DATE- JUNE 13, 1999

Max was at the gas station talking with Akito about what to do this summer.

Max said "Yesterday was so much fun but I have to get back to racing. There will be a ton of races this summer and that's no lie."

Akito said "You're right. I think the summer will be full of racing."

Max said "There have been 5 races since I moved here and in 4, May was involved. First was her against Keisuke Takahashi. Then a week later, she took on Takeshi Nakazato and his R32. A couple weeks later was that duct tape death match with Shingo Shoji and Ash. Finally, Friday night May took on the Sileighty of Usui. I have to say there has been some good racing so far."

Akito agreed with Max about the races so far. May came and said "What are you doing here, Max?" Max told May he was hanging out with Akito and talking about how well she has done.

May said "Well, I have progressed a lot since my first race back in January with Keisuke Takahashi. I seem to get better with every race."

Max then said "You're right, sis. You have gotten better with each race."

That evening at Yuichi's gas station, Kenji said "We now know that May's technique is the real deal and can hold up anywhere." & Yuichi said "Everyone, it's more than technique. You need a natural talent to be able to race well on a new course."

Kenji then said "She's a genius because defeated racers with a lot more experience than her in that R34."

Drew said "I think it's amazing despite how young May is, she seems like she has raced for years. I am defiantly impressed with her style. Better yet, she did it with a brand new R34."

Max said to Kenji "You're the one who said she couldn't compete anywhere else because she only knew Haruna."

Kenji then said "I know I did, but…"

Yuichi said "We all thought that but May is in a different class than everyone else in Gunma. When I heard the news, I thought she wouldn't win in Usui against Maya's Sileighty."

Max however was embarrassed to hear Yuichi say Maya. Max said to Yuichi "No need for an apology. I have decided to go by Max Chan, The Lonely Racer."

Then a flower truck came to the station and Yuichi said "Flowers? Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? This is a gas station." Then Yuichi looked at the note that came with the flowers & then said "May, it's for you."

May said "Who sent me flowers?"

Yuichi said "They're from Ryousuke Takahashi."

Kenji and Drew went in disbelief "RYOUSUKE TAKAHASHI?"

Max said "Ryousuke Takahashi has decided to go mano y mano against my sister. I knew it was a matter of time before he would challenge her."

The note said "To red R34 of Haruna, 6/26 at 9:00 PM, Top of Mount Haruna."

May was reading the note Ryousuke Takahashi sent her and Max came to her and said "Let me look at that note. June 26th at 9:00 PM at the top of Mount Haruna. Oh boy, I knew this was coming."

Kenji then said "Is that all it says?

Drew said "I knew Ryousuke was going to take on May sometime this summer. I didn't think it would be in June but I guess we can't back down. I knew it would a downhill battle as well. Boy, the summer weekend nights are going to be hotter than a KISS concert."

Max then said "It's finally here, a challenge from Ryousuke Takahashi for a downhill battle."

Max, Kenji, and Drew then screamed "WOW!"

Max said "Are you going to race Ryousuke Takahashi, sis?" & Kenji said "She has to accept the challenge. Besides, she has smoked his younger brother Keisuke."

Max then said "That's right. Avoiding a rematch is more humiliating than losing one."

The next day at Lake Haruna, May and Solidad went out to talk about May's race.

Solidad said "So you're taking on Ryousuke Takahashi? That should turn out a huge crowd. I heard from Drew that you are like being considered as Ryousuke Takahashi's protégé."

May said "Yeah Solidad! If there are 2 careers I am interested in, it's racing and cooking. It's tough to choose only one" Solidad said "I hear you, May. Choosing between two things you love can be tough."

That night, Kenji was driving around Haruna in his 180SX. He stopped at a traffic light when he saw May in her R34.

Kenji then said "That's May's R34. She looks a lot different than normal."

May then drove off and Kenji was holding up traffic because the light had just turned green so he had to move.

The next day at the gas station, the guys were having a little chat.

Max said "May's been acting weird?

Kenji then said "What's so weird?

