The Rise of Usui's Ghost
Chapter 9
Usui Pass, Gunma Prefecture
10:22PM
Yuzuru had never intended to reveal himself as the driver of the Sileighty in what he considered to be such an unbecoming manner. Originally, he had been very hesitant to even tell the truth because he did not want to draw too much attention. Ryuji however, made him throw those ideas out the window and the result of that lay within the mixed reactions the members of the Night Kids had towards the current situation.
Some displayed anger; others eyed him with looks of utter betrayal. But his brown gaze met the trio that consisted of Sayuki, Takeshi and Shingo all stared back at him with very evident shock in their expressions.
All three of them quietly walked over to Yuzuru, who looked a bit uncomfortable now that he was on the receiving end of a very intimidating glare from Nakazato's end.
Surprised as he was by the sudden turn of events, Shingo was far more subdued in showing traces of what he felt. Instead, he chose to remain silent and waited to see how things would turn out.
Sayuki, who always known to have quite the fiery temper herself seemed to be a stark contrast as to what those around them had expected of her. She seemed eerily calm about the whole thing and Nakazato was the person who looked to be struggling to keep his anger at bay.
'It all makes sense! He's just recently moved back to Gunma and his Sileighty must have been registered then with his change of address. I couldn't track him down because the system still hadn't been updated but more importantly, the same aggressive and refined style the Sileighty displayed was very similar when I sat beside him in the FD. Why the hell didn't I think of the possibility sooner?' She mentally berated herself now that the cat was out of the bag.
"You, you played me like a fool Kurokawa and I think an explanation is in order before I do something irrational." The iciness in his voice gave them a clear indication how close he was to blowing his fuse.
Reina exchanged looks with her older brother and she heard him sigh, "If you want an explanation Nakazato-san I will gladly give it to you, but not now. After all, we have a race to settle don't we?" He tried to reason.
Just as Takeshi moved closer to Yuzuru, Sayuki immediately stepped in between them and sent him a warning glare. "He's right Takeshi; Aizawa was the person who accepted the challenge in his stead. I'm sure there's a reason as to why he didn't reveal himself earlier but that's not why we're all here is it?"
Reina leveled her cool grey eyes on Sayuki and then to Nakazato, carefully studying their reactions with more interest than she had originally intended.
There was a prolonged period of silence in which Takeshi remained torn between asking all of the questions that were currently running across his head or simply moving forth with the race he had eagerly trained for in the past two weeks.
Finally, he to sighed and inclined his head with a bit of a grin playing at his lips. "Alright then, let's get this show on the road."
Ryosuke and the rest of the entourage that consisted of the few Project D members that had chosen to attend the race had all watched the exchange and Keisuke had more than once sniggered when he saw the priceless look Nakazato had on his face when he discovered it was Yuzuru who drove the Sileighty. He could tell that the two men seemed to know each other from a prior engagement, but chose not to worry too much about that.
As other members of the Night Kids began to usher the onlookers away from the street and behind the guardrail, Yuzuru beckoned his younger sister to follow him for a bit. Akio and Ryuji both stood from their places by the guardrail and followed him when he also motioned them to do so.
Daisuke remained entirely content to flirt with some of the female population that had arrived to see the race and the older Kurokawa could only snicker when he saw this.
Ryosuke was the first person to greet the two mechanics followed by a warm smile from Matsumoto who also saluted his employees.
"Konbanwa Kurokawa-kun, Ichinose-kun; as promised, we came to see your race." The team leader of Project D said.
"And I expect a win from your end as well," Matsumoto declared with mirth in his voice.
"Well, we'll see," He began. "But first I want to introduce to you guys Aizawa Ryuji, he's a very good pass racer with more than enough experience on the Wangan as well-ngh," he groaned after receiving a hard elbow to his rib cage.
Everyone in the group narrowed their eyes on the richly dressed girl who visibly bore a very close resemblance to Yuzuru.
"This one," he pointed to her. "Is my younger sister Reina."
Ryosuke chuckled and Keisuke raised an eyebrow at her feisty demeanor. Matsumoto shook his head in amusement, knowing this was a constant occurrence between the two siblings from prior experience.
"A pleasure," Rysouke offered his hand with a pleasant smile that Reina quickly returned. Ryuji too replicated her actions although far more subdued, offering a respectful bow in place of the usual handshake. Even he, a Tokyo boy who grew up in the city knew who Takahashi Ryosuke was.
"What's with the fancy getup Kurokawa, did you want to show up in style for woo the ladies?" Keisuke jokingly stated.
Yuzuru glanced at his watch and then to the starting line, briefly considering whether to answer his question or not while noticing that they were almost done clearing the pass for the race.
"If you really want to know Keisuke-san, I'd suggest that you pick up a copy of tomorrow's paper. You'll find your answer there and anyway, it looks like I have to go soon, time is of the essence in this case and I think I've made you all wait long enough."
Keisuke cocked his head to the side, surprised by the statement but elected to remain silent as Kenta continued to eye Yuzuru inquisitively, somewhat mistrustful of him but Matsumoto quickly reprimanded the young man with a swift swat to the back of his head.
"Ow!" He glowered back at the chief mechanic. Ryosuke ignored the outburst and called out to the brown haired mechanic.
"Matte kure Kurokawa-kun."
"Yes?"
"I'd like you to meet two more people from Project D. The first is Nakamura Kenta, he handles reconnaissance on our expeditions and Fujiwara Takumi; our downhill ace who is more famously known as the driver of Akina's Eight-Six."
Both Ryuji and Akio were enthralled by the revelation, unable to believe someone that was easily Yuzuru's age had beaten far more powerful cars with what people normally considered to be an 'outdated' machine. The admiration was visible in their eyes was not lost among those in their group, but Yuzuru himself was very much impressed by Takumi and he shook hands after offering one of his wide grins.
"I've heard a lot about you Fujiwara-san; I can honestly say that it's great to finally meet you after all I've heard about you."
He may have not shown it, but Takumi suffered a momentary lapse when he had tried to read the young man before him. There was no doubt that all of the hype surrounding his skills and technique were legitimate. Yet there was still something that was undeniably special about him from the moment he saw him emerge from his Sileighty. He had only seen it a handful of times from a very few number of people such as Kogashiwa Kai, Takahashi Ryosuke, Sudo Kyoichi and more recently Takahashi Keisuke. All held an incredible presence whenever they were in a car and now this person who seemed to be no older than he was also had that air, that intoxicating aura that one only need to look at for a fraction of a second to gain an insight as to how bright it shined.
"Likewise," he answered.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question?"
Takumi shrugged, expecting as much from a person he was also so interested in as well. "Were you in Maebashi two weeks ago Saturday night?"
"Huh? Yeah, I was running a few errands and I just felt like killing sometime after I was done why?"
"By chance do you drive a zenki Sprinter Trueno that has the name of the Fujiwara Tofu Shop emblazoned on the driver's side?"
Reina's eyes lit up in surprise now that she managed to make the connection her brother had suggested, 'He was the person that drew onii-chan's attention that day we went out for my birthday. Now I'm beginning to understand this a little better.'
"Hai, how did you know?"
"I happened to see your car that night and I have to say that there's something that didn't sound like a normal 4A-GE to my ears sitting under the hood of your Eight-Six."
Yuzuru moved back to see that all of the preparations were now complete, his Cheshire-like grin only continued to intensify with the passing seconds now that the race was about to begin.
"Looks like time's up; Reina, I want you to stay here with Ryuji no ifs ands or buts. I need to exploit every advantage my car has over the GT-R and its weight happens to be the most crucial. I can't have anyone else with me at the moment; you'll only weigh the car down more."
