III

14: Heartbeat

III

On one of Akina's five consecutive hairpins, a young man of about 22 parked his emerald green Honda Civic CRX del Sol behind the guardrail. Noticeably, the back of the car had a shiny 'DOHC VTEC' and below it a 'del Sol' sticker.

He left his car speaking. "Has the race already started?"

"Nah, not yet." a racing fan said leaning on his S13. "Haven't seen you around before. Who're you?"

"Uh, Kozo. Kozo Ikkiyama. I deliver stuff all the time between Higashia and Komoro."

"You certainly have the car for it." He noted the CRX the black haired young man had. "Must be used to the mountain passes."

"You could say that. Been meaning to get into racing for a while." Kozo said. "Just never had the time until recently. This race should be pretty interesting."

"That's putting it mildly." the S13 racing fan fixed his 'Nismo' hat. "This beast of a 32 is going up against an 86. Probably sending it right to the scrapyard too."

Kozo said nothing, looking at Akina's course.

'Hm. It's not too different than the curves I usually have to take on my deliveries. Maybe I could try getting a few races in soon.'

III

A crewmember spoke on the walkies soon just after I saw Takumi emerge from his 86.

"Ohp." the Speed Star said. "There's a car coming up the pass. It's a green CRX, looks completely stock to me."

"A CRX?" Keisuke looked to me. "Haven't heard of anyone racing with those recently."

I raised an eyebrow.

'Who would drive a car that...bland? There isn't a racer in all of Gunma who drives a CRX, even the new del Sol series that came out this month. Even with a N/A VTEC engine, it's basically the most bland and, nothing of cars.'

My eyes widened. 'Unless this guy hasn't been known in our racing community until tonight. And or he's from a different prefecture. Huh! A racer I didn't know about.'

"Sounds pretty crappy to me." Keisuke said looking over his FD with pride. "No stupid Civic can compete with us big bro."

"That may be so. But I haven't heard of any racer like him." I said. "It'd be best to at least look into after the race."

Even if he managed to rise up among the sea of mediocre and trashy Nismo, Mazda, and Honda fans in this case, that flooded our racing community. The Red Suns wouldn't accept any more members, except if Takumi somehow could be convinced to join later.

Still, I would need to find out more about this strange green Civic.

"Just drive an EG6 at that point. Who needs to be that cheap?" wondered Keisuke.

"Most likely someone paying him to drive it." I assumed. "Locally owned stores have a tiny number of delivery drivers between the mountains. There are only two registered at all in both Gunma and Nagano."

"Really? And you don't know who this guy is?"

"Like I said. He's not a racer, so I couldn't find out more."

I considered this as I smoked waiting for the race to begin.

The CRX del Sol was the most mediocre car I could think of. It had an average VTEC DOHC engine, an okay FF transmission system and it came with an all right gearbox for hairpins. It only pushed around 170 HP, and was light enough to attack corners on mountains at decent speeds.

Even for being released just last month, credit where credit was due, it was the least terrible out of the avalanche of garbage Honda released. The NSX was severely overrated in my opinion.

If this guy I had just heard about was going anywhere, it would depend solely on his driving ability. Nothing else.

I saw Takumi and Takeshi sit in their cars as Iketani stood in front of them.

Looking up from his walkie, Iketani spoke. "All right the course is ready. Start your engines!"

I watched as I heard Takeshi's twin turbo purr much louder than Takumi's stock Toyota block. The difference in power was notable in every way the engines roared.

"5!"

I listened carefully.

"4!"

Why was the entire engine block stock for the 86?

"3!"

Takeshi's 32 pushed 410 easy, but maybe the third pin on the second-

"2!"

From the right chamber is firing too late? It was a little off for sure.

"1! Go!"

Takeshi took the lead easily with his superior acceleration, flying by Iketani with Takumi following him.

"That 86 looked like it was standing stock still when that 32 flew off the line! This thing is gonna be over quick!" a racing fan said.

Keisuke rolled his eyes as he turned to me. "Bro. That start was embarrassing. How can you call this 86 worth so much attention?"

"Multiple reasons." I said.

III

Ryosuke's voice explained to his little brother as the R32 gripped the first corner, the 86 in hot pursuit.

"The first half of Akina's downhill is mostly straights with light turns."

Takumi blew the crowd away with his skills on the very first few turns. Takeshi let him catch up, but the 86' speed in the corners let him stay in Takeshi's rearview.

