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1 correction.

Kyle =/= that other dude.

They are two separate scenes after all.

Code 25: Resurfacing Memories

Hakone pass, 00:30.

The large parking area was filled with the all too familiar sight of street racers parked side by side. Yet, the air was tense, uncertainty weighed down on the local's shoulders. The usual frivolous spirit that marked these Friday night meetings was nowhere to be found.

"H-Hey..."

Stood in the center of the car park, Tsukioka tugged at Kunitaro's sleeve. No audible response was given. Quietly, he continued.

"What's with this situation? Why does it feel so damn hostile all of a sudden?"

"...Look around." Raising his finger, Kunitaro narrowed his eyes and began explaining. "Just from here, I can see...just about all the drivers the BBS have been going nuts over."

...And with the stares we're getting...I'd say we're in that list as well.

"As the resident expert with respect to their latest obsessions, I'll take you through the list of cars and drivers." From behind Kunitaro, Kotoku stepped out. "The list of cars here, right now, is as follows: The red Z33 and black GT-R from last time, two girls we should be somewhat familiar with. Also here tonight...Ohh, Kantaro's goddess has graced him at last!"

"...What?"

"Ayase Tsurugi, the aspiration of the JZX-chassis owners club, she's here. How about taking this chance to catch up with someone from high school?"

"How do you know that? Even I don't remember...Eh, even so, we probably weren't that close anyway, why bother." Kunitaro sighed, glaring at Kotoku with suspicious eyes. "Also...Such a ridiculous club exists? And alien boy, of all people here, is a part of that club?"

"Yup. I've come to the conclusion that, to counter the inbound alien threat, turning to this reported Goddess is the best course of action."

"Yeah just hush, this is a conversation for us lot on Earth. You can stay in space for now. Carry on."

"This group isn't just drivers from our region either. The red Supra from Akagi a while back is here. As is the Impreza that made news recently. Guy was fresh from the Wangan, they say. Managed to score with a veteran. Girl's quite the beauty as well, apparently. When photos of her got around, she ranked 3rd in the driver's popularity poll."

"...Rank 3rd? Let me guess, behind Ayase and that...Saginomiya girl?"

"Nope. The beeb still don't have photos of her, so she's not even on the list." Kotoku glanced at his teammate's bewildered expression, before adding:

"By the 'beeb', I mean, the BBS. Think of it as a cute nickname, it's quite popular there."

"…Thank you again for that...enlightening piece of info." Kunitaro brushed aside a lock of hair and surveyed his surroundings. To his left, a red Z33, black R34 GT-R, bright pink Toyota Aristo.

"Hey...I thought Ayase Tsurugi was the poster girl for the JZX club or something? Why is she here with, of all things, that. Kantaro would be so disappointed."

He turned his glance towards the dark windows of the GT-R. The pale girl who remained stubbornly inside her car was seemingly asleep.

What are you, some sort of secret weapon? No photos taken, stupidly expensive to run no doubt, you just need a reason for all this hysteria and you're set...

To his right, a red Supra RZ, maroon NSX and a teal FD RX-7. In front of him, yet another FD RX-7, yellow this time. Beside it, a blue Impreza.

Full house, pretty much...

"Everyone you've listed is here, pretty much. So what's the big deal here? I doubt it's a welcome party or a 'sorry for that bashing we gave you lot online' session…"

"…And you'd be right." Kotoku casually began his rambling once more. "Tonight's a rare 'softening' of the establishment, if you want. In light of the recent ordeal with the Wangan racers, all of which is very exciting to follow if you've got the time and connections to track the motives and politics behind it-"

"We don't have time nor the connections to 'track the motives' or whatever, so get to the point."

"…Okay. This is a meeting to try and form something of a joint operation against them. It's a voluntary thing of course, but everyone seems to have made an effort to show up…which is rare, given how little respect some of these guys have remaining."

"…I'll stop your report there before you go off on a tangent and lose us all." Kunitaro raised his hand casually to silence his teammate. In a dramatic 180, he turned to face his team. His eyes burned with a tangible determination.

"Well, like it or not, we're in the company of some very experienced drivers. Kantaro, no aliens for tonight. If you can't think of anything to say, pretend to be mute. Kotoku, try not to say too much. Save the rambling for the bar. We'll just sit tonight out and watch this unfold."

Leaning back onto his Z31, Kunitaro closed his eyes and exhaled.

I'll play it safe for now…if word gets around Tokyo that "Yellow" was still around, everything we've built up, the modicum of status we've regained would be under threat…and we don't want that, do we, Takahiro?

----

“So…"

Saburo scanned the carpark. The cars were arranged in a large circle. They parked at the far end of it, facing the exit.

“We’re here. What now?”

“Well…” Sakuya replied dismissively, glancing down at her phone. “According to these guys, the defense line aces are going to be here for a meeting, and for once even allowed other people in. That is to say, you and me and people who don’t belong to the Line.”

“Just like last time then.”

“Remember though, we’re here just to watch-“

“Forget that. We came this far, we may as well make the most of it-”

“And what of your completely outclassed car? I did tell you not to get ahead of yourself, right.”

“…Whatever. So, one more time, who are we aiming for. Their names and cars.”
"Alright...Three aces here. Starting from the bottom, there's Yujiro Akutagawa. Drives a RX-7. You won't miss it, the pearlescent green monster that it is. Guy's famous around here as the 'pimp of the line', he never shows up without any girls around him. Think of him as Sakamoto from Irohazaka, only even more in-your-face."

"There always, always has to be one..."

"Mhmm…Next would be Sakaki. No last name given so don't ask. His car poses the biggest threat to us, despite being second in line. It's a yellow Evo V, rumored to have at least 550hp and…questionable underpinnings."
"'Questionable'…Illegal then?"

"Of course. On top of that, his record is completely clean. Not a single loss, all races against 'outsiders'. I don't think we can take him on right now."

"You can though." Saburo cocked his head backwards to face Sakuya with a confident smile. "Or I could always use your car for it. Either way, I came here with the expectation of having to use your car for a few battles-"

"That's why he won't race you." Sakuya sighed and massaged her temples. "He's very stubborn, apparently. Unless you go to him in your own car, he won't even give you the time of day. With your name being synonymous with that black 180SX, showing up in anything but that is just asking for trouble."

"…Hmmm."

"Last…or rather, at the top of our list, Hiro Shishigami. Compared to the other two, not a lot to talk about. They say he drives a Mercedes 190E that wouldn't look out of place on a grid with Super GTs, but he's apparently not too vocal. Unlike the others, he rarely makes an appearance outside of these meetings."

Saburo remained still, his mind seemingly preoccupied. He felt a very strong discomfort stab at his side. He was used to being the center of attention, but that wasn't the case now. If anything, he had lost his monopoly over the spotlight here. It should have been a refreshing calm where he could finally fade into the crowd, to enjoy the utter lack of emotions directed his way.

Yet…

The eerie discomfort he felt far exceeded that of any encounter from before. He silently scanned his surroundings, tracking down the extreme hostility directed at him.

Gazing dead ahead, the unmistakable source of it all.

A flurry of gold and red.

The girl stared deep into his eyes, an overwhelming surge of emotions was directed his way. In that brief second, an unforgettable first impression was made.
"Are you still listening? Hey."

"Mhmm…" Quickly turning around, Saburo gave an absentminded reply. “One more thing.”

Saburo grabbed Sakuya by the shoulder, pulling her close to him, almost embracing her.

“Don’t make it too obvious, but look ahead. That blonde haired girl. Her expression, did it change?”

“…U-Uhh…W-W-Wait, g-gimme a moment!”

Sakuya scrambled for an answer, her mind thoroughly flustered by the sudden turn of events.

With Kagerou just out of the corner of her eye, she wrapped her arms around Saburo, watching for a reaction.

“…Saburo."

“You saw it too then. Ever since we got out, I’ve been feeling uneasy. Especially I look in that direction. Now we know why.”

“Yeah. That person…is more than likely the one from the Internet. That reaction, the glare…I don’t know if it’s intentional, but she’s not hiding her interest in you, at all.”

“So, we keep to the Aces and if it does come down to interacting with everyone here, can we make her the exception?”

“Of course….” Sakuya whispered quietly in response.

“N-NOW LEMME GO DAMMIT!”
--
Standing around Ruka’s cooling GT-R, Ayase sighed.

“Oiiiii…You know, it’s sort of customary to get out of the car once you’ve arrived, right? Why the long face all of a sudden, my lady?”

“You don’t think such low blows would work with her, right?” Kagerou snickered with a belittling smile. “Don’t talk about common courtesy with her, it’s one of the many thing that “lady” doesn’t get.”

“I can’t take that seriously when it’s coming from the wild gorilla. Now help me get her out of there already.”

“Why should I? Let that little b*tch sulk.”

Oh for f**k’s sake…

Ayase groaned again, massaging her aching forehead.

“Have you tried the doors yet? Knowing how daft that girl is, you think she’d have the sense to lock both of them?”

“…No…I’ve not tried that.” Sliding across the R34’s hood, Ayase then swung around to face the passenger door. A gentle tug, followed by a soft clunk, confirmed Kagerou’s deduction.

No way…really…you never cease to surprise me with your utter lack of sense sometimes…

She glanced back at Kagerou, who had already returned to her car.

Say what you will, but you've already warmed to this girl to the point of fully knowing her behavior…If I bought this up, it'd just be pure denial though. These two are such a damn bother…just kiss and make up already…
She quickly peeked inside.

The GT-R’s interior was barren. Unlike its extravagant owner, it was stripped down, pared back to the point of being illegal. It was a world of bare carbon and aluminium, one that reminded her of the race ready interior of her beloved Chaser.
Resting her head on the bucket seat's shoulder, Ruka curled away with a groan. Without looking back, she gestured for Ayase to close the door.

“So, what’s the problem, why so bitter?”

“It’s not your concern. I don’t mean to be harsh, that is just how it is.”

“No no no, that’s not how it works this time. To repay me for the witch hunt and everything afterwards, you tell me what’s gotten to you.”

“…I am indebted to you for requesting your aid, now as reparation you want to offer me…exactly that? Why do I not like this?”

“Don’t worry dammit, this won’t become a cycle of making you increasingly indebted to me, so just tell me already.”

"…It's nothing." Letting out a melancholic sigh, she slid back into the bucket seat and turned to face Ayase.