Reina gave him infamous death glare, Ryuji shuddered the moment he saw it appear on her face and he slowly inched back as she raised her arm in preparation to deliver another blow to the oblivious Yuzuru.
"Are you calling me fat?" She asked with a certain edge in her voice, the kind that promised loads of pain if it was answered incorrectly.
"Perhaps I am," Yuzuru shot back; his tone laced with undisguised humor.
Akio and Matsumoto erupted into laughter as Yuzuru casually removed his blazer to drape it over his sister's shoulders. She was still fuming over his response, and the barbs she sent his way carried several threats within them. Reina only visibly relaxed when he patted her head affectionately, giving her one of his warm smiles. He knew that she was at the age where girls almost always held deep concerns about their weight and for the life of him, he could never understand why such an irrational thought would cross the logical and calculating mind she always seemed to possess.
For a girl of 16 she was by far one of the most attractive and sought after in her school. One could argue that it was due to her natural charm and exotic features when it came to her chestnut brown hair and alluring charcoal colored eyes. Because of her entirely foreign appearance many boys were already drawn to her and Yuzuru had to hold back the laughter that was threatening to escape him when she expressed her annoyance with being leered at.
Let it be known that Kurokawa Reina had a track record for ending up in the principal's office after all the times some of the boys would try several unsuccessful attempts to seduce her or gain her affection through more unscrupulous efforts.
'Well, in this case I suppose it would be better to say 'girls will be girls', he mused. 'Even a violent one at that.'
Afterwards, he rolled up his sleeves and casually waved back to the whole group as he approached his waiting Sileighty and stopped at the door to hear what Sayuki would say.
"Alright, this race will be one of cat and mouse! Because of how narrow these roads are there is barely any space as it is to start evenly, thus we have decided that it would be proper to use a delayed start method. In other words, if the person leading is overtaken by the person who is chasing, then they lose. But if the person who is chasing is not able to pass the car ahead and still manage to stick close enough, the race restarts although you now swap places. Is this alright with you?"
"It's fine."
"Good," she replied. "Then as customary of the local, you get to choose who leads first."
Ryosuke continued to hang on to every word the pair discussed, his brain began to carefully consider each and every available possibility and the inherent opportunities both drivers could benefit from what could be a multi-round race. Yuzuru had the experience and knowledge of his home course, the lightweight body of his Sileighty, and his masterful technique. He had already learned that the teenager could hide just enough of his skills to give his opponents a bit of confidence before he went in for the kill, a trait which not many people could claim to have the patience for.
It was an underhanded method, but he had used it countless times before on his opponents. Another thing that also made him a bit curious was whether Kurokawa would choose to lead or not. To those that even had an inkling, the outcome of this race would be determined by the choice that he would make. Usui was a dark, tight, and narrow pass that was just as perilous, if not even on equal footing to the infamous Shomaru Pass. Yuzuru held almost every possible advantage in the palm of his hands and Nakazato's R32 was a car that was normally not very well suited for a pass that held little to no straightaways.
Its biggest disadvantage was obviously the heavy weight of the GT-R's body, but in some cases even power could prove to be a nuisance. The Sileighty held the chance to crush his opponent on the first run if he so chose it, it was entirely plausible. He knew that Nakazato was someone who would normally succumb when he was under pressure, mind games were his main weakness and if Yuzuru somehow found out how to exploit that, it would very much be possible to crush the driver with ease.
'But,' Ryosuke mentally added. 'The one thing that will prove to be an undeterminable factor in this race is her.'
He glanced at Sayuki who momentarily seemed to be having some sort of strategy meeting with Nakazato, 'Her experience as the second member of Usui's female duo will no doubt provide Nakazato with some very valuable insight. She knows the best lines on this pass, and there's no doubt in my mind that she's adopted one that will benefit the GT-R enormously in the long run. I get the feeling that she's expecting this race to last more than one round in order to exploit the Three-Two's power advantage over the Sileighty on the uphill section…But one thing they don't seem to know is how he can enter and exit corners at a much faster rate with the use of the Double Apex. This is going to be very interesting…'
If he had to hazard a guess, he expected Yuzuru to relinquish the lead to Nakazato for the start of the race. It would enable him to put pressure on the man and carefully analyze his methods.
"Very well, in that case I choose to follow. Am I safe to assume that the race begins after the first corner?"
Sayuki nodded, "Yes it will, are you ready to begin?"
"Of course."
The shapely brunette quickly turned over to Takeshi to see the determination set in his expression. She cleared her throat for a moment, which seemed to draw him out of his internal deliberation.
"You ready?" She asked.
"Absolutely," he declared with a smirk. "I've been waiting for this for a long time. Thanks you your help, I've managed to prepare myself to race on this pass. I can't thank you enough Sayuki."
She smiled back at him before continuing, "I know it wasn't explicitly stated in our agreement Takeshi, but w-would you mind if I ride with you for the race? I want to see what he's fully capable of. I want the whole picture from him and more importantly," she paused.
A faint blush crept on to her cheeks which thankfully, were barely visible in the moonlight night.
"I want you to prove to me what you've been able to absorb after all these weeks of training. Besides, Usui is by far the hardest pass you've probably raced on so I still think you may need me for a few tips here and there," she teased.
Takeshi chuckled at her blatant attempt to humor herself, "Hop in."
Yuzuru slipped into the driver's seat and buckled up while giving the engine a few revs, thoroughly enjoying the sound of its hissing blow off valve whenever he let off the gas. Shingo stepped up with a stop watch in hand, holding up his remaining one, he began the countdown.
The roars of both cars grew considerably louder, every person in the audience bursting into voracious cheer as they were quickly drowned out by the high pitch exhaust note of the Sileighty singing along with the deeper and stronger undertone of the GT-R.
"Go!"
"Yon!"
"San!"
"Ni!"
"Ichi!"
"GO!"
Instantly, the Three-Two took off. Only a few tire tracks and thin clouds of smoke emerged from its four tires as everyone feasted their eyes upon the black R32 as it proved to live up to its repertoire, accelerating at an astonishing rate along with its twin turbochargers spooling furiously that provided them with such a wonderful sound from the straight-six.
A few seconds passed before the Sileighty immediately shot forward, a copious amount of smoke spewing from its rear tires as its engine let out a piercing snarl. Yuzuru eyed the tachometer for a moment and smirked as it redlined at precisely 9000RPM before he shifted into another gear.
He nearly shuddered when he felt the power combined with its straight torque and acceleration quickly propel him in the GT-R's direction.
'Here we go.'
Right after Nakazato expertly guided the car through the first corner, Sayuki immediately felt herself being flung back into her seat. Nevertheless, she clung on to the grab handle and kept the radio in her other hand. To a normal person, the power exhibited by the monstrous GT-R would have scared them the moment Takeshi gunned the accelerator. But all of the practice runs and obvious quirks that came with the car were things that she quickly managed to take in and adapt.
She was no longer scared of the vehicle and smiled when she realized that the man beside her was following her line closely, gripping through the sharp left hander with remarkable ease.
Her eyes fell upon one of the side mirrors and quickly took in the fact that the Sileighty was only a few meters away from them. This did not surprise her too much, and she tried to calculate the amount of distance left over before the next approaching corner.
"Stick close to the guardrail, no more than a few centimeters and stay on the inside lane. Pin the throttle as much as possible to avoid any understeer," she directed.
"Got it!"
Takeshi guided the GT-R into the following corner with extreme accuracy. The smooth downshift was very well executed, its engine screaming as it descended into third gear.
Yuzuru smirked, stabbing the brakes before kicking the clutch in preparation of his own downshift. He allowed the rear end to lose traction and sent the car into a small drift without crossing the center line by flooring the gas pedal to keep it under his control. His eyes drifted from the road to the R32's rear bumper as it drew considerably closer.
