The Rise of Usui's Ghost

by SilentAssassin11

It's been several months since Impact Blue officially disbanded. Project D has taken the Kanto area by storm; but in the wake of the damages Keisuke's FD sustained in Tuschisaka they were forced to delay their schedule until the repairs are made. All the while, a mysterious silver car has been making runs across Usui Pass in the dead of night. Just who is this enigmatic racer?

31. Chapter 31

The Rise of Usui's Ghost

Chapter 31

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Mt. Akina, Gunma Prefecture

8:41PM

'What the hell did I sign myself up for?' Yuzuru asked himself as he gazed out towards the vast expanse of Lake Akina's calm and quiet serenity.

The sound of gently rolling waves crashing against the rocky shore was one Yuzuru was decidedly familiar with. Once upon a time over the course of numerous summers, his parents would often bring him to the mountain to spend an afternoon full of a plethora of activities any eleven-year-old would have found fun and entertaining. Whether it was fishing, rowing, camping or picnicking, as a family they did it all, but it also served as a stark reminder as to how simple things were back then.

A strong rush of cool air prickled at his skin, and he momentarily turned his brown depths to the sky. Thick, lumpy clouds were gathering above him once more, but for now it seemed like the weather would hold off for a little longer. Like the day preceding it, Friday had proven to be an absolute scorcher, but this time around he found himself looking forward to the chance of rain.

He always enjoyed driving in wet conditions, primarily because it helped him prolong the life of his tires a little longer and the easier it was to lose traction when initiating a drift. Learning to drive and racing on the Crown Range was perhaps one of the most incredible experiences of his young life, and it taught him a great deal as well. Yuzuru would spend hours upon hours of his time trying to clear the downhill run as quickly as he possibly could, and he never cared about the weather as a result.

'Be it rain, sleet, or snow, I drove there every chance I got. Those were my first proving grounds…but Akina and the Old Man's Eight-Six are where everything truly began for me,' he recalled.

Usui was now his adopted home course and Matsuida his new home. But Akina and nearby Shibukawa would always hold a prominent place in his heart. Mayumi was one of the few childhood friends he was still somewhat close to, and in a way her bright and energetic demeanor was infectious to witness because it reminded him of the tomboyish little girl who wasn't afraid to give as good as she got. He could scarcely even begin to count the number of times they'd gotten into trouble as kids, and that wasn't even counting the number of times she managed to hand his ass back to him when she took it upon herself to drag him to her Aikido instructor for some lessons.

The brunette gave an involuntary shudder, recalling with vivid clarity the number of bruises he would return with once the torture ended. If there was one thing, he took to heart from the numerous occasions he spent acquainting himself with the floor, was that Mayumi was not the sort of person anyone would like to trifle with and unfortunately for him, that was drilled into him the hard way.

Yuzuru silently tucked his hands into his pockets and admired the view the lake provided him a little longer. Try as he might, he simply couldn't bring himself to ignore the strong air of nostalgia that grew with each passing moment. Shibukawa and Akina played such a big part in his early formative years, and he was glad to see that in some respects, things were not as unrecognizable as he feared.

'But Daiki on the other hand, is a different matter altogether,' was his thought.

A series of footsteps began to approach him from behind, and he turned to observe Daiki making his way towards him with a bag of chips in one hand, and two cans of coffee in the other. As per the usual, the blonde high schooler carried a frown on his face, and Yuzuru was rapidly beginning to think that the look was the boy's trademark.

Not long after he first dropped Mayumi off at her apartment complex, the drive to the residence of his old childhood friends was predominantly a silent one. The experience was uncomfortable all things considered, and Daiki made little effort to engage in small talk. There were a few instances he asked about Reina and his parents, to which he answered truthfully. But once he made mention of Kakeru, things fell silent once again, which seemed to confuse the younger adolescent. Truth be told, Yuzuru was simply not ready to uncork that specific bottle yet, and part of him felt guilty for keeping such knowledge from two of the few remaining friends he had from his formative years.

If possible, the elder Kurokawa would have preferred to speak with Daiki on his own terms when things were not as convoluted as they were now. But unfortunately for him, Kaede took it upon herself to disappear on him with a small note saying that she'd taken the keys to his father's Eight-Six and gave him the explicit instruction to him to take some time off and enjoy the evening given his upcoming engagement with Project D in Ibaraki. Much to his annoyance, he couldn't fault the girl for trying to look out for him, even if he was quite pissed at the prospect of losing out on an entire evening he could have used to shave off some time on his current best of four and a half seconds quicker than the necessary seven.

With nothing better to do, and Kaede most likely regaling Ryuji after another successful prank on him, Yuzuru ultimately decided that tonight would be as good as any to speak with his old childhood friend to see if he would be able to make any headway on Mayumi's behalf.

Daiki finally paused in his steps and glanced in the brunette's direction as he held out his spare can of coffee to him.

"Here, they didn't have much of a selection, and last I checked you were never the one to enjoy grape-flavored soda, so I just grabbed what was available from the vending machine," he said.

"Domo," the brunette replied with a chuckle.

"So," the younger blonde began with a sigh. "Why bring me all the way out here? When you said you wanted to catch up, I only agreed because it's been eight years since the last time I saw you and if I stayed over at my sister's she'd have me doing homework by now, so hanging out with you is a good way to avoid that."

"She's probably gonna throttle you for using me as an excuse to get away from your responsibilities Daiki," Yuzuru returned with a trace of amusement in his voice.

"Perhaps," Daiki shot back. "But it'll be my neck on the line and I'm stronger than her so the best she'll be able to do is give me a bruise or two."

"And here I thought she could still put the fear of death into you," Yuzuru snorted.

"Not freakin' likely. She's still the same spitfire she's always been, but when you live with her for about fifteen years you kinda get used to all her attempts to rile you up. And you still haven't answered my previous question Yuzuru, why did you drag my ass all the way out here?" the fighter pressed.

The brunette heaved a sigh once he heard the question. At first, he'd planned to ease his old friend into the conversation, but if there was one thing Yuzuru knew about both Isayama siblings, is that they were both incredibly bullheaded. Coming from him it was a rather hypocritical observation, but both Mayumi and Daiki were never the sort of people who preferred subtlety. Even as children they were often blunt, direct, and unafraid to voice their opinions on a certain subject.

'But at least Yumi-chan's learned to read situations compared to before,' he admitted to himself.

Yuzuru took a drink of his coffee, utilizing the brief lapse in silence to study the boy carefully. Unlike his older sister, Daiki was evidently much harder for him to read. Despite his delinquent behavior, the trouble and constant actions taken to try and discipline him according to Mayumi, the kid was incredibly observant for someone his age.

Daiki stood tall and proud, but his expression retained the tight frown he'd been sporting for a while now. The usually bright and jovial glint his hazel eyes once carried in their earlier days were noticeably dull, taking on a darker, more piercing shade than that of his sister's. He also found difficult for him to miss the bags underneath them, which were also indicative of a lack of sleep.

Where most people would have dismissed the high schooler's general disposition as an act of pure rebelliousness, there was an anger and bitterness paired with a certain air of resentment coming off him in waves that resonated within him. As much as he wished to respect the boy's wishes and leave him to sort out his problems on his own, he found him to be too much like him for his own liking. There was no denying that Daiki preferred to bottle up his thoughts and emotions in a manner much like he did, and for a moment he could only curse at himself for agreeing to Mayumi's request.

"How have things been for you Daiki? I'll be frank, Yumi-chan's been worried with all the trouble you've been getting into as of late and she asked that I talk to you about it. Everything ok on your end?"

The sudden inquiry had an immediate effect on the young fighter, as his frown widened into a deep scowl in response. If he were honest with himself, he'd been expecting such a question due to Yuzuru's sudden arrival, and he didn't even need to hazard a guess as to who talked him into this newest attempt to try and coax an answer out of him.

"What business is this of yours anyway?" he growled. "You don't just get to come back after eight years and suddenly start asking me why I am the way I am. People change, it's a part of life. My business is exactly that; my fucking business ya got that?"

"And I don't disagree with you in the slightest," Yuzuru replied with a short chuckle. The response he got from the younger Isayama was one of the many scenarios he envisioned given what Mayumi chose to reveal to him and in many ways, the kid reminded him greatly of himself as unnerving it was for him to admit. For this reason, he opted for a more subdued reaction.

"But the way I see it your sister is worried about you, and while I haven't exactly been around the last few years, I honestly would just like to catch up if that's alright with you. I've got enough on my mind right now as it is," was his blunt response.

"What do you want me to tell you Yuzuru?" Daiki sighed in frustration. "My old man still has a tree shoved so far up his ass it's a miracle I manage to get out of the house at times. Aside from that, school is a bore, boxing is pretty much all I've got, and most people know better than to fuck with me at this point with all the fights I've been in on and off the ring."

"Bloody hell the mouth on this kid," Yuzuru chortled in his Kiwi accent.

"Is that why you choose to act out Daiki, to stick it to your old man? If that's the case I'm not going to judge you for it. If you want to spite him, then that's your business. But I'm just here to tell you that if you ever want to talk, then I'm more than willing to listen."

"And what's to stop you from going behind my back and then telling my sister what I'm up to?" came the blonde's stiff reply.

