III

35: Before Tochigi

III

From Tuesday the 17th, I continued to organize the training of the Red Suns for our meets in Tochigi. Anyone ranked third and downwards, namely Kenta and anyone below him could handle anyone in Tochigi except for the top drivers of Emperor and the Todo School.

The Gamer listed the team in my menu screen the moment I brought it up.

[Akagi Red Suns (Elite Team - LV 80)

-1. Ryosuke Takahashi (LV 104) Downhill

-2. Keisuke Takahashi (LV 85) Uphill

-3. Kenta Nakamura (LV 78) Downhill

-4. Aisuke Kano (LV 77) Downhill

-5. Daito Ryoma (LV 76) Uphill

-6. Yakuma Mito (LV 73) Uphill

-7. Takihiro Itsu (LV 71) Downhill]

I noticed how beating Takumi let me level up to 104. And also how the Gamer knew whether I assigned a driver to be currently on the downhill or the uphill. The Gamer also let me know that I had accumulated a small fortune of Yen from how much I had trained and leveled up. I should have no problem funding the small support vans or anything else we might need that came with us on any expedition.

The Seven Star Leaf couldn't be higher than level 70 at most. Both Daito and Kenta should wipe the floor with them very easily. Everyone else in Tochigi except for the Todo School and Emperor was far lower level.

In terms of tuning and maintenance, there wasn't a single thing we could ever need. The Red Suns restricted budget, meaning using the minimum amount of funds for any race including anything we might need, was at 15 Million Yen for the races from the start of the expeditions to Tochigi to the beginning of Kanagawa.

So for the next year and a half, I would only need to spend no more than around 17 million Yen for anything we might need. Kanagawa would require a whole new budget entirely from how it was basically a pro racing circuit except for the mountains passes, but considering I earned about a million Yen per week from the Gamer I knew I'd be okay.

I had enough money that I could likely pay what Hojo wanted to my father instead of needing to work for him. I had over half a million dollars worth of Yen stashed from the Gamer, so I'd need to look into that at the very least.

I had to drive over to one of our family hospitals today for my very first shift anyway, so I'd need to speak to him.

I put on my Takasaki Medical Uniform for Doctors, including a white lab coat. Any stethoscopes and equipment I might need were already there for me, but most notable of all in my uniform was the blue lettered "Intern" label on it.

I drew the keys to the FC from my desk, I could work on my simulations later. I had a three hours shift from midday to 3 o'clock to fill in the clinic. The clinic didn't particularly interest me, I really just needed to speak to Father actually.

III

I parked in the faculty lot with all the other doctors.

Immediately, a few surgeons off duty in the faculty lobby spoke to me. "Ah Ryosuke! You're well on time for your first shift!"

"Keep your time card today Ryosuke, you're gonna want to keep it for the rest of your life.

I bowed my head respectfully. "Doctor Saito. Doctor Hiriashi. How did morning operations go?"

"Forget about us son!" the man waved a hand. "This is a huge day for you. You're breaking all sorts of records in the lab and at school. Today'll be a piece of cake for you."

"Forgive me, doctors." I said to the surgeons. "I haven't gotten clocked in yet."

"Of course of course, let us know when you're on break. You should meet the rest of your father's staff."

I smiled and bowed my head before walking forward to get checked in.

The nurse at the front desk of the administrative room smiled at me. "Mr. Takahashi you're early! All equipment and staff you should need today are ready to go."

"Thank you." I said. "Is my father in his office?"

"He said he wasn't taking any visitors. He's been booked for meetings from now until four."

He must not be very talkative after the Hojo family threatened to pay millions of Yen just to have me work for them instead of him.

"I understand. Um, how does this work?"

"I'll just need your medical ID card please."

I got a bit worried. "I don't have one."

"Your student identification should suffice."

I handed her the Intern card I was given since day one of lab work.

She smiled with a nod after needing a half-second to apparently type in my Intern number and clock me in. "Thank you. You're all set. Good luck on your first day Mr. Takahashi!"

III

I sighed looking at the waiting area. They were all young women, most of them just here probably because word got out this would be the first day they could waste my time without technically ignoring the fact I had a girlfriend.

A nurse walked up to me. "Right this way Mr. Takahashi, your room will be here."

"Don't I get an office? All interns need to file paperwork right?" I asked.