This however, would only last for a split second as the narrow road managed to straighten out. He narrowed his eyes at the power the black Three-Two displayed became far more apparent when it pulled out of the corner much faster than he had originally thought.
'As expected of Nakazato, his technique is very well rounded and he knows exactly how to bring out the best performance of his car. I recall Sayuki-san mentioning something about being the co-pilot of the Sileighty that once raced through Usui before me. This means I need to be very careful and use this run to study my opponent before I make my move later on.'
Sayuki could only look on with renewed passion, after ten months since her last street race she was finally having a taste of another worthy opponent. The presence and command Yuzuru held behind the wheel of the Sileighty was not unfounded, every time she looked back there was a hint of the aura that radiated from the car. It was spirituous and simply exhilarating to watch and for a moment she was disappointed that he had chosen to follow in the first run.
Takeshi for the first time in months could only describe the elation he felt now that he was experiencing the thrill of being followed so closely. He may have not shown it, but the fierce determination in his eyes gave Sayuki the indication that he was throwing his all into the race.
Each and every corner that followed he tackled with nothing but the aid of his car's 4WD and ATTESA-ETS system. The amount of grip and traction he utilized were calculated, from his distance to the guardrail down to the maneuvers he made to set up for the coming bends had been practiced to the point where the GT-R's tires received little to no wear from them.
Takeshi could only grin broadly as he cleared the following right hairpin with more than enough speed to widen the gap by a small margin as they approached the narrow section of two successive S-turns.
Sayuki looked back and realized that C=121 wasn't very far from their position now, the Sileighty's headlights shined brightly on them as it once again moved closer following his corner exit.
'Incredible! Even though it only runs on a single turbocharger he's managing to enter and exit corners at a much faster rate than we are! His rev-matching is flawless and it's like he can control the car's revs to the point of neutralizing the turbo lag one tends to suffer when exiting a corner. Even Mako didn't have such a 'sixth sense' when it came to that!'
Sayuki watched the sweat beginning to trickle down from Takeshi's forehead; she knew that he was throwing his absolute best to use the Three-Two's few advantages on this particular course. She fixed her gaze on the needle and saw it climb all the way to 8500RPM before shifting up to fourth gear, blowing past the short stretch of road that required little steering from his part.
Yuzuru glared at the Skyline before him, feeling his blood pumping and heart pounding in his chest as he continued to study his opponent from behind. His heightened senses continued to pick up each and every detail from Nakazato's style and his line. It was clear to him that he had gained much experience and familiarity with the course and this only spurred him on, the high-pitched shriek of the SR20DET redtop was all he heard as it screamed at full throttle.
He knew the course like the back of his hand and if memory served him, after the second S-turn C=121 would be approaching. He absolutely loved that corner because it was the one of the few he could clear with more than enough speed to drift through it entirely.
Within seconds, he saw the bright glow of the leading Skyline's afterburner taillights. Nakazato had braked early, providing him with more than enough time to downshift and power through the winding left turn.
"Well done, keep it steady and keep your foot on the gas to let the ATTESA kick in. Stay on the inside; it's alright if the car start's to veer off slightly to the right. It'll be normal because of its induced understeer. That tactic will also block him from trying to counter from either the inside or the outside," she said.
"Got it!"
Just as Takeshi began to follow her orders to the letter, Yuzuru tapped the brakes; the sudden action shifted the car's weight load to the front as the rear once again gave way after the downshifts back to fourth gear and then third. The 16-valve motor snarled once more and then hissed after he implemented the use of his polished heel-and toe to bring the power band back up.
With practiced ease, he changed his line and swerved to the opposite side to prepare for the rapidly approaching corner. In the following sparse seconds, Sayuki looked back in amazement as she now bared witness to what she could consider the defining trait of his technique. The car had gained more than enough momentum to swerved back to the left, initiating a drift that sent it through the perilous corner at an almost blinding speed. The Sileighty's tires screeched against the asphalt as smoke filled the air as a result of the action.
Sakamoto could only look on in absolute shock at what he just witnessed from his position at the checkpoint of C=121. Never in his 24 years of existence had he ever seen someone manipulate a car with such a beautiful drift using inertia. Scrupulous, aggressive and majestic were the only words he could possibly think of to describe what he had just seen. With shaking hands, he raised his radio up to his face to begin his first status report of the night.
'That was the scariest shit I've ever seen in my life!' He mentally raged.
Usui Pass, Nagano/Gunma border (Top of the pass)
"Th-this is S-Sakamoto c-coming in from C=121, Nakazato's got the Sileighty riding his ass and by the looks of it he's entering and exiting corners at a much faster rate than the GT-R! He just drifted through the whole corner with a feint drift! Only pros can really pull off that kind of stuff without ending up down the valley!"
Almost all the members of the Night Kids gaped with the sole exception of Shingo who was tense from the details he kept picking up from other checkpoints. He knew very well that no normal person would attack corners so recklessly and disgustingly fast at the same time. Sayuki and her partner were extremely gifted as racers; that was a fact that he would never take away from their accomplishments and Mako an extraordinary racer in her own right; seemed to pale in comparison to what he had been hearing at the moment.
Several times he had seen the famous blue Sileighty here at Usui and there was no doubt to anyone who witnessed the female duo race that they had been enormously talented by conquering practically all of their opponents to the extent where Shingo now found himself wondering just how things would be if the other half of Impact Blue were currently racing as opposed to his teammate.
The No.2 driver of the Night Kids turned away to study the members of Project D who were currently surrounding another radio that sat atop the orange S14 he knew to belong to the cocky driver that had challenged Fujiwara at Myogi and lost spectacularly in the rain what seemed so long ago.
There were a number of people he did not recognize as well that were with them, but he did spot the familiar faces of Matsumoto and Ichinose. The two mechanics were grinning widely, so much so that he began to feel a bit queasy about what else he should be expecting for the race. His eyes then drifted to the Takahashi brothers, who remained passive but very much attentive to all of the information relayed.
Then, he moved on to the young girl that had stepped out of the Sileighty with Kurokawa and in the faint light he could see quite a few similarities the older teenager shared with her.
'His sister,' he concluded.
Reina wasn't able to suppress the smile that began to creep its way to her face when she heard that he brother had just passed C=121. It was unsurprising to her that he had used his signature feint drift to compensate for the lack of power one normally experiences on the corner. She knew from firsthand experience that it was just another method for him to scare and put pressure on his opponents.
Ryosuke spotted the younger Kurokawa's smile when the moonlight emerged once again from behind the few sparse clouds that inhabited the dark and starry sky. He too was hanging on to each and every word that was being broadcast and decided to strike up a conversation with the girl that was evidently still in high school.
"You remind me a lot of my younger cousin Tsugumi," he chuckled. "Only you're a bit older and more accepting of your older brother's passion for racing."
Keisuke decided to step away from the conversation in favor of discussing a few details with the two mechanics of Matsumoto Speed and Aizawa. He could never understand the soft spot his older brother held for their cousin but he had to agree with him, Reina reminded him of Tsugumi a little, mainly because of the way she jabbed Yuzuru in the ribs. His hand unconsciously rubbed his side at the imaginary bruise he had from all of his cousin's antics.
Reina gazed at the dashing medical student, unsure of how to take it before electing to smile back at him.
"Thank you I suppose, and as for accepting his passion for racing I think supportive would be a much better choice of word. He's come a very long way from all the time we spent in New Zealand and I can't help but feel glad that he's doing what he loves."
The raven haired man was genuinely surprised by the mature answer Reina gave him. "I see," he trailed. "How much time has it been since you returned to Japan?" He asked.