"Let's not make this about me. How are you feeling?"

"You've been asking me that since we met up at your place. For the last time, I'm good, okay?"

"Are you sure? That was quite a shove, it'd be normal to feel put off."

"I. am. Fine. So leave it."

"Is that so…Though I have to ask…that Aristo…is it really as fast as in the sim?"
"Hah? How the hell do I know?"

"…You've been driving it for a while now, no? Come on, don't dodge such a simple question. Defeating that monster was a task that makes dealing with Kagerou enjoyable by comparison. I want to at least know if it will live up to my experiences."

"No it won't." Ayase rested her palm on Ruka's head with an irritated smile."At least try to hide that grin of yours, you're not going to drive it."

"…I had no intention to try and drive something so massive anyway." Her surfacing grin turned into a slight pout, and with an exaggerated puff, Ruka finally unlocked the driver's door. "Now then…let's not keep your friend waiting. Call it paranoia, but leaving her with Kagerou is a hell she doesn't deserve to go through."

"…But apparently I deserve that."

"You've dealt with her at her worst, so it's a different matter. By the way, what I said that night holds true now as well."

"What condition are you adding to this friendship now?!"

"…'I'll be relying on you to protect me', or words to that effect. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that?"

"When did you say that?! Since when was that my job?! We've barely known each other for a month and I'm your bodyguard already?!"

"Calm down, please. You already proved more than capable of doing that so save your outrage for a more worthy cause. Now let's join those two, it would be rude to keep them waiting for too long."

"Mmm…eh…give me a moment. I'll come out soon enough, but go on without me first."

With a silent thud, the driver's door shut, leaving Ayase alone in the GT-R.

Last time…eh. Though I say 'I'm fine' in front of her…how true is that statement?

Ayase buried her face in her hands. She lamented her weakness, she loathed her inability to move on.

But try as I might…

She couldn't.

That vile, thuggish smirk still haunted her. Ever since she found out, the very thought that the possibility of facing him existed paralysed her.

A trauma like shellshock.

It haunted her, a nightmare with no end.

…What…what should I do……

Left alone, with no façade to hide behind, she was left to face her fears head on.

--

Jiro brushed his fringe aside as he took a deep breath.

"So…Err…Kuroimizu-"

"Emiko is fine."

In a small voice, the shy girl corrected him and shuffled ever so slightly towards his side.

"…Okay…Emiko then. You said to meet here…so…what now?"

"U-uh…" Emiko's face lit up bright red. "P…practice?"

"Hmmm…Is that it."

Ahhh…so very shy…yet she's so open to contact in the car…

"Say."

"……Hmm?"

"Why did you agree? You know, to teach me and all that."

On hearing his question, she shrank back even further, twitching and fidgeting as she tried to muster up a response.

"A-a-ah…u-uhh…"

She could feel her glasses steaming up and the sweat gather at the tips of her hair. Her shy nature was truly becoming bothersome at this point. She couldn't even hold a simple conversation without stuttering in response.

"…Take your time, I don't want to sound like a dick, but I'm used to the waiting already."

"T-That just makes me rush even more!"

Emiko's thoughts straightened out enough for her to reflexively take a jab at Jiro's remark. Her bashful voice rang out and filled their small corner with an awkward silence.

"…Now now, the both of you, don't start a fight out here." Tyrone stepped up from in between the Impreza and yellow RX-7. "There's nothing worse than seeing a lover's spat."

"…Give it a rest already, are you that desperate to shove her on to me? It's reaching obsessive levels of creepy. Besides, even if it's just teasing, think about how she feels about all this."

"Don't put it like that! 'Shove her on to you', man, they be some harsh words. You make it sound like she's used goods or something. If I remember rightly, you were all 'oh my god that girl with the glasses wow so sexy' last time-UGH!"

Jiro's fist plunged into Tyrone's stomach before he could even finish. The veins in his head about to pop clean open with irritation. Gritting his teeth, Jiro forced out an annoyed response.

"Show some restraint, for god's sake. You're tarnishing her image of me…"

"N-no…to do that…she'd have to have heard it first…"

"Eh?"

Quickly turning around, Jiro glanced towards where Emiko should have been. She had already retreated to the confines of her car, unable to take the atmosphere any longer.

Jiro sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"This girl…is going to be tricky…"

--

Two unfamiliar cars sat at the corner of the circle. A cherry red NSX and a teal FD RX-7 parked facing the carpark entrance. The two drivers casually watched the night traffic roll in, taking in the tense atmosphere. Like a game of Chinese whispers, the crowd's hushed panic spread like wild fire, blocking off the circle of drivers with a wall of noise. A phrase could be made out in the incoherent chatter.

"They've arrived."

From the far end of the road, a soft bellowing echo reverberated up to the parking area. The three Aces made their entry.

A prolonged silence reigned over the scene.

---

Ayase gazed up.

Gently closing the GT-R's door, she would finally join the circle.

Yet…

She would ultimately never arrive.

A young man stood by the side of his lime green RX-7. Its brash paintjob was what caught her eye initially. The green that faded into a murky black made her shudder with disgust. Even more so was the scantily clad girl in his arms. Their unashamed disregard, revolting arrogance was enough to enrage most.

But she could not even feel repulsed.

An entirely different emotion engulfed her.

Fear.

It strangled her. Choked her. Crippled her.

Her petrified voice could not even begin to form its trembling cries.

Eyes wide with shock, she stared into the darkened figure before her.

She was barely able to look into his eyes. Certainly, he had spotted her.

Image size reduced, original size: 1650 x 1080. Click here to view the image in its original dimension.

Facing her with a wide smirk, he glanced back with a chilling gaze.

In that split second, she saw him mouth his silent words:

"Did ya miss me?"

-つづく-

This post has been edited by Rin on Oct 23 2014, 01:20 AM

Code 26: Trauma and Horror

Model by day.

Racer at night.

Daughter of a former TRD engineer.

Possesses a fan base that spans the extremes of both genders.

Ayase Tsurugi.

Surrounded by generally respectable people, well-liked by superiors, fawned over by a certain eccentric ace, she catwalks through her adult life with only success and happiness to look forward to.

Of course, this was almost given.

Her credentials on paper were nothing short of a male fantasy come true.

Yet, almost equally certain was the dark abyss in her shadows.

2 years ago, she graduated from high school. A mundane moment for the one hundred and nineteen others in the school hall, but for her? It spelt liberation. It would be no exaggeration to say that she had been freed from hell itself. The word "bullying" could not begin to do her torture justice.

It was a far cry from her current life.

Among the countless questions she asked, in tears, in suffering, this single one rose to the top:

Why did it happen?

Her credentials were, perhaps, too perfect.

If she was guilty of anything, in hindsight, most would pin it to that.

On paper, that would be the case. On paper, the chinks in her armor did not show through. On paper, their pettiness would almost be justified. The flaws that riddled her personality were ignored, and would be what finally brings her to her knees.

She was no goddess.

The price she paid was the scarring atonement that marks her developing years, well before she could truly grasp the world around her. To her adoring ace, this is the prelude to their relationship. To her fragile self, this is the epilogue to her childhood.

This is the story behind the idol known as Ayase Tsurugi.

---

5 years ago.

Freshman of a certain high school, she lined up alongside one hundred and nineteen other students.

Among these people…

…was him.

She could still remember him to this day.

Their interactions had faded, their past together swept away into a misty corner of her mind.

But even so, she remembered.

The person to have shattered her social standing. The one who drove mercilessly her towards a suicidal insanity.

To this day, Ayase Tsurugi could not forget the name of this person.

Yujiro Akutagawa.

Their story could be easily generalised. The generic high-school love story that has been done to death in dramas. The bad boy who dated a good girl. From the off, their pairing was destined to fail. A girl who's date could not even begin to match her own abilities. A rowdy, superficial and self-centered boy who obtained everything in life through aggression.

Whether their love was true or not did not matter here. It merely serves as a bitter preface to her darkest days. The silent oppression she faced, the muted indifference that she showed, the hell that truly, at one point, made death preferable. This memory summed up this period of her life better than any other.
A small, white locker.

Marked red and black with graffiti. The words were wildly sprayed onto the door, blood red paint scattered inside. Nothing within the column was left untouched. It was as though it wasn't even worth their bother to limit the damage to just her locker. It couldn't even be described as artistic. It was done in irritation, a half-hearted attempt at maintaining a status quo. The malice had all but gone. It was simply a bothersome routine now, like doing homework.

Truly, it had reached a point where one had to ask:

What was the point?

She was indifferent. Likewise to them, it had become merely an inconvenience to her now. She tried to change, she tried to fight back, she tried to cry for help. Nothing worked.

So she stopped.

Gradually, she accepted it. She paid the playground rumours no heed, dusted off the weight of their scorn.

It was her last card.

Yet, in this moment, even that wasn't enough. She felt truly hurt.

What was the point? If you lot at least felt happy about it, if you felt it worthwhile…at least that's something…

But no. These people, they too were tired of it. Yet none of them even considered turning to help. It was just accepted. Even now, it seems the idea of pitying her was too foreign to consider.

"Ah…it's her again."
Words of scorn. Even now, they could still muster up enough hate to beat this dead horse.

"It's a shame, isn't it. Even though she should have known better than to force herself on him…"

She…couldn't escape from them.

"Like father, like daughter, I guess. Both only good at going through the backdoor in life"

Everywhere she turned to, everyone she met.

"She can get done in the backdoor for all I care, my locker's a mess now! No thanks for that…tsk…"

They all looked at her with the same, degrading gaze.

At that point, her entire world collapsed. Her head ached, a dizzying claustrophobia developed. Her breathing sharpened, constricted by the nausea. Her shaking legs took an uncertain step forward. One after another, without real control, she stumbled up a flight of stairs.

It was a very familiar sight which greeted her. With her home room being on the highest floor, the view out the window was not very different to this. Yet, seeing her world from this high a vantage point felt refreshing.

Or so it should have been.

Stood at the top of the school building, her tattered, tear stained uniform fluttered in the wind. The harsh winter gale stabbed at the wounds in her heart. To this day, to the girl who had lived beyond this point, this was considered the coldest and most surreal day in her life.

Time stood still. Silence reigned.

Watching a flock of crows circle above her with a desolate gaze, she emotionlessly took a step forward.

