Chapter 8

As the students arrived at the track after nearly a week off they saw that the AW11 had a new spoiler and a few other body modifications to it. Takumi and Keisuke were waiting trackside with the other staff members and a new woman that none of them had met.

"Welcome back, as you can see we upgraded the AW11 slightly so we could get a bit more horsepower out of it, it will now put out a bit over 200 horses," Keisuke said as the students approached the cars, "For the sake of sanity we also hired on a second lady as you've noticed, she is here to help strap Reiko and Nika into their cars when she's not working as the school's primary secretary."

"You also have permanent car assignments now, Ms. Sasaki and Mr. Reynolds will be assigned to the AW11, Ms. Mahara and Mr. Sasaki that leaves you two in the Cosmo," Takumi said looking to the brown haired lady next to him, "And since Keisuke forgot to introduce her, this is my wife Natsuki Fujiwara, she's not a teacher but please show her the same respect you've shown the rest of the staff."

Gavin quietly raised his hand just to head height before being noticed.

"Yes Mr. Reynolds, what is your question?" Takumi asked bringing attention to the buzz cut blonde.

"Why have we been assigned to the cars now? Why not just keep us switching cars, or have them assigned before now?" Gavin asked politely.

"Simply because before the GT cars arrived we did not know what we would have as far as their drive train layouts, now that we do know what cars we have we can assign you to the trainer that will act most like the GT car you're going to be driving," Keisuke answered with a chuckle, "Aniki has been springing information on us just the same as we have you, only we do it because we get it sprung on us just before we have to tell you."

"Let's go ahead and get down to business, Ms. Sasaki and Ms. Mahara you're running first laps today, three laps each. Go ahead and get changed into your fire suits," Takumi said before turning to the track, "Oh and Ms. Mahara, your helmet's lens has been replaced as promised."

After about ten minutes the cars were started and about to head out on the course. Nika led the way in the Cosmo before the first corner where the AW11 zipped by on the inside line. Reiko began opening a gap over Nika as they made their way through the course's first couple of long corners and straights as she adjusted to the new power of the car.

"Very cool, probably the first time in its life that the AW11 has been able to outrun anything," Gavin joked as he leaned on the guardrail.

"Oh please, you know if you were in the Cosmo you'd be able to keep up," Tatsuo laughed slightly.

"On the braking course maybe, on the open corners of the throttle course, I doubt it, power makes a lot of difference on this course," the buzz cut blonde responded a little more seriously as they watched the AW11 lose a small amount of its gap through the right handed two hundred and seventy degree loop corner.

The Cosmo started to close the gap slightly as the two cars pushed through the only two tight corners of the course before once again falling behind in the long straight before the hairpin corner. As they approached the hairpin Reiko braked too much and a little late causing her entry speed to be way off what it could have been. This small mistake caused the gap to quickly close.

"Well I guess I'm not keeping up with her anymore thanks to the upgrade in the AW11," Nika said to herself as she began running at her own pace through the remainder of the first lap.

"You shouldn't try to Ms. Mahara," Takumi's voice came through the radio causing Nika to jump slightly, "The rules of Super GT only require you to beat those cars that are in your class."

Gavin and Tatsuo noticed the Cosmo swerve slightly before the v-turn after the hairpin causing them to chuckle quietly.

"What are you two chuckling about gentlemen?" Kyoko asked from behind them.

"Seems Nika forgot that she had a radio in the car ma'am," Gavin said stifling the chuckle.

Kyoko simply shook her head and walked away from the two men who turned back to the track where the AW11 was just coming through the right handed u-turn well ahead of the Cosmo. The gap continued to open as the two cars flew down the last stretch of the course and the remaining two laps of the race. By the end of the 3rd lap Reiko was nearly three seconds ahead of the Cosmo.

Reiko managed to beat Takumi's lap time from when he drove the Cosmo by only milliseconds, and as the two ladies drove around the course at a slow pace so the cars would have time to cool off slightly and so they would be facing the correct direction, Gavin and Tatsuo ran to get ready for their own laps.

