The Rise of Usui's Ghost

Chapter 28


Usui Pass, Gunma Prefecture

8:18PM

Reina stared at the stopwatch in her hands with a look Ryuji could only describe blatant surprise. The Levin's high-pitched exhaust note loomed ever closer with each passing second and it wouldn't be long before it crossed the finish line that lay only a few meters ahead of them.

Even he was shocked by the recent turn of events, and he was positive that not even Reina could have predicted, let alone anticipated that his friend would be capable of such a turnaround in such a short span of time. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't have heard the Levin's reverberating snarl so close by for at least another fifteen seconds and this spoke volumes that something had sparked a change in his close friend.

Grey eyes glittered with vivid delight, a smile gradually flitting across the youngest Kurokawa sibling as she watched the Eight-Six finally sail across them before the car began a gradual decrease in downshifts. The transitions between gears was smooth and gradual, which spoke of its drivers experienced footwork. Not long thereafter the car spun, tires screeching against the asphalt as it completed a full 180° turn.

"Don't tell me the time," her brother's voice spoke through the radio she held in her other hand. "I don't need to know right now. Tonight, I'm only focusing on pushing myself past my limits."

"Alright," she replied as the Levin drew closer to them at a much slower speed.

Ryuji cocked his head to the side at this, noting that the older mechanic sitting beside Yuzuru seemed to be incapable of holding back the strong myriad of emotions all making their way across her face. Traces of nostalgia, joy, euphoria and a sense longing were easily discernible in her countenance. But deep down, he could also recognize someone who seemed to discover a newfound strength in his friend. There was a protectiveness he saw in the woman recently introduced to him as Yamaguchi Shiori; the sort that indicated that she would go through great lengths to ensure that Yuzuru accomplished his goals as a street racer, and to some degree he couldn't help be feel a little more at ease by her appearance.

'It's the same look Reina-chan has every time she speaks of her brother,' he mentally deduced. 'He's already endeared himself to her, and in all honesty, it doesn't surprise me that she's sparked such a change in his performance today.'

As one of Yuzuru's closest friends, Ryuji was one of the few to know of the tragedy that befell the young Gunma native along with his family two years prior. To lose someone so close to one's heart even if the loss was expected was already a bitter pill to swallow in itself, but to have such a significant blow doubled in such a short span of time in between would have probably left most people in the greatest depths of despair.

Shiori had that air about her, and to some extent he already understood why given her history with Kakeru. Everything was laid bare for him to see from the moment he met her and to some degree, his heart went out to the woman. Just like his friend, Shiori lost a whole lot more than she could ever hope to bargain for and as a result he could sense that she still clung the pieces to her battered heart searching in the forlorn hope that someone would be able to come around to put it back together.

In this sense, Shiori and Yuzuru were the same. The thought alone was rather distressing for him to come to terms with, but already he could see the makings of a bond taking shape between them. It was more akin to that of an older sister and a younger brother, marked with a healthy dose of respect and admiration of each other's abilities. He could only hope that the two would ultimately manage to play off each other's strengths in the long run. There was no doubt in his mind that this would do the pair of them a world of good.

Just like Mayumi, Shiori had the ability to be a positive influence in Yuzuru's life. The wealth of experience she had as both a mechanic and street racer alone would have been enough to draw the car-crazed fanatic's attention but their ties to the one individual they both considered to be their greatest mentor, influence, and source of inspiration would also serve as a bridge between them.

Tatsuru, was also someone he considered to be very noteworthy in all of this. In some respects he was still boggled by the fact that Yuzuru had become rather well acquainted with someone of his stature already, but once the man revealed his past as a street racer, along with his time racing with Shiori and Kakeru it was as if another piece of the puzzle had clicked into place.

In the recent Honda signing, Ryuji saw someone who could test and challenge Yuzuru on the touge. It was no secret that he had already earned the brunette's respect, and somewhere down the line he expected the pair to formally challenge one another to a race on the downhill. Of this, he was certain, and he would not miss it for the world.

The blonde medical remained beside Reina in solemn contemplation, sparing a single glance at the stopwatch in her hands to get a fix on the latest time posted by Yuzuru and for a moment he was slightly perturbed by what he saw.

'He just broke his own record by one and a half seconds,' he thought in amazement.

Together, the pair watched as Shiori exited the Levin in a daze. She handed Yuzuru his radio just as the unmistakable sound of Kaede's Evo VI drew their attention. Ryuji had to suppress the shudder that went down his spine the moment his ears picked up on the car's wonderous exhaust note. Even he was forced to admit that the car had been tuned to perfection, albeit grudgingly.

Both he and Yuzuru knew the individual who ended up tuning her newly acquired Lan-Evo, and the Gunma native amongst them had even worked for the man during his stay in Tokyo. Nishimura Rokuro was no slouch when it came to the many shop owners that littered the capital, and Yuzuru had confessed to learning a great deal from the man in those days.

It came as no surprise to him that Kaede's Mitsubishi was a ferocious machine on both the downhill and uphill, and although there was a small part of him that was slightly miffed by the dismantling the girl gave him the previous week he recognized just how skilled she had become in the span of a year and a half.

'And that's the scary bit,' he thought with a tinge of amusement.

Only a few seconds later, Kaede exited the final corner that lead onto the only straightaway in the entire course. Smoke billowed from her tires as she cleared the banking left hander with little to no difficulty on her part. He could only watch with wide eyes once he realized that she was only centimeters away from trading paint with the guardrail and once again he found himself stunned by how far she had come in the time she spent away.

As soon as Kaede spotted Yuzuru parked to the side with his hazards on a feral grin took shape on her features. Even if he was not in the FD or the Sileighty which happened to be his current vehicle of choice, she knew the elder Kurokawa sibling was not someone to be trifled with by any means given his experience and skill behind the wheel of any car he drove.

Despite his previous struggles and attempts to adapt to the Eight-Six, there was a different air about him tonight. She could feel it, and so far, she was liking what she was seeing. The look in his eyes since their arrival to Usui earlier signaled a shift in his mentality, and she was glad to be able to witness it once again.

From his place in Kaede's passenger seat, Tatsuru could only nod to show how impressed he was by her driving. The girl's skill was top notch for someone who confessed to have only begun racing a little over a year prior, but her technique was still a little rough around the edges. There was a lot of polishing for her to do, and with the company she carried there was little doubt in her mind she would leave Japan an even better driver than when she arrived.

The fire and passion she exuded on the touge was one he knew very well, and he enjoyed seeing it every time someone gave their absolute best. Kaede was a promising young talent, and with a few more years of experience he would be able to place her among the best drivers in the area if she kept improving at the pace she was going. Witnessing how heavily derived her technique was from rallying, along with the numerous intricacies of her overall skill gave him an even greater insight and respect to those who undertook such a grueling and demanding form of motorsport, and he had to give credit where it was due.

'As crude as it sounds, this girl has more balls than most men who call themselves street racers,' he mused.

He always did like seeing female street racers, and Kaede was certainly one to look out for in his book.