Two steps remained.

Two steps from an end. Two steps from peace. Two, simple, effortless steps from escaping hell. A chilling gust of wind enveloped her, egging her on.

Rather, it forced her forwards.

One step left.

Countless thoughts rampaged through her mind. All were negative.

What if I were to jump…? One step, and it all ends. Why am I hesitating? Jump. Would they rejoice or would they change? Who would care? Jump. What difference would it make?

A sudden, invisible burst shoved her forward.

Jump!

So in the end, you're still taking the easy way out?

---

Of course…if that thought didn't get in the way, of course I would have taken that step.

The scene changed once more.

The bellowing tempest faded, the howling gale had been all but silenced. In place of the view of the vast, bleak school grounds, four solid walls now surrounded her. A dim hum from the heater unit on the far side of the room was all there was to this depressingly barren square.

Her fingers ran across the floorboards. It was numbingly cold.

Thinking back to the day, Ayase couldn't help but feel a rage boil inside her. Anger at the world. Even as she stepped towards an end, it could have so easily been made to seem like she alone was at fault.

Easy…way? Please.

It's only because…

"No matter how hard I tried…"

She sighed with an exasperated voice.

"The result would never change…"

Burying her face in her hands, she looked up into the darkness.

"It's just…so frustrating."

She mustered up a wry smile as she reached around the desolate room, trying to hold back the crushing despair as it flooded her body.

In the confines of her room, she gazed out through the open door. The empty hallway, the indifferent silence that filled this household, in such an environment, she couldn't even begin to feel sorry for herself.

This was the sight that greeted her every night. The sight of a dysfunctional family that was a far cry from the fun and games that she had been accustomed to in her adult life. She would ultimately rebuild the crumbling bonds that held her family together, but such a scene would not come to until the damage was done.

It could be described as a typical domestic tragedy. The father who's dreams came to a truncated end and, blinded by harsh reality, severed all ties with all responsibilities, retiring to the world of alcohol and delusions. The mother who didn't want to live in the past, and drowned herself in work to sidestep the problem.

With no one to turn to, she could only fall further into despair.

She remembered it all too well. The indescribable sensation of her heart's contents flooding out.

Why did she put up with it all?

Why did she not take that last step?

A matter of pride? Even with her heart shattered and her spirit broken, even when she was truly beaten down and on her last legs mentally, was she saved by her ego?

Perhaps.

She was never able to fully recall these events in explicit detail until very recently. Her only other attempt at speaking of her past failed spectacularly. It was a truly embarrassing episode of her past, one observed only by her closest friend, though that would be a story for another day.

However, even with the difficulty, she had always been able to question that split second decision. Even when she had asked Mayumi about it, she couldn't get a strong answer. Her friend could only provide generic words of comfort with an out-of-character delicacy.

"…You awake now?"

As she mused over this question, an indistinct murmur reached Ayase's ears.
Who's…voice is that…?

The room in her mind shimmered. Like static, this memory slowly faded away with each flicker. She emerged from the darkness. Her sense were numb, but she could still make out the blunt sting running across her arms.

Not that it mattered.

The most prominent of her past emotions clung to her heart, refusing to dissipate.

To her now, to the girl who now bore the full weight of her trauma, it meant nothing.

If it came down to this…

I…won't back down. Not this time.

The blood surged through her veins, burning with rage. Her eyes felts focused, her senses tingled. She felt…

Alive.

It wasn't thrill. This was more violent.

It wasn't vengeance. This was more arbitrary.

She was on guard. Hostile. High strung. Focused.

Her panic-stricken eyes were dulled. In place of the fearful cowering, her stoic expression gave off a terrifying indifference.

Calm…yet frenzied.

Like a cornered animal.

"Where are they?"

"Forget that, how are you feeling-"

"I'm fine. How long was I out for?"

"…Five minutes, at most. The line just took off not a minute ago, by the way-"

Almost instinctively, Ayase's body began to move. One hand on the wheel, another on the gear leaver, they moved in a shaky synchrony with her still numbed feet. Without hesitation, the idling Aristo shot towards the car park exit. In a single, awe-inspiring sweep, she slid the Toyota through the gap.

A move that even the most daring of drivers would avoid, she pulled off without breaking a sweat.

Sat beside this apathetic daredevil as she relentlessly gave chase, Mayumi could truly make out the extent of her trauma.

Well shit…No point trying to talk sense to her now. I leave my life in your hands, even if this chase is a total farce.

She shuffled uneasily in her seat as she watched this unreserved demonstration of Ayase's driving prowess unfold. She had no doubt the target, whoever it was, would be caught. All she could hope for was that this sudden attack would give in to Ayase's very visible fatigue.

I did say this might happen…Now's not the time to be cocky though.

Mayumi glanced at Ayase, a stinging pain in her heart distracted her thoughts. She had to admit, though she had predicted this development, she secretly hoped in her heart it wouldn't be the case. When she first saw his name on the list, a certain thought crossed her mind.

Perhaps this was inevitable…

Yes.

Not an unfortunate encounter.

A climatic end to her childhood trauma.

This, then, is the final act in Ayase Tsurugi's drawn out tragedy.

- つづく -

This post has been edited by Rin on Nov 13 2014, 09:01 AM

So sorry for the late feedbacks. Life caught up on me >:

Wow....lots of development building up here and there...and oh dear...Kagerou...meeting with Saburo and Sakuya?! This won't end well......

Then....there's that guy...........meeting Ayase....oh god please...don't let this be a tragic arc...

I'll give my feedback on 26 later.

Again, stellar job on writing and drawing, guys.

Tragic arc…maybe. This is one of those arcs that I'm pretty eager to write. There's quite a lot that's going to happen, and all of it soon. Things might get hectic now since we've hit the point where all the group planning and organisation has sort of run out and it's just the writer's ad lib organisation that determines what goes out in what order.

I'll try to keep the mood light in between, but things are gonna get quite grim now. Powerful…well, I'll try to at least entertain.

Thanks as always for following the story.

Code 27: Condemnation

"So what do you think…?"

Further down Hakone pass, three cars were parked at the side of the road. A black Mercedes 190E led the small team. Behind it was the RX7 and Evo V of Kanagawa's Defense Line. Hidden in the shadows of the night, these three aces regrouped.

The air between these three men was filled with silent uncertainty. The meeting was brief, its contents no one could remember clearly. Too much, it seemed, was revealed.

"Well, I'd say we did alright. Given how we're the scapegoats of it all." Quietly brushing aside a lock of hair, Hiro Shishigami narrowed his eyes.
Silence still stubbornly remained.

"…It had to be said, Sakaki. I don't feel any sense of betrayal, nor anything else for that matter."

"So much for the knight of the round table. I thought we could at least depend on you to stand your ground." The driver of the yellow Evolution grimaced. "Weren't you the one with all the honour and pride and knightly swagger? Or was that all hot air you blew up our ass?"

"This isn't anything worth upholding with honour. Our actions aren't written in stone either. Just because we're Defense Line, doesn't mean we have to reject people who don't stand by our side."

"You two, really. Stop getting so carried away, Arthurian Knights. It makes me want to cringe that I'm teaming with you lot." An arrogant voice broke up the heating conversation. "We're just here to walk over anyone who challenges us, right? No need for all the politics and fake outrage."

"…The one who caused this mess has no right to complain. The only reason I resorted to offering an alliance was because that would have helped relieve some of the pressure. We've a lot of people to race, all within a month as well."

"Ain't that great? You get your honour, I get my fame and this guy…" Yujiro slapped Sakaki's shoulder with a sneer. "He gets the joy of being able to do something for once. How long has it been, since you last raced seriously?"

"Don't. Touch me." In a vicious hiss, Sakaki shoved Yujiro's arm away. "Being allied with you…after that debacle, the thought repulses me."

"Hey, chill man, chill. I know you're a man of disgustingly high virtue, but is that all it takes to offend you? It's just some b*tch I met in high school who clung too tightly to me, no big deal."

As Yujiro replied, a pink blur screamed pass. The car was unmistakable. A bright pink Aristo with a body kit taken right from a DTM racer. The car Ayase Tsurugi used in place of her Chaser. Their idle chatter was broken up by its sharp bark, as if to refute his casual dismissal.

Their conversation was silenced. It was a strange sight, no doubt. But it was more than that. The Toyota gave off an air of danger, an air of desperation. They could only watch as the Aristo frantically accelerated away. Even to these veterans, its pace was disturbing. The strong stench of worn out brakes and tires only confirmed their worries.

…What's this? You trying to make some kind of statement, doing this? Am I supposed to feel bad or guilty? Hah.

Yujiro smirked silently. He knew it was her. The two other aces, of course, didn't recognise this car. But he knew. The way the Aristo seemed to fly straight towards him as it exited the previous corner, the brutal driving that even managed to briefly silence him, he couldn't be mistaken.

That's right! Go on, crash and burn! See if that'll change anything! You would've done well to submit like a good little girl. Now run and hide, like you did back then. Cower in fear, b*tch.

Staring straight at the back of the Aristo, he continued to smirk, his smile dripping with malice.
---
Ayase grip on the wheel tensed. The brief moment her glare crossed with his, it had set her off.

H-How…

That shameless arrogance.

H-How dare you…

It would have been different had he not paid her any attention. But to still carry that proud smirk…

HOW DARE YOU!

At that moment, the negativity in her heart boiled over. Her delicate motions became violent jerks, any lingering sense of fear was crushed. Even as she approached the corner ahead, she didn't allow herself to lift.

She braked hard, her foot stabbing sharply into the pedal.

N-No response?!

The brakes felt feeble through the pedal. In her wild charge, she had completely neglected the difference between her Chaser and this car. The power and pace of the 1000hp 1GZ-FE in the Aristo was incomparable. With her daredevil braking, just one all-out sprint downhill had rendered them useless. Now, she charged towards the guardrails with little hope of slowing in time.

Don't f**k with me!

With a piercing screech, the Aristo suddenly snapped sideways. Ayase violently tugged at the handbrake, flicking the car into the corner. Accompanied by the sound of the engine bouncing off its limiter, the car scraped past the outer guardrail in a flurry of tire smoke.

Image size reduced, original size: 1600 x 1080. Click here to view the image in its original dimension.

