Chapter 14-The racing test Part 2
Engine sounds could be heard at the mountain in Myogi.
The Kengai Racing Team was currently racing right here.
Inside the black R32, Nakazato was feeling the pressure creep onto him for he was on the lead.
"I have to hold onto my concentration and prove to Ryousuke that I, Takeshi Nakazato, can keep my cool and concentration as well…and at the same time, I want to test myself if I can handle the pressure…" he said as he shifted to third gear and turned around the corner. He then sped off once more.
Meanwhile, inside the red EG6, Shingo was also feeling the pressure.
"well…this is a lot better than the gum tape death match that I usually propose…where my right hand is taped to the wheel…I must've grown accustomed to it…I always keep my hand on the wheel now, I rarely pass the steering wheel from one hand to another when I turn…" he said as he turned perfectly while keeping his hand on the wheel.
The orange S14 was not far behind the EG6. "I guess Ryousuke believes that I'm capable of catching up…but, I really don't like Mako to be behind me though…even if she's a girl, she drives well. I can feel the pressure on me" Kenta said as drifted down behind Shingo.
Mako and her blue Sil-eighty were chasing Kenta like mad and were close to overtaking him. "hmmm…Myogi's slopes are gentler and the curves are not sharp. Compared to my home course in Usui, I find this a bit easier…I wonder if Kenta will lose his concentration…I haven't, though Wataru's tailgating me also…but, I will NOT lose my concentration!" she stopped for a moment. "and I also want to impress Ryousuke-san…" and she smiled as she downshifted and drifted like she does in Usui Mountain.
The turbo-charged hatchi-roku closely followed the sil-eighty. "Mako-chan is very good. She's able to follow Kenta, who's pretty skilled. Well, he's a member of the redsuns and as I heard before, Keisuke personally trained him" He said as he drifted down then exited the corner while shaking the rear of his car as to compensate the turbo lag that he experiences. He then sped off after Mako. The shifting of gears was clearly heard because of his turbo that kept emitting high-pitched sounds whenever he shifts.
Meanwhile, behind Wataru, Takumi was a little bit at ease. With his new engine, he could go up to 11,000 RPM's yet he just maintained his speed at around 9,000. "I can keep up with anyone so I guess I'll just keep my cool. Ryousuke said anyways that we're really not supposed to overtake unless the person in front of you loses concentration. But knowing Wataru, he doesn't lose his concentration easily. And, wow…" he said as he glanced at his rear view mirror. "Keisuke's improving. He can keep up with me…" he pushed his car to 10,000 RPM's and zoomed a little bit farther off Keisuke.
"damn, he must've pushed his car again" Keisuke said as the car in front of him zoomed away from him. "oh well, I guess I'll have to chase him to match up his speed…" he said as he slightly floored the gas pedal. "Kazumi-chan is pretty good…she can keep up with the fast pace we have now…for her first try, she is skilled. My Aniki didn't make a mistake in recruiting her. Perhaps with a little bit more of knowledge, she may be able to level with Takumi's" he said, looking at Kazumi through his rear view mirror. Then he smiled a bit "nah…I don't think anyone can get near Takumi's skill level…maybe my Aniki can…but, whatever! I have to stop talking or else I'll lose my concentration" Keisuke said as he drifted after the hatchi-roku in front of him.
"Amazing! I never knew racing would be this exciting! The speed, the sounds…they all excite me!" Kazumi said as she went after the FD in front of her. "I tried driving my Aniki's Levin a/n: 'Levin' is also similar to Hatchi-roku before…but I had a hard time controlling it because of the turbo lag afterwards…at least with this normal hatchi-roku, I can control it because it has a normal engine…and I've been practicing secretly at Akina…so that I can acquire the feel of the car. I'm so glad I got it. It helps a lot" she drifted a bit but slipped a little. "ooops! I slipped! I need to practice drifting, though. I haven't gotten the hang of it yet" she tore after Keisuke down the mountain.
"Kazumi, I saw that" Sayuki said mischievously. "I guess a bit more practice will be beneficial for you…perhaps Takumi-kun can teach you" she drifted down the mountain. "The feel of this sil-eighty is very similar to Mako's…I have gotten used to the ride that I can control it…and my navigation of Mako before comes very handy now…I can estimate when to drift and when not to…" she said as she drifted and quickly picked up her pace again. She looked at the white FC through her rear view mirror. "I wonder why Ryousuke's not flooring his FC…anyway, he's just observing us so probably, he doesn't feel like tearing after us…after me, actually" she said as she shifted to fourth gear then braked and downshifted to first…"oh well, I have to really concentrate on driving or else Ryousuke might get near me. I'm contented of not having him tailgate me"
The white FC stayed behind the whole team. He was studying each member's performance from that distance. 'Sayuki's not that bad…as she told me before, she was the navigator of Mako when they were driving in Usui so she has this estimation skill that she's putting into good news. Kazumi, on the other hand…' he thought as he went nearer Sayuki for a clearer view of the white hatchi-roku 'she needs a lot of practice in drifting…but she's pretty good for an 18 year old. She is able to hold her position and she can keep up with Keisuke-san who is…wow…improving' he zoomed past the hatchi-roku and observed his younger brother's performance. 'he can keep up with Takumi already. That's good' he approached the corner with much interest and drifted together with Keisuke, leaving only around 5cm of space between them. They performed the 'parallel drift', in which the Takahashi brothers are famous for. He then went pass his brother to observe the Fujiwara tofu car race downhill. 'this is the first time I saw Takumi race here in Myogi…I have raced with him at Akina and at Akagi, where his skill impressed me. I guess he finds Myogi easier to race on' he thought as he chased after Takumi, in which he found a little bit difficult to do. Finally, he passed him and saw the last hatchi-roku of the team in front of him. 'Turbo is very beneficial and Wataru has really gotten used to the turbo lag he encounters. Well, good for him' he thought as he tore after Wataru to observe Mako. 'Mako is VERY good…she impresses me' he thought as the blue sil-eighty drifted around the corner. 'but she drifts a little wider than I expected. She must've grown used to her partner's navigation' he shifted to third gear then braked a little and downshifted to drift after Mako. He went through the inside, since Mako drifted a little wide and left the inside clear. The S14 was now in view. 'Keisuke's training of Kenta really pays off…Kenta's able to catch up with Shingo and keeps his concentration well. Even though he drives a S14, he can race well with it' he thought as the S14 went a little faster. 'he's running away from me…clever boy' he floored his gas pedal then shifted to fourth gear. Nearing the corner, he braked a little, downshifted and drifted. His drift was clear and precise, sliding past Kenta easily. 'second to the last car to observe, Shingo and his EG6' he thought as slowly gained his way closer to the red civic hatch-back. 'one thing I can say: he drives well. He can keep up with Nakazato and deal with the pressure' he said as he zoomed past Shingo. The black R32 was now in front of him. 'Nakazato's concentrating pretty well…that's progress' and he smiled, as Nakazato turned hard while he drifted alongside him. 'the end's pretty near now… I'll just stop observing and just concentrate on pressuring Nakazato…' he thought as did a perfect U-turn while using the emergency break. The others also did the same and soon, they were facing the uphill slopes of Myogi. Sayuki zoomed towards the peak, followed by her teammates and they started the next test, or rather, race.