Lake Akina

Nanami was leaning against Takumi's back as they sat at the dock. They were chatting happily and slowly their conversation was on Mizuki. Both of them missed the younger girl a lot. The sun was setting and it reminded them of Mizuki who loved watching the view. Without Mizuki, there seemed to lack of something. Suddenly, Nanami raised up the Emperor after she heard about the latest news of the team.

"I believe you're going to have another race very soon. This time it would be Emperor; do you still remember the team we saw that night at Myogi?" Nanami asked.

Takumi nodded, "Why?"

"You might lose this time. I don't want to see you lose to anyone," Nanami said, as she knew that the Trueno's engine might not be able to last till the end of the race.

"Nanami, it doesn't matter if I win or lose. I don't care about the outcome so don't bother about the race," Takumi rubbed her hair gently.

"Do you have anything that bothering you? I've noticed that you're quite distracted lately," Nanami asked.

"Not at all, it's just some pranks. I received some notes telling me about Natsuki. I don't know who put them in my locker and what her intention is. I feel quite irritated to see those nasty things about Natsuki," he replied.

"I see. Nasty? What was on the note then?" Nanami asked curiously.

"It's about Natsuki and her boyfriend. The person means that she's seeing a man for money, some sort like that. Anyway, I don't think she's doing such a thing," Takumi commented.

Nanami nodded and stopped asking further question.

It was the late afternoon when Takumi went out with Itsuki after Nanami had some urgent matter to attend. They went to the lake as usual. Takumi walked over to vendor machine when a white Evo IV pulled over and asked for direction. Seiji was curious about the pass and began to ask for information. He pissed Itsuki off when he laughed at the Trueno, as he thought that Itsuki was just boasting. Kyouichi stopped Seiji from further offending Itsuki and urged him to leave. Both Kyouichi and Seiji were surprised when they saw Takumi, as they met each other in Myogi. Takumi's presence reminded Seiji of his defeat to the girl. The white Evo IV raced down the pass frustratingly, heading toward Akagi.

La Tour D'Argent

Ryosuke was drinking at a table by the window while waiting for his brother to arrive. Keisuke wanted to introduce his girlfriend, Airisu to him tonight. He was looking forward to this meeting, as he knew that his brother was seriously engaged with this girl for some time. A few of his teammates had seen her for a few times and they gave him quite good comments as well. Keisuke walked hand in hand into the restaurant that evening. Airisu was in a pale green tube dress with her hair tied up to the back. Ryosuke got up immediately when his brother introduced Airisu to him. He was startled by the girl in front of him, as he thought that she was Mizuki. He could not differentiate between the two sisters. However, he managed to covered his surprised and anger by his refined manner. As for Airisu, she felt a wave of uncomforted feeling growing inside her each time she met Ryosuke's glare.

"What would you like to start with for your appetizer, sir?" the waiter asked Ryosuke.

"I'll have Bonito marinated," Ryosuke ordered.

"What should I order?" Keisuke mumbled as he glanced through the menu.

"I want Grilled tomato and mozzarella then," Airisu placed her order and continued looking through the menu.

"I'll have… Grilled vegetable with marinated smoked wild duck and Basque style black pork stew for main course," Keisuke said.

"What about you, Madam?" the waiter turned to Airisu.

"Grilled sea bass with garlic sauce," Airisu said with a smile.

"Shrimp and cream risotto and olive bread, make it three for all of us," Ryosuke ordered.

"What would like for you dessert, Sir?" the waiter continued.

"We'll have milk pudding with plum," Ryosuke said and continued placing his last order. "Do you have Oregon Pinot Gris?"

The waiter nodded, confirming the order and left the table. Keisuke began to tell his brother the story how he met his girlfriend without noticing that Ryosuke was not interested. The dinner went on smoothly with Keisuke did most of the talking, while Ryosuke drank almost the whole bottle of the wine. Airisu could see Ryosuke's trouble, but chose to keep silent.

