The Rise of Usui's Ghost

Chapter 29


Matsumoto Speed, Matsuida, Gunma Prefecture

2:41PM

Kaede drew two of the bentos she prepared earlier, handing one to Yuzuru who gave her a grateful look in return. Compared to the previous day, Thursday was proving to be rather uneventful all things considered and for once she was able to step away from the clutter of paperwork, constant orders of parts, and calls to schedule appointments for the coming weeks. Despite it being only her first week on the job at Matsumoto Speed, there was a lot she was picking up on the fly given how fast-paced the shop's environment was. With a small, but highly competent staff operating at peak efficiency day in and day out, it did not surprise her to see that her boss carefully handpicked each and every single member of his team.

For a shop that had opened in Matsuida only a few years prior, Matsumoto Speed rapidly forged a reputation for its meticulous and organized approach to every job it took. Precision, performance, and reliability were the key defining traits the shop espoused and they could be clearly seen in the founder and owner of the increasingly popular shop. Only four days into her first week working at the shop granted Kaede a better understanding of the sort of individual her boss was like, and as the days went by she realized the profound effect he had on both his employees and clients alike.

Matsumoto Shuichi was a quiet and contemplative man. His calm and collected mindset was a credit to his dedication and work ethic as a mechanical specialist, and she rarely ever saw the man lose his temper on any of his workers. From the moment she first set foot in the shop it was obvious that even member of his staff respected and admired the man for his almost unparalleled capabilities as a tuner. The man was a veritable genius when it came to his work, and it showed. Aside from Yuzuru and Rokuro, Matsumoto was the third person she added to her own personal list of trusted mechanics and it came as a result of watching the man work every day.

Matsumoto was the sort of individual who took his time with any task he was given. He was calculating, driven, resourceful and possessed an undeniable gift for getting things done without a single margin for error. People from as far as Saitama, were beginning to frequent the shop as time continued to go by and in some respects, Kaede determined that part of the shop's ever-growing reputation had to do with the man's position as Project D's Chief Mechanic. Matsumoto was considered one of Takahashi Ryosuke's closest friends and his loyalty to the man was unquestionable, and this detail only served to further cement his position among Gunma's tuning elite. A mechanic with his experience and caliber was exceedingly rare to come by, and his meticulousness combined with his attention to detail were among the numerous traits that set him apart from others.

Yuzuru himself respected and admired his boss greatly, and it was rather obvious for her to see how deeply engrossed he was by his work. The elder Kurokawa took it upon himself to learn everything he possibly could from the man, absorbing his knowledge and expertise like a sponge. During previous conversations, her friend admitted on numerous occasions that Matsumoto was among those he recognized to have abilities that far surpassed his own as a mechanic and her recent dealings with the man gave her a better understanding of him.

As both a shop owner and the Chief Mechanic of Project D, Matsumoto oversaw two incredibly sophisticated outfits. His shop was operated like a well-oiled machine, with each member of his staff taking to their duties with a tremendous amount of zeal and determination to get things done. Their work was almost second to none across Gunma, and it gave further credence to the kind of man Matsumoto was.

He was kind, selfless and caring of those he worked with and that was without taking into consideration how insightful he was as well. The man was loyal to a fault and this in turn, was reciprocated by those he called friends and staff alike. Yuzuru in this regard, was absolutely no different and she could sense that the brunette was slowly beginning to open up to his boss as well. Despite the emotional encounter he had with one Yamaguchi Shiori, the elder mechanic never once asked or made a single mention of it two days prior and for a moment Kaede could only help but feel thankful for his understanding and tact.

It would take time; she had no doubt about that, but it seemed that the move to Gunma sparked a different change to the boy she owed her newfound love for racing to. In the year and a half, she'd spent away from her native Japan she became deeply immersed with European competitions involving motorport and rallying in particular. Leaving Japan to study abroad had been an enlightening experience for her all around, but at times she found herself missing her home, her friends and the local car culture she was introduced to by the older Kurokawa and Ryuji as well.

'There's so much for me to see and so much for me to learn from this place,' she thought to herself. 'The rallying school in England gave me the edge I needed and the time I've spent there is invaluable, but I would also like to grow and see if I can gain some experience at home.'

The raven-haired Miyagi native narrowed her reddish-brown gaze on her friend who stood off to the garage entrance locked in conversation with his boss. While the volume of work had not been as heavy compared to the previous weeks, there were still many things for them to do which is why they were having a late lunch compared to their usually scheduled time. She joined the two men, standing off to the side before splitting her chopsticks and digging into her meal which consisted of steamed rice, pork cutlets and a side of vegetables to go with her green tea.

"So how go the preparations for Ibaraki Tencho? I'll be able to make it with plenty of time before the race in Tsukuba, but have you got any data for me to look over or anything? I'd like to get a feel for what I'll be working with," Yuzuru asked.

Matsumoto offered a small smile in return. "Everything's already set. Ichinose-kun will be making the trip with us during tomorrow night but Ryosuke-san seems to be eyeing our upcoming battles with a great deal of caution. Our opponents are extremely gifted drivers and have more experience than our two aces combined."

Yuzuru raised an eyebrow at the senior mechanic's statement, his curiosity piqued by the prospect of Project D facing off with arguably the best drivers in all of Ibaraki. He already knew from the various dossiers of information Ryosuke sent his way that Keisuke would be facing a man by the name of Hoshino Kozo; the uphill specialist of Purple Shadow and a veritable monster when it came to throttle control.

Rumors had it that the veteran street racer was more than capable of drifting with his BNR34 with its ATTESA-ETS system fully active. He shuddered at the mere thought. While the GT-R was considered a veritable beast of a car wherever it competed, it was more than capable of tearing up the pass in the hands of a seasoned driver who knew what they were doing. Nakazato was very much a clear example in this case, but even he felt the leader of the Myogi Night Kids was undoubtedly eclipsed by Hoshino.

Drifting a GT-R with the ATTESA fully active was a feat considered nothing short of impossible, and even Reina had a hard time believing this when Ryosuke first sent the relating information her way.

'God Foot'; was the moniker bestowed upon Hoshino by the locals of his home prefecture, and this intrigued Yuzuru far more than he would have previously believed. He was truly keen on seeing the man in action the first chance he got, but then there was also the other member that made up Purple Shadow's monstrous duo.

Takumi would be battling the downhill against Dr. Joshima Toshiya and Yuzuru had the feeling that this race would be just as noteworthy, if not the most critical. According to Ryosuke's sources the man was a veritable savage behind the wheel, and this was in no way, shape, or form a positive for Project D or their downhill ace.

Joshima was considered by many in Ibaraki as their premier downhill specialist and possessed an unparalleled talent in his ability to control the car's yaw rate with very delicate steering and throttle inputs in the heat of a battle. In a way, the man reminded him of one of his father's friends and rivals during his rallying days primarily due to his tendency to steer his purple AP1 with only a single hand.

For this reason, Joshima was labeled 'God Arm'.

'It makes me think of Timo Salonen,' he reflected. 'Those who drive their car one handed with considerable skill can be absolutely lethal on the touge. It speaks of confidence in one's own abilities and a justified arrogance to go with it.'

"I must admit," he began. "I'm very much looking forward to this upcoming battle. I get to see the best street racing team in all of Gunma in action and two drivers who are well known in their parts as well. Although even I am forced to say that I'm intrigued by Fujiwara-san's opponent a great deal."

Matsumoto chuckled at the brunette's admission, not at all surprised by his statement. "Well you could already make things official by formally agreeing to Ryosuke-san's offer Kurokawa-kun," he prodded. "But that aside, Purple Shadow will be the toughest opponents we will have faced so far as well."

"What exactly makes them the toughest opponents your team has faced Tencho?" Kaede decided to interject.

"They're both very experienced racers Kaede-chan and have years of experience compared to our drivers. They've honed their skills longer than most of us here and up until now we haven't faced street racers of their caliber," was his candid response.

"That's one way of putting it," Yuzuru offered. "But Joshima interests me greatly due to his ability to control a car's overall pace and attitude by driving with a single hand."

Kaede's eyes widened once she registered this detail. Very few drivers had the capability, let alone the capacity to race at high intensity for such a prolonged period and achieve such a miraculous degree of control over a car spoke of their tenacity, skill, and technique.

"Just like that WRC driver, Salonen," she gasped.

Yuzuru offered the girl a brief smile in return. "I see you've picked up a lot more than just your technique in the time you've been gone Kaede."