"Because I would be a massive hypocrite if I did. Contrary to what you may think of me Daiki, my life hasn't been all sunshine and roses over the last few years and I know what it's like to bottle things up. I'm just as guilty of it, and each day all it does is eat me up inside bit by bit."

The younger teenager paused in his thoughts, his hazel eyes narrowing on his old childhood friend once he caught the way his voice shifted from the usually rich tenor, he'd grown accustomed to over the last few hours, to a lower, more hollow-like rasp. It was the first time he was offered a glimpse to what was beneath the Kurokawa's seemingly calm and friendly façade, and truthfully, Daiki found the drastic change rather unsettling.

As a child, the Yuzuru he remembered was often kind, selfless, charismatic, and adventurous. From what he could recall there was never a time he ever saw him sound so utterly broken. He never would have expected him to be able to read him so easily, let alone make such an admission. It dawned on him then that it was a sign of how much things had changed over the last few years for them both and in some ways, he could sense that it was not an easy subject for the brunette to discuss.

"Then why do you insist on bugging me about my issues anyway? Nee-san, has tried to get me to talk many times and my mother is probably close to labelling me a lost cause as it is. My prick of a father has already taken to calling me a disappointment anyways. What could you possibly do to try and make things better for me huh?" he shot back with as much hostility he could muster.

Yuzuru's brown eyes darted over to the blonde and shrugged. "Absolutely nothing," was his nonchalant response.

"Why do you bother even asking then? If you ca-"

Daiki found himself cut off by the hand the young man in question raised. The smile he bore, infuriating him to witness.

"Because I know what it's like at times to feel abandoned."

Almost immediately the young fighter froze in place, realizing just how similar the two were despite their differing backgrounds. He'd learned very early on that at times words simply weren't enough to convey what one truly thought or felt. Actions spoke louder, they were a simpler and more effective method to get his point across and so far, this option never let him down. His father ignored him for the most part, and he preferred it this way. No one messed with him at school, and those who did on the outside ended up paying for it.

People gave him a with berth as a result, choosing to simply ignore him or leave him to his own devices. He never truly minded this at first. It was easier to remain distant from others given the reputation he'd amassed as a delinquent, but at times it was a struggle to know who among those he associated with were his true friends. Trust was a hard thing to come by for someone like him, and with his father's incessant threats and demands to straighten himself out and his sister moving out of their home, Daiki knew that it would only be a matter of time before Takeo tried to tighten the reigns on him.

Taking the boy's silence as means to continue, Yuzuru turned fully to face him.

"All I'm trying to say Daiki, is that if you want to talk to someone, anyone, about all the crap you've got going on, then I don't mind listening to you. It took me a very long time to understand that I wasn't alone in the last two years, and even then, I still have a hard time opening up to others due to circumstances I am not willing to discuss at this moment."

Daiki fixed a glare on the mechanic, unwilling to back down for a single moment despite his earlier statements hitting very close to home. Over the years as he grew older, the youngest member of the Isayama family rapidly came to believe that he would never be able to rely on others but himself. Things back home had been far from okay once he was old enough to understand why his parents were often distant from one another, and the issues did not stop there. His mother was often away from home, his father remained the same pretentious prick absorbed with his own vanity, and his sister was trying to live her life on her to the best of her ability despite the numerous struggles she faced.

Over the past year alone, Daiki never thought he would be able to grow to hate his father as much as he did now. The man was insufferable in every sense of the word, and his verbal abuse paired with his manipulative and vindictive behavior was something he would never be able to condone or forgive. He always dreaded going home, and whenever he flew into his rages there were times he had come exceedingly close to blowing off the handle, but if it weren't for his growing interest in boxing as a means to vent his frustrations, he would have clashed with his dear old man sooner as opposed to the battle of attrition he and Takeo were currently embroiled in.

Isayama Takeo was a strict and unrelenting man, who only seemed to care for himself and their family's status. Appearances were everything to him, and he was quite sure that his career was the only thing important to him at this stage of his life. Therefore, he no longer bothered trying to impress or earn some form of praise from him. All Daiki cared about now was doing everything in his power to become the disappointment and embarrassment his bastard of a father thought him to be, all to tarnish his image in front of others irrespective of what others thought or felt about him as a result.

"What could you possibly know about my life that gives you the right to ask me about my problems Yuzuru?! You think you can waltz back to Shibukawa, charm my sister and try to score a few points with her by trying to sort out the problem child her little brother has become?!" he shouted with as much venom he could muster.

"You don't know what it's like to live with a father who constantly tries keep me under his thumb and a workaholic mother who only seems to care about me or my sister occasionally at best! Every single fucking day I come home all I'm reminded about are my failures and what a constant source of shame to our family. How could you possibly know what it's like to feel so alone everywhere you fucking go?!"

Were it not for his long temper fueled tirade, Daiki would have realized that each word he spoke began to have a very visible effect on his old childhood friend. The elder street racer's fists clinched involuntarily, the force he exerted easily crushing the empty can of coffee in one of his hands as his entire demeanor shifted from the kind and affable person the younger adolescent knew him to be, to a cold and unbridled fury that slowly began to permeate the air around him.

"I know nothing?" he asked with barely contained rage.

"You think I'm here, wasting my time with you because I'm looking to impress your sister? I've a newsflash for you gaki, before you start spouting off and complaining about how hard things are for you, let me tell you that nothing can compare to the last few years of absolute hell I've had to endure."

Daiki could only stare at Yuzuru in barely disguised horror once he registered how flat and unemotional the tone of his voice was despite the maelstrom of emotions raging within him. He could not have known it then, but he had stepped on a landmine with his previous statement and the sight alone made him recoil despite his earlier bravado. Nothing could have prepared him for the incoming onslaught of words, let alone the frostiness with which they were delivered.

"I've lost two people very dear to me, and I'm never, ever, going to get them back. The last two years have been some of the darkest I've ever had in my goddamn life, and it got to the point where I nearly lost myself in the process. I was just like you, angry at the world, but in my case, I was robbed of the two most amazing people in my life. Most of the battles I undertook in Kanagawa were for the sole intention of making myself feel something, anything, because of how numb I was to everything around me. I drove like I had nothing left to lose Daiki… I was… no I am still so consumed by it all that you couldn't even begin to understand the amount of shit I've put myself through. So, don't you dare try to tell me that I don't know what it's like to feel alone!"

Yuzuru paused for a moment, struggling to catch his breath as he stormed off in the direction of the parking lot. He tossed the crushed can remaining in his hand into the nearest bin he found before making his way to his car and leaned against the driver's side to calm his raging temper.

'I shouldn't have agreed to this,' he admonished himself. 'The kid didn't know, but he's managed to push my buttons far more than I thought him capable of.'

When he first agreed to try and speak to Daiki, he did so primarily because Mayumi asked him to as a personal favor, and out of a genuine interest in reconnecting with another of his old childhood friends. The previous two years yielded little in the way of friends, especially during the period he spent residing in Tokyo and this was the reason why he valued Ryuji and Kaede greatly. It seemed that despite his flaws, and how difficult he was as a person due to his highly reserved nature, the two chose to stick with him through thick and thin. For that alone he was eternally grateful, and he couldn't ignore the fact that they'd done him a world of good from the time they first met.

While racing in Kanagawa in those days provided him with some semblance of escape from the depths of his despair, nothing could ever fill the void he felt with each passing day. All those battles he fought with some of the most talented drivers the prefecture had to offer were a means to an end; a way for him to pass the time while he scoured every mountain pass he possibly could in search of one very particular Mark III Supra and it's driver.

As much as he loathed to admit it, those two years of endless searching yielded little in the way of results. Despite all his efforts and numerous attempts to locate the vehicle and pin a name to the driver, nothing he did gave him the answers he sought. Answers that he deserved. In the sparing number of letters delivered to him in New Zealand over the course of that fateful year there was mention of such a driver and his exploits across Kanagawa.

Their skill was very well documented for the most part, and many locals grew to fear what the car represented due to its remarkable speed, monstrous power, and aggressive cornering capabilities in some of the most treacherous touge across the prefecture. The car's infamy was so remarkably well-known, that people still often referred to it as the 'Demon of Nanamagari'. Whenever one made mention of the Supra, Kanagawa's infamous Shinigami was of a similar vein despite their differing backgrounds.

The A70 was so aptly labelled a demon due to the dangerous racing skill exhibited by its still nameless driver, as well as it's utter domination against many of the local teams in the area. For a brief period, the car was considered synonymous with Nanamagari, and the few eyewitness accounts Yuzuru did manage to scrounge up, spoke of a certain perceived arrogance and little respect for the road and their opponent. It was obvious from the very get go that racing was just a dangerous game for the driver, and although there were plenty of close shaves in the past most managed to escape without much in the way of harm.

'All except for one,' heangrily mused.

Like the Shinigami, the driver of the hallowed Toyota was now considered a notorious figure in the mountain passes of Kanagawa after its disappearance that fateful night seemingly so long ago. Since then, not a single sighting had been reported and fewer still, willingly spoke of the infamous 'Demon of Nanamagari' anymore.

Surprisingly enough, few people truly knew what the driver looked like and no one was able to produce a name. It was a detail that never sat well with Yuzuru, and his disdain for the driver grew exponentially to the point he began to prowl Nanamagari and the rest of Kanagawa in an attempt to lure the person out. Few people truly knew the real reason why he went around dismantling the region's Four Lines of Defense without a single regard for his actions. But as his father so helpfully pointed out to him the previous week, he cared little about improving his overall skills.