"Reiko, you managed to just beat Takumi's Cosmo lap time by a few milliseconds," Keisuke said through the radio as the two cars continued their lap, "Well done."

Once the two cars got back to their proper places the track side maintenance crew changed out the tires on each car as Reiko and Nika vacated the cars. Gavin and Tatsuo jumped in and were strapped in.

"Okay we'll work on driver change out a bit later," Takumi said to Keisuke before the two men took off on their own laps with fresh tires, once again the AW11 taking the quick lead.

"I can't get used to the feeling in the Cosmo, the balance of the thing is just too different from my own car," Nika said as she and Reiko changed back into their regular clothes.

"The AW11 is a lot different from my SE3P too, but it's just a matter of getting used to it," Reiko replied calmly, "Though I'll admit the limited vision is something I'm not used to either."

When the two ladies returned to the trackside Gavin and Tatsuo were still somehow rather close to one another. The Cosmo only appeared to be a car length behind the AW11.

"What happened to Gavin's lead Fujiwara-sensei?" Reiko asked as she stepped next to the brown haired man.

"He made a mistake in the v-turn, he nearly stopped completely, we're under the assumption that the brakes locked and he couldn't prevent it," Takumi replied with his hand over the microphone, "This is their last lap, and your brother hasn't let off since it happened."

"Did Gavin not say anything?" the black haired young lady asked sounding a little worried.

"Other than the few choice words that I heard while the radio was still on, no," Keisuke answered still watching both cars.

As Gavin and Tatsuo finished their final laps they had both come very close to the lap time set by Takumi. With the cars parked in their bays all of the students went to find lunch.

"Gavin, can I ask a favor of you?" Nika asked as they walked towards the main building of the school.

"Depends on the favor," the buzz cut blonde responded with a chuckle.

"I'd like to drive your FD, since it's basically the same car as the GT300 model I'll be driving later," Nika cut herself off as Gavin's face seemed to change.

"I'm sorry no, I won't let anyone drive my car," he responded calmly.

"All I'm asking for…" the brown haired girl was cut off by an angry glare.

"I said no Nika, my grandfather bought me that car, no one drives it but me," Gavin said with an unusual growl in his tone, "I will let you ride in the passenger seat all you want, but you are not driving my car."

As the day progressed Gavin's mood seemed to lighten only slightly after Nika's mention of driving the FD. Nika seemed to avoid him for the rest of the day as well. Reiko was doing what she could to calm the buzz cut blonde while Tatsuo was doing what he could to convince Nika that Gavin's mood wasn't entirely her fault. After the students were dismissed Gavin left tread marks on the pavement as he flew out of the school's parking area.

Just after dinner time that day Gavin agreed to meet on Akagi for a bit of fun. He figured the least he could do while they were there was apologize to Nika for raising his voice at her at the school. He arrived at the foot of Mt. Akagi only a few minutes before Reiko and Tatsuo, Nika arrived shortly after them.

"Nika, I'd like to apologize for my being so rude earlier, the offer to ride along any time you want is still open though," Gavin said as Nika came closer to the group.

"I understand your attachment to your car, I guess I should have expected that reaction from a racer," Nika replied with a slight chuckle.

"Well passenger seat is open, so let's get going," the buzz cut blonde said before walking to the driver's side of the toreador red FD.

Nika quickly climbed in and they took off towards the top of the mountain with both SE3Ps following close behind. As they approached the first few hairpins, Gavin floored the throttle and began tackling them one at a time using a grip run technique allowing Nika to feel the way the car moved as it stuck to the road.

"This is basically what it will feel like in the Super GT car," Gavin said as they cleared the last of the first hairpins in the first uphill set and entered the multiple s-curves, "I'll go through each corner with progressively less of a grip style to at least try and simulate tire wear over long periods, but it'll probably be a lousy attempt."

"Okay, just don't kill us and I'll be happy," Nika laughed before the FD tore through the right handed u-turn.

"That's the easy part," the buzz cut blonde chuckled.

As the FD flew through the course Reiko and Tatsuo were talking back and forth about what Reiko was seeing since she was in the middle of the pack.

"So what's he doing up there? I can't see through you," Tatsuo asked with a laugh as they plowed through the course.