"Oh of course," she shot back teasingly. "I've studied numerous videos of him whenever I get the chance, pairing them with those I have of Colin McRae and your Dad."

The girl's grin widened considerably when she caught her friend's right eye beginning to twitch subtly at the mention of his father. It seemed that over the last two days Sakumo found it prudent to take his car without even mentioning anything to his son about it, and while he would have most likely been annoyed about it under normal circumstances, he was more miffed by the fact that his Sileighty had been returned to him without the full tank of gas he'd left it with.

If there was one thing that amused Kaede to no end over the last week since she began her stay at the Kurokawa household, it was the man's tendency to rile up his son whenever he got the chance. The experience alone was enjoyable to watch.

Since the past Tuesday, Yuzuru seemed to carry himself a differently when compared to when she first arrived, and Kaede had a strong suspicion it had to do with Yamaguichi Shiori's first encounter with him. From the very get go, the woman seemed to have developed a soft spot for her young friend and given her past this did not surprise her one bit.

Like Yuzuru, Shiori had struggled considerably to pick herself back up from the profound sense of grief and loss she confessed to have since that fateful night in Nanamagari. Her will to carry on and chase her dream of going pro was sidelined by the disappearance of the man she loved and admired. Tatsuru had revealed to her later on, that meeting Yuzuru seemed to breath a whole new lease of life within her.

Her love for pass racing. Her determination to succeed, persevere and continue where she left off was completely renewed the very moment she sat beside Yuzuru in the Eight-Six for his first run on Usui for that night. She could tell the older woman was enthralled by it all. By her friend's sixth sense for the downhill, his outright skill, speed and ability to drive and tackle each corner like it would be his last.

'It's not all that startling really,' she inwardly mused. 'Those two seem to understand one another at an emotional level without a need for words between them. They can read each other very well and part of the reason is because they've both been through the same sort of ordeal.'

The bright and captivating smile the seasoned mechanic and street racer had as she worked with Yuzuru to finish tuning the Fairlady that had been dropped off revealed her incredible understanding of ECUs and the best way to achieve maximum performance with a properly programmed setup. Together, the pair rattled off ideas to one another, taking up much of their remaining shift to finish up the Nissan and by the time the car was taken to the nearby dyno the results spoke for themselves.

Matsumoto had even joined in over the course of their discussion, trading words and observations with the pair throughout the afternoon and by the end he too seemed quite taken by Shiori, with his gaze lingering briefly on the young and attractive woman.

"That doesn't surprise me one bit," the brunette managed to say with a good-natured groan. "But driving one handed isn't as simple as you would think. It takes some serious balls to pull it off successfully, let alone implement it in one's overall technique but the most interesting bit is the way someone like Salonen for example, could be one of the fastest drivers of his era and still appear to be so laid back and relaxed even when he drove flat out."

"Ryosuke-san himself has admitted that our expedition to Ibaraki will prove to be the most challenging yet, and I firmly believe this to be the case," Matsumoto added. "Everyone is going to put forth everything they have to come out of this with a win and we cannot afford to lose at such a critical stage. We are on the precipice of the final stage."

"What comes after Ibaraki?" Kaede asked.

"Kanagawa," Yuzuru answered for her with a distant look in his eyes.

Kaede sipped her bottle of green tea, carefully studying her friends body language to gauge his thoughts on the matter. She already knew from their high school days that the prefecture rapidly became Yuzuru's proving ground shortly after his return to Japan. The very memory and legend carved into the minds of the locals still referred to his white FD as 'Kanagawa's Kamikaze' and this was a direct result of his exploits against their four infamous Lines of Defense.

In those days the Yuzuru she first came to know was very different from the one that stood before her now, and part of her never wished to relive those days again. The few times she ventured out with Ryuji to witness one of his battles was one of the most frightening experiences of her life and it was not because of the dangers her friend faced each time raced in Kanagawa, but rather his brutal and almost callous disposition in dispatching any driver he faced without seemingly any regard for his own wellbeing.

Many times, Ryuji truly thought that the older Kurokawa sibling had a death wish due to the sheer viciousness he displayed in Hakone in particular. The sound of the FD's twin turbocharged 13B howling into the night was more akin to an angry roar, and it was a sound that would remain deeply ingrained in her memory. She would never forget the night she witnessed Yuzuru tear apart the touge's twelve consecutive hairpins amidst such thick fog. He had driven like a man possessed. A man who no longer had anything left to lose and this became the tipping point in their relationship.

Not long after that she verbally tore into him for his sheer recklessness, and it marked the first time she truly lost her temper on someone she had begun to see as one of her closest friends. In two years, he had come a long way from the cold and misanthropic individual he once was, and she was thankful for it.

A return to Kanagawa, however, could mean several things for Yuzuru and the greatest among them was the possibility he would resume his hunt for the Supra should the opportunity arise. Somone possessing his level of stubbornness and determination would never give up so easily and in a sense, she felt that his move to Gunma made things a bit more difficult in continuing his late night forays given the distance between the two prefectures.

'I can only hope he never manages to find that driver,' she thought with no small amount of concern for her friend. 'Because if he does find him, then he's going to want to finish what was started.'

"Kanagawa," she repeated whilst sending an imperceptible glance in his direction. "The Holy Land of Street Racing."

"Indeed," Matsumoto continued. "Another part of the reason we want Kurokawa-kun to formally join Project D is because of his intimate knowledge regarding some of the locations we've already scouted. His FD remains well known in those parts and there's no doubt in Ryosuke-san's mind that he can provide a better insight as to what we can expect."

The brunette suddenly seemed to be more interested in playing with a half-eaten piece of his pork cutlets with the aid of his chopsticks. A swirl of thoughts and emotions coursing through him as he recalled how close to the edge he'd been back then. After breaking his record on Usui by almost three seconds with the Eight-Six he came to realize just how right his father was regarding his time racing in Kanagawa.

'Back then I didn't care about getting better. I didn't care about improving my technique or learning from others. All I wanted was to find that Supra. It was all I could think about. All those battles I took part in were distractions I took for the sheer pleasure they provided me with even if it was momentary. I wanted to feel something; anything. I wanted to remember why I even took this path to begin with.'

Even now to this day, Yuzuru had a difficult time reconciling his reckless actions with the person he was now. The pain and grief remained with him, and over the years he began to understand that nothing would ever bring back the two people he once cherished so deeply. It was a hollow feeling; and while he still adored pass racing with every fiber of his being, it was difficult for him to let go when the wounds were still so fresh to begin with.

Over the last six months he had avoided Kanagawa like the plague because of what the prefecture symbolized for him. In Gunma he had slowly begun to lick his wounds and perhaps even find some solace in his home prefecture. After so many years away, it felt like a true homecoming. He could focus on himself, on his sister and chasing the dream he once shared with Kakeru to honor his memory and keep the promise he once made to Rori in New Zealand.

In six months, he'd made new friends. He'd landed a job working for one of the most gifted mechanics in all of Gunma and arguably all of Kanto despite their newfound status. He was now deeply immersed in the local street racing community, making new acquaintances and attracting the attention of several prospective challengers along the way. Things were picking up for him.

'And I've even managed to reconnect with Yumi-chan,' he thought to himself.

Since his return Gunma was chock full of surprises for him and meeting his childhood friend proved to be one of the most welcome as well. Over the last few weeks he found himself enjoying her company immensely, and the more time he spent with her the guiltier he felt for not revealing everything that befell their family two years prior.

Yuzuru killed the direction his thoughts were heading, preferring to sort them out later even if his anger, resentment and frustration with his lack of progress on the hunt for the A70. For now, he would be patient, and see where things would lead. He had yet to give Ryosuke his answer and thus decided he would first watch Project D and their aces in action before he made his decision.

"We'll see what happens Tencho," he finally said with a slight grin. "I should be in Ibaraki early in the morning since it's only a two-hour drive. I'll help you all setup the cars as needed but I want to get at least one run in with each driver to get a feel for the course and what they'll be dealing with."

"That can be arranged," Matsumoto agreed. "Anyway, I have to get back to finish up some paperwork and order some more parts. Enjoy your lunch you two."

"Hai," came Kaede's reply.

"Will do," Yuzuru returned with his grin still in place.

Matsumoto nodded to them both before retreating to the garage. The two teenagers enjoyed the rest of their meal in comfortable silence, finishing up their bentos within a few minutes before picking up after themselves. Kaede took it upon herself to address the question that had been plaguing her mind with the revelation of Project D's planned final stage.

