Prologue
That moment replayed in his head every night for the last six months, the moment the engine blew and he'd slammed on the clutch to roll backwards winning the final race for project D. The downhill specialist of Mount Akina and his legendary '86 had set the legend of Akina's '86 in stone. To those who knew him Takumi was always spacing out but for the last year he was focused so much more, working to earn money to save up for a massive project he was planning. That focus however was broken when he was around his girlfriend a golfer training to be a professional, Mika Uehara.
At a spry twenty years old, he was one of two drivers that made Project D possible, the other was Keisuke Takahashi who went on to become a professional driver. His brother Ryousuke Takahashi was the genius behind project D and its success, after all the D in project D stood for dream, Ryousuke's dream of creating a unbeatable records in street racing in the area. Thanks to the team, that dream became a reality that would last the test of time. Takumi shifted down a gear, guiding the blue Subaru Impreza into the gas station. Sullenly Takumi stepped out from the car equipped with a spanner.
"High octane thanks guys" he said he popped the hood to reveal the car's engine bay.
Takumi reached into the engine and began to tighten a fan belt before closing the hood again and throwing the spanner into the tool bag on the passenger seat.
"You really have grown more aware of your cars since you started," Iketani noted as he walked over.
"Heard anything from our friends the Redsuns lately?" queried Iketani, checking the tires.
"Yeah, Keisuke is back for a week and Ryousuke is taking time off work for a visit, sounds like the whole team are getting back together for a catch up," said Takumi as he handed the fuel money to Iketani.
"It would be nice if I hadn't blown the '86 again though," sighed Takumi as he slid into the driver's seat.
With a silent nod and a tilt of Iketani's hat Takumi left in a glorious roar as the engine revved and then subsided as he shifted up. Iketani slumped slightly and sighed, 'I need one of those.'
Bunta Fujiwara, Takumi's father, was waiting with news. Takumi had been nervous about it for a good month. Little did any of the local racers know that a legend would rise from the ashes, that the Hachi Roku was a phoenix in disguise.
Midnight came and went. With every tick of the clock Takumi grew even more nervous, but was delighted to the point of tears when the engine roared to life. The block shuddered as the engine came alive and the exhaust rumbled with power.
"All she needs now is to be tested and tuned to your standard boss and you'll be turning heads again in no time. After all this is a legend around these parts" The mechanic said as he closed the hood of the car.
"No one will be able to compare it to what it was, not even you Takumi," said Bunta.
"…Thank you," stuttered Takumi.
"You earned it, you have a meet up to get to don't you?"
"Ah yeah?"
"You better get going then, take the WRX. This will still be here when you get back."
