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** Author's Note:
I would like to apologize in advance to Kuroi for mentioning his PSE without his permission in this work of mine as he had yet to reply to my request to include the name of his work briefly in my write-up.




Journal Entry #1: Introduction
Date: April 21, 2013
Location: Undisclosed

Hello, my name is Robert Boyington. I am a correspondent for Time Magazine. In light of the rising popularity of drifting in the International motorsport scene, I am currently assigned to cover the street racing – hashiriya, in Japanese - culture of Japan; the birthplace of drifting and the highway racing that has become so prevalent as of late - as well as to uncover who is the mysterious S30Z that had become famous the world over. In the late nineties, there was a group of street racers who, in spite of them operating independently, were all lumped together by the public and were collectively called as the “Knights of the Wangan Line” - the most notorious among them was called the "Demon Lord".

July, 2006
In what was supposed to be just another night in the Metropolitan Highway’s street racing scene, a huge explosion occurred near the Minato section of the highway. According to police reports, the explosion was caused by a car, allegedly a Ferrari, ran into the back of a truck that was ferrying gasoline.

According to numerous eye-witness accounts, there were other participants as well; a R32 Skyline, a black Porsche 911, and a S30Z Fairlady. The incident also changed the lives of the many hashiriya who were the contemporaries to the four racers who were part of the said incident; forcing some to silently retire from racing altogether; others graduated into professional racing; while others decided to enter into a life of crime. Early criminal incidents involving some of these knights partially contributed to the creation of the Public Speed Enforcers or PSE. But that is a different story for another time.

Did you know that, there are three kinds of racers?

Those who seek strength.

Those who live for pride.

And those who can read the changing tide.

And him? He was a legend by the name of “The Blackbird of Wangan” and the man who I am searching for, is his rival and his buddy.


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This post has been edited by RB33 on Apr 26 2013, 09:01 PM

Very nice!

But I find the whole article seemed a LITTLE BIT too reminiscent to the contents of the Demon Lord of the Round Table from ACZ.

Maybe you can play with the names a bit more in the original fence and the article will definitely shine out better.

And nice use of PSE. LOL

I've given Kuroi a heads up so I am sure he will understand.

All in all, good read. Hope to see more in future.

Thanks for the feedback brother yeah, the names could use a bit of tweaking haha as for the article being a little bit too reminiscent of ACZ, yeah, it's a bit too reminiscent actually...

Call it a side effect of my experiment to mix-up elements from ACZ in such a way that I'll be able to tell the story of Wangan Midnight (or its continuation) in a different manner or perspective.

This post has been edited by RB33 on Apr 21 2013, 11:20 PM

I can't wait for future updates

I see that this is a journal made by a correspondent, but I'll hazard a guess that the point of view will go like this: From us readers as if reading, albeit partially, an actual article, then to the view of the correspondent himself. After that, numerous view changes from one character to another, said characters being the ones that the correspondent interacts with as he goes about searching for Blackbird's rival.

It would be nice too, if there will be any details of the correspondent himself. Details such as "why he was assigned to look into the street racing culture of Japan, was he willing to do so? What is his motivation to search for a legend? Does it remind him of someone?" That and among other things worth inquiring about.


I can see the potential of this being a good side-story or tie-in with the last arc, if not an extension of it, since this doesn't have to do anything with Ogishima. Though I've yet to read through the manga's last arc itself, the idea of having another set of eyes with which to view the world of WM for one last time is most welcome.


All in all this can become quite a read and upon reading the introduction, I feel that you, sir, are on the right track.

This post has been edited by Lonewolf on Apr 22 2013, 02:11 AM

@Wolfie
Thanks for the feedback bro. Anyway, you'll just have to wait and see


Anyway, on to the next entry:






Journal Entry # 2: Prologue
Date; April 25, 2013
Location: Undisclosed

In order for one to be able to properly report on a certain subject, one has to do one of these two things (both if possible):

1) You do intensive research on the subject matter or;
2) You immerse yourself into the subject’s world.

