Rainbow Crush Isn't a Tsundere, and She'll Prove It, BAKA!!

by Kellster

First published

"Its not like I won this game for YOU, idiot!!" These are the words Soarin hears from Rainbow Dash a lot. Will Rainbow keep saying this forever, or, does she really mean it? ...answer's pretty obvious, honestly.

It's senior year in Canterlot High, and Rainbow Dash, one of the most athletic girls in school, wants to prove that she's not in love with Canterlot High's top male athlete, Soarin. With the help of Pinkie Pie, her best friend, the three progress through their remaining days as high school students.... or is it just the three of them?
Despite all the weird turn of events in Rainbow's life, she wants to prove one very important thing...

She is NOT a tsundere, baka!!

Senior Year, Class 3-1! It's not like the class is full of main characters or anything!!

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Ever since she was a child, Rainbow Dash has wanted to prove one thing: she is not interested in love, nor will she ever be. Some people would argue that she has a really troubling past about love, which explains why she's so tomboyish and always strives to be the best.

...but most people would argue that she's just a really big tsundere, and keeps saying that she's not into "girly" things to look like a "real athlete". This is more likely, of course. However, nobody can deny that if she really does fall in love, she won't admit it easily.

Being one of the top female athletes in school, Rainbow Dash has many admirers. She is also fully aware that a good amount of her fans are female, but overall, she doesn't actually care, as long as people think she's awesome.

But as "awesome" as it is having admirers, Rainbow Dash gets a lot of love letters and confessions. She always turns them down, saying that she doesn't know them well enough to date them. Even though she's never said it before, she's actually very sorry and feels guilty about breaking people's hearts. However, those with good eyes can tell that her reason for turning them down isn't completely true....

These thoughts circled around Rainbow Dash as she walked to school. This was her last year of high school, meaning she was a senior. Being a senior makes everyone below you your underclassmen, and they will treat you like Senpais. That gives them all the more reason to confess, since this is the last year they'll be seeing their upperclassmen.

Rainbow sighed. Not only does she have to focus on exams and winning soccer games, but she had to deal with students confessing their love. But she was never one to let a simple thing like lovey-dovey relationships get in the way of playing soccer, her favorite sport. She's a team player, and thinks.... no, knows that she's the best player in the team.

"Arrgh, too many things to think about..." Rainbow muttered to herself as she scratched her head. "Is this what my upperclassmen had to deal with last year...? No wonder they were always stressed." She let out a small chuckle, although it was most likely a sarcastic sanity-slipping kind of chuckle.

Just then, Rainbow heard a faint sound from behind. She turned around, but to find nothing... so she kept walking. But then she realized that she wasn't going insane just yet, and that the sound she heard were really fast footsteps getting closer by the second.

"Heya, Dashie!!!" A high pitched voice said. A short, giddy, pink-haired high school girl wearing a blue cardigan appeared right next to her. "Good morning! Hello!! What's up!!!"

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, but couldn't help but smile and laugh. "You only need to use one greeting, Pinkie Pie." She said, wondering how she caught up to her so fast. But then she remembered her friend was a really weird and strange person, and that she had impossible knowledge and super strength.

"Aww thank you!" Pinkie exclaimed, clashing her hands together in gratefulness. "But hey, what do you mean, weird and strange person!? I'm completely average!"

"What?" Rainbow said, confused. "Are you reading my mind again? I told you not to do that, it's creepy!!"

Pinkie giggled. "But it's fun~!" She started humming as she skipped her way to school. "Plus, I can't help it!"

Rainbow was really confused now, but shook her head and laughed with her. No matter how close you get to Pinkie, you can never understand how her logic works... unless of course she had a doppelganger.

Which Rainbow sincerely didn't want to happen. She loved Pinkie and all, but there was no way she could handle more than one pink energetic ball of insanity.

"A tad bit too late to say that, Dashie." Pinkie said.

Rainbow sighed again. Maybe she should think of something else now.


Slowly, the sidewalks had more and more students walking by it, rushing to school, excitedly catching up with friends, or simply wishing that they were in another pane of existence. Until finally, they had arrived at their destination.

As she listened to Pinkie's long, thorough, and extensive explanation of why every sweet treat to fall on the floor shall be mourned, Rainbow Dash opened her locker and changed from her indoor shoes to her outdoor shoes. As she closed her locker, she turned and noticed a familiar flash of blue hair pass by.

