A blazing hot sun. Bright, unrelenting sunlight glare. Red hot concrete.
Nothing that would hurt a racing car, that's for sure.
"And there they go! Round 11 of the Japanese Grand Touring Car Championship is go-go-go!"
The heat of the sun didn't matter on a day like this. Definitely not to the masses of excited, cheering cars occupying the spectator stands, witnessing the commencement of what they'd come to see.
Down below them on the twisting, winding Yokohama circuit, Round 11 of the Japanese Grand Touring Car Championship (better known as the JGTC) was well under way. Providing the excitement, twenty agile race cars, pushing themselves to the max, speedily yet carefully negotiating the circuit's many twisted curves, while each trying to advance further up the racing order. Enough entertainment to make time accelerate just as fast as the cars.
Twenty cars giving their all…but most eyes were on the three cars leading the blur of colour and the train of engine roars.
"As they come through to the penultimate lap, it's very close at the front! Xanavi's hot-shot Xin Akashi-Feng, in third, is trying is hardest to get through that Pennzoil yellow peril Hiroshi Hideyaki. Hiroshi's got a lot to think about though, he's still trying to find a way through the 3-time champion…"
The yellow Pennzoil Nismo GT-R in question was indeed weaving in and out of his silver Xanavi Nissan Skyline's path, firmly concentrating on the track at the same time. Ahead of him was another Skyline, except this one was coloured all in blue. And Hiroshi knew very well that he'd pull away into the distance any minute now. He'd known him for long enough to know that.
And sure enough, come the next corner, he did.
"The deadlock has been broken! Shinji "Shinka" Katayama is away like a shot! I wouldn't expect anything less from the current champion…"
A wave of cheers erupted around the racetrack from the many delighted fans. Clearly, there was a favourite within this race. A few smiles could be seen upon some of the other racers' faces as well.
The blue Skyline gazed up at the stands as he negotiated some more bends. He smiled contentedly as he rounded the tricky curves. He knew he was just one lap from the finish line.
His concentration was jarred slightly by a sudden gasp from a number of the crowd.
"Oh, look at that! Ryo Kobeyashi tried to overtake Mimi Haneda on Turn 5, he's just overcooked it! Straight off the track into the barrier!"
"That'll hurt, no doubt…is Kobeyashi the unluckiest car in the history of this competition? He has failed to finish a single race since his debut at the start of this year's JGTC…"
Shinka just sighed, only to be interrupted by a crackle from his team radio.
"You are doing great, Shinka! Just one more lap to go, you're almost there!"
"Arigatou, Hideo…same as always, I guess…"
A few more twists and turns, then Shinka crossed the line once again to enter the final lap. Suddenly, he heard a familiar pair of engine roars behind him. Hiroshi and Xin had caught up to him.
"Out of the way, Hideyaki…" growled Xin, suddenly lurching to his right and ramming the yellow Pennzoil racer, who gave an irritated yell of pain.
Instinctively, Shinka moved into Xin's direct path, blocking him at every opportunity the silver Skyline tried to break through.
"It's close once again! Shinka will just not let Xin past him! This is how a champion races, that's for sure!"
Bend after bend, Xin challenged and challenged, but Shinka was always quick off the mark to hinder his progress. The silver Skyline's mood was blackening quickly. He wasn't going to play second-fiddle for the umpteenth time.
"See how you like this…" he ominously taunted.
Xin then closed in and attempted to pull a "fishtail" move on Shinka, The blue Skyline, startled, skidded slightly but managed to right himself. Xin was still unable to break through. Looks like it's not gonna work this time…
"They're coming through to the final straight…it's still close between Shinka and Xin! Who will triumph?...it's Shinka! It's another win for Shinji "Shinka" Katayama! The champion does it again!"
An eruption of cheers echoes all around the stands as Shinka rocketed across the finish line, closely followed by a seething Xin. A little further behind, Hiroshi raced in to take third place.
Shinka gazed and grinned at the crowds has he set off on his lap of honour. Somehow, though, the smile seemed strangely forced. As he drove on, cries of "Shinka! Shinka!" spilled from the stands.
In contrast, his embittered silver rival slunk away to the pit area, muttering insults under his breath.
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"Eesh! I am telling you! Some of those other cars out there today were absolute gichis!"