"Very impressive Kaede-san. I can honestly say that you're a cut above most street racers I've encountered in the last few months, and I'm certain you could give my cousin a run for his money even on one of his good days. There are a few places where you have room for improvement, but the first thing I would tell you is to watch your throttle control. In a course like Usui, it's important to know just how to exercise the right amount given how difficult this touge can be."

The raven-haired Miyagi native listened to the man's advice intently, taking in any information and advice the man could provide as constructive criticism. Very rarely did she ever get the chance to meet and speak to someone of Tatsuru's caliber, and his skills was already well known on and off the track as it was. She gestured for him to continue, hanging onto his every word.

"At times you will find that it is best to favor a very delicate control on the accelerator and adopt a rhythm that best suits your car and the road conditions. You already do well in conserving your tires and have a sixth sense to where the grip is even if this happens to be among only a handful of times you've driven on Usui. Think about what I've just said and see if you can do things a bit differently now that you're going to be chasing Yuzuru on the way back. Usui is a rather tricky course because the elevation constantly fluctuates, and the road surface isn't as good as it should be. At times you could be going uphill for but a fraction of a second, and then there's suddenly a very severe slope. Bear this in mind," he said.

Kaede nodded in acknowledgement with a smile. "Arigatou gozaimashita," she replied.

Tatsuru offered a smile of his own in response before exiting the vehicle just as Ryuji approached.

"My turn for a ride this time," was his off-handed remark.

"She's all yours," the Todo School graduate returned.

Without another word, Ryuji slipped into the passenger seat that had been previously occupied. Yuzuru took that as his cue and immediately took off once again for the uphill run. Smoke billowed from the Levin's rear tires as the car unleashed a vicious roar as he ascended gears in rapid succession down the straightaway.

This run would not be timed, but after the end of the hill climb, a proper chase of cat and mouse would begin between the two friends and he was quite excited to see how it would all turn out. The idea had been one proposed by Yuzuru not long after Kaede's arrival, and the logic behind his reasoning was sound as well.

After all, what better way was there to understand how lethal noted FR killers like the Lan-Evo could really be than to see one in action in preparation for his upcoming race a few weeks from now? It was a rather ingenious method to train really, and once again it played upon Yuzuru's methodical approach to racing even if he usually was the kind to charge into a battle headfirst without a sound strategy.

Kaede reacted in an instant once he was properly strapped in, completing a 180° spin of her own in reverse. The result was a flawless J-turn, and only a few seconds after their brown-haired friend sped away, the two began their chase.

Reina, Shiori and Tatsuru all watched from a safe distance. The sound both vehicles generated was like music to their ears and settled into a comfortable silence between them as they each continued to listen to the trademark sounds of tires screeching and the rapid descent of gears in preparation for an incoming corner.

To say that Shiori was still breathless by the technique and tremendous amount of skill Yuzuru displayed would have been a severe understatement on her part. She was completely and utterly captivated by what she saw, and now fully understood why Tatsuru was so insistent that they finally meet one another. Everything from his aura, down to the presence, command and aggressiveness he had behind the wheel was a stark reminder of the man she had come to love with every fiber of her being.

There were subtle differences of course, given the way they each took a different path of their own on their way to becoming full-fledged street racers, but the inherent similarities between their overall styles was all there for her to see.

'The trademark flicks the back end does each time he pulls out of a corner. The way he can systematically surrender himself to his instincts without a care in the world and still look so calm and composed is a true spectacle to behold. Even after all these years, his legacy remains intact in Yuzuru-kun,' she pondered.

Reina turned to the two seasoned street racers behind her, a small chuckle escaping her as she raised the stopwatch hanging around her neck for all to see.

Tatsuru whistled in appreciation and pride. He knew the kid had it in him no matter how daunting the task initially seemed. "He's already broken his record and he doesn't even want to know about it," he remarked.

"That's just like my brother," came Reina's casual reply. "Doing things half-assed is a foreign concept to him, and once he's like this he won't stop until he's either satisfied or recognizes that he's made some form of progress."

The brunette sighed before fixing her gaze on Shiori, who had been silent since she managed to catch a glimpse of her brother's technique at full throttle. "I hope you realize that is also partly your doing Shiori-nee."

Shiori perked up at the mention of her name, withdrawing from her thoughts long enough to formulate an answer of her own.

"He's incredible," she praised. "Most people his age are still in the early stages of development, and barely even know the difference between a true drift, and the cheap imitation when using a the handbrake. Kakeru was right. Sooner or later he's going to surpass him, and I get the feeling he's not far off from accomplishing this either."

A small rueful smile adorned her features once Reina registered the woman's final statement. The very idea that her brother was already on the cusp of surpassing someone he continued to admire with every fiber of his being was not an easy one, and her gut told her that Yuzuru felt the exact same way.

"Knowing him, he will never admit it. My brother is far too humble to ever consider the thought, and while he certainly dreams of going pro and carrying on the family tradition, he knows that there is still far too much for him to see and learn. He's never been one to toot his own horn if you will, and that's never going to change either. But your appearance Shiori-nee, has sparked a change within him no matter how subtle it seems."

"How so?"

"As I'm sure you're aware my family has been through some difficult times lately. But Onii-chan's been the one to suffer the most throughout the whole ordeal not just because we lost a loved one, but also because he lost both his best friend and his greatest source of inspiration mere weeks from one another."

Tatsuru's dark gaze came to rest on Shiori once he realized the weight the girl's words carried, the significance behind them was not lost on him either and his hands clenched into tight fists in reminder of the good friend he had lost along with the person Shiori had come to adore. It dawned on him then that few people would ever have come out emotionally unscathed by such an ordeal, and the fact that Yuzuru somehow managed to soldier spoke volumes of the boy's resilience.

In Shiori, Yuzuru found someone who understood and knew his pain. No words needed to be spoken between them to understand each other's level of inner despair, and much like the woman he was beginning to consider more akin to an older sister, Yuzuru had carried on. But he had not really moved on.

"I managed to gather as much," Shiori revealed. "He didn't need to tell me. I could see it in his eyes. It's the same look that's haunted me every single day of my life for the last two years."

"Then you understand him better than most," she verbally acknowledged.

The Tochigi native trained his gaze on Reina this time around, adopting a more contemplative expression as he studied her body language with extreme care. There was a fire within the young girl that was decidedly hard for him to miss. The sort that indicated a strong and willful personality marked by the streak of fierce independence she carried in her demeanor, and if he were honest with himself, he liked that spunk she had.

Already he could see traces of the woman Kurokawa Reina would become in a few years' time, and if her personality was anything to go by, then he was eager to see what she would make of herself then. She was stubborn. That much was clear as day to him, but at the same time he realized that one of the biggest reasons Yuzuru managed to partially drag himself out of such a dark emotional state stood before him in the form of a sixteen-year-old girl.

