III

31: Trail of the White Comet

III

The following days were some of the most intensive training I had done in my life.

Through sheer hard work and dozens of hours in the Abyss working on everything from heat and pressure resistance racing from both the following and leading positions, as well as the list of things that could go wrong for me in my race with Takumi, I was nearly halfway done.

My routine was simple but effective.

At 7 AM every morning I got up and packed as much food and water into the FC as I would need for the next few hours. Then I ran diagnostics as quickly as I could before leaving.

I would head out to Akina in broad daylight and start at the peak, load up the Abyss and get to work.

I would spend two hours on speed and handling technique, shifting, braking, acceleration, everything I would need to beat Takumi in a conditionless downhill time attack.

Then I would spend two hours levelling heat resistance and then tire management, which really went hand in hand doing both at the same time. I found the Gamer rewarded me with more EXP the harder I made it for myself to master things. As such, I was able level up both heat resistance and tire management to LV 70 in two days.

Another two hours were spent on perfecting things I couldn't account for normally, like random roadkill and animals appearing, foliage and even puddles of things like certain oils which reduced the responsiveness of the rear tires. Like everything else I started training for, it was only hard at first, but because of the Gamer I was able to start getting better and better as time went on.

The last two hours were the equivalent of hard sparring with both the Abyss' version of Kyoichi Sudo and Keihito Usaya in his red NSX. Both were professional drivers, more so in Usaya's case but Sudo still applied relatively, but after a few days I was able to finally beat them both, albeit by a split second.

Then I would get out of the Abyss, drive home, make sure the simulator's progress checks all were correct. Update any simulations, and start working on anything both Father and med school had given me.

This normally would've taken from 10 to 4, but instead only took two hours. From midday to one o'clock, I ate lunch and called Mako. Then from one to three, I went to Akagi to return to the Abyss and focus only on shift and braking work.

At four Keisuke got off work and I would need to call Fumihiro to ask him about the state of the cars on the Red Suns as well as any technical and training problems that might've come up. Then from five to seven I ate dinner, did some assignments ahead of time, caught up on any lab work that needed to be done from home, and made any adjustments to the FC that training might've misaligned.

At eight o'clock as the sun went down, I trained with Keisuke on the downhill nearly non-stop until around ten. Then I went home and slept.

Because of how rigorously I trained, I had forgotten to account for the sheer amount of EXP training for so long and so hard the Gamer would give me.

Thus, I was wrong about how much time it would take to reach the level I needed. It took 10 days less to reach the times I wanted after running the numbers through my simulator again. I hadn't accounted for how much the Gamer was able to multiply EXP when combining drills together as well.

A week in and I was halfway done with all of my goals.

I was halfway through level 103. Heat Resistance was at LV 87, Hazard Avoidance which included hazards ranging from puddles of hidden oil to deer jumping in front of the car was at LV 83, and my blocking drift was at LV 81. Any other skill I would need was well above LV 90.

At my current pace, I would reach LV 100 for all of the skills I had detailed I would need to go into this race fully prepared for anything. But I needed to learn two techniques I knew I would need to win this race.

The gutter trick took serious timing, but there were two ways to do them on Akina's downhill. The first was to grip the front tires into them and eliminate any understeer, which would send the car in a slingshot around the turn. The second was to grip with both tires, and the level of precision you would need to maintain stability of the car during the recovery was insane.

Should I learn these, I could seriously wound Takumi's pride. It was gutting enough to him to see that I had learned how to do the first gutter run in canon but to do the second would be seriously crippling.

If Takumi could catch up to me after that point and contest the lead at the critical section, it would be the equivalent of continuing to fight after being knocked out.

Normally, it would take years to reach this level of precision. To place both right-side tires into the gutter and then be able not only to clear the turn in them and regain control of the car after hooking through them was absolutely ridiculous. I still don't understand how Takumi was able to do it on his very first try, although considering how used to using the gutters on Akina he was it made a bit of sense.

Still, I would need to start practicing for it.

On the twenty-third of August, I decided to gather Red Suns for a training session. It had been about two weeks since I had even gone to one, but the call still needed to be made.