"Keisuke… I think you'd better go back and take care of your brother. He seemed to have some trouble. See you tomorrow and good night," Airisu said before she got out of the car.

"What's wrong with Aniki?" Keisuke mumbled and sped home immediately.

Takahashi Residence

Keisuke walked into Ryosuke's room with a towel handing on his neck after taking a bath. The blonde man sat at the edge of the bed, looking at his brother who was still in his formal attire. Ryosuke was busy occupied himself with the driving simulation as usual.

"We'll go to Tochigi tomorrow night to see the red Celica. She's challenging the Todojuku and this match is worth watching, as Todojuku is one of the schools that groom professional racers. It would be a tough match and if she wins, she'll be qualified for our new team," Ryosuke said as he input some data into the computer.

"Are you serious, Aniki? You're going to form a new team so what about Redsuns?" Keisuke asked in his surprise.

"Redsuns will remain as it is. I want a new team that strong enough to back my theory. I have a few people in mind and one of them is you. I'll train you to become an undefeatable racer," Ryosuke replied.

"Aniki, why's not Redsuns? If you race, we can win," Keisuke pouted.

"Don't be silly, Keisuke. Remember, I told you that if I lost, I'd retire. I'm serious. I didn't mention that I won't race, but I just want to be behind the scene. In the way, I'll have the confidence that we can become the number one team in Kanto," Ryosuke said ambitiously.

Keisuke nodded, with a devoted and admiration expression.

TAB Cafe

Takahashi Ryosuke was telling his brother, Keisuke, about his new team plan in detail. He had this idea since he met Takumi, the young Hachi-Roku. It was a very rare chance to come across such a good driver and he was sure that Speedstar was not good enough to have that young boy. His driving simulation would be completed if he joined his new team, together his dream of becoming the fastest team in Kanto would come true. He called it, Kanto Project. He had decided to train Keisuke to become the next racing driver, while recruiting a few good drivers. One of them was Takumi, the Akina downhill specialist.

Keisuke was listening very attentively, admired and even more devoted to his intelligence Aniki. He knew that he would not be able to come out with this kind of idea or plan in his entire life. Aniki was superb and he knew that he would succeed. He told himself that he would help his beloved brother with all his strengths and everything that Ryosuke named. His Aniki was the brilliant!

A short while later, Fumihiro and Matsumoto arrived at the cafe. After listening to Ryosuke's plan, they were impressed and gave their full supports for the new great project. On the other hand, Keisuke began to think back to Redsuns. He loved the team, but he could not do anything since he decided to join his brother. Ryosuke told Keisuke that the Redsuns would still continue as it was. Instead, the screening test was around the corner. They needed to find the suitable members to join and run the team. Keisuke nodded, understandingly. Besides Redsuns and the new team's drivers, he was looking for a few skilled mechanic and members. Keisuke looked at Fumihiro, knowing that he was thinking of Kenta. However, Keisuke knew that Kenta was not the person his Aniki was looking for. Actually, Ryosuke had a few good drivers in his mind. Besides the Akina Hachi-Roku, the other was the red Celica. Although she raced very occasionally lately, she had the skills Ryosuke was looking for.

"I have some information about the Celica. I think you must be interested... She's just 19 years old and guesses what... she studies in Takasaki University, the same university as you, Keisuke. Have you ever seen that car running around your school, Keisuke-San?" Fumihiro asked with a smile.

"Really, unbelievable! I've never seen her even once..." Keisuke replied, knitting his brows.

"Of course, you won't notice her! You've been hanging out with your girlfriend and have no time for the other girls..." Matsumoto teased.

"Who says so?" Keisuke protested, forgetting that his girlfriend loved racing too.

"She has a race tonight. Guess who is she challenging?" Fumihiro reported. "Todojuku!"

"That's going to be a tough race. I really would like to see how good she is..." Ryosuke commented.