"That may be the case," he interjected. All eyes fell on him as he spoke. "But I doubt your brother would have been capable enough to go through such an ordeal by himself. I get the feeling that you were his rock Reina-chan. No one could bear such enormous emotional scars and come out of it the way he has. In my opinion, you were perhaps his greatest source of strength."

This time around Reina froze in place. Yuzuru was now her only brother, and although it warmed her heart to have someone else put it so eloquently, she found it difficult to see only the good when she had also been present for much of the bad as well.

For a brief period, Reina suspected that her brother struggled with an incredibly strong bout of depression. Those first few months they spent living in Tokyo not long after their move from New Zealand was completed were difficult for them both. At first, they found it hard to readapt to life in Japan after spending so many years living abroad. But not long thereafter, Yuzuru's entire demeanor and personality took a downward spiral.

While there was no doubt in her mind that he still very much cared for her, he became more withdrawn. He was very cold to others, developing a strong emotional detachment that was only by his inherent obsession to track down the driver of the Supra that had been involved in the incident in Nanamagari.

She drew in a breath and crossed her arms. "Maybe. But during those first few months we spent in Tokyo it was as if my brother became an entirely different person and it frightened me."

"You're referring to his time racing in Kanagawa, aren't you?" Shiori expressed.

"Hai," the brunette steadily begins. "I never really understood why he would be willing to put himself through such heartache all over again. Perhaps he wanted to finish what was started. I don't really know, and I can't always tell what goes on in my brother's mind. But I do know that he's not the sort of person to seek revenge. More than anything else, I think he wants answers. He wants to know why it happened and how things could have escalated to such a degree."

"Has he given up looking for that man yet?" Tatsuru inquired. The venom lacing his undertone was palpable to his female companions, and Shiori visibly trembled once she picked up on it.

His voice was a stark reminder of her own struggle to keep Tatsuru from going off the deep end after the incident in Nanamagari.

"No. He hasn't. It's been one of his greatest goals since he set foot in Japan for the first time in eight years, and I've spent many sleepless nights waiting for him to come home to the point where I was nearly at my wit's end trying to keep myself sane and strong enough to look after him each time he went on his late night forays in Kanagawa," Reina admitted.

The brunette was barely able to suppress a shudder of her own, her grey eyes taking on a duller shade once she recalled just how much it hurt to see the warm, kind, and inviting older brother she grew up with behave as if he were an empty husk for those first few months in Tokyo. Had it not been for Ryuji, Kaede, and the kindness of a man by the name of Nishimura Rokuro, she was positive Yuzuru would have lost his way.

In the time he spent racing in Kanagawa, the love he had for pass racing was supplanted by the sheer rage, frustration, and despair he had deep within his heart. Despite being only seventeen years of age at the time, Yuzuru was broken by his experiences to such an extent that only his resentment and struggle to cope with his inner turmoil managed to keep him going.

Reina could still remember the many times she would lie awake at night hoping and praying she would hear the piercing exhaust note of her brother's FD approaching their home. At times she even waited for him the living room whenever he returned at three or four in the morning.

For these various reasons, Reina couldn't help but feel extremely relieved that their parents planned to sell their home in Tokyo and have them relocated to Gunma permanently. In her eyes, the move back to their home prefecture had done her brother a world of good. New bonds were continually being forged with some incredibly talented people, and with both Ryuji and Kaede he had rediscovered his love for pass racing and mechanics.

Seeing the warm spark return to her older brother's eyes really made her realize just how much she had missed having that Yuzuru around. To this day, she would always remain thankful for having such an attentive and caring sibling. She never wanted to relive those horrible first few months they spent in Tokyo, and in some respects, she blamed their parents for running off to Germany as well.

'But that's a whole other can of worms that I do not wish to open right now,' she reminded herself.

Shiori immediately drew closer to Reina, enveloping the young girl in a warm embrace. They had all been through so much. It amazed her that a girl barely sixteen years of age had been forced to grow up so quickly alongside her brother. The strength she possessed alone was worthy of one's admiration and respect. Few teenagers would have the mental maturity to willingly endure and be as patient as Reina had been over the previous two years.

The brunette immediately reciprocated the older woman's actions, not even registering the fact that tears had begun flowing freely from her eyes. As Reina continued to fight a losing battle to regain control of her emotions, Tatsuru also stepped up and lay a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You won't have to do it alone anymore Reina-chan," Shiori whispered with a solemn vow.

"That's right," Tatsuru stressed.

"Thank you," the younger Kurokawa rasped once she managed to gather her bearings as the two adults stepped away. They didn't miss the brilliant smile that spread across her face.

"You're welcome," Shiori replied. "I promise you that we will both to our upmost to help you look after Yuzuru as much as we possibly can. You have our word. He's come a very long way from what you've told me, and seeming him drive at full-throttle tonight is all the proof we need to know that he's well on his way to chasing his dream Reina-chan."

A short laugh escaped Reina when she heard this, but there was no doubt among the other two that it was genuine. "You sound like Yumi-nee when you say that."

"Oh? And just who is this Yumi-nee you speak of?" the raven-haired mechanic asked in clear interest.

"A childhood friend of ours," came the honest reply. "I'm sure you'll meet her soon enough, but she and Yuzuru were almost inseparable when they were kids."

"Interesting," Shiori remarked before deciding to let the matter rest.

Tatsuru took the brief silence between the pair as his cue to ask another question that he'd wanted to ask the girl for a while now. "So, Reina-chan, any plans to take up the family business and follow in your brother's footsteps?"

"Oh absolutely," came her immediate response. "I also want to become a street racer and forge my own path. Just like Onii-chan, I will make sure that my name will be known throughout Kanto in a few years' time. My goal for the moment, is to race and surpass my brother on Usui's downhill."

Shiori's brown eyes flared in a combination of excitement and giddiness once Reina professed her own lofty ambitions. She always enjoyed seeing women hold their own as street racers and given time, she had a feeling the girl would soon stand among the prefecture's heavy weights.

"If you ever need advice or wish to get a few pointers or lessons I'd be more than willing to lend you a hand when your brother's not able to Reina-chan," the Todo School graduate offered.

"The same goes for me," Shiori assured. "Tat-chan may be a bit busy at times with his duties at the school or with upcoming test dates for Honda, and since I'm still based in Yokohama it'll be a little bit difficult to get together very often. But I may have someone who may be willing to take you under their wing if you play your cards right."

Reina's shrewd and penetrating gaze took on a very discernable gleam the moment Shiori brought up the possibility of having a proper mentor oversee her development. In the last few months since their return to Gunma, Yuzuru had taken it upon himself to teach her as much as he possibly could when her had the time and she was grateful to him for it. Her brother had gone as far to teach her the basics since then, emphasizing how crucial it was to get a feel for a car's center of balance, the importance of proper footwork and learning to gauge a car's mannerisms to establish control.

Each word, each lesson and piece of advice he gave, she took to heart. Part of the reason she was also so eager to learn from him was because no one had truly been around to guide him when he decided to walk the path he was currently on. Everything Yuzuru learned, everything he picked up, came through the countless hours he spent going through the arduous trial and error process. He spent three years racing across the Crown Range on his own; mingling with the local street racing community and soaking up all the knowledge he possibly could before venturing out on his own.