I watched as the sun began to set from Akagi's peak while calling Fumihiro.

"Hey Ryosuke."

"Hi Fumihiro. I was hoping to join you all tonight for some training."

His tone was surprised. "You are? Well sure I'll make sure to let everyone know. They're bound to be glad to have you back on the mountain."

III

About twenty minutes after sundown, Aisuke and Takihiro were the first to appear.

"Ryosuke," Aisuke said, closing the door to his 180. "Good to see you back during training hours."

Takihiro nodded in agreement.

I could see that they could tell I was being quiet tonight. Just by seeing the look on my face, Takihiro was curious. "What's going on Ryosuke? Is something up?"

"You could say that. I have an announcement to make to the team."

"Is it good news?" wondered Aisuke.

"You'll see." I said.

I watched the Red Suns chatter quietly. Even Fumihiro was on the mountain tonight to participate, which would've been rare had I not announced it to him previously.

Keisuke was the last to arrive. Judging by the sounds of his tires up Akagi's hill I could tell he was in a hurry.

"I got here as fast as I could." Keisuke practically slammed the door to the FD shut while running to my side. "Why didn't you tell me you wanted to train with the rest of the team tonight?"

"It's not a big deal Keisuke."

"It is a big deal! Only you and I have trained downhill for the race with the 86. I thought you wanted the team to be run by Aisuke and Fumi until you were ready."

I put my hands in the pockets of my white jacket. "Which is why I'm politely asking for the return of training under my direction."

Everyone muttered to each other, Keisuke was surprised. They all knew what this meant.

"Before anyone asks, I am not fully prepared for the race with the 86. However, I am progressing faster than I initially anticipated." I said. "I have enough time now to resume my role as leader of this team. That is if you all will allow it."

Kenta laughed. "What, you think just because you train on your own for a few weeks we've forgotten you're our leader? I couldn't wait until you took over training for us again since you've started getting ready for next month's race!"

The Red Suns muttered in agreement, but Keisuke was still a bit surprised. "But this early? I thought it would take you weeks to get ready to race the 86."

"It still will. Just one week really. But I will be fully prepared before I issue my challenge." I said. "Fumihiro and I will test your times tonight. Aisuke and Kenta will go downhill first, then Keisuke and Daito, and then all of you will be timed downhill to check your progress. Understood?"

"Understood!"

As the team went off to set up the course for the time attacks, I was given a moment alone with Keisuke.

"Hard to believe you're already going to be ready for the 86 big bro," said Keisuke. "I wish I could train that fast."

"You're an impressive driver Keisuke. It's why I'm proud to call you my anchor. I wouldn't have chosen anyone else on the Red Suns to be my second in command."

"I still don't understand that. Both Daito and Aisuke have years more experience than me. They both drive for a living. Why'd you ever choose me?"

I explained hearing the Red Suns prepare Akagi for the timed training runs, squealing through the turns below. "Being my anchor means more than being the second-best driver on the team. It means I picked the person I trusted with one day inheriting the entire team when I'm gone."

"Gone? What do you mean?"

"I'm not going anywhere. But driving as my anchor means you will one day be the person to lead the Red Suns yourself should I be unavailable to race. You're an incredibly unique driver Keisuke. You and your FD have a level of sync I don't often see."

Keisuke sighed. "Hard to believe that a little 86 would ever be the only thing stopping us from being called the fastest in Gunma."

"This race with the 86 isn't about that."

"Of course it is what're you talking about?"

"It's about theories and driving. I've been looking for the last piece of data to complete my entire fastest racer theory. It's nearly finished, and racing this 86 is the final part. Should I beat it, my fastest racer theory will be whole. And you and I can one day pursue our fastest in Kanto project peacefully."

Keisuke's expression changed. "Now I'm still confused."

"Allow me to clarify. If I beat the 86, nothing will stand in our way to take the Red Suns to every mountain in the Kanto region and set uphill and downhill records. I'm sure of it. Gunma is undoubtedly the fastest prefecture for street racing in Kanto, even faster than Kanagawa when you really boil it down. Do you understand?"