"Are you going to accept the offer?"

The brown-haired mechanic crossed his arms once he set aside the remnants of his lunch. Her tone was much more serious than he would have expected.

"Maybe. I honestly don't know yet though," was his honest response.

Kaede sighed, nodding before tossing her empty bottle of tea in the nearby trash can. "I expected as much," she reciprocated.

"Part of the reason I'm having a hard time deciding is because of the responsibilities I would assume if I accept Ryosuke-san's offer. Project D is a team made up of elite street racers and I want to see them in action. But if I agree, it will cut down the free time I usually have to race here in Gunma," he expressed.

"That's quite the conundrum," she felt the need to point out.

"Yeah it is. But I can't worry about that now. I still need to focus on breaking my record by the seven seconds necessary and so far, I've only just managed to edge a total of three seconds faster than my old record."

The Miyagi native allowed a small chuckle to escape her lips. "You've come a long way already Yuzuru. Reina-chan said so herself. Even I had a hard time chasing you on the downhill and I have the better car all-around compared to the Levin."

Yuzuru bit his lip. "Yeah but I'm nowhere near satisfied with where I'm at now. Driving the Eight-Six over the last few days has really given me a whole new respect for the car even if it's fighting me half the damn time. Everything from the steering, cornering, balance and temperament of that car makes it difficult to tame. Since I first drove flat out with Shiori-nee in the passenger seat I chose to forget about everything else and simply push past my limits with everything I had. Sure, I've had some results since then, but there still so much that car has to teach me."

Yet again the elder Kurokawa couldn't help but grudgingly acknowledge his father's words. Racing the Eight-Six on Usui's downhill was still a relatively new experience for him, but he could readily admit that since he began driving it the previous Sunday, he also began to pick out the inherent flaws with his technique. Usui was an unforgiving course, and it was one of the things that made it so rewarding as well.

Although the car was severely underpowered when compared to his Sileighty or the FD, he realized that he needed to compensate for its short comings with his technique to pull through. Only a week earlier he had struggled considerably and drove as he normally did which led him to the realization that it wasn't going to cut it.

"Well then," Kaede exclaimed, clapping her hands together with a smile. "Just take things one moment at a time, will you? There's only so much you can do by yourself Yuzuru and in the last week alone you've already managed to cut down the course record you set in your FD. It amazes me that you've even gotten so far in such a short amount of time."

"Still not good enough," the brunette declared. "I need to keep pushing myself. I need to get better. I need to grow faster, and I realize now that I need to use my instincts and past experiences to guide me through this."

Kaede shook her head in exasperation at her friend. "But there's a limit to how much an Eight-Six can accomplish. At this stage it's almost outdated."

Yuzuru calmly gazed at the young woman, a small snort leaving his mount with a fair trace of amusement. "Fujiwara-san begs to differ. I also know of another highly capable driver in Saitama who drove an Eight-Six turbo when I last saw him before I moved away from Tokyo. An Eight-Six in the right hands can beat just about any car so long as the person driving is skilled enough to compensate for the lack of power and modern technological advancements."

"You have a point," the raven-haired law student conceded. "But do you think you'll be able to cut down your time any more than you've already been able to?"

"In all honesty I'd rather not worry about it right now. With my Dad travelling to Hiroshima today and Reina going with him I can focus on improving my time at Usui for the next three days. The Levin is a tough girl to grasp and she has an attitude to go with her, but I've also noticed that there are spots were my overall technique could do with some polishing. When I stabilize a drift, I tend to favor a little more countersteer than I should. Immediately following certain turn-ins I realized that I should temper it a little more and strike a better balance between the weight transfer and the exit."

Kaede carefully considered his analysis, weighing his words and comparing it to the knowledge she gained at her rally school. Over the past two years, Yuzuru's driving style had evolved considerably. During his time in Kanagawa he favored very direct and aggressive lines. His emotions were what drove him and given his state of mind he surrendered himself entirely to his instincts. The bond between him and the FD was cemented by the countless hours he spent honing and crafting his technique in New Zealand and Japan, but it was also marked by his inexperience and inability to deal with his grief in a more positive way.

In Kanagawa, Yuzuru's FD gained its very own moniker, and this was mainly because of his tendency to obliterate the competition and leave without even so much as a word between him and his opponent. He was a veritable monster behind the wheel, and he still was. But over the course of the previous two years she could also discern a newfound maturity and resourcefulness he did not have before.

At the helm of the Sileighty and by extension the Eight-Six, she could still see glimpses of the incredible street racer who dismantled Kanagawa's Four Lines of Defense without a single regard of the repercussions of his actions. He was still aggressive, and at times bordering on suicidal given his general disregard for self-preservation, but it was marked by a more calculating and analytical approach. Even during his reign as 'Kanagawa's Kamikaze', Yuzuru preferred to throw himself into a battle without a known strategy and this spoke of his unpredictability.

'But now he's racing because it's what he loves most. He's chasing his dream of going pro by carving his own legend in his home prefecture of Gunma. It's where everything truly began for him, and I get the feeling he will only continue to grow with each battle he has,' she thought in excitement.

"Try testing that theory of yours out. You've only raced with cars that run on forced induction and they have a natural tendency to lag whether you run a twin or single setup. I think this is the first time you've really driven one that's N/A for a prolonged period of time," she offered.

Yuzuru inclined his head in acknowledgement, having made a similar deduction two nights prior on Usui. The fact that it even took him so long to recognize it was a bit of a sore spot for him, but it forced him to adjust to the Levin's quirks and mannerisms. With each downhill run, he began to take note of the small, subtle intricacies of his technique and what changes he could implement to shave as much time he possibly could between one corner and the next.

"Yeah, but it's something I have to work on either way. Will you be joining me tonight on Usui?" he inquired.

"Of course," Kaede eagerly returned. "But that aside why don't you tell me about Yamaguchi-san. She seems to have made quite the impression on you if your reaction was anything to go by."

At the sudden line of inquiry Yuzuru's internal musings were brought to a screeching halt. The question was not one he expected out of Kaede, but as one of his closest friends she was one of the few he trusted implicitly. They had been through too much during their high school days and understood him rather well all things considered.

"She's incredible," he replied with no small amount of sincerity in his voice. "She can tune a car far better than I can and it doesn't come as a surprise since I know who she learned most of her tricks from. But above all else she's someone I can't help but feel empathetic towards. She's been through just as much as I have and like me, nearly lost her way. I don't think I'm worthy of her praise or respect but she's more than earned mine."

Another smile briefly flitted across Kaede's lips, one more earnest and heartfelt than the smirk she previously had. "Reina-chan likes her, and I can see why. She's kind, driven and determined, even if she's struggled greatly. She even credited you for pushing her out of the funk she was in."

Yuzuru cocked his head to the side, his brown eyes stealing a glance in the sky's direction. Thick, dark clouds loomed over them, which were indicative of a much-needed summer rain given the strong heat wave that struck them over the past few days.

"I haven't done anything to warrant such a reaction from her," he argued. "But I'm keen to see what she's like on the touge. Sooner or later I get the feeling we will face off on the downhill. I don't know when or where it will be, but I'll give everything I have just like I will for every battle I take part in."

"You're selling yourself too short Yuzuru," she admonished. "Seeing your drive flat out on Usui is one of the most incredible things I've witnessed to this day and while I may have not been around to see Kakeru in action she and Tatsuru-san both spoke of how your styles resemble one another greatly."

A small surge of pride coursed through the young man, recalling that Shiori had told him the same. He could scarcely believe that he would ever be able to surpass him, let alone be able to be on the same level, but it was the encouragement and motivation he desperately needed to rediscover his previous form. Shiori may not have known the effect such a statement would have on him, but it forced him to recognize his shortcomings as a driver and work to improve them far more than he ever did before.

There were no shortcuts on the long winding road to become a professional, and just like his father before him he would use the touge as his proving ground. The fact that his own driving style was inherently similar to Kakeru's, came as no surprise to him and he considered it a compliment of the highest order.

"Everything I know as a street racer began with him. All I can do now is chase after my dream the only way I know how, and I suppose it's a way of showing my inability to let go," he solemnly declared.

Kaede frowned slightly once her ears picked up the conflict raging within him. For some people, two years was ample enough time to move on from such a profound loss but Yuzuru was not the sort of person who could leave things as they were. He was stubborn, infuriatingly so and wore his heart on his sleeve even if he carried a well-practiced mask wherever he went.