Drew said "May hasn't been the same the past 2 days. I think the pressure has really gotten to her. She was fine until Ryousuke Takahashi sent her those flowers"

Max then said "Is she tired from all the races?" & Kenji said "That race last week in Usui took a lot out of her."

Drew then said "I don't think that's it. I think this race coming up is messing up her head."

Max said "Whoa is May going to be able to race like that?"

Kenji then said "I saw May in town last night in her R34. She didn't look like her old self. I think this race is putting her under a lot of pressure."

Drew then said "I can understand that, Kenji. The pressure she's facing is unlike anything else she faced in her life. She was a bit nervous in the national high school American Football semifinals but she did beat my team from Myogi. She was also under a lot of pressure in the championship game but she had a flawless game. She threw no incomplete passes or interceptions."

Max then said "I remember that game. It was the biggest night in May's life and she did fantastic."

The next night, Max took May out for a ride in his NSX on Mount Haruna.

May said to Max "What's on your mind, bro?"

Max said to her "I am really worried you may not win, sis. This could be the hardest race yet so do you have any strategy?"

May said "I will not lose, bro. I want to make Haruna proud of me. There is no chance I am losing to Ryousuke Takahashi. I know he's the best in pretty much all of Kanto."

A few minutes later, Max pulled over on a shoulder. He noticed that May had become a little down on herself.

May then said "Why are you staring at me, bro?" & Max said "Listen, May. You have not been yourself lately." & May said "I have?"

Max then said "This race is the biggest race of your life. You can't be like this if you are going to race Ryousuke Takahashi."

May then said "You're right, bro. I've also been wondering what will happen to me in the future."

Max then said "Now is not the time to think about the future."

In Akagi, Keisuke was tutoring a guy named Kenta Nakamura on the mountain pass. Kenta drives an orange S14.

Noriyuki said "No wonder. It's Keisuke's FD and Kenta's S14." & another guy named Katsuya said "Kenta's fast on the downhill because of the training he has received from Keisuke. His S14 is made for it because it's a non-turbo."

Noriyuki then said "Keisuke took him under his wing and has been personally training him."

Katsuya then said "He's our #2 successor after Keisuke.

Noriyuki then said "The battle against the Night Kids is in two days. Keisuke should not be wasting time with Kenta."

Katsuya then said "He must be confident."

Noriyuki then said "I guess Takeshi Nakazato is easy prey."

Katsuya then to Noriyuki said "Keisuke has been of fire lately. Don't you think he's been driving like Ryousuke lately?"

Noriyuki then said "Yeah, I've noticed that. Ryousuke must be feeling pretty confident about his younger brother."

Katsuya then said "I heard that's why he's not coming to Myogi."

After Keisuke and Kenta were done practicing on Akagi, Kenta said to Keisuke "Can I ask you a question, Keisuke?" and Keisuke said "Okay so what is it?"

Kenta said "Why aren't we challenging the R34 from Haruna? We should have her come here to Akagi for revenge."

Keisuke said "Akagi, huh?" & Kenta said "YES! There's no way you can lose to the R34 on our turf. If you don't want to do it, then I will do it!"

Keisuke said "Forget it, Kenta." & Kenta said "Why? You think she'll beat me? Not on Akagi's downhill course." Keisuke then said "That's beside the point. You're now a part of the Red Suns so don't you forget it. We race on our opponents' courses."

Kenta said "I know we do but I can't take it. That R34 got the best of us! If we can only battle fair and square. Please let me take her on!"

Keisuke said "BE PATIENT! Don't worry. When the opportunity arises, the person who needs to put an end to it will do just that."

Kenta said "You mean Ryousuke will."

Keisuke said "Be patient. First, let's focus on the Night Kids race. Leave everything to us." Keisuke then drove off in his FD.

The next day in Haruna at Yuichi's gas station Drew, Kenji, and Max were staring at May. May was staring at her car.

Max then said "She does seem weird." & Drew said "We can't let her be like this much longer."

Kenji then said to Max "We have to do something. We only have a week until the big race."

Drew then said "We're in serious trouble."