A soft tearing sensation shook the car's frame from behind. Her daring move had slammed one side of the Aristo's rear quarter into the railing. The battered rear bumper now hung off the car by a thread, and the guardrail itself was barely holding up. From the slight reluctance she felt in the steering, the possibilities of damage to the frame and suspension couldn't be ruled out either.

"Tsk…"

"H-Hey…Ayase?"

"…What."

"…Aren't you overdoing this a little bit…? Just a little maybe?"

Mayumi gently placed her hand over Ayase's. It was tense, smeared in a cold sweat. She applied more force, trying to pry her hand free from the handbrake.

"…Leave me be. That was just bad judgement."

Ayase's cold words fell emotionlessly.

"Had I saw that earlier…"

She thought back to that moment. The spot where she was aiming for. If she had been bolder with her corner exits, she might have hit him.

"If I had…"

This would have been all over.

---

The events of that night marked the start of the conclusion. The conclusion of this drawn out chapter in her life.

Her behaviour, her aggression that night, it set the trend for the days that followed.
Of course, this didn't spell the end of her sanity, nor did it lead to the rise of another demon who specialised in road rage. However…

If I put more force into it…

She could overcome it, she thought.

If she threw everything she had into it, if she beat down everything with brute force, establish a streak of terror matched only by Kagerou, if she could achieve that, she could stand a chance in finally moving on.

She could even bring him to fear her.

Such an image, it had to be said, brought a smile to her emotionless face.

Hence, she arrived that night determined to drench her hands in blood.

Everything was set. She had picked the busiest night of the week, she had steeled her heart and hardened her resolve. Her target that night was very simple.

To raise havoc against the first person to challenge her. To start a new panic, to shroud herself in the community's fears.

Then, I'll be able to break free from this…

With these words in mind, she took her first step out of the Aristo, into the darkness.

----

Akagi, final checkpoint.

The race between the R32 and R26R was coming to a close.
It could hardly be called "a race".

The outcome seemed almost hopeless. Vanessa could only watch as the Skyline continued to blast forward, leaving her behind with ease.

Forget about winning, even keeping up is pushing it!

Vanessa could feel it, the frustrating sensation of the tires reaching their limit. This feeling of the front tires slipping away from her control was building gradually, but it was enough. At every crucial moment, the tires would give way, and she would lose even more ground.

"Kugh….! What am I doing wrong here?!"

Where did I go wrong? What's different from that time…? Is it really just the car…? Is that all there is to this?

As she desperately searched for an answer, the R32 continued its relentless drive to victory. The gentle curves that remained set the stage for Adachi to end this anti-climatic race with a demoralising display of her newfound speed. Before even reaching the consecutive hairpins that marked the course's end, she had built up a crushing lead. The Megane had vanished from her sight.

Yet, Adachi's expression held no delight, no joy was felt in her faultless exacting of revenge.

Is this really what I got so paranoid over? Something this…easy? Are you joking me, Andersson?

She looked back and lifted off the throttle. A cold disappointment had settled down in her heart.

This is what I lost to? Don't f**k with me!

There was still no sign of the Megane. She knew from the start that this was going to be the outcome, that the disparity between them now was far too great for skill to make up for. Yet she had hoped for more.

"Tsk. If you won't take this seriously, then we may as well end this farce."
With only disdain and disappointment in her heart, she firmly pushed down on the throttle.

"N-No…!!"

Vanessa watched helplessly as the GT-R's brake lights vanished into the night once more. The gap that she had given her all to close up had been torn wide open in matter of seconds. It was over. She didn't want to accept it. She couldn't accept it.

At that moment, she saw them in her mind. The scornful, disappointed faces of her supporters. The people who had boarded this hype train, the people who's support was what she deemed to be the ultimate mark of her success.

Their faces, real or otherwise, soured this crushing reality all the more.

…I…I’ve…lost…?

Vanessa closed her eyes with a frustrated sigh. There was nothing she could do. Faced with this reality, she could only feel confusion within her first taste of defeat.

---

Adachi sat on her R32, arms crossed with a bitter expression. Despite the spectacular victory, there wasn't a trace of elation in her face. In fact, she felt disappointed. Disappointed at how stupidly obsessed she was, how she handled the ordeal from before.

Firmly pulling up beside the R32, Vanessa gritted her teeth. Like it or not, she'll have to face this loss.

"So…I’ve lost."
Adachi frowned slightly in response. Her eyes carried an indifference that, intentionally or otherwise, belittled Vanessa's efforts.

"You must be so proud of yourself now huh? Felt good, didn’t it? Finally able to get your revenge and all…"

"On the contrary, that was bitterly disappointing. For me to have been beaten by the likes of you…especially given your performance today, it's only insulting."
"Well, sorry that I couldn't meet your expectations…" Vanessa sulked with a sour voice. "Clearly, I was outmatched tonight. But…"

"You still want to do this…? Haven’t you had enough?"

"If you burned me once, surely you’re confident that you can do it the second time. What do you have to lose?"

"…You’re just really asking for this, aren’t you?"

"It's called optimism." Vanessa turned away, the first part of her softly spoken reply muffled by a fleeting breeze. "Meet at Akina's peak in two weeks' time. We'll settle it there. That result will be final, whatever it may be."

Adachi let out a bothered sigh as she brushed aside a lock of hair. Even at the sound of this challenge, she couldn't give the same, eager response she used to. The fire in her heart, the burning desire for revenge that had brought her so far, had been put out. Be it the car, her skill, the conditions, that she could exact such a humiliating revenge was something she found hard to believe. Yet, it was also for all the wrong reasons. The ease of this victory…that alone unnerved her.

…Did you see this from the start? This outcome-

"Come on…" Vanessa's voice cut off her thoughts, straining to contain her anger. "Speak up!"

…Once more then.

To confirm my fears. As a reassurance.

"You’re on."

With those thoughts in mind, Adachi gave her reply. Even as she stepped towards her car, their was doubt growing inside her.

"It goes without saying…" As both drivers moved away from each other, Vanessa spoke out once more. "This time, even if it's a crushing loss for me…you do not hold back. This will be the last time we cross swords. Give it everything we have."
I wouldn't have it any other way.

Climbing into the R32, Adachi pulled out her phone.

"Tetsuo. I won."

"Oh, ain't that great? How do you feel right now?"

She could tell from his voice. His confidence wasn't misplaced, neither in her ability, nor her ego.

"…You'd know already, so I'm not gonna answer."

"It doesn't feel too good this time, does it. Well…I guess that marks some growth. Shin's about to get started, so I'll talk to you later. Good job tonight."

-つづく-

This post has been edited by Rin on Dec 10 2014, 08:49 AM

Ok... I've been out of the loop for awhile now but I guess its safe to say that Saburo's quite notorious both as a driver and a ladie's man.

The story's been bridged well, though I still have a lot of back-reading to do.

Keep it up Rin

This post has been edited by RB33 on Dec 13 2014, 10:39 PM

Which chapter are you reading man, the story's already shifted focus. We'll go back to him, just not now.

Glad you're still around…even if you credited the wrong guy…

The last two chapters... Real life's put me on a tight leash lately XD

I understand, we're all busy people. I'm all the more grateful you still take the time out of your schedule to drop in every so often.

>how does the Queen of Pink handle her adversary?Watch out for next episode whenever it comes out guys~
>the megane is usurped from its throne as the R32 pulls off an amazing win..watch out for the conclusion,whenever it comes out..

hmm...regarding the flashback chapter,its unusual to see the "perfect girl" hated all over the school..Breaking the stereotype where most people admire-no....the correct term is worshipping the *insert name here* the great...

Very nice touch on Vanessa vs Adachi,it goes to show that YOU DON'T NEED TIMESKIP in order to completely overpower the opponent...I swear to god timeskips are my bane of existance...

Huh?No actual constructive critics?Eh i only spotted on typo and no biggie tbh..

>Spotting a typo

Smh.

Typos are the bane of my existence.

Sorry about the posting times being a bit off lately, you can expect the next, groundbreaking, awe-inspiring jaw-dropping, genuinely ah-bloody-mazing, game-changing, blah blah blah episode within 3 weeks, as per the regular schedule. It's just getting me and Rin being busy with life.

And just knowing you still drop by every so often is good enough, fluffy time-controlling dog. :3

No diabetes inducing stuff to ruin the srs business mood pls. Just one inu is enough.

Can't just leave my friends here hanging even if the corporate world has pretty much dominated my schedule hehehe

I am actually surprised the story managed to remain consistent until this far.

Compared to other stories I've read here they're either dragged out way too long or overstayed their welcome and are going nowhere. Many of these racing stories I read go nowhere. No... *points multiple random directions* where.

I am not gonna say which, but at least here the focus of the story seemed straightforward enough and wasn't done out of malice of hating someone in real life, as opposed to some conspiracy I suspect from other authors around.

Glad this story managed to remain true to its core without bending real life issues and just focus on telling a great story that is needed to be told. lol

I've had my fill of real-life-reflected stories from psuedo-philosophical fanatics thinking they as authors are absolute all the time with their perceptions! XP

Sorry...just mumbling lol.

Oh hi again.

I'm still waiting for your thoughts on the past few chapters you know. It's like a drug, I get withdrawal syndrome if I don't get something periodically.

Ayase's really on the edge here, isn't she...? I really hope this arc of hers have a satisfying end. All these tension and drama from a traumatic past is really kinda painful for me to swallow but I am willing to sit through it because I really wanted to know how will she move on and resolve her past with this.

Controlling that 1000 hp Aristo is going to be such a chore....I imagine.... Man, did I forgot to say that maneuver she did was pretty dang awesome? Not any professional racers can do that and come out unscathed.

I really just hope people don't get lazy and asspull their talents like that out of nowhere though and for some reason I find this to be rather believable compared to Takumi's Plot-Device 4-Wheel-Perfect 4-Wheel Drift without scraping walls at 100 km/h and not tipping the cup water even one single bit, which is pretty flippin' ridiculous if you ask me.

Meanwhile on Vanessa's side...

So Adachi won....but I never thought she'll win like THIS!

Honestly I expected some struggle since the last time she raced Vanessa there was a lot of tension here and there...it might be the course or something else...but this Adachi...she's an entirely different beast!!

I really didn't expect her to turn into this calm and deadly racer that stomps the rivals with that beast of a car like how a GT-R can really dominate if driven right.

