Golden Arrows

Chapter Thirteen

A few minutes before half past eight in the evening, Kizuna drove her Nissan into the car park at the bottom of Mt Akagi's pass where she found Izawa's dark grey Vera already parked there with its owner sitting inside the car, listening to what sounded like one of those all-girl idol pop music bands Kizuna knew Japan was quite famous for.

Walking closer to the car, she noticed that Izawa was leaning against the black bucket seat, his eyes closed while he tapped his knee with his right hand, following the music's rhythm. Kizuna smiled seeing that and started considering going back to her car when she saw Izawa opening his eyes. He was so surprised seeing her there that Kizuna saw him fumbling with the sound system's controls to lower the volume of the music while trying to get the window down at the same time.

'Hi,' he finally said after he managed to do both things, 'when did you get here?'

'Just now,' Kizuna replied.

'Ah,' he said opening the door so he could climb out of the car, he then glanced around and, looking back at Kizuna, he asked, 'where's Kyosuke-san?'

'I don't know,' Kizuna replied feeling slightly puzzled, 'on his way here, I guess.'

'That's weird,' Izawa commented, 'I thought you two would get here together.'

'Why would we?' she asked now looking definitely confused.

'Well…I…' he hesitated, 'I just…'

'You just what?' Kizuna asked him as gently as she could.

'I thought you two were together,' he finally replied.

'What?' she nearly gasped, 'why would you think that?' she somehow managed to ask.

'Well…' he hesitated again, 'that day, at the Centre…after the go-kart race…I thought you…'

'No,' she interrupted him, 'I've told you before, haven't? Kyosuke and I are just friends, besides, I need to focus on my studies and…'

'You really think so?' he stopped her.

'What?'

Izawa observed her for a short while, as if he were trying to decide whether he wanted to speak his mind or if he'd be better off staying silent. Letting out a long sigh, he passed his right hand over his face and, leaning against his own car, he crossed his arms and looked at Kizuna with a very serious expression on his usually friendly face, only then, he spoke:

'Kizuna,' he said, 'you and I are friends, right?'

'Of course,' she replied frowning in confusion.

'Then,' he continued, 'you won't get mad if I tell you what I think about this situation, will you?'

'I guess not,' Kizuna replied, sounding very unsure.

'Like I told you at the Centre, I knew I never had a chance with you,' he said, 'and the reason why I was so sure is because from day one, I noticed the way you and Kyosuke-san felt about each other. I knew that it was only a question of time until he would ask you out and I thought that's what he did when you two were left on your own after the go-kart race, after all, that was also the reason why you wanted to speak to him that day, wasn't it?'

Kizuna didn't know what to say.

'Am I wrong?' he asked her and, for some odd reason, he didn't sound angry as she expected him to be. Because of this, she looked at him and closing her eyes for a short instant, she shook her head and said:

'No, you're not wrong.'

'So, he asked you out,' he said, 'you said yes, right?'

'No,' she replied, 'I said no.'

'Why?' he asked her sounding almost frustrated.

'Izawa,' she replied trying to keep her voice as even as possible, 'I didn't think that you, of all people, would be disappointed by my reply, I thought that you…'

'Kizuna,' he interrupted her, 'I gave up on you the day you told me that excuse about having to concentrate on your studies.'

'It wasn't an excuse!' Kizuna exclaimed, 'I…'

'Alright,' Izawa said pushing himself away from his car and taking a step towards her, 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you but I just don't understand why you'd turn down Kyosuke-san when you obviously have feelings for him.'

'Izawa…'

'Because you do,' he said.

'I…'

'Listen,' he interrupted her, 'I know I'm probably the last person who should say this and if I were smarter, I'd probably keep my mouth shut hoping that, one day, you'll see me under a different light but I know that this is even less likely to happen than me and Junya becoming best friends anytime soon; for this reason, I'd like to give you this piece of advice: Kyosuke-san is one of those genuinely good guys and you should really give him a chance.'

Kizuna, once again, remained speechless.

Right at that moment, the two of them heard the characteristic sound of a couple of rotary engines driving up and, a few seconds after that, they saw the two RZ-1s driven by the Takahashi brothers. Kizuna found it almost ironic that Kyosuke would choose that instant to show up. Izawa just smiled at her before he walked away from her to go and greet the two brothers.

