Cheering Up Kaori

(A/N: This is an SSX Tricky fanfic. I just completed the Race portion of “World Circuit” mode for Mac and I wanted to make this. All details refer to when I played it, so don't get upset you don't know all the things)

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“Ladies and gentlemen, your SSX.....World Tour winner; Mac....Mac-Mac- Mac....Fraser!!” announced Rahzel in his usual mixmaster tone. The SSX World Tour had ended at the new Alaska course. It was hard as hell for the riders to complete it, but Mac barely did it and won the tour!

Mac was celebrating like crazy. He was the youngest SSX rider on the circuit and very few actually believed in him. But despite it, he emerged as SSX World Circuit champion! Many of the reactions from the riders were mixed. While Brodi, Eddie, Seeiah, and even Marisol were impressed by his win, Elise, Luther, Moby, Zoe, and JP were not and thought this win was a fluke.

But....there was one rider in particular who deep inside, felt sad, betrayed, and distraught. That person was Mac's close friend, Kaori Nishidake. Kaori had it won. Mac had missed the jump, practically, and Kaori was on her way to winning. But Mac came in the back door, using a pathway below the canvas to get to the finish line and take home the gold.

Mac also felt ashamed of the fact he had to cheat to win the race. Not only was he Kaori's good, close friend. But deep down in his heart, he had a huge crush on her. The fact he took the cheap way out to win made him miserable and it would haunt him that Kaori may never forgive him.....

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It's been weeks since the tour ended. SSX President John Riccitiello (A/N: He's actually the real life CEO of EA Sports) allowed the entire gang to spend as much time with each other throughout the rest of the year, something he never did before. He claims it is to help strengthen friendships and bonds between the riders.

The gang was now staying at the Fujinaka Ski Resort near the Snowdream track. Kaori was still sad and depressed. The SSX Rider crew were having Hot Cocoa in the lounge, but Kaori wasn't drinking that much. She was too depressed over her Alaska loss to be having beverages. Mac could see the sorrow in her eyes and inside, he felt more and more guilty. As Kaori slowly took a sip of her drink, Mac spoke. “Kaori. You alright?”

Their eyes made contact. And for the first time since the tour ended, Kaori never felt more miserable than ever before. Mac could see it very clearly. And he knew it was all his fault. Kaori stood up, in tears, as she said something in Japanese before going outside. He could only understand the last word she said: “baka”. He knew what that meant......

The word, “baka” in Japanese means “idiot”. There was no doubt it was him she was calling an idiot. Now he really felt miserable. JP, Luther, and Moby were laughing at this and took light of it.

“Hey, what's her problem, uh?” asked Luther.

“Obvious, Luther.” said JP. “She's a little baby, upset she didn't win 3 weeks ago and her boyfriend won it all.” It got even worse, though; JP started mocking Kaori: “Aww....waaaah!! I lost! Aaaaah!! Aaaah!! Mememememememe!!!!”

The trio just laughed, as did Zoe a bit. The others didn't find it right for them to make fun of Kaori. But Mac.....he totally lost it. He was outraged and didn't hesitate to punch JP in the jaw.

“Hey, what was that for?” shouted JP. Mac then shouted, “Don't you dare make fun of her!!” and beat him up really bad, letting all his rage out. Eddie, Brodi, Elise, Moby, Luther, and Marisol had to break them up. JP just simply limped back to his room as Mac ran outside.

“Hey, ya think we were too harsh on the kid's poor little Playboy bunny?” asked Luther, to Moby. The two gazed at each other, but simply said: “Naaaaah!!!”

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Kaori was sobbing imensly on the balcony. She felt bad about herself, not being able to win. She should have known about the second path. She may have won the race. “I'm such an idiot....” she told herself. “Why do these things happen to me?”

“I was gonna ask the same thing.....” she heard a voice from behind. She turned around; it was Mac, the one who won the tour and her best friend. She wiped away the tears from her face, not wanting her friend see her cry. “Wh-what do you want, Mac?” she asked.

“Just check and see you're okay....” replied Mac.

Kaori was shocked at how concerning Mac was, all of a sudden. He's usually brash and immature. But she never thought she would see this side of him. “I'm....I'm okay.”

“No you're not Kaori. Ever since I won the SSX gold, you've been really depressed. You're not talking anymore; you're cooped up in your room all the time....it's cuz I beat you at Alaska isn't it?”

Kaori couldn't hide it; she knew it. She had to explain it all to him and this was the only time she would probably get. “Yes, Mac. It is...”

“I thought so.” said Mac. “I'm sorry, Kaori. I was just so desperate to....to win that race, to win....the tour...... I wasn't thinking about you.....it was all about me....”

“It's okay, Mac....” said Kaori. She was pretty forgiving, especially to Mac.

“No, it's not! Don't you see?! I took the cheap way to win and broke your spirit! I cheated, Kaori! I goddamn, friggin cheated!!”

“Mac.....”

“It's all my fault! Everything I do just ruins everyone else! And I can't live with that! Not when you are suffering from my cheating ass!” Now, Mac began to cry. Kaori has never seen Mac this upset before.

Mac continued: “Kaori....you mean so much to me. It pains me to see you like this and it's all because of me! I made you like this! I made you so sad! I'm such a terrible best friend and I bet I'd be a horrible boyfriend to you, too!”

Kaori gasped at the last part. Did he just say “boyfriend”? Did he secretly like her? And if it were true...... Kaori had to get these seemingly obserd thoughts out of her head.

“Well....guess there's no way to hide it now.....” he continued. “Kaori....I love you...”

Kaori's eyes shot wide. Mac really loved her. She couldn't believe it. She went on her knees, shocked and amazed. “Oh, Mac...... I...... I love you, too...... ”

Mac was amazed as Kaori was minutes ago. He crawled up to her and they both smiled. As the duo kissed in the midnight moonlight, Kaori's sadness had finally diminished, following the confidence boost from her newfound love....