"You don't do it because you can't let go Yuzuru. You do it because it's what you love," was her stern reminder.

If her words had any effect on the boy, she could scarcely tell. His well-practiced façade was back in full swing, but his eyes betrayed him given the brief glimmer she saw in them. In the many conversations she shared with her friend there were few times he made mention of the person whose lacking presence loomed with each member of the Kurokawa family she met. With Yuzuru it was most prevalent, and this was primarily because they grew up together.

Kakeru was Yuzuru's single most significant and greatest influence as a pass racer, even more so than his own father. His admission alone gave her pause, and it also served as a reminder as to why his overall technique was heavily derived from him. It was with him that everything truly began, and it was why he was unwilling to truly move on from everything that occurred two years before.

As it was, Kaede was unwilling to venture onto such a delicate subject once again and thus decided to shift the topic of their conversation to avoid having her friend dwelling on the matter longer than was necessary. A devious glint took shape in her reddish-brown eyes, and a rather unsettling grin tugged at the corners of her mouth just as Yuzuru turned to look at her once more.

"So, who is this Mayumi I keep hearing about?" she spoke in a sickly-sweet tone.

Yuzuru immediately froze once he registered her words, recognizing the compromising position he was now in. Kaede always found enjoyment in annoying him in some insignificant way and this case was no different. He visibly paled, giving an involuntary shudder as he tried to ignore the almost knowing smirk she had plastered on her face.

'God damn it,' he inwardly groaned.


Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture

5:13PM

After a six and a half hour trip beginning in Maebashi with a brief stop in Tokyo, Reina and Sakumo finally arrived in the bustling city of Hiroshima about an hour earlier. Whilst Sakumo made complaints left and right, gripping about the 'infinitely long' train ride, or the poor selection of food available for them to consume aboard the Shinkansen, Reina hardly seemed to care throughout it all. At best, the youngest member of the Kurokawa family seemed to offer apologetic glances in her father's stead with the occasional glare of exasperation in between.

For someone already in his forties she'd forgotten that her father was quite the picky eater. The man was notorious for his rather poor taste in food, let alone his general aversion to vegetables or meals which were more nutritionally balanced. The menu they were offered on the train did not have much to pick from and all she saw were small snacks between the occasional small bento that didn't really seem all that appetizing.

Eventually however, their hunger lay completely forgotten once her father caught sight of his younger cousin pulling up in what she could only describe as a timeless classic. Her uncle's black 1974 S124A Savanna GT was sheer beauty to behold, and every exquisite detail she managed to pickup as they drove through the streets of the most populous city in the Chugoku region was greedily soaked in and neatly stored away in the confines of her mind.

Everything about the car was like going back in time to the early 1970's. From the very stiff ride, slightly lowered suspension, fender mounted side mirrors, outdated but equally fetching dashboard, black vinyl upholstery and the embossed GT headrests, Reina quickly found herself growing fonder of the car with each passing second.

All in all, there was little she disliked about the car, and she could only commend her uncle's choice to keep the car's external modifications conservative as well. Unlike most Savanna GTs she often saw in magazines with oversized fender flares in a prominent Bosozoku style, Gentaro had gone for smaller, more contoured and nicely fitted flares that echoed the car's storied racing pedigree. To finish off the look, were the works style rear wing and front lip which seemed to give the Savanna a more aggressive appearance when paired with a set of polished "15 RS Watanabe F8s wrapped in thick Toyo Proxes.

'Onii-chan would have loved to see this,' she thought to herself with a faint smile.

Reina shuddered as her uncle finally veered off the route, slipping into what appeared to be one of his shortcuts avoid traffic. The wonderful sound produced by the Naturally Aspirated 12A breathing through its dual carburetor setup was not something she heard all that often, and yet again as time went by, she grew more enamored with the car. Eventually however, she idly began to take in the city's sights.

Summer was almost upon them now, and it was a warm but breezy afternoon. She found the weather quite enjoyable really, but for a moment she couldn't help but marvel in Hiroshima's innate beauty as a city. There was life in every corner she looked, the mark of a dynamic metropolis of diversity and culture which gave credence to its resilience and solidarity given the city's past and she was quite captivated by her surroundings as a result.

With only three days at her disposal, there were many things for her to do and see across the city. The first on the list of course, would be to pay a visit to Mazda's Museum to see if she would be able to catch a glimpse of their famous four-rotor Le Mans winner he uncle so proudly helped develop, and after that she would partake in savoring some of the local cuisine after paying a visit to some of Hiroshima's most important landmarks as well.

Her grey eyes narrowed for a moment, shifting her gaze over to her uncle as she carefully studied his features and compared them to the man she met so long ago. Compared to her father, Gentaro had a more rugged appearance characterized by a heavier but well-built frame, lightly tanned skin, neatly cropped black hair and a full, but well-kept beard dotted with specks of grey in between.

Were it not for her father's preference for a more immaculate and well-groomed appearance, and his ever-present five o'clock shadow, Reina would have found it easier able to discern the resemblance between the two cousins. Both were the same height, and at a glance both appeared to be rather close in age. Sakumo was only two years older than Gentaro, who was currently forty-two years of age, but one thing she did realize the longer she compared the man to him in appearance was that her father looked rather tired.

His usually warm brown eyes held a duller shade to them, and the bags beneath them were indicative of piled up stress or a lack of sleep altogether. Reina knew from experience that her father was an incredibly meticulous man, more so than her brother and almost as stubborn as well. He rarely revealed what he truly thought or felt and while she was certainly curious about what was plaguing her mind, she decided that it was not the time to bring the matter up.

Despite her regard for the man, along with her respect and gratitude towards him as her father she at times thought him puzzling and incomprehensible. Instead of speaking his mind and sharing his thoughts with others, he was often off in his own little world. He took to his work religiously, and the few people she managed to meet who worked with him often sang praises of his drive and dedication. But at times like these, she could see his usually calculating mask was slowly beginning to crumble.

This was the first time in years that she truly saw her father's visage for what it was, and it was easy to recognize the look he had. The last time she saw her mother the month prior she seemed to carry herself differently. Her emotions that day at the restaurant in Tokyo were more akin to an underlying sense of desperation and sorrow. As things stood her father appeared to share the same sentiments, even if he was often the more difficult to read of the two.

A frown settled on her features as the RX-3 Savanna began to gradually decrease in speed. A series of downshifts followed, each fluid and precise which gave her a small glimpse to her uncle's impeccable technique given his past as a professional racer. When she and Yuzuru were younger, the few times her father was back home from his responsibilities working for Lancia before they moved from Shibukawa, he would at times speak of his earlier days as a developing street racer in Tochigi and Gunma.

Whenever Gentaro paid them a visit, the man took it upon himself to teach them whatever he could regarding rotaries and answer all their questions with a remarkable amount of patience. From what she could recall, the man was also a prolific sketch artist, and at times he would even draw detailed pictures or diagrams explaining to them the design and benefits the Wankel engine provided. Most of them were overly simplified of course, since most children between the ages of six and eight could rarely begin to truly grasp such a complicated subject. He would also tell them stories whenever he got the chance, telling them of the famous Asahina-Kurokawa rivalry and the many battles he had with their father across Kanto and at times in his native Hiroshima whenever Sakumo decided to pay him a visit in return.

'Things were so much simpler back then. As kids Onii-chan and I would gobble up his stories with such morbid fascination,' she recalled with a certain fondness.

"And we've arrived," she heard her uncle declare with no small amount of pride, as he carefully guided his Savanna into the parking lot of a quaint shop tucked in the corner of a quiet, unassuming neighborhood dotted with small businesses, apartment buildings, and side streets.

In an instant all of Reina's previous thoughts evaporated, her grey eyes flaring with barely contained interest once she caught sight of the fleet of cars all neatly parked side by side in two opposite ends of the car park. In a manner much like Matsumoto Speed, Asahina Rotor Works (ARW for short) displayed numerous signs that it was growing rapidly as a result of her uncle's tireless work. His status as an eminence in the world of rotary engines was very well known to its diehard fans, and his tireless work with Mazda earned him his reputation as a pure rotary specialist.