"And I'm telling you…a certain someone needs to chill out more often. There will be plenty other chances, Banzai…"
"It's been two years! Two years, Bonsai! I am still not getting anywhere fast! Do you know how it feels to be mid-table? Not very comfortable!"
Tomoko "Bonsai" Kagashima gave a deep sigh. Her highly strung brother could be this difficult even on a good day. But the last time Bizenya "Banzai" Kagashima had a good race day was some time ago…
"I am a Mugen NSX, cutting-edge! I should be right up at the top, instead I'm slipping in other racers' oil slicks every race!" ranted the embittered racer, "if only I was as good as Shinka…"
"You want to stop comparing yourself to Shinka, brother," observed Bonsai, "if you try to emulate him, you definitely won't get anywhere…"
"Oh, excuse me," whined Banzai sarcastically, "but he is the fastest car on that track! You have to be somewhat similar to him to get anywhere! It's so one-sided!"
"Speak of the devil…" quipped Bonsai, signalling for her motormouth brother to be silent, as the afore-mentioned blue Skyline drove into the pit area.
"Hi Shinka…congratulations!" beamed Bonsai. After a little pause, she realised Banzai wasn't repeating the action. She hissed at him.
"Huh? Oh…oh yeah…great race, Shinka…"proclaimed Banzai, with just a slight hint of jealousy in his voice.
Shinka gave a little chuckle. "Domo ni…but you two raced great as well…as did Hiroshi. He was on fire."
Banzai's eyes widened. "What! Hiroshi caught fire! That I gotta see…"
Both Shinka and Bonsai burst out laughing at Banzai's faux pas. The green, white and red NSX gave an embarrassed scowl. A sudden horn blast grabbed their attention as Hiroshi sidled into the pit area.
"Great race, friend…you're well on course for Number 4 now," beamed the yellow Nismo.
"Ah, yes," acknowledged Shinka, "you were pretty blinding yourself today…"
"Yes, I was…until a certain upstart butted in…" replied Hiroshi a little gruffly, giving one of his wheels a shake. His yellow paint was slightly scratched where Xin had rammed him.
"Don't let him get to you," advised Shinka, "he's just an attention-seeker. Attention-seekers aren't winners."
"Right on!" piped up Banzai, "that guy is an A-grade cheater! Why, if I had the chance, I'd…"
"Button it, bro…" hissed Bonsai, as none other than the silver Skyline himself drove slowly into the pit area, flanked by a group of four small silver "bodyguard" cars.
Xin motioned his entourage to halt, the shot a dirty look at Shinka and his friends.
"Safety in numbers, I see…" he sneered in his low menacing tone, "you were incredibly lucky today, Shinka."
Shinka shot back an angry but calm look at his foe. "Luck doesn't come into it, Xin-san…it's about who's got the fan belts to race to the max…and to race legitimately…something you wouldn't know much about."
Xin's eyes narrowed. "You think you're so invincible, don't you? Just because you have held the JGTC for the last 3 years…in three races' time, that will change. And you know it."
He drove right up to Shinka's front end, staring him right in the eyes.
"Fate has ways of making things happen, Shinka. You should do well to remember that…"
With that, he returned to his entourage and slowly sidled off to his trailer, but not before one last taunt.
"If you're not careful, you might end up like him…heh heh…"
Xin was referencing the car over at the Denso team tent, to his left. Just outside it, a team of small red and white mechanic cars were frantically making repairs to their team car.
"Ooooh…" growled Banzai, "I could rip off that Xin's fender…aw man, did Rikishi crash again?"
"I'm afraid so," sighed Shinka, sidling over to the Denso tent to see the stricken red and white Denso Toyota Supra.
"Konnichi-wa…" Ryo "Rikishi" Kobeyashi greeted his friend with a pained drawl. And no wonder…half of his front end was badly dented, and his front wheels were off kilter after his heavy smash.
Shinka sighed. "I hope you'll finish a race one day, Rikishi-san…I'd love to see that."
"Yeah…but I don't seem to be Lady Luckmobile's favourite car right now, Shinka-san…"
"You will be one day," reassured Shinka, "just hang in there. Keep focused for the next race."
"That's what they all say…" sighed Rikishi sadly, as he limped into the tent. "see you later…"
It was depressing for Shinka whenever he saw another car downhearted after crashing in a race. Bar Xin, of course…
"Konnichi-wa, Shinka."