In layman's terms, Yuzuru willingly used himself as bait by becoming 'Kanagawa's Kamikaze'.

By drawing on his skills as a driver and using his anger, despair, and resentment as fuel, the elder Kurokawa set out with the mission to claim as many victories in the Holy Land of Street Racing as he possibly could, with the hope that it would be enough to draw his prey out from hiding. Much to his endless frustration however, his carefully devised lure proved fruitless in the long run and by the time he took part in one of his final battles in Hakone's fog covered touge, he soon came to realize how close he came to losing his sense of self.

'If it weren't for the support of my friends and Reina above all else, I would have paid for my recklessness one way or the other,' he thought to himself with yet another sigh before turning his dark brown gaze to a silent and contemplative looking Daiki slowly making his way back to join him.

Evidently his words gave the boy much food for thought, and although he never intended to reveal something as personal as the loss of two very important people in his life, he knew that at some point the full truth would eventually come to light. It was more a question of when at this moment, and he had a feeling that the young fighter would breach the subject again.

Once the blonde was close enough to him, he stopped in his tracks. He turned his head to the side, purposely avoiding his old childhood friend's piercing glare as he struggled for words. Daiki knew that his previous statement was completely uncalled for, and his earlier insinuation regarding his older sister was also out of line. Above all else however, he had the decency to appear properly chastised; now coming to terms with the differences between the Yuzuru currently standing before him compared to the one he knew as a kid.

His earlier outburst was enough for Daiki to paint a much clearer picture of how drastically their circumstances had evolved over the years, and the sudden shift in demeanor coupled with his friend's earlier admission thoroughly surprised him. He simply couldn't imagine what it would be like to experience such profound and deeply personal series of losses, irrespective of his own difficulties dealing with issues at home and at school. Nothing could possibly amount to the strong wave of emotional pain and distress rolling off the elder Kurokawa sibling in spades.

To a certain degree he now felt he understood Yuzuru a little better, and for the first time all day he discovered his earlier hesitation replaced with a newfound respect that was slowly beginning to ebb its way into him. While he was not ready to fully reveal the extent of his own problems, he would try to do so little by little.

Thus, he inclined his head in a display of sincerity. "I'm sorry Yuzuru. I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did, let alone come off as strongly either. I'm not used to being around people who show concern for me, Nee-san is pretty much the only one who even seems to give a damn and it was unfair of me to take my own resentment and frustration out on you without hearing you out completely."

"It's fine," the pass racer sighed in resignation. "Were I in your shoes I probably would have done the same about two years ago. I know what it's like to feel alone because my parents haven't exactly been around for me since I turned fourteen. The only true constants I had were Reina and my love for racing. I learned I couldn't rely on anyone but myself and to some extent I still think this is the case, but since then I've also come to understand how precious and immeasurably cruel life can truly be."

"Yuzuru… what happened to you?" Daiki asked, now seeing a different facet to the older teen.

A small, almost non-descript forlorn smile took shape on his at the inquiry and shook his head. "Let's just say that I lost someone I cherished greatly around the same time I also lost someone I both looked up to and admired. They were gone within weeks from one another, and for now that's all I'll say about the matter. It's getting late as it is, and I still need to drive back to Matsuida since I've got a few things to take care of before I'm off to Ibaraki tomorrow morning."

"For what's worth, I'm sorry."

"Like I said Daiki, it's fine. Apology accepted; no harm done. All I ask is that you don't reveal anything I've told you for now. You think you can manage that?"

"Don't worry, it's not my story to tell anyway," the youngest Isayama agreed. "So long as you promise to not speak of anything if I do end up talking to you about my own issues. Things at school aren't all that great for me either. I've been suspended from my boxing club privileges cause of all the trouble I've gotten into as of today, so you've caught me at a bad time."

At the revelation the mechanic raised an eyebrow. "Cross my heart. I can't say I don't sympathize with you, but does your sister know yet?"

"No," the blonde groaned. "I'll let her know eventually but since I've been barred from my club activities for the next month as it is all I can do is train in the local gym but that's not enough for me."

Yuzuru dug his keys out from his right pocket and chuckled lightly. "Then we need to find you another outlet. Try getting a part-time job if you want. It'll help stave off boredom and you can make some money of your own as well."

Daiki gave his friend a curious look, but he had to give him credit as well. The idea had its merits, and it would be a good way for him to escape the confines of his home if he managed to find a good place to work.

"I'll consider it then," he conceded before feasting his eyes on the Sileighty. "So now that you've dragged me all the way out here to Akina it occurs to me that you've yet to answer my first question from earlier. What are we doing all the way out here?"

For the first time that evening, Yuzuru had the decency to look slightly abashed as he sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Well part of the reason I brought you out here is because you seemed rather skeptical of me and I wanted a quiet place away from prying eyes where we could talk."

"Fair point. But you've also told me you're a street racer and Akina happens to be quite the hotspot for some action on this side of the prefecture even if it is a little dead right now. So, it stands to reason you were also itching to catch a glimpse at the competition am I right."

"Well…yeah," Yuzuru admitted.

This time around it was Daiki's turn to shake his head. "Are you any good?" he inquired.

"Excuse me?"

"I know you're not deaf Yuzuru, don't make me repeat myself," the young fighter said whilst gesturing to the attractive silver Nissan parked in front of him. "You've claimed to have beaten a GT-R and an Integra with this thing, so that leads me to believe you're different when compared to most locals around these parts. But can you back them up?"

The challenge sent his way was unmistakable, and Yuzuru's right eye subtly began to twitch in restrained annoyance. Looks like a spin down Akina was in order, and he would have no qualms about giving the boy a glimpse of what he was capable of.

"Hop in and buckle up," came his stiff reply.

Suddenly a brief shiver went down Daiki's spine, but his pride would never allow him to admit it. He'd stepped into the ring without a single shred of fear in him many times in the past and faced opponents who were tougher and at times physically stronger than he was and he still came out on top. There was no possible way he would even consider the notion that may have possible bitten off more than he could chew. It simply wasn't in his nature, but he couldn't ignore how his old childhood friend's demeanor had shifted once again by his challenge.

A feral, almost predatory glint slowly began to take shape in his brown depths, the sort that portrayed a very discernible of amount confidence in his abilities along with small traces of anticipation at the prospect of tackling Akina's downhill once more. The last time he paid the mountain a visit it had been in his old FD almost a week prior, but with his Sileighty at hand he was keen to see how the how the car would react to a touge that was vastly different when compared to Usui.

Besides, the last time he managed to tear the car back from his father's clutches for a quick drive on his home course there were a few changes he did not recall making to the Sileighty's suspension settings. He had sneaking suspicion the old man had gone and fiddled with his spring rates and dampers, adjusting them to give the car an even sharper response when cornering which proved to be a boon for such a narrow pass like Usui.

Akina on the other hand, was very different. It was characterized by very long straightaways and wide corners that enabled for higher top speeds and faster drifts that made for a very thrilling and equally as challenging downhill run. He was keen to have another go on the mountain, but first he needed to put the kid in his place for even doubting his abilities.

Without further preamble, Yuzuru slipped into the driver's seat and turned the key to the ignition. In an instant the car roared to life, unleashing a raw and ferocious growl generated by the SR20DET at the heart of his beloved Sileighty before it settled into a smooth idle. He spared his passenger a brief glance, easily spotting a small flicker of concern making his way across his features and smirked.

'You asked for this,' he thought in amusement before eagerly pulling out of his parking spot and veering back onto the main road.

Daiki's eyes widened the moment he felt himself sink back into his seat by the car's sudden acceleration. Never in his life had he experienced something quite like the sudden rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins from the moment the Sileighty shot down the straightway that signaled the beginning of Akina's infamous downhill run with an incredible burst of speed.

He gripped the grab handle above him and watched the needle continue to climb as the car shifted gears in rapid succession, moving from third to fourth as the speedometer surged past 130km/h with only a few hundred meters before the first corner. Throughout the whole process there was nothing he could possibly do but remain silent and wrestle with the fact that he was merely along for the ride.

Daiki's moment gaze wavered from his friend, back to the road as the car's deafening snarl only seemed to grow with each passing moment. Not even the local Akina SpeedStars had the balls to tackle their home course with the same intensity exhibited by the elder Kurokawa, and if he were truly honest with himself, he was truly keen to see why Mayumi had spoken so highly of Yuzuru's skills as a driver.

It was no secret that most of the street racers who made Akina their home were of a different breed when compared to those who ruled in Akagi and Myogi, and in a way it was what made him so skeptical of Yuzuru's abilities at first. Only the Eight-Six revered as the Ghost of Akina proved to be a cut above the rest by seamlessly dispatching high-ranking members belonging to Gunma's strongest teams, and even then, the SpeedStars were considered one of the weakest in the prefecture.

As far as Daiki knew, each time a stronger opponent came around the driver of Akina's Trueno bailed the team out every single time they were challenged which really didn't leave much room for him to be impressed. There weren't any notable stars or high-profile figures like the Rotary Brothers of Akagi or Nakazato of the Night Kids in Myogi, but if there was one thing made abundantly clear to him now in the passenger's seat of Yuzuru's Sileighty, he would be adding another name to the list simply for his utter lack of fear now that the first corner was upon them.

