Chapter 26
It was a beautiful Monday morning when the students of Ryosuke's school arrived at the circuit just as they had the first day, single file and all at once. The Super GT NSX was sitting in pit lane with the FD nowhere in immediate sight. Gavin parked his FD close to the track's access gate as the others parked in their usual places.
"I take you're ready for your little race then," Keisuke chuckled as Gavin stepped over to them.
"Been waiting for it, can't wait to see that car from my own," the buzz cut blonde said with a chuckle.
"Still think she's better than you huh?" the spiky bleach blonde asked seriously.
"I know she is, I don't know that she can see it though, she's been chasing me too long," Gavin replied as the others made their way towards the three men.
"Looks like they're letting us race each other sweetheart," he added as Reiko got within earshot.
Reiko recovered from the shock quickly before running to the locker rooms with Gavin close behind. The two came out in the fireproof suits they always wore. Gavin was helping Reiko get her HANS device clipped in place as they walked back to the track while she carried his helmet.
"Alright the rules are the usual school rules, no bumps and all that, this race however will run five laps instead of three, just because we have time today," Keisuke said causing a slight chuckle among the students, "Now Mr. Reynolds would you like a head start at all?"
"No Sir, standing start will be fine," Gavin replied before putting his helmet on and climbing into his FD.
"Little excited aren't you?" Kyoko asked as Reiko bounced over to the NSX.
"I'm racing him in a Super GT car, he's at a disadvantage off the line and in the long run, yet I can't wait to see who will win," the curly black haired young lady said excitedly as she climbed into the car.
"You think he stands a chance then?" the brown haired woman asked as she strapped Reiko into the seat.
Reiko simply nodded before Kyoko clipped her HANS device to the seat and closed the door on the NSX, while Gavin waited patiently on the start line with his FD.
"Alright Reiko, they're letting me and Tatsuo cover the radios today, just to see how we do," Nika's voice came over the radio a chuckle.
"I guess my brother is taking care of Gavin then," Reiko replied with a matching chuckle.
"That's right, now get on the course already, Gavin's waiting," Nika's voice came again.
The NSX's engine started up and Reiko cruised around the throttle layout of the school's private track before lining up next to the toreador red FD. Mikio stepped between the two cars and just shrugged as he saw both drivers do a double take visibly shaking their helmets.
"FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE…GO!" the heavy set blonde shouted just before the two cars flew by him fast enough to make him lose his balance slightly.
Reiko quickly built up a short gap through the front stretch only to be caught at the first corner when Gavin flew through the open ninety degree corner without braking.
"Okay FD, time to use everything we've got," Gavin said to his car as he pulled the shifter back into the hidden sixth gear while flying through the long s-type corner.
Keisuke and Takumi were both impressed by how well Gavin was able to keep up with the NSX as the two cars flew into the right handed two hundred and seventy degree loop. The NSX went wide through the u-turn after and the FD slipped by on the inside.
"Come on Reiko, too easy," Gavin muttered as they flew through the next corners.
As they flew into the straight before the hairpin Reiko retook the lead and managed to keep the NSX on its line as she went through the right handed hairpin and through the straight that led into the left handed v-turn. As the two cars finished the first lap Reiko still held the lead but somehow the FD was pinned to its rear spoiler. Everything was quiet on the field through the second lap while the FD stayed pinned to the NSX as if attached to the rear bumper.
"Okay Gavin, you've had your fun, pass her already," Tatsuo said with a serious tone as the two cars started their third lap.
"You think I'm not trying? She's got me pinned back here, she can out accelerate and flat out outrun me in the corners and the straights," Gavin nearly shouted through his radio, "It's all I can do to keep up right now."
"Well then start trying harder, she's your opponent not your girlfriend right now," Tatsuo said earning a loud growl from Gavin as the FD's engine began to scream in an unnatural way.
"You got his attention telling him to pass, did you really have to push the 'she's your opponent' button though?" Nika asked with a hand over her radio microphone.