"But later, will decide the entire race. The second half of Akina's downhill is nothing but tight hairpins. And unless Nakazato was smart enough to balance his car's suspension accordingly, he'll stress his front tires."

Takeshi grunted, frustrated he was seeing Takumi not be left in the dust in the hairpins.

"Takeshi might have the power to accelerate from any gear at any speed he needs. But a downhill run will favor the lighter car. Always."

III

Takumi stayed calm, going his usual speeds as if he was delivering another batch of tofu on the downhill.

The crowd thought he was going to crash into them from the speed he was approaching. But he cornered perfectly, the 86' tires squealing as he cleared the guardrail by a centimeter.

Takeshi gripped his steering wheel. 'I knew slowing down on the straightaways was a mistake. Your junkyard 86 is only this close because I let you!'

Takeshi still had skill, gripping the inside as he used a classic grip run at a low gear to clear a corner perfect for his R32. A medium right. He made the turn at a very high speed, and his times were strong, but Takumi refused to leave his rearview.

In the sharp hairpin that followed, Takeshi braked hard, gripping all the way as the 86 drifted right on its tail through the whole turn.

'This doesn't make any goddamn sense!' Takeshi's monstrous turbocharger hissed loudly with power as he accelerated downhill. 'How can a turn made for my 32's grip run not dust this old 86!?'

Takumi still lost speed in the straightaways, but in the corners, he caught up.

Following a few light turns Takeshi failed to use to gain distance due to Takumi's speed, Takumi again pressed up to the 32s bumper during the sharp corners that capped a straight.

During Takumi's drift, the sheer speed at which he could turn let him stay on Takeshi's tail during the whole corner. As they left the curve, the 86 shocked everyone in the gallery with its speed.

A Speed Star announced it to the mountain. "This is the first checkpoint! I can't believe what I'm seeing! I swear I'm not making this up! But that 86 is right on Nakazato's tail! It practically was touching the 32 during the whole turn!"

"Its cornering speed is out of this world! I've never seen anyone curve like that!"

Takumi again drifted at incredible speeds, cornering right behind the black R32 during the entire turn.

Takeshi was beginning to get frustrated, and he accelerated downhill as fast as he could the moment the turn ended. His 32s twin turbo DETT hissed loudly with power as he pressed the gas, trying to use the long straights to his advantage.

Takumi again lost no speed, but he was going about 130 kph and wasn't far behind on the downhill.

As Takeshi braked, his 32s taillights glowed brightly as he flew downhill. What amazed him was that Takumi was close enough to illuminate the back of his black R32 with his flip up headlights.

'This is exhilarating! I don't care if this 86 is making me lose my mind or something! But I don't care!' Takeshi pressed the gas, controlling his heavy car's speed downhill. 'My race against the Red Suns doesn't hold a candle to this!'

During the looping curves Takeshi gripped quickly on, Takumi flew around the whole turn drifting the whole way. His 86 faced the inside, its tires squealing as he zipped around the curve.

Takeshi looked at the side of his window seeing the 86 stay by his side through the next hard turn. Steering lightly while using his ABS to do his grip run, the 86 again drifted so fast Takumi never lost a hint of speed.

Takeshi roared as he used the low gear turns to pull off his own great speeds. "These medium hairpins are the 32s bread and butter! Try to keep up drift trash!"

As the R32 gripped hard, turning left and right through the medium turns, Takumi never lost speed again as he flew through the curves. Even though Takeshi's black 32 was very fast and could clear medium turns at the exact speed Takeshi desired the fact remained:

Takumi's 86 would not leave his rearview at all.

The 32 hissing with power again as it flew down the straight, the 86 was a fraction of a second behind it. Both cars zoomed downhill loudly, and Takeshi was completely astounded by the result.

'That kid is some driver. My 32 should beat an 86 no sweat. And it's still there.'

Grunting, Takeshi gripped his steering wheel.

'I've still got a juggernaut of a car here. You've only seen the beginning of my speed!'

Takeshi zipped down Akina's hill again using his strong turbo to treat straight sections as if he was on the open track at a circuit rally. His gearbox could transfer power very well, and his drivetrain allowed for acceleration perfectly.

Takeshi showed off his great gripping skills, only Takumi's speeds were the only reason the 86 was anywhere near the black 32.

