Drift Kings: D Selection

Act 2:
Tokyo, Japan, May 28, 1997:

Three young men sat on the curbside. A few light pink blossoms, fallen from the flowering sakura trees, were brushed gently across the street by the cool breeze.

So, Drew O'Brien thought, This is Japan. Nice place. But a few too many mountains for my tastes.

Drew pushed himself up from the sidewalk, tossing his empty Coke can toward a nearby dumpster.

"Okay, guys, ready to keep moving?"

The two other men stood, brushing themselves off. One strode over to Drew, pulling a folded paper from his pocket as he did.

"So, Grant, how we doin' on time?"

Grant Hargus unfolded the small map of Japan's largest island. He also withdrew a blue Sharpie from his pocket and popped the cap off.

"Right now," Grant said, drawing a small dot over the word "Tokyo", "We're right here. We need to be," he traced a line down a highway on the map, "Here. Gunma Province. Now, we can just follow this road straight there, up through Saitama, which'll be faster.

Or, we can follow this road up through Nagano, which'll give us more places to stop for food, a motel, etc. So, take your pick, my friend."

Drew though for a moment, "I assume our ultimate destination is this Mount Akina, yes?"

Grant nodded, "I've done a little research into Japanese street racing teams and it seems that Akina has one that may be bad enoug- uh, I mean,...talented enough to be real opponents for us."

Drew raised an eyebrow, "Well, whatever. I've done a little research too, and actually, I heartily concur. I really have no wish to be made a fool of by Myogi's R32 or EG6, Usui's Sil-80, or Akagi's RX-7s."

"Okay, Akina through Saitama, then. Hey, Andrew, pack it up, we're moving out."

The dark-haired man nodded, stood, and walked to his S14. Grant folded the map up again, replaced it in his pocket, and stepped into his Supra. Drew followed suit, sliding into the bucket seat of his 240SX.

He stuck the key in the starter and turned it, bringing his cheaply upgraded 185HP engine to life. He pushed in the clutch, shifted into first, and depressed the gas pedal.

The Next Day:

Drew switched on his turn signal and pulled into the Esso station, Grant and Andrew behind him. He pulled up to one of the pumps, hearing a small ring as he did. A young man in a blue and yellow uniform and with light brown hair came over to him. Drew rolled down the window.

"Konnichiwa," Drew said, trying to remember his half-semester of Japanese. Now he really wished he hadn't quit. The attendant nodded at Drew's greeting.

"Gimme a tank of high octane."

The attendant nodded again, removed a nozzle from one of the pumps, and started re-filling Drew's tank. Drew looked over to his companions, and saw that they, likewise, were being refueled. Drew stuck his head partway out the window and turned to the kid filling his car.

"Hey, you know about a street team called the Speed Stars?"

The brown-haired kid nodded, "Yeah, I know about 'em. Why?"

Drew smiled, "Well, my buddies and I are looking for a friendly challenge, think they're up to it?"

"I don't know. You'll have to ask Iketani-sempai. That's his S13 over there," he said, nodding toward a parked car with a yellow sticker on the hood and rear fender. Drew squinted at it and could barely make out the words, "Akina Speed Stars".

Drew returned his attention to the attendant, "That's cool. Can you set it up for me?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself? He over there, filling up your friend's white car."

Drew frowned, "'My friend's white car'? You don't exactly know a classic when you see one, do you?"

The attendant sighed and Drew could have sworn he heard him mutter, "Not again."

"No," he said, "I guess I don't know much about cars. 1100 Yen, please."

Drew dug around in his wallet, then fished out a wad of bills, handing them to the attendant.

"Okay, I'll go talk to Iketani. Hey, kid, what's your name?"

"Takumi. Fujiwara Takumi."

Drew nodded, "Takumi. Well, Takumi, hope to see ya' around. Can I park over there?"

Takumi nodded. Drew rolled the window back up, started the car, and moved it over to a parking spot, shutting the car off. He got out and walked over to Grant's Supra.

In English, he said, "Hey, Grant, you and Andrew pull your cars over next to mine. I found out how to set up a race with the Speed Stars. I'll be right back."

Drew strode off toward the gas station's building as Grant and Andrew drove over to park next to Drew's 240. Drew walked through the glass door and looked around. Takumi was still outside. Three people, and older man, a young man, and a teen, stood around or sat in front of a TV. Drew walked up to the older man.

"Ah, sumimasen, I'm looking for an Iketani-san."

The man pointed over to the young man who, having just walked in, was seating himself in a chair. Drew nodded thanks.

"Iketani-san?"

The young man looked up.

"Yeah?"

"My name is Drew O'Brien. Myself and my two companions are looking to set up a match with the Akina Speed Stars. Can you help me?"

The man smiled, "Well, my name is Iketani Kouichiro and I'm the leader of the Speed Stars. You want a race, you've got one. 10 tonight, at the top of Akina."

Drew nodded, "We'll be there."