She rubbed her chin for a moment, as if to think back seemed to cost her some effort. "About two years ago, our parents had decided to move to Germany while my brother and I disagreed with the decision. We both missed Japan and thus decided to come back home. I'd say it's a decision that neither of us really regret."
'Germany huh? Looks like there's good chance their father is who I think it is.'
Things were beginning to add up for him, he may have been a bit far from confirming his suspicions but it was more than enough for Keisuke to believe when he showed him the article.
'And he says he's self-taught, which is something that very few people can claim to have accomplished. Even if this is true I have to wonder if this is what he's capable of without any other coaching from anyone else. It's incredible, only Fujiwara and I can say with certain honesty that no one elset told us what to do.'
Her grey eyes moved from the handsome face that was looking down at her to the white FC that was parked behind another Trueno on the side of the road.
'Lovely car,' she thought to herself. From very early on Reina had discovered that she had a natural affinity for rotary engines. There was no other sound in the world that appealed to her so much as the smooth and high pitched growl of the cars that ran on turbines. At first she thought it was due to the FD that was around as she grew up whilst dealing with Kakeru and Yuzuru tinkering with it endlessly on the cool summer afternoons back in New Zealand but later on it grew on her when she asked her brother to teach her how it worked and how to maintain it.
Ryosuke followed the girl's eyes and took note of how she nodded appreciatively at the sight of his car.
"It's-"
"An RX-7," she interrupted. "Specifically an FC3S, is it yours?"
"Yes, it is a Savanna model from 1990. You really seem to know quite a bit about cars; very few people often refer to them by their chassis codes unless they tend to be avid car fanatics or street racers like us. But I'm sure it's safe to assume that your brother also happened to influence you through his attachment to vehicles and as a mechanic correct?"
Though slightly floored by Ryosuke's spot on deduction, she dipped her head silently in affirmation, realizing that there was much more to the man before her other than the usual foolhardy street racers that were a dime a dozen.
Evidently, the eldest Takahashi had done his homework in regards to her older brother and perhaps it was a bit unnerving for her to be read so easily, but she too had done her bit of research when it came to Project D and a bit of info on the two known as the Rotary Brothers as well when she heard first their names come up in a conversation with Yuzuru.
"I suppose you can say that, my upbringing had a lot to do with it since Yuzuru seemed to care more about mechanics and racing by the time he had turned 12."
'Kakeru and Oyaji also had an enormous influence on both of us as well.'
Reina whirled around to listen to the radio once more as Ryosuke carefully pondered her answer.
"They've already crossed the halfway checkpoint between the finish and the start line. Nakazato seems to be driving as hard as he can and the Sileighty is still close behind him! It's amazing! I never thought the Three-Two would manage to keep such a steady pace! He even managed to get through the tight hairpin smoothly."
"It seems like Nakazato has finally managed to curb one of his main weaknesses."
"How so?" Reina inquired the team leader.
Sensing an explanation was in order as every single person in the group had now set their sights on Ryosuke, he swiftly continued his train of thought.
"Do you remember when you first raced Nakazato at Akina Fujiwara-kun?"
Takumi nodded, "Yes."
"Well," Ryosuke continued. "Back then, Nakazato often had a very difficult time controlling the wear on his tires during the race and with good reason. He favored a fairly aggressive and very dynamic driving style that generally wasn't suitable for a GT-R. You have to remember that its 4WD system is something that is crucial for an even distribution of power and when you add in the amount of torque and horsepower the engine produces, it puts a heavy strain on the tires. In other words, because of the erratic pace Nakazato would adopt due to his growing frustrations and the heavy load of the Three-Two's body, the front tires would suffer more when he steered through the slopes of Akina."
Reina mulled the words over for a moment as looks of understanding dawned on Takumi, Kenta and Ryuji.
"But that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be able to prevent the wear from plaguing him either way," she said.
Now it was Ryosuke's turn to be surprised as he stared at the young girl curiously, having already considered such a possibility within his calculations.
While the explanation his team leader had offered had certainly cleared up the matter in his head, the new statement posed by girl he knew to be called Reina threw him off all over again as he tried to carefully find the answer on his own. Takumi may have come a very long way from the ignorant street racer he once was, but he was still by no means an expert.
Matsumoto too understood what the girl meant and urged her to go on. "What do you mean Reina-chan?"
"If you think about it, Nakazato can definitely preserve his tires by adopting a smoother line and a steadier pace, but there will be a point in time that he's going to have to use the extra grip in his tires to try and challenge my brother on the uphill. I'd bet everything I have that he's going to try and push much harder once the next round begins. This in turn, would mean that he would be putting more strain on the tires and wear them out much faster. The understeer won't help Nakazato much at all, which means he'll end up struggling if there is a third round."
Keisuke was impressed by the full analysis Reina had just simplified for them all in a matter of minutes. He may have understood what his brother had explained earlier, but it always took a while for him to process the whole thing.
'She has the brains, and if she applies that mind to becoming a street racer she may even become just as formidable as her brother.' Ryosuke surmised.
Akio smiled to himself as he reached out for the radio, grabbing it with his hand as a strong wave of excitement, he was definitely anticipating the next time the two of them would have another impromptu race at Usui. The last few times had been with the FD, but now that the Sileighty had proven to be its worthy replacement he was eager to see how it performed with his own eyes.
"This just in, Nakazato and the Sileighty are closing in on the bridge. They just blew past the final narrow straight with the GT-R still in the lead. It looks like the Sileighty hasn't tried to overtake yet, but he is pressuring Nakazato. They're almost there so tell us what you see from the bridge checkpoint!"
"Understood!" Izumi responded from his end of the line.
As other members of the Night Kids surrounded Shingo and the radio atop his EG, the silence among them was almost deafening. Every single one of them had either expressions of worry, or jumpy. None of them had expected Kurokawa to put up a hard fight against Nakazato's R32.
Meanwhile, all attending members of the Akina SpeedStars were torn between who to root for. They had only managed to gather a glimpse of the young man who happened to drive the infamous Sileighty and from what Iketani had been able to see and hear, the kid was by no means in the amateur class they were in. That much was obvious, and whilst Itsuki would occasionally cry out whilst shaking in excitement he continued to take heed of every word from the people scattered across the checkpoints who delivered reports periodically.
"I can hear them close by, they're turning the corner as I speak, and there they are! Nakazato's still ahead but the Sileighty continues to gain on him! Nakazato just entered the bridge; he's sticking close to the inside-wait what the, the Sileighty's going for the pass on the outside! He's challenging the GT-R at the corner!? He's going in extremely fast; he's starting to drift on the outside lane! Is this guy crazy!?"
There was a bit of static in the background as everyone glared at their radios with varied emotions running through them.
"That's it this guy is an absolute madman! He drifted through the entire bridge without even crossing the centerline even once! He got really close to passing the GT-R but he botched the exit since Nakazato managed to pull out before him because he closed the gap he had left.
"Damn it!" Keisuke hissed in frustration. He had hoped that Kurokawa would have managed to pass him and finish the race right then and there, but apparently it wasn't meant to be. The blonde man's eyes then landed on Reina who appeared all too comfortable with the whole situation for his comfort.
'She knows something; a normal person wouldn't just stay calm knowing that their brother just had the chance to pass and win the race.'
This development was difficult for Ryosuke to comprehend. Fujiwara had told him that on the bridge if one would take the inside line there was always a small gap to allow a car to pass through. Had it been him racing, he was sure that he would have gone for the chance if it meant winning the race. On this particular occasion, he too hoped Reina would explain this strange maneuver.
Noticing that it was now her turn to give them all an explanation she sighed, gathering her thoughts in order before verbally reiterating them.