Before he could give the subject any further thought, Daiki felt the car's attitude change before his very eyes. At the last possible second, Yuzuru tapped the brakes and downshifted with the use of refined heel and toe. The sudden jolt caused the car's rear end to lose traction, the unmistakable sound of tires screeching joining with the seemingly unfiltered scream provided by the 2.0 liter in-line four as it blazed through the left hander in an awe-inspiring display of flair and aggressiveness.

In truth, there was no simple way for Daiki to describe the excitement and thrill that coursed through him as he watched the car drift through first corner without even crossing the center line. Everything from the way the lateral G-forces built up, down to confidence, meticulousness, and elegance Yuzuru exhibited at the wheel of his beloved Sileghty roused his spirits.

'This is incredible,' thought the blonde-haired high schooler.

Almost everything around him by that point had become an unrecognizable blur, but Daiki simply couldn't bring himself to care as the silver Nissan continued its assault on Akina's downhill unabated. The very air surrounding the young man beside him was different to what it was like earlier during the day, and for the first time he felt that he was given a true glimpse to the real Kurokawa Yuzuru. His remarkable skill and obvious love for racing were both compelling and infectious, but above all else he could not ignore the way all those emotions he bottled up were unleashed through his driving.

He understood now that much like boxing became an outlet for him, racing became the means by which Yuzuru managed to liberate himself and focus on what he did best. But at the same time however, he couldn't overlook the sudden spark of interest and freedom flaring within him as he experienced Akina's downhill with a pass racer who was truly gifted at his craft.

For better or for worse, the younger Isayama could not shake the notion that the return of his old childhood friend would spark numerous changes from here on out, and after spending the last year and a half all on his own without a single person to turn to, he truly felt that he'd found someone who understood him far more than he could have previously anticipated.

'And I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing how things will play out,' he decided as a small smirk spread across his face.

---

Otake, Hiroshima Prefecture

10:47PM

Reina was in heaven. Rotary heaven to be precise. As she continued her quiet stroll throughout the small parking lot of a 7-Eleven only a few kilometers away from Daniwa beside an enthusiastic Natsuo, she began her careful assessment of all the vehicles parked beside one another from with a large gleam in her grey eyes to go with the dazzling smile that was visible for all to see.

Tonight, would mark her second foray in Daniwa Pass, but unlike the night before, things were quite literally abuzz with street racers from all over the prefecture looking to partake in some of the drifting in the nearby touge. There was a large crowd gathered already, with some forming part of the standard on-lookers much like her herself, but the largest group among the congregation of racing enthusiasts were the members of the what she now knew to be one of the highly respected teams in the area locally known as the Rotary Club.

As the name implied, the team's membership was composed exclusively of rotary-powered vehicles. There were no pistons around to speak of, and as she discovered with enough digging of her own, the Rotary Club did not adhere exclusively to pass racing. In Hiroshima, the team rapidly developed a reputation for partaking in numerous track events, Time Attacks, and Gymkhana with a very particular notoriety for being among the most competitive and highly skilled around.

In a way, they reminded Reina of the recently disbanded Akagi RedSuns once led by Takahashi Ryosuke. The members of the Rotary Club were a very diverse bunch; highly organized, with an established hierarchy in a similar vein to the highly prolific Gunma team that once dominated much of their prefecture.

A great majority were quite young, ranging from eighteen to their early twenties which in turn, made up their first stringers. There were those however, who were older and possessed the dedication, experience and technique necessary to be considered proper veterans amongst them but much to her surprise Natsuo had been the one to reveal there were a few doctors, lawyers, an even the average salaryman that filled out the more upper ranks of the Rotary Club.

"You all seem like a very tightly-knit group," she voiced in a conversational manner.

"And you're very much right about that dear cousin," Natsuo acknowledged with a grin. "We members of the Rotary Club are united by our camaraderie and shared love for all things rotary."

Reina let out a brief chuckle in response. "Well that's plainly obvious isn't it? I count at least ten cars parked here and from what you've told me this only about half of the whole team."

"Yeah, we're missing about half our numbers which is why we've often designated this little shop as our meeting place. The manager here is good people, and since our presence tends to attract people all sorts of people who come to look, it brings him good business."

"Quite the arrangement you've got going on around here," she stated before stopping in her tracks to gaze at a beautifully modified FC before her.

Aside from her cousin's first-generation RX-7, no other vehicle had managed to capture her undivided attention as much as the metallic royal blue FC3S clad in a gorgeously designed Shine body kit. Everything from the car's subtle fender flares, the very slight, almost nondescript negative camber on its front end, paired with an equally fetching set of Blitz BRW 03 wheels wrapped in thick Toyo Proxes and the easily visible GT-wing at the rear was enthralling for her to witness.

'This car looks incredible,' she admired. 'You wouldn't even be able to tell that it's got very light negative camber on the front. It's barely even noticeable unless you know what you're looking for.'

Despite her soft spot for her brother's FD, there was something about the FC chassis that deeply resonated with her. Even though it was considered outdated by most, and many rotary enthusiasts held a preference for its succeeding model, Reina couldn't bring herself to discount how elegant and appealing they were for her. In her mind, Ryosuke's RX-7 was a clear example of how eye-catching an FC could be with just the right amount of modifications to give it a more conservative and tasteful appearance. But the exemplary specimen currently parked in front of her bore a stark number of differences when she began her mental comparison.

It was obvious to her that with a single glance, the customized FC was built with the intention of a whole lot more than just show and as she drew closer to it she caught a glimpse of the exposed engine bay since it's appealing drop vented hood had been raised earlier.

'Single turbo setup, with a Koyo v-mount intercooler, oil cooling lines, heat wrapped piping, wild turbo exhaust manifold and a custom-built intake manifold. Gosh this thing must be pushing upwards of 400 horsepower with a good amount of boost!'

Natsuo stopped in his tracks once he realized that Reina was no longer walking beside him. He turned his head, a small smile forming on his lips when he caught his cousin studying every intricate detail the blue FC had to offer. Without a second thought on the matter, the rotary specialist approached her and placed his hands at his hips to gaze at the vehicle he knew to belong to the Rotary Club's uphill specialist.

"So, this is what caught your fancy eh Reina-chan? You'd be surprised to know that this is one of the cars tuned by our shop and it's also rather well known around these parts."

"Really? This was tuned over at ARW?" she asked with clearly discernible interest in her voice.

"Hai," the tall mechanic replied. "I built the motor myself, and this one's easily among the best that I've worked on. I don't know if you noticed, but this isn't the original engine. The owner had me swap the 13BT for a 13B-REW sourced from an FD since the newer ones are often able to take more abuse than their predecessors. The blocks on these are stronger and can take higher power levels which was a must given what this car is built for."

"Indeed," said a lilting feminine voice in a marked Hiroshima-ben accent.

Both relatives turned to see a young and frighteningly attractive woman standing a few steps away from the FC with a bottle of melon flavored Ramune in her right hand. If Reina had to hazard a guess, she was roughly about the same age as Natsuo, but there was roguish charm combined with certain air mischief about her that gave the brunette a momentary pause. She most certainly did not miss the way her rich brown gaze twinkled in restrained amusement and judging by the way her eyes constantly shifted between her and Natsuo over the over the course of the next few seconds, she seemed to be curious to see him hanging around with someone as young as her.

"Reina-chan, I'd like you to meet Miura Nanami. She's just so happens to be an old school friend of mine as well as the uphill specialist of our merry little entourage. Nanami-chan is also one of our primary aces for Gymkhana and Drifting events we often partake in. Around these parts she's become known as 'Daniwa's Blue Angel', and as you can imagine she's unrivalled on the hill climb," Natsuo introduced with a roll of his eyes.

"Ooh look at that Natsuo-kun, it almost sounds like it physically pains you to say these words," the woman teased.

"Bite me," came the man's retort.

"I thought that's what I did two days ago?" Nanami quickly shot back.

Reina's grey eyes lit up with traces of humor, easily deducing that the pair had a history and plenty of stories to tell given the way they interacted with one another. Natsuo was by no means cruel or disrespectful, but he did have a sharp sense of humor that was plainly mirrored by Nanami's sharp wit seeing how red he'd become once he registered her final comment.

'For someone who loves to fool around in his free time, it's surprising to see someone who can keep him on his toes,' Reina inwardly chuckled.

From the little she managed to gather, Nanami was somewhat punkish in appearance, but this merely added to her appeal. She was dressed casually, sporting a simple pair of blue jeans, a cropped black t-shirt that showed off her toned midriff and a set of red Onitsuka Tigers. Her wavy, shoulder-length hair was a vibrant dark brown with the curling tips dyed in a wonderfully contrasting blonde. Long bangs came down to rest across her forehead, and when combined with her disarming smile the younger Kurokawa found herself taking a bit of a shine to her lively and free-spirited demeanor.

Nanami was also easily of model height, standing at about 170 centimeters accentuated by a slender yet very curvaceous figure to go with a rather prominent bust that easily drew Reina's envy without even mentioning her lightly tanned skin.

'She reminds me a bit of Yumi-nee,' Reina observed before shelving the thought away to address the woman.

"Konbanwa Miura-san, my name is Kurokawa Reina and I'm Natsuo-nii's cousin visiting from Gunma," she said with a bow.