'Hello,' Kyosuke said climbing out of his Mazda with the sort of blank expression Kizuna knew he used as a mask to keep his feelings hidden. For an instant, she wondered if he'd felt bothered to find her with Izawa on their own, then she told herself mentally for being so arrogant about it and, forcing herself to smile as naturally as possible, she said:

'Hi.'

'Aniki,' Seisuke said seemingly oblivious to the whole thing, 'it's weird not being the first ones, isn't it?'

'Yes,' Kyosuke replied still keeping his eyes on Kizuna.

'Next time,' Seisuke continued, 'we'll leave earlier so that we can be here to wait for everybody, okay?'

'Of course,' Kyosuke said.

The arrival of a couple of other cars made him look away from Kizuna and that made her feel a weird pressure on her throat, as if the fact that his eyes were no longer focused on her was enough to make it difficult for her to breathe normally. Biting her lower lip, she fought to regain some composure while she watched Masato and Yuta parking their cars next to the two RZ-1s.

'Hello there,' Masato said climbing out of his red Vera.

'Hi,' Izawa replied.

'What's wrong with you?' Seisuke asked at Yuta who, everyone noticed, looked a little depressed.

'Nothing,' the guy replied obviously lying.

'He's sad,' Masato explained, 'because he's missing out…er…well…another gathering.'

'Another gathering?' Kyosuke asked frowning a little.

'Ah,' Masato gasped, 'it's not another street racing gathering…er…it's…well…'

'It's a UFO watching group,' Yuta replied sounding rather proud.

'A what?' an incredulous Seisuke asked him looking like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

'I'm part of a UFO watching group,' Yuta explained as if it was the most normal thing in the world, 'and they're having a gathering tonight by the Akina Lake. I wanted to go but unfortunately it's at the same time as the one we have in Mt Usui.'

'He's not kidding, is he?' Izawa enquired looking at Masato.

'I wish he was,' the guy replied, 'but he's totally serious.'

'Of course I am,' Yuta said sounding a little offended.

'Alright,' Kyosuke accepted, trying not to smile while both Seisuke and Izawa were fighting not to laugh at poor Yuta. Kizuna too had trouble to keep a straight face, even more so when Kyosuke added, 'well, I thank you for choosing to come with us instead that…that…er…'

'UFO watching group,' Yuta supplied.

Kyosuke was saved from having to say anything else when Kei and Eiji drove their cars into the car park followed by Junya and Kazuya. The four cars stopped right next to Kizuna's Nissan and, soon, the ten members of the Golden Arrows were there. Before a very curious Seisuke could ask Yuta anymore questions, Kyosuke said:

'Alright, now we're all here…'

'Where's our resident fanboy?' Junya asked with a sarcastic smile.

'If you're referring to Akito,' Kyosuke replied refusing to take offence, 'he's can't join us tonight.'

'Why is that?' Kazuya asked him before his cousin could.

'He's with his family,' Kyosuke explained then, looking at Junya, he added, 'they're celebrating that he'll probably debut in F3 this summer,' he secretly enjoyed the slightly shocked look which appeared on the older guy's face then, he glanced at everyone else seeing that they were as stunned by the news as they should be.

'Wow,' Masato commented, 'that means he really is going to be a professional, right?'

'Yep,' Seisuke replied proudly.

'I always thought he would become one,' Kazuya said looking impressed.

'But,' Kei added glancing at Kyosuke, 'that means he'll no longer join us, right?'

'What do you mean?' the Golden Arrows leader asked him.

'Well,' Kei replied, 'if he's a pro, he won't want to be part of a street racing team, not even when he'll be old enough to get his driving license, I mean, he could get in trouble with the Federation if they found out, couldn't he?'

'That's true,' Izawa commented.

'No way,' Seisuke said shaking his head, 'he'll race with us, you'll see.'

Kei was about to say something when Kyosuke stopped him and said:

'We should get going or we'll be late.'

Everyone there took it as a direct order from the leader and one by one they started climbing back into their cars so that they could drive towards the border between the Gunma and the Nagano prefectures. With the two Mazda leading the way, the last two people left at the car park were Kazuya and his cousin Junya.

