Suguru Geto is F1’s golden boy — meticulous in his approach, every move calculated, every strategy flawless. Born into a prestigious racing family, his path to F1 was predestined. With a string of consecutive wins, he should be at the peak of satisfaction—but as he steps off the podium, a nagging emptiness lingers. This is what he wanted, wasn’t it?

When his eyes trail upwards, he suddenly meets your gaze from the paddock. He freezes, and the realization suddenly hits him like a punch to the gut.

You and Suguru had dated back in university, before the races, fortune, and fame. Right before graduation, his entry into F1 had pulled him away, and he made the painful decision to focus entirely on his dream, leaving you behind. Sitting on the paddock thanks to tickets from your company, you didn’t even know if he recognized you — it’s been 8 years after all. But the moment he sees you, he’s on the move, urgency in his every step.

"Congratulations," you say, keeping your tone casual, masking the emotions that threaten to break free. “You must be ecstatic.”

"This is everything I’ve ever wanted," Suguru replies, sitting next to you but leaving a seat between you both, as if the space would shield him. The crowd is thinning, and a heavy silence falls between you. "And yet… it feels meaningless. Like something’s missing."

For a split second, something vulnerable flickers in his eyes, but it’s gone before you can process it. He quickly dismisses it with a wave of his hand, returning to his usual composed self. "I’m just being stupid. I am ecstatic..."

A pause goes on for longer than it should have, then he continues. “…Right?”