"'...forgive us for our sins, give us this day our daily cake', something like that should be said..." Pinkie babbled on. "Are you even listening?" She asked, noticing that Rainbow was currently "afk". She waved not her hand, but wiggled her while body in front of her. Which technically should not be possible. "Anyone home???"

Suddenly, Rainbow snapped back into reality "Ah, sorry. 'In the name of the father of cupcakes and the cookie ghost, Amen', right?" She grinned, attempting to hide the fact that she was zoning out.

"No, no, no!" Pinkie pouted. "...well, you're right, but you weren't paying attention at all!" She pouted once again, making a somewhat cartoony face that suggested she was mad.

"Haha, okay okay, I'm sorry." Rainbow chuckled awkwardly. "I was just distracted when I realized that this is the last year I'll be able too see all these familiar faces." The two continued walking to the school's announcement board, a short silence befalling upon them. "Woah, that was kinda depressing. Sorry." Rainbow said, trying to laugh off what she just said.

"Its ay-okay!" Pinkie ran off to the bulletin board. It had a large crowd of students around it, desperate to see whether they were put in the same class as their friends, whether their homeroom teacher was hot, or whether they were put in a class where they were able to relax and not be bothered by anyone.

"Hey, wait!" Rainbow yelled, running after Pinkie, who, despite her loud presence and noticeable poofy hair, seemed to blend into the crowd. "Ack, excuse me..." Rainbow muttered as she tried to push her way past the crowd. It was a bit of a struggle, but soon enough most students had already left to find their classes, and there was thankfully more to to breathe.

"There you are! Don't just disappear like that!" Rainbow said once she finally spotted her friend. "So, are we in the same class?" She asked scanning the board for her name. A large sheet of paper with a list of student names and their appointed classes was stuck unto the bulletin board.

"OhmygoshomygoshohmyGOOOSSSHHH!!!!!" Pinkie exclaimed, alerting all students around her. In fact, one would almost be sure she was able to wake up an alien alliance somewhere out there. "We're in the same class, Dashie!! We're gonna have SOO much fun together as seniors! This is perfect for all my plans!" As the students caught on to what was happening and moved on with their own lives, Pinkie continued squealing about random events she had seemingly planned several years before they had even met.

Rainbow chuckled, both happy that she got placed into a class that was filled with close friends, and because no matter how exhausting Pinkie may be, she had a very contagious smile. "Yup, we're in the same class!" Rainbow said. "Looks like our homeroom teacher is Ms. Cheerilee... I thought she taught elementary students?"

"Yes, but the author really wanted to make jokes about Ms. Cheerilee wanting in with Big Mac."

"What?" Rainbow asked. "What author?"

"Oh, nothing~" Pinkie whistled.

She skipped on to class, which Rainbow assumed she would do whether or not she understood what she meant. Rainbow let out one last sigh and followed after Pinkie Pie, not wanting to be late. That day had a lot of sighing.


Once Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie arrived at the classroom, it was already filled with several familiar faces. Thankfully, they made it in time before the teacher arrived. Rainbow usually sat at the back so she wouldn't be caught dozing off during class time, so she decided to follow her unhealthy habits.

But suddenly, Pinkie pulled her up from her seat and practically threw her unto the seat next to the window instead.

"Hey, what was that for!?" Rainbow asked, annoyed and confused. She didn't mind sitting somewhere else, since this new seat was also placed in the back, but she didn't have to pull her like that.

Rather than explaining clearly, Pinkie winked and said, "Main character seat!" She then proceeded to sitting next to her. "You nearly forgot that."

Rainbow closed her eyes and placed her head on the table, as if she wanted to fall asleep before the first class of the year even started. "You're spouting more nonsense than usual... do you have something planned?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Pinkie said, gesturing accordingly. "You should know by now, Rainbow Dash."

After a short silence, Rainbow noticed a shadow form in front of her. An eerily creepy face shrouded her vision.

"I always have something planned."

Rainbow's pupils shrunk as she watched Pinkie jump back to her seat, regaining her usual nature. "Or something like that!" Pinkie giggled before greeting the person sitting at the other side if her seat. Rainbow Dash had never been more grateful of Pinkie Pie's airheadedness.