I really am interested in seeing how Vanessa is gonna go through this huge a wall to grow as a driver. The change of character personality between her and Adachi are really intriguing to say the least...I guess "you reap what you sow" is indeed true here.

Vanessa's luck is slowly running out I bet....boy the character build up just keep coming strong even without the main casts....keeps me pumped in reading this!

Keep up the good work, man.

You guys are severely underrated, IMO. I really hope there will be more people reading this.

Well, it'll be a good end. Satisfying or not, I'll leave it for you all to decide. Even if it's a few chapters off.

It's not her car so to hell with it, smash it up, why not?

I hope the complete 180 in personality and behaviour didn't catch you out. Ok it did. Well, this chapter will explain it, so just sit tight as we bring Vanessa's story to a brief pause. There's the entire story to update, after all.

Last I checked, these two girls were very much part of the main cast.

I'd say it's the shoddy start that scared them all away.

How long will this series go on? Just curious.

This post has been edited by Akiko on Dec 30 2014, 09:00 AM

Code 28: Doubts and Paranoia

Ayase stepped out of the Aristo and embraced Hakone's foggy darkness. Quietly, she scanned her surroundings with her eyes narrowed. The black/green RX-7 had yet to arrive.

"Hey, I promised a ride up to the peak. We're here. I need the car after this, so out. Now."

With a cool voice, she ordered the half-asleep Yamato out of the passenger seat.

"Seriously…Why so strict…"

She didn't bother replying to his groans. Her mind was far too preoccupied as it was.

As she expected, the activity at Hakone's peak had returned to its prime. The memory from her last time here were already in small fragments, but they were all very real. As was her determination. Her goal here tonight was very simple. To beat Yujiro Akutagawa. Not just to beat him in a race. But to beat him, physically. Then mentally. Then…

There was no need for her to take another step.

By then, she would have brought it all to an end. By shattering the illusion of this playboy with god-like skill; by surprising him, by taking the initiative to confront him ahead of the others; by bringing him to his knees before her with a single, crushing defeat…

She could then brilliantly turn the world's attention towards her. By then, her every violent act against him would most likely be met with sympathy from even his most biased supporters. Then, she could finally move on.

Even if it felt extremely idealistic, it was completely achievable.

Some would call it a 'b*tch move', others would condemn her for manipulating mass sympathy, but that was not important.

Bzzzz. Bzzzz.

Her phone suddenly rang, quickly scattering her thoughts.

"Ayase! Did you hear?!"

Mayumi's urgent voice rang in Ayase's ears. Even through the phone, she could sense the desperation.

It pissed her off.

"I'm not about to hear anything if you keep shouting."

Gritting her teeth, she gave a dismissive reply.

"…Sorry."

But the apology only further irritated her.

Get to the point.

"So, what is it?" In the kindest voice she could muster up, Ayase sighed and gave an awkward, irked reply.

"He…"

"Him? Who? Misaka again? What is it with you-"

"No." Mayumi's breathless voice cut Ayase short. "Him. Look, I'm trying to not say his name, for your sake. So help me out. Don't be too dense."

"So…what about him? Be quick before I start pissing my pants, you know how scared I get when he's the topic. So disgustingly, shamefully scared…like a f**king kitten…"

Her voice grew softer as she spoke on, yet the rage in her voice built with each condemnation.

"Hey, is there something wron-"

"Hmmm?"

"You've been strange since that night. You're not doing stupid things again, are you? You're not, right?"

…You do know me too well.

This thought, tinged with a strange, sad fondness ran through Ayase's mind as she thought up her reply.

"No, no." Brushing aside a lock of hair, she paused and smiled briefly before continuing her blatant lie. "I'm over that. So, what did you make this call for? What about Yujiro did you want to tell me about?"

"He was beaten, very recently. Within an hour of us leaving Hakone that night."

These words wiped the smile off her face.

"W-What…?"

"Yeah. Some guy in an RX-7 beat him. Apparently, he was at the meeting too. I guess we were all too occupied with your passing out and all the hostilities to notice, but also at the meeting were two new racers. These two are from out of town. And by that I mean, they're not local to Japan. I guess with the NSX and RX-7 they fielded, these guys took their origins for granted."

Mayumi's explanation didn't reach her ears. At this point, it couldn't even be called an explanation. It was merely rambling. None of what she heard mattered. The fact was, simply, this.

The Ace she aimed for was defeated. She had her kill taken from under her nose. The element of surprise that she depended on was lost.

"Tell me about this guy…" Ayase's eyes quickly skimmed across the crowd, stopping at the sight of a pale blue RX-7. "The guy who beat him."

"Well…I…don't know. There's really nothing to say about him. At least, as far as racing here goes, that race was his debut-"

"Then what about everything else?"

"Hold on, hold on. Dammit, you're so damn pushy when you're on edge. Why the sudden desperation?"

"Just tell me all the rest of it, if you've got nothing more to say, I'm hanging up."

"Hey! Gimme a sec, ok…"

Ayase stopped listening at that point. A chilling prospect suddenly entered her mind.

She remembered the face of a certain boy. She couldn't recall his name, nor his build or features, but he existed. He was someone who, in those hateful days, had tried to stand up against this oppression. Like a knight, he would rush to her side when she needed it most. It was a precious, precious peace where she could recover from the insanity of her surroundings.

For a brief moment, anyways.

Long story short, one day, he stopped coming to her side. Every encounter since that day would be met with an evasive gaze, one which reeked of shame and disappointment.

She knew all too well what had happened.

While reaching out to help a damsel in distress was a cause any boy would throw themselves at, they daren't risk bringing similar isolation upon themselves. That threat alone would shake anyone's resolve. It was an important lesson she learnt.

"…Well, either way, next time you see that guy, the least you can do is go up to thank him. Or do you want me to be with you, so you don't end up beating the guy up for no apparent reason?"

I won't make that mistake again. I'll apologise beforehand, but so that he can't hold you hostage…

"Mayumi, it's fine…I'll go thank him myself."

Even acts of kindness…will be met with hostility.

--

Saburo sat at the top of Hakone pass' parking area. Watching the night traffic roll in through the end of the slipway, he let out a bored grunt.

"…Hmm…"

"What now, Saburo? Getting cold feet? Not like you to be nervous, you know?"

"No…it's just mild claustrophobia…there's just so many people here tonight. Ugh…"
"I told you to sleep a bit more." Sakuya sighed and grabbed Saburo's swaying body. "Insomnia's not something you'll ever get used to, so don't even try that. How many hours last night?"

"…Five."

"Not bad. Compared to none at all…which was the trend for the last few days."
"…Mm……"

Replying with a distance hum, Saburo closed his tired eyes and leaned back onto the bright red Supra. As he rested, the world surrounding him faded away.
This oppressively large crowd that flooded in endlessly.

The seemingly undefeatable block that was Kanagawa's defense line.
Hatori's evasiveness that night, the thugs she faced.

Even Sakuya.

One by one, they faded away from his mind.

What remained would be the sole source of his fatigue.

The scarlet devil…huh.

One of the many anomalies roaming Kanagawa's mountain roads. The one that inspires unrivaled fear in the hearts and minds of local racers.

Her crimson glare petrified him. The prospect that he could well be her next target was certainly good enough an excuse for losing sleep.

How many have been brutally taken off the road by her?

How many more would fall victim to her?

How long until he would look back in his mirrors, escaping at full speed, only to realise too late that his fate was sealed?

He played out the scene in his mind, time and time again. Each time he'd try something different, a more daring entry, a wilder exit…it'd always end in the same way.

Bang.

"Saburo!"

"Argh!"

With a sharp cry, he woke up violently. A blunt pain burnt through the back of his head, forcing his eyes open.

"…Ugh…Hmm?"

"Don't give me that. You were dozing off, so quit acting tough."

"Tch…"

"Did that hurt? Your head came down with quite a bang…"

"I'm not that frail, you know…"

"Just worried about you-"

"No need, really. Anyway…we really should keep our distance from 'her'."
Noticing his tense voice, Sakuya instantly understood the problem.

"If it does come down to that…Let me handle it. I’ll deal with her when things get rough. Trust me with that much."

"It's not like I have much choice. But even with that said, I really shouldn’t relax yet. We have to be on lookout for her too…something tells me that she’s close to where we are."

"Look. Saburo." Sakuya looked him in the eyes sternly with a firm grip on his shoulders. "There's a limit to paranoia. I can handle that brat, on the road or otherwise. You just do your thing and I’ll watch your back as usual. She's been shut down before, and I'll do it again."
"If you say so…"

"Something still bothering you?"

"A while ago, on the night the last ace of Tochigi called me out, I ran into Hatori. Or rather, she ran into me, while escaping from two other racers."

"Escaping?"

"Yeah. Those guys seemed far too aggressive for something as simple a three way race."

"Heh…I bet she went too far with the flirting again and ticked off yet another new team."

"I don't think it's that simple. These guys were pretty serious about bringing her down. They put their lives on the line for it. Worst case scenario, they'd actually have lost their lives to that move of hers…"

"Hey, I may be close to you, but I don't know what's in your head. What move are you talking about? Actually, forget about it…I'll just ask her next time I see her. You've got something more pressing to worry about."

As she finished her sentence, Sakuya gestured to Saburo's left. Parked in the abandoned corner of the car park, a crimson Z was left idling.

No doubt, it was her car.

The driver was here. No doubt about it. Even without seeing the car, they both could feel her presence. This much was enough.

"…What did I say. It's not paranoia when I get it right, is it?" Saburo rubbed his forehead with a frustrated groan.

"You want me to straighten things up then?"

"No. Of course not. This isn't our mess. She may be trying to get close, but as long as we don't cross paths, we shouldn't do anything. It's just a waste of time, given how much we'll have to do to get out of that situation."

"…Hmph." Pulling her cap over her eyes, Sakuya let out a disappointed grunt. "If you say so."

---

Vanessa stood in silence, watching the R32's rear lights flicker as it moved further and further away from her.

"So…I lost, huh."

Her usual cheery voice finally returned, if only to speak those unfitting words. With her voice shaking, she pulled out her phone.

Ring, ring.

The mundane sound of the ringtone felt all the more piercing in her heart at this point.

Even though she was used to losing, to her father, to those who had ran ahead of her in her early days…

She couldn't help but be shaken by this defeat.
"H-Hello…?"