Although ARW was not quite the size of Matsumoto Speed, the sight of so many RX-7s intermingled with an older Capella, a more modern Cosmo with its first-generation predecessor right beside it captivated her more than she would have previously expected. Despite the numerous tuning shops she visited on previous occasions, which went as far as to include the legendary RE-Amemiya, no other had really managed to gain her attention as the one her uncle owned and operated.

Perhaps it was the rotary fan in her speaking, or the fact that a family member of hers dedicated himself to them for a living, but the sheer presence and aura she felt as she stepped out of the car and glanced up at the shop left her enthralled.

"It occurs to me that this is the first time I've visited your shop Gentaro," Sakumo remarked with a small grin as he carefully surveyed the garage's entire expanse as well as the numerous cars all neatly parked beside each other.

Gentaro rolled his eyes and shook his head in return. "I've been telling you to visit for a while now, but your stubborn ass is always to damn busy playing around with those death traps you call rally cars."

"You try racing flat out in some of the most dangerous stages around the world once a month with every climate known to man. One day you could be freezing your ass off in Sweden and the next you're in the middle of a monsoonal rain on the other side of the planet with nothing but pace notes to guide you. Depending on the surface you're racing on you could literally send your car flying over a bump. You try doing that for a change," the Kurokawa patriarch snorted.

"You only do that in intervals you animal," Gentaro shot back with an equal amount of derisiveness. "How about you try racing flat out in some of the toughest circuits across the world without stopping for more than four or six hours at a time with nothing but the engine screaming behind you on the Mulsanne Straight or taking a corner one handed most of the time because the other was on the gearstick. The experience alone would give you blisters. I even bled at one point."

Reina gave a gruff sigh at the banter shared between her father and uncle. The two men were quite literally a force to be reckoned with in their fields of expertise and yet here they were, arguing like a bunch of children and trading insults with one another without a care in the world. As amusing the whole ordeal was to observe, she ultimately chose to ignore it in favor of assessing the shop's more intricate details.

ARW possessed at least four lifts, and at least two vehicles were currently on them with at least one mechanic working underneath each. On one end, towards opposite end of the garage's expanse she took note of a dyno machine that was currently not in use in addition to a machine she knew was reserved for alignment work several meters away. Evidently, her uncle liked to keep as much of the work he possibly could in house, and it was a very smart move on his part as well.

She turned away, shifting her gaze over to the left and caught sight of shelves all neatly organized with a vast array of parts. Among those she made out were rotors, housings, irons, eccentric shafts, manifolds and even coil springs. It seemed as if her father's meticulousness was not a trait solely endemic to the Kurokawa given the way her uncle managed to maximize all the space available to him with such apparent ease.

'There are even spare motors and some that are partially disassembled as well,' she observed.

"This is incredible," she muttered under her breath.

"I'm glad you think so," came a younger, smoother voice that quickly shook her out of her reverie.

Reina snapped her gaze over to a young man who stood off to the side with a genuine smile on his face, and for a moment the younger Kurokawa had to pause to take in his features. He was handsome. Devilishly so, and the smile on his face made her note that he could be quite the charming individual when he desired as well.

With a tall, lean, and broad-shouldered frame, lightly tanned skin and dark wavy hair dotted with blonde highlights, she would have thought the man standing before her was more of a model than one of the mechanics working at the shop. Were it not for the light sheen of sweat on his skin, coupled with the grime and stains on his hands and the dark blue mechanic coveralls he wore with ARW's logo proudly on display on the left breast pocket, he would have seemed almost entirely out of place. A second look at him however, made her take note of the detail that he was the spitting image of her uncle with the distinct lack of facial hair due to his cleanshaven appearance.

It dawned on her then that he was her older cousin Natsuo, and she was struck the fact that he had matured considerably in the time since she'd last seen him. A smile of her own graced her lips, and she sent a nod in his direction before bowing.

"It's been a while Natsuo-nii," she greeted.

"Indeed, it has Reina-chan," her warmly replied with a bow of his own. "You've grown heaps since the last time I saw you all those years ago in Gunma. You're practically a woman now."

"And apparently you've become quite the heartbreaker judging by those bruises on your neck," she felt the need to point out with a grin.

A short laugh escaped Natsuo, having missed his cousin's witty temperament. "Not a heartbreaker. She's someone I'm seeing right now but nothing serious I assure you. Just a bit of fun really."

The brunette raised an eyebrow at the statement, suddenly reminded of her brother's senpai at work. Ichinose Akio was infamous at Matsumoto Speed for his two-timing tendencies, and she'd heard the story of how it all blew up in his face one day and Yuzuru had been there to witness it all with the rest of the staff at the shop.

"You'd best be careful Natsuo-nii, the heart of a woman scorned is dangerous to trifle with," she sagely advised.

Natsuo chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind. So, tell me, what brings you down to Hiroshima after all this time? I'm very glad to see you Reina-chan and I'd hug you, but I get the feeling that you'd probably just slug me if I did, given how dirty I am."

"A wise decision," she remarked with a smirk of her own. "But my Dad wanted to make the trip down here and brought me along for it. He said something alone the lines of bonding between father and daughter, but I'm not stupid either. I know he's got a plan for the FD even if my brother doesn't seem aware of it right now."

"And how is your brother?" the younger Asahina inquired.

Reina certainly didn't miss the tinge of concern and interest in her cousin's tone, grateful to see that the young man cared enough to ask her about him after all her family had been through. She knew very well that Natsuo had not had it easy himself in the last few years, and while things were most certainly picking up for the Asahina family, she could only help but admire him for his resilience and willingness to help his father with his business after the accident his mother had been involved in.

"He's doing well for himself," she admitted. "The move to Gunma has really agreed with him and he's slowly been carving a name for himself up there. Lots of people are developing an interest in him, and he's even got a race lined up a little over two weeks from now against an Evo III in Akagi."

Natsuo whistled, his curiosity officially piqued at the prospect of seeing Yuzuru face off against a noted FR killer that was any Lan-Evo. "I hear he's driving a Sileighty now as a replacement for the FD. I'm keen to peek under the hood in all honesty. I also want to see what he's capable of. According to my old man he's also claimed a few scalps in Kanagawa as well is that right?"

"You are reliably informed," she acknowledged before turning once again to see a gorgeous red FB parked only a few meters away from them.

Of all the cars she'd seen since her arrival to ARW, the FB was among the most appealing due to its IMSA derived widebody kit. Everything from the flared fenders, vented hood, and duck-billed spoiler echoed the car's racing heritage and so far, she liked what she was seeing. She drew closer to the Mazda, stopping by the driver's side to peer at the exposed engine bay since the hood was already up.

A lone HKS T51R was the first of numerous modifications she caught, and the longer she assessed the 13B powerplant she came to understand how monstrous of a machine the FB really was.

'A single HKS turbocharger, v-mount intercooler, custom built turbo and intake manifolds, internal wastegate, and a fitted Cusco strut bar. Christ this thing must tear up the road,' she admired.

"Like what you see?" her cousin asked with amusement lacing his voice.

Reina nodded, drawn in by the vehicle's aggressive bodywork once more. "She's gorgeous. I've never seen an FB this well put together before and I'd love to see how she can handle the touge. Is it a client's?"

"'Fraid not, she belongs to yours truly," he said with no small amount of pride.

"She's yours?"

"Yeah. The old man passed her onto me once I turned eighteen and I've been slaving away on her ever since. This little beauty is known around these parts as 'Daniwa's Red Devil'. I'm the fastest on the downhill on these parts."

"Daniwa? Either way that's quite the lofty statement coming from you Natsuo-nii, can you back that up?"

It didn't take much for Natsuo to spot the challenge in her undertone, and a large feral grin took shape on his features as he picked up a box containing bottled quarts of oil. He was due for a spin on Daniwa tonight either way, and he had called a meeting for the Rotary Club to answer a challenger who thought he had what it took to beat him on his home course.

'Ah that also reminds me, I need to stop for some gas before I go. Can't forget to take the premix either,' was his stray thought.

"I most certainly can, dear cousin of mine. But first I've got an oil change to perform before she gets my seal of approval for tonight's race. Wanna come along?"

The brown-haired Gunma native adopted a large grin of her own, matching her cousins' toe to toe with a gleam in her piercing grey eyes that spoke of her excitement. "Absolutely. But one more question," she steadily began.

Natsuo paused in his ministrations, pulling a heavy-duty jack to send an expectant look in her direction.

She pointed at the bottles of Idemitsu motor oil neatly arranged in the box. "Can I help?"

