A pre-race hug and prayer by DiddyKT2 on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

It's Sunday at Suzuka. Race day has dawned upon the famous figure-of-eight circuit, and both Diddy and Tails woke up with lumps in their throats, their hearts beating at an alarming rate. Clearly, the two sidekicks were nervous about the upcoming 500 km race. In a world filled with uncertainty, anything could go wrong, whether a driver error occurs or if a last-minute fuel blunder could crush their hearts. Just look what happened to Tails at Watkins Glen a few months ago ...

As the sun began to rise and bring light through the hotel windows, Tails tended to his morning grooming quickly before he slipped into Diddy's room, running over to hug him upon finding the simian only just climbing out of bed, much to his surprise. The two were even seen holding hands as they walked out of the hotel and into the back seats of a Nissan sedan that escorted them to the circuit just across Circuit Road (yes, it really is called that on Google Maps). DK and Sonic didn't question their behavior for one moment, knowing full well what their proteges were going through.

The two secretly held hands during the drivers' meeting with the eighteen other drivers that will be taking part in the race, and when they finally put their suits on and stood in a corner of the Nissan garage, they hugged each other tightly in a brotherly fashion and grasped each other's free hands, simply staring nervously at each other before they prayed together that all would go well during the race. Knowing that the team were relying on them to do well today, and given how well they had been doing throughout the weekend, they both knew this could finally be their first chance at a shared podium, let alone even a 1-2, hoping that nothing would go wrong, hoping that neither would make any rookie mistakes, hoping that neither would succumb to a last-minute fuel screw-up. Although the two have already achieved some amazing accomplishments on the racetrack, they sadly have never shared a podium yet, and the moment has finally come where they are in an excellent position to potentially make it happen.

Staring into each others' adorable eyes, Diddy and Tails rubbed each other's faces for a moment before they finally broke off their long hug and prepared to join the pre-race festivities looking like an adorable brotherly sidekick couple. With their nerves on edge, and their hearts beating rapidly, the two will soon be strapped inside their Nissan GT-Rs, ready to do battle for 500 kilometers on what is arguably Japan's most famous racing circuit.

Character models by @SAB64