"Don't worry Mr. Takahashi. Sayoko and I will take care of anything you need to process, just take care of the patients."

She handed me the clipboard. "She's been waiting for well over ten minutes. Good luck Mr. Takahashi!"

Her records seemed perfectly in order, seemed to be an average young woman with a mild allergy to latex.

I opened the door to my first ever patient, a kind-looking brown-haired girl of about 19.

I held my clipboard. "Ms. Shinozaki?"

The girl smiled at me. "Doctor Takahashi! Am I your first ever patient!?"

I smiled back a bit. "I'm just an intern here. No one is under any obligation to call me doctor."

"But your father runs this hospital. How're you feeling?"

"I'm fine thank you." I nodded quickly. "How're you feeling? Your file said you've been experiencing some rather severe rash symptoms."

She showed me her hands, and immediately I equipped some gloves.

She explained while I held her hands lightly. "Everyone at work told me they were latex-free, but I got a really bad itch after my shift yesterday. It just got worse and today I could barely brush my teeth."

"Hm," I said going back to my clipboard. "I'll write a note for your employer letting them know you can't use anything like this again. I see the rash has spread to your arms a little, I'll prescribe you an anti-allergen to help ease the rash. If it gets worse with the medication, call my office immediately."

"Can I have your phone number?"

I expected to be asked this question a lot today.

"I technically don't have an office. I'll refer you to our Intern Phone line and let them know I have patients who can give me a call." I wrote down the phone number and my first ever doctor's note. "The pharmacy should get you that anti-allergen straight away."

"Wait, will it get worse?"

I shook my head. "It won't unless you touch any sort of rubber materials again. Until then, you should be fine."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Ah um, never mind. You're very welcome."

The next dozen or so women were all more or less the same. They came up with really obvious excuses to come see me, complimenting me the whole time.

"You really have a doctor's hands Doctor Takahashi."

"You have such nice eyes Doctor."

By the end, I needed some coffee and a really nice sandwich.

My last patient before I went on break was an elderly and frail man who ironically was a nice change of pace as I knew his symptoms were real.

"Ah, Doctor." he hobbled onto the patient's table and sat down. "You seemed to have brought quite a crowd of women here today."

"I hope they weren't a bother to you." I smiled kindly.

"Oh they were fine. I thought it was rather funny really." he said.

"How can I help you today? Are you feeling alright?"

The old man shrugged. "I'm feeling just fine. But my knees completely gave out on me the other morning. I thought I must've slipped going down the stairs but I could barely put any pressure on my right knee when I got back up. Since last week, it just wouldn't go away."

I got a new set of gloves. "May I please see?"

The man rolled up his pant leg.

Just by looking at it, I could tell he had arthritis, likely osteoarthritis from how his joints felt to me and his age and the medical history on his clipboard. "I'll notify the lab immediately. I think it's likely you might have arthritis in your right knee."

"Excellent observation doctor." the old man joked. "But how do I get better?"

"Well, first we have to take an x-ray to make sure. Then we can put you through treatment. I'll make sure you get scheduled for some imaging tests which will definitely help us narrow down the best way to move forward."

I helped him off his seat and onto his cane. "Thank you. I wish you good luck with all those girls out there. When you get to be my age, you tend to remember days as comical as today more often."

I smiled as the nurse, Sayoko, spoke to him outside about getting scheduled for an x-ray.

I knew how trivial this was, I was only really here to speak to Father.

III

I stepped into the elevator as a pair of nurses held the door for me. They had both noticed me. I simply ignored them while sipping my coffee and smoothing out my white lab coat.

When the elevator opened again I stepped out into the highest floor of the hospital.

I raised my Intern badge to an assistant who nodded. "Your father just finished up a meeting. He can see you for the next ten minutes."

"Thank you," I said as I was allowed to enter the office.

I was not surprised to see his newspaper was up.

"Heard there was a rather homogenous group of patients in the daily clinic. Your doing?"

"I'm afraid so father."

He grunted quietly. "Hmf. More publicity for our hospital I suppose. What do you want Ryosuke?"

"Can't I simply visit my father?"

"You haven't visited me in my office in four years. What do you want Ryosuke?" he repeated.

"I have the money Doctor Hojo agreed to pay you to release me from our agreement. There's no need to get him involved anymore if you and I can re-arrange what we said."

