmed over the radio.
────────────────⋆⋅🏁⋅⋆───────────────
“what the hell, hirai?”
“don't what the hell at me,” she guilty hangs her head down, sitting with her legs apart at the cool down area. you didn't care if the cameras were on you, or if someone just came in, but you were so mad that you couldn't even get yourself to take the ‘1st’ cap on your head. “i was just trying to not cr-”
“please don't do this here,” sana, after successfully overtaking for the third place, mediates the hot headed arguments. “let's just get this done and go home, okay?”
“okay, sorry,” you stepped down from that attitude and fixed your cap on your head. “it's just tha-”
sana interferes as she pushes her pointer finger on your chest, “save it.”
this is the first time you've ever received a trophy where you felt awful. not because you were upset with a fellow driver, but because it feels like a repayment for guilt.
you went back to the hotel with a heavy heart even after celebrating with your team, but you still can't tuck away that feeling— one rooting from the unjustified move from hirai momo, breaking and not taking the chance to fight for the position that you had.
she was about to do an overtake just after the eau rouge, but she didn't even try to fight, causing her breaks to lock up, but she was quick to recover to second place. you think it's entirely stupid, yes, she doesn't want to crash into you, but then she did that without thinking of the other drivers behind her. you knew that there would be a significant lag to recover after locking up, which had you worried about that move.
momo: meet me here
📍tavern solo, stavelot
you: why would i?
momo: free drink?
you: i could buy one myself.
momo: i've got your hundred dollars and an explanation. isn't that enough?
that was the momo you know. never backing out even after saying no. on the way to the bar, it was cold, and your hands were nearly freezing when you saw momo at one of the tables, waiting patiently as she looked outside, two drinks ready on the table.
“hey,” you sighed, taking the seat in front of her. “was i late?”
“no,” she smiles. “i’m sorry,” she says. “i know you wanted to have a good race and i rui-”
“i understand,” you sighed once more, a little deeper as you sipped on the cocktail. “you just wanted us to be safe. i get it.”
“but still,” she refutes. “that's so unsportsmanlike from me.”
“well, yes,” you chuckled. “there's always a next race to catch.”
“i want you to fight even if it makes my head fly to your lap, y/n!” she suddenly screams, shocking you and other people in the pub.
“momo,” you suddenly went and held her by the shoulders to ground her. “i know it's upsetting but,” you said. “do you trust me?”
“um,” she thought for a while. “yeah…?”
“okay, great,” you chuckled. “you have your car with you?”
“no, my hotel's close by.”
“great,” you then held her wrist, dragging her outside of the pub. you were careful and stopped in front of your car, opening the door for her to sit down. “get inside.”
momo's just in shock. she's fine with trusting you, but, she's conflicted. for all she knows, you could've taken a blow on her stomach or something (it's definitely going to be or something) but she also knows that you're a good person.
she intently watched you as you went to the driver's side, carefully sitting and starting the engine. she realizes it wasn't her first time inside this car. you were known to take this car on cargo with the team's. it was a nissan r34 skyline, beautifully detailed in metallic blue (she thinks it's your favorite color), with a twin turbo inline six engine.
“well,” you say, clearing the air a little. momo can't hide the fact that she was tense. “do you need the ac to be a little higher?”
“no,” she hesitated. “actually, yes, please…”
“okay, if this helps you to relieve,” i sighed. “i'm gonna pay a visit to one of my old friends.”
“and…?”
“he owns a karting track,” you laughed, seeing momo sigh in relief. “if you thought i’d kill you, well, i should've done that way, way back.”
“why didn't you?”
“was there a valid reason?” you ridiculously say. “i mean, apart from anything else that we've been through, i don't hold any grudges from that.”
“well, okay,” she chuckled. “why take me there?”
“show me just how much you wanna beat me.”
“why?”
“i just wanna see,” you laughed. “and i told you. never feel guilty for what you've done before. give me all you've got, ‘kay?”
“okay.”
a few minutes (and a few awkward stares and silences) later, you've arrived at your friend's karting track. as expected, there were no other people who were karting as it was already past midnight, just the lights open, and a person with a towel covered on their face.
“mick,” you called out. “mick!”
“oh,” the guy quickly removed the towel, and immediately fixed his hair to look at you, processing what he was seeing. “oh! hey,” he stands, finally getting out of his desk and greets you with a hug. “been a while since i've seen you here. won the race?”
“definitely,” you smiled. “what have you been up to?”
“oh, you know,” he smiles. “someone's got to keep the place’s lights on.” he pointed at the lights of the karting track. he's runs it with his dad, who was also his mentor and a great mentor to other young racers as well.
“no i mean,” you said. “racing gigs.”
“wec, wrc, heck even indycar teams were calling me,” he sighs. “but i don't think i'm ready for that yet.” he confirms, looking to your left. “ms. hirai!” he comes over to shake her hand, happy as he can be. “i'm mick,” he introduced. “part owner of the track and y/n’s friend from vantage!”
“nice to meet you,” momo partly smiles. “you look familiar. have i met you somewhere?”
“oh, right,” he says, remembering the instances where he passes by momo. “we competed together in the junior karting series. i entered the formulas a year after you two though, so i think that's it?"
“oh, that explains why.” momo says, and you nod.
“okay,” you clasped your hands together, bringing the attention to yours. “i told you we'd race, right?”
“yup.” momo nodded.
“then,” you took her wrist again, now walking slowly towards the helmet and suit section. “gear up.”
momo then changes into a fitting racing suit as you do so too, and she puts on a pink helmet, while you put on a red helmet to match the suit.
mick guided you through the controls of the kart (even though you two were very much familiar with it already) as a precaution, and you two started a lap to determine who'd take the lead on the opening.
you were off to a good start, and momo was pushing hard as well, which was predicted. you wanted her to fight and she gave you exactly that.
not only did she lead that opening lap, but after 40 laps, she did dominate the hell out of you in the kart. you didn't think it was a whack, of course, she's still momo— 2 time world champion, three, possibly if she doesn't fuck it up (which is very unlikely, because she's just that good).
“oh, man,” you threw yourself onto the grass of the open spot between the track after your little session, breathing loudly as you sighed, taking the spot beside momo. she hands you over a cold bottle of water. “thanks,” you smiled in comfort, finally feeling the bottle's coldness as you finished the race. “feel better?”
“you bet,” she laughs. “how about you?”
“hm, feeling great,” you smiled, looking up at the stars. it wasn't any different from what you've seen from any part of the world, but it was a great sight to see. “wow…”
momo shot up her eyes to the sky as well, watching the clouds thread through it and the stars shining its familiar light.
“i have a weird question,” you say. “do you think there are other people much crazier than us when it comes to racing?”
“everyone on the track is,” momo laughs. “you just pay attention to the ones who you're really close with in competition.”
“hm, makes sense.” you then turn to her side, admiring her as she looks at the stars.
she turns to you, admiring your eyes and how it slowly droops to match your little pout, “you tired?”
“a bit.”
“rest,” she taps on her shoulder twice. “don't worry, i won't hit you in your sleep or something.”
still, you were suspicious. “you sure?”
she just nodded and pulled you to her side, slowly guiding your head to lean on her.
you laughed and just succumbed at her warmth as you wrapped your arms around her waist comfortably, the peach scent of her shampoo lacing you into a deep, peaceful and fulfilling nap.
[mick-ey schumi sent a photo]
mick: you two look cute…
you: shut it please
mick: you bet i won't
this is louvre worthy
you: ??? shut up
mick: told you, you bet i won't
sana was right
maybe you two should kiss
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