"I've been on this pass more than enough times to the point that I've already lost count. Throughout those rides in which I sat beside Yuzuru, I noticed that at one specific point in the downhill run of the course there is a spot on the bridge that gives the illusion of a small gap. If your opponent were to use logic and take the inside lane, you're essentially blocking the person behind you even if you attempt to overtake them. The truth is that if you try to go for that open space, you may end up losing much more than just the race because of the short distance before the guardrail curves to the right. My brother knows this from experience, so the only reason he did that was to try and put even more pressure on Nakazato."
'He's testing Nakazato's endurance. If he manages to last long enough to try and go for a pass on the next round he's going to need to be patient and endure as much as possible in order to even try and go for a surefire chance…'
Ryosuke knew that the race was still far from over and the real challenge began on the following round. From the short amount of time he had been able to watch Kurokawa closely, it continually dawned on him just how similar they were with their perceptions and attitudes on the pass. They both liked to study opponents and use their own tactics against them, and more importantly, play mind games on them in order to systematically make them crack under pressure. It was unsettling for him and at the same time he enjoyed this fact thoroughly.
Whereas Takumi had gained his attention and fostered his desire to grow new talents, Yuzuru had gained his curiosity. His deep knowledge as a mechanic and the passion he harbors as a street racer were things he was also greatly impressed with and while he had a feeling that Takumi and Yuzuru were on some level more or less equal in terms of technique, Fujiwara had the same capability to use his opponent's own tricks against them and push past his limits at every race.
It occurred to him that he still had much to learn about Yuzuru and the extent of his technique in order to be able to judge him properly against his two aces because he was still young. Kurokawa would undoubtedly continue to grow in Gunma and both Keisuke and Takumi too would do the same with each passing race.
'And that just makes it all the more interesting,' he reflected.
Sayuki sighed in relief as soon as they cleared the bridge. She certainly hadn't expected Yuzuru to begin his assault there of all places. She had seen the gap, and tried to warn Takeshi before it was too late but the man reacted instantly and exited the corner before the Sileighty managed to poke in any more than its nose.
Takeshi however, had grown far more cautious now that Yuzuru had made his first attempt. The rational part of his mind screamed that there had been a very good reason as to why he had held back up until now. No one was that patient, and that scared him. Throughout this first round, he had utilized the line Sayuki had developed for his own use. He was grateful for the big part she had played in that, because now that the first run was almost over he would happily unleash the full potential of his GT-R to end the race on the uphill.
'I have no intention of letting this race get past the second round! Sorry kid, but now the gloves come off. Now you're going to get a real taste of what my Three-Two is capable of!'
"Ease in to the corner Takeshi, don't abuse the throttle. We're going to need every bit of power for the next round." Sayuki reminded him.
"I know," Takeshi managed to say over the loud, thundering roar of his RB26 powered Skyline.
Despite all of his efforts, Yuzuru still could not refrain from grinning. Nakazato had taken the bait and his line had now shifted to a more aggressive stance. With only a long series of narrow s-turns coming up for another stretch he knew that a most of the more severe corners were already behind them.
For now, he was content to simply watch Nakazato and prepare for the chase that he had been craving as the final test for his Sileighty.
After a total of five consecutive corners in which he guided the car through them without any flashy drifts or moves, Yuzuru took note that the Three-Two had slowed down considerably. Since that could only mean that they had reached the finish line for the downhill run, he hit the brakes and began a gradual descent in gears.
He pulled the parking brake as soon as he left the car in neutral and swung the rear in a complete 180° handbrake turn. He sucked in a breath, his head still reeling from every detail he had taken in from their first run.
Despite his more analytic approach to the way he raced, he often struggled to fight off his instinctual habit of going for every opening he saw. With the line the GT-R had adopted earlier, Nakazato seemed to be trying to tempt him and go for the pass.
'I'd bet that it was Sayuki-san who developed that part of the plan; if it weren't for the fact that I'm choosing to bide my time I'm sure I would have taken the bait.'
Yuzuru glanced at the rearview mirror to see Nakazato flash his high beams, the sign to continue fromm where they left off.
'Alright, now is when I get serious. Try to keep up because we're going to race at my pace from here on.'
Resting his hand on the shift knob, he gave the car a few revs and listened to the whistle of the Garrett turbocharger under the hood followed by the airy release of the blowoff valve. He set the car in first gear and began to continually redline at 9000RPM before he lowered the handbrake. The Sileighty took off in a flash, as its rear tires gushed out large clouds of smoke.
Sayuki marveled at the sudden acceleration as the GT-R followed close behind, slowly gaining back the distance Yuzuru had managed to put between them following the restart of the race.
Like a pair of loud, rapacious dogs, the two Nissan engines resonated across the dark valley to the extent of being heard a great distance away from the bridge. Takesi's R32 remained glued to his opponent's rear bumper.
Between the two vehicles, there was a distance of just two meters between them. Nakazato remined entirely focused on finding any openings for the overtake as the first hairpin approached them.
Without breaking any stride, Yuzuru blazed through it with a simple drift after entering it at a relatively high speed. Takeshi rolled through the corner with remarkable accuracy, allowing the ATTESA-ETS to take effect and push him out of it with the minimal effects of understeer.
'Now that I get the chance to see him in action from behind, I'm starting to get the same vibes I had when Mako and I first raced Takumi-kun and his Eight-Six… He's by no means normal, and for that reason we have to be very careful when we try pulling any moves on him. He knows this course like the back of his hand and I won't allow anyone else's knowledge spanning mere months overcome the one I've had in this place for years; even if you drive a Sileighty!'
"Pedal to the metal Takeshi, I want you to use all 380 horses of power when we approach the next few bends! They're all minor so give it everything you've got! There aren't any corners that should prove challenging for your car until we get to the bridge!"
Takeshi stayed quiet, but followed the instructions derived from his co-pilot. He may have not liked the repetitive sections of S-turns that littered the touge but for once, he appreciated that these weren't as severe from others. Slowly but surely, he drew closer and closer to the Sileighty. With his foot rooted on the gas, he shuddered when the strong burst of power continued to perform at optimum level.
The Night Kids leader had to admit, the handling and balance of his beloved R32 had improved drastically in the short time span of a month. Even the brakes and body complimented one another. The pinnacle of Yuzuru's mechanical genius however, laid within the car's suspension settings. Its instant response coupled with the extraordinary power of its twin turbochargers gave him everything he needed to win. That much was certain.
Just as the elder Kurokawa had expected, Nakazato had upped the ante. The man was showing no signs of backing down and this made him all the more concerned that he would attempt something in the coming corners.
'I'd better be careful now. Originally I was planning on prolonging the race into the third round, but I may just have to throw that plan out the window; for now I'll focus on building as much of a lead as I can and see if I can end this sooner rather than later.'
A month prior Yuzuru wouldn't have thought twice about tuning the car if a customer but now proved to be almost an entirely different circumstance. 'I just had to go and make things harder for myself.'
With only three corners left before they hit the bridge section again, he readily expected Takeshi to try and gain the advantage on the inside. The maneuver was his best option and yet, entirely predictable. It wouldn't make sense if he challenged at the bridge.
'But there's still a chance nonetheless.'
For the better part of the round, Sayuki had continually been studying and watching all of the quirks and habits that came with Yuzuru's style. She was sure that he had been able to do the same to them on their first downhill run and now, was her turn to carefully gauge his skills.
The day she had sat beside him in the FD had been a blur and admittedly, she had not been able to gather too much from him due to how transfixed she had been during its course. But now, she had the chance to see his line and the rhythm he had whenever he took on another corner.