Keisuke nodded slowly. "Yeah. Yeah I do."

"Gunma hasn't seen a race like this in well over two years. Since before the Red Suns has no one even heard of anyone competing for the position as the fastest in Gunma."

"This just makes this race mean even more to me now."

"I know," I said. "This will be the greatest challenge the Red Suns will face for some time. Easily the greatest in Gunma."

Keisuke sighed, sitting on the hood of his FD. "Knowing you're gonna face someone who can actually race you on the downhill for the first time in ages has my head spinning. I haven't been this excited for a race in years."

"Same here," I said.

"Sure doesn't look it. You're as calm as ever."

I said nothing, looking at my younger brother. I waited for him to remember just who we both were.

"Right. I'm not going through a funk, but I box differently now. I work differently at the bike store." Keisuke shook his head. "No, I was wrong. This is the most excited I've ever been for a race."

"I can see why," I said. "I've analyzed my race with the 86 from every angle possible. When you get down to it, the race will be decided by the widest turn on the entire course. The road is so wide there that there are three entire lanes to attack from, and the turn is just as wide as well. Whoever stays ahead there wins the race."

"I need to be on that corner. I don't give a-"

"No," I said. "You'll stay right at the starting line."

"But you've never been wrong about a race. And if you know this one turn is so important, I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Keisuke. I'd prefer it if you stayed at the finish line."

He nodded. "All right. That's where I'll be. But why is such a wide turn so important?"

"It's for that very reason. It's the last possible place to pass on the entire course. The last few hairpins are far too narrow to attempt an overtake. Akina is brutal, not in the same way as Usui, but there are only a few ideal places you can attempt a pass."

"Same as always man, I'm missing something."

"I don't blame you. At first glance, Akina looks like any other mountain pass in Gunma. Narrow curves capping the end of a few straights, having a manageable rhythm of hairpins and medium turns. But Akina's hill is so steep and its corners so sharp that it raises the pace of any downhill battle significantly."

Keisuke crossed his arms. "Now this I don't understand. Everyone else, even on the Red Suns. Seems to have a completely different level of looking at things than you. Just why is that? I get that you're smart but, damn."

"The reason is very simple," I said, crossing my arms as well as we both looked out over the spars below. "When I look at a race, when I look at any part of street racing. I don't see two cars or two drivers. I see numbers. Times, calculable potentials for brakes, speed, control, and anything else. That's why I see things differently than anyone else."

"Ryosuke, I-"

The walkie beeped, I heard the unmistakable voice of Takihiro. "This is the finish line. Kenta and Aisuke just finished a neck-and-neck race. They both were a few tenths of a second away from their best times."

Keisuke stood up off the hood of his FD. "I'm up."

Before he left, Keisuke spoke. I could tell he was hesitating to say it, but there was clearly something important he wanted to tell me.

"Big brother. One day, I want to be as good as you. Downhill or uphill, it doesn't matter. I have to."

As I watched Keisuke leave, I wanted to tell him this should happen. Were it not for the Gamer, I would be convinced, just like in canon, that Keisuke could at some point beat me.

Fumihiro spoke to me quietly as I watched Keisuke leave downhill. "His times have been getting better. I'm surprised he said this to you, and I can't believe he just did though."

"How so?"

"Keisuke admires you, more than any of us. But to want to be the number one driver on our team is ambitious to say the least."

I smiled. "I admire him as well. Not letting him race the 86 might've been a mistake, but I'll never know."

"Why's that? According to you it would've broken the perfect record we've been going for."

"It would've been a small price to pay for Keisuke to learn the importance of losing. Having the 86 beat him on the downhill would force him to train hard enough to one day beat him in return. When Keisuke puts his mind to something, he does it." I said. "It's incredible to me how dedicated he is. That's the greatest thing about him, his ambition is so great once he's convinced of something. Nothing can stop him."

"But Keisuke hates losing."