"Re-arrange?" he scoffed from behind his newspaper. "Do you take me for a fool? I don't care how many of those ridiculous racing Cups you've won, you've only just become an intern. You can't match what he offered."

"I can. I can pay whatever and whenever you allow me."

Father quickly put his newspaper down. I saw the look of a very serious-looking man similar to a much older and sterner version of Keisuke and I with graying hair and glasses giving me a death glare. "This is no time for jokes Ryosuke. The entire prefecture knows what you and your brother have been up to. If it wasn't getting us those patients of yours like you saw today, and if I knew it wasn't temporary for you, I would never allow it."

"It wasn't a joke Father. I-"

"Excuse me." He turned his head a little. "Do I need to repeat myself? This absurd idea of ending our arrangement has to end. I already refused Takeru, I'll refuse you as many times as I see fit."

"I can pay you back far more when I start working full time," I said. "You wouldn't lose any money for putting me through school father. I promise you."

Father put a finger on the wood of his desk. "You're more than an investment to me Ryosuke. The future of our family won't just be about money, it'll be about what we can pass on after we're gone. The Takahashi family will soon become the most well-respected name in Gunma's medical community. Even hospitals in Tokyo have looked to start partnering with us. I won't let your childish games with your idiot brother get in the way of that."

"Then what is this about?"

"Generations of doctors have worked to solidify our name. With honor. I'm proud of the man you've become son, and I always will be. But I'd rather die than see you work anywhere else but here. To dedicate yourself to anything more than our hospitals. I want you in this very chair, in this office, looking out over our empire. A chain of hospitals, running from one end of Gunma to the other."

I still spoke. "I'll do whatever you see fit, as long as you let Keisuke join the pro circuit when we're finished together."

Father scoffed loudly. "You think I care what that imbecile does? What do you mean to tell me by trying to buy me out of a deal with you? My own son?"

"That I don't need Takeru Hojo or anyone else to do what I can do for myself. I can become a doctor without needing to be restricted to our agreement."

"Where do you want to work? With Hojo? Where?"

I sighed. "I don't know yet. All I know is that if I'm going to contribute to the medical community, I don't want to be limited by our arrangement."

"You'd spend that much money, just to make a statement. To me? To yourself?"

"I want our name, the Takahashi name, to be more than words on the side of hospitals. Medicine needs us, but I can't begin my career as a doctor knowing I began it just to satisfy what we arranged. It just doesn't feel right."

He laughed again. "You think it matters what you feel? Ryosuke without you, our family would have no future. No legacy to pass on generations of work as doctors. Bring up any idea of buying me out, and you'll have disrespected me."

"It's not a buyout, it's-"

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

I bowed my head. "No father."

"Good. Speak no more of medicine needing you. Until you're sitting where I am, running things like I am. You won't have fulfilled your role in the legacy of the Takahashi family."

I left with a bow of my head.

I had enough money to put myself through medical school now and work wherever I wanted. I even had enough money to do that and rent an apartment in Takasaki with Keisuke. The problem was the Takahashi Home had a lot of sentimental value to me. It was where the birth of the Red Suns occurred, where I designed what would bring fame and glory to the rotary engine, my simulations.

Until I finished med school in about two years from now and finished my job as the leader of the Red Suns a bit sooner than that, I wouldn't move out from our home.

As I drove back home in the FC, I had a long week ahead of me.

III

The shifts at the clinic were tedious, luckily after the first few days, regular patients replaced the ones who just wanted an appointment with me.

However, the Red Suns were going above and beyond the goals I had set for them on both the uphill and downhill. Daito and Yakuma were in excellent shape for their hill climbs on Nyoho, Nantai, and the Momiji Line.

Aisuke, Takihiro, and Kenta were all doing very well in their training for the downhill. I expected them to have no trouble in the first three matches.

Even though I had more than enough money to live on my own and forget Father entirely, for the next few years he wouldn't change his mind. There was no point pursuing it any further. I thought proving to him I could pay him for the years of med school he put me through and that I could pay my own way through it would change his mind but it would be fruitless to continue to ask after our meeting in his office.

Even though Keisuke and I had been training regularly for our races with the Todo School and Emperor, I still needed to tune the FD for Tochigi.

I walked downstairs to see Fumihiro holding a package on a dolly in the driveway of our home. "Heard you started working as an Intern in your father's hospital. Congratulations, that's huge for you Ryosuke."