For all their father's legendary status as a professional rally racer, a veritable eminence in the world of motorsports, the man took on a rather unique hands-off approach when it came to her brother and to some degree it frustrated her to no end as well. The man known as Kurokawa Sakumo was an absolute treasure trove; a repository of experience and knowledge forged by the numerous rally stages he faced across the world, and it seemed the best he could do was offer vague pieces of advice however sound it may be.

To some extent, she could understand her father's reasoning. Before his emergence as one of the rallying world's top talents, their family was initially based in Tochigi. This was before she or Yuzuru were even born, and the Kurokawa were by no means as well-off as they were now. It was safe to say that their father grew up in a rather impoverished environment compared to the life he and his wife managed to provide for them, even if they were never around when they were most needed.

No one had been there to teach Sakumo how to drift or drive a car competitively. His home course of Irohazaka had been his proving ground during the early 1970's, and all he had were he wits and experience gained by racing across the touge every single day he possibly could. In her eyes, there was little doubt that her father purposely took this stance regarding Yuzuru's development primarily because it was how he developed his own overall technique.

If she were to follow in their footsteps, she knew his approach regarding her development would be the same and if she were honest with herself, she would not mind it all that much. She recognized the importance of going out and testing each and every single idea one could possibly have no matter how stupid or ridiculous they may seem. Both her father and her brother were products of this learning process, and she too was eager to go out on her own and see how far she could possibly go but the prospect of learning from a seasoned street racer, and absorbing everything she saw was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

"Do I happen to know who they are?" she asked with genuine interest lacing her undertone.

Shiori and Tatsuru gave each other a knowing look, smirks plastered across their features. They had a feeling Reina would take Gunma and the surrounding prefecture by storm once she was a little older, and if her older brother began racing at the age of fourteen who were they to deny her the chance to nurture and develop the talent and knowledge she so clearly possessed?

"Probably not," Shiori admitted. "But this person is hands down one of the best drivers I have the pleasure of knowing and an incredibly hard worker as well. You won't find someone with as much patience, or desire to prove themselves and that's without taking into consideration their skill as a mechanic as well."

"Like Gunma, Saitama is a breeding ground for some of the best pass racers Kanto has to offer Reina-chan, and the person she is referring to is among the finest that prefecture has to offer. I've been there numerous times myself, and I can honestly say that it has some of the most dangerous and treacherous mountain passes you can imagine," Tatsuru explained before pausing briefly to collect his thoughts.

"The streets are narrow, far more than some of the places I've raced in here in Gunma, and the road conditions at times can be worse than what Usui has to offer. You won't find courses as tough or demanding than those in Saitama, and that's saying something since I myself am from Tochigi."

Reina bit her lip, knowing that her brother often expressed the same of the first few times he raced in Saitama when he decided to venture away from Kanagawa for a brief change of scenery. Like Gunma, the neighboring prefecture was a hot bed for pass racers, and she'd already met one of their finest drivers even if he had not been around their side of Gunma as much recently.

'Whoever this person is, the fact that someone like Shiori-nee can speak so highly of them intrigues me greatly,' she inwardly pondered. 'Part of the reason I don't bug my brother as often for lessons is because he's been very busy as of late. Between work, his racing activities, the prospect of joining Project D and the task Dad set for him he's got enough on his plate as it is.'

"When can you introduce me?"

The Yokohama native allowed a smile to pass her lips, easily sensing the determination and ambition that rolled off the younger girl in waves. Sooner or later there would be another Kurokawa racing across Gunma and Greater Kanto, and she had a feeling that like Yuzuru, they would be in a for a treat once she began to make a name for herself.

"I'll make a call later tonight and set up a meeting. I'll introduce you personally once you come back from your trip," she said before pausing as she held out a folded piece of paper to her. "Here's my number along with Tat-chan's. If you ever need anything, if you ever need advice or tips on pass racing, or simply wish to talk don't hesitate to contact me."

"And feel free to shoot me a call or a message as well," Tatsuru added. "I won't miss any of your brother's races for the world. He's the only person I've an interest in facing on my final battle as a street racer."

Reina took the proffered slip of paper, a devilish grin taking shape in place of her previously vacant expression. Someone of Tatsuru's stature was well known throughout all of Kanto and given his past with Kakeru, she thought the declaration was almost poetic in a way.

"I have no doubt he will relish the challenge," she evenly returned.


The Next Day…

Asahina Rotor Works, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture

1:33PM

Asahina Gentaro carefully surveyed a fully disassembled 13B with a scowl on his face. He always loathed seeing a rotary in as poor condition as the one sitting on a stand before him, but at the very least he knew the blame did not lie with the current owner of the vehicle it had been brought in with. There were so many issues with the twin-rotor power plant he could easily point out with the single glance he'd given it after taking the motor apart, and he could already tell that he was in for a full rebuild.

Pulling the oil pan left the rotary specialist in a state of disbelief once he zeroed in on the metal shavings that had collected as a result of the catastrophic front thrust bearing failure it had suffered. The front pulley misalignment he noticed not long after he began stripping the engine was a major indicator of what had occurred and the torrington bearing was nowhere in sight either. It was safe to say the part had been crushed when the front hub was initially torqued down which ultimately led him to conclude that whoever had worked on the engine before him really did a piss poor job of it. All in all, a destroyed bearing and an oiling system filled with residual metal shavings consequently led the 13B to eat itself. In such a state, it would not have survived long either way.

'Rotors are in extremely poor shape. There are even gouges on the inside of the housings too,' he mentally assessed.

While he did not mind the of a rebuild process all that much, Gentaro knew from personal experience that the new owner of this motor would need him to source a long list of parts to get it back to peak race condition. A gruff sigh escaped the former pro racer, and he removed his stained work gloves before tossing them on the nearby workbench of his shop.

Though it was a beautifully bright and sunny day in his native city of Hiroshima, it was also proving to be a scorcher for a Wednesday afternoon. A sweltering wave of heat and humidity struck the man as he made his way through the full expanse of the garage, and he sent a few nods in the direction of his small but efficient staff whilst fishing out his carton of cigarettes from one of his pockets. His eyes carefully scanned the neatly organized shelves to his right as he continued his trek, pausing momentarily to take stock of spare parts, rotors, eccentric shafts and housings arranged in one rack before moving to the one below it. There were four distinct shapes, each individually covered by their own tarp, and a brief flicker of interest and excitement formulated within him as a result. It had taken him an incredible amount of time, and a period of extensive search together with his son's aid to source each one of the remarkable pieces of engineering that he was still in the process of deciding what sort of projects he could undertake with them.

'But now Sakumo wants to pry at least one of them from my hands,' he inwardly groaned. 'And knowing him one's probably not gonna be enough. I'm almost positive he's gonna want at least two of them just to keep a spare knowing him.'