A more earnest smile tugged at the younger Asahina's lips, realizing that he was growing more and more fond of his younger cousin by the minute. Spending time around her brother seemed to have rubbed off on her in a very big way, and the fact that she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty instantly made his regard for her grow even more.

Today marked over eight years since the previous time they were in each other's company, and he could honestly say that he was glad to be reconnecting with some of his extended family. During their younger years, he'd often looked out for Yuzuzu and Reina since they were younger than him. He also recalled that the few times he tried to teach them to play baseball Yuzuru proved utterly hopeless at it, while Reina seemed to take a small interest in the sport.

Things were indeed a lot simpler back then for them, and a small part of him wished he could go back to those days. The Reina standing in front of him was incredibly different to the small and vibrant little girl he once knew, and so much had changed since then. There was a fire to her now, a maturity and fierce streak of independence that was difficult to ignore and he couldn't help but find these traits both positive and endearing in a way.

'She's also got an incredibly strong aura, even though she doesn't seem to have much experience behind the wheel yet,' he noted. 'I can only wonder what she'll be like once she gains more experience.'

"Sure. Grab a clean set of gloves from the nearby workbench and put them on," he instructed.

Gentaro watched his son interact with Reina with a pleasant smile of his own from a distance where he stood with Sakumo beside him. Although the pair had not seen each other for a long period of time, it was good to see them pick things up where they left off.

"She's almost a fully-grown woman Sakumo. You're gonna have your hands full trying to keep the boys off her," he teased.

Sakumo laughed, shaking his head in denial. "On the contrary. She can take care of herself. Over the last few months Yuzuru's been called into the principal's office on three separate occasions and on one of them she gave one of the boys a black eye for stepping way too close into her own personal space."

The rotary specialist doubled over in laughter, proud to see that Reina had also inherited her father's infamous right hook as well. "She's a real spitfire then."

"You have no idea," Sakumo sighed before crossing his arms and gazing around the shop with thinly disguised interest.

Since Gentaro's retirement ARW had grown considerably and he knew that most of it had to do with the man's shrewd leadership in the ten years since its inception. Many people as far as the Kansai would make the trip to visit the shop, and Gentaro's standing amongst rotary enthusiasts made him a legend in his own right due to his tireless work in helping Mazda with the design and improve upon it in competitive racing.

"So," the Asahina patriarch steadily began whilst stroking his nicely trimmed beard. "What are your overall plans for the FD? We both know the main reason why you're here, and while I am glad that you've finally paid me a visit, I want to know a little more before we discuss terms."

Sakumo's brown eyes flickered back to his cousin, and he made his way over to the vast array of neatly organized racks, zeroing in on the four motors all laying beneath thick black tarps to protect it from foreign elements.

"The FD is due for a full rebuild, and while one of the rotor housings has a very thin hairline crack on them, recent compression tests made by Masashi indicate that it's still holding on. The motor's pretty much solid, but sooner or later it will give way and any future upgrades will only shorten it's already decreased lifespan," he stated.

"So, it's not losing compression yet? Your son's incredibly lucky then, but we both know that rotaries tend to generate far more heat than the conventional piston engine. That crack is only going to grow worse over time but that still doesn't explain why you're interested in picking one of my engines up," Gentaro felt the need to press.

The former rally racer pursed his lips but understood where his cousin was coming from. He'd never harbored as deep an interest in the Wankel design as Gentaro did, and for the most part he ignored them simply because they weren't able to produce a sizeable amount of torque at low RPM. Most rotaries produced power near the top of their power band, but in retrospect he knew that part of the reason he wanted to source a new engine for the FD was because he wished to make it up to his son in some small way at least.

As much as he poked and prodded at the boy with his relentless teasing and insufferable tendency to make things difficult for him, he cared for him deeply. Yuzuru was his only remaining son, and the FD at this point was more akin to the family car. His son's transition to the Sileighty was good for him, and if he were honest with himself, a big step in the right direction as it would help his development even more. But he knew that deep down neither Reina nor Yuzuru could bear the mere thought of parting ways with the RX-7 because of its significance.

"While I'm not exactly an expert regarding rotaries like you are, I still wish to keep the car's spirit intact. Since Yuzuru claimed ownership of it, it's evolved, and he's grown with it in turn but at this point it's already reached its limit. I know the problem could also be solved by swapping in a fresh 13B into it, but there's also a lesson I wish to teach him in all of this."

Gentaro eyed his cousin carefully. The Tochigi native had already spoken to him at length regarding his nephew's exploits in Kanagawa and the news struck him harder than he would have expected. Under normal circumstances, he would have verbally berated Sakumo for allowing his son to nearly go off the deep end without doing so much as lifting a finger to straighten the boy out for his recklessness but he realized that it would have been rather hypocritical of him to do so given the issues that plagued his own family a few years prior.

"And what's that?" he asked.

"He needs to learn to open up. He needs to understand that trusting and relying on others is not necessarily a bad thing. Yuzuru has this overwhelming tendency to hold his cards close to the vest, and while at times it can be a bit of a gift, it can also be a curse."

Understanding dawned on the Hiroshima native's countenance, and for a moment he couldn't help but empathize with his older cousin. As a former professional racer himself, Gentaro once spent well over two-thirds of the year abroad in order to tend to his duties and aid Mazda in its development of their racing prototypes. He realized very early on in his career, that all that time he spent chasing his dreams and following his greatest passion also robbed him of Natsuo's early formative years.

One of his greatest regrets, despite all his accomplishments, was not being there to see his only child grow for those first few years of his life. This was why once he retired as a professional racer, he chose to remain close to the sport by working at Mazdaspeed's racing division. As an engineer and development driver, he could still do the things he loved while being there to watch his son grow into the man he now was.

Sakumo on the other hand, ended his career prematurely. Behind his usually sarcastic and witty remarks he could see the man's underlying frustration at being unable to continue as a rally racer. In 1986 the elder Kurokawa had it all. He was among the most competitive and highly sought-after drivers in the World Rally Championship and was considered by many to be a future champion in the making. The deaths of two of his closest friends in the sport shook him deeply, and Elizabeth's pleas also played a very big part in his retirement once the season concluded that year.

He had been close. So very close from claiming the title he so desperately sought, but the dangers posed by those Group B monstrosities along with the numerous accidents many of his peers suffered ultimately led him to hang up the gloves for good. Like him, Sakumo would remain close to the sport he loved. But at the same time, his duties and obligations to Lancia and now Toyota forced him to be away from home just as much as it did at the height of his career.

The regret and sorrow emanating from his cousin was palpable, and most of it stemmed from the fact that he was never home when it truly mattered. Perhaps if he'd been around, if he was there to guide and advise Yuzuru instead of throwing a few words of advice or encouragement his way, things would be different. But in in the end, the greatest irony of the whole situation was that the boy was too much like his father in temperament and personality with his mother's added stubbornness to go with it.

"Does he remind you of someone Sakumo?" he said.

"Yes. He's far too much like me, and as much as I would like him to learn from my mistakes, he's got his mother's obstinance in him as well. So, all I can really do at this point is prepare for the worst and hope the people around him will be there to catch him when the engine blows. It's only a question of when," the Tochigi native murmured as he raised an unlit a cigarette to his lips.

"I figured as much. So," Gentaro paused to gesture over to the engines all still covered by their tarps. "You've come all this way so you might as well take your pick of them. They've all got twenty-five thousand kilometers or less on them and I've yet to perform any modifications on them too."

Sakumo raised his zippo lighter, flicking it open with a snap of his wrist before shutting it once it served its purpose. He stole a drag from his cigarette, crossing his arms again as he considered his options. Gentaro wasn't the sort of man who did things half-assed, and it was yet another trait he shared with his family member.

"I want two of them," he declared.

The shop owner blinked and whipped his head in Sakumo's direction. He muttered a curse under his breath in a show of annoyance, having expected as much, and fortunately enough, he managed to procure another two that were due to be delivered to his shop soon.

"Do you have any idea how much of a pain in the ass it was to hunt down just one of these motors? These things are well worth their weight in gold and exceedingly rare as well Sakumo! You can't just go to any random scrapyard or parts distributor and say you want to buy a 20B," he exclaimed.

The man in question chuckled lightly, his voice positively dripping with a fair amount of humor. "I'll pay you what they're worth Gentaro and I'll foot the costs for the rebuilds and modifications you've got swirling around in that noggin of yours. Any ideas? I'm curious to know what sort of plans you've got in mind."