"Well, knowing a little of how he thinks, I think he's trying to simulate tire wear on new tires," Reiko said confusedly as she followed the red FD through a few corners and watched it slide out more through each one, "Actually, I'm not sure I want to know what he's doing."

Tatsuo chuckled through the radio as he continued to follow his sister up their home course. A few minutes later the group of cars approached the final hairpin set of the uphill run. Gavin's FD was sliding more for show as Reiko and Tatsuo followed suit and drifted through each of the hairpins.

"So did you get the feel for the FD that you wanted Nika?" Reiko asked as the group gathered in the upper parking area.

"I sort of did, I'll have to ride a little more since I'm not allowed to drive it," Nika replied with a chuckle.

"Well blame stick in the mud Gavin for that," Reiko said in a teasing tone, "He's the one that needs to lighten up."

"Hey I said it at the school, no one drives the FD but me, my grandfather bought me the car when I was 15, and he and I would work on it together," Gavin said leaning against the subject of his story, "He taught me a lot about cars on this machine, he taught me how to drive it too."

"Sounds like you enjoy his company quite a lot," Nika said earning a look from Reiko.

"I did, these dog tags belonged to him from his days in the air force," Gavin said holding the chain with his thumb.

"I always thought those were yours since they've got your name on them," Tatsuo said with a chuckle, "Guess I should have looked at the birth date."

"What happened to him?" Nika asked not noticing Gavin getting choked up over the subject.

"He died about two years ago, I haven't taken these dog tags off since, and no one, not even a body shop, has touched this car to repair it but me," Gavin said through a shaky breath, "I don't think he would approve of the engine swap and me racing, but as long as I have this car he'll always be here."

Reiko walked over to the taller man and hugged him around the chest as he remained in his place on the hood of his car.

"Nika, what about your step-mom, has she left you alone?" Tatsuo asked trying to get on a different subject.

"I'm a little surprised you don't know the answer to that, we screamed for nearly ten minutes at each other while you stood outside waiting," Nika laughed as she leaned against Reiko's RX-8, "But she has not called trying to set me up since then so I count that as a win."

"So that's what that favor you asked about last week was all about, that guy you were talking about was at your Dad's house," Gavin said with a laugh, "And you used Tatsuo here to get out of it."

"As it turns out all I had to do was tell the guy I was dating Tatsuo, they knew each other," Nika responded sounding a little overly serious, "I'm still curious how you two knew each other though, you never did explain that."

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you, so I think I'll leave it at that," Tatsuo said nervously.

"Alright now you've got my interest Tatsuo, better spit it out before I come over there and beat it out of you," Gavin said with a laugh at the younger man's face.

"Well, Reiko you remember that guy I used to teach how to play the cello on the weekends after school?" Tatsuo asked getting a nod from his sister, "Well turns out he's the one Nika's step-mom was trying to set her up with."

"HE WAS YOUR STUDENT!?" Nika shouted nearly at the top of her lungs, "Hey wait, didn't you say you've known him since you were ten or eleven?"

"Didn't I say you wouldn't believe me?" the black haired young man replied scratching his ear, "And yes I did say that, it was the truth, I only taught him cello after he turned 16 though."

"Well I believe it, the way you play you could have taught Bach or Mozart a thing or two," Gavin said with his arm still around Reiko.

"And how do you know that?" Tatsuo said with an all out laugh, "From what you play in your car I wouldn't expect a man who knows about them."

"Hey just cause I don't listen to it often doesn't mean I don't like a bit of the classical music styles, Beethoven's fifth being a favorite, the Barber of Seville and Vivaldi's Four Seasons too," Gavin said shocking everyone in the parking area, especially Tatsuo, "So has anyone heard from Mikio lately? I realize it's only been a couple weeks since he challenged Nika to a race, but still."

"I heard from some folks I know out at Irohazaka, they say he's been winning more often these days, also that his technique seems to follow a whole new pattern of follow first battle since he's been able to keep up with a lot of his latest opponents," Tatsuo said before getting his phone out, "And I have a text here from a spectator's stand point from one of them, he's been practicing the line that goes through the air though he hasn't used it yet, preferring to pass in one of the few places in the final stretches."

