The Yellow Sweater
an Initial D fanfic by inky
Chapter One:
In which Kyouichi makes a discovery, and Ryousuke is persuaded to wear the sweater
---
Sudou Kyouichi aimed another glare at the back of the computer lab. The lab might be empty, save for those three chattering freshmen and himself, but rules were rules and no one ignored the rules while he was enforcing them--except himself, of course. He opened the messenger program that he had surreptitiously installed, as he did every night that he supervised the lab, and searched for one screen name.
The person he was looking for wasn't on yet. He'd work on some programming while he waited. In the four months they had been talking, his friend had rarely missed a weeknight.
The freshmen's whispers were getting loud again. Kyouichi was ready to begin one of his trademark glare-and-throat-clearing combinations, which so eloquently conveyed the message, "Shut the fuck up before my 'Quiet Please' sign gives your ass paper cuts," when he realized that they were talking about cars. He'd see if they were saying anything interesting before shutting them up.
"Last week you went on and on about the Nissan Silvia and now you're wanting an FC--"
"That's a joke. You can't even afford the piece of crap you have now. You're always bumming money for fuel."
"Like you can talk! I take gas money from you because you're always bumming rides."
"Yeah, at least he has a car, even if it is eight years old. But why the RX-7? If you're going to dream big, hell, get a Skyline."
No, it was just stupid fan boy chatter.
Kyouichi cleared his throat. The two friends of the newly converted Mazda fan glanced at him before ducking behind their monitors.
"No, really, this is so cool. Listen, I was in this chat this weekend and there were all these guys who really knew what they were talking about. And one of them, it turns out, was Takahashi Ryousuke and I got to talk to him."
"Wow, he was in that magazine a couple months ago."
"My cousin has seen him race."
"Well, it's not like I understood much of what he was saying, but it was so cool. I mean, I did get to say 'hi' to him and stuff. I want a car just like his."
Heh. The kid probably hadn't understood a word he'd said.
Even if the kid could follow a technical discussion, Takahashi could make a man's brain ice over with boredom. Kyouichi had met him several times. He suspected that Takahashi was some sort of cosmic joke. He was obviously intelligent--and he raced like a dream--yet he had all the personality of a dead tuna.
Kyouichi thought he was fucking gorgeous and thanked the gods for that. Swinging that way was the only thing that had kept his brain safely thawed around Takahashi. Still, he'd rather watch the man bore someone else than talk to him personally.
"Did you ask him for any driving tips? Are you going to talk to him again?"
"Yeah, I want to talk to him, too."
"Well, no, but he shows up in the Formula One chats sometimes. If you go to the F1 chat room, look for DocMazda. That's him."
"What?"
They stared at Kyouichi.
"You've spoken to Takahashi Ryousuke online, and his screen name was DocMazda."
The shortest boy nodded.
"Well, shit." Kyouichi pointed at him. "You, you're in charge for five minutes. I need a damn smoke."
All three boys nodded.
Kyouichi had his cigarette lit before he got outside. He leaned against the door and shut his eyes.
How in the world did a dead tuna manage to be such a fun cyberfuck?
And what was he going to do about it?
+ + + + +
"Oi, Aniki--"
"Do you know that you begin all of your conversations with me that way?" Ryousuke ruffled Keisuke's hair as he passed him in the kitchen.
"Gah! Aniki! I have a date tonight."
Ryousuke watched him try to fix his hair. Their parents had not been pleased by Keisuke's recent haircut, but Ryousuke--though wise enough not to say so--liked it. The brat looked cute.
"You look fine. Besides, messy spikes will just tempt your date to run her fingers through your hair."
"Really?"
Ryousuke put the kettle on the stove and turned on the burner.
"Really. Trust your big brother on this one." He got some tea out of the cupboard. "Why are you eating now if you have a date?"
"We're just going to a movie, and then maybe--" Keisuke stuffed the last of his sandwich into his mouth.
"Maybe?"
"Maybe a drive. Oh, Aniki, that reminds me what I was going to say when you interrupted me."
"And what was that?"