"Alright, I know you're all excited, but settle down! Homeroom is in session." A familiar cheerful voice rang from across the classroom. Immediately all students rushed to their seats like mice hiding from a particularly hungry cat. After examining the room a bit, the woman smiled. "Good. Most of you probably know me already, but my name is Cheerilee! Please call me Ms. Cheerilee from now on." she said as she wrote her name on the blackboard. "I hope we all get along this year and-"

The teacher's speech was abruptly interrupted as the back door of the classroom suddenly opened. A tall boy with messy blue hair walked in with hands in his pockets. Realizing that all eyes were on him, he stopped. "Ah, sorry teacher. I didn't realize I was late." He explained, although most students could tell that he didn't really care that he was late. While others... were sighing and blushing.

Ms. Cheerilee cleared her throat. "Yes, of course. Please refrain from showing up to class late." She turned to the whole class. "That goes for all of you as well. Please be seated, Mr. Soarin. There's an empty seat in front of Ms. Dash over there."

Rainbow, who had been zoning in and out of class this entire time, suddenly woke up from dreamland after hearing her name. Fortunately, no one noticed. The next thing she knew Soarin was walking towards the seat in front of her. Once she finally processed what was happening, Rainbow snickered. "Show off. Probably just showed up late to have a 'grand entrance' or something like that..." She thought.

Just then, Soaring turned a little, feeling as if he was being stared at. Once Rainbow realized she was caught, she quickly averted his gaze. "W-what're you looking at?" She uttered, not wanting to be heard by anyone.

Soarin's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" He questioned. "You were the one staring at me like some creep."

Rainbow burst up. "Who are you calling a creep!?" She whispered loudly and furiously. "You shouldn't say those kinds of things to a girl, especially as a first impression!" Right now, Rainbow was sure that at least the students sitting next to them could hear what was going on, but didn't really care.

Soarin rolled his eyes and turned his head back to the board, not giving any signs of fighting back. Rainbow calmed herself and slouched back on her chair. She knew who this person was. Not just because Ms. Cheerilee literally just addressed him as Soarin, but because he's the top male athlete of the school. He's also the top male member of the school track team. Their coach, Spitfire, trusts him enough to watch over the team's exercises when she can't.

Rainbow Dash had always thought that Soarin was a cool guy and respected him for being so good at sports, but she didn't respect the fact that he gives a cold shoulder to anyone he marks as a nuisance, even if he had just met them. He's generally nice and friendly, but if you're seen as a threat.....

Rainbow groaned and rested her head atop her desk as she listened to Ms. Cheerilee going on about how, as seniors, they shouldn't waste any time in their last year's of adolescence, but shouldn't rush it either.


*RIIING!*

A loud, alarming sound woke Rainbow Dash up immediately. She shot up from her seat before realizing that the sound she heard wasn't the school bell, but in fact...

"Heeehee, you're finally awake!" Pinkie squeaked, taking her phone off of Rainbow's desk. The clock app was on. "Lunchtime started exactly 180.3625 seconds ago!"

Rainbow yawned as Pinkie sat back on her seat and took out her box of homemade mini cake rolls. "Ugh, thanks for waking me up.... it wasn't exactly a pleasant nap." She moaned, reaching for her bento. "Also..... You packed cake?"

Pinkie happily nommed on her sweet treat, literally letting out a "nom" sound. "Its the first day of school, and I just had to bake something extra special!"

"....But you always bake cakes. You work part-time at sugarcube corner." Rainbow reminded her as she broke her chopsticks apart. "Can I have some?" She asked, already reaching for a slice.

"Mmhmm!" Pinkie nodded, clearly not paying attention as she seemed to have flown over cloud 9..... And the cloud was made of cotton candy.

Rainbow took one slice of Pinkie's cake roll and popped it into her mouth. It was definitely delicious, as expected from Pinkie Pie. She grinned as she felt the sugary sweetness in her mouth....... now she understood why Pinkie looked so happy.

"Oh yeah, aren't you gonna talk about Soarin?"

Rainbow jumped, nearly spitting out the remains of her cake. Luckily, she managed to gulp them down while doing so..... although she nearly choked. "U-umm..... Why do you ask?" She asked, sitting back down and clearing her throat. "....plus, Soarin's literally right in front of us."