"So does everyone. In fact, when I told Keisuke he would lose to the 86 nothing made him more confused I think in his whole life. But I think that Keisuke honestly forgets he's our uphill ace for a reason. He's the best candidate for the job. Better than Daito, which is impressive enough."

III

Ryosuke was so much faster than Keisuke on the downhill that even by pushing himself remotely Keisuke was already on the ropes.

Wiping his sweat aside, Keisuke pushed his FD further, the FC clearly not under any sort of pressure to keep the lead.

'It's only been a few days and he's kicking my ass even worse. When he said he was improving fast I didn't believe it, but this is crazy!'

Zooming past Yakuma, Ryosuke entered the turn so fast he sent Yakuma's hair flying past him.

The Red Suns' Supra driver announced it to the team on his walkie. "Keisuke's eating Ryosuke's exhaust fumes! Ryosuke's times are unreal! He's beating his personal best by an entire second and a half!"

III

On a checkpoint, Aisuke chuckled hearing this on his walkie. "Now that's the Ryosuke I remember. I'd say I'm glad he's back, but he never really left."

"What do you mean he's back?" asked Kenta.

"I remember back when street racing was so disorganized that even having a lick of skill made you better than everyone else. And even I was the fastest in Gunma."

Kenta's eyes widened. "Whoa, you were the fastest?"

"Again Kenta. This was a long time ago. No one was remotely organized, no one really trained. I was only better than anyone else because I still worked full-time as one of Nismo's test drivers like I do now. Ryosuke brought something to street racing that made me proud I came back, just like him I suppose."

"You're still not answering my question."

Aisuke sighed. "Again you're way too young to remember this. You must've been like 15 or 16 when this happened. Like him I suppose, I was so much better than anyone else in Gunma people just stopped challenging me. I spent weeks away from meets. Like him, there wasn't a point. Ryosuke used to be so much faster than everyone else too that people started calling him Akagi's White Comet."

"Now that's something I haven't heard before, I'll agree with you there."

"No one calls him it anymore because people can barely remember the time when he used to race solo. It made even less sense from how fast he was since he wasn't on a team. Much less in an FC. People started looking at street racing in a whole different way. They started thinking FRs actually stood a chance against AWD beasts like the 32 and the Evo." said Aisuke.

"So you knew him back then?"

"Of course I did, it's how we met. The dawn years of Gunma's street racing. Even I was somewhat of a newcomer back then too. I'll never forget the summer Ryosuke convinced me there was more to street racing than met the eye. He was the only person I met that year who I knew had a chance at beating me. Besides his speed, he was incredibly unique. And still is."

Kenta nodded. "Of course he is. Who else even drives an FC?"

"It's not just that. Ryosuke had developed strategies for racing people hadn't even thought of. People like Daito who learned skills on the track at the Gymkhana didn't even bother going to street races from how amateur we all were. And the way he broke down street racing reminded everyone of pro driving. It's hard to explain it to you, but Ryosuke isn't fast because of his strategies. But he's strategic because he's fast."

"Guess that makes sense. But tell me more about this summer you mentioned."

Aisuke smiled. "It was the first time I walked into work telling my boss someone was faster than me. No one had teams, and the teams that were around were so bad they only lasted a few weeks or so. People had spent the whole spring talking about this white FC."

Kenta kept listening. "This white FC. This white FC. This white FC from Akagi. It was the first time I'd ever heard of anyone besides Myogi's white 32 who had any remarkable skill of any sort on the downhill. Street racing was so much more different back then." Aisuke said. "Far less people were even fans, much less raced. The only way you could get a race back then was if you could find anyone who wanted to at a meet. It was just a mess."

"But it sounds like you liked it."

"Oh I did. I never would've joined the Red Suns if I hadn't met Ryosuke."

"So he always was this fast?"

Aisuke chuckled again. "Oh yeah. Worst part is he's only gotten faster. But like I keep saying, speed is only part of Ryosuke's driving. He knows racing in a way I don't think any of us ever will."