'Kyosuke and Seisuke are just fooling themselves,' the latter said.

'What do you mean?' Kazuya asked him before he got inside his Honda.

'Kei's right,' Junya replied, 'now that that brat is on his way to professionalism, there's no way he'll join us.'

'Junya…'

'Hey,' he stopped his cousin, 'let's be honest here: why would he want to race with us for free when he'll get paid to do it? I'm sure as hell that I wouldn't want to do it.'

Kazuya didn't know what to reply and, for this reason, he decided to get behind the steering wheel of his Type R knowing that what his cousin and said made a lot of sense and it was likely that it would turn out to be the truth, in spite of both Takahashi brother's wishful thinking. At any rate, Kazuya couldn't help but to be impressed with Akito: he was only fifteen and he was already so close to achieving his target of racing in Formula One.

'That kid sure is something,' he said to no one in particular then, as if he'd just had an idea, he pressed the fast-dial button on his mobile phone to call the Golden Arrows leader. Kyosuke answered after only one ring.

'Yes?' he said.

'I know you have your plans for tonight,' Kazuya said, 'but, if at all possible, I want to race.'

'You do?' Kyosuke asked sounding surprised for Kazuya had never asked him to race before.

'Yes,' Kazuya confirmed, 'after what you told us about Akito, I suddenly feel like racing.'

'Alright,' Kyosuke said, 'I'll see what I can do.'

'Good,' Kazuya replied and with that, he closed the communication.

Meanwhile, at the Fujiwara residence in Shibukawa, Akito was sitting on the couch with his little sister on one side and his girlfriend Ryoko on the other. Bunta and Takumi were sitting on the two armchairs listening to his grandson while he answered Haruko's many questions while Natsuki was in the kitchen preparing some sushi to celebrate Akito's promotion to F3.

'So,' the little girl said, 'how many of you were there?'

'There were eight other drivers who took the test with me,' Akito replied.

'And which circuit was it again?' Haruko asked.

'Fuji Speedway,' he replied patiently.

'Ah,' the girl said, 'that's the one with the really long straight, isn't it?'

'Yes,' Akito replied, amazed that his eight year old sister knew so much about racing.

'So,' she pressed on, 'what did they make you do? Were you nervous? I want to know everything.'

Akito glanced quickly at his father to see if Takumi wanted to explain but, predictably enough, his old man just raised his eyebrows seeming slightly surprised that his son would even think of asking him to do the talking. Shaking his head a little, Akito looked back at his sister and, taking a deep breath he said:

'I was very, very nervous and there were a lot more people than I thought there would be. Other than the nine drivers, there were a lot of people who came with them, plus the team's technical staff as well as a few observers from the Federation and the circuit's staff. I think that, all in all, there were fifty or sixty people, right Ryoko?'

'More or less,' she confirmed.

'Wow,' Haruko gasped sounding impressed, 'and what happened then?'

'Be patient,' a smirking Bunta said, 'he's getting there.'

'Thanks,' Akito replied exchanging a quick, grateful look with his grandfather, he then added, 'I thought they would make me do laps like I did during the training but it turned out that they had prepared three cars and they divided us in three groups. I was in the first one with another Japanese guy and someone from France, or was it Germany, Dad?'

'No idea,' Takumi replied.

'I think he was German,' Ryoko intervened, 'his surname sounded German anyway.'

'Alright,' Akito said, 'so, what happened was that this German guy was asked to go before anyone else and take a few first laps on his own, then they told me to get in the car and follow him and after a few more laps, the other Japanese guy was asked to do the same. I'm not entirely sure what happened but, after only twenty laps, one of the team's engineers asked all of us to get back in.'

Akito stopped talking shuddering a little while remembering the angst he'd felt right at that moment, then he added:

'At that point, I thought that I had done something wrong and that I had blown it.'

'Instead,' Ryoko said, 'what you did was to beat the current F3 lap record at Fuji.'

'Really?' Haruko asked opening her eyes wide.

'Yeah,' Akito replied, 'I didn't know that until the team's manager told me. I was as surprised as they were!'

'So what's going to happen now?' the eight year old asked him.