Gentaro grudgingly forced back his distaste once Sakumo offered such reasonable terms, and although he was still a bit sore at the prospect of losing two perfectly good 20Bs, he also needed to open them up and give each of them a proper rebuild as well. One of the engines he currently had would be used for a drift car that was still on the drawing board, but for now Sakumo's task would take precedence.

"I was thinking of converting one of them into a full N/A setup with a good street port and some individual throttle bodies. I've got some S5 high compression rotors set aside for that already, but I would like to have them balanced together with the whole assembly after I lighten them."

Sakumo's face clouded at the prospect. The project was an intriguing one, and the thought of a naturally aspirated three-rotor touge monster genuinely appealed to him. Having a 20B installed like that in any RX-7 setup for pass racing would yield more torque, acceleration, and a quicker response throughout the powerband overall.

"How much power do you think it will be able to produce compared to the readings Masashi sent you?" he inquired.

"With the right amount of tuning? Between 350 to 375HP at around 10,000 RPM. It'll also run a lot better if you convert it to a dry sump oiling system too," the rotary specialist estimated.

"Great. Then I want you to have one of the motors built to precisely those specifications you've mentioned. As for the second one, let's run that on one of those experimental street ports I know you're trying out on your son's FB. I could hear the slight overlap from a mile away when he had it on and it's not choppy enough for a Bridge port. Convert it to on a single turbo. I'll be sending some parts your way once I get back to Gunma."

The Hiroshima native could only offer his cousin a look of incredulousness in response. In the past, Sakumo often ridiculed him for his loyalty to the non-reciprocating design, and yet here he was, entrusting him with the job of preparing two new motors; one of which would undoubtedly end up in the FD.

"I'll do as you ask Sakumo, but this isn't going to be cheap," he warned. "We're gonna have to fashion new motor mounts for the FD as it is, new subframe, along with a new transmission and that's only scratching the surface. What are you even gonna do with the spare?"

"You let me worry about the cost," the former rally racer exhaled through a breath of smoke. A knowing smirk tugged at the ends of his mouth before sending a brief glance in his daughter's direction. "I like to be prepared in the event there ever comes a time where there would be need of another engine."

The significance of such an action was not lost on someone as observant as Gentaro, and his warm brown eyes glittered in appreciation. His niece had grown into a ravishing beauty in the time she spent away, and to some degree he could scarcely begin to reconcile the young woman eagerly helping his son with an oil change with such vibrant enthusiasm, to the curious little girl he remembered. Reina was unbelievably smart for her age, and possessed a tremendous amount of theoretical knowledge when it came to pass racing primarily due to the time she spent observing her brother.

Since her arrival to ARW, he found it increasingly difficult to ignore the look in her eyes from the moment she first set foot in his shop. The brunette looked like a child that in a newly discovered candy store, and the way those captivating depths of hers greedily took in the fleet of RX-7s, Savannas, and first generation Cosmo all neatly parked outside showed signs that today cemented the beginning of a torrid love affair with rotaries for the youngest Kurokawa.

A sudden underlying sense of satisfaction enveloped him once he recognized this, and what he found most amusing of all is that despite Sakumo's general aversion to the Wankel engine, all his children seemed to develop a passion and interest in them. The irony of the situation was not lost on him, and for this reason he burst out laughing once he caught sight of the sullen expression his cousin was now sporting.

"It seems that while I never managed to get through to you dear cousin, your kids all saw the light!" he chortled.


Sadamine Pass, Saitama Prefecture

9:26PM

The unmistakable howl of a turbocharged 13B-REW reverberated across the touge followed by the trademark screech of tires against the asphalt. Kyoko's brows furrowed in concentration as she quickly downshifted with the use of her heel and toe, rapidly pinning the throttle before tearing into the narrow-left hander that was upon her. By this time of night her home course of Sadamine remained largely desolate, and this provided her with the free reign necessary to continue her assault on the mountain pass.

Her beloved FD cleared the corner with minimal difficulty, just barely missing the guardrail by mere centimeters. She reveled in the loud and rapacious roar it produced at the exit and marveled at the smooth delivery of power supplied by its twin-rotor powerplant with the aid of his lone spooling turbocharger. The generous amount of torque and acceleration it provided was more than enough for Kyoko to breeze through the series of short kinks that followed, and during the process she began compiling a list of observations pertaining to her car's current setup.

Sadamine was a pass notorious for its numerous up-down fluctuations and tight stretches of road. No quarter was ever given, and one wrong move would cost one dearly. Only years of constant training, and countless hours spent racing across the touge gave her the confidence and knowledge to pick and choose among the several methods at her disposal to blaze through the oncoming crest.

A small smile touched her lips as a brief flare of nostalgia flared within her. Although spoiled for chose, Kyoko's eyes immediately narrowed on the approaching hairpin. Corners like these were easily among her favorite, and while more under more normal circumstances she would have simply opted to drift through it, this time around she opted for a more calculated approach this time around.

One very important thing her race against Keisuke reminded her of was that an opponent would rarely hesitate to use an underhanded method to exploit the weakness of one's technique. As difficult and frustrating a lesson it was, it also served as a stark reminder of the long road she still had ahead of her. Meeting her Darling, and later battling him on her home course was one of the most prolific experiences of her young life. She enjoyed every second of it and did not wish for it to end.

Seeing him race, seeing him drive flat out and having him do the same for her in return was a feeling she found incredibly difficult to describe. The strong maelstrom of emotions that coursed through her then were not as prevalent now, but each time she was in his presence Kyoko could not help but be inspired. His aura alone was breathtaking to witness, and each time he was in the driver's seat of his FD she could swear that it shined even brighter than the last time she saw him.

She came to the realization very early on that she wanted the same for herself. His endless drive, his unrelenting determination, and stubborn refusal to back down from any challenge he faced resonated deeply with the street racer within her. Keiuske served as the prime example of what one could accomplish if they only set their mind and heart to it. It was dedication. Plain and simple; and she found these to be exceedingly powerful motivators since Keisuke's initial rejection.

With only a few hundred meters before she entered the hairpin, Kyoko brushed the brakes and downshifted to recover the car's power band in preparation. Every single one of her movements were controlled and precise, and the single turbocharger provided the FD with more than enough acceleration necessary to enter the corner at a much higher speed than she was accustomed to.

'The timing here is absolutely critical,' she was quick to remind herself. 'In order to keep the boost steady, I need to balance the throttle with just the right amount of braking to pull this off.'

As soon as she reached the tight hairpin's apex, Kyoko once again tapped the brakes with the use of her left foot but this would only last about a fraction of a second before her other foot stepped on the accelerator to propel the FD through the crest with relative ease.

Her execution was flawless and timed to perfection, and upon the exit she immediately noticed the difference when compared to her usual point of attack for this corner. The FD quickly took the outside lane, as if almost understeering out of the corner but with an even greater amount of speed than she was accustomed to and her smile widened a tad.

This technique was one Keisuke showed her on one of their recent outings, and he in turn shamelessly expressed to have copied it from Kurokawa not long after their first encounter which once again brought her to her newfound interest in the young man. Her interest in meeting him and perhaps even challenging him to a battle continued to rise unabated, and this was also a direct result of her extensive modifications he undertook when tuning Keisuke's RX-7.

While the modifications to it were incredibly tasteful, and granted the car a more aesthetically pleasing appearance compared to how it once was, once she sat in the passenger seat and truly felt the changes made to the car she finally understood why her Darling held Kurokawa in such high esteem. After a month and a half of extensive modifications, the FD that emerged from Matsumoto Speed was a ferocious cornering machine with plenty to deliver on the hillclimb.

The car had power in spades, but its already lightweight frame was only further enhanced by the changes made to the car's overall handling and suspension. It was nimbler than before, snappier, and the addition of the GT wing also generated more downforce which in turn increased drag. All in all, she loved the result, and because of this she currently found herself at her home course after choosing to test a few theories out with her own car's suspension settings.

Sadamine was a pass notorious for being tremendously difficult to navigate. Over the years, numerous street racers often attempted to claim being the fastest or even the best in the area but most of them were rarely able to back those words up. Even though her home prefecture of Saitama was a hot bed known for producing some incredibly talented drivers, only a select few truly managed to shine and persevere.

Sakamoto was one of them, and Akiyama Wataru was a very notable mention as well. Those two were monsters in every sense of the word, and while she liked to think that she was just as capable as them given her status as one of her prefecture's best known and highly competent street racers, she was by no means satisfied with her current skillset.