Gentaro pursed his lips, idly cursing his older cousin for his meticulousness and habit of calling or dropping in on him out of the blue. Even during their younger days, Sakumo would more often than not lead him around and get him in all sorts of mayhem whenever he visited the Kurokawa family in Gunma and as they got older some things simply didn't change. Despite these reservations however, he admired the man greatly for both his accomplishments and resilience. Very few people, if any, could claim to be considered one of the greatest rally racers to have competed at the height of the Group B era, let alone claim victories with contemporaries like Juha Kankkunen, Timo Salonen, Henri Toivonen and Walter Rohrl. His career was nothing short of legendary to aspiring professionals and motorsports enthusiasts alike, and his success could be attributed to both his skills, and unrelenting desire to prove himself against all odds.

In a sense, one could say he and Sakumo were two sides of the same coin. Both were incredibly accomplished drivers on and off the track, even if their careers differed greatly as a result of their chosen fields. Where his cousin chose to race competitively in some of the most dangerous rally stages across the world in vehicles that could be considered a veritable death trap in all respects, he threw himself behind Mazda's rotary project in the early 1970's.

Numerous manufacturers across his native Japan in addition to many European heavy weights balked at the concept of a non-reciprocating engine design, let alone their reliability when they were first introduced with the appearance of the Cosmo in 1968 at Nurburgring. But not long after that, the emergence of the Savanna RX-3 and their victory over Nissan's then dominating C10 Skyline GT-Rs seemed to let the bigger Japanese manufacturers know that one of the smallest automakers in the country meant business by sticking to the rotary.

'And I've been hooked ever since,' he thought to himself. 'The beauty of rotaries is their simplicity by design. They come in a small package and can produce a tremendous amount of power if tuned properly. With proper care and maintenance, they can be just as reliable and efficient as normal reciprocating engines.'

A derisive snort escaped him, recalling the few times he had made the long drive all the way to Gunma to spend the summer with the Kurokawa family during during his teenage years and into his very early twenties and it marked the beginning of a friendly rivalry between him and his older cousin. During their first encounter on Akina, Sakumo had handed his ass back to him on a silver platter and he wasn't ashamed to admit it. Even then, the Tochigi native had begun to demonstrate a certain quality and class of his own that very few pass racers in the area truly had. He always thought the man to be bordering on psychotic when it came to his skill behind the wheel, but those proportions were blown out of the water once he was introduced to Bunta as well.

'If Sakumo is considered a psycho, then Fujiwara was morbidly insane,' he recalled before recognizing his own hypocrisy. 'Then again, I shouldn't be one to talk.'

While Sakumo and Bunta were both praised and vilified by their rivals on the touge, he was also among them whenever he made the trip to Gunma for those four years, he stayed with the Kurokawa family each summer. Most people belonging to the local street racing community were not as welcoming of outsiders back then, and while Bunta, Sakumo, Yuichi and Masashi all accepted him, many in Gunma referred to him as a 'Mad Dog' for his outright speed, tenacity and unforgiving demeanor behind the wheel, especially when his opponent verbally crossed him in any way. It was a moniker that remained with him long after he put his street racing days behind him and took to the world stage and in some respects he did not mind it in the least. His time racing in the JTCC before moving onto Mazda's Group C Le Mans project during the 1980's rendered him a fearsome opponent to those he faced.

To this day, nothing could match the sound of the naturally aspirated four-rotor monstrosities that were the 767B and the 787B screaming down the Mulsanne Straight on fifth gear at nearly 10,500RPM with peripheral port. The rough characteristic idle each time the exhaust and intake ports overlapped, coupled with that raw and delightful howl each and every time he floored the gas pedal as the engine delivered peak power at high RPM would be amongst the most memorable moments of his life, and it remained one of the reasons he felt such joy when Mazda claimed their victory at Le Mans in 1991. All those hours of testing, development work, different setups and sleepless nights finally gave them one of the greatest victories for the company hailing from his home city of Hiroshima, and as a result of his work and loyalty with them his words and experience still carried a tremendous amount of weight each time he paid his old friends a visit.

He spared the engines lying beneath the tarps a final glance, thanking his lucky stars that he still had more than enough pull to secure an additional two straight from his contacts at Mazda with barely any mileage on them. All things considered he was greatly looking forward to the projects he had in mind in the near future, and if Sakumo was making the trip all the way to Hiroshima to discuss the sale of at least one of the engines he'd managed to pilfer away from one of the numerous JC Cosmos sold across the country in auctions, he may as well look for a few more as they were well worth their weight in gold to those who understood the limitless possibilities they offered in the right hands and proper tuning.

Gentaro raised his carton of Seven Stars Charcoal Filters, tapping it repeatedly in order to compress the tobacco. Once finally outside of his shop, he drew a cigarette out and raised it to his lips only to pause once his ears picked up on the ever-so familiar exhaust note of a 13B. He listened for a few seconds longer, carefully discerning the sharp growl of the two-rotor power plant before registering the distinct flutter that usually accompanied a wastegate as it drew closer. It was a sound he recognized anywhere given his intimate knowledge of the car it belonged to, and he silently lit his waiting cigarette with the aid of his lighter. The veteran racer exhaled a breath of smoke just as a beautiful first generation red FB RX-7 came into view.

A series of downshifts followed, indicative of an experienced driver who knew how to rev-match properly and a smirk tugged at his lips once he saw his only son Natsuo in the driver's seat of the vehicle. Once upon a time, the car had been his own, and for a great many years the FB served him faithfully until he decided to pass it on. Since the boy took ownership of the car, there were a large number of modifications made that really made the FB come into its own in the last three years and the most aesthetically pleasing amongst them, was the addition of the flared IMSA derived widebody kit, a vented hood together with its long duck-bill rear wing. To complete the look, were a set of "16 gold SSR mesh wheels wrapped in thick Toyo Proxes for extra grip when cornering, but even then, not all was at it seemed when taking the car's modifications into account.

In the previous three years since Natsuo inherited the car, it rapidly became known as 'Daniwa's Red Devil' and it was for good reason too. With its single turbo setup, the car could easily push upwards of 325HP at 8,500RPM with an ample amount of boost, but in the local circuits the RX-7 had established itself as a fearsome competitor with as much of a ferocious reputation on and off the track given it's exploits at the hands of its owner.

While many street racers and drivers throughout Japan usually preferred the more modern designs of the FC and FD, many forgot that the first-generation RX-7 is where it all really began. The SA22C and its updated FB transition model could be considered a purer sportscar by design. A lighter frame and lack of independent rear suspension made the car a wild beast that at times could be difficult to tame, but when it came to the handling department the FB was extremely nimble, capable of cornering at speeds much faster with the right adjustments.

Among the numerous upgrades and changes Natsuo addressed when he first claimed ownership of his old FB was to improve the car's cornering capabilities. His son even went as far as dragging the rear end out of a more modern RX-7 he'd found in a scrapyard and mounting the independent rear suspension on the FB. The job alone was tremendous, and it took a considerable amount of time with all the hacking and welding they did to rebuild the car's underbody but once they were done the results were immediately apparent.