'Well,' Takumi said intervening for the first time, 'the team will need to draw up a contract for your brother providing the Federation agrees to issue him with a provisional Grade A license.'

'What's that provisional-what-not thingy?' Haruko asked.

'It means a temporary permit to race,' Akito replied, 'since I'm not sixteen yet, I can't get a full license but if an official F3 team applies for it the Federation might decide to make an exception and give me a one-event license so that I can enter in some of this season's races and gain enough experience to grant me a permanent license.'

'Well,' Ryoko said, 'you're the current karting champion, that should count for something, shouldn't it?'

'Not much, unfortunately,' Akito replied, 'remember that, in theory, I should have gone from karting to FJ1600 or one of the junior formulas like the Toyota one. By moving straight into F3, I'm skipping two steps which is the reason why I needed a team to endorse my application to the Federation.'

'I see,' Ryoko commented and was going to add something else when Natsuki stepped in the room carrying a tray full of sushi and having overheard the conversation, she said:

'I still think you should have gone through the normal process.'

'But Mum,' Akito countered, 'I would have wasted two or three full years if I had gone through FJ1600 or the Formula Toyota besides, you know that the average age at which drivers debut in F1 is getting lower every year. The youngest driver in F1 this year is only nineteen, that's only four years older than I am.'

'I know that,' Natsuki said, 'but I still think it's wrong that the Federation lets underage drivers race. You're still so young and…'

'Mum,' Akito interrupted his mother, 'you'll still see us as babies even when we'll be forty.'

'That's true,' Bunta said, 'I still see your father as nothing more than a brat.'

'Dad!' Takumi protested.

'Anyway,' Haruko said trying to get everyone's attention focused on the topic she considered important, 'when are you going to do your first race? We'll go to watch him race, right Dad?'

'Probably,' Takumi replied still half-glaring at his very amused looking father.

'Like I said,' Akito said, 'it all depends on how fast the team gets the license approved by the Federation. It could be this summer or maybe it'll be for one of the last races of the season. If I'm really unlucky, the Federation might decide that I need to be sixteen and then I'll have to wait till the start of the next season.'

'No way,' Ryoko said, 'I'm sure the Federation will approve the application.'

'But Ryoko…'

'We heard one of the Federation's observers at the grandstand say they would, didn't we Takumi-san?'

'We did,' his father confirmed.

'Really?' Akito asked him sounding surprised, he then frowned and said, 'why didn't you tell me earlier?'

'I forgot,' Takumi replied honestly.

'Dad!' he nearly cried.

This exchange made the three females there laugh at them while Bunta just watched the scene thinking that it truly was remarkable that Akito would continue with the family's racing tradition. Grabbing a couple of pieces of the homemade sushi, the old man hoped that he would live to see the day in which his grandson would make it to his first Formula One race.

Fifty five kilometres east of Shibukawa, the ten members of the Golden Arrows were currently riding up the Route 18 as it went from Takasaki to the city of Karuizawa in the neighbouring prefecture of Nagano with Kyosuke leading the way. He was surprised to see that, despite being a few minutes past ten, there was a lot of people in the galleries, probably trying to get the best possible spots from which to watch the races.

For the second time that evening, his phone started ringing.

'Yes?' he replied speaking into the hands-free mike.

'Aniki,' Seisuke said, 'it's packed.'

'I've noticed,' Kyosuke said, 'don't worry about it.'

'But…'

'Seisuke,' he interrupted him, 'we need to get used to having a lot of public, up until now we've been very lucky that our races have been low-profile affairs but, the more we get involved with other teams, the more people will come to watch the events.'

'I know,' Seisuke said, 'it's just that I'm worried about Izawa.'

'Don't be,' Kyosuke instructed him, 'I'll talk to him before his race.'

'Aniki,' Seisuke said, 'you've told him he's going to race, right?'

'Not yet,' Kyosuke replied calmly, 'I think that it's better not to give him too much time to think about it.'

'That's probably true,' Seisuke reasoned.

'Anyway,' Kyosuke said, 'we're almost there.'

With that, he closed the communication thinking that they needed to come up with a better system to get in touch with each other while driving the cars. Kyosuke pushed that thought to the back of his mind when, at long last, they got to the bottom of the Mt Usui pass, there, using the big space provided by a very wide right hander, he saw Taro Nakazato standing by his dark blue Mitsubishi X-3.

