To be fair, Arata has prepared herself to get left behind. As much as she dislikes to acknowledge it, there is some truth in Bakugou's words. Her Praying Mantis quirk isn't suited for racing, and even if it is, she is still reluctant to transform. Shoto would be better off in this competition without her.
Her only regret is to drag Kirishima back to the audience seat with her, because Bakugou insists on having a race against Shoto with neither an advantage nor a handicap. She takes a deep breath and turns to make her way to the bleachers. What Shoto says next stops her on her track, though.
"No, she's with me. You can bring Kirishima."
"Hah, we will crush you!" Bakugou spews out a derisive laugh. "So, you really can't leave this extra out of sight just for a second, Icy-Hot. She is a handful, isn't she?"
Returning his death glare with an uncertain look, Arata chooses not to answer.
"Well, I have two hands," Shoto remarks, his tone as calm as ever. "And, don't treat her like she's below you just because she doesn't pick a fight with you. No one is obliged to respond to your hostile comments. Ignoring you is within her rights."
"What!? You bastard—"
"Bakubro, we'd better get to the starting line now!" Kirishima holds the angry blond back and mouths a silent "sorry" to his other friends. "Or we will have to wait for another round to pass!"
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Well, true to Kirishima's words, the current race has already started by the time the four of them reach the starting line. Anyway, it gives them a chance to ask about the rules and go over the provided vehicles, whose builds are pretty similar to each other except for their paint design.
Bakugou and Kirishima split from their group, strolling to the leftmost I-Kart — the one with color as bright as the blond's explosion. Meanwhile, Shoto and Arata pause in front of an I-Kart on the opposite end.
It has open wheels, Arata observes quietly, glancing at a huge 8 on the metallic blue shine. The frame is too thin to sit next to each other like on the plane, am I supposed to sit behind Shoto-san?
And… there's nowhere for smoke to come out. Does it use electricity instead of gas? I wonder how fast this I-Kart actually is.
"Get on," Shoto says, breaking her concentration, as he pats the front seat. "You should try the controls first."
"Huh? Why are you in the passenger seat?"
"You're the driver, Ara."
You've got to be kidding me. "Are you sure, Shoto-san? This is my first time..."
"Look at them." he points as she slides onto the front seat. "Kirishima will be the one driving. Bakugou is going all out. I have to hold him off if we don't want to get exploded right away. If you're driving, I can take the driving part off my mind and focus more."
"Is that so? Then, please pray that our I-Kart won't keel over as soon as the race starts."
Raising the corners of his lips in amusement, Shoto reassures her, "It shouldn't be that difficult. You only have three things to use: gas pedal, brake, and steering wheel. The rest is visual-motor integration."
"Easy for you to say," Arata mumbles, gingerly running her hands on the steering wheel and placing a little pressure to the gas pedal. "... Um... It doesn't work?"
"It will only be activated later, when we're going to race for real. Maybe we should ask the staff whether we can try it out pre-race or not."
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The next time they encounter Bakugou and Kirishima, it is on the starting line of the race. All ready and bundled up in protective suits and helmets, six I-Karts apart.
Arata's legs are stretched out under the I-Kart's chassis, prepared to stomp the pedals. Shoto is right behind her, sitting on the back seat, his hands gripping either iron handle on the sides.
"Remember, Ara." His helm muffles his voice, so he turns up his volume a bit. "Just stay in front of them, and I will handle the rest."
Aren't you putting too much burden on yourself? Arata wants to ask. But, even so, she isn't sure whether she will be able to help more than the driving aspect. So, she opts to stay quiet and nod.
"It's only a single lap, right? Strange, I remember every race I've watched had at least two laps."
"Yes. We don't need to pass the same track twice throughout the race. You only need to cross the finish line and it will be over. I think there will be road obstacles and other surprises, which are hard to be cleaned up without delay."
Lucky, Arata mulls over, her gaze on the asphalt track ahead of them. Shoto-san will be able to use his ice without thinking twice, as long as it doesn't hinder our own movement.
But, then again, perhaps I should've expected it. Bakugou-kun wouldn't challenge him if this race didn't allow Shoto-san to utilize his full power.
A light, cheery sound then rings through the stadium, announcing the start of their race out loud, "Welcome to I-Speed, where 8 I-Karts and their racers will compete to be the first to cross the finish line! As they race, obstacles and challenges will force them to push their quirks and skills to the absolute limit!"
"I hope I won't mess this up." A nervous laugh escapes Arata's lips as her grip on the steering wheel tightens. "I'll do my best."
"I know. Just focus on driving, Ara."
