Takumi hadn't planned on racing. He'd only taken the 86 to go and pick up Itsuki and watch the races.
It'd come as a total surprise when, as he and Itsuki waited eagerly at the corners, someone with a walkie-talkie shouted. "One of the Night Kids is issuing a challenge!"
The whole crowd instantly fell near-silent, everyone huddling around the radio carefully. The screaming of an engine could be heard as an engine powered onward, echoing eerily into the night.
"This is Kisumi Shoji, and I'm here for one reason and one reason only. Takumi- I'll race you into the ground for what you did to my brother."
Instantly, every person was turned to stare at Takumi in awe.
"He's challenging you, Takumi!" Someone shouted.
"Huh?" Takumi blinked, puzzled. "What does he want with me?"
"He's Shingo's younger brother, Takumi- Shingo broke his arm pretty badly during your gum-tape death match, and apparently Kisumi is pretty pissed." Itsuki said.
Takumi paused, frowning. "I didn't do anything to Shingo. He's the one who nudged me and nearly killed me- I could've hit him right back and done the same, but I didn't. Shingo spun out on his own- he pushed his car too far beyond his limits. It's that simple."
Itsuki stared for a moment- as always, Takumi's calmness was slightly daunting. "Yeah, well try explaining that to Kisumi!"
Takumi shrugged, heading over to where he parked the 86. "Alright. I will, I guess."
"Dude, wait! I was being sarcastic, dammit, Kisumi won't listen to a word you have to say!"
Takumi seemed unbothered by this. "It's his fault if he doesn't want to listen to the truth." Was all he said, before the door of the 86 was closing behind him, the headlights flaring to life as he drifted flawlessly onto the road, making his way around a corner with grace and skill before drifting out of sight.
Itsuki stared after him, looking wary. "I hope you know what you're doing, Takumi."
Rysouke and his brother exchanged glances from where they stood among the throng of people on the corner directly before the 5 hairpin turns, each looking concerned.
"You don't think he'll actually do it, do you?" Keisuke asked his brother uncertainly form where he stood, hands in the pockets of his black hoodie. "I mean, sure, Takumi could probably beat him, but why take a challenge from such an arrogant bastard?"
Rysouke frowned pointedly. "While Kisumi isn't as skilled as Shingo, he makes up for it in recklessness and bloodlust. Shingo plays dirty, but Kisumi is known for all out forcing his opponents to crash…."
Keisuke paled at the news. "Seriously!? Then Takumi would be an idiot to race him! Even a driver as good as Takumi couldn't handle someone purposely crashing into him on the corners! I mean, being bumped by Shingo is one thing, but actually using your car to push someone to crash- that's another entirely!"
Ryosouke hummed, nodding. "Let's hope he doesn't accept the challenge- or better yet, ignores it entirely. Nothing good can come from a race with Kisumi."
Iketani looked up, sweat beaded on his face as he heard the 86 making its way up the hill.
Kisumi leaned on the hood of his black 32, scowling down the hill…. He had the same jawline and floppy black bangs of his brother, Shingo, however, his expression held malice and the slope of his brows and burning in his eyes revealed he truly was there to get revenge for his brother's defeat.
The 86 drifted around the corner, headlights piercing the darkness and blinding everyone for a moment, before drifting off the road at the last second, sliding into park.
Takumi emerged a moment later, the door shutting heavily behind him. His feet make soft sounds as he stepped through the grass, and crunched over the gravel that was the gutter alongside the road, before scraping across the asphalt as he made his way over to Kisumi.
Iketani stepped forward from where he sat beside his S13, eyes shut, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "Hey! Takumi! Just the guy we were wanting to see! We were just about to start the races, since it's ten and all, when Kisumi showed up wanting to…um… battle you."
Kisumi's smoldering gaze never left Takumi, who looked over at the teen neutrally.
"So, uh, you gonna do it?" Iketani looked nervous- Takumi refusing the challenge could cause problems, and if Kisumi refused to move his car and allow the other races to start, it would be humiliating to the Speed Stars, to be barred from their own course….
Takumi ignored Iketani, instead striding over towards Kisumi. He paused when he was five feet from the teen, hands in his pockets, expression neutral.
"I didn't cause your brother's crash." He said calmly.
"Like hell you didn't!" Kisumi shouted, hands clenching into fists. "His car is smashed to hell, arm's busted, and it's your damn fault!"
"I never touched your brother's car. He took a corner too fast and spun out- that's all there is to it." Takumi said simply.
"Liar!" Kisumi stepped forward, grabbing ahold of the collar of Takumi's shirt. "First you cause my brother's crash, then you have the audacity to insult his skill!?"
Takumi looked down at the hand holding his shirt, frowning. He reached up, quietly plucking the fingers from the fabric, and stepped back.
"I didn't cause your brother's crash. Go to the hospital and ask him yourself. I'm not going to race you." Takumi turned, his nikes scraping across the asphalt as he headed towards the 86.
"Coward!" Kisumi shouted. "You're nothing but a coward!"
Takumi shrugged, not looking back. "If you say so." He had reached the 86, now, and was planning on heading out.
"You don't want to race me because you know your shitty 86 won't be able to beat my 32!" Kisumi shouted.
Takumi froze, the driver's side door halfway open. Kisumi had struck a nerve, but he seemed oblivious with rage, simply barreling onward….
"My brother would've beaten you if you hadn't caused his crash! Everyone knows the 32 is superior to that piece of shit! So you caused his crash, rather than admit defeat! You and your car are fucking pathetic!"
Takumi whirled, eyes flashing with something that was rarely seen in the boy's eyes. "What did you just say about my car?" his voice was its normal volume, but somehow, his tone of voice betrayed the seriousness in his words.
"I said it's a piece of shit! It doesn't even belong to you- it belongs to your old man!"
Takumi's grip on his car door tightened, and he grit his teeth, letting go of the car door and whirling to face Kisumi entirely.
"You take that back! I might be a piece of shit to you, but this car was good enough to beat your brother, and you know it!"
"Put your money where your mouth is, you coward!"
Takumi fairly dove into the 86, slamming the door behind him and turning the key, grabbing the wheel and skidding, the scent of rubber burning in his hurry to get the 86 pulled up alongside the 32.
Self-righteous anger burned within his chest, and Kisumi hurried into his own car as well, grabbing the wheel and revving the engine.
Takumi narrowed his eyes. First, he was accused of doing something he'd had no part in. Shingo's crash had been due to his own carelessness- then, his car was insulted? The car that he'd learned to drive in, the car that faithfully carried him up Mount Akina every morning for the past five years.
He was going to beat Kisumi, to defend the honor of the 86 and prove once and for all that the 86 was perfectly capable of beating a 32, regardless of what Kisumi thought.
Ikitani stood, frozen between the cars for a moment, shocked.
Kisumi rolled down his window, glaring at the teen. "Count us off you idiot!"
Iketani blinked stupidly for a moment, looking over at Takumi hesitantly. Takumi's gaze burned through his windshield, telling him that, under no uncertain terms, he was to do it so he could put Kisumi in his place.
"Right!" he shouted, before he began. As soon as the last number was said and his hand was waved, both cars roared off in a cloud of smoke and burning rubber.
Iketani looked after Hakumi worriedly, hearing the familiar screech of tires of asphalt as they took the first corner at near full-speed.
Be careful, Takumi. He thought worriedly. That guy doesn't look like he's joking around.