Regardless if you’re into traditional written journalism or photojournalism, you have to have a bit of knowledge regarding the subject matter so that you will know what to ask and report. I did both. Being a car enthusiast myself, and a regular contributor of articles to the automotive section, not to mention that I am a sansei (third generation descendant of Japanese immigrants), Time Magazine only thought of it as natural that I be assigned to research into the hashiriya culture of Japan. The editor-in-chief was even kind enough to help me acquire an S15 for the purpose of assisting me immerse myself into the hashiriya environment. Truth be told, the hasiriya culture in general was supposed to be the subject of my report.

Taking a pleasant evening drive along the famed (and notorious) Wangan Line at midnight, several questions ran inside my head as I drove along. Questions like:

What made these people thirst for speed?

What made them obsess over it?

What’s in it for them?

What made them do this, all in the name of a world that you’ve to go so far to see?

And before anymore questions can come up in my mind, an object literally flew right past my car. Now, I may only be a simple car enthusiast but by being an enthusiast, I am familiar with most cars. There’s no mistaking it; that distinct shape... it’s an S30Z. I felt the urge to run after it. But knowing that I don’t have the skills for such a venture, I opted for the better part of valor and let go. Getting a better look before it disappeared into the distance, the car’s color betrayed to me it’s identity. An identity that has changed the nature of my report from this point onward.

Could it be?

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This post has been edited by RB33 on Apr 26 2013, 08:20 PM

This...has traces of Ace Combat Zero all over! I can tell sir RB's a fan of that game, and so am I. I like it so far!

Robert Boyington's character seems to be based a lot on Brett Thompson, combined with sir RB's personal touches with the S15. It's also very interesting since this would be another point of view into the story of Wangan Midnight, so I'm really excited to see how this would be put together.

Can't wait for the next update.

@Antares
Any Ace Combat fan will definitely see traces of ACZ on this. Again, this is a little experiment of mine to see how well I can reinterpret the story of Wangan Midnight from a different POV or perspective.

I've also made minor editing to Journal Entry #2... I wasn't satisfied with it hehehe anyway, here's the next entry:





Interview Transcript #1: FD Master

Shinji Ogishima, an editor of an automotive magazine "GT Cars", and also a driving specialist, former member of the RGO team. He is currently focusing his time around the C1 area. Also known as the FD Master after racing against the Blackbird and the Demon Lord in an FD.

Shinji Ogishima:
"So what can I say about the Demon Lord? Well… where do we begin?... For starters, I must say that both the man and his car emit some sort of aura… menacing you yet inviting you to come at them…. It’s as if you will regret it if you decline their invitation… From how I see it… it really looks as if a demon has manifested itself as a car… One look and you will be tempted… compelled to chase it…

However, I stick mostly to C1 nowadays. Mostly because it’s a test of someone’s skills… But there’s a deeper reason behind it… After the “Ferrari Incident” seven years ago, people have been avoiding the Wangan Line during races… treating it like a some sort of sacred yet forbidding holy ground… Many of the hashiriya that you see running down the Wangan Line today are mostly ignorant or may have largely forgotten what happened… This new generation, they’re a plucky bunch… They’d be happy to challenge the Demon Lord, making them search for it high and low… But what they don’t know is that eversince it’s disappearance after the incident seven years ago, the Demon Lord only chooses to appear where and when it pleases… Sure, we still run the down that long stretch of highway on occasion... but… we, at least those who got to race with the Demon Lord itself are concerned, we prefer to keep that place sacred in honor of those who sacrificed their lives in the name of speed…"

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This post has been edited by RB33 on Apr 26 2013, 08:27 PM

Not bad...

This actually makes me want to do something like this too once in a while, under different perspective of course, since I am never one to do fanfics.

In any case, can't wait to read more of this.

Thanks for the feedback bro I actually have a lot of ideas that I don't know yet as to where, when, how and to which character I can associate those ideas with...

And also...

I approve of your signature

It's too big though, so I dropped it. Bummer.

Yeah... it was a fun one though...

I found this very interesting...