"Better to push it and deal with the consequences later," Tatsuo said mimicking his own girlfriend, "Right now he's going to pound that 20B into the ground if he has to."
The sound of the rotary engine filled Reiko's ears over the sound of her own as she blocked and dodged each attack as they came. The pair flew through the hairpin still attached at the bumper, but as they came to the midpoint Reiko started slipping to the outside too early. Gavin floored the throttle of his FD and just managed to inch past the NSX along the inside and take the lead into the straight before the v-turn.
As the two cars entered the fourth lap Gavin told Tatsuo to keep his trap shut unless something went wrong with the NSX. Nika continued to update Reiko on Gavin's lap times as well as places where Gavin's FD was starting to slip enough for her to get back by.
"Nika, whose side are you on in this race?" Mikio asked as the two cars entered the last lap of their five lap race, the FD just barely leading the way.
"I'm just doing my job as Reiko's radio operator, I have no side," Nika replied with a hand over her microphone and her eyes still on the track, "I think this whole race was a bad idea, it started as a joke after all."
"What about you Tatsuo?" Mikio asked from his place next to the man.
"Like her I think this was a bad idea, but it was their choice so what can I do to stop them?" the black haired man answered with his hand covering the microphone knowing Gavin would scream if he heard him say anything at all.
On the course, Gavin was having serious second thoughts about being able to win this race as the NSX remained pinned to his FD's rear bumper. He was fighting the FD's rear tires because of how hard he'd pushed trying to get by in the last two laps. Reiko was following the FD with everything she had, but Gavin gave her no openings even in the corners Nika had pointed out that he was supposedly sliding out more. She could see that he was, but somehow he was using it to his advantage and blocking any path to pass.
"Reiko, back off NOW," Nika half shouted through the radio.
Reiko immediately let out of the throttle and watched on as the FD spun around in front of her. She saw the opening and floored the throttle passing him cleanly just before the FD completed a three sixty spin and was now struggling to catch up through the final corners of the course.
"Reiko, you've won this race, well done," Nika's voice said through the radio as the NSX crossed the finish line five seconds before the FD.
"Then why does it feel like I lost?" Reiko asked somberly as she moved the NSX through the cool down lap on auto pilot with Gavin's FD just behind her.
When the two cars were back in pit lane Gavin was out of his FD and had his helmet off before Nika could even get down from the monitoring boxes. He was also wearing the biggest smile anyone had seen on his face since the first time he drove the NSX when the GT cars first arrived. The buzz cut blonde waved Nika off and opened the door of the NSX himself and helped Reiko get everything unhooked.
"Why are you smiling? You just lost," Reiko asked through the helmet she refused to take off.
Gavin could tell by her tone that she was choking on the words and raised the visor to see what kind of tears she was letting out. He drew his hand back slightly when he saw the sadness deep in her eyes before he recovered and put the smile back on his face.
"I'm smiling because that was the most exhilarating race of my whole life," the buzz cut blonde said before gently head butting the helmet Reiko still wore, "And I lost it to the better racer. You earned this so dry those tears and be happy."
Gavin put the visor back down and started unclipping the HANS device that held the helmet in place before undoing the clasp on the helmet. Just before he could remove it Reiko's hand stopped him and she took it off herself, her long curled black hair falling out of the balaclava as she pulled it off. Reiko still looked a little sad so Gavin pulled her closer and kissed her in front of their classmates and teachers. That seemed to cheer her up immensely.
"If you two are done with your little kiss, get changed back into your street clothes, we'll meet you inside," Keisuke said with a chuckle.
About ten minutes later Nobuhiko, Fumihiro, Natsuki, Takumi, Wataru, Keisuke and Kyoko all met with the students in the main conference room of the main building with Ryosuke.
"Find your name on the contracts and we'll get started," Ryosuke said in a cool tone from his spot at the head of the table as each student found their seat.
"First thing we're going to cover is the new rules," Keisuke started staring at all five of the students, "First of which is you won't be allowed to use your own cars on the course anymore. This has nothing to do with the fact Mr. Reynolds here just spun out, but to keep the training time at a maximum."