"The sweater I gave you a month ago is still in a bag at the bottom of your dresser."
"Keisuke, I'm--what were you doing in my dresser?"
"I told you I have a date tonight."
"Since I know there are no girls hidden in there, you're going to have to explain."
"Aw--" The kettle's whistle joined in with Keisuke's whine.
Ryousuke made his tea, then sat across from him at the table.
"Explain."
Keisuke pushed a few crumbs around his plate.
"She's really pretty, and we've gone out three times, and ... uh ... I wanted to borrow a pair of your silk boxers."
"A pair of my boxers."
"Yeah."
"You're not even twenty yet. What are you doing going on dates where your underwear matters?"
"Hey, I'm not the one with the drawer full of sexy boxers." Keisuke shifted in his seat. "Though maybe I should be. They feel really good on, don't they?"
Ryousuke took a long sip of tea.
"Keep that pair, Keisuke."
"Okay, I will. And maybe I'll get myself a sweater like yours, too. Silk and cashmere--how could I not get felt up?"
Ryousuke choked.
"Do you ever not think about sex?"
"Don't you ever think about it? You're always at that computer. You can't study all the time, you know. Have some fun. That's what you're supposed to do."
"It's not all studying. I do ... racing simulations as well."
"Enough with them, they're not as good as the real thing."
"They--"
"No, Aniki, you need to get out more. Race. Get laid." Keisuke glanced at his watch. "Speaking of which, I've got to go."
+ + + + +
Ryousuke was thinking about Keisuke's words later that night when he turned on his computer. He signed onto the messenger service and smiled when he saw EvoKing's screen name.
"Really, simulations aren't all that bad."
A message window popped onto the screen.
EvoKing: Doc, I'm going to be in Maebashi this Wednesday
Ryousuke wiped his hands on his pants.
EvoKing: no comment?
DocMazda: You are?
EvoKing: your ... enthusiasm is flattering
DocMazda: I'm just surprised.
EvoKing: I was going to say that I think we should meet...
DocMazda: No, it's just the timing. The brat was just telling me to go get laid.
EvoKing: you think I'm the sort of guy who puts out on the first date?
"Keisuke, if this turns out to be a mistake..."
DocMazda: I certainly hope so.
EvoKing: you won't be disappointed
They worked out the details of their meeting. Ryousuke had told him that he lived in Shibukawa, so he suggested they meet at the Family's there. They got a little sidetracked when EvoKing made some suggestions about what exactly they could do up against the wall in the men's room of the restaurant.
Before they signed off, EvoKing asked about one last detail.
DocMazda: I'll be wearing a yellow v-neck sweater. You'll have to promise to feel me up.
Disclaimer:
initial D is © Shigeno Shuichi, Kodansha, to'max, OB Kikaku. These characters do not belong to inky.
Notes for Chapter One:
In the series, the license plate on Kyouichi's Evo indicates that it is registered in Gunma Prefecture. For the sake of this story, he is currently living--and attending college--in a distant part of the same prefecture as the Takahashis.
The Takahashis live in Takasaki. Ryousuke told EvoKing that he lived in Shibukawa because it's not a good idea to tell strangers where you live. The Red Suns will hang out at the Family's Restaurant there in series continuity. Shibukawa is roughly half an hour from Takasaki.
Maebashi is the city where Papa will take Natsuki to the love hotel. The medical school Ryousuke will attend is there also. Shibukawa is roughly 30-45 minutes from Maebashi. Both cities are roughly half an hour from Mt. Akagi.
Keisuke's comment that Ryousuke should have some fun because "that's what [he's] supposed to do" refers to the understanding, common in Japan, that the college years are one's chance to be wild (as long as you don't get caught). Japanese highschools are much more demanding than American highschools. College is a temporary break from that pressure, and a time to get youthful wildness out of one's system before stepping into adult life. At this point in the story, Kyouichi, Ryousuke, and Keisuke are all in college.