"You mean that place where the optical illusion happens and the road just looks too narrow?" Gavin asked sounding genuinely curious.

"I guess, they really aren't specific in their messages about where in the last stretch he's been passing, but I would assume that's the spot," the black haired man responded, "Let's get back down, I'm getting tired and I've still got work I want to do on the kits I've been working on for our cars."

Nika retook her place in the FD's passenger seat and Gavin led the pack down the mountain. As they trekked down the pass Gavin once again tried to let Nika feel every aspect of the FD. When they reached the bottom Reiko and Tatsuo left without stopping while Nika and Gavin stayed and talked about his car and even made a couple more treks up and down the pass in the FD before leaving.

When the students arrived at the school the next day, a silver Toyota Altezza was going around the throttle track while being chased by the school's trainer Cosmo. Gavin and Tatsuo were trying to figure out just how the Altezza couldn't seem to pull away from the little Cosmo.

"Either they upgraded the Cosmo last night, or the driver of the Altezza isn't as good as the person in the Cosmo," Gavin said after the two cars began their second supervised lap.

"Somehow I'm more inclined to agree with the latter of the two," Tatsuo responded, "The lines they're using are okay, but they aren't the best ones on that course, plus the style of driving seems a little rough around the edges, the Cosmo is much smoother and is using the faster lines; that's how whoever is driving is able to keep up I think."

The two cars cleared the narrow hairpin corner and were dashing through the long straight as the Cosmo picked a different entry into the v-turn and managed to get by the Altezza just far enough to clear the corner by the chrome on its rear bumper, the Altezza quickly fell behind as the driver appeared to give up the chase after being passed. Nika and Tatsuo were impressed by the Cosmo's driver's abilities as the car came to a stop in its proper parking area while the Altezza pulled off the track completely.

"I told you Nobuhiko, you can't touch me yet," Wataru laughed as he climbed from the Cosmo, "But I'll admit you held me back there a lot longer than I thought you would so kudos on that."

"Thank you Wataru, it feels good to get a little time on the track with no distractions looming overhead," Nobuhiko replied before acknowledging the students' presence trackside, "Well I guess you're surprised to see that one of your teachers isn't as good as the rest."

"No, just a little surprised to see you on the course Sir," Gavin responded trying to sound sincere.

"Well, now you know either way, I was brought on specifically as an off track teacher, I'm nowhere near the best one here," the black haired man responded adjusting his glasses slightly, "You'll be on the course later today instead of first thing so head inside and we'll start once everything out here is cleaned up."

The students spent most of their time in the class room watching some track footage of passes as well as some cornering techniques as Nobuhiko explained how and when each one could be used. When they came out the students saw two FDs on the course, one yellow the other black.

"Keisuke and Kyoko have been on the course for half a lap, we can let them finish out their little race," Wataru said as the two cars flew through the hairpin before the v-turn, "You'll notice how the driver of the black FD is able to keep their speed even though the car only has a single turbo."

The two cars seemed tied together as the yellow FD followed the other through the v-turn and down the course and through the next u-turn. As they entered the straight the yellow FD passed the black one on the outside and once again the two cars appeared to be tied together as they finished the lap and began flying through the first corners of the next lap. When they maneuvered through the two hundred seventy degree loop turn the black FD falling behind slightly as it slid out of its intended line.

By the end of the third lap Wataru called an end to the race because the tires of the black FD were so obviously shredded that even he could see the black car sliding off its line more and more from across the track. As the two cars came off the track the black FD immediately went into the shop area while the yellow pulled down into pit lane and came to a stop.

"Way to go Kyoko, you've managed to get by your husband in his own car," Wataru said as the dirty blonde haired woman stepped from the yellow mica FD.

Every jaw in the area dropped as Keisuke came around the corner of the shop with a grin from ear to ear as Kyoko ran up to hug him.

"Alright, now that you've had a show, Mr. Reynolds and Ms. Mahara get ready to hit the course," Keisuke said with a chuckle as the students stood in their places and stared.