"Thank you Fumihiro," I said. "I expect that to be the turbocharger I ordered?"

"It is," said Fumihiro. "All other parts are now at my father's shop. Takihiro said he'd be the first one up, he should swing by at around two-thirty. Have you finished your Intern shift already?"

"Yeah I just got off," I said. "Let's take a look here shall we?"

As the box was heavy enough to force both Fumihiro and I to lift it, we carried it over right next to Keisuke's FD in the driveway. I opened the hood to the FD as I connected it to my laptop.

Fumihiro scanned the screen. "Everything looks good."

I turned to the FD's internals. Everything seemed fine as well.

Fumihiro turned to me. "We can finish up setting Keisuke's new turbos in about an hour, but the rest of the team is still gonna need a lot of tuning before we're ready to go on this next expedition. How long before he should get accustomed to using them on the uphill?"

"Not too long. The FD should be much more responsive in terms of accelerating." I started pointing around the FD under the hood. "He's done a good job ensuring both rotaries are in good shape. All turbine boosters and rotational pins are still completely responsive, and as far as I can tell, the gearbox is in perfect condition as well."

Fumihiro laughed as he kept looking around the FD's internals. "Hard to believe it's Keisuke who's been handling his car with such care."

"I know. Don't tell him I said this, but he really appreciates how much effort we put into this." I said. "In a way I envy completely."

"Well why not?"

I explained. "Look at it Fumihiro." I waved a hand towards the various pipes used to transfer heat, power, and air through the interior of the FD. "There isn't a single rotary gauge or booster with even a bit of wear or stress. It looks practically brand new and he's been driving it for years. He's changed drastically from the driver he once was."

Fumihiro smiled. "I can see why you'd say that. One wouldn't be mistaken if it was you driving it. However, we still have a lot of work to do before these new turbos are in place."

"Then." I drew my tools. "Let's get to work."

Keisuke had more than earned this upgrade. This new turbocharger was the best I could find, and would add about twenty extra horses and not even a hint of turbo lag.

As we began our work, I almost forgot how enjoyable tuning was.

Removing the stock turbos that came with the FD would go a long way to do multiple things for Keisuke. The first was get him used to circuit grade internals, as the gearbox was still stock but now both turbos would not be.

Raising the FD's power setting to 370 wouldn't just make Keisuke faster on the uphill, but also slowly get him prepared for later when we had to raise it to 450 when we were finished with our Tochigi expeditions. Keisuke's speed wasn't the problem, it was how in sync with his FD he could become.

This new turbocharger really was worth what I had to spend. Even though it took well over an hour to remove the previous turbos, then align the new ones, test the rotaries, and then reset the entire pressure system, it would be worth it. Keisuke's FD would slowly progress to being ready to dominate the professional circuit in Tokyo in about two years, and it all began with these two new turbos.

Fumihiro nodded to me shutting the hood close. "Okay Ryosuke, give it a try."

I sat in the driver's seat and keyed the ignition. Both 13B-REWs sounded a lot stronger as if having the twin stock turbos removed a huge weight off its shoulders. Already from revving it I could tell enlarging the central power gauges on the FD were a great idea, the new turbos would need it, and we made sure to account for how much pressure the FD could gain by fiddling with the cooling a bit.

Overall, I was proud of the work Fumihiro and I had done today. We had improved nearly every system to be more than ready for the next few races.

I closed the door to the FD as Fumihiro spoke to me. "She seems ready to tackle Tochigi's uphills now."

"We won't know until Keisuke takes it for a test drive. Even by holding the clutch I can tell how different the FD is to my FC."

"Of course it is, every part of the FD is different. From the suspension upward, the FD is created for more efficiency and power."

I looked towards the excellent Mica Yellow paint job Keisuke somehow kept clean. "Yes but even stock the entire assembly seemed to use parts of the FC as a template. Especially the rear tires."

"I can see that." Fumihiro used a towel to remove some grease from his hands. "So what do you think?"

"I think that Keisuke's biggest challenge will be trying to maximize the potential of it during every part of the uphill," I said. "We've increased the efficiency of more than just the turbos and horsepower settings. The transmission, gearbox, and especially the throttle will respond completely differently. Keisuke will get used to it, but he will tell just how much more potential he can take out of the FD now. That will decide how Keisuke performs now."