Gentaro watched as Natsuo pulled up to park his car next to his current daily driver, his old RX-3 before promptly cutting the engine. Once free of the confines of his vehicle the young man of twenty-one years of age eagerly stretched his limbs as his father shook his head in bemusement. The younger Asahina was rather tall when compared to his own height of 1.72 meters, and when combined with his lean and athletic frame as a result of the innumerable amount of time he spent playing competitive baseball throughout his high school years. Like him, Asahina Natsuo was a diehard fanatic of their local baseball team, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and he rarely missed one of their matches as a result.

He scrutinized his young son for a moment, his eyes catching a few distinctive marks on his neck that were indicative of the fun he'd been having earlier. A few seconds passed between them in silence, and Gentaro allowed himself the chance to zero in on the boy's disheveled appearance. His collar was almost completely undone, with a few of the buttons of his shirt were either skipped or left unbuttoned altogether and judging by the numerous wrinkles on it he also hadn't bothered to straighten it out. His usually wavy black mop of hair streaked with blonde highlights stuck up at the most unnatural of angles and his lightly tanned skin was slightly flushed from whatever encounter he may have had previously.

A sigh escaped him along with another breath of smoke as he crossed his arms, shaking his head in exasperation at the boy and the shit eating grin plastered across his face. It seemed that even with his part time position working at Mazda's museum he still found the time to sneak off whenever he had the chance. The irony of his actions was not lost on him by any means, since he had also been a prominent skirt chaser in his own right during his younger years before he chose to settle down. Evidently, his son took after him far more than he would have desired in this case.

'It also doesn't help that he's almost a carbon copy of myself save for the damn highlights and his height.'

"'Sup Oyaji," came his son's casual greeting.

"'Sup gaki," he returned with just as much enthusiasm. "You done messin' around for the day? We've got a few things to prepare for and your uncle's due to arrive tomorrow with your younger cousin Reina. I expect you to be on your best behavior while they're here."

Natsuo let a short chuckle pass from his lips in response. "Hai-hai. How long will they be stickin' around for?"

"Three days at most. They'll be leaving by Sunday morning according to Sakumo which reminds me, did you manage to prepare the rooms for them back home?" his father asked.

"Yeah, I cleaned out both rooms, dusted them all and changed the sheets as well. Everything's set for their arrival."

"Good, I was a little worried you'd forgotten judging by your appearance," the elder Asahina gestured towards him.

At his father's derisive comment Natsuo visibly deflated, rolling his eyes before straightening out his clothes as best as he possibly could before clicking the remote for the FB's alarm. The car beeped in reply and he tucked his keys away before making his way over to the man.

"I had to cut my shift early to help you out today old man, and I may have gotten a little sidetracked but I'm still here, nonetheless. You wanted my help today so what's up?"

Gentaro cocked his head to the side in a manner not so dissimilar to his cousin, fixing him with a reproachful look. "You make more money working here than you do working at that museum. We both know the only reason you even stay there is cause of that girl you've been messing around with and the discounts you get for parts through the Mazdaspeed division."

Natsuo huffed in exasperation, knowing how the old song and dance went regarding his father's teasing remarks. "And it's well worth it," he without even missing a beat.

"You do realize that I can walk right into the company headquarter offices and no one would do anything to stop me right? I can get those parts at a fraction of the price you pay with my connections," Gentaro felt the need to point out.

"I get that, but I also don't want to have to rely on your pull at Mazda all the time Oyaji. You're considered a legend among them as it is, and while it is well deserved, I also want people across the prefecture and ultimately across Japan to know who I am for my accomplishments. I'm no spoiled brat and while I will come to you for help when I need it, I also want to be able to do things my way whenever possible," young man remarked.

A smile slowly made its way across the Asahina patriarch's expression, a swell of pride coursing through him once he realized just how far his son had come along in the past few years. His answer exhibited a certain maturity and desire to prove himself to others through his own abilities, and evidently it translated to his everyday life as well.

"I see… well you've still got a long way ahead of you Natsuo, but enough about that. I needed some help getting things in order with your uncle's arrival and as it turns out he's keen on picking up at least one of the engines we managed to procure for himself."

Upon hearing his father's words all traces of his usually laid-back demeanor evaporated. Like many aspiring professional racers, Natsuo had followed his uncle's career for as long as he could remember and his success on the world stage, spoke of his drive and determination to achieve his goals. Kurokawa Sakumo was a man he admired and respected greatly, holding him on an equal pedestal with his own father. He was proud and honored to be related to such royalty in the world of motorsports, but for the life of him, he simply couldn't picture someone who often poked fun at his father for his loyalty to rotaries suddenly desiring one even if it was in jest.

"I don't understand," he began. "What on earth would he need one of them for? You've said so yourself many times that he holds little interest in rotaries as it is."

"And you would be right," Gentaro evenly returned as he put out the remnants of his burning cigarette on a nearby ashtray. "But as far as I know it's not for him. His son Yuzuru once drove an FD and raced extensively with it with great success both here in Japan and when he lived in New Zealand as well. The car's been around, and even if he no longer races with it as often as he used to the engine is already on its last legs."

Natsuo glanced at his father with vivid surprise. Ever since his relatives moved away from Japan eight years prior, he had lost touch with them for the most part, but he could still remember each one of them like it was yesterday. Despite being only two years younger than he was, Yuzuru had shown signs very early on that he was destined to take up his father's passion.

'And then there was also Kakeru-nii,' he thought as a tinge of sadness made its way into his heart.

"How long has he been racing with the FD?" he asked.

"Last I checked, at least five years under his ownership with another four prior to that. When you race across mountain passes as hard as he does there will come a point in time when even a rebuild won't be able to prolong the engine's life and going by Masashi's thorough analysis, he's probably only about a downhill battle away from a full thermal meltdown," his father replied.

The young man frowned slightly, knowing from experience that something as small as a hairline crack on a rotor housing could lead to an extremely messy blowout. Rotaries generated far more heat than the conventional piston engine, and if given time the stress alone would probably cause the rotor to punch a hole through whatever was left of the housing.

'It's a damn shame too, because I have no doubt the car must have been through a great deal too. I would have loved to see it in action,' he idly mused.

"I assume nothing can be done to save it then?" he questioned.

"No," was the firm reply.

Natsuo inclined his head in acknowledgement. "So, which one are you gonna part with old man? It wasn't easy being able to source one of them, let alone four. I know you had a few plans for one of them already too."

"You're right," Gentaro grumbled. "I've been considering converting at least two of them to a pure N/A setup, one of them for the track cars and the other with a light street port so it's easily drivable but capable of delivering plenty of power when needed. Sakumo just threw a massive wrench into my plans so I'd rather just wait and see what's gonna happen."

"Don't be so sullen Oyaji," Natsuo chortled. "I know you managed to call in some serious favors to procure another two of those beauties, so I don't see a reason to be so salty about it. You're already hoarding four of them as it is."