During the looping left turn, Takumi drifted the whole way, again, his drift matching the 32's grip speed in the corners.

In the straightaways, the story was different. Takumi had just more than a third of the horsepower Takeshi did, and he wasted no time trying to run away.

Takeshi hated the reminder that always remained in his peripheral vision. No matter how fast the 32 could finish both straightaways and corners using both its high horsepower and gripping and brake power, it changed nothing.

Takumi was still in the 32s rearview turn after turn. Straight after straight.

Takeshi tried focusing on the road ahead of him, but it wounded his pride that he was about halfway through the course and still the 86 would not for the life of him leave his rearview.

Again pushing his front tires, Takeshi braked hard, gripping quickly as he sped through a straight, only turning the car slightly to finish his corner. Takumi on the other hand turned sharply, making the 86 face the inside of the mountain wall as he drifted quickly.

'I can't shake this goddamn rust bucket!' thought Takeshi. 'I got more grip and horsepower than any person in the mountains! What the hell is going on!'

As he again gripped hard through a turn, he abused his front tires during a wide right turn. The 32 cleared the turn quickly, just a split second before the 86 was right there behind it.

III

Back at the peak, I listened quietly to the walkies. "This is the second checkpoint. That ancient 86 isn't giving that 32 a second to breath. He's only like half a second behind!"

"Am I hallucinating or something?" Keisuke said as Iketani, Kenji, Itsuki, and the other Speed Stars at the peak were as happy as they could be. "How could a grip expert like Nakazato not lose such an old car?"

"One thing's for sure." I said. "The fact that he's been able to keep up with the 32 for this long is a victory enough. It doesn't matter if he can win this or not. To be able to not be left in the dust by a 32 in his first race is impressive on its own."

III

Takeshi grunted as he was about a fraction of a second slower and the 86 again couldn't leave his rearview mirror.

'Is the second turbo missing its beat or something?' Takeshi couldn't believe in the long straightaways in the middle of Akina's course the 86 wasn't long gone. 'Why is he still there!?'

As much as he tried making Takumi disappear from his rearview, it infuriated Takeshi that a car as old as the 86 was still this close to him. Even in the straights, Takumi's 86 maintained the same near mythic pace that made absolutely no sense to the leader of the Night Kids.

Its front bumper a hair away from the guardrail, Takumi cleared another medium curve that Takeshi's black 32 excelled at. It still astounded Takeshi that Takumi could curves this quickly even on lighter turns.

The black 32 zipped down the long straight before a hairpin turn, and the 86 wasn't far behind it. The 32s headlights glowed brightly before its brakes glowed red hot, Takeshi braking hard to grip during the sharp left.

As the 86 turned sharply, the crowd couldn't believe their eyes. Any time Takumi lost on the straights to the 32 was immediately made up by how fast he could corner. The tofu shop 86' drift was nothing short of a miracle from how quick and sharply it moved.

The next two turns, Takumi again lost no speed at all. Both were nearly identical wide turns, a right followed by a left.

As the 32 again hissed with power, the 86 stayed right on its tail during the entire straightaway. Takumi had cleared his hairpins so fast that he could stay right behind the 32 no matter how much grip and horsepower it had.

The result fazed Takeshi, chilled him right to his core, but he was still mad. "You made it this far kid. But I'm keeping this pace right to the end!"

As they approached the five consecutive hairpins, Takumi stood up straighter in his seat. Knowing Akina better than anyone, he knew he'd have to make his move here.

'I gotta hold the inside.' thought Takeshi as he gripped. 'Even babies know it's the fastest line on any corner.'

Angling from the outside, Takumi cornered as fast as he could. Drifting loudly next to the 32, Takeshi was angered by the attempt.

"Come on buddy!" roared Takeshi as he transitioned to the short straight before the second hairpin. "You're insane if you think I'll let you pass me from there!"

During the left corner, Takumi was cornering again from the outside. Even on the inferior position, Takumi's 86 was drifting so fast the 32 couldn't pull ahead.

Accelerating quickly, Takeshi grunted as he left the turn.

'The front tires aren't responding like I need them to. My 32's a grip runner's dream car. Why aren't they sticking now!?'

Around the third hairpin, Takumi made Takeshi even angrier. "Stop trying that! It's not gonna work kid!"

Leaving the third corner, Takumi squinted, looking right at the gutter.

'Now.'