"The second new rule is that you can no longer race in the mountains until the FIA approves your licenses," Takumi said with a calm tone, "This is mostly to keep you out of trouble with them, the papers won't be sent in till Monday so you've got one last chance to goof off."
"The third rule is something from our sponsors, though it should go without saying, no going after certain teams because they piss you off. You're here to race, not crash people," Kyoko said with a serious tone to make sure the point was well received.
"Fourth rule isn't so much a rule as a new kind of training, from now on we're going to set the cars, you have to tell us how to fix it," Wataru added to the list, "I'm sure two of you at least noticed the fact these cars were set up to be rather difficult to drive."
Gavin and Tatsuo only nodded to this as they both leaned back in their chairs. Nika and Reiko looked a little confused but like Mikio chose not to say anything.
"Next order of business is a practice race Aniki has set up for you in Motegi, you'll run qualifying laps, practice sessions, a full race, pit stops and all, and we have managed to set it up so that the press officers will act as a faux press conference after the race," Keisuke said grabbing the students' attention in a rather drastic manner, "Don't worry, you have a while before any of that happens, but it will be a full race style weekend."
"If you want to back out, now is the time, up until now you've had no ties to the school except an interest in getting faster and getting better," Ryosuke said finally getting back into the conversation, "If you sign these contracts, you'll begin collecting a paycheck from us and you will be tied legally to the Takahashi Racing team until the end of the next Super GT season."
Gavin looked to his teammates, before reaching for the pen next to the contract and signing it, Reiko and Nika quickly following his example while Tatsuo skimmed it over before signing.
"Mr. Taniguchi, is there a problem?" Kyoko asked noticing the blonde's hesitation.
"Just a question really, why am I offered a contract?" Mikio asked with a curious tone, "They've been here for well over a year now, I've only been back a couple months at most, so why me?"
"You're going to be a tester, you'll take the place of any one racer should they be injured or pulled from the race on my orders due to health issues," Ryosuke explained calmly as though he'd expected the question, "In truth you were a saving grace for the team, you know how each of your teammates drive and you came back with enough time to train long enough to at least put up a fight against each of them."
Mikio thought for a few minutes longer before signing the contract in front of him. Ryosuke then handed out the paperwork for the FIA licenses for each driver to fill out.
"Welcome to the Takahashi Racing team," Keisuke said with a lopsided grin, "Now if you like you'll be allowed four laps each in your personal cars before we close the track to them permanently. No need for fire suit and helmets today, call it a welcome to the team gift."
"Gavin-kun, make sure your FD gets a new set of tires first," Kyoko said before he could get out the door, chuckling quietly at the groan he gave before leaving the room.
The drivers of the Takahashi Racing team were waiting for Gavin's FD to have its new tires put on before starting a little race idea they'd had coming out. Reiko's RX-8 was sitting in the pole spot, the second position was left empty for Gavin's FD, Tatsuo took the third position directly behind his sister, Nika and Mikio rounded out the field in fourth and fifth.
"So you'll be doing this race how exactly?" Keisuke asked seeing how each car was placed on the track.
"We were hoping to do it in a GT style, formation and warm up lap then run our three lap race," Tatsuo said with a wide smile on his face.
Keisuke looked to his older brother who simply nodded his response to the silent question the spiky blonde asked.
"Okay then, the rules are as follows, three green lights starts the slow lap, once you're back in place the three reds will come on, when they turn green it's open season, but you will wear helmets if this is the case," Keisuke said with a small smile growing on his face as all of them ran to the locker rooms to get their helmets.
About ten minutes later with Gavin's FD in its proper place, the green lights came on and the five cars made their way around the throttle course at a top speed of fifty five miles per hour while weaving a bit along the straights, before falling back into their proper stalls at the start line. Each student had their radios on and the earpieces were in their ears so they could talk to each other during the race to make sure nothing majorly bad happened since Takumi and Keisuke wouldn't be calling the shots during this race.