Pinkie made a funny face, as if trying to revive the old duck face meme. "So you'd talk about him if he wasn't around?" She questioned, closing the lid of her empty cake box. Then, out of nowhere, she started writing on one if those yellow notepads you see in detective shows. "Wait wait wait, let me wrote that down........ better gather my research........... noted! Proceed."

"W-wha-" Rainbow panicked, snatching the notepad away from Pinkie's hands. "Don't write down stuff I say without permission!!" She yelled, holding on to the notepad like it was a ticking bomb that would go off if she let go of it.

Pinkie frowned. "Rainbow Dash," she said, looking somewhat sad. But, instead of guilting her into it like any other person would've expected after seeing such a face, Pinkie beamed. "You should've said that when we first met!" She laughed, the notepad somehow back in her hands. Apparently, Rainbow was so caught off guard that her grip on the notepad loosened. "A bit too late to say that."

Rainbow moaned, but continued eating. There was no way she could avoid this topic, now that Pinkie is interested in it. "Why do you want me to talk about him, anyways?" Rainbow asked. If there was even the slightest chance that Pinkie didn't overhear her interaction with Soaring earlier, she didn't want to mention it.

"Because, didn't you talk to him in homeroom earlier?" Pinkie said, loud enough for anyone with ears could hear. "You seemed to be blushing, too- MMPH!"

Not even a second passed, but Rainbow was already standing up, sweating intensely, forcefully covering Pinkie Pie's mouth with both hands. "Shut up!" She whispered. "If you want me to say something so badly, you don't have to go and announce it to the world!!"

"Mmmphfm!"

"What was that?"

"Mmphphmmpffh!!"

"Oh," Rainbow sheepishly laughed as she let go if her. The students who researching decided to mind their own business at that point. She was a little scared to look, but Rainbow searched for Soarin out of the corner of her eye. She prayed the best prayer she could pray so that Soarin didn't hear a thing.

But surprise, he did! He was looking straight at the two girls as if he couldn't tell if they were living beings or robots designed to look like humans, but had really messed up AIs. He soon looked away, but was surely still listening in. There was no way he didn't hear his name in that conversation, right?


Rainbow sighed after taking a sip of the Apple cider she bought for her and Pinkie from the vending machine. She leaned against the wall and looked straight at her friend. "Okay, Pinkie. Can you please quietly tell me whatever weird stuff you wanted to hear from me?"

Pinkie sat on the bench across Rainbow Dash, drank a few sips of her strawberry, juice, placed it next to her, and nodded. "Okie dokie! But... why'd you take me all the way out here?" Pinkie then wore a smug expression on her face. "Is it because you awe embawwased?"

Rainbow blushed deeply, but tried to hide it by drinking more juice. It was obvious that she was drinking faster than usual. "No," She muttered. "Its because you're so damn loud. You know how many people could hear you?"

"I guess, but don't you just care because you like Soarin?"

Rainbow Dash flinched. A small clink sound could be heard. After a few seconds, Rainbow snapped back to her senses and looked down, realizing that she dropped her drink. She hastily bent down to reach for the now empty can of juice and threw it away, noticeably irritated. "Y-you must've gotten the wrong idea," She laughed, but was visibly red-faced. "I don't like Soarin or anything like that. He's a big douche is what he is!" Rainbow grunted, crossing her arms.

Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes with a smile. "Yup, keep telling yourself that!" She giggled, then took a chugged down her juice. "Anywhooooo, we should get back to class! I heard Ms. Harshwhinny gets pretty brutal when students are late!" She pranced up, throwing her empty juice box into the trash can. She then skipped off to class like always, as if they never had this conversation.


The school day was finally over. After several boring lectures (and sleeping through most of them), Rainbow Dash stretched her arms and legs, excited for her favorite part of school, if not one of the only things she liked about school. She hurriedly got up, not wanting to be late for her first soccer practice of the year. Pinkie was usually there to say goodbye before leaving for her part-time job, but for whatever reason, she wasn't.

Rainbow shrugged it off. Pinkie always had a weird hidden agenda up in her sleeve. Or maybe in her poofy hair. But whatever reason it was, Rainbow was sure that she probably just had to leave for a job emergency. Maybe. Hopefully.

But Rainbow Dash had no time to waste. She shook her head and left for soccer practice. Since she pretty much walked to the soccer field everyday after school and whenever she had free time, she had already memorized the fastest way to get there, the slowest way to get there, and even discovered a few shortcuts.

