reclamare
by: nom-de-plumee
An unprofitable fanwork of Initial D © Kodansha, Shuichi Shigeno, and Affiliations.
May Initial D always stay alive in our hearts and imagination.
000
Kenta has been having respect for Takahashi brothers, ever since he joined The Akagi RedSuns.
Ryosuke, for his seriousness about racing and his skills about analyzing data to make statistics. The now-a-doctor-in-Gunma-hospital still spectates street racing, even though he retires from it after the disbandment of Project D. He also occasionally gives direction and opinion if they–the Akagi RedSuns–faces difficulties; he is more of an advisor.
Keisuke, for his never-ending interest in racing. He is never tired get new experience, both from the street racing and professional racing. He often rides his car in Mount Akagi, or occasionally the area around –in Akina, Myogi, and other farther area. Up until now, he still rides his yellow Mazda whenever he races in street racings.
Kenta is grateful to know them, to learn many things from them; especially towards Keisuke, whom he feels closer than the rest of the RedSuns and who has became like a mentor to him. He is proud with the young man who is only slight older than him as he watch the blond stands on the podium after winning Yokohama Drifting Championship.
Cheers and joyful shouts boom in the stadium.
"Keisuke, congrats! You get the gold!" Kenta says later as the spiky haired man comes down from the podium.
Keisuke frowns as he hands him his helmet and gold. "I should do better. Ryosuke could do it smoother than me."
By age twenty-six, Keisuke Takahashi has been known in Japan as a young prodigy, winning almost all professional racings he was in. He inspires many racers to follow his steps. Girls shout his names everywhere, makes boys jealous of his popularity. However, Kenta knows, it's none to be jealous for, as the subject of affection is not happy with this popularity –finding it unnecessary and annoying.
"You always compare yourself with him, huh?" Kenta laughed as he followed Keisuke.
"Nah, I look up at him. I will surpass him."
"I know, Keisuke. Him and Takumi, right?" the younger of the two said before continuing, "You really like them!"
Keisuke reddens. "Shut up," he barks as he quickens his pace, leaving his friend.
Kenta just shakes his head amused. Really, he sometimes wonders who is the older between him and the professional racer. Keisuke is an awesome racer and someone he wants to beat someday; he admits that. However, he surprisingly does not change much from his early days as a racer. He often acts childishly, easily blushes when teased. Having known him for years, Kenta believes that this trait unknown to many is able to add his popularity among women.
Speaking of women...
"Iwase, long time no see." Kenta greets the young woman half hidden behind a door.
Kyoko Iwase is a pretty woman. Her brown hairs reach her mid back, adorned with a red cap; hairs tied in ponytail. A pair of sunglasses covers her eyes. The natural beauty is completed with simple attire; a red tank top plus unbuttoned long-sleeved black shirt, a knee-length jeans skirt, and a pair of red boots.
The girl takes down her glasses and smiled –her lips glossy.
"Nakamura." She bows a bit as she greets back.
"I think it's about a year, huh?"
Nodding, the female racer answers, "Yes, it is; during racing last year here."
"Is that so?" Kenta hums. "You come only when he won gold. Last season he didn't get gold, so yeah, I understand. Do you bring anything this time?"
Kyoko nods with a blush on her cheeks.
"Um, yes," she replies while giving him a small flat package. "It's a small thing I bought when I visited Kumamoto last month. I'm sorry that I always trouble you, Nakamura."
Kenta accepts the small package and huffs. "It's not a trouble, really. Nevertheless, I wonder, why don't you give it yourself? You are always present whenever he races in around Saitama, don't you? You also usually watch his racings."
"Eh? Y-you know?" She stammers, her blush darkens and she plays with the end of her shirt.
Kenta nodded. "I know. It's been years."
The first time he saw her is when he and Keisuke made a reconnaissance recording in Sadamine Pass, for the race preparation against Northern Saitama Alliances. He didn't know that the girl whose silver phone was found by Keisuke was one of the two racers they'd go against. He was a bit surprised when he found out she would be Keisuke's opponent.
After the race where she lost against Keisuke, she began visited almost every race of Project D's. Her black Mazda was a dead giveaway. After a while, Kenta realized that she held (or still holds) romantic feeling towards the ex-ace of the legendary project. He doesn't know the detail, but she was never absent when they–Project D–had a racing, until one day she disappeared. The black Mazda never made any appearance for a few following weeks.
Until one day, when he needed to go earlier than the rest of the team, he saw the very same car with the same driver parked on a desolated area where no other spectators were watching the street racing between Project D and their opponents. She was no longer absent.
"Please, don't tell Keisuke." She bits her lower lips.
Kenta panics when he saw she trembles and starts shedding tears. "It's okay. I never told him about that. Don't cry please," he says in haste as he sees some people stare at them. "I really didn't tell him that."
Kyoko rubs her eyes and smiles weakly. "I'm sorry, Nakamura. I … really appreciate your help."
000
"Kotsu-anzen," Keisuke states as he opens the package and finds a golden talisman with red brown characters. "For safety and protection, huh? Did she know about the accident during trial runs?"
Kenta's eyes widen before he looks at him who sits on the driver's seat. "She?"
"Kyoko, of course. She is the one giving this to you, isn't she?"
The younger of the two nods hesitantly when the professional racer stared at him without blinking. "How do you know?"
Keisuke rubs the characters on the talisman softly. His mouth curves downwards in a slight smile. "I always know. The other presents before, too. I know it's from her. I simply know."
"So … do you also know—"
"—about her watching my races?" Keisuke cuts him. "The answer is yes."
"Why don't you tell her that you know? I almost made her cry because she is afraid that you know."
Keisuke doesn't answer him. Instead, he puts the talisman on the rear-view mirror. The golden talisman becomes the only decoration in the FD Keisuke owns for a few years already. The wind through the opened windows makes the small talisman moved right and left rhythmically. Keisuke then turns on his engine and rides out of the parking area.
He never answers Kenta's question.
Kenta is sure Keisuke has forgotten about his question when they stopped in the red light:
"My journey is still long, Kenta. Until I defeat them, I will not stop." He paused. "If then, she is still willing to be together, I will be back to her. If she is no longer willing, I will pursue her and until she precisely says she rejects me, I won't stop."
Keisuke grabs his steer-wheel harder and when it turns green, he hits his pedal. As the car moves forwards, he says firmly, "After all, she is worth to fight for."
000
End
000
Okay, I'm totally smitten with KeiKyo pairing! I can't accept the ending. How could the only pairing I ship in the series is being drowned Q.Q It's too cruel! A girl needs a romance!