The lights came on red before turning to green ten seconds later. The race itself was fun, for the first lap Reiko and Gavin simply drove as fast as their cars would allow them to without making any attempts to pass, Nika and Tatsuo swapped places a few times through the corners while Mikio watched the whole thing from the last position.
During the second lap Gavin and Tatsuo started an almost choreographed dance with Reiko, each one passing the other in some fanciful manner as they went through the course, while Nika and Mikio battled it out.
Through the third and final lap of the race was when everything turned serious. Gavin and Reiko quickly left the other three behind as they battled for first position while Tatsuo, Nika and Mikio were battling for third.
The final order was Gavin and Reiko tied for first, Nika coming behind them with Tatsuo and Mikio tying for last; and none of them could stop laughing as they brought the cars off the track.
"It's good to see that even after a race against each other, they can still laugh together," Natsuki said leaning into her husband as the staff watched on.
"If that was a real race Natsuki, I'm the king of England," Takumi replied with a laugh as the other staff members nodded their agreement.
As the week rolled by the new mechanical training was tougher than anyone expected. Gavin got tossed into the gravel by the NSX fifteen laps into his first run on Tuesday, but he had better luck the following days. Reiko managed to stay on the pavement when she spun out the first day as well, but between her and Gavin they figured out the problem and had it fixed by Thursday. Nika and Tatsuo managed to fight the FD through their laps, but were unable to figure out the problem and get it fixed before Friday. Mikio was just glad he could stay out of the driver's seat for this part.
As Saturday night rolled around Project GT had been invited to a gathering at Myogi that would include the last two races of the mountain racing side of the team. When they arrived at the summit lot the general attitude of the team was not exactly the greatest it had been; this would be their last gathering as street racers before turning into true professional racing drivers. The Blue Fire team from Akagi was there, as well as the Usui Sparks and the Akina Street Kings with the leaders of the Night Wolves of Myogi and the Irohazaka based Emperors.
"What race do you want to run first?" Shou asked since he would be taking part in at least one of the races.
"Downhill, that way after a short time we'll all be back here," Gavin said getting himself ready to face off once again with Matsuda and his S15, "This team has an announcement to be made after the races are done."
"Okay, so does this involve our teams, or can just the leaders be here? A few of my guys are running the graveyard later," Makato of the Night Wolves asked seriously.
"Just the leaders need to be here, now let's get this show on the road so your boys can get out of here," Gavin said with a chuckle before heading to his FD.
"Mikio, you're taking the uphill so get going," Nika said shoving the older man towards his car.
Shou and Mikio flew down the pass and gave the all clear once they arrived. Gavin's race with Matsuda and his silver S15 was a little more eventful than the last since Matsuda was able to put up a better fight, but he still only managed to follow the FD till the end of the race.
After Mikio took off from the line he had only a small amount of trouble staying ahead of Shou's silver R32 once he was there. He could tell that Shou had skills and was using them to stay on the rear bumper of the Lan-Evo VI. Mikio lost the lead about halfway up the mountain, but quickly took it back and finished the race half a car ahead of the R32, making for two victories for the final mountain race of the Project GT team.
Once the leaders of all the local teams, as well as the Emperor's new leader were back at the summit with Project GT they stood waiting for the big announcement.
"These races tonight were the last races of this team's mountain career," Gavin said bluntly earning shocked stares from the leaders of the teams.
"The applications for our FIA racing licenses are going out Monday," Tatsuo added drawing an understanding nod from Makato and Shou.
"Alright, we'll set up a farewell party next Saturday, the least we can do for our greatest rivals is send them off in style," Makato said with a grin on his face.
"We can swing that, but no racing or any kind of showing off with the cars," Nika said being a little overly cautious about things, only to receive shallow shrugs from both Makato and Shou, "Guys, we can't get caught doing anything illegal, just a party," she added with a stern look at both of them.
"Alright, alright, no racing and only stereo showing off," Makato relented since he knew the brown haired woman's temper first hand.
Project GT left Mt. Myogi's summit parking lot, each going to their homes for a long sleep that would probably last till Monday when they would begin a new training setup in the Super GT cars.