INITIAL D: DRIFT KINGS D Selection
ACT 7:
"A battle? Tomorrow night?"
Grant nodded, "We want a rematch. Downhill on Akina. You game?"
Kouichiro Iketani patted the hood of his Silvia, "You bet we are. 10 o'clock as usual."
"Done."
MEANWHILE, ACROSS TOWN:
Drew opened the door to the tofu shop, the bells rattling softly.
"Mr. Fujiwara?"
Drew walked around the empty shop. He didn't notice the car pull up behind him.
"Mr. Fujiwara?"
"Can I help you?" came a voice from behind.
Drew nearly lept off the ground. He whirled around quickly and found himself staring into a face. He jumped back, then saw who the person was.
"God, Takumi, you nearly killed me."
"Sorry. What did you want my old man for?"
"I came to return the spare shop key that he loaned me. Where is he?"
Takumi shrugged, "Who knows. My guess is he's out looking for a new car."
"A new car? What's wrong with the eight-six?"
"Since he gave me it, he's trying to find something new."
"Oh. Well, okay. I guess I'll give the key to you then."
Drew handed it to Takumi, who placed it in his pocket. Drew turned to head out. As he opened the door, he turned back.
"Incidentally, how's Project D doing? Our apartment doesn't have a computer, so I can't check your website."
"Well, we managed to beat Todou Juku."
Drew's eyebrows raised. Even as an American driver, he'd heard of the Todou Racing School. Their drivers had done incredibly well in pro circuits and were rumored to sometimes do street races.
"Hey, Takumi, race any pros?"
"One. He was amazing, too. I admit I got a little lucky on that race."
Drew nodded, said goodbye, and exited the shop.
Later that night, Grant stood at the bottom of Mt. Akina, waiting. Momentarily, two cars appeared around the final bend. Grant peered into the darkness, trying to see who was leading. Before long, the pop-up lights of Drew's Toyota shone toward him. Grant readied the stopwatch he held, clicking the timer as Drew passed. Andrew's S14 K's AERO followed a fraction of a second later.
Both cars pulled off to the side of the road. The drivers exited their vehicles and strode toward Grant.
Andrew reached him first, "What was our time?"
Grant showed the two of them the stopwatch, "Not bad. Not great, but still not bad."
"Think we're ready for the Speed Stars?"
Grant smiled, "More than likely, yes."
Drew yawned, "Look guys, it's after 4, we've been running Akina for nearly SIX HOURS. Please let's just go back to bed now."
The other two men agreed and all were just about to enter their cars when they heard a high-pitched sound coming toward them.
"Somebody's coming," Drew said.
Grant and Andrew stared at him, "Thank you, Master of the Obvious."
"Geez, all I said was-"
He was cut off by a car's sudden appearance around the corner before them. The pop-up lights glared from either side of the carbon-fiber hood. As the car approached them, the driver began a long high-speed drift, his rear tires smoking. As the car slid past them, all three got a good look at the driver, but only Drew recognized Takumi, eyes concentrated on the road before him.
That kid has talent. Pure and simple talent. Lucky.
Grant and Andrew maintained a stunned silence for the rest of the night.
The next day, Drew drove to Usui, trying to find a job he could work when he wasn't delivering tofu. After several unsuccessful hours, he decided it was time to stop for a bit. He pulled into the lot of a small restuarant, walking inside at taking a seat at the bar. For a few minutes, he nursed he brew, wondering what he should try next. He barely noticed the person sit down on the stool adjacent to him.
At least, not until they edged closer to him and he noticed the very well filled out top. He turned to the girl.
"Can I do something for you?"
She shrugged, "Not particularly. Just looking at your keys. That your Toyota out there?"
He nodded.
"It's in good shape. You race much?"
Again, he nodded, "Me and two other guys. We live near Mt. Akina. We have a battle with the Speed Stars tonight."
This seemed to pique her intrest, "Really? I have a friend who knows one of them." She was quiet for a few moments, then turned back to him, "Would you mind if my friend rode along with you?"
"Why not."
She smiled, "Really? Great!"
A pleasant hour of casual chatting later, Drew got up to leave. As he did, he handed a few hundred yen bills to the girl, "On me," he said. She grinned, then got up and followed him out the door. She caught up to him by his car, "This is my number. Call me sometime. I'd be interested to set up a race with your team. Oh, and drinks'll be on me next time," she said, winking at him, "I'll bring my friend by in an hour or two. Meet us here."
Drew nodded, got into his car, and sat there for a few seconds. Then he put the piece of paper in his pocket, pulled the bucket seat's harness around him, and headed out for another hour of job searching. As he left, a suprising thought struck him.
I think I have a girlfriend now. Funny, I'm not even sure what her name is.
Later that night, a cluster of people stood in or around the cars at the summit of Mt. Akina. One man walked quickly across the street, dodging a racer's Honda as he did so.
"So," the man said, "Where's your last guy?"
Grant shook his head, "I'm sorry, Iketani-san, he said he'd be late. He went to Usui today to-"
As soon as Grant said "Usui" Iketani's face turned downcast. He nodded dejectedly and walked back to his car, mumbling something that sounded like, "Ohhh, Mako-chan, why? Why? Why?" that soon devulged into quiet sobs.
Grant whirled around as he heard Drew's Celica pull up behind him.
"Drew, there you are. What took you so-"
He was cut short as someone else stepped from the passenger door. She was tall and had long brown hair, and seemed to have a very quiet air about her. She turned to Drew, thanking him and giving him a quick bow.
"Drew, what was that? Or should I say, who?"
Drew rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, "Her name's Mako. I met her friend at a bar and she asked me to give her a ride here. Said she knew one of the Speed Stars.
Grant, immediatly recognizing the name, looked over at Iketani who had by now noticed the new arrival and passed out cold on the tarmac. Grant put a hand to his forehead, "Well, looks like I won't be racing first."
Drew raised a hand, "I'll go first. I wanna get that Levin-boy. I won't lose this time!"
Grant nodded, "Hey, Kenji!" the Speed Star looked up at him, he continued, "Get Itsuki's Levin up to the line!"
Kenji nodded and dashed off to tell his friend.
Grant waved Drew forward, then moved to stand bewteen Drew's Celica and Itsuki's Levin. He raised an arm, "We go in five!"
"Four!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
Grant dropped his arm, "GO!" and the two cars sped past him, Drew's Celica taking an immediate lead.
Inside, Drew smiled, This is it, I will not lose! I will not!
Drew braked early as they approached the first corner, tapping the brake quickly several times instead of simply mashing it. He gripped through the corner and saw the Levin follow him.
Who knows, this could be fun, he thought, flooring it out of the corner and upshifting to 3rd.
TO BE CONTINUED