Last Revised: 29 Jan 2003
Illustrated Version: Archived at http://www32.brinkster.com/kyouichi/sw/sweater01.html
an Initial D fanfic by inky
Chapter One:
In which Kyouichi makes a discovery, and Ryousuke is persuaded to wear the sweater
---
Sudou Kyouichi aimed another glare at the back of the computer lab. The lab might be empty, save for those three chattering freshmen and himself, but rules were rules and no one ignored the rules while he was enforcing them--except himself, of course. He opened the messenger program that he had surreptitiously installed, as he did every night that he supervised the lab, and searched for one screen name.
The person he was looking for wasn't on yet. He'd work on some programming while he waited. In the four months they had been talking, his friend had rarely missed a weeknight.
The freshmen's whispers were getting loud again. Kyouichi was ready to begin one of his trademark glare-and-throat-clearing combinations, which so eloquently conveyed the message, "Shut the fuck up before my 'Quiet Please' sign gives your ass paper cuts," when he realized that they were talking about cars. He'd see if they were saying anything interesting before shutting them up.
"Last week you went on and on about the Nissan Silvia and now you're wanting an FC--"
"That's a joke. You can't even afford the piece of crap you have now. You're always bumming money for fuel."
"Like you can talk! I take gas money from you because you're always bumming rides."
"Yeah, at least he has a car, even if it is eight years old. But why the RX-7? If you're going to dream big, hell, get a Skyline."
No, it was just stupid fan boy chatter.
Kyouichi cleared his throat. The two friends of the newly converted Mazda fan glanced at him before ducking behind their monitors.
"No, really, this is so cool. Listen, I was in this chat this weekend and there were all these guys who really knew what they were talking about. And one of them, it turns out, was Takahashi Ryousuke and I got to talk to him."
"Wow, he was in that magazine a couple months ago."
"My cousin has seen him race."
"Well, it's not like I understood much of what he was saying, but it was so cool. I mean, I did get to say 'hi' to him and stuff. I want a car just like his."
Heh. The kid probably hadn't understood a word he'd said.
Even if the kid could follow a technical discussion, Takahashi could make a man's brain ice over with boredom. Kyouichi had met him several times. He suspected that Takahashi was some sort of cosmic joke. He was obviously intelligent--and he raced like a dream--yet he had all the personality of a dead tuna.
Kyouichi thought he was fucking gorgeous and thanked the gods for that. Swinging that way was the only thing that had kept his brain safely thawed around Takahashi. Still, he'd rather watch the man bore someone else than talk to him personally.
"Did you ask him for any driving tips? Are you going to talk to him again?"
"Yeah, I want to talk to him, too."
"Well, no, but he shows up in the Formula One chats sometimes. If you go to the F1 chat room, look for DocMazda. That's him."
"What?"
They stared at Kyouichi.
"You've spoken to Takahashi Ryousuke online, and his screen name was DocMazda."
The shortest boy nodded.
"Well, shit." Kyouichi pointed at him. "You, you're in charge for five minutes. I need a damn smoke."
All three boys nodded.
Kyouichi had his cigarette lit before he got outside. He leaned against the door and shut his eyes.
How in the world did a dead tuna manage to be such a fun cyberfuck?
And what was he going to do about it?
+ + + + +
"Oi, Aniki--"
"Do you know that you begin all of your conversations with me that way?" Ryousuke ruffled Keisuke's hair as he passed him in the kitchen.
"Gah! Aniki! I have a date tonight."
Ryousuke watched him try to fix his hair. Their parents had not been pleased by Keisuke's recent haircut, but Ryousuke--though wise enough not to say so--liked it. The brat looked cute.
"You look fine. Besides, messy spikes will just tempt your date to run her fingers through your hair."
"Really?"
Ryousuke put the kettle on the stove and turned on the burner.
"Really. Trust your big brother on this one." He got some tea out of the cupboard. "Why are you eating now if you have a date?"
"We're just going to a movie, and then maybe--" Keisuke stuffed the last of his sandwich into his mouth.
"Maybe?"
"Maybe a drive. Oh, Aniki, that reminds me what I was going to say when you interrupted me."
"And what was that?"