I was listening to "Sanctus Immortale" while reading the two updates.
...
Amusingly, the song fits xD I'm not kidding!

Anyway, I feel that there should've been a transition between Journal 2 and the Interview Transcript. Either it's a flash back kind or a natural one, whatever seems fit.

**Author's note: It's been a while since I've updated this... Got busy with work and with life... My apologies for those who kept track of this.









Date: June 16, 2013
Location: RGO Workshop


Interview Transcript #2: Speed Factory RGO:Racing Gang Ota

Known mostly for its prominent “Rotary Rockets”, as the public calls the rotary-engined masterpieces that come out of shop, the group is also well-known among racing circles as also the home of some of the few racers who used rotary-engined vehicles to challenge and almost take down the Demon Lord.

The group is currently in a partnership with Works R, another racing and tuning group that is located in Osaka.


Interview Proper

Yamanaka:
I heard that there was a gaijin, snooping around for a scoop regarding the Demon Lord… and that I’ve heard rumors that that guy would visit our shop soon. Heh I had no idea that it would take you this long to find us.

Robert Boyington (off-camera) :
*chuckles* I’d like to think that I’m on a working vacation.

Yamanaka:
Well then, let’s cut to the chase. *clears throat and drinks water* Most people consider RGO to be an “institution” on the hashiriya scene, more specifically on the Wangan scene. As you can see, we are also a “school” of sorts with well-known alumni such as Ogishima Shinji, who pointed you here albeit with the mixed-up directions. Two of those alumni actually went toe-to-toe against the Demon Lord and almost took it down on their respective encounters with it.

*looks out towards the window*

*breathes deeply*

*faces back at the camera*

Since that incident seven years ago, Kazuo Ota, the owner, decided to transform this group from an amateur racing club, into a professional racing group. You can’t fault the man – having witnessed two generations of street racers risk their lives all in the name of speed and end up with miserable lives later on should they survive their adventures… Rather than just risk their lives for almost little gain, Ota decided to make good money from it too. That, and that his daughter is getting rather comfy with one of those kids from Osaka and old Ota wants his would-be grandkids to be a bit on the more normal or maybe see their folks be on the professional side of things.

To be honest, your arrival here was on a rather wrong timing; one of our premier racers, Masaki, is already in retirement while Ota and his daughter, along with the so-called “Coupled Cormorants of Osaka”, are currently participating at a Rally Racing event somewhere in Europe. I can give you their e-mail address if you want to contact them. As for Masaki, I can help you contact him for an appointment.

Oh, and before I forget, you want to know what my take on the Demon Lord is?

*chuckles*

You’ll just have to wait for him to appear to you again.

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This post has been edited by RB33 on Jun 16 2013, 01:47 PM

Rather short, but nicely done nonetheless.

I wonder who will you be interviewing next...

Thank you for the feedback brother

From the way things are going, this is going to be the format for future inputs to this write-up. Maybe because short but detailed accounts are the best format for a journal-like fanfic?

Oh, and it might take me another two months just to decide as to who will be interviewed next, so I'm up for suggestions

Due to time and work constraints, I have turned over the jurisdiction of the story's concept to Gunma. He has expressed interest in the story/concept and has found that it potentially ties in well with the universe of his own set of stories.

I am confident in his ability to continue this venture and do justice to the concept.

Thank you.

Hey guys, Myogi here... este... Gunma.

I'm here to confirm what boss RB just said. I'll be taking over from this point on and after thorough discussion, it would definitely be beneficial to both of us, story-input wise after seeing the connections between his and mine. I plan to portray it in a similar manner as that of Ace Combat Zero, as per inspiration of sir RB. And I'm also willing to broadcast it on my Youtube channel too.

Stay tuned for Updates on this.

~Myogi

[Wangan Midnight Story]
Ever wondered how Shinji Ogishima would be like if his story was anime'd?
Well look no further.
A Collaborative project with WME IGN: RB33

Stylized after Ace Combat Zero.
Support by watching it, liking & Subscribing.

~Myogi