"I apologize for not realizing it until now," said Fumihiro. "But we should've upgraded the gearbox and suspension with how much more the turbos will respond now."

"Fortunately the pressure change will not affect the efficiency of either of them or anything else. We made sure about that."

"Still, we can't just leave upgraded stock versions of everything while giving the FD the best pair of turbos on the market."

I sighed. "I know. But Keisuke needs to prove he can handle how differently the accelerator will feel before we change anything else."

Fumihiro nodded. "I can see that. Well I guess we should get back to testing."

As we continued to maintain Keisuke's FD, I thought about just why it was performing so well. Obviously, Keisuke was talented and worked very hard to improve as much as he could on the uphill, but it didn't remove how fast the FD was. It just became the fastest uphill car in Gunma beyond a doubt, even eclipsing the R32 completely.

I considered what Fumihiro and I had discussed about the similarities between the FC and the FD. Even completely stock, it was clear. The FD was more efficiently made for the circuit and the uphill and the FC for the downhill and precise downforce in the curves.

Keisuke's 13B-R1 and 13B-R2 both spun differently than my own 13B-T1 and 13BT-2, they operated on completely different frequencies, the entire torque setting was different. Even the pressure operated a bit differently, which was odd considering how much of a template the 13B-T was to create the 13B-REW.

The 13B-REW and the 13B-T did have similar designs in the placement of things like the central rotary system, and any coolants and gauges to support the entire engine block. Even a few of the spark plugs were placed in similar or exact locations. However, the 13B-REW's twin rotaries spun much faster and much more powerfully than the B-Ts. Even my own B-Ts were just less torqued, which is why I was sure Keisuke would win his races on the uphill.

Not just because I knew for a fact he never lost to anyone but Takumi in canon, but also because the FD was, in my opinion, a perfect car.

In the same way the FC was purpose-built for maximizing cornering speed on the downhill, the FD was the same but for the uphill. If all the cars in question were stock, the FD was more efficient for the hill climb than any Lancer Evolution, any Skyline GT-R, and any Honda NSX or Integra. It was just that well made. So to me, there was no doubt that even the best uphill machines around could beat Keisuke, it was just a matter of driving ability.

As I finished the last few modifications on the FD with Fumihiro, it was now up to Keisuke to beat the uphillers of the Todo School and team Emperor. The FD would be ready for Tochigi, now Keisuke would have to be.

The legendary all-wheel drive "killer" Keisuke became would be in both parts based on his ability, and the performance of the FD. I would do my part, now Keisuke would have to do his.

Fumihiro wiped his hands clean again of any grease. "We should start tuning everyone else's cars. Takihiro should pass by my father's shop any minute."

"Yes, we should."

III

Takihiro's silver 1988 Silvia S13 only needed a few small modifications, mostly maintenance above anything. We just had to renew the brake pads, test the S13's sensors for pressure, any temperature systems, and install the improved exhaust system to help him accelerate a bit easier. It took us about forty-five minutes, and we called Takihiro to let him know we were done.

When we were finished with the S13, Yakuma had already left his white Supra in the car lot behind the muscle workshop of Fumihiro's autobody store.

Yakuma handed me the keys. "Looking forward to practicing the hillclimb," he said with a nod.

Fumihiro spoke. "We should be done in about two hours. Do you want me to call you a cab or are you fine sitting in the waiting area?"

"Yeah I can wait," said Yakuma.

Yakuma hadn't been called the "Doom of Usui" in well over three years, but his car was still just as memorable as I began tuning it.

His 1993 Supra with a pristine crystal white paintjob had a twin turbo 2JZ-GTE and a high end suspension. The JZ series was Toyota's equivalent of Nissan's RB series. Powerful, very strong twin turbos.

Fortunately, Fumihiro and I found multiple spark plugs needed to be renewed, costing the engine block plenty of power and losing out on some pressure. It only took about three minutes to replace all of them, but we got right back to work. We had to increase the firing rate of all of the 2JZ's pistons, improve the efficiency of both turbos, and then test all engine systems to ensure we didn't completely misalign anything.

Fumihiro did the honors, and just by listening to her rev, we both knew Usui's Doom would help us sweep the first few uphillers in Tochigi with ease.

Yakuma walked into our garage speaking to us. "So, how is it?"