Faking a pass to the outside again, Takumi gripped the gutter. The asphalt made Takumi's 86 bump loudly when he gripped the gutter and used it to slingshot around to create more space and speed that simply wasn't there.

The 86s headlights quickly moved from behind Takeshi's head to next to his 32.

'Understeer! Damn!' thought Takeshi as he tried gripping again but his front tires gave out.

Slipping out of the turn, the 32 hit the guardrail and scratched a large part of its right side.

Takeshi held his steering wheel quietly in thought. 'Faking a pass to the outside. Beaten by the oldest trick in the book. But how could he corner that fast?'

Looking at the damage, Takeshi smoked. 'An even 70,000 Yen should fix this up. God. Lost to an 86. Still can't believe it. My stupid engine's valve timing was a tiny bit off.'

Sighing, Takeshi shook his head. 'No. Even if the second turbo was working fine, this loss was my fault.' touching the scratched body of his beloved 32 he continued to think. 'I hurt you. This was all my fault.'

III

"This is the third checkpoint! The 86 is by itself! I repeat, the 86 is by itself! Nakazato's 32 is nowhere in sight. The 86 won!"

After I heard this, I watched Keisuke look wide eyed at the walkie talkie. As if he couldn't believe his own ears.

Out of the sixty or so people at Akina's peak, I was the only person who seemed unsurprised.

There were three teams and dozens of racing fans at the start line. And out of all of them, the peak was as silent as a morgue.

The only thing that seemed to break the silence was Itsuki's laughter. And soon, him, Kenji, and Iketani were all laughing together like they did in the anime.

Keisuke spoke in a way that surprised his protege, Kenta. "The 32. Lost. To an 86!? An 86!?"

"Keep your eye on him fellas." I said to my team. "That 86 is going places."

The rest of the Red Suns were still as shocked as Keisuke at this.

"How're you not blown away by this?" asked Fumihiro.

"Nakazato might know how to grip. But he's too arrogant to learn from his mistakes during our race with him." I said. "Like an untrained boxer hurting his hand from punching incorrectly. He likely braked too hard, probably so much so that he overcompressed his front tires. If you can't control your tires well, you're history. 32 or not."

III

Iketani looked over at Ryosuke as his laughter with his friends ended.

His words were the only thing that stopped the whole crazy thing not appear to be some sort of strange joke or hallucination.

'It's the driver that makes the car. Not the other way around. Always.'

Iketani wiped a tear away looking at Ryosuke.

'That guy is quotable as hell. He really knows his stuff. What he said is the only way to explain what happened tonight.'

III

At Akina's fourth hairpin, the racing fans muttered amongst themselves excitedly.

"What the hell was that? How'd that 86 beat a 3 freaking 2!?"

Having his arms crossed, Kozo thought silently. 'It's not all that impressive when you really think about it.'

'It's skillful, I'll give him that much.' thought Kozo as he leaned on his green CRX. 'But if you know the course well enough and your timing is solid. You can nail just about any grip on any lidless gutter. No matter how fast you go into it.'

He looked up at the shocked racing fans.

Kozo looked up at the racing fans from the ground in confidence. 'I vow to cultivate the respect of my own driving style on the open roads as honorably as I can. FF racing.'

III

Before my date with Mako exactly a week from the night Nakazato lost to Takumi, some things happened.

A young man named Kozo Ikkiyama driving the del Sol that appeared just before Takumi's race against Nakazato began quickly rose up the ranks in Nagano. He beat basically everyone he came across in the mountain passes surrounding north and eastern Nagano and the farthest western Gunma areas.

I quickly set my sights on figuring out just why, but two things were made clear.

After his victory over the 32, Takumi began well known overnight. I had made it clear to the Red Suns to not go anywhere near Akina unless it was exclusively to spectate a race like we had just done.

Secondly, Ikkiyama as well became a rookie all star sensation in the street racing community, but nowhere near as much as Takumi. There were now two big names for rookies, Kozo Ikkiyama and Takumi Fujiwara.

Baffled by how Takumi could win in his AE86 over an R32, the entire racing community was buzzing with energy. There was talk about how Akina had a new downhill specialist, who could beat a 32 in even a car as old as an 86.

A third thing quickly became clear to me while I ran a simulation on Ikkiyama's home course of Asama.