Never had she been able to see someone drive so smoothly and aggressively at the same time. All of his antics behind the wheel of the gorgeous Sileighty ahead of them were meticulously calculated and executed with a combination of precision and flair. It amazed her how the teenager could be so calm and collected in his endeavors. There was no doubt in her mind that if Takeshi had been designated to follow instead of leading in the first round, he would have lost his patience and abused his tires.
Her training had definitely made him grow into a more patient driver, but his infamous temper was still lurking somewhere within him. Hopefully, it wouldn't have to emerge unless it was absolutely necessary.
Easily sensing that they only had one more corner before they finally hit the bridge, she decided to give Takeshi his first chance.
"We're almost to the bridge, right before that there is a very short straightaway that may allow you to get through him! This is one of the best shots you have, so try and go for it!"
"Hai!"
The Skyline exited the corner hot on the heels of the Sileighty which had taken the inside lane, speeding up in preparation for the bridge as it shifted into third gear. Since no other option was available, Takeshi immediately moved over to the outside lane and floored the accelerator with no restraints.
Sayuki felt herself be thrown back into her seat again from the car's sudden acceleration.
For the first time in the entire race, Yuzuru was caught by surprise. His eyes widened considerably when he took in the fact that the GT-R was no longer in his rearview mirror, rather almost halfway next to him.
'Shit! This isn't good! Not good at all!'
The only bargaining chip he had left to pull him out of this situation was the same thing he had use on Ryosuke when he first met him. The GT-R was much heavier coming out of the corner and without any straight it would end up losing its proximity to him.
'Fuck it,' he decided. 'I'm not going to lose here!'
Throwing all reservations he had out the window, Yuzuru too gunned the gas pedal and shifted to fourth gear as soon as the needle hit 9000RPM. He put everything he had into it, knowing that he would have to force the GT-R to the outside as much as possible.
Yuzuru took only a split second to glare out his window, seeing the black Skyline beside him. The two cars barely even fit on both lanes and the amount of usable road before the bridge was quickly running out for both of them. One of them would have to yield to the other, the question was who would?
At this point Reina was positively shaking; she had not expected her brother's opponent to make such a ballsy challenge with barely any road left before the guardrail curved to the right. The thing that scared her the most wasn't having her brother lose the race, but the consequences if the charge backfired on Nakazato; not Yuzuru.
"Holy freaking shit! Nakazato's trying to overtake the Sieighty from the outside! Will he even make it!? They've only got a few meters left before they have to slow down for the corner and none of them seem to be giving in!"
Takumi was shocked by what he was hearing; Nakazato had certainly improved by leaps and bounds since their race but what continued to enthrall him even more was that this Kurokawa seemed to have no care in regards to his well-being. The downhill ace knew he would do the same thing if he were in the in a similar situation and very few people ever had the guts to even go head to head on such a hard corner.
'Can he manage to pull through? Can the Sileighty scare Nakazato enough to shake him off from his challenge?' He asked himself.
"This is what I thought would happen," Ryosuke spoke up.
All heads turned, focusing on him once more to hear his explanation.
"While Nakazato's skills have definitely improved with the aid of his co-pilot, we all have to remember once again that Usui is a pass that holds few, if any straights. Because his GT-R is a car better suited for a pass with a number of longer straights and roads that are not as narrow, he has to utilize every possible advantage even when it seems to be the most implausible. He's trying to force Kurokawa-kun to give way and allow him to take the lead. But if neither of them brakes, they may end up losing much more than this race."
"But doesn't the GT-R have the advantage in terms of power? Shouldn't that mean that Nakazato has a better chance to pass his opponent with his superior acceleration?" Kenta asked.
Reina shook her head. "Not necessarily," she replied before Ryosuke.
The man smiled at her and gestured for her to continue, clearly intrigued by her immense knowledge in pass racing.
"The GT-R may have the advantage in power, but depending on where he launched his assault on the straight he may have just nullified his chance. On that specific straightaway, the lanes are so narrow that two cars can just barely squeeze by. You have to remember that Skylines in general are infamous because they understeer like a whale," A number within the group exchanged looks of amusement at her unique description.
'Never mind what I thought earlier,' Keisuke mused. 'I like her.' Any person who shared the same opinion as him on GT-Rs deserved his praise.
"Because of its heavy body, the ATTESA and 4WD system, there is a limit to the amount of power you can procure when you're about to steer for a corner. If Nakazato challenged earlier, then maybe he would have a chance to pass my brother."
'And for now let's hope onii-chan pulls something out of his bag of tricks. Improvise if you have to,' was her frantic thought.
Then, all of a sudden their radio clamored once more to deliver the outcome of Nakazato's attempt for the overtake.
"Th-this is Izumi from the bridge-,"
In the next sparse seconds Yuzuru still had no idea how he would be able to shake off Nakazato from his side. The blasted Three-Two had blocked him from trying to change his line and by now they were only a few meters from the point in which they had a safe distance to brake and set up for the next corner.
His eyes scanned the road, looking for any form of opening he could use in order to slip out of this nasty situation.
His brown gaze continued to flicker between the guardrail and a very small, subtle gap that would be accessible if the GT-R would give way.
'It's the only chance I'll get, come on!'
Takeshi could only look on in horror as his carefully crafted plan backfired on him, the Sileighty continued to race head and undeterred as its driver seemed to be flooring it to keep him from passing.
Sayuki too was shocked to see that Yuzuru would even go as far to attempt to undertake such a foolish, dangerous, and reckless action. If it weren't for her concern for his safety and Takeshi's concentration she would have already begun to shout at him.
Her companion however, expressed just how disturbed he was.
"Brake before it's too late you moron! Do you have a death wish!? Just brake!"
Of all the times, Takeshi could now feel that he was starting to lose control of his car to its understeer just as they entered the corner.
Sayuki whipped her head to her right, seeing the fear and irritation Takeshi was experiencing because of Yuzuru's sudden course of action. Her concern however, was immediately replaced by a growing trepidation when the car's induced understeer began to severely affect its handling and with no space left over to curb it, they would most likely end up crashing into the guardrail.
'At this rate, if one of them doesn't brake we'll end up at the bottom of the valley!
Despite all of his desire to win the race, Takeshi had made a vow that he would never allow another nick on his car after two long and expensive repairs. He knew it would be a fool's errand to even attempt to continue his challenge from the outside, and with Sayuki sitting beside him he was ready to give in.
Grudgingly, he let out a frustrating growl as he slammed the brakes and downshifted, watching the Sileighty retain the lead and drift through the corner with such speed that it executed a full, four wheel drift that somewhat clouded their vision from all the smoke that continued to escape from all of its four tires. Takeshi struggled to keep everything under his grasp and ultimately succeeded in drawing his beloved GT-R out from its nearly close shave with the guardrail but the amount of speed he had lost through the corner had now cost him dearly.
Izumi could only watch in stunned silence as he saw the aggressive drift the Sileighty utilized to clear the corner in dramatic fashion. The skill and beauty of it had captivated so much that he struggled to believe that someone could even pull off such a godly move. Had it not been for the help of the person standing next to him, he too would not have noticed the lead the car had just built on the GT-R. He could scarcely believe that the silver streak of the car in the lead had gotten through the following left bend before Nakazato had even managed to exit the bridge.
Throughout it all Nakazato continued to floor the accelerator, trying in earnest to regain the distance that his mistake had cost him. All he could now see was the glowing red trail of the Sileighty's taillights as it seemingly disappeared from his line of sight behind another corner.
Using all the power he had at his disposal, he tore through the following bend and then the long, banking right hander. But still, all he could see was that same ghostly glow emanating from its lights as it turned another corner.
Sayuki stared at the dimming taillights with a look of utter incredulousness now that she registered this new detail. 'He's picked up the pace! At first I thought that he was running at his limit but I was wrong! He's turning corners and exiting them at an even faster rate than he ever had earlier! Was he hiding his true potential during the downhill!?'