"She's doing just fine." Fumihiro said. "That racing suspension you're using seems to be fine. We changed the power setting up to 370 just like you asked. You should be ready to go."

I handed Yakuma his keys back. "You've done a great job maintaining her. We're all done here."

"Thanks guys. See you at practice tonight."

The moment Yakuma pulled away from the service lot, Daito pulled in with his green FD.

As Daito left his car, I already knew how tricky this would be.

First, Daito's 13B-REW system was only outpaced by Keisuke's in terms of efficiency. Meaning that if it wasn't for the Gamer, Fumihiro and I wouldn't be nearly as good at spotting the tiniest of details that would stop us from upgrading her power setting the best we could.

Daito handed Fumihiro the keys, speaking in a voice we rarely heard. "Can you two test it on the dynamo please?"

"Absolutely. You're the first one up next weekend when we go to Nantai pass." I said.

Fumihiro spoke. "There's coffee and bagels in the waiting room."

Fumihiro took a deep breath, putting his hands on his hips as he looked at Daito's FD. "This much tuning is expensive to do it so rapidly. How often do you want to do this Ryosuke?"

I took a quick break from all the tuning, smoking quietly. "Let's see. We have to still go to Chiba, Saitama, Ibaraki, and Kanagawa. Let me explain quickly why we need to do this every time we do an expedition to a new prefecture."

"All right." Fumihiro nodded.

"Each prefecture has different driving styles, different mountains, and above all, different conditions. And even more importantly, we'll be going to each prefecture during different parts of the year. It's critical everyone's cars are properly equipped regarding the prefecture in question, otherwise, we'd be using the same tuning we used for Gunma across the Kanto region. Not a good idea do you agree?"

"But it's so expensive. Are you sure Ryosuke?"

I nodded as I tapped my cigarette. "I'm sure. When we get to Kanagawa, our cars need to be tuned at a professional circuit level. No exceptions."

As I observed Daito's FD from afar, the Gamer gave me some useful information.

[Mazda RX-7 Efini FD3S (1992)

HP: 330

Aspiration: Turbo

Modifications: Mazda Racing Tires, Custom Exhaust, Custom Bucket Seating, Circuit Grade Twin Turbos, Circuit Grade Suspension, Circuit Grade Brakes

LV 75

Faulty Systems: None]

I noticed how the Gamer knew how high my tuning and mechanics level was because it now told me what was wrong in a car just by looking at it.

"What're you thinking Ryosuke?" Fumihiro saw the way I was looking at Daito's dark green FD.

"There isn't a whole lot we can do. In terms of hillclimbing power, the only car I know to be superior is Keisuke's FD in my opinion. However, we're going to need to raise the horsepower output of the entire engine by 50 horses. He might lose speed on the downhill from how much torque we can put in it, but it doesn't matter. Daito's done an excellent job at keeping her in shape."

"Daito took the Kanto Cup multiple times with this much horsepower. How can we improve the turbos anymore? Shouldn't they be at their fullest capacity?"

"Well, we're going to have to get some better spark plugs and help the throttle hit each rev peak better. It might take some time and it might be a bit expensive, but we can do it."

As we got to work, it became clear Fumihiro and I were pushing our tuning limits by how well maintained Daito's FD was. His 13B-REW were very carefully maintained, and we had to use nearly every FD part I had ordered to make sure the twin turbos were at their maximum capacity.

By the end, we were successful in making his dual rotary boosters operated on a much cleaner level and ensured both 13B-Rs spun faster and more effectively. We were successful in also raising the horsepower settings to 385, not 380, as Fumihiro and I were sure anymore horsepower would simply hinder the FD's efficiency on the uphill. The FD simply couldn't be any faster on the uphill on Tochigi's mountain passes.

As I tested it on the dynamo, the results were clear. Daito's FD would be ready.

It took two hours, and it was already 5:30. Fumihiro and I had only tuned Keisuke and Daito's FDs, Yakuma's Supra, and Takihiro's S13. All that was left was Kenta's S14 and Aisuke's 180SX.

Both would be tuned similarly for the downhill. Kenta's N/A SR20DE was an ingenious bit of tuning on the part of his family who helped run the Nismo driving and testing schools in Gunma. The SR20DET was perhaps the best engine for the downhill Nissan ever created, far better than any in the RB series. However, removing the turbo made it even faster for the downhill, and Kenta's S14 was very fast as a result.