Takumi would soon be challenged likely by Shingo Shoji of the Night Kids. In a gum tape deathmatch almost for sure. Then Takumi would likely race Mako. And then, if he won that, Takumi would race Kozo to decide which of them were worthy enough to step up to me.

Both rookies were fast, but they'd need to tie up their victories with enough street cred to basically earn a challenge from me.

Secretly, I knew that Takumi's only real threat was me. But it changed nothing. He had a long way before he could stand for a title bout with me.

Shingo would be racing Takumi much earlier than he did in canon. Mako would be an even greater challenge considering I would be her coach. And this new racer, the green Civic, would be tough as well as I had no real canonical information to compare him to.

Ikkiyama was the wildcard. He would be the gatekeeper for Takumi to earn my challenge.

Considering how fast everything was shaping up to be, I still estimated my possible title bout with Takumi to be in September as it was in canon.

This was for multiple reasons.

The first was that it gave Takumi plenty of time to get used to races, both regular timed runs as well as special conditions races like the cat and mouse chases and the especially the gum tape deathmatch. Second was that I could reach LV 90 with the Gamer, a very powerful milestone.

Thirdly, it let me get solid data to develop a proper simulation to defeat Takumi. While the anime provided me with enough information to basically just calculate enough new speed with the Gamer and tire control to not grip out at the critical section, it wasn't enough.

Takumi's tofu drift was just as strong here as in canon, his defeat of the 32 proved that.

Fourthly it would let me be able to drive Akina enough times to really get a feel for the course. Thanks to my near eidetic memory, I could see most hairpins in my head before they happened after a few drives to Akina.

But it wasn't enough, even with this. I'd need to drive Akina enough times so that I could adapt to the course backwards and forwards.

I typed into my computer remembering what I said in the anime.

'With my grip and speed calculated correctly. This win should be assured.'

III

Walking together through Karuizawa, Mako and I talked.

"I still can't believe that little 86 beat a 32." Mako said.

"I can." I said. "Again, even the best tires and brake pads in the world can be worn down."

"So I was wondering." Mako said. "When are you going to spread the word about us being together?"

"Um. Did I miss something? We've only been on three dates, that's if you count the one we're on right now."

Mako shrugged, whispering with a hand next to her mouth. "We had our first kiss already. It's kind of a big deal."

I laughed at this, Mako was really quirky and fun when she broke out of her very shy shell.

"I know but." I sighed. "Look I've been dubbed the White Comet of Akagi and the fastest in Gunma. You know what that means."

"And you know what me giving you that picture of you means." Mako said. "This is the first time in. Ever. That I've been able to open up about how I felt. It was a big deal for you, imagine how it felt for me."

"Again I know but." I tutted. "Keisuke would go absolutely ballistic. You know how badly he gets along with Sayuki."

"Yeah they do kind of really really hate each other." Mako said. "But still. We've been official ever since. You know." she whispered again. "We kissed."

"I'm proud to be your boyfriend." I said. "As I'm sure you're proud to be my girlfriend. But imagine how my team would react. Not to mention everyone else."

"Is your brother really that much of a hot head?"

"You just answered your own question. And yes, he definitely is. A waitress got his order wrong once and he chewed her out so bad I had to leave her an extra tip as an apology."

"Let's make a deal. I let Sayuki know, and you let Keisuke know."

I laughed again at this. "The two last people we'd want knowing about us."

"I'm your girlfriend now. You have to agree."

I sighed. I forgot how much dating was reliant on compromise and understanding.

"I agree. On one condition." I said. "You challenge Akina's 86 the second he's done with his next race."

Mako fixed her purse slung over her shoulder. "Really? But he's all the way out in Akina."

"I know, but then challenge him to drive to Usui. But trust me. It'll be worth it."

"Fine." Mako said. "It's a deal."

I sighed again. "Keisuke will go crazy."

"So will Sayuki."

III

As the rest of the Red Suns trained on Akagi pass, Keisuke used a pair of binoculars to overlook the team in training. "Kenta's still rockin' third. That little maniac."

"I hope you realize the trouble Fumihiro went through to help us."

"Mm. He tuned everything really well. I don't get any turbo lag at most gears."

I spoke. "I've been meaning to talk to you about a few things. Firstly about that. Tuning."

"Okay." said Keisuke.

"I've been meaning to remove any turbochargers entirely for my race against." I said. "And return the FC's power setting down to its factory N/A release. 210 HP."