'I need to get faster. I need to get better and build on what I already know,' she mentally chanted to herself.

Despite her high regard and affection for Keisuke, the result of her battle against him exposed the weaknesses of her techniques and her FD by extension. She loved her car to pieces and would never change it for the world. Years of work, time, and effort made it a remarkable machine that was always a joy to drive in her eyes. With all of the experience she gained on Sadamine and extended periods of time spent tuning and adjusting the car, she was able to ensure it was more than capable of taking anything the course could throw at it.

One could say her FD was tuned specifically for Sadamine, and it showed. Everything from the car's ride height, down to the dampening rates, tires, balance, and brakes were all carefully and meticulously adjusted to suit the rough conditions the course imposed on it. And she was damn proud of the fact too. No one had ever really been around to teach her many of the things she picked up on the way, and it was only with friends like Nobuhiko and Wataru that she truly managed to gain a greater exposure to what street racers outside Saitama were like.

The two were good friends of hers, and she enjoyed their company tremendously because of the experience and knowledge she gained by racing and interacting with them. She owed both a great deal and more than anything else they taught her what they could as well. Facing Project D on the other hand, was an eye-opening experience in many ways, primarily because it marked the first time she truly raced against someone so incredibly skilled from outside Saitama and she learned from her encounter as well.

As strong as her feelings for Keisuke were, he pushed her a great deal over the course of their uphill battle. He wasn't afraid of using underhanded tactics, and the way he managed to so callously uncover her FD's inherent weakness for being very peaky came as a brutal reminder that racers never necessarily played by the rules. If there was an advantage they could exploit, they would capitalize on it to the furthest extent possible and as difficult it was to accept, Kyoko recognized that she allowed herself to become far too consumed with her own thoughts and emotions to the point where it began to affect her driving.

'And that's the worse part of it all. I was so utterly consumed with showing Darling my best and delivering my all, that a simple tap was enough for him to throw me off my game. I should have pinned the throttle to keep the turbo spooling and it cost me the race.'

Sobering as the notion was, Kyoko would not allow herself to dwell on it negatively. By now she had entered a series of high-speed twists and turns that were known to be incredibly narrow. This part of the course was not for the faint hearted, and road conditions steadily grew worse. Like nearby Shomaru, Sadamine was dotted with sections where the road simply cracked or splintered. Wrestling against the road's surface to achieve some measure of grip was not as easy for outsiders when compared to the locals and this part required her full concentration in order to get through it.

Kyoko gripped her steering wheel, carefully studying the road ahead of her as her FD unleashed a mighty growl that cut across the quiet mountain pass. For the next few seconds, she continued her trek. The night was still young, and she could certainly afford a few more runs on both the uphill and downhill runs before she could call it night. By now she had established a proper rhythm, and the car felt great after the adjustments she made but almost immediately her ears picked up on a grittier and lower undertone she knew to belong to another vehicle.

Without any hesitation, the young brunette spared a quick glance to her rearview mirror to take notice of the set of bright headlights rapidly beginning to gain on her. A sudden spike of interest and curiosity brewed within her, and for a moment she thought she recognized the exhaust note even if it had been a while since the last time she heard it.

'It looks a bit small,' she observed. 'A 180 or an S2000 maybe?'

Kyoko gave a slight shrug, opting to pick up her pace to see if she could shake off her newest pursuer. Despite her recent loss to Keisuke on her home course, no one could get the drop on her so easily, and she would be damned if she didn't show the car behind her just what she was truly capable of

Her FD's response was immediate, the previous growl produced by its engine now growing into a powerful and vicious snarl that was joined by the one emanating from the vehicle behind her. Excitement bubbled within her at the prospect of a new challenger after a rather slow stint in the previous weeks, and she decided that she would give this impromptu race her all.

"Well then," she remarked with a wry grin. "It looks like I get a real battle tonight."

The young Saitama native gunned the accelerator, the single Garrett turbocharger feeding the 13B sitting under the hood with more than enough air to make use of all the power her FD had at its disposal. Kyoko watched the needle climb, redlining at precisely 9,000RPM before she shifted into fourth gear. She was met with a distinctive hiss in response, followed by a very light flutter which signified that both the blow off valve and wastegate were serving their purpose.

As a seasoned street racer, Kyoko knew from personal experience that had this been the downhill, all advantages provided by her greater amount of horsepower would have been null and void. But as this was the hillclimb of Sadamine, things were completely different. She had a feeling the car behind her did not have such an advantage, and her trained ears quickly picked up on the exhaust note it generated.

'Naturally Aspirated,' she deduced. 'Very high revs too. But what I find extremely odd is that I know I've heard this sound before.'

Indeed, Kyoko knew the sound very well and try as she might, there were very few people around who often preferred the costlier and more arduous road that was pure mechanical tuning. It was a path fright with difficulties and in her experience as a mechanic, only those who truly knew and understood the complexities of going N/A and how different it was to forced induction took such a stance.

Only a handful of tuners in the area, let alone those who built their cars specifically for pass racing went this route. Forced induction in the form of a turbocharger or supercharger offered a more reliable and efficient increase in power. This was a simple fact. But at the same time, there was only one person she knew who was capable of tuning anything they managed to get their hands on with an extraordinary amount of skill that even left her breathless.

At best there were only a select group of people she trusted to work on her FD aside from herself. The mechanics of Project D and Keisuke were all present on that list, but there was one other individual she knew was just as capable, if not better than those who made up their ranks. She wasn't afraid to admit they were probably even better than she was then it came to tuning and adjusting her FD, and while it was a little bit of a sore spot she could live with it because she also discovered an incredibly loyal and faithful friend in them as well.

"I know this sound," she breathed with an ever-growing smile on her lips.

Kyoko quickly zeroed in on the upcoming series of narrow s-turns, not long after she exited what could be considered the first of course's two straightaways. Most people would balk at the concept of tackling such a difficult series of corners at such a high speed, but with this being her home course, Kyoko knew she would be able to breeze through them with practiced ease. Her black FD led the charge, joined closely by the strong and guttural growl generated by the inline-four that had finally gotten close enough to be more visible in one of her sidemirrors.

Behind her in full glory was a highly modified and exquisitely tuned blue ZZW30 proudly bearing Kanagawa plates. The car was easily recognizable, and it was one she became well acquainted with in the past. There was only one person aside from Keisuke who could keep up with her on Sadamine's uphill, and back in their day their skill as a driver easily eclipsed her own.

"A lot can change in two years though," she said aloud. "Let's see how you fair against me after all this time Shiori-san."

Yamaguchi Shiori carefully eyed the Mazda only a few paces ahead of her with a feral grin taking shape on her face. She could never tire of this feeling; the excitement, the rush, and the thrill of a chase. Her most recent foray against Tatsuru in Happogahara only gave her a small taste of what she'd missed in the time she spent away from pass racing, and now she wanted more. Much more.

So what better way was there for her to test out one of the few friends and mechanics she took under her wing in the past?

"Let's see what you're made of Kyoko-chan," she said over the deafening roar produced by her MR-S.


A/N:

(3/22/20)

'Sup guys.

This chapter took quite a bit out of me, and in all honesty I can't even blame laziness for it. The last two weeks alone have been extremely stressful as it is, and part of it has to do with all this Coronavirus BS going on. Work has been a literal hell and the worse part is that every day this goddamn virus continues to spread unabated. Starting today, I've been basically forced to work from home. I'm self isolating right now and this is a whole new experience for me but at the very least it gives me plenty more time to work on the next few chapters while I also attend to my normal responsibilities.

I'm lucky enough as it is to still have a job, and I'm hoping and praying this thing dies down because it's affecting millions of people around the world in more ways than just overall health. Take care, stay safe, be good to one another and don't hoard supplies. Take only what you need because there are others out there who need more than the six cases of toilet paper or the five kegs of water some people have stashed away.

And for the love of God wash ya damn hands.

Okay. Rant over.

I hope you all enjoy this new chapter. Tomorrow I'm going to get to work on the one that follows it as well as the one-shot that has been in the works for a very long time at this point. Read, review, let me know your thoughts and once again I urge you all to stay safe and keep the faith. Find something that makes you smile or laugh because we all need it right now. If I can provide you with some form of escape with this story, even for a little while, then I'm happy to have been able to do so.

Take care guys.

- SilentAssassin11