"And I could have had six were it not for his meddling," the older man groused.

"Whatever old man, I just can't help but wonder what sort of beast that FD will become once the swap is complete. I'm almost itching to pay Gunma a visit to check out what the scene is like up there too. When you've got people like the Rotary Brothers dominating and Akina's Eight-Six there's got to be plenty of talent in the area."

Gentaro did not miss the glint in his son's eyes when he spoke those words. It was a look he carried many times during his younger days, and it was part of the reason he spent every summer he possibly could racing in Gunma before he went pro.

His conversation with Sakumo a few days prior in addition to the numerous calls the shared between one another gave him an even deeper insight to what sort of ruckus his nephew was causing in his home prefecture and if he were honest with himself, he wished he could make the trip up to Gunma just to catch a glimpse.

The few times he did make the trip up there, was when his relatives still resided in Shibukawa and even then, he could still remember the young and impressionable brunette that idolized his father along with the numerous questions he asked pertaining to anything resembling cars. Natsuo and Yuzuru had gotten along every well back then, and a part of him wanted to see what it would be like when the two met once again.

Perhaps it would mark the return of the friendly Asahina-Kurokawa rivalry. Once Natsuo caught a glimpse of the talent, skill and speed his younger cousin possessed behind the wheel there would be no doubt in his mind that he would want to challenge him if given the chance. Yuzuru was his father's son after all, just as Natsuo was his.

"From what I've gathered, Yuzuru has remained undefeated in the two years since he returned to Japan. He's raced across Gunma and Kanagawa and faced some of the toughest teams those prefectures have to offer and according to his father he's also a very skilled mechanic who's managed to catch the eye of Takahashi Ryosuke as well. He's even been offered a position in Project D," he stated.

Natsuo's brown eyes narrowed. He too had spent the last few years racing across Hiroshima's numerous mountain passes and had gone as far as the Kansai area to test his mettle against stronger opponents. There was a reason he was chosen as the leader for Hiroshima's infamous Rotary Club; a team whose membership was based exclusively on rotary powered vehicles. Many in Daniwa and nearby Otake considered him to be the fastest driver on the downhill as a result of his own string of victories against the likes of Lan-Evos, GT-Rs, Supras, and even other RX-7s.

His FB was both respected and feared as a result of his own accomplishments and people were already beginning to know who he was. The prospect of making the long drive to Gunma and seeing just what his younger cousin was capable of was simply to tantalizing to ignore, and even if he no longer raced the FD as much as he used to there was little reason for him to believe that he would be willing to sit on his hands even if the car was out of commission.

"Has he had any races recently in Gunma?" he inquired.

"Two more in the last month alone," he admitted. "Both of which he won against a team called the Night Kids."

"What's he been driving then? You told me the FD was out of commission."

Gentaro shrugged. "Something called a Sileighty," came the flippant response.

At his father's statement Natsuo couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in question. The transition between an FD to a Sileighty required a fair amount of adjusting to, and if this had become Yuzuru's chosen replacement to the RX-7 then he was positive it was a machine capable of tearing up the downhill given its driver's reputation.

'I've got some vacation time saved up, and if I play my cards right, I could find a way to stick around Gunma for a while to catch some of the action… I think a road trip is in order once I get things squared away down here,' he thought to himself.

"Let's see just how good you really are itoko."


Fujiwara Tofu Shop, Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture

4:46PM

After an eventful afternoon preparing the next batch of tofu Takumi was due to deliver the following morning paired with a decent day for business, Bunta was finally able to step outside for his habitual smoke with his copy of the day's newspaper in hand.

A gruff sigh escaped him as he unfurled his rolled-up newspaper and elected to gloss over the current events section. With his cigarette hanging lazily from his lips, Bunta scanned the sports section with little interest before turning onto the next page. Although summer was not quite upon them yet, the day had been an absolute scorcher with temperatures reaching as high as thirty-two degrees over the last few hours and for the most part there was not even a cloud in the sky.

'If this is what the tail end of spring is like then this summer is going to be much warmer than I would have expected,' he theorized.

The former street racer stole a drag from his cigarette and paused in the midst of the article he was on, lowering the newspaper for a moment when Takumi exited the shop as well with his keys in hand.

Truth be told, he had been a little surprised to see him arrive home much earlier than usual. More often than not his son was out on a shift up until five in the afternoon at the very least, but if he were honest with himself, he couldn't care any less either way.

"You going out?" he asked.

Takumi shook his head. "No, I figured I may as well wash the cars since I've got no plans for today. It's still too early for me to turn in anyway."

Bunta hummed in response. "I bought some new soap and new sponges for you to use. The old ones were too used up, so I threw them out."

"Where are they?"

"In my car. Fetch the keys and take them out of the trunk," he said in his usually lazy drawl.

The brown-haired downhill ace sent his father a withering glance, shaking his head once again as he stepped back into the shop to grab the keys for the Impreza.

As soon as the boy walked back in, the unmistakable whistle of a turbocharger drew Bunta's attention and he raised an eyebrow at the sound. The exhaust note generated by the vehicle was rather sharp when compared to the likes of his Subaru or the Eight-Six, and even then, he found himself noting that the car was tuned exquisitely just by listening to it.

Irrespective of his own personal bias towards certain modern advancements made in the world of Motorsports, Bunta was not above admiring turbocharged vehicles. Hell, his CG8 was a testament to the fact given its capabilities as a ferocious cornering machine on Akina and that was without even bringing up its outright speed as well.

The elder Fujiwara gazed at the Eight-Six parked to his left. While he would always hold a preference to the sound of an engine screaming through a wide-open set of carburetors, he recognized that ultimately, they weren't as efficient nowadays. With the advent of electrical fuel-injection, cars were much more reliable and there was no longer a need to tune carburetor so zealously to ensure the mixture between fuel and air was not running either too lean or too rich.

His old Eight-Six was a rather unique case in this instance. With a Group A 4AG sitting under the hood tuned by a kid who shared he same age with Takumi, it was a sobering notion to consider. This spoke volumes of just how much of a genius Yuzuru really was as a mechanical specialist and in this facet, Sakumo's son had Takumi beat.

'Takumi's progress regarding mechanical knowledge has increased by leaps and bounds since he began racing as a member of that team,' he recognized. 'But he's still got a lot to learn if he really wishes to grow and become a more complete racer.'

From his perspective, there was a great deal the pair could learn from one another and if he were honest with himself, he hoped the pair would be able to pickup where they left off when they were children. Back then, they may not have been extremely close friends, but they did play together as children on the rare occasions he and Sakumo got together.

While they were not necessarily friends at the moment, what little his son revealed to him gave him a better understanding of his thoughts regarding the elder Kurokawa child. Evidently, there was a certain amount of respect they held for one another and part of it had to do with their skills and accomplishments.