"Rainbow, you're here!" Cloudchaser, one of Rainbow's fellow soccer team members, called out to her. "We thought you'd died or something."

Rainbow smirked, opening her locker to change into her P.E. clothes. "As if I'd let a silly old thing called 'death' stop me from playing soccer!" She boasted. "Nothing can!"

"Uhh technically death can stop you from playing soccer?" Flitter, Cloudchaser's twin sister, joined in. "Unless zombification really existed? .......well, anyways, we should head out if you're done changing. We can't let those track team people overshadow us like last year!"

Rainbow slammed her locker shut. It made a louder sound than usual. "Right, definitely," She said, her teeth gritting. "Especially him."

The twins shared confused looks. Then they turned back to Rainbow Dash. "...who?"

"Him!" Rainbow exclaimed, as if they should know who she's talking about. "He really ticks me off.... he'll be sorry he ever dared to call me a creep....." And just like that, she stomped out the girl's locker room without another word.

Cloudchaser turned to Flitter. "She's talking about Soarin."

"Mmhmm."


The sun was particularly very bright that day. Sadly, the extra heat meant it was even more exhausting to exercise outdoors. If you pushed yourself too hard, there's that small chance you might pass out....... but there was no time to worry about fainting over a little bit of temperature problems. At least, Rainbow thought so. She wasn't about to back down, after being so furious about Soarin. The freshmen in her team were a little worried, but her teammates assured her them that Rainbow Dash was just being her usual self... although they only said that since they know from past experience that there was no stopping her..

It wasn't until an all too familiar voice was heard from a distance, and Rainbow Dash was already used to hearing this voice. She turned around as she wiped her sweat off with a towel. "Pinkie, I thought you left for work? And why didn't you tell me you'd be leaving? I was kinda worried..."

Pinkie scratched the back of her head. "Hehe, well, I guess I did. Sorry!" She then frantically fished for something in her pockets. "But I didn't have enough time, and I had to get this from the bakery...." Pinkie panted as she placed a small pink box onto Rainbow's hands.

Rainbow tilted her head as she examined the strange box. "What's this?" She asked as she was just about to open it.

"WAIT!!" Pinkie exclaimed, keeping the lid on the box. "Don't open it!!! Never open it! Pinkie Promise!"

Rainbow raised an eyebrow at Pinkie. "You know, the more this day progresses, the more suspicious I get of your schemes, Pinkie..." She said. "Can you at least tell me what's in it?"

Pinkie shook her head furiously. "No! Absolute no! No tell can do!!" She then rushed behind Rainbow and started pushing her towards the other side of the field, which was where the track team was. "Now, get going! Do the Pinkie Promise as I'm pushing you, 'kay??"

"H-hey, you don't need to push me!" Rainbow shouted, trying to escape from Pinkie's grip. "And where are we going!? If you tell me I won't open the box! Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!!"

Pinkie Pie sighed and let go off Rainbow, then suddenly appeared in front of her. "I have a teensy weensy favor to ask of you," She said, letting out an awkward giggle. "I need you to give this to Soarin for me. I can't do it, I have work. Bye!!"

Without even letting Rainbow say yes, Pinkie disappeared, leaving a dirt trail behind. "Wha- but- why- UGH!" Rainbow let out a bunch of sounds, trying to come up with something to say, but it was too late now. Pinkie had already laid a curse on her. A curse that will not be lifted unless she does what Pinkie wants. Under Pinkie's watch, it would be impossible to escape.... But the problem is, Pinkamena Diane Pie will always be watching.

Rainbow sighed. "Sorry, Cloudchaser, but can you cover for me?" She said with a pleading face. She clapped her hands together and bowed before running off. "I'll make it up to you!!"

"No problem!" Cloudchaser shouted. She then turned to Flitter and the others. "She's running off to Soarin, isn't she?"

Flitter watched Rainbow Dash, who was heading towards the track team. "Mmhmm."

"Ah, Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire exclaimed, noticing Rainbow slowly inching towards her, as if she was a particularly fast turtle. "Are you here to switch to the track team? You know that you're always welcome to join. You're the fastest girl in school! And I don't just say that to anyone."