Both his S14 and Aisuke's Type X 180 would be tuned very similarly. I would have to do what I did with my own engine, lower the overall horsepower settings while increasing the overall efficiency of the engine by improving its gearbox and suspension.

As Fumihiro and I went on our breaks to get something to eat, Daito took his keys with a quiet nod and left.

"A whole afternoon's worth of tuning. Should we wait until tomorrow to finish or?"

I shook my head drinking my soup quietly. "I already told Aisuke and Kenta to come. We can all carpool together to tonight's practice on Myogi."

"Wait, you're not training tonight?"

"I am, just afterward. I'm just going by myself to Myogi later." I said.

Fumihiro finished his sandwich. "It's a bit exhausting."

"It is," I said. "But the result will be worth it."

"Wait why're we tuning so much if we're bringing a support van with us?"

"Because we have to account for the conditions of each mountain when we get there. For all we know, it could've rained or the asphalt might be brand new. It's important to be prepared." I said.

III

Kenta smiled as he gave me the keys to his car. "Am I getting a sick new set of brakes or what?"

"We ordered parts specifically to help you on any wet runs," I said. "Should it rain, you'd be our best downhiller. We have to work today with that in mind."

"Appreciate it," Kenta said as Aisuke pulled in with his 180. "Thanks Ryosuke."

He got out of his car with a smile. "Hey guys, where should I park?"

Fumihiro pointed. "Just over there is fine."

As he sat in the waiting room, Kenta watched us work on his S14.

The SR20DE was only losing out on about 7 CCs of pressure thanks to the Gamer pointing it out, and I fixed it instantly. I didn't lower the horsepower setting because 170 was a great mark for an N/A like Kenta's. However, it took a few parts I had ordered to improve the gearbox and suspension.

After we lifted the S14 on one of Fumihiro's machines, we worked on the drive train from below. Both front and rear axles were fine, but the suspension needed a bit of tightening.

Then we equipped it with the best parts possible for the rain. The suspension, gearbox, drivetrain, the entire car, every part of the S14 should respond appropriately as needed should the road be wet at all.

It only took us about an hour, and I knew it would be easier than Aisuke's 180.

His Type X was tuned about on the same level as Kenta's, both being part of Nismo, but I had to lower the SR20DET's output from 220 to about 200 to provide for more speed in some harsher corners. I considered removing the turbo entirely and making it a DE instead of a DET like Kenta's engine, but he should be fine to have enough speed in the straightaways and the corners.

After tightening the suspension and improving the gearbox we were finished.

Keisuke, Yakuma, and Daito were all prepared tuning-wise for the uphill battles in Tochigi. And Takihiro, Aisuke, and Kenta were as well for their downhill battles.

It did take an entire afternoon, from midday to sundown, but we were ready.

III

At the bottom of Myogi's hill, I spoke to the Red Suns. "We have another week before we leave to Tochigi. That's one week for you all to become accustomed to the modifications Fumihiro and I made to all of your cars. I have the battles planned as follows."

"Our first match will be at Nantai Pass. Daito is up first, you'll be on the uphill. Aisuke, the downhill. Even though we can win easily, that's not the problem. It's critical Tochigi knows how seriously we take setting unbeatable records. Which is why I want you to try your very best."

"Understood!"

"The next will be at Nyoho Pass. Yakuma is on the uphill, followed by Takihiro on the downhill. This one will be a little less important, but I still want you to do your best."

Takihiro nodded. "After that? What do I need to do in the following races?"

"You'll help coordinate the matches with Fumihiro. Should the races need to be postponed for any reason, you'd be our safety car of sorts and help clear the mountain. Is this clear?"

"Yes sir!" Takihiro and Aisuke said.

I turned to Kenta. "The race against the Seven Star Leafs will be much harder than the previous two. You will be facing their downhiller, and Daito will take the uphill on."

"You got it Ryosuke," he said.

I nodded. "Daito and Keisuke. I want you both training on the hillclimb tonight. Everyone else, help prepare the pass for the times. Yakuma, you and Daito can switch out as needed. I need all three of you on your best times for Tochigi. Aisuke, Kenta, and Takihiro. You three also will work in pairs, training each other on the downhill switching out again as needed. By the end of tonight, I want you all on the same page with all the modifications I made to your cars. At least starting to."