"Nice to meet you," Nanami replied with a bow of her own. "But please, call me Nanami. I'm not one for formalities. It's nice to finally meet some of this rotor head's extended family for once, but you sure are a long way from home. Gunma isn't exactly close by."

"Then I insist you call me Reina," the Gunma native returned with a grin. "The reason I'm here in Hiroshima is because my father felt like a short trip was in order to see some of our extended family and he had some business with my uncle who just so happens to be the owner and operator of ARW."

Nanami's eyes widened in surprise. "So Gentaro-san is your uncle eh? It's no wonder you were practically glued to these cars for longer than the average passer-by, it seems like you've also got a thing for rotaries like everyone else around here."

"An astute observation," Reina praised. "But the truth is that I've been around rotaries since I was quite young. My older brother used to drive an FD for about five years until he was forced to retire the car to prolong engine's life. He's a pass racer like you, and I'd wager among the fastest in Gunma and Kanagawa without a doubt."

"And she isn't lying," Natsuo added. "I'm keen to see what my little cousin's been up to all these years with the unbeaten track record he's got."

"Interesting," Nanami remarked. "You're gonna have to tell me a little more about him when we get the chance Reina-san, but for now I gather you've got some questions about my FC so lay 'em on me."

Reina crossed her arms but did not lose the grin playing at her lips as she moved closer to the blue Mazda. She rarely ever saw an FC painted in such a color, and she knew from the numerous books and articles she read pertaining to them that it was a custom color. Either way, in the brightly illuminated parking lot the car looked every bit the touge monster she knew it was. To some extent, she was dying to get a feel for the car's suspension settings now that she knew it was specially prepared for drifting events and Gymkhana, but judging by the car's barely noticeable negative camber on the front end, she could not shake the feeling that she was also in to presence of one remarkable cornering machine.

'Unlike some of the other cars I've seen by jokers who stance them, this FC bears none of that. She's kept the rear camber as close to zero as possible which will give the car the best tire wear and forward bite possible. On the front side of things there's a light negative camber to the car but you wouldn't notice it from just a glance. It's so subtle that I'm sure she's running less than two degrees. Few people know that such a setup allows for more grip and will curb unnecessary understeer which helps a great deal when initiating a drift,' she concluded.

"Well first of I have to compliment you on it. Your car is gorgeous to look at and wide body is tastefully done and I'm usually the sort of person who prefers a more conservative look," she began.

"Domo," Nanami returned with a smile.

"I have to ask though," Reina continued. "How much power are you putting down? You're running a very sophisticated setup here, and with someone like Natuso-nii working on your motor must have had him port it too. I'm also curious about the turbocharger you're running," she inquired with visible enthusiasm.

Nanami spared Natsuo a look of surprise at how specific the questions were for a girl so incredibly young. For someone she guessed to be around sixteen or seventeen years of age at most, few often possessed as much knowledge or passion for cars and mechanics. Reina in this instance proved to be a breath of fresh air for her, and it was nice to be in the company of her gender since most members that were part of the Rotary Club happened to be male.

"Let me show you," Nanami said with a grin of her own before tossing Natsuo her keys. "Fire her up for me will you Natsuo-kun?"

The mechanic nodded in acquiesce, opening the door to quickly slip into the driver's seat. Natsuo pressed down the clutch, turning the keys at the ignition and shuddered at the feral growl unleashed by the 13B-REW mated to Nanami's FC. He gave the car a few revs and ran a quick check on the gauges before nodding to himself in satisfaction. Along with his precious FB, Nanami's FC was very much a labor of love and this mainly had to do with the fact that he counted it as one of the best engines he ever had the pleasure of building. Balanced and scalloped rotors, blocked off oil metering pump (O.M.P.), a carefully designed exhaust system and fuel system were only a host of a multitude of upgrades made to it. For this reason he always hounded his friend, making sure she took extra good care of the car and so far, he was glad to see that she took his lessons to heart.

Try as she might, Reina was unable to suppress the visible shudder that came over her once she heard the rough and lopey idle that was a characteristic only ever achieved through a considerable amount of porting. Just hearing the overlap between the intake and exhaust ports was enough to give her goosebumps, and she knew right then and there that this was no simple streetport. The constant braps the car made as it continued to idle along, paired with the astonishingly loud exhaust note it produced were enough to confirm her suspicions.

"Now to answer you questions Reina-san, the car is currently pushing about 420HP at the wheel. The turbocharger is a Borg Warner S475 running about 15 psi of boost, and the engine can take that sort of load continuously so long as one knows how to care for it properly. Natsuo-kun made sure this thing was built to last when he was putting it together," Nanami declared with no small amount of pride in her voice.

"Yeah, but thanks to yours truly," Natsuo said once he exited the vehicle. "It took me almost a week to tune this thing for the amount of abuse you've subjected to it over the last year, and I'm quite proud of the way it's still holding up."

"That idle isn't normal," Reina pointed out. "what sort of alterations did you make to the ports?" she asked.

"Well that's cause it's a half-bridgeport with slightly enlarged primary and exhaust ports. The reason why we went in this direction is because it's more sensible to retain as much low-end torque possible all whilst pushing the limits of top end power to the best of our ability. Our team isn't solely focused on pass racing, but it's a part of our repertoire. Nanami is considered the second fastest around these parts, and she shares many of our track duties with me and some of the other members," Natsuo explained.

"But wouldn't that also hurt fuel efficiency and make it harder to drive on the daily?"

"Normally it would," Nanami confessed. "But it's not as bad as most people make it out to be. On top of that, this is more of a daily track car, and it's right at home both on the track and the touge. It did take some getting used to on my part at first, but after a while I grew to love it. It's perfectly suited for the streets, but I do have to fill up the tank more often since it's quite the guzzler. With the O.M.P. delete kit I had Natsuo-kun install I need to carry premix with me everywhere I go when I stop for gas, but I have no regrets."

"But that's not everything," Natsuo added. "The whole intake system is custom built. I port-matched the intakes to fit those of a 13B-RE Cosmo since they're slightly bigger, made sure the runners were equal for better overall flow and re-worked the fuel system. Bigger injectors, better fuel rails, the whole works. Even the exhaust manifold was made in house, but the custom ECU is where this thing really shines. My old man managed to source one custom made by Tsugumi over in Kanagawa."

"How many injectors are you currently running?" she inquired.

"Six," Nanami affirmed.

'Six injectors?! Gosh Natsuo-nii must have a tremendous amount of patience when it comes to tuning if he willingly subjected himself to that.'

Reina drew closer to the royal blue FC, peering into the engine bay again to assess the marvelous handiwork produced by ARW before moving away to gaze at its interior. Her grey eyes perused the dashboard, and she noted with a small amount of satisfaction that the necessary oil pressure, water temperature and boost gauges were where they needed to be. The car even had a new tachometer installed and the rest of the interior was pretty much spotless. It even retained all of the normal every-day comforts a daily driver required such as air-conditioning, but she most certainly didn't miss the black OMP bucket seats paired with matching four-point Takata racing harnesses. To complete the look, Reina caught the logo of her uncle's tuning shop proudly displayed in the form of a decal across the car's windshield.

'It's even got a Cusco roll cage. Nanami-san really went all out on this car. Onii-chan would have probably loved seeing this,' she thought to herself. 'The way this is set-up is almost criminal.'

After carefully scrutinizing the car's interior for a few minutes, Reina silently made her way towards the rear of Nanami's FC. With each step she took, the car's rough idle became progressively louder, but this did little to deter her in the least. All the reading she did, all the videos she watched, and time she put taking apart the engine of her brother's FD under Masashi's careful supervision gave her an even greater appreciation for their simplicity and endless potential. Seeing such a wonderfully tuned rotary drew her attention in a way no other sports car ever did, and as much as she adored her brother's Sileighty; she knew which direction she wanted to go once her time came.

'So, this is a late GT-X trim model,' she observed. 'I always did love the afterburner taillights the S5 series came with. I get the feeling this one is from '89. Oh, that's one lovely dolphin tail exhaust.'

Once fully satisfied with her inspection of the RX-7, Reina completed her walk around the vehicle to rejoin the two adults with only a single thought running around her mind.

"I must confess that after seeing both of your cars, I'm now dying to see you two in action tonight. The Angel and Devil of Daniwa; quite the pair you two are."

"That can be arranged," Nanami said.

Natsuo most certainly did not miss the small wink and knowing smile Nanami sent his way. The seemingly playful tone in her voice revealed an unspoken challenge between them, and he knew the ravishing beauty well enough by now to know that it was all a part of their little game. All those years they spent at school dancing around one another did have its benefits, since their minds operated on on similar wavelengths most of the time.

"I'll race you later tonight on the inbound, but how about we make things interesting?" he offered with a matching smirk of his own.

"What did you have in mind?" was the woman's skittish response.

"You. Me. Dinner. Sunday night, if I win, and you'll help me rebuild that other motor I hunted down for you as a spare for your FC," the young mechanic confidently declared.

"Ooh you're on Natsuo-kun. If I win though you're going to take me out on a movie night instead and you'll need to teach me your Dad's okonomiyaki recipe. No ifs ands or buts."

"Hey that recipe holds its weight in gold ya know? It's a trade secret, I can't just hand that out to anyone. My old man will kill me if I do," Natsuo protested with wide eyes.

