[ While Cloud does his best to keep up, let alone close the gap, despite what he does gain on the other couple as his momentum builds, it's ultimately a case of "too little, too late". Especially when Tartaglia pours on the juice on the final stretch. Any quicker and it'd feel like he was splitting the wind around him, it feels like! As impromptu as this was, now there's a part of him that was curious... Without their girlfriends on their back, just how fast could this guy really go? How hard can he hit? Cloud wasn't as hungry for battle as the Harbinger was, but that didn't mean he wasn't damn good at it— or against sharpening his skills every chance he can get.
But in the end, as he skids across the finish line, the burn in his calves and thighs would have lead to spasms if his body just wasn't built so different. Right now, his head was pounding, but not with any pain. A thrum rolls through his body as he finally lets out an exhale, watching on as Childe and Yoimiya celebrate their triumph.
Deep breath. In through his nose. Out his mouth in a long, almost-whistled blow before he kneels down to allow Ayaka to find solid ground. Wobbly as she was, Cloud wasted little time in turning around, still kneeling in front of her as his larger hands hold her waist to keep her steady. Then he's back to his feet, hands upon her shoulders when he asks, ]
You okay?
[ Pumping as this all was, it's clear where his priorities lied. Not that he imagines Tartaglia wouldn't put Yoimiya's safety first, either. But...
He spares a glance back over his shoulder back to the other couple, a hand slipping from Ayaka's shoulder while he turns around. Despite "losing", he still can't help but put up a little smile for the two. This was...honestly a day he wasn't going to forget easily. Not that he'd ever want to. ]
Way to make me eat my words. [ A beat. ] Good race.
[ He catches the shy little smile Ayaka offers him in his peripheral, turning his blue gaze to her as he returns the same gesture. The hand on her shoulder gives a little squeeze, as if to silently say that he's got her. Win or lose. ]
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But in the end, as he skids across the finish line, the burn in his calves and thighs would have lead to spasms if his body just wasn't built so different. Right now, his head was pounding, but not with any pain. A thrum rolls through his body as he finally lets out an exhale, watching on as Childe and Yoimiya celebrate their triumph.
Deep breath. In through his nose. Out his mouth in a long, almost-whistled blow before he kneels down to allow Ayaka to find solid ground. Wobbly as she was, Cloud wasted little time in turning around, still kneeling in front of her as his larger hands hold her waist to keep her steady. Then he's back to his feet, hands upon her shoulders when he asks, ]
You okay?
[ Pumping as this all was, it's clear where his priorities lied. Not that he imagines Tartaglia wouldn't put Yoimiya's safety first, either. But...
He spares a glance back over his shoulder back to the other couple, a hand slipping from Ayaka's shoulder while he turns around. Despite "losing", he still can't help but put up a little smile for the two. This was...honestly a day he wasn't going to forget easily. Not that he'd ever want to. ]
Way to make me eat my words. [ A beat. ] Good race.
[ He catches the shy little smile Ayaka offers him in his peripheral, turning his blue gaze to her as he returns the same gesture. The hand on her shoulder gives a little squeeze, as if to silently say that he's got her. Win or lose. ]