The Red Suns spoke in acknowledgment.

"Yes sir!"

"Roger that!"

III

Keisuke and Daito were on the uphill together.

Keisuke immediately noticed how different the FD felt.

'She's much faster climbing up the hill.' Keisuke changed gears to clear another hairpin behind Daito. 'I knew Ryosuke improved it but holy hell this much!?' Both 13B-REWs of the yellow and green FD hummed loudly as they flew uphill. 'It's so fast that it feels like I'm starting all over with my FD again! Every part of her feels better, all I know is I just have to learn how to handle her better too!'

Daito glanced into his rearview, cornering as fast as he could. Even at full throttle, the green FD didn't lose the yellow FD on the uphill. 'I'm going all out and you're still there. Make us proud against the Emperors Keisuke. You've come so far in your FD, I'm glad to train with you on the hill climb.'

III

"So Ryosuke," Fumihiro said to me as I leaned on my FC. "I noticed how you never mentioned any preparations for Tokyo. I know it's far off, but still. Why discount it?"

"The reason's simple," I said. "Keisuke will take on the entire Tokyo region by himself."

"Himself!?" Fumihiro's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"The name of the Akagi Red Suns will never become legendary until Keisuke joins the KPRC's new circuit. The Kanto 2, or K2. Every track in Tokyo is starting to have higher and higher standards for circuit racers, it's my hope that this new league of only the best professional racers in the country will have Keisuke at the top of it."

Fumihiro chuckled. "But why him? Aren't you the winner of all those Gymkhanas and such?"

"I am. But Keisuke's understanding of the rotary engine is beautiful. It's purely instinctual, but it's like the FD can speak to him in a way no other car can communicate to any other driver. I envy him a lot for it. I know it for sure, the legacy of the Red Suns will one day pass completely into Keisuke's hands on the professional racing circuit. With the best of the best."

Fumihiro smiled a bit. "You sound sure."

"I am," I said.

III

Even though the chatter of becoming Gunma's fastest refused to die down, I didn't let the Red Suns rest. All of us, including myself trained every night on Akina and Myogi as hard as we could.

Aisuke and Kenta were getting faster and faster, even on Myogi's hill where Aisuke tended to win, their times improved steadily equally. Their downhill skills continued to just get better and it didn't look to me like they wouldn't get better either.

Keisuke continued to embody the all-wheel-drive "killer" canon labeled him as. Him and Daito also trained very hard together, and their uphill times were as strong as ever.

Even Takihiro was improving quickly, he knew I had given him the least important race we'd have in Tochigi but he didn't care. His training seemed to ignore that fact entirely, seeming to grow almost as fast as anyone else on the team in his S13.

Yakuma seemed to become his old nickname again, becoming an uphiller Tochigi would remember, a hillclimber of "Doom". But not as much as Keisuke in all likelihood.

I mostly focused on improving my blocking drift, a very tricky technique, but it would prove very useful in the races in Tochigi. I also decided to train my [Rain Racing] skill a bit, in the small but important chance that I would race on wet track or in the rain in any of my own races.

I still think I had decided to pick the best drivers for the matches ahead.

III

I was working on my Irohazaka simulation in my room when Mako called me.

"Hey Mako," I said.

"Ryosuke how are you? We haven't seen each other since Akina a few weeks back."

"No we haven't," I said. "I apologize though."

"It's fine. What have you been up to?"

"A lot actually. You sound like you want to get together."

Mako laughed a bit over the phone. "I do actually."

"Like a date?"

"Of course," she said. "Maybe a movie?"

"Sounds nice," I said. "I'm busy with expeditions on Saturday nights. How does next Friday sound?"

"That seems great! How's the team?"

I sighed. "They're surprising me. Keisuke and Daito seem to really appreciate all the modifications I made with Fumihiro. But our only real match on Irohazaka is still weeks away."

"Can you tell me more on our date? I think Sayuki just rang my doorbell."

"Absolutely. Take care."

"Love you."

I chuckled a bit. "Love you too," I said before hanging up.

I turned to my calendar. Saturday the 28th would be our first expedition into Tochigi, on Mount Nantai. I was so disinterested in how unskilled the drivers there sounded that I knew Keisuke and Fumihiro could handle the Friday night practice runs.

Racing the Speed Stars had taught me enough about which mountain passes to keep an eye out for and which ones not to.

III

III