Ryousuke had to give Nakazato props. Having only recently switched to a completely different style of racing, the GTR driver hadn't done too badly at all. Not that he'd been any sort of challenge for Ryousuke, but he had potential, so perhaps some day.

"That was a respectable showing," Ryousuke said as Nakazato approached him. The congratulatory crowd around them backed off to give them some room.

The GTR driver grinned. "That's high praise, coming from you."

Ryousuke canted his head slightly to acknowledge the compliment. "Your team has a good start. You'll get a lot of challenges soon, I suspect. I hope you've got some talent recruited."

Nakazato gestured at the drivers clustered around him. "It's taken care of." The Nightkids cheered, and the crowd took their cue. Pretty soon, both drivers were overrun and Ryousuke was forced to return to the Redsuns area to escape the overzealous crowd.

"Masahiro's!" he called over the generalized hubbub. Masahiro had taken to throwing get-togethers at his place after meets. Ryousuke approved, as it tended to build camaraderie and form a more cohesive team identity. Several teammates stopped to offer him congratulatory words on their way to their vehicles, and he accepted it all with a smile. His father would say that doing something well was reward in itself, but he couldn't help reveling in the adulation…just a little bit, anyway.

Keisuke appeared out of the thinning crowd and gave him a million watt grin. "You smoked him!"

Ryousuke chuckled. As old as he was, he'd never quite gotten over the need to impress Keisuke. Even now, his brother's esteem meant more to him than anyone's save his father's. "Come on, let's get there before all the food and drink is gone!"

Keisuke put a hand on his elbow to stop him from getting into his car. "Ah, listen, Aniki, I can't make it to the party. I promised to meet someone afterwards, so I'm gonna have to pass."

Ryousuke was surprised, and he imagined he looked it. "Really?" he blurted. "Who?"

Keisuke waved airily. "Just an old friend."

"Oh, a 'friend', right," Ryousuke said, rolling his eyes. "I believe that."

Keisuke held his hands up in protest. "Hey, I'm serious. You're the one who's going to have to beat them off with a stick tonight. Me, I'm just the lowly sidekick. Batman gets the chicks; Robin gets to wash the batmobile."

Ryousuke snorted. "Keisuke, if you want to wash the FC, then you're welcome to it, but the day you're my sidekick is the day pigs fly!"

Keisuke laughed. "Have fun at the party. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Have you discovered what that might be yet?"

Keisuke hopped into his car. "No, but if you find out, let me know!"

With a loud squeal of tires, he peeled out of the gallery and disappeared around the bend. Ryousuke sighed and got into his own car for the long ride to the bottom.