Even through all of his efforts, Nakazato was beginning to feel the gradual loss of grip from his front tires more and more as he continued his attempts to close the now large gap between the two cars. It was obvious to the two inhabitants in the Skyline that they had made a great miscalculation from their first and only attempt to gain the lead. Sayuki felt partly responsible for costing Nakazato the race and it soon became apparent as they struggled to play catch-up that they would no longer be able to win the race.
Takeshi was disappointed about that, but a smile managed to fights its away across his lips as he now realized something that set Kurokawa apart from normal street racers like him.
'He's the kind of driver who has no qualms about pushing his car to the limit. He adapts and that in turn allows him to evolve and sometimes take far more dangerous risks like the one on the bridge. He's insane alright, but he's also a real racing genius that's still in the making. I can only hope that I'll be able to watch him closely just like Fujiwara,' he contemplated.
A few minutes after, the Sileighty crossed the finish line and clocked at just under a total of 7:26 on the uphill run of the course. With the crowd's intensity growing all the more loudly, Yuzuru parked his car and leaned back into his seat.
'I underestimated Nakazato, I never thought he would try and overtake me right before the bridge of all places. If I hadn't gone for the small gap, I would've lost the lead. For some reason, I don't feel too satisfied that I won by exploiting the Three-Two's weakness… You're an amazing driver Nakazato-san, the first person I've ever seen driving a GT-R with such a smooth and refined line.'
Wiping the sweat he had on his brow, he felt around his forehead to realize the ends of his bangs were matted from all of the exertion he had put to driving at his absolute best. He didn't really care about it, but chuckled when he remembered how his sister had told him to get a haircut earlier that day.
Knowing that it would take some time for the turbo to cool off, he exited the car and left it idling. The GT-R's booming roar assaulted his ears. He didn't have to look over to see the car cross the finish line a full 13 seconds after him; it continued its trek and blasted past him before stopping abruptly. It's tires screeched, brakes glowing a bright orange hue as Nakazato and Sayuki both stepped out of the vehicle.
Whereas the young woman's expression was sullen, Nakazato to the surprise of many held a pleasant smile on his face. Yuzuru and Shingo both knew that look very well; it was one of pure satisfaction. The man had given his all in the race when he was both in the lead and the short time he followed.
One thing Yuzuru lamented was that they had not been able to make it last longer. Such was the fate of cat and mouse chases, they often tended to last a relatively short amount of time. There were cases in which they would last much longer than three rounds but such an occasion was enormously rare in itself.
Takeshi stepped up to a tired but complacent looking Yuzuru and extended his hand with a smile on his face. Yuzuru too bowed his head as a form of respect before shaking hands with him.
"Just for the record," Takeshi began. "I would have had you on that corner had the understeer not begun to act up. I'll admit again that you did a fabulous work on my Three-Two and I can't thank you enough for that. Every time I floored the gas at a corner I rarely came up with any understeer unless it was a hard one. The handling was smooth and the weight distribution of exquisite. You gave me an even better car than the one I entrusted to you."
Yuzuru gave the pair a bashful grin whilst scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "Well to be honest, I agree with you to a certain extent. You certainly would have been able to pass me before we hit the bridge but under only two circumstances."
Sayuki stared at the brown haired mechanic inquisitively, wracking her brain to try and come up with other alternatives during their first and only attempt before the bridge. Eventually, she let out an exasperated sigh.
"How so?" She asked him.
"The first chance you had was right after you cleared the corner leading in to the straightaway. Had you tried to direct your point of attack earlier, I guarantee you that you would have won… The second was at the corner; in case you noticed there was a very tiny gap between the guardrail and your car that would have enabled you to keep accelerating. The most important detail to this is that while on the downhill, it doesn't really work as a point of attack, on the uphill it is very possible." He paused for a moment, allowing them to register his words.
"Between both of our cars, there was plenty of space for you to squeeze in and keep trying but it looks like you didn't see it."
Shingo was flabbergasted by the teenager's in depth analysis. Very few people could even hope to possess such sharp eyes and predict an opponent's move before they did it. For a moment the blonde man's eyes darted between Ryosuke Takahashi and the mechanic, now grasping the notion that both men were very alike in that sense.
Both Sayuki and Takeshi traded staggered looks, both of their eyes lighting up in clear understanding.
"Y-you managed to calculate all of that in just a matter of split seconds?" She breathed.
"Uh yeah," he said sheepishly. "I don't know, but I just have this habit of seeing things that don't appear to be there. It's helped me many times in the past and when I forced you into submission Nakazato-san. It gives you the illusion that something entirely different may happen and it scares my opponents. A bit underhanded, but it works."
Though he did not show it, Ryosuke was far more than impressed by Yuzuru's combination of analytical and instinctual approach to racing. This convinced him only more and more of the questions that were hanging over his head. Tonight had convinced him to speak with Kurokawa and Ichinose once again. He had yet to assess the skills the latter had behind the wheel but there was no denying that the ones he did have as a mechanic were practically unrivalled barring a few exceptions.
'He was holding back on the downhill; I know this because of what I saw two weeks ago. Yuzuru only got serious right after Nakazato showed that he wasn't messing around. He may be humble and good natured, but the difference in skill between them is obvious. Once Kurokawa-kun turned that bridge, a switch was flipped. I would have done the same if I had been in that position and raced flat out no holds barred after something like that. This just goes to show that he's continuing to grow as a street racer as well.'
Takeshi snorted, "That's pretty freaky Kurokawa but interesting nonetheless. Either way, I still expect an explanation from you as to why you didn't reveal yourself earlier so leave tomorrow open. We'll all meet up at a diner in Matsuida to pass the time. How does that sound?"
Seeing no other reason to deny the request Yuzuru bowed, "It's alright. I know you have many questions about me Sayuki-san; I haven't forgotten any of them. Once again Nakazato-san, allow me to thank you for praising my work once more."
Sayuki gave him a one of her most charming smiles but even Takeshi shuddered at the hint of mischief hidden behind the sickly sweet tone of her voice. "Yeah you'd better Yuzuru-kun, I think we've all waited long enough."
The Night Kids leader waved him off nonchalantly, "Don't be so formal now Kurokawa, I'm not even that old."
He turned around and walked over to his GT-R with Sayuki following him close behind. "I'll be seeing you tomorrow!
By then, many members of the Night Kids had decided to follow their leader's example and dejectedly move back to the parking lot and collect their cars. Some were a bit despondent that their most talented racer had lost but they really couldn't be too angry about it either when the man himself looked far more relaxed about it than they thought he would. Nakazato had certainly changed in such a short span of time under the tutelage of Sayuki. That much was far more than obvious.
As the rest of the audience had begun to begin their trek to fetch their cars, Reina rushed over to her brother alongside his friends. Ryosuke and Matsumoto also joined them with smiles.
"Well done man I knew you had it in you!" Ryuji congratulated his friend with a strong clap on the back.
Yuzuru winced for a moment before he adopted a more devious look. "I've beaten a GT-R not once but twice here at Usui Ryuji, so if I were you I'd be more scared about how much I can wipe the floor with you rather than try and pretend you weren't the cause of all this."
Daisuke laughed when he saw the panic momentarily cross his older brother's visage.
Ryuji shrunk back, raising his hands up in surrender. "It was just another one of my harmless pranks, besides everything turned out just fine!"
The elder Kurokawa rolled his eyes with more humor rather than annoyance. 'I seem to recall that your pranks even landed me as Student Council Vice President once.'