Rainbow sheepishly laughed. "Hahahah.... thanks." She said, a bit embarrassed that she came to talk to Soarin, but was immediately given praise by the Spitfire. However, being Rainbow Dash, she couldn't help but feel proud. But she then snapped back into reality and remembered that she had a mission to complete. "Sorry, but I'm actually looking for Soarin. He's here, right?" She asked, looking around the field for a tall blue haired... douchebag.

Meanwhile, Soarin was focused on beating his record last year. He had set the record for fastest runner in Canterlot High last year, and he wasn't planning for his spot to be stolen by someone else. Especially now that it's senior year, he wanted it to leave with all his goals accomplished. He panted as he ran around the track, with numerous amounts of sweat pouring down his body. He was this close to breaking his record. This was no time to lose focus.

But, with everything that happened that day, he was in and out of focus. He couldn't concentrate on running, but didn't want to admit it. He never ran out of focus before. This wasn't about to be his first.

"...Soarin..."

Suddenly, Soarin heard his name being said by a brash, tomboyish voice across the field. The voice was so far away...... But his unfocused mind was probably just fooling with him, right? He took a small peek to see whoever it was, but...

OOF!

Rainbow's head perked up. A group of gasps could be heard from across the field. "What's going on?" She worriedly asked Spitfire. "Is someone hurt?" She tiptoed closer, but a crowd had already formed around the source of the loud noise.

The two rushed towards the commotion, desperate to see what was happening. Thankfully, Spitfire's intimidating presence and Rainbow's reputation was enough for people to make way for them. Then, it all became clear why so many students gathered... and why most of them were female.

"Soarin!!" Rainbow exclaimed, shoving the box into Spitfire's hands before running towards a hunched over Soarin. "You're hurt. Are you an idiot? Stay focused!" She scolded him harshly, but carefully helped him up as she spoke.

Soarin looked up at her, too tired to fire back. "You..." He said, recognizing the voice and hair color. "From earlier...?"

Rainbow was, for some reason, furious. "Stop talking!! Save your energy!" She grunted as she lifted him up, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and looked around. "Hey, you lot! Scram, or at least make way!"

The crowd frantically dispersed, but still had their eyes glued unto the two of them. Thunderlane, Soarin's best friend, came runningtowards him.

"Soarin, what happened!?" He asked, clearly concerned for his friend. He didn't expect an answer, so he instead helped carry him to the nurse's office with Rainbow Dash's help.


".................Soarin.................

"..."

".......Soarin......."

"......."

"Soarin!!"

"Huh!?"

"Ugh, you're finally awake." A standoffish but obviously worried voice said. "Took you long enough."

"Haha, don't worry, Soarin." A friendly male voice spoke. "Your girlfriend here was definitely worried for you, rest assured." He chuckled, leaning in to pat his head. "Next time, think about her feelings, alright?"

"H-hey!!" The voice from before seemed angry and embarrased now. "I'm not his girlfriend! Nor will I ever be!! I'd rather date anyone else than this blue haired idiot!!!" She huffed. A sound that suggested that she furiously sat back down could be heard.

The other voice burst out laughing. "Weren't you the one helping him get here? Oh yeah, I forgot to say thanks." He then lifted Soarin's chin. "You, say thank you to your girlfriend!"

"For the LAST time I am NOT-"

"That's not what's important right now." A more serious and strict voice from the other side of the room spoke up. "Soarin, how are you feeling?"

Suddenly, Soarin's vision finally became clearer. He recognized his best friend, Thunderlane, standing to his left, Spitfire, the leader of the track team, leaning against the wall, and a familiar rainbow-haired girl sat on a stool to his right. He was lying on a comfortable white bed in a bright white room, which he can only hope to be the school nurse's office and not an actual hospital.

"...Hey, speak!" The rainbow-haired girl commanded. "If you don't, you'll give us the wrong idea!"

"Alright, alright! Sheesh!" Soarin said, sitting up immediately. The three visitors were shocked at his sudden movements, but calmed instantly, relieved that he seemed to be doing fine. "You don't need to yell like that!"

Rainbow blushed and looked away. He was looking straight at her for once. "W-well, I was just worri- didn't want to make Spitfire and Thunderlane worried here, see? If you had gone deaf and those two sunk into despair, I'm not forgiving you!! I-it's not like I'm worried about your well-being or anything, idiot!" She placed her hands on her hips, still averting his eyes.

Spitfire tilted her head. "Really? You seemed like the most worried one here." She pointed out. "You were the first one to take action when he fell...."