"Aw, and here I was looking forward to having you all to myself at my place," Nanami replied with a small pout.

There were few cat calls and whistles made by their onlooking teammates, but the two adults continued their blatant flirtations with one another, blissfully unaware of the attention their banter was generating. Reina had the decency to blush and tune out of their conversation for a moment, not needing anything else to be able to put two and two together. It was liberating to see her cousin genuinely happy around someone like Nanami even if he denied that things weren't all that serious between them for the moment.

Ultimately however, Reina elected to steer things back to their earlier topic. She coughed into her hand, successfully dragging the two out of their own little world. To his credit, Natsuo appeared to be slightly embarrassed for losing track while Nanami rubbed the back of her head in visible discomfort.

"Sorry you had to witness that," her cousin apologized.

"It's fine," the teenager assured. "But I have a final question for you Nanami-san."

"Fire away."

"Before I leave for Gunma this Sunday is there a chance you would be willing to show me a bit of your technique? You don't have to go all out if you don't want to, but if I'm at least able to learn something just by sitting beside you then it would have been worth it for me."

In an instant Nanami's brown eyes flared with a newfound respect and admiration for the girl. The few minutes of conversation shared between them was enough for her to take a real liking to Reina, and the longer it went revealed a remarkable degree of knowledge for mechanics for someone her age. Truthfully, Nanami was thoroughly impressed by Natsuo's relative, and with a single glance in her direction she now realized how much promise she displayed even if she did not seem to be aware of it.

'Her aura is remarkably strong,' she surmised. 'It's almost scary to think that she doesn't have as much experience behind the wheel given the wealth of information, she's already privy to. In a few years I get the feeling that she's gonna have the skills to match it.'

"It would be my pleasure," she responded with a smile of her own.

While Reina bowed in appreciation, Natsuo gave her a small nod as thanks. At heart, Nanami was always kind and vivacious to those she held in high esteem. This was a characteristic of hers he absolutely adored, but above all else he admired her adventurous disposition. Having both gone to private school in their native city of Hiroshima, Nanami grew up as the daughter of one of Mazda's leading engineers who also happened to be an old friend of his father's.

As result, she was always quite passionate about rotaries and made no secret of her admiration for Gentaro as a professional racer due to his tireless work with Mazda. Having first met her during their middle school years, Nanami was always bold and carefree spirit. So much so, that at times she failed to see that her behavior put off those who were more reserved or conservative, but he would never ask her to change that about her. The reality was that he enjoyed being in her presence immensely, he simply couldn't get enough of her.

Their current arrangement for the moment, certainly had its perks, but at the same time Natsuo knew he wanted more. Much more. While the dynamic of their friendship remained the same, at times it was difficult for him to get closer to her due to her desire to keep things at arm's length. He couldn't blame her either. Highschool was different for them in many ways, and his newfound popularity as his school's leading slugger and rising baseball star made things difficult for them both. Looking back, his behavior those days left a lot to be desired, and he would readily admit that he made a complete ass of himself in the process.

Deep down, Natsuo knew his season ending injury as a second year was what ultimately bridged the gap between them once more. Those days were arguably some of the most difficult and frustrating he'd experienced until then, but it was also remarkably sobering. Aside from being a crucial member of his school's baseball team, he was also their primary catcher. Their team was well on their way to a national championship when a rough tackle at home plate left him in agony.

Although the collision was by no means malicious, he was also no stranger to them as was required of his position. In all honesty the pain of a torn ACL was not something Natsuo wished to relive, let alone recall. Being sidelined for six months was one of the worst feelings he ever had, and the resulting scar that ran vertically across his left knee from his surgery would never fade; but it also gave him plenty of time to think and figure out who his real friends were.

Only two members from his entire squad ever came to visit him during first few weeks of his recovery process, while a some of his closer friends did so more frequently. Not even his then-girlfriend visited him as often as he would have liked, but much to his surprise, Nanami became the one individual whose presence remained a constant day in and day out over the course of those six months. For most of their second year they were barely on speaking terms due to their falling out, but not long after his injury he came to realize just how important she was to him.

Nanami was easily one of his oldest friends, having been around him long enough to know him better than most. She was never afraid to give voice to her opinions on a particular subject and held no qualms about calling him out on his flaws when he was being thick headed.

Nowadays, Natsuo would readily admit that most of the time he was indeed quite the brainless moron a few years prior. As an only child he'd naturally been quite spoiled. He never wanted for anything and he had a strong suspicion it was mainly because his father wasn't around all that much due to his responsibilities as one of Mazda's premier racing drivers and engineers. To make up for it, the man doted on him heavily once he retired and up until he was seventeen, things were good for their family all around.

He was popular, had many friends, and was hot property with the numerous scouts that paid his school a visit just to see him play. Girls were clinging to him left and right and as a result he developed a reputation for being a prominent skirt chaser. For all intents and purposes the youngest Asahina knew he was a scoundrel in every sense of the word and looking back on it now, he wished he'd done things differently.

Since then, his relationship with Nanami wasn't quite what it used to be. They were still very close, and shared many of the same interests, but each time he tried to get close to her in a more emotionally significant way, she seemed to pull back. Now that he was older, Natsuo understood the effect his behavior had on the woman he'd grown to have feelings for. Even if she did reciprocate at times and enjoyed having a bit of fun with him on the side, he realized that his younger cousin was right. For this reason, Natsuo knew he would have to be patient and slowly wear her down over time. He spared Reina a quick glance, resolving that he would ask her for advice after a few runs on Daniwa.

'The heart of a woman scorned is indeed dangerous to trifle with,' he mentally sighed.

Natsuo knew he had his work cut out for him. There was no easy way out nor were there any short cuts, and even if there were, he would rather earn Nanami's complete trust and affection legitimately. Truth be told, another reason he continued to work at Mazda's museum part time was because he simply enjoyed seeing her nerd over the fleet of cars they saw day in and day out. The sight was positively irresistible, and the staff at ARW adored having her around. His father had taken a shine to her very early on and was the one to get her into pass racing just as he did for him.

'And Okaa-san loves her to bits too.'

A small twinge of pain wormed its way into his heart as he thought of his mother. Both he and his father were incredibly lucky to still have such a remarkable woman around. Her accident three years prior marked one of the hardest chapters in his young life and watching his father struggle to cope with the pressure of helping her deal with her injury marked a change in him.

Asahina Erika was always the yin to his father's yang. His parents complemented each other so well it often left him bemused. Those two possessed a seemingly unnatural ability to communicate with only a few words or a few looks depending on the circumstances, and since their early days she'd always been in his corner cheering him on. As a mother, Natsuo could hardly ask for more and despite being confined to a wheelchair or crutches most of the time due to her severe back injury she still retained her bright and fun-loving disposition.

Of all the girls he brought home over the years, Erika never treated them as she did Nanami. Whenever his friend was off work or needed him for a favor, she often paid his mother a visit for a chat while she waited for his arrival. She spent a considerable amount of time with her, with him being the subject of numerous conversations Nanami kept close to the vest.

All in all, he was just glad that the two got along so well, even if they often poked fun at his expense by sharing some of his most embarrassing stories. Even his father joined in at times, and it was good to see the former racer-turned mechanic return to his more cheerful self. Natsuo knew he was lucky all things considered; especially with the tragedy that befell his relatives only a year after his mother's accident.

Not many people knew of his father's relation to the legendary rally racer that was Kurokawa Sakumo. Suffice was it to say that his arrival to ARW floored many of those on staff. His uncle was considered a rallying eminence, with many pitching him as one of the finest drivers ever produced by the island nation of Japan. One could say that racing was very much in his blood, and for both Reina and Yuzuru doubly so given the big shoes they had to fill.

Part of him was genuinely curious to see how far his other relative had progressed over the years. After all, it wasn't every day that a mere fourteen-year-old was handed the keys of an FD and told to have at it. Natsuo knew Yuzuru received a much earlier start to the world of racing compared to most, and this was certainly the case with him and Nanami. Daniwa and Otake were their playground aside from their experience in Gymkhana, drift, and circuit races. They weren't lacking in terms of exposure by any means, but racing in New Zealand, then Kanagawa and Gunma were also quite noteworthy on Yuzuru's part.

Sooner or later they would get together again; of this, there was little doubt in his mind. The previous night Reina had spoken to him at length over her brother's tenure in Kanagawa, and it was safe to say that he was quite startled by her revelations. The idea Yuzuru would purposely go out in search of the driver involved in that devastating incident in Hakone was not something he would have expected from the friendly and charismatic boy he visited over the course of a few summers in the past.

None of this sat well with him, and even though Reina was adamant that her older brother was steadily improving with their move to Gunma, he would still prefer to speak with him on his own terms. He honestly could not imagine what it would be like to lose not one, but two, very precious people at such a young age. He truly felt for his cousin and the rest of the Kurokawa family for their own loss, but it also wouldn't do the boy any good if he continued to dwell on his past.

'Like me, he aspires to hone his skills on the touge to propel himself to the next level. Even when we were kids, he professed from very early on that he wished to become a professional. Kakeru wouldn't have wanted him to torment himself this way, and if he can't see that then a trip to Gunma is in order. There's no way in hell I'm going to let such a promising talent like him consume himself like this… Besides, I'm keen on racing him myself,' he reasoned with a grin.