Todojuku was a famous racing school, which trained many of the professional racers. He had watched a few of the Todojuku's races. They were good and tough. One of the students was Sudo Kyouichi, the Emperor's leader. Kyouichi graduated from that school and was one of the best drivers he met so far, recalling their event last year.

Another driver that caught his attention was the girl who broke his heart, Mizuki. He knew her for the past few months, seeing each other more than everyone expected. However, he never knew if she could race. She had driven his car occasionally. She was fast, but he did nit know if she knew how to drift. However, he knew that the girl could be groomed into a fast racer. Anyway, he did not know where to find the girl, as they did not contact each other since they last met. To be exact, he was the one who drove her away. The only clue he had to find her was Takumi, the Akina Hachi-Roku.

Todojuku

The Todojuku top students were waiting patiently for their challenger at the top of the pass. The pass was not as crowded as everyone thought was. The Redsuns arrived a short while before the race started. There was only one aim for Ryosuke to come up here tonight. He wanted to know the driver and invited her to join his new team. Would he succeed?

Daiki, the downhill specialist of Todojuku, leaned against his Civic Type R, looking occasionally at his watch. On the other side, Sakai, who was mingled around with his friends and seniors, was criticizing the Celica's driver. He thought that the girl was scared and decided to withdraw from the race. Suddenly, the red Celica raced up the hill with the squealing tires clearly heard all over the pass. The race began as soon as Airisu arrived, starting with hill climb. Sakai was very confident that he would defeat her. The race had started for five minutes and Airisu was still tailed the Integra Turbo. How many corners left? How many chances did Airisu have to attack?

"What?" Sakai exclaimed when he realized that the Celica was just beside him on the outer road.

The downhill race started five minutes later. Sakai was very frustrated to lose his race to the girl, with a few condemn from his seniors. He knew that he has underestimated the girl, which reminded him of his defeat earlier to a young girl a year ago. He was counting on Daiki, knowing that his friend was a more collective driver than he was.

Somewhere along the pass, a girl in white dress was watching the race between the Celica and the Civic with her boyfriend. The downhill result was the same as the earlier hill climb result. Daiki was very satisfied with the result, knowing that Airisu was good, though she was not as good as someone he met earlier. Ryosuke approached the girl before she left the pass. She looked at the Redsuns, knowing that she could not escape. She closed her eyes for a while before she looked up at Ryosuke and Keisuke. The Redsuns shocked, especially Takahashi brothers, as they watched Airisu took off her cap and sunglasses. Keisuke was staring at his girlfriend while Ryosuke thought that she was Mizuki. Airisu knew how shock Keisuke was, as she stared at him. She knew that this day would come, but it was too soon and she was not prepared for it yet. Keisuke was staring at her in his frustration and turned his back to her as he walked toward his car. Ryosuke stood in front of her, briefing her on his plan and invited her to join his new team. Airisu seemed rooted to the ground, hardly listened to Ryosuke's plan. Her mind was occupied with her memories with Keisuke.

"You can take your time to consider about it," Ryosuke said and left with his FC.

Airisu nodded. She did not know how long she had been standing there, as the rain began to pour down.

Fujiwara Residence

Airisu came home after a few hours. She was drenched and tiredly dragged herself into her bedroom where she cuddled to herself at a corner of her room.

"Are you alright, Iris?" Nanami asked the older girl whose face was as red as a tomato.

Airisu nodded, tiredly.

"You're not. You must get change now. Come on!" Nanami pulled Airisu up.

"Leave me alone, please." Airisu said with her pointless expression.

"How can I leave you like that? You are running with high fever. Listen, Iris! I know how upset you are right now, but is this what you should do now? Do you think he cares?" Nanami said in her frustration. "Do you think everyone of us want to see you behaving so childishly like this? Why don't you think of those who still care for you? What about your family?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to think of anything now! You don't know how much I love Keisuke. He's my only boyfriend, my first love. Why can't he accept me like Takumi accepts you? He hates me; I know it from the way he looked at me. " Airisu sobbed in Nanami's arm, as she broke down into tears.

… TBC …