The honey-sweet voice belonged to a female red and white Loctite Nissan Skyline who had just appeared by Shinka's side.
"Oh…hi Sun," replied Shinka. He felt a glow inside him whenever Sun was there…she just looked…and spoke so beautiful.
"That was an awesome race today, I'm glad you gave that idiot Xin the what-for!" she beamed.
"Thank you," replied Shinka, giving a small grin.
Sun gave a knowing sigh. "Shinka…lighten up! You've just gone one step closer to breaking the all-time record! No-one has ever won the JGTC four times in a row…if you did this you'd be a legend!"
"I know," replied Shinka, "and I'm cool with it. It's just that…"
"What…?" interrupted Sun, "is…something wrong?"
The words just wouldn't come out. He put up that old block once again. He was getting sick of having to do this…
"No…never mind, I just feel a bit race-lagged…"
"Is it Musashi?"
Don't…Shinka was shocked that she'd mentioned that so suddenly. He retained his "tired" expression, trying not to show his displeasure. Why does she have to be so blatant…?
"Uh…I'm gonna go and speak to Hideo-san, then how about you and I go to our little spot?" Shinka suddenly announced, desperately trying to change the subject.
"Sure…I'd love that," replied Sun, smiling, but underneath sensing Shinka's unease. She watched him as he drove off towards his stretched blue truck trailer. The thing was, she didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
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"As always, you totally blew the track apart today, Shinka!"
Shinka listened to his team boss, truck and friend Hideo heaping the praise upon him as he got ready to head out with Sun.
"Yes, thanks…so the next race is in Kyoto?"
Hideo "nodded" his blue big-rigged front end. "That's right…the race is in 2 days, so we'll have to be leaving ASAP."
A sigh. Less time to be in my spot…
"I hear you…don't worry, I'll try not to be too long."
"Good! Hey, have fun…you and Miss Nagoya go very well together, I must say…"
That made Shinka grin. He knew it, just about all of his friends knew it. He was crazy about Sun, and was sure that the red Skyline was giving the right signals. The only problem was that neither Shinka nor Sun were willing to let slip their true feelings for one another. At the moment, they were just good friends.
Shinka drove out of the trailer and headed out of the pit area towards the exit of the Yokohama Raceway.
He didn't notice a shadow disguised Xin watching him leave.
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"It's better up here on a clear day, you know…"
"Sure it is. Not as if we didn't know that already, heh…"
Contented chatter filled the air as the moon shone its light upon Shinka and Sun. They were on a small cliff ledge, where the dirt track that brought them there ended. It was a spot that held much happy memories for Shinka. He would come here to get away from the adrenaline rush of the races, to be at one with himself, and most recently to send quality time with Sun.
As well as that, he could just spend hours gazing at the cherry blossom trees that acted as a roof to the ledge, enhancing its beauty.
"I never get tired of this," sighed Sun happily, "the blossoms…the awesome view…the fact that it's pin-drop quiet here…"
Shinka gave a nod. "Now you know why I love it so much."
Go on, Shinka…let her know how you feel…
A nervous stutter. "I…love it even more…when…"
"When what?"
"When…when…"
Tell her, man!
"When…the little butterflies come flying round the…blossoms. Yes…"
Sun smiled in agreement, though she seemed puzzled as to why Shinka hesitated. She gazed at his shining blue bodywork and his white and yellow wheels. Oh, he's such a great looking car…and he's sweet on the inside too…
"So…you looking forward to the Kyoto race, Shinka?"
"Absolutely," replied Shinka, "it should be a blast."
From that sentence, Sun detected an undertone. Something just didn't sound right in the way he spoke that line. She decided to explore further.
"Shinka…you know…if something's bothering you, you can tell me…we are confidants, after all…"
Not again…I wish she'd stop bringing that up…
"I'm fully aware of that, Sun…but there's nothing to tell. I'm fine, honest."
Sun nodded, but of course, deep down, she wasn't convinced. On this occasion, she chose to hide her opinion.
"OK…but I'm here if you need to get something off your bonnet."
Shinka smiled. "I know…likewise."
Then falling silent, they returned to gazing at the moon and the blossoms. Sooner or later they would have to head back to the Raceway to get ready to head off to Kyoto. But that could wait for another 5 minutes or so.
Why did you chicken out again, man…you've got to take the chance sooner or later…
I have one thing to get off my bonnet…but will he like what he hears?