In Yuzuru; Takumi saw someone who possessed an incredible amount of knowledge and experience. He was an exceedingly talented driver in his own right irrespective of what Sakumo had to say on the matter, and there were signs that he was only beginning to tap into his potential. The fact that the boy had also been the one to rebuild the engine that now powered the Eight-Six was clearly not lost on him either.

All in all, Kurokawa Yuzuru was one of the names on the lips of many across Gunma, and it was to such an extent that he had even caught the attention of one Takahashi Ryosuke. It did not surprise him in the least that man had already extended the young man an offer to join his team in such a short span of time.

After taking the old Trueno out for a few spins on Akina's downhill he'd already confirmed what he previously anticipated. The kid was good. Real good. The way the car was balanced, from the tires to its overall handling had seen a remarkable improvement and all that work had been done in a single night. Were he not his father's son, Bunta would have been hard pressed to believe that Yuzuru would have been capable of setting the car up so well.

'Transitions between the corners are definitely smoother, but the ride is a little stiffer which is a good thing considering Ibaraki has some very narrow kinks. Takumi did mention that their race would be in Tsukuba and if he's facing who I think he is, then he's in for one of the most difficult battles of his street racing career,' he surmised.

Once again, the unmistakable sound of a blow off valve reverberated across his neighborhood, and Bunta came to the realization it was coming in his direction. Nevertheless, Bunta could scarcely find it in himself to care. For all he knew, it was probably that Iketani kid that frequented his shop ever so often for some tofu, or to look for Takumi.

As a result, Bunta simply chose to ignore the approaching vehicle in favor of the article he'd been reading earlier. It was at this point, that Takumi exited the shop with the keys to his father's Subaru in hand when he saw a familiar Sileighty pull up in front of their shop.

In the daylight, the car was positively gleaming, and he could only stare at the silver Nissan in appreciation even if he was surprised to see Kurokawa's car so soon after their shakedown at Usui three days prior. Before he could entertain the thought a little longer however, an older man about his father's age exited with vehicle in place of the young brunette he expected.

His appearance was rather striking, primarily because he was dressed in a formal suit. He was clad in a black blazer, a matching set of slacks and a white dress shirt with a black tie and in his other hand he held a six pack of Yebisu beer. What struck Takumi the most, was the resemblance the man seemed to share with Kurokawa.

Although Yuzuru held a more predominantly foreign appearance, the man standing before him had the same slightly wavy hair although it was shorter and neatly combed. There were some noticeable streaks of grey in them, and like his father he seemed to retain a rather prominent five o'clock shadow.

"Can I help you?" he asked the man.

"Yare, yare," the elder man began. "It's been a long time since I've seen you Takumi-kun. You've grown taller."

Sakumo spared his father a sidelong glance, a smirk making its way across his features. "Oi Bunta, how long are you gonna keep pretending to read that newspaper of yours? It's good to see that some things don't change no matter how much time has passed."

Bunta sighed; folding his paper before donning a look of annoyance on his face. "What brings you around these parts Sakumo? I'd have thought a man as busy as yourself would have better things to do than visit some no name tofu shop like mine. And what's with the fancy getup by the way?"

The Kurokawa patriarch gave Takumi a smile before making his way over to his old friend. "I just finished paying Kakeru a visit," he said with a fair amount regret lacing his voice. "But I also wanted to stop by and catch up with you. I hear this place makes some of the best fried tofu in the area and we haven't hung out as much since I moved away."

Hearing those words sobered Bunta up immediately, and he quickly put out his cigarette on a nearby ashtray. "I see," he gently began. "Takumi, you may not remember this man since it's been years since the last time he was here. But I want you to meet Kurokawa Sakumo."

"Kurokawa?" Takumi breathed.

"I take it you've met my son as well?" Sakumo chuckled lightly.

The downhill ace of Project D nodded in affirmation. After his encounter with Yuzuru in Usui he had done a little bit of digging on his own and probed his father for more answers regarding him and how he managed to procure an illegal racing engine for the Eight-Six, but never in his wildest dreams would he have expected to meet the man himself.

Although he wasn't positively giddy with excitement or even wide-eyed by the man's presence, he couldn't help but feel a certain amount of respect for him given his track record as one of Japan's greatest professional racers on the world stage. It was mind boggling to think that his old man was friends with a veritable rallying eminence and yet at the same time, it frustrated him to no end now that he realized that his father had pulled a bald one on him once again.

"Well then, take good care of him. He's a stubborn one, but I think you two have plenty to learn from one another if he does end up joining your team," he said with a respectful bow.

Takumi immediately bowed in return; taken in by the man's genuine humility. "It's an honor to meet you Sakumo-san. And yes, I met your son for the first time a few weeks ago during his first race at Usui. Kurokawa-san has been helping our team out for some time now as well."

"Hm, well make sure he doesn't slack off then, last thing I need is for him to get too full of himself now," Sakumo answered with humor coloring his tone.

Bunta crossed his arms, a faint smile making its way across his face. "I see you brought your son's car instead of the Eight-Six today. So, this is what you meant by a Sileighty," he said whilst scrutinizing the car parked before him.

He had to give the boy credit; he had very good taste, and the modifications made were very appealing to the eye given their conservative approach. From the black twelve-spoke Volk SSR Type F wheels paired with Yokohama Advan tires, bright red Brembo brake calipers, vented disc brakes, heavy duty Nismo coil overs, slightly flared side skirts, front lip and gorgeous ducktail spoiler, it clear that the car was set up incredibly well.

'It looks aggressive,' the tofu maker noted. 'The front end of the S13 really gives it a more intimidating look.'

"Well, I've been needing to tie up a few loose ends here in Shibukawa before I head of to Hiroshima tomorrow. But surprisingly enough the brat didn't make as much of a fuss when I took his car again for the second time in the last two days. With the task I've given him he's been far too engrossed to even realize the difference this training will make when he gets back behind the wheel of this car," Sakumo admitted.

"Well then, since you brought the beers come on inside. I'll make you some tofu. I expect both cars to be spotless by the time the sun sets," said Bunta.

If it were at all possible for him, Takumi was positive he felt closer to Yuzuru more than ever before and part of the reason lay in the way Sakumo carried himself. It was obvious that like his own father, the Tochigi native absolutely adored annoying the hell out of his son.

'He's just like the old man,' he surmised whilst shaking his head, his right eye twitching subtly with a brief flicker of annoyance. 'A manipulative old geezer.'


A/N:

(3/5/20)

Well guys, as promised here it is. This chapter introduces two new characters, Gentaro and Natsuo Asahina. If you all recall, Gentaro made his first appearance in the 23rd chapter but here we have a formal introduction into what he's like and who exactly he is.

In the coming chapters we will be delving into his background a little more along with Natsuo's in addition to their shop, Asahina Rotor Works (ARW).

It also occurs to me that this is the first chapter where we don't have at least once scene with Yuzuru's perspective and while he is the main character of this story, I also want to give other characters the chance to grow into their own as well.

As always guys, feel free to leave reviews and comments or any questions you have. I promise I'll answer them as best I can!