With his decision made, Natsuo drew away from his thoughts. He crossed his arms, glancing around the parking lot and in full capacity as team leader of the Rotary Club. By now, almost each member of his team had gathered for a night of fun in Daniwa and he would do his upmost to give Reina a true glimpse of their abilities.

"Looks like almost everyone's here," he commented.

"Almost," Nanami agreed. "I think we're missing about three more before we can head off. What's the time?"

"Almost 11:20 now," Reina added after stealing a peak at her watch.

"Then let's wait about ten more minutes to see if they arrive. If not, we can just head out. I get the feeling we may have a few challengers tonight from one of the rival teams. I just got a message from one of our lookouts stationed at one of the checkpoints that the driver of that kouki S14 is looking to claim a few scalps tonight."

"Again? Didn't I beat him last time?" Natsuo said with an incredulous look on his face.

"Yeah but he's quite literally tearing up the pass and from what I've been told he's not alone this time. You know our first stringers aren't as good as that kid. They may be able to take on some of those in his team but they're not good enough to go against someone of his caliber yet. So, do you wanna do the honors or should I Natsuo-kun?" Nanami queried.

"I'll do it. My FB is better suited for the downhill since it's a much lighter chassis and quicker too. You may have more power at your disposal, but I still have you beat in the cornering department even with all the adjustments we've made to your FC."

Reina watched the earlier pout Nanami sported return with full force, this time around it was directed at her cousin with a little more charm than the previous one. A small laugh escaped her as she continued observing their non-verbal exchange. Seeing the two adults interact this way an endearing sight, striking a chord with the hopeless romantic in her that she very rarely revealed to others.

"Even if you give me that look you know I'm right Nanami-chan. You're just as capable as I am but I'm not gonna budge on this one and if it's any consolation once I've dealt with the S14 we still have to settle our bet, alright?"

The sudden reminder of their own upcoming battle seemed to have its effect as Nanami nodded in acceptance. "Fine. Next time I call dibs he comes crawling around even if it's the downhill alright?"

"Deal," the tall mechanic returned with an impish smirk of his own before turning to address Reina. "It's almost time to go so I'll have you sit in with me for the first few runs in Daniwa before I turn you over to Nanami-chan so you can see her in action alright?"

"Understood," Reina exclaimed enthusiastically.

Natsuo held out the keys to his FB to her. "Great. Can you do me a favor and fire her up for me? She needs to warm up before we head out."

In response Reina took the proffered keys with silent acceptance. The smile on her face was all he needed to see how enthralled the girl was by her surroundings and the general atmosphere of their team along with the fleet of RX-7s with a small smattering of Cosmos and RX-3s all parked beside one another. He watched her move in the direction of his FB and donned a smile of his own.

"I like her," Nanami remarked.

"As do I," the man professed. "Mark my words, she's going to go very far in a few years. I just hope I'll get the chance to see what she's made of then."

"You and me both," Nanami confirmed.

"Then let's get this show on the road, shall we?"

---

Irohazaka, Tochigi Prefecture

1:09AM

A full week had now officially come and gone since the Emperors officially issued a challenge against the driver who was rapidly becoming known across Gunma as the Ghost of Usui, and in that time the amount of information Kyoichi managed to gather was nothing short of astonishing.

Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought himself capable of making such a serious miscalculation on his part; and for someone who prided themselves on their pragmatism it was a bitter pill to swallow. As much as he loathed to admit it, Ryosuke had been right all along. For the better part of the previous week, Kyoichi dedicated as much time as he could on developing a profile based on Kurokawa's previous exploits.

No stone was left unturned through these endeavors, and while he would be the first to readily admit that his network was not as vast or sophisticated as the one the leader of Project D commanded, it still got the job done. Kyoichi was a man of patience, preferring to wait and gather as much information as he possibly could rather than do things half-assed. It simply wasn't in his nature to allow his overconfidence to cloud his judgement, and the few times such an occurrence came about he ended up paying for it in the end.

As a result, over the course of the previous week he'd slowly begun to formulate a strategy that would serve to complement Naruse's strengths as a driver and exploit some of the few weaknesses he managed to observe during Kurokawa's previous race against Iwamura Keigo of the Night Kids. By now, it was a known fact among a select number of people that the driver hailed as the Ghost of Usui and the one so aptly described as Kanagawa's Kamikaze were one and the same.

In the wrong hands, such a crucial piece of information could prove to unsettle even the most experienced of pass races in all of Kanto. But at the same time, it would draw a tremendous amount of attention to a driver who was only beginning to make a name for themselves in Gunma and this in turn, lead him to the question that had been plaguing his mind over the past week.

'Why would he so willingly disappear when he was at the height of his street racing career in Kanagawa only to reappear months later in Gunma driving a completely different car? I just doesn't make much sense,' he contemplated.

There were plenty of rumors that still filtered across Kanagawa regarding the driver of the hallowed FD that was one of the few to ever come out unscathed against the likes of the Shinigami, and as difficult as it was for him to accept, he still could not reconcile how such a monstrous driver who was then only seventeen to eighteen years of age possessed the skills, speed, and balls to dismantle Kanagawa's Four Lines of Defense all on his own.

'It's almost like he was an entirely different person if I compared him to the one that I first met that night in Akina…but then he changed…the moment I started probing him his whole demeanor shifted.'

Not long after their first encounter in Akina, Seiji and Naruse confessed to have made the same observation and this led him to the realization that beneath the calm and care-free façade Kurokawa carried lay the monster that once prowled Kanagawa like a beast hunting for his next prey. In a way, this reminded him greatly of one Takahashi Ryosuke. There was no simpler way of putting it and it set off all sorts of warnings in his head.

Kurokawa Yuzuru was a puzzling individual; the physical embodiment of everything Kyoichi inherently despised primarily because he reminded him of his own weaknesses as a driver. Caution, logic, and determination were the principles upon which he based his time and tested philosophy of turbo and 4WD. Even during his tenure as a student in the Todo Juku, he was one of the few among his peers who sought to question the methods of their instructors and to this day, such a mindset did him well.

One could never dive in underprepared in the world of racing, and this was something that applied to both circuits and touge alike. This happened to be one of the few lessons instilled in him by his instructors at the Todo School that he readily agreed with, mainly because it resonated with his highly analytical approach to everything he did as a driver.

Kyoichi was the sort of individual that did not like puzzles. He hated them in fact, and it was one of the many reasons why he disliked Ryosuke. The man was deliberately vague and cryptic with others, and this translated to both his personality and technique as a street racer. Ryosuke was unbelievably callous behind the wheel of his well-known FC, and he rarely ever showed his hand to any of his opponents which is what made him so frustratingly quick and effective when he dispatched them.

He was one of the few pass racers who challenged him day in and day out, and one of the fewer still, that he respected despite their differences. For this reason, he was becoming increasingly annoyed with the puzzle Kurokawa was rapidly becoming and part of it had to do with the information relayed to him by his contacts in Kanagawa.

The details pertaining to his tenure in the prefecture hailed as the Holy Land of Street racing was slowly beginning to reveal itself; but if there was one thing many witnesses agreed on, it was the cold and calculating efficiency Kurokawa continually raced with. The kid rapidly developed a reputation for his unpredictability, and to this day it continued to be the case. His previous raced in Usui revealed as much, but at the same time it spoke of how smart and dangerous Kurokawa could be as an opponent.

Right from the very get-go, Kurokawa knew he was being watched. There was no denying it, and throughout the battle he merely toyed with his opponent which highlighted just how ruthless the driver of Usui's new Sileighty could truly be.

'Kurokawa has become more of a problem and I could have ever predicted,' Kyoichi thought to himself.

As underhanded of a tactic as it was, Kyoichi was also forced to acknowledge its brilliance. Kurokawa remained dominant for the entirety of his battle against Iwamura Keigo and staved off his attack until he had a surefire chance of passing the Integra, but this did not mean he was averse to resorting to mind games as means to wearing down his challenger.

This trait alone, when considered with Kurokawa's innate ability to adapt to any given situation thrown at him, along with his extensive track record rendered him a very big threat to the Emperors. Reservations aside, Kyoichi knew that Kurokawa possessed far more experience than his new No.3 driver, thus leaving him with a very big conundrum.

'Naruse is undoubtedly skilled. He wouldn't have been able to topple most of our hierarchy if he did not have the technique to back it up, but this battle of his at Akagi could also be a bit of a gamble all things considered.'

Only time would tell if his decision to allow Naruse to race against Kurokawa would be vindicated given the amount of time his newest recruit had been spending racing across Akagi's downhill. Many of his team members, Seiji included, spoke to him at length regarding the boy's times and performance in Gunma and so far, he was thoroughly impressed. Each night he spent on the mountain, yielded better results, and it did not stop there either. Many members of the now disbanded RedSuns had taken to watching his driver's every move, jotting down his posted times and most likely sending them back to Ryosuke through various reports which meant people were starting to pay attention to Naruse and the Emperors once again.

With two weeks left before the Emperors began their first expedition outside Tochigi since their loss to Takahashi Ryosuke of the RedSuns the previous year, this battle would be their latest showing against the street racers of Gunma. It was no small secret that their defeat was a severe blow to their morale and image given their dominance in the area, and Kyoichi himself struggled to come to terms with the reason for his loss; but in the end they came out all the stronger for it.