"And you were repeatedly tapping your foot while waiting for him to wake up..." Added Thunderlane.

"And you seemed really annoyed when a bunch of girls came in to give him presents, claiming that their squeals are too high pitched, but said 'at least they cared'..."

"And when the nurse asked us to fetch his bag, you volunteered to stay here just in case he woke up while we were out..."

"I GET IT, SHUT UP!!" Rainbow screamed, the two snickering at each other. She noticed that Soarin was still looking at her, and picked her bag up. "W-WELL! I should get going now. I stayed here long enough. He's awake now, so there's no reason for me to stay even longer." She then hastily ran off. "I-I'm off!" She shouted across the room as if it were a war cry before stomping off.

Soarin rolled his eyes and relaxed his body. "Ugh, what a nuisance... at least show some kind of concern." He muttered. He closed his eyes, trying to rest peacefully. "I wish I'd recovered without having to hear such a loud voice after waking up..."

Thunderlane let out a sigh and "facepalmed". He then started laughing again. "Soarin, Soarin, Soarin...." He said, still in the midst of laughter. "You dense little anime protagonist."

"What?"

"Oh, I almost forgot." Spitfire said as she occupied what used to be Rainbow Dash's seat. She then handed Soarin a small pink box. "Rainbow Dash was looking for you with this in her hands. She gave it to me when you got injured."

"More like threw it at you?" Thunderlane corrected.

"Yeah, well." Spitfire said, actually smirking a bit. "Anyways, Thunderlane may have helped carry you here, and I may have helped the school nurse take care of you, but Rainbow Dash did the most out of all of us. Thank her properly later. Understood?"

Soarin examined the box carefully. ".....that girl..... helped me?" He asked, dumbfounded. He looked up at a smiling Thunderlane and a now stone-faced Spitfire.

"The nurse told me that you won't be able to run for the time being." Spitfire explained, using her infamous serious, brash, and "scary" voice. "You'll recover, but you won't be able to participate for a while."

Soarin suddenly shot up. "What!?" He said, shocked. "No, I won't allow that. I've been practicing for months! I can recover by then, promise!"

Spitfire wore a very stern expression. "Don't overestimate your abilities." She said, exiting the room. "You'll end up hurting yourself even more if you push yourself more than you already are right now."

Soarin hung his head. She had a point, but still.... running was Soarin's hobby. It was the only thing he wished to do in life. It was his only motivation. Without it, he......

"Besides," Spitfire added as she reached for the door handle. "I'd feel bad if I were you. Your girlfriend's already worried enough."

"Wha- she's not my girlfriend!!" Soarin shouted, blushing furiously. But Spitfire had already left. With a small grin, in fact.

"Damn, Soarin." Thunderlane chuckled, nudging Soarin. "You've even got the Spitfire, one of the toughest students around, joking about you dating Rainbow Dash! I think she was even smiling!" He teared up a little and attempted to wipe them off. "You've grown so much.... in so proud...."

Soarin winced. "You're impossible."

"You're the impossible one, not being able to tell when a girl fully wants you." He shot back with a smirk. "So, you opening the gift or what?"

Soarin sighed and inspected the box one last time. It was pink, the color of roses.... And it was giving off a very lovey-dovey vibe that he didn't think such a badmouthing girl would be capable of having. There weren't any tags or letters in it, so he assumed that Rainbow was planning on giving it to him face to face. He took a deep breath before opening it to find a star keychain.

"That was...." Thunderlane started, breaking the short silence. "Kind anti-climactic. I thought it would be something like..... cookies, or chocolate.......... there are cupcakes that size, right?"

Soarin rolled his eyes. "You just wanted me to share the food with you. " He remarked. "Which, if it was food, I would not have given any to you."

"Right, because it's a piece of her love, and you want to have it all to yourself, right?" Thunderlane teased, forming puppy dog eyes.

"Shut up." Soarin muttered, averting his eyes. He then looked closely at the keychain again. "Why on earth did she pick to give me a keychain?"

Thunderlane shrugged. "Who cares, a gift is a gift!" He beamed. "Heartfelt stuff, it's the thought that counts, that sorta thing, am I right?"

Soarin placed the box unto the bedside table and held the keychain carefully, still examining it. "Says the person who wished for me to get chocolate dive could eat the so called 'heartfelt stuff.'"

"Touche."

To be continued...