III

I had beaten my personal best by nearly two seconds. While the team was astounded, I wasn't. My progress using the Gamer was partly responsible for this as well as the fact that I hadn't recorded my times on Akagi

It was only around 11 PM when I decided to drive to Akina and begin practicing both gutter runs. While I took a smoke break after training with the Red Suns, I reminisced about just why Ryosuke Takahashi was my favorite character in canon.

I say Ryosuke because while it did take some time for me to fully merge into becoming Akagi's famed White Comet, the character portrayed in canon was different by default. Now Ryosuke was my favorite character in my teenage years because he was the most mysterious.

In the first stage, he only really races two people before racing Takumi. The first is an impromptu downhill race with Nakazato in his 32, a race that was made clear that Ryosuke could win if he really wanted to. The second was when Ryosuke was prepared to train against Keisuke in the downhill, and he was so outmatched that Keisuke had no idea how his own brother could beat him so badly.

This helped add to the mystery of his character. A racer so fast that he barely raced at all and was still considered the fastest. Everything about Ryosuke in canon was mysterious, it was impossible to fully understand his motives because no one knew why exactly he set out to become the fastest in Kanto.

In fact, it's not until the very last episode of the entire season that Ryosuke reveals why he had the dream to make Gunma's drivers the best in the entire world.

Still, eventually, I had been able to become this person. It took some time but I still felt I was able to become the Ryosuke Takahashi recognized as Akagi's White Comet in canon.

Now I loaded up the Abyss on Akina's downhill and began to practice the gutter runs.

III

Ryosuke only needed about three hours to get the hang of the first run.

'Enter the corner the moment the tires should slide. Then stabilize the car during the exit.'

Ryosuke's front tire gripped the gutter between the asphalt of the road and the mountain wall. The resulting 'slingshot' effect would've been disastrous to the suspension of the FC, but Ryosuke was able to stabilize it well enough to avoid any damage.

'Level 25 and I've only begun to do this effectively.'

III

Outside of the Abyss, I decided to inspect Akina's gutters up close.

There wasn't any water or leaves in them that would slide the tire too much in a gutter run technique, but they were chances that they could be there on the day of the race.

The second gutter run wasn't all that different. I would need to place the second tire a split second before the hook began, and the gutter itself would do the work.

III

Returning to the Abyss, Ryosuke also needed a few hours before being effective with his second gutter run technique.

At around LV 24, Ryosuke was finally able to grip both right-side tires of the FC before entering a corner. The understeer was eliminated so effectively that the resulting turn was so fast that if Ryosuke hadn't predicted it to be so, he would've lost complete control of the FC.

Refusing to take a sigh of relief, Ryosuke thought quietly resuming his downhill practice run on Akina.

'That was close. I can see why I was so surprised by the move in canon. To recover from such a turn takes a level of precision only myself and the Gamer would allow other than Takumi.'

III

The next seven days were so exact to the previous week I had spent training for the race with the 86 it was almost scary.

Just like in canon, I was ready to race the 86 by the end of summer.

Every skill I would need was at LV 100 or higher, and my overall level had reached the lower end of LV 105.

And just like in canon, I was sitting in my FC after my computer had given me the good news.

Even with an entire second of a handicap on the downhill, I would still beat Takumi on the downhill. I was also a solid half-second ahead of Usaya's times on the downhills, meaning I was faster than a pro on Akina's downhill.

I revved the 13B-T of the FC to wake Keisuke up from his bedroom.

Both myself and the FC were as ready as we could be. This was the night of August 31st, the last night I would have before challenging Takumi.

Keisuke walked up to me slowly leaving our house.

I heard him gasp.

III

Keisuke thought quietly, seeing the look on his older brother's face. 'This is it. He's finally ready to go head to head with the 86.'

III

"Hop in," I said. "You and I are going for a ride. You gotta get a first-hand look at my fastest racer theory."

Keisuke gasped again, before he calmed down a bit. "Okay. Let's go."

III

Keisuke's FD and Ryosuke's FC were training again on Akagi's downhill. Ryosuke outmatched his brother so much that Keisuke was having trouble even seeing his brother from the following position much less racing.

