𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓 ˣ 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐃 | ᵃʳˡᵉᶜᶜʰⁱⁿᵒ, ᶠᵘʳⁱⁿᵃ

13: 𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨?

8k reads ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!

I'm very very sorry for the late update! I have a lot of drafts and had a whole "complete" one when I realized it looked off from the flow of the story so I had to make another one, which is this one _('ཀ'」 ∠)_

A lot of plot is ready ahead!

I thought this was going to be a short chapter like, maybe 3000 or 4 but holy heck—

5728 words (ーー;)

(Edited)
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"...You've never really made decisions for yourself," Navia muttered, eyes flicking up from her laptop. "You always just... follow my lead."

The rookie let out a soft sigh. "Well... your strategies work. Nothing's broken, so why fix it?"

"But is that really a reason?" Navia pressed. "You've never caused me any issues—if anything, I'm the one who messes things up."

It was frustrating, really, how effortlessly __ shrugged things off with that infuriating air of nonchalance.

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It was late at the hotel the Ferrari team had chosen for their stay. Most of the crew was fast asleep, catching what rest they could before flying back home—only to jet off again for the next Grand Prix in Mondstadt.

As usual, their two drivers were out at some lavish party.

And as usual, Navia Caspar stayed behind, tucked into the plush bed of her suite, her laptop balanced atop a pillow on her lap. With earbuds in and the moonlight casting a soft glow through the window, she was once again glued to race replays. This time, the post-Narukami circuits: Kannazuka and Seirai. Neither had been a disaster, but they weren't up to Ferrari's usual standard either.

Navia had been watching both races on loop since afternoon, and still—nothing. No inspiration. No strategy. Nothing that felt right.

She refused to let anyone else draw up tactics for __. That driver was her responsibility.

Most drivers had a distinct style that made strategizing easier. Take Alpine's Arataki Itto—chaotic and aggressive, his team naturally planned around mitigating the risks he brought. Furina, elegant and fluid in her driving, matched Arlecchino's level when she didn't let overconfidence get the better of her. That's where Emelie came in—always there to reel her back.

And then... there was __ Vargaz.

Utterly unpredictable.

She drove conservatively to support Furina, then—bam—pulled off a wild move out of nowhere that nearly warranted a steward investigation. Who drives with half their car off-track on purpose?

Navia had long since realized __ wasn't chasing victory. She was playing the long game—for Furina.

It made sense. Penalties meant little if Furina won.

Navia didn't know much about her driver, even though they were technically friends. __ always treated her more like a colleague.

She recalled a conversation they once had.

"Why'd you join Formula One if you don't care about winning?"

__ had looked at her like she'd asked the dumbest question imaginable. "Why else? The money."

At the time, it had seemed flippant.

But Navia remembered her muttering after a P4 finish at Narukami—complaining that her prize money had dipped.

Navia had noticed it on track too. __ would push recklessly just to cross the finish line. Not out of pride. Out of need.

But if she was that desperate for money... why throw it all away just to boost Furina's standings?