"Hello, Vanessa…it’s me." "Are you okay? You sound….shocked."

"To get to the point…I blew it. I just lost. Badly."

"To who? Where are you right now?"

"…Adachi. You remember her. That crazy screaming b*tch from Saitama. You know, the one desperate to put me in my place?"

"She's back? I thought she fractured her arm or something and was out of racing for good."

"Clearly not. But yeah…She's back alright. New machinery and new personality. I got blown out of the water. Completely."

With a shaky sigh, Vanessa took a deep breath.

"Listen…just do that, actually. Just listen. I want to get this out of my system…I'm shaking right now. Just hear me out, a little longer."

"…All ears. Just…don’t be so hard on yourself, okay?"

"Y-yeah…….anyway…I was just thinking…maybe I rely a little bit too much on that….you know what I am talking about right?

"Hmm?"

"Come on…you know, right?

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"Ah…right."

It was a rare condition, but its existence was commonplace. If Vanessa had asked any random person on the street about its symptoms, they would all doubtless come to the same conclusion. They would all know the power she possessed.

Total recall.

Otherwise known as photographic memory, on paper, it was the ultimate cheat code for racing. She had demonstrated its power in her debut battle with Megu. She used one run to memorise the course with stunning accuracy, and with the element of surprise on her side, she would take down the S15 in one swift run, letting her leave her first mark on Saitama's touge history. It formed the cornerstone of her success.

But it wasn't the be all, end all weapon that most would think of it as. It only leveled the playing field by largely eliminating the home course advantage, and even then, she had to adjust her lines and braking points on the fly with only one run as reference. It only served as a very effective means of learning a course.
Vanessa remembered her father's words to her. The explicit warning to not exploit this ability too readily. Yet, her overwhelming success at Saitama made her question this strict order.

It's not like I wanted to, really. There's just a bitter reality to contend with. If I don't meet it with everything I have, it'd have been me going into hospital that night…And that would've been an even worse message to send home.
Vanessa laughed at the thought, trying to hide her disappointment with her usual cheerful thinking.

"But…"

Aoi's ever calm voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Even so, it's completely passive, and on top of that, you should know how many factors can contribute to a loss. It's not necessarily your fault, or its fault, that this happened."

"That's actually not important though. What matters is that, at the end of the day…I lost." Her voice still trembling, Vanessa's brightening mood suddenly plunged. "You know, I learnt something from beating Adachi the first time. No matter how hard you fight, no matter how fresh to the scene you were, once your streak gets broken the first time, this crowd will tear you up and forget you in an instant. Forget respect or adoration… Just look at the aftermath…no one even gave her a second thought despite how much coverage that race got. It's not like we're actually idols or something either."

To her crushingly depressing thoughts, Aoi could offer no retort. It seemed all too real to rebuke.

"That's why I thought I'd go at it with everything I had, cutting every corner along the way. And…here we are now. There's a rematch in two weeks. If this falls through…chances are, my time in the spotlight is over."

"At that moment, maybe. Not forever though."

"…I gave it my all, every step of the way, to get to this p oint, you know. If the ending is going to be as half-assed as this, I don't know if I'll be able to live with it. This is my last shot. I won't fade into the pack of regulars. That's where I stand."

"If you say so." Aoi gave her usual indifferent reply, pushed back by Vanessa's sudden outburst."…With that said, what now?"

"The race is in two weeks, as said. Akina, downhill. One race, winner takes all. Are you free this week? I want someone to watch over me, even if only to serve as a benchmark."

"Don’t let your enthusiasm cloud your eyes though. I’ll practice with you if you want to get started as soon as possible."

"Tomorrow, noon, meeting at the peak then?"

"I'll see you then."

--

Ayase stood face to face with the driver of the blue RX-7. The crowd broke up his view of her, but she could see him all too clearly. As she stalked her prey from afar, Mayumi's summary of this driver played in her ears.

"Guy's named Kyle…tough to say, but get used to it. No last name given, so you can get really comfy and go on first name basis right of the bat. You won't have any trouble getting him settled into the family either, he's in the same business after all. From the other side of the world, but who cares."

Another guy in another RX-7 in yet another daft color…the similarities keep piling up.

"That RX-7 of his, in Europe anyway, is probably one of the most famous tuner cars around. We're talking…national level shit here. This guy is for real. So if you ever had a cute side to you, now's the time to really flesh it out. You might score bigtime!"

Ah…who cares. Let's get this ordeal over with.

Drawing a deep breath, she made her move.

"Hey, you! Kyle or whatever!"

"Hmm?"

"Yeah, you. You're the one, right? The guy who put down that dog of an ace."

"…Heh, if you want to put it like that, sure." With a soft chuckle, Kyle extended his hand. "So…you know my name, what's yours?"

"…W-What does it matter to you?!" Caught off guard by this gentlemanly gesture, Ayase reacted before she could silence her embarrassment.

"Hey, it's just formalities. At least give me a name so I can tell my friends back home about this cute girl with a bad temper."

"Ts-Tsu…It's Ayase." Reluctantly, she shakily gripped the outstretched hand, replying in a suppressed voice.

"So, what do you want from me, kitty cat? After those confident first words, I don't think there's a need for this shyness." Kyle teased with a friendly grin. Despite Ayase's aggressive words, it only registered as the flustered stutters of a love struck girl.

Ayase couldn't respond, her edge was lost once again.

"Something to do with that ace, I'm guessing? Don't need to thank me, he was an eyesore. I mean, his car was bad but his image really was something else altogether. I'm surprised he managed to make it this far-"

"Yeah. He's an eyesore." Ayase interrupted Kyle's boasting in a serious voice. "But…he was also my target."

"Hmm?"

"You defeated him before I could. I won't bother telling you about the side effects of this…I'll just say this. You took my kill, so it's only fair that I get to try and topple you, right?"

A silence that existed only between these two drivers fell. Time, for the both of them, ground to a halt.

Staring deep into his deep, blue eyes, her heart was overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.

He broke contact, turning to face his car. In doing so, she felt the same, burning adoration in his gaze that she felt towards her beloved Chaser. She knew this feeling, one of fondness and unconditional love. She saw the many hundreds, if not thousands of hours of blood, sweat and tears that would have doubtless been put towards the RX-7.

Yet, she was about to destroy this, seemingly for no apparent reason. She would cause potentially irreversible damage to it, and she knew in her heart, she would feel nothing but regret in doing so.

With each passing second, her intense glare softened. This conflict melted away her once iron-clad determination.

…Can I…really do this?

She had her doubts.

Is revenge…really this important…?

She knew the answer. All along, she had known.

…Yes.

It was a bitter truth she openly accepted. Her pain wasn't so slight that it could be swayed by half-baked sentimentality.

If he's as good as she says he is, he sure as hell can dig himself out of this ditch. It's not so much to ask, is it…? To just play dead for me, just once? No…?

She knew that would be the answer. Of course it would be "No". Even if she asked herself that question, even knowing the potential problems of turning this down…she wouldn't say yes.

It's a shame…most likely, we could have been good friends in different circumstances.

Kyle's eyes narrowed slightly, briefly meeting Ayase's confident glare with his own. Seeing the unwavering determination in her eyes, he could only give in to its dominating pressure.

"Heh…"

Smiling gently once again, he took a deep breath and gave his reply.

"Not one to talk things out, eh? Likewise here…but even so, to get into so many fights so quickly, I must say this talent of mine is quite something…"

He shot a glance at Ayase's direction. Her expression had softened slightly, but still gave off a firm determination. Beneath it, he felt a touch more. It was a complex blend of emotions, a mix which he instinctively feared.

"Okay, okay, enough's enough. You're angry I beat you to him, and want to race. Sheath your sword already, you're not doing a great job of hiding your killing intent."

Ayase heard none of this, her mind still trapped trying desperately to justify her future actions.

"I'll lead, alright? As he did for my race."

The metallic clunk of the RX-7's door shutting rang like a gunshot in Ayase's ears. It snapped her out of her daze. She couldn't turn back now.

I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry…from the bottom of my rotten heart…But I need this more than I need another friend. I need this chance to turn the tables…I need…to take this chance…once…just to gamble…just…once…

"What are you waiting for, kitty cat? I thought you wanted to race?"

So forgive me…please?

"…Yeah."

Her eyes were faintly lit with regret. She felt a bitter shame and sadness crush her heart.

"Let's go."

Code 29: Endless Climax

An eerie silence set the scene for the night's tragedy.

Two cars now charged down Hakone pass. A teal RX-7 and a Passionate Pink Aristo.

The grey, misty roads were lit up by these vivid colours. No doubt, these two would be the center of attention tonight. Watching the RX-7 as it danced through the narrow slipway, Ayase steeled her nerves. She followed very closely, leaving no room for error.

There was no need for it tonight.

She knew what she had to do.

She knew, too, that she had the machine for the job. In its day, this Aristo was renown as a top tier wangan racer. Even now, very few cars that raced on these roads have such awe-inspiring power and acceleration.

One wrong move…and it's game over for the both of us…

The Aristo's turbos let out a chatter, as if mocking her hesitance. She had unknowingly lifted off the throttle.

It's only natural, right?

The stakes were too high, the dangers too great.

…And this is only the start…!

In the brief moment the Toyota stopped accelerating, Kyle had already lunged ahead. The teal RX-7 began its relentless charge downhill. He could tell just from how close Ayase was able to follow him, he was completely out of his league power wise.

"Really…and I thought the 600 I have would be more than enough. Every charming girl has her whack side, I guess."

Completely oblivious to his situation, Kyle laughed in the face of this imense disadvantage. Carefully controlling his speed, he slowly let the Aristo close the gap. The long, undulating stretch that is downhill Hakone's first section made it all too easy for Ayase to pass. To keep his lead, he'd need to focus entirely on defending.

"That's so dull a race though…Ahh well, I'll have to make the most of it, I suppose. Now, forgive me for being a dick, but you're not going to pass me without a fight. Let me see what you're made of."

The RX-7 smoothly shuffled across to the center of the road, blocking off Ayase's route. It was shameless, but if he simply accepted being outclassed, he had a feeling it'd only further anger the short tempered girl chasing him.

Best give her a night to remember, get a smile on that pretty face of hers.