Chatting with him, Kyosuke saw Yasuo Hirota and Jin Matsushita. The three drivers stopped talking the instant they saw the ten members of the Golden Arrows arrive there. Following Yasuo's instructions, Kyosuke drove his RZ-1 all the way into the bay, seeing several other cars from both Myogi Devils and the Nagano Alliance parked there with their drivers talking to each other in a remarkably friendly way.

'Hello,' Yasuo said the instant Kyosuke was out of his car, 'I'm glad you guys could make it.'

'Yes,' Kyosuke said, 'we're also very happy to be here.'

'Long time no see,' Taro said with a smile, Kyosuke noticed the guy was talking to Seisuke, 'if it weren't because we've already decided that I'm not going to race, I'd ask you for a rematch right here and now.'

'You're not going to race?' Seisuke asked him.

'No,' Taro replied then, glancing at Kyosuke, he added, 'we've decided that the team leaders will stand back and let the others race, will that be okay with you too?'

'Of course,' Kyosuke replied.

Right then, Kizuna got out of her car and, while she walked towards the group, Taro noticed her. Obviously recognising her, he went to meet her half-way through.

'You were in Mt Myogi a few weeks ago,' he said.

'Yes,' Kizuna replied.

'You know each other?' Kyosuke asked.

'A bit,' Taro replied.

'He nearly ran over me with his car,' Kizuna explained then, noticing Kyosuke's alarmed expression, she quickly added, 'I was carelessly standing at the car park and I was lucky he's got very good reflexes.'

'I'll take that as a compliment,' Taro said smiling at her.

'So,' Kyosuke intervened speaking a little louder than usually, 'how are we going to organise the races?'

'Alright,' Taro said removing his attention from Kizuna and looking back at Kyosuke, 'Mt Usui's main attraction is the downhill,' he explained, 'so we've decided to have two downhill races and one uphill. Since it's three teams this time and you guys are the guests of honour, we've decided to let you have the first downhill race against the hosts, which are the Nagano Alliance.'

'That's right,' Jin Matsushita said, 'whoever you choose, will race against me.'

'Okay,' Kyosuke said trying hard to ignore Junya's intent stare, 'you'll be racing against our Izawa.'

'What?' Izawa asked voicing the very question Junya was about to ask.

'You'll race,' Kyosuke ordered.

'But…' Junya tried to protest.

'I think it's an excellent idea,' Masato said, 'he's been training quite hard lately, hasn't he?'

'Yes,' Seisuke confirmed.

'Kyosuke-san…'

'Izawa,' Kizuna intervened, 'you'll do great, I'm sure you will.'

'Alright,' Taro said probably deciding that the matter was settled, he looked at Kyosuke and said, 'the following race will see my team facing off yours, we'll go uphill then, we'll have another downhill race with the Nagano Alliance.'

'This way,' Yasuo added, 'we'll have two races each.'

'And since it's a friendly gathering,' Jin explained, 'it doesn't really matter who wins or who loses.'

That's what he said but everyone there noticed how the level of tension went up a notch. Kyosuke thought that Seisuke was right: there was no way they could afford to lose the two races they would take part in, not if they wanted to start building the sort of strong reputation he wanted for his team.

For this reason and while everyone started making their way to their rides, Kyosuke indicated for Izawa to walk with him towards his Mazda. He noticed how Masato, Junya and Kazuya followed them while Kizuna and Seisuke decided to remain right where they were. The instant they were out of their opponent's hearing range, Junya said:

'Why does he have to race?'

'Junya,' Kyosuke said, 'Izawa and I have been training here for the past two weeks and I think he's ready.'

'But…'

'I've also been helping him with his car,' Kyosuke continued, 'and I really think he can win.'

'Kyosuke-san…'

'Izawa,' he said, 'I'm sure you will win.'

'I think so too, mate,' Masato said offering him an encouraging smile, 'plus, the Vera has more manoeuvrability than that Subaru which is very important in a pass as narrow as this one. Just remember to relax and you'll do fine.'