Even if Naruse somehow lost against Kurokawa, the battle would be hard fought. This offered him the chance to see what the Gunma native was truly capable of, which in turn gave him a better idea as to what they would be dealing with in the future. Experience told Kyoichi that a car was only ever as good as it's driver, and although the young brunette was certainly very skilled, he was by no means blind to the fact that he was also handicapped by his recent switch from an FD to a Sileighty.

'And it's a weakness I intend for Naruse to exploit to its fullest,' he silently vowed.

Any racing driver worth their salt knew that swapping cars was not a seamless experience. It took time and required at least a brief period to adjust. Such a change was usually taxing as well, mainly because it forced the driver to grow accustomed to the new intricacies and mannerisms the new vehicle brought which gave his team and Naruse a very clear advantage as well.

By now, the leader of the Emperors had been able to decipher the differences between the Kurokawa who once Kanagawa's Kamikaze, and the one who was now beginning to be referred to as the Ghost of Usui. Behind the wheel of his FD, the kid was a very much a force to be reckoned with. He claimed a very large string of victories and very few even knew of his identity, but the locals would remember him as the sort of driver who gave no quarter on the touge.

In the span of a single year, Kurokawa managed to carve out a reputation for being notoriously cold-blooded, aggressive, and merciless against those who he challenged and those who challenged him in return. He never lost a race, and with each battle he undertook, he seemed to become a veritable monster who drove with everything he had to give.

Most people would have called him either fearless or reckless. Others would have thought him to have a death wish for racing through Hakone in such thick fog without a single regard for his own well-being, but one thing Kyoichi managed to deduce from all of this; is that Kurokawa was an emotionally driven driver who combined his experience, his instincts, and highly analytical approach to execute some of the most blistering displays ever witnessed in Kanagawa.

Above all else, this was probably the biggest reason why he took a certain dislike to Kurokawa. He was an unknown; too unpredictable, and extraordinarily reserved, which reminded him greatly of his fiercest rival. Takahashi Ryosuke was considered a veritable genius in the world of street racing, and despite his claims of being retired, there were signs that he'd taken an active interest in Kurokawa. If given a year or two, the kid could become just as prolific in the long run, legendary figure in his home prefecture if he played his cards right.

Kyoichi heaved a sigh as he drew his carton of cigarettes from his pocket. At this time of night Irohakaza was completely desolate. Very few cars ever drove through the mountain pass given how narrow and treacherous it could be in such darkness, but at times he enjoyed paying his home course a visit and being left to his thoughts. He had half a mind to complete a few downhill runs now that he was here, but ultimately decided he it could wait until his guest arrived.

A gentle breeze began to blow, but he ignored it in favor of his pack of Marlboro Lights. He tapped the carton repeatedly, compressing the tobacco as much as he possibly could before taking one out and slipping it to his lips. Once done, he pocketed it and cupped a hand around his cigarette, flicking open his zippo only to pause once his ears picked up on a guttural roar of a high-revving naturally aspirated engine reverberating across Irohazaka.

'About damn time. I was beginning to think he was going to blow me off given our mutual dislike for one another,' he mused.

As the vehicle continued to draw closer to the summit, Kyoichi took the time to finally light his cigarette and lean against his Evo III. His little trip to Nikko was for more than just a simple distraction, and with most members of his team out in Gunma continuing their scout of Akagi, he was content to remain in Tochigi given the more pressing matters he needed to tend to.

'Though my sources in Kanagawa are few, they are still reliable. One thing they all mentioned about Kurokawa was that he was always on the move. He never confined himself to a single touge and constantly roamed the prefecture in search of a very specific car, but the question is why? What reason could he possibly have to do such a thing?'

Once again, Kyocihi found himself with more questions plaguing his mind and no answers to them. For someone of his bearing, it was a distasteful position to be in and for this reason he chose to swallow his pride and ask for a meeting with the only other person he knew capable of shedding light on the subject. As things stood, they'd never truly seen eye to eye and so far, nothing would ever be able to change that although they were both graduates of the same racing school. They were simply too set in their ways, too stubborn and willful to even stand being in each other's presence longer than was required and that was putting it lightly.

The way he saw it, there were only two ways their meeting would go, and neither were in any way a positive outcome for him. Their last encounter in Akina a week prior was far from enlightening and he made no secret of his ties to Kurokawa however distant they may have seemed. Bearing this in mind, Kyoichi knew he had his work cut out for him. Nothing was ever easy when it came to his fellow Todo School graduate and senpai, but above all else, he could also prove to be quite the arrogant bastard if one got on his bad side like he did many times in the past.

Moments later, the roar that echoed across the otherwise peaceful mountain pass was followed by the trademark screech of tires. By now, it was close enough for Kyoichi to tear Kyoichi from his thoughts. He spared a glance in its general direction, easily spotting the headlights that were visible through the tree line and stole a drag from his burning cigarette. The sound was one he was very well acquainted with, given the four prior occasions he raced the man without managing to produce a single favorable result.

Although his losses against Ryosuke certainly stung, they were not as prevalent as those he experienced at the hands of his fellow Tochigi native. Whenever he faced the elder Takahashi, he was modest and critical in the way he orchestrated his assaults, always adapting and analyzing any given situation thrown at him with his sharp and intuitive mind. It was a stark contrast to the more brutal and sadistic tendencies the individual so infamously known as Happogahara's Yellow Flash became associated with.

Unlike Kurokawa, the man thoroughly enjoyed toying with his opponents more than was deemed necessary. Facing him on the downhill of Happogahara was considered by many to be a pointless endeavor, having only lost on his home course once in his entire street racing career. The man was the sort of driver who derived personal satisfaction from pulling his punches, rarely giving his challengers any room for a brief reprieve and this was without even taking into consideration his undeniable skill and technique forged in their shared home prefecture.

Many of their instructors, peers, and fellow racers alike considered him talented beyond measure. Aggressive when necessary, lethal if need be, and astonishingly quick no matter where he went. It was the sort of talent forged through years of endless pursuit of one's craft and as Honda's most recent signing for the upcoming season in the JTCC, heads were beginning to turn in his direction everywhere he went. He'd been featured in automotive magazines across Japan for the better part of the last two years, drawing the attention of some very big names and interviewed on numerous occasions for his part as their alma mater's latest graduate to make it to the big leagues.

People were finally giving him the recognition that came with becoming a full-fledged professional, a position envied and desired by countless pass racers all over Japan; and yet, each time Kyoichi set his sights on the man he appeared to be lacking the fire he first saw in him all those years ago. This angered him, far more than he would previously care to admit. He simply could not fathom why someone who had worked so hard to achieve such a remote possibility did not appreciate or enjoy the fruits of his labor. Such a thought was beyond ludicrous to him, and one day he would certainly question him for it.

'But not now; tonight, my focus will be Kurokawa and his ties to him; whatever they may be. There isn't much for me to go on, but I've now managed to gain a better insight to his past.'

A series of downshifts suddenly filled his ears, the high-pitched exhaust note belonging to an F20C becoming even more distinguishable as the yellow Honda S2000 feared across all of Tochigi finally made its appearance. Kyoichi silently watched the car slow down, finally coming to a halt only a few meters away from him.

Iwamura Tatsuru emerged from the driver's side of his beloved AP1 with a hard glare adorning his features. Of all the dealings he had with his fellow graduate and kouhai, this was the first instance in which he'd reached out to him for something other than a challenge. Even amongst their instructors it was obvious that there was no love lost between them, which in turn deeply left him slightly bewildered to request a meeting with him on such short notice.

"Sudo," he greeted with a voice devoid of any warmth.

"Iwamura," Kyoichi acknowledged through a breath of smoke.

---

A/N:

(4/19/20)

I have to say guys, this chapter took a lot out of me. At first, I had trouble deciding in which direction I wanted this chapter to go, but now we've delved a little more into Yuzuru's background, his state of mind, and more importantly, details about his past are slowly beginning to emerge. I thoroughly enjoyed writing about that, and the Omake/One-shot I still have in the works will be set a full year and a half before Rise of Usui's Ghsot begins. Be on the look out when that happens because I get the feeling that it will come out sometime soon.

Now, with that aside, this chapter also delved a little bit into Natuso's background. He's quickly becoming a character I'm having a lot of fun writing scenes for, especially with when paired with the newly introduced Miura Nanami. Depending on how things play out, we may see more of her and Natsuo in the future once Reina's arc in Hiroshima comes to an end.

That being said the next chapter should see Yuzuru finally arrive in Ibaraki. Also, don't think that he's even forgotten about the task his father set for him. That's still in the works, and I think the next chapter or so will give you all an inkling as to whether he'll finally manage to break his course record with the Eight-Six by the seven seconds necessary. The race between Takumi and Joshima may just give him the final push he so desperately needs, and in the coming chapters we may just see parts of the battle between the two from his perspective. :)

As usual, please read, and review. Your thoughts and comments are what keep me going when it comes to this story, especially with all the madness going on in the world right now. I hope you are all taking care of yourselves and are staying safe.

Later guys,

SilentAssassin11

P.S.

I've recently gotten requests over the last few weeks asking me about details and specs for the cars and the modifications done to some of the cars certain characters drive. Honestly, I'm starting to consider it but I would like your input to see if you would all be interested in having me publish a list of them on my profile if you wish. If you decide to leave me a review, please leave me a comment whether or not you would like me to do this as well.