He let out a shaky laugh as he wrestled with the RX-7, trying to keep it centered on the cresting road. With 600hp at his disposal and the 1000hp Toyota bearing down on him, it would be no exaggeration to say that surviving this sector alone was a feat in itself.

Yet he knew, there was much more to come.

Behind the RX-7, the Aristo maintained its unnervingly close distance. Ayase eyed the Aristo's speedometer, cautiously manipulating her speed to reel Kyle in.

…You might have beaten him here, but I doubt you're completely familiar with this section. The crests and dips…coupled with the high speed…a little more pressure, a little more speed on my part, and that'll be that. Game over.

It was such a stupidly simple plan, it could hardly be called a tactic. All she had to do was ever so slightly close the gap at regular intervals, lure him to drive harder, drive faster, then let a gentle touch finish the job.

Would…that really suffice?

This simplicity, the softness of her approach, a growing fear that this may not be enough existed in her heart.

No. This will do. Leave the actual brutality to that gorilla. I'll leave it to the internet to decide on the gory details. Besides…if I do any more, the guy next to me would be in a world of trouble.

Smiling to herself, she glanced across at Yamato. She had ignored his barrage of protests and forced him back into the car as a witness. His recount of her brutality would be the prologue to her very own story. It was almost too perfect a setup.

Now…let's not waste any more time!

The two cars had arrived at the first true corner of Hakone's downhill. The RX-7 gently eased on its brakes, trying to carry as much momentum through the sweeper as it can.

"…Huh?"

Kyle frowned at the sight in his mirror. Even though every fiber in his body commanded him to brake, the Toyota seemed to accelerate onward. He watched, dumbfounded, as the Aristo reduced its distance to naught in a single move.

"Did I get this bit wrong…?"

Uncertainty clouding his judgment, Kyle hesitated. As he did, the RX-7 slowly drifted into the outer lane, opening a gap barely wide enough for another car to pass. Ayase instantly seized this opportunity. Veering down the inside, she forced the Aristo into the corner. Despite its immense grip and downforce, her entry speed was too much for the car to handle.

Gotcha!

Calmly managing the understeer, she thrust the Aristo into the back of the Mazda. The tap wreaked havoc on the RX-7's stability. It twitched and slid outwards as its rear tires rapidly gave in to the momentum of the impact. Further and further, Kyle drifted towards the outer guardrail.

Once more…!

Ayase's foot moved into position, her blood burning with determination. She gripped the steering wheel hard, bracing herself for the next impact. All she needed to do now was to drive her foot into the firewall, and it would be done.

Yet…

An equally violent force resisted her foot. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't downward.

Come on! Why can't I do it?!

It was a split second that lasted an eternity. She endlessly willed herself to accelerate. She wished with all her might that for heart wrenching moment to pass.

Why?!

She could see it now. The RX-7 shifting outwards, its brake lights flickering in the darkness. She saw it all shift along, frame by frame. The opportunity to attack beckoned her. It was all presented to her on a silver platter.

So why…?! Why…Why can't…I do this?!

Her shoulders felt heavy, her movements were blunted, every muscle in her body had tensed. An insurmountable pressure weighed down on her, physically and mentally. Glaring bitterly at her target, her gaze crossed with Kyle's.

She finally realised it.

Within the soft, carefree glance Kyle returned was his unyielding trust, his foolhardy belief in her. As a rival, a fellow racer, or otherwise. It didn't matter. His trust in her, even when faced by such a turn of events, brutally shattered her aggressive façade.

I…can't…do this.

Ayase's confidence completely crumbled. The Aristo let out another hiss from its wastegate, the light fluttering whistle again mocked her soft heart. She watched the RX-7 lightly bounce off the guardrail with a small spark, steadily adjusting its line to retake the lead. The inner lane was completely exposed, yet she made no attempt to attack.

…So pathetic.

She could only hang her head in shame as she passed up the opportunity.

Is this all I can do now? Is this what I'm reduced to? If that's how it is…how's this different to being beaten by him.

Her trembling body burned with a raging defiance. Exiting the corner, she drove her trembling foot into the accelerator. With a brutish roar, the Aristo unleased its almighty power. Its tires gave out a shuddering screech, the violent horsepower marking the tarmac with rubber. Catapulting out of the sweeper, Ayase once again aligned herself behind the RX-7.

Yamato glanced at Ayase. Her intense expression from the start had morphed into a complex mix of anger and disappointment. Silenced by her sudden rage, he could only watch in awe as she ruthlessly gave chase. The interior began to reek of worn tires and brake pads, and he could feel the car's increasing reluctance to accelerate.

"Ehh…Ayase-tan. Quick disruption. Maybe tone things down a bit? At this rate, you're going to have no tires left and no brakes to stop you…Even if you want to chase him to the edge of hell, tangling him in an out of control fireball isn't the best way to go abou-"

"If this thing can't take the punishment, I think you guys should just scrap it. I thought this thing was some kind of legend? If it can't hanle a little girl's tantrum, it's better off left as a fleeting memory."

I'll win this race…at any cost.
--

The Scarlet Devil…?

It was the crude nickname for the most threatening driver in recent history.

One way or the other…I'll have to face her.

It bothered him increasingly as time past. He had arrived at Hakone for a week. Seven nights, every night packed with intense racing, a large scale exhibition of driving and tuning skill. It was awe inspiring a sight, even for someone like him, who showed very little interest in these affairs.

Yet, in his shadow, he always felt a presence.

Like a vacuum within the activity, it was a haunting stillness positioned behind him. It would be the expectation for an attack every time he left that kept him on his toes.

Rumors may be only that…but photos can't lie…

The images he saw online flashed in his mind. The level of destruction was on a completely foreign level. He recalled the images of her prey, the almost unrecognisable state of their cars. He recalled them with a rare pity and sympathy.

How far would one have to fall to reach such a stage…Forget morality, the complete lack of sense in putting people in harm's way…just what kind of thinking would lead you to take that step logically…time and time again…

He couldn't begin to imagine. He had tried to. He placed himself in similar situations, one where he held in his hands, the fate of a racer's life.

It was a scene that played out in his dreams every so often. A blurred, disjointed scene, one where he was thrust into the heat of battle without context. He saw two cars, his black 180SX and another, indistinct form. He was giving chase in a close battle for the lead on an unfamiliar course.

The speed, the rush of adrenaline, they were on an entirely different level. Even if it was in a dream, the lack of control was disturbing. As though it was in fast forward. His field of vision was narrowed to just the situation before his eyes. Sounds were vague, their presence was questionable to begin with.

The car ahead suddenly broke from the high speed rhythm.

Charging towards the blur, the nauseating surge suddenly paused. Before he noticed, the near nonexistent split second that he needed to break away from this inevitable crash had become a moment suspended in time. Like slowing a replay down to a frame by frame progression, the world in his dream had ground to a halt.

It was always at this moment, at the point where his thoughts finally caught up with the surreal events, that he'd hear this thought in his ears.

"…For victory, would you risk this accident?"

No.

Of course he wouldn't.

He firmly denied the possibility of an alternative answer.

"…And that'll be your downfall."

The world around him faded into monochrome, and from the center of his vision, the frozen image of the dream was eroded by a glaring white.

"Saburo…"

A shimmer of light filled his squinted eyes.

Image size reduced, original size: 1600 x 1080. Click here to view the image in its original dimension.

"Uh…ugh…" Slowly, Saburo raised his head, still disorientated by the stinging glare from the street lamps. He felt a soft, warm flesh cushioning his neck. Placed gently above his face was turned out to be a cap.

"Saburo…you feeling better?" Sakuya helped him to his feet before continuing, her face tinted a gentle, embarrassed red. "Wake up already. Geez, you slept faster than I thought. You’re not really as tough as you look, you know?"

"Leave me alone…" Letting out heavy yawn, Saburo dusted himself off. Inch by inch, he lowered himself onto the floor, his body stiff from the awkward position. "It's just the usual deal, nothing to worry about…"

"That’s why you should rest up before a trip like this. I can’t be your pillow all the time, you know."

"I wouldn't mind if you asked though"…Like I can say that!

She thought to herself with her face dyed in an increasing red.
"Yeah yeah…Ugh…what time is it?"

"Almost eleven. Why, feel like heading back? Seen enough?"
"Hmm…" Turning to face the crowd, a soft wind blew by, muting his reply.
"Leaving so soon, outsider?"

A clear, powerful voice resonated from behind them. It was an unwelcoming snort, tinted with a belittling tone.

Sakuya and Saburo exchanged a quick glance, confirming their suspicions. The haughty voice, the arrogance.

"Sakaki…what's the occasion? I thought you were the type to keep your distance from us 'outsiders'?"

"Since this is our first proper meeting outside of that gathering last time, I've taken it upon myself to greet you in particular. Don't assume your actions have earned you this special treatment. You should have noticed, right? If your actions have caused such a rift in the line's integrity, why do people here…just not care about you? That's how much you've done here. Nothing."

"Am I supposed to feel offended?" Saburo snorted back in response. "You're as big an asshole as they said you'd be, I'll say that much."

"I took valuable time out to search for you, if not for following orders, I'd have had you kicked back to clearing up the mess in Akagi the first night you showed up."
Saburo suddenly paused, a profound confusion forming on his face.

"Yes, I know. We all do. Your next target is Akagi, then Akina. You plan to clear those two courses as quickly as possible by letting others pave the path for you. Then, with the element of surprise on your side, you'd set your sights here. Ignoring the brewing storm in your home region that I've no doubt you've noticed, in a bid to end it all in one sweeping blow. Bold…but foolish. Am I wrong?"

It's hardly as amazing as you make it out to be…but it's still unnerving to have my moves dictated. But… With a forced smile, Saburo turned to face Sakaki.
So what?

So what if you figured it out? So what if you know where I'll be next? Doesn't matter. At all.

"Heh. Good job, you figured it out. Do you want a star for it? Or would you rather a medal, 'knight of the round table'? It's not hard to guess my next move anyway, I've been moving in a straight line right from the start. It's only my luck that Saitama, Ibaraki and the rest of Tochigi decided to fall flat on their faces. Must have been a bad day for you, that day."

Sakaki's glare remained still, unmoved by Saburo's taunts. With the atmosphere between these two frosting over rapidly, Saburo smirked as he turned away.
"We're about to leave, just so you know. I'm not here to pick fights, not tonight. You seem plenty serious enough to try that though. Just keep that in mind before you send your lackeys out to mess with us. There's always someone watching, and the line's image is bad enough as it is…you're smart enough to fill in the rest of the story."