'No way I can ever hope to reach his level when I'm this behind.' Keisuke panted, focusing on the white FC's tail. 'I can hardly keep up at all. I'm lucky to even see him after a hairpin!'

Ryosuke changed gears calmly, staring down Akagi's hill quietly in thought.

'The only thing missing from the completion of my theory is the defeat of this 86. I haven't left anything out of my training for this race.'

Cornering sharply, Ryosuke completely lost Keisuke again on the downhill.

'Racing now as Akagi's White Comet for the first time in years has made me more prepared and also ecstatic than ever to race this 86. This battle must be mine, it's my duty to uphold the undefeated legacy of this FC. And my own motto, to challenge the power of the rotary engine.'

Ryosuke and Keisuke started going so fast downhill that the white lights of their headlights seemed to blur into the air above Akagi, followed directly by the red lights of their tail lights.

Ryosuke kept sitting calmly in the driver's seat of his FC.

'My fastest racer theory is about to evolve to completion. As my greatest accomplishment, Saturday, September 15th at 10 PM will be the night it all comes together. Victory is my only option.'

III

I walked into Mako's aunt's flower shop in Karuizawa hearing the bell ring.

My girlfriend gasped. "Ryosuke!" she ran to hug me. "I wasn't expecting you!"

I smiled as she pulled away from our embrace. "I came to see how you were doing. I also needed a favor."

"Sure. What is it?"

"I need to pick out the most beautiful bouquet of red roses you have. I need to send a message with the flowers as well."

Mako looked at me. "What's the message?" she walked to the counter to begin writing on an old typewriter.

"To the Panda Trueno. September 15th, at 10 PM. Mount Akina's peak. From, Ryosuke Takahashi."

Mako stopped typing, looking up at me with a pale look of surprise. "You're, really doing it."

"I am. It's been a long time coming, I've been waiting this whole year to race him. And I'm ready now, more than I'll ever be."

Mako nodded quietly, finishing the message and quickly pulling the hard paper that came with it to fold it. "All that's left is for you to pick out the flowers then."

I nodded as well, turning to the rows and rows of flowers in the shop. The red roses occupied a small section, but the prettiest to me were clear. "I'll take these."

"That'll be 1907 Yen," Mako said from behind the counter.

As I paid for the roses, Mako bowed her head. "Where do you wish to send these flowers?"

"Esso Gas Station in Shibukawa."

"I'll have them delivered today. The truck comes around at noon, he should get them by around 5 in the afternoon."

I bowed my head. "Thank you Mako."

Before I left, Mako spoke. "Wait I." I turned around. "I, I wanted to know why you've spent so many weeks away. Why you were so insistent on not seeing each other until after the race."

"I meant no disrespect by coming in person to deliver this message to the 86. I love you Mako, but I also need to stay focused on this race. If you don't want to spend another two weeks without seeing each other, we don't have to."

"No, it's just. I understand now why you're taking this race with the 86 so seriously." said Mako. "I just." Mako smiled at me. "I want to wish you good luck on the night of the 15th!"

"Thank you. I'll see you after the race then, but we can still talk on the phone tomorrow morning."

As I drew the keys to the FC outside the flower shop, I knew how unfortunate it was that I would need to see Mako as little as possible. But it would only be another two weeks.

Keying the ignition I started to drive home.

I needed to remember the legacy of who I was, Akagi's White Comet, the lone wolf. I loved Mako, but being seen in public with my girlfriend was not a message I needed to send to Takumi.

A huge part of any battle was psychological. If I could convince Takumi I was this mythic unbeatable figure in the world of racing, I could lower his confidence.

My plan of taking the Red Suns to become the fastest in Kanto could only begin if I beat him on Akina's downhill. I could never establish rotary engines complete dominance of street racing without it, and both the name of the Akagi Red Suns and ours, as the Rotary brothers would never become legend.

Akina was the last mountain in Gunma standing between me and the greatest victory we would have for some time.

III

"Flowers?" asked Yuichi when being handed the bouquet of roses. "This is a gas station you have to be making a mistake."

Reading the note, Yuichi turned to one of his employees. "Nope. They're for you kid."