'Alright,' Junya intervened, 'but if he doesn't win…'

'Junya, stop it, you'll race the next time, right Kyosuke?' Kazuya asked.

'Yes,' Kyosuke replied looking at his downhill specialist very seriously, 'you've got my word.'

'Fine,' Junya finally said before walking away to join the rest of the members of the Arrows.

A very relieved Kyosuke looked at Kazuya for one brief moment then, glancing at Masato, he said:

'I wonder if you could do me a favour.'

'Sure,' Masato said.

'I want Kazuya to do the uphill race, do you think Kei or Eiji will take offence?'

'No,' Masato replied, 'I'll talk to them myself. Besides, I really want to see what this guy can do.'

'Thanks, I think,' Kazuya replied even though he looked very pleased that Kyosuke was letting him race.

'I'm serious,' Masato said.

'Alright,' Kazuya replied, 'I'll do my best not to disappoint you.'

'That's a promise?' Kyosuke challenged his former classmate in the way he knew would fire up Kazuya.

'Oh yes,' the guy replied with a smug smirk.

'I'll do my best too,' Izawa said speaking with a very serious tone of voice and a very determined expression on his face, 'it's the very least I can do to repay you for all the hours you've spent training with me.'

'That's what I want to hear,' Kyosuke said patting him on his shoulder.

A little under two hours after that, half of the Golden Arrows were uphill, while the rest were waiting downhill for the end of the first race. Kizuna was among those who had decided to stay at the summit so that she could give Izawa some of the support the guy needed. Masato was also uphill but Kyosuke had decided to stay downhill with Kazuya, Junya, Eiji and Yuta who was currently locked inside his car trying to connect to the webcam of his UFO watching group via his mobile phone.

'Say Eiji,' Kazuya started, 'do you also believe in UFOs?'

'Me?' he replied with his usual histrionic ways, 'no way, I only believe in things I can see and touch.'

'Right,' Kazuya said.

'But Yuta seriously does,' Eiji added, 'he claims he's seen a few UFOs already.'

'Really?' Junya asked sounding highly sceptical.

'Yes,' Eiji replied, 'but don't ever get him started on the subject unless you have a couple of aspirins nearby.'

'Alright,' Junya said.

'Thanks for the advice,' Kazuya added with a grin.

'You're more than welcome,' Eiji said he was going to add something else when Kyosuke signalled that Seisuke, who together with Kei had been appointed by him as the mid-point officials, had just called to say that they were ready to start the race. That made the three guys get their mobile phone's out so that they could listen to the minute-by-minute race report. The only one who didn't pay any attention to the race was Yuta but Kyosuke was too concentrated on Izawa to notice or care.

A few kilometres uphill, right before the barrier which closed the pass during the heavy winter snowfalls, Izawa had his car lined up ahead of Jin Matsushita's Impreza GR. Being the local racer, Jin had decided that it was only fair that he'd give Izawa a little advantage and Izawa was too nervous to worry about his pride.

'Izawa,' he heard Kizuna say noticing that she was crouching just outside his dark grey Vera, 'look at me.'

He complied.

'Remember all the work you've put into this race,' she said, 'and remember how determined you are.'

Izawa nodded.

'The course is long,' she continued, 'so pace yourself and remember to save your tyres for you'll need them at the end. Also, Suzuki-san, a friend of mine, has warned me against trying to drift on the C-121, I'm sure you and Kyosuke have driven through it numerous times but, I think it's best if you clear it by grip.'

'I will,' Izawa said, his voice sounding a lot firmer than he thought it would.

'Also,' Kizuna added with a smile, 'this is your third race.'

'And?' Izawa asked obviously failing to see the point.

'Third time lucky, remember?' Kizuna said.

'Ah,' he gasped, 'I see,' he added with a smile, 'I didn't think about that at all.'

Kizuna just returned the smile then, getting up, she quickly kissed him on the cheek.

'For extra luck,' she said, 'not that you need it.'

With that and before Izawa could say anything at all, she went to join Masato behind the guardrail. It was only when he saw her walking away that he realised what had just happened and, placing his hand onto the cheek Kizuna had just kissed, he raised his eyebrows and, speaking to himself, he said:

'There's no way I'm going to lose.'

To be continued…