Ryouske placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, "You drove an incredible race today Kurokawa-kun, I knew it was a good decision to come here after all. But anyway, it's getting late so I'll keep this short. I'll stop by sometime next week again at the garage to see how far you've gotten with Keisuke's FD now that the parts have finally arrived. There's something I want to discuss with you and Ichinose so if possible I'd like to meet up with the two of you sometime in the afternoon."
He handed Akio a folded piece of paper in a manner much like he had done to Yuzuru two weeks earlier.
"This is my cell number, call me sometime during the next few days so that the three of us can sit down to have a chat. It's been a fun night Kurokawa-kun; I eagerly anticipate your next race."
Both Akio and Yuzuru agreed heartily after shaking his hand.
Ever the respectful and polite man, Ryosuke offered Reina a dazzling smile that she returned as well.
"It was a privilege to meet you Reina-san; I can see that you too have the makings of a very talented street racer with someone like your brother around to guide you. Your knowledge and perception surprised me tonight and I have to say that you're both equally more than worthy of being a Kurokawa."
Reina and her brother exchanged slightly confused glances with one another, a hidden message between the two. 'He already knows?'
Keisuke gave each person a curt nod before following his brother back to the parking lot. Takumi was the only other person that remained in the company of Matsumoto. The former gas station worker looked a bit hesitant to ask the question lingering in his mind but at the chief mechanic's nudge he relented.
"Ano, if you don't mind me asking Kurokawa-san how did you ever get so good with engines and the like? I've only just recently begun to learn a bit more but my knowledge is very basic, perhaps even sorely lacking." He embarrassingly admitted.
Yuzuru was dumbfounded; he had not really expected Takumi to have so little experience in regards to mechanics. Normally, even an average street racer commonly had a somewhat higher perception towards cars and modifications that came with their passion. This was the first time he had ever met someone who was so ignorant about such matters but he had to admit, it was quite refreshing.
"I suppose you can say that I learned the basics from a family member, but everything else regarding the inner workings, each nail and screw, were entirely self-taught. I was fortunate enough to have all of the tools at my disposal to do so and it's because of my upbringing that I was able to. Occasionally I would have help from a few of the neighbors back when I lived abroad to help with the heavy machinery and equipment but everything else I did on my own. I even took apart my first engine before I was even 17."
Takumi quickly turned to Matsumoto, trying to discern if what he just heard was really true. He had never come across someone who had such a striking grasp on mechanics who also happened to be his age. Tonight's race had certainly been an eye opener for him, he now knew that while it was important for him to broaden his horizons and race in other prefectures with Project D, his home prefecture of Gunma would always nurture other very accomplished talents. Yuzuru was the proof of that, even if he had been away for quite some time as he was led to believe.
He now had something else to look forward to and for the first time, Takumi truly felt excited that another worthy street racer had emerged. Defeating Nakazato alone is no easy feat and he had a feeling that this would not be the first of many victories to come from Usui's new Sileighty.
A faint smile crossed Takumi's lips, a rare feat given how passive he always seemed to be.
"That's amazing Kurokawa-san, perhaps one day I'll be able to learn more from you as well. Project D has taught me many things; with the help of Ryosuke-san and Matsumoto it's been easier but it's going to take me a long time to learn. Up until now my old man has been the one to take care of my Eight-Six and its needs."
"I see… I'm guessing that he's also responsible for the engine that lies under the hood of your car. I'd like to take a look at it some other day if you don't mind. It's dark and I'm too tired right now so do you mind if I call you up one of these days? I'm keen to see your technique after everything I've heard. "
Takumi nodded, "It's alright. My race schedule doesn't begin until Keisuke-san's FD is completely repaired. I normally get out of work by 6 most days so it should be fine."
After trading contact information, Takumi shook hands once more with Yuzuru and everyone else in the group before departing in the company of Matsumoto and another teenager who seemed to be oddly thrilled about something.
"To think we met not only the famous Takahashi Ryosuke but also the driver of Akina's Eight-Six!" Daisuke exclaimed enthusiastically.
"I don't know about you guys but I'm tired as hell, to think I have to drive all the way back to Maebashi to get home," Ryuji declared.
Reina glared at the blonde medical student before swatting him on the arm, "You didn't even race today."
"Today's been one massive roller coaster but I'll admit that it was both fun and exciting. You're making a name for yourself already Yuzuru, it's only a matter of time before you end up being challenged again." Akio surmised.
"I welcome them with open arms, each and every one of them. The more I have, the more I will grow as a street racer. For now, I really need to get home. Daisuke if you'd like you can crash at my place for the night. Tokyo's a long drive from here and it's too late to be out on the expressway at this time of night."
"Domo arigato gozaimasu," the youngest Aizawa said.
Ryuji frowned, feigning a hurt look while placing his hands on his chest for more dramatic effect. "You allow my brother to stay but not me? Come on the drive is still pretty long!"
Yuzuru chuckled, draping an arm over his sister's shoulder as her whispered something in her ear.
The two Aizawa's knew this behavior very well; having witnessed it countless times to recognize it as another one of Reina's infamous plots against him.
"You can stay Ryuji, but because this whole mess is your fault you're crashing on the couch instead of one of the spare guestrooms." The girl deadpanned.
"That's fair I guess."
Daisuke and Akio both had to bite back another bout of laughter when they saw the relaxed and unsuspecting Ryuji remain blissfully unaware of the devilish grin Reina had, promising that she would get him back for another one of his pranks.
Kurokawa Residence
12:47AM
Right after arriving home, Yuzuru had only begun to relax when the house phone began to ring. Having just gotten out of the shower, he decided to ignore the ceaseless noise made by it while dressing into more comfortable clothes. He knew that Reina would answer it anyway.
'Who in their right mind would even call at this hour anyway?'
His mind was still in a daze after his first official race in Gunma and he couldn't help but think how rash his actions were when Nakazato had tried to overtake him. Sure, there might have been just enough space for both cars to squeeze by but what he did was reckless and somewhat brave. He played on the man's hesitance to move any closer to the guardrail and forced the car's understeer to act up earlier than it should have.
At the moment, he felt proud of his car's capabilities and disappointed with his overconfidence. He assured himself it would be the last time that he would ever underestimate an opponent's skills. Nakazato had given him a great wakeup call as to what racers in Gunma were capable of; those he had encountered in Kanagawa had more often than not underestimated him as well when he was still driving the FD.
'Part of the reason was that Nakazato had not been as polished when I first encountered him back then. He must have trained with Sayuki-san for hours in order to get himself to be that familiar with Usui in just a matter of two weeks. For a while there I was actually fearful that I would lose the race.'
Before he could continue his regular train of thought it was promptly killed when he heard a knock outside his door.
"Onii-chan pick up the phone it's for you."
Yuzuru groaned loudly, opening the door to reveal an equally tired looking Reina standing at his door in an oversized t-shirt and pajama pants.
"Who the hell would want to talk to me this late at night?"
His sister rolled her eyes and turned on her heel muttering to herself about some much needed beauty sleep. An audible "Just pick it up please" was all he heard before she closed the door to her room with a resounding slam that made him jump from his place.
Heaving another sigh, Yuzuru walked back to his desk and picked up the receiver.
"Kuroka-"
"Been a while Yuzuru," he heard a deep baritone breathe on the other end of the line.
"Old man?"
A/N:
Well guys, I wanted to wrap up the whole race in one full chapter and move on from Nakazato and towards other challenges and the return of Project D (soon).
This is one chapter loaded with nothing but action to please all of you wonderful readers and I have to say, it took me quite a bit of time to squeeze my schedule around to get this done so please take some time to Read and Review!
Once again, this chapter exceeds the average limit I imposed on myself per chapter which is a minimum of 9,000 words by an additional 4,000. Goes to show how dedicated I am to this story.
Later all,
SilentAssassin11