"Who'd send me flowers? And at work?"

Yuichi answered calmly. "Ryosuke Takahashi."

"Ryosuke Takahashi!?" Kenji and Iketani asked in unison.

"The number one driver in all of Gunma…" said Itsuki.

Iketani practically swiped it from Takumi's hands the moment Takumi just decided to read it quietly. "Gimme that! Top of Mount Akina, September 15th, at 10 PM."

"There's gotta be more than that!" Kenji said. "Unless…"

"I think Ryosuke Takahashi just challenged our boy to a downhill battle." Iketani surmised correctly.

Iketani, Kenji, and Itsuki all laughed in unison holding a fist.

Takumi wasn't as excited. Still he said nothing.

III

"Hey man can I come in?"

I kept working on my med school lab work on my computer while speaking. "Sure thing Keisuke."

He closed the door behind him. "People are already talking. So, just in two weeks huh?"

"Yes, although I expected to hear a response from him. But knowing Fujiwara he's not likely to say anything until the night of the race when he arrives. Always one for flashy entrances."

Keisuke spoke. "Those little simulations of yours haven't been wrong in the slightest. Not once in the dozens of times you've told me about them. How is this race gonna go down?"

"A lot simpler than even I'd expect it to." I said sipping my coffee quietly. "Takumi Fujiwara can in fact drive very fast, and he does a great job of managing his tires while doing so. However, he's very new to racing. He shouldn't be able to shake me until before the third checkpoint, at which he should begin to crack."

"What happens then?"

"Fujiwara should begin to get nervous enough to allow me to pass him shortly before the third checkpoint. If not earlier than that. Even after showing him there's nothing he can do to pass me, he will try to close the gap the best he could."

Keisuke shrugged. "Doesn't sound too bad. Then that's it right?"

"Not quite. I will enter the critical section with more than enough tire grip to hold the lead, but Fujiwara won't make it easy. If he caught up to me at that point but still can't pass me during the three-lane turn, it's over."

"You mean he does have a shot at beating you?"

I shook my head. "He still doesn't. I've accounted for any sort of malfunction in my training. Everything from the FC's intercooler to the brake's responders. Anything strange that might happen during our race. No matter what fails I have a plan for it. And if that doesn't work I have a plan for that as well."

Keisuke crossed his arms. "I should've known all along that you would've been the right person to put that tofu punk in his place. I honestly think that calling this strategy of yours detailed is just the start."

"Don't believe we've already won yet. First I have to race this kid."

Keisuke sighed. "I get your computer simulations can't ever be wrong. But how can they always be so right? I get you're goddamned smart, but still."

"It's quite simple really. And I've explained it to you before. When you break it all down, racing is all about numbers. Random malfunctions and occurrences are based on chance as well. Even your FD is based heavily on maximizing things like firing patterns and its horsepower synergizing with traction potential. It's what makes this 86 so unique to me." I said.

Keisuke said nothing as I kept explaining. "Takumi Fujiwara has been able to beat cars far better than it for the simple reason that his 86 was just more efficient in the hands of someone who knew it better. Nakazato, Shoji, even Mako and Ikkiyama. They might've been good drivers, but compared to someone who spent a total of six years mastering the downhill. Hm."

"I guess it really is all just numbers in the end. It's the only way your computer stuff always works."

"How's work and boxing?"

"Just fine but I can still barely focus on them from how pumped I am for this race. Even though I'm not even the one racing, I feel like everything we've done so far has led to this. Not just because you've said so, but I just know it. My gut never lies to me, and I'm sure this race is all that's gonna matter, matter more than anything else we've done on the Red Suns this whole year."

Keisuke scoffed. "Forget I said anything. You don't need me distracting you from the battle with all this talk."

"It's fine." I nodded. "Well, you wouldn't be all that wrong."

I was hiding how right he was. Keisuke's instincts really were incredibly accurate. Everything like that is why I'm so sure he'll be Kanto's best uphiller just like he was in canon, even without the loss to Takumi. He never lost that strangely accurate "gut" instinct of his.