"…Hmph." Hearing these words, Sakaki stepped forward with an equally confident smirk. "You're sorely underestimating our influence, if you believe that bluff would work. However, just tonight, I'll let you take your leave. Come back when you've the guts to bring your own car for the race."

"Why wait? Are you hoping for someone else to take me out first, keep your knightly hands clean? You said you know where I'll be, right? Now, just try and stop me."

With a cool glare, Saburo pushed past the ace. Even as he climbed into the Supra, he held a slight fear in his heart. Impressive it may be at riling up rivals, the hollowness of his threat was painfully apparent to him. He was certain, regardless of time or place, or the car he was in, the Aces of Kanagawa were still out of reach.

He slammed the door shut, sealing himself inside the Supra. Cut off from the outside world, cut off from the need to put on airs. Here, in the brief silence between him getting in and Sakuya opening the driver's door, he felt his doubts swarm and grow in his heart.

It was at that moment, he noticed.

In the corner of the side mirror's reflection, a faint glimmer of red.

---

Yamato watched in silence as the race between the Aristo and RX-7 unfolded. The atmosphere inside the Toyota was tense. It weighed down on his cheery mood so much so that his shoulders felt sore. At the same time, he felt…different. The combination of the most powerful, track orientated car of the shop and Ayase's skill should have brought the race to a close much earlier. But he felt a trembling within him, a restless alertness that had him on edge throughout the race.

He felt scared.

As shameful as it was for him to admit, the cold, thin film of sweat forming on his palms only pointed to this fear.

The brutish power threw him back and forth, with each burst from the engine came a shuddering screech from the rear tires. Yet, Ayase remained eerily silent. No, if anything, the tortured tires urged her to push harder still at the next corner.

Yet she would never make her move. As soon as the gap was closed, as soon as she entered the corner, Kyle would pull away. He saw it in her eyes, a split second where her hardened gaze softened. It was there that the RX-7 would just disappear once more.

Effortlessly.

The outrageous oversteer that followed spelled out a warning to the fleeing Mazda. It was a frustrated, enraged roar from Ayase's heart. Paying no attention to the state of her tires, she would force the Aristo sideways where possible, as though arrogantly pronoucing to Kyle that she was merely restraining herself.

Yamato watched this dangerous cycle repeat itself at every corner. With each corner, the Aristo would float further and further from its line. Ayase's cool expression strained as she increasingly struggled to bring the Aristo back in line.

"What are you trying to do?" His voice slightly shaking, he finally managed to ask. "Is this some kind of terror tactic? I think you could have taken him the first time, actually-"

"…If I crash, you'll be unemployed by Monday."

"…Yikes."

Shrinking back in a defeated manner, he glanced out the window. Scanning the blurred mountain scene, he caught sight of several roadsigns amist the barren green and brown. They flashed by too quickly for him to read them, but one thing was certain. This insane downhill charge was nearing its end. At the same time, Ayase's façade was cracking at its seams.

Diving into the final corner before the straight charge downhill to the tollbooth, the RX-7 suddenly faltered. It braked sharply. Too much, too soon. It was too perfect a chance. Ayase forced the Aristo down the inner lane, the two cars now entering the corner side by side. Just inches from one another, in such a dramatic move…

Surely…this much, I can get away with…?

She almost laughed aloud. Even when supposedly blinded by anger, she could afford to question this act. She knew the outcome, but still she tried. She tensed the muscles in her legs, desperately trying to drive it into the pedal.

To no avail.

As the road straightened once more, the Aristo's violent acceleration ceased. Be it due to its ridiculous power or Ayase's skill, the RX-7 had barely managed to pull away in the entire race. Yet, Ayase had chosen to give up.

"Ayase…You nearly had him…why stop now?"

Yamato hesitantly asked. She couldn't even tell how he asked that question. For the first time in the night, she was the one left in silence.

Silently, the Aristo limped to the tollbooth, its tires and its driver both worn out through and through.

--

Ayase gripped the Aristo's steering wheel with a bitter grimace.

I …

She was dumbfounded.

I couldn't do it?

Two successive strikes. Two opportunities where she could have sparked her legend.

She had let them all go.

No matter how hard she urged herself. No matter how hard she forced herself. That last push was never made.

She cursed herself. She cursed that hopelessly optimistic belief that she could bring wound her pride if she truly tried. It was fleeting, but at the very start, she thought it could be realised. One violent act that would bring this tragedy to a close.

It turns out…I'm too weak to even attempt that…

"Man…That was close. You had him, you know! Just need to bring out your guts and play rough, like you did with me-"

Yamato's voice, filled with a fake, mocking fear, intruded on her monologue.

"Sorry…Don't talk…just leave me be for a bit. I'm fine."

"Don't take this loss too seriously, this stuff happens all the time! Win some, lose some, right? No one expected this much from an Aristo, of all things. You really had him going, just needed to stop being so nice-"

"GET OUT! THE DOOR'S NOT LOCKED, GET THE f**k OUT! LEAVE ME ALONE! WHAT THE f**k DO YOU KNOW?!"

Yamato reflexively jumped back, his momentum only stopped by the carbon door.

Ayase almost instantly buried her head into the steering wheel. Her hair covered her eyes, her body curled up in a ball.

Seeing this change, he gently tugged the door handle. The last thing either of them wanted was for her outburst to escalate. But he wasn't willing to yield. He extended his other hand towards her.

"Don't be so difficult."

She stopped him.

"The slapstick routine ends here…It's not your fault, so don't take it personally…Something happened…the best thing you can do for me right now is to leave me alone. Save the fun and games for when things clear up. When they have, I'll contact you."

Her voice fell limp, losing all the rage from the outburst seconds ago. Taking a deep breath, she gave Yamato a weak push.

"I've answered all your questions, right? Now…please…just go."

Speechless, Yamato could only back away from her quivering body. There was a time to be persistent, but this was not it.

Within the eerily silent Aristo, only bitter, mocking thoughts ran through Ayase's head.

So weak you can't even hold on to the one friend you've made by yourself…heh.

Her eyes dulled by this bitter defeat, she helplessly collapsed into the steering wheel. Too tired for tears. Too disgraced to care.

If I can't win…

Then I should just disappear…

--

From a distance, a pair of eyes were fixed on Saburo.

Blood red in colour, the blonde haired girl


-NII-SAMA!

From her hiding spot, Kagerou lunged out. She didn't even bother getting into her Z. There was no need. She could reach him in a matter of seconds if she sprinted.

She was certain, this was the person she was looking for. His very presence gave her confidence in this belief.

Suddenly…

A black blur dived in her path with a shuddering screech. From the pitch black, a voice reached Kagerou's ears.

"…Really now. You kept your promise for all but a week. Already back to hunting? With your own claws, even."

In her path was a black R34.

"'Really now'…can't you just stay out of my way?! I'm not a kid and you're not my parent, so just leave me the f**k alone!"

"…You're not a kid so much as a lunatic…a childish one, I guess I'll give you that much." With a sigh, Ruka scanned the surroundings, searching for Kagerou's target. "So who's the unfortunate prey? No one here particularly stands out…at best, I only see the monkey from our first encounter."

"Hah? Who's that? As far as I'm concerned, the only animal here is this one who's not letting me do anything. If you're too stupid to figure it out, that's you. I'll spell it out for you. That red Supra, I'm after that. You got lucky last time. Let's see how you do when you're not the target."

"…Was that first bit meant to offend me?" Ruka gave a dismissive reply as she let out a tired yawn, completely ignoring Kagerou's taunting. "…Forgive me if I'm being blunt, family issues have been robbing me of my sleep-"

"Not my problem." Kagerou spat out these words, redirecting her glare to the GT-R. "Now, out of the way or I get physical. If I'm not careful, I might put you to sleep real quick!"

"…I guess it was too much to expect sympathy from you of all people." Almost disappointed, Ruka began quietly scouting the carpark for the Supra. "Well…try if you must. Unfortunately for you, I doubt your nails would do much harm to the panels, leave alone reach me."

"You know, that's just tempting me!"

In the mist of their bickering, Ruka's eyes glanced towards the entry of the carpark. Her eyes just caught sight of a Mark 4 Supra's rear as it pulled onto the slipway.

…Crisis adverted then…I guess?

"Is that so?" She let out a sigh of relief was soon as the Supra was out of sight. "If that's what you wish, then by all means, help yourself. However, if you were hoping to target that Supra…I've already won. This round, at any rate. Go take a good look around you, reflect on your rash behavior. I'll leave you be for tonight."

"Hah…?"

Before Kageoru could come up with a decent reply, the GT-R had already roared off towards the exit. Frowning slightly, she grimaced and began searching again for her target. It had long since escaped her grasp.

Ruka snickered slightly at the thought of Kagerou's livid outrage.

This is no laughing matter…but not seeing her reaction will remain a regret of mine. Just the thought of her throwing her childish tantrum makes makes me feel all warm inside. That was pretty well executed, if I may say so myself.

Carefully accelerating through the narrow exit of the parking area, she allowed herself to be distracted by her thoughts.

I'll probably have to watch over that brute from now on…so much for settling our score in a civil way.

It bothered her, but mixed in with the irritation, she felt a twisted relief that their fued was allowed to return to its more brutal roots.

I'll need Ayase's help all the more now, I guess…

It was a rare notion for her. The idea of relying on someone else when it came to her strongest area. She knew she could outclass just about anyone she met if it was about driving. It was merely a guess, based on simulation. But that much of herself, she could be proud of. Yet, now, she would only feel unease if she were to drive without Ayase or Kagerou by her side.

It was a conflicting feeling that left her confused. Such thoughts only slowed her down, or so she believed.

Tsk…let's just get home…some tea and a long night of driving should help…I do fair much better when it's all just on a screen.

"How is she doing…I wonder."

- To be Continued -

You sure are dedicated. Most writers would stop writing until they get feedback.

Kudos to you folk.

>the 1000hp Aristo is out
>THE 1000HP ARISTO IS OUT

B R A V O
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Tsunnnn…

I don't want to hear a word from the guy who ditched me.

Hmph.



But seriously, it was too awesome as a dumb idea to pass up.