Keisuke's eyes widened. "What!? That's the biggest downgrade possible, why would you do that?"

"Because the race between Fujiwara's 86 and the 32 proved on the downhill, that less power equals more speed. Allow me to explain."

Keisuke nodded. "I trust you bro. Lay it out for me."

"On the uphill and flat surfaces like the track, it's true. Horsepower gives you a significant advantage. However, on the downhill, too much power makes the car too hard to control. Nakazato's 32 had too much strength he'd have to compress his tires with whenever he braked. And you know how that turned out."

"Guess that makes sense for the downhill. But why so low?"

"Because it's still 60 HP higher than the 86. The 86 only has a few modifications." I went off what the Gamer told me. "TRD High Tension Wires for hairpins. And a very strong TRD rally gearbox. Everything else is completely stock. 150 horses max."

"So wait. That little 86 is so fast because it's underpowered?"

"Exactly. And it's an FR. It's the fastest possible combination for the downhill. Uphill is a different story. But I should still have a big advantage in the straights without needing to sacrifice any speed in the hairpins. I think the best way would be to demonstrate for you up close. Follow along in your FD."

III

Grunting, Keisuke left a corner confused following his older brother downhill on Akagi.

'Is the second rotary booster not spooling anymore? How can his FC have like 140 HP less than mine but still corner this much faster?'

He watched the FC indeed show off why Ryosuke was the downhiller while Keisuke was the uphiller in the Rotary Brother duo. Ryosuke was clearing hairpins one after the other much faster than Keisuke could, and Keisuke was having a lot of trouble keeping up.

'It's like he said. I get it now. Less power equals more speed. I've never seen him go this fast before. It's like he's uncovered a whole new part of his driving.'

III

As I smoked quietly, Keisuke spoke. "It still doesn't make sense. Why would you remove all your extra horsepower? Why remove the turbo entirely?"

"Because of another thing. Tire control. I've done my research. Despite the 86' incredible speed on the downhill, his father makes him exercise strict tire control not just because he's stingy. But because he knows how important tire grip is in a race."

"But going naturally aspirated? It's that bad on the downhill?"

I nodded with my cigarette in my hand. "It is. The lighter and more maneuverable car will always have the advantage. Speed equals control for any downhiller. It's why these two new rookies drive N/As and have torn the street racing world apart in just a week."

Keisuke sighed. "God, I had no idea you could go that fast on the downhill. It's like you know stuff I haven't even thought of."

"Let me worry about the downhill." I said. "For now, I have a confession to make."

"You do? Another ultra revelation about how to go downhill properly?"

Chuckling I explained. "No. There's a pair of young women called Impact Blue. They're the fastest on Usui pass. Have been ever since Yakuma joined us on the Suns."

"Yeah I hate them. So?"

"Well I've been training them in secret."

Keisuke gasped. "That's where you've been all this time?"

"That's not the only place I've been. I've been dating Mako, we became official at Lake Akina last week."

Keisuke struggled to find words, and like I expected, he was mad. Looking at his own hands, Keisuke spoke. "You'd betray us. The Akagi Red Suns. Your own brothers. Just for some tail?"

"It's not about that at all." I said smoking. "This racing community grows ever more diverse by the week as you've seen. It's my job to keep it that way."

"But you kept it secret for this long. And you couldn't tell me the truth?"

"You have a knack for being incredibly immature Keisuke. You lash out. You treat women much how our father does. I love you like any brother should, but you have the worst temper in Gunma."

"But I'd never lie to you like that! To Fumi, to Kenta! To the Suns!"

I sighed. "I knew you would react horribly."

"Why shouldn't I? You're dating one of our biggest rivals on the downhill. Training them even!"

"Mako is kind and patient. But you have every right to be reproachful of Sayuki."

"Fuck yeah I do!" said Keisuke. "She's a cow! Got more tits than brains!"

"Impact Blue is no threat to us. I assure you."

Keisuke grunted. "Come on big bro. You'd stab your own team in the back just for some poontang?"

"I never stabbed anyone in the back. I'll-" As I watched him walk to his FD I spoke out. "Keisuke, it's not as bad as you think. I-"

Opening the right side door to his yellow FD Keisuke spoke. "Good luck with that pale bitch. I'll see you at home."

"Keisuke wait-"

His twin turbo rotary roared to life, and he flew downhill.

Sighing I rubbed my face.

Bad idea. What a bad idea.