"We know you guys are excited for this, so we won't postpone it any further. Ready... Set..." the lady announcer shouts and flaunts a large flag. "Go!"
Without wasting any second, Arata immediately strikes her right foot on the gas pedal. The engine revs up and their I-Kart bolts, sailing onto the track without anyone in front of them.
It's weird, her stomach swirls uncomfortably as she steers a bit to the right, following the first right turn. Why aren't the others fighting for the lead? It's like they're waiting for something...
She dares not to peek behind, but when multiple sounds of explosion and screeching tires echo through the stadium, she can't help but think that whatever they're avoiding, it won't be worse than getting blown up by Bakugou. She feels thankful for the lack of wing mirrors, because those noises are enough to make her cower.
"Woo-hoo! This early in the race, but I-Kart 1 has rendered both I-Kart 2 and 3 out of commission! With I-Kart 8 in the lead, will they ever catch up and blow them up too?"
Lady Commentator, please don't encourage Bakugou-kun to do that to us...
"Or will I-Kart 8 get eaten by our very own Hungry Carrots first? Who says the one who has a head start will stay in the front for the rest of the race?"
... Wait, what?
As if on cue, several giant two-armed carrots pop out on the track a few meters before them. Having very little time to react, Arata hits the brake and slams the steering wheel to the left, very narrowly avoiding one Hungry Carrot.
The maneuver throws them into a tailspin, wheels screeching against the asphalt. It almost flings them outside the circuit, but somehow she manages to regain control a moment before it actually happens, albeit with much difficulty.
Damn, that one nearly gave me a heart attack! No wonder they all chose to stay behind, it's a strategic move from the experienced players!
"Watch it, Ara!" Shoto's warning rings from the back seat. "I-Kart 5 is approaching!"
Sadly, a smooth drive is just wishful thinking, as another Hungry Carrot swings its arm towards them. Arata grits her teeth and presses the gas pedal even deeper, trying to get out of its range in time.
"We're not going to make it! We've lost too much speed."
"Then, I will freeze the Carrot."
"No, don't!" Arata shouts over her helmet. "Freeze I-Kart 5! Let it get them instead!"
"... On it."
Their I-Kart bellows as it leaves behind a vehicle-shaped ice statue. The ones aboard on it cry out when the Hungry Carrot scoops them and swallows them whole.
Uh, I don't wanna even know about how that would feel, Arata cringes and accelerates even more, dodging other Hungry Carrots left and right as best as she can.
They have passed those carrots, but this is no time to relax. Just as Arata assumes they are safe enough, I-Kart 4 overtakes them from the left, its movement as vicious as a crashing wave. It rams into their I-Kart with a loud clank, attempting to shove them out of the track by force.
"Shoto-san!" Arata calls out in alarm, noticing the small sparks of fire flying due to the friction. The driver is extending a hand to her, weird mucus dripping from it. "Oh my goodness, this is so gross! Do something before the slime pools and sticks to the pedals!"
"They're really asking for it," Shoto bites out in irritation and shoots his ice to I-Kart 4's back wheels. It sends them whirring and slipping with a loud noise, and the kart spins lopsidedly before finally crashing into another kart behind it.
"Current positions! I-Kart 8 is still in the lead, having ultimately taken down two of their unlucky competitors. In the second place, I-Kart 7 is still struggling to get back on the race following I-Kart 4's crash into them—"
All of a sudden, the commentator's voice is cut off by a gaudy flash and a deafening sound of explosion. Arata can't turn her head to see for herself, but it sounds so near, so horribly close.
"— Correction! I-Kart 7 is no more. Rest in peace, buddies! Now, in their place, I-Kart 1 is catching up with the speed of a bullet. I-Kart 6 tries to flatten them with a jumbo hammer. Who wants to see some smash? Come on, bring down the hammer, aaand— Oh no, he missed! One more time, smash!"
Aren't Bakugou-kun and Kirishima-kun in I-Kart 1? Arata chews on her lips, concentrating on the zig-zag path ahead of them to put more distance. Sounds like they're in trouble. Is this really the end for them?
"But oh, I-Kart 1's driver turns the tables on them! He hardens his own body and chucks away their steering wheel like it's made of cheese! What a tough guy! That leaves I-Kart 8 and I-Kart 1 as the remaining racers! And, with the second stage in front of our eyes, who is to say they won't switch positions?"
"Ara!" Shoto yells from behind as a hint of metallic yellow enters her peripheral vision. "They're coming!"
Oh, no, Arata curses internally. The real competition has just started. Hopefully all of us can get out of this alive.