"The sweater I gave you a month ago is still in a bag at the bottom of your dresser."
"Keisuke, I'm--what were you doing in my dresser?"
"I told you I have a date tonight."
"Since I know there are no girls hidden in there, you're going to have to explain."
"Aw--" The kettle's whistle joined in with Keisuke's whine.
Ryousuke made his tea, then sat across from him at the table.
"Explain."
Keisuke pushed a few crumbs around his plate.
"She's really pretty, and we've gone out three times, and ... uh ... I wanted to borrow a pair of your silk boxers."
"A pair of my boxers."
"Yeah."
"You're not even twenty yet. What are you doing going on dates where your underwear matters?"
"Hey, I'm not the one with the drawer full of sexy boxers." Keisuke shifted in his seat. "Though maybe I should be. They feel really good on, don't they?"
Ryousuke took a long sip of tea.
"Keep that pair, Keisuke."
"Okay, I will. And maybe I'll get myself a sweater like yours, too. Silk and cashmere--how could I not get felt up?"
Ryousuke choked.
"Do you ever not think about sex?"
"Don't you ever think about it? You're always at that computer. You can't study all the time, you know. Have some fun. That's what you're supposed to do."
"It's not all studying. I do ... racing simulations as well."
"Enough with them, they're not as good as the real thing."
"They--"
"No, Aniki, you need to get out more. Race. Get laid." Keisuke glanced at his watch. "Speaking of which, I've got to go."
+ + + + +
Ryousuke was thinking about Keisuke's words later that night when he turned on his computer. He signed onto the messenger service and smiled when he saw EvoKing's screen name.
"Really, simulations aren't all that bad."
A message window popped onto the screen.
EvoKing: Doc, I'm going to be in Maebashi this Wednesday
Ryousuke wiped his hands on his pants.
EvoKing: no comment?
DocMazda: You are?
EvoKing: your ... enthusiasm is flattering
DocMazda: I'm just surprised.
EvoKing: I was going to say that I think we should meet...
DocMazda: No, it's just the timing. The brat was just telling me to go get laid.
EvoKing: you think I'm the sort of guy who puts out on the first date?
"Keisuke, if this turns out to be a mistake..."
DocMazda: I certainly hope so.
EvoKing: you won't be disappointed
They worked out the details of their meeting. Ryousuke had told him that he lived in Shibukawa, so he suggested they meet at the Family's there. They got a little sidetracked when EvoKing made some suggestions about what exactly they could do up against the wall in the men's room of the restaurant.
Before they signed off, EvoKing asked about one last detail.
DocMazda: I'll be wearing a yellow v-neck sweater. You'll have to promise to feel me up.
Disclaimer:
initial D is © Shigeno Shuichi, Kodansha, to'max, OB Kikaku. These characters do not belong to inky.
Notes for Chapter One:
In the series, the license plate on Kyouichi's Evo indicates that it is registered in Gunma Prefecture. For the sake of this story, he is currently living--and attending college--in a distant part of the same prefecture as the Takahashis.
The Takahashis live in Takasaki. Ryousuke told EvoKing that he lived in Shibukawa because it's not a good idea to tell strangers where you live. The Red Suns will hang out at the Family's Restaurant there in series continuity. Shibukawa is roughly half an hour from Takasaki.
Maebashi is the city where Papa will take Natsuki to the love hotel. The medical school Ryousuke will attend is there also. Shibukawa is roughly 30-45 minutes from Maebashi. Both cities are roughly half an hour from Mt. Akagi.
Keisuke's comment that Ryousuke should have some fun because "that's what [he's] supposed to do" refers to the understanding, common in Japan, that the college years are one's chance to be wild (as long as you don't get caught). Japanese highschools are much more demanding than American highschools. College is a temporary break from that pressure, and a time to get youthful wildness out of one's system before stepping into adult life. At this point in the story, Kyouichi, Ryousuke, and Keisuke are all in college.
Last Revised: 29 Jan 2003
Illustrated Version: Archived at http://www32.brinkster.com/kyouichi/sw/sweater01.html