ACT 4 – 4000RPM 'Dreadnaught's Turn'

Later that day, a barbeque was held at a medium sized home, around the village surrounding the city and mountain routes, in between, at Raide's place, parked Hokuto and Cath's cars.
They all stood at the pavilion with beverages held in their hands. It was basically a small Dreadnaught Racing team meeting.
Raide walked off to the edge of a pavilion, staring at the distance. The view of mountains was peaceful, yet intimidating. Route D1 could slightly be seen among the grasslands and trees.

"Hokuto… how's your Pulsar?" he asked as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Yeah, its great. I just had it serviced. I've also removed my sound system and sold it. I've also fitted some new Brembo's." Hokuto walked over to Raide, while Cath worked on the food.

"I got an idea." Raide slowly glanced over to Hokuto in a somber expression. "I have a way to make N-Angel's loss sting even more."
"Really?" Hokuto asked in confusion, although confident in Raide's planning. "How? We've barely managed to touch any of their records and vice versa. Not to mention our battle record's almost the same."

"I've issued a challenged to that Ohjay guy a few hours ago. A member of Dreadnaught Racing is gonna meet him tonight, at Route D1. It will be an uphill battle, and it starts at 11PM tonight." Raide explained.

"Sounds good… Who's gonna take him on?"
"You."
"Hmm… he accepted that easily?"
"Yes… after his win against N-Angel, he'll accept any challenge. He doesn't know what car you're driving. And there's also a 1.5G bet. All you do is just beat him, you'll put N-Angel to shame, and also take home some dosh."
"His Impreza is indeed impressive… What kind of strategy would I need?"
"Hmph…" Raide shrugged his shoulders, "Just drive like you do, kid. And don't forget to use common sense."
"Uh… ok. I'll smoke him."
"Your GTIR is ideal for this race. Its lightweight body, four wheel drivetrain, loaded with an 2.0L SR20DET, you probably don't even need to push it. You'll have enough to climb Route D1, and maybe even him out on the straight-aways. Your car isn't as stock as it looks. Show him how to drive a four wheel drive!"

The city was more or less crowded, but the traffic wasn't as bad. There was a small park, near a platform, overlooking a few shops and restaurants on one side, and a big lake on the other. Three cars were parked over near the lake, the wind blew softly and the birds were still and quiet. It was a peaceful mix of nature and technology. There lay Kumiko's 3000GT VR-4 Turbo, W's yellow RX-7 FD A Spec, and S's red Lancer Evolution VII RS.

Kumiko made her way to the handrail, leaned on it and gave a big sigh of relief. Leaves were softly blowing off and flew over landing on her tanned skin. She looked down upon herself, but at the same time, worried about her own apprentice driver.

"Master Ku, how are you feeling?" asked S. "Please don't use KYOKO…"
"I feel like I'm about to faint," replied Kumiko. "I don't want my apprentice to deal with this."
"You're still worried about him," said W. "Though X is the one who's lasted the longest with KYOKO."
"It's a very dangerous system," added S. "But its effectiveness is unparalleled in terms of driver's assist. Whoever could master this system would surely be the ultimate racer."
"I'm scared to try it myself," worried W. "Even though KYOKO could enable a driver to reach levels beyond their own limits…"
"It is… not needed." Kumiko softly spoke. "There's no need for KYOKO to exist…"
"Now now, Master Ku. Remember what happened last time you tried to destroy it…" said W.
"Yeah… but KYOKO is man's attempt to stabilize the mind and create one straight persona. Its more than just a driver's assist. In a way, it also sorta makes the driver 'become one' with the car," explained Kumiko. "There's no need for a system like this to exist. Who knows what kind of damage this thing can do to a person's brain. One's senses, maybe even memory may be indirectly be placed out of balance…"

After a short silence… S came up, "Do you think… your apprentice might suffer this effect too?"
Kumiko closed her eyes, thinking to herself… "X is … different. He's someone who… can easily do certain things that the average person would struggle to do."
"But then again, your apprentice is not the average person," commented S.

On the other hand, W giggled, "You like him, don't you?"
Kumiko's eyes lit up, her cheeks started to blush a bit a she shrugged her shoulders…
"I… don't know," she softly spoke. "He's not really… open. But…"
"But what?" continued S.
"Well… even though I'm his instructor… it sometimes feels as if he's the one taking care of me, and… I like that feeling." Kumiko explained.

W laughed on, "So… do you think you're in love with him, are ya?"
Kumiko's face turned even redder. "Let's… pass on this subject, shall we? It's not important!"
S teasingly ripped out another joke, "Hey I heard E likes you, Master Ku. I overheard him saying you got nice legs." W laughed as Kumiko started to get rattled, "What the hell? E's way older than any of us! Oh my God, you're a fool, S, haha."

After a few moments, Kumiko's phone started to beep. She reached down in between her chest area where she was hiding it, and read her received SMS:

'Race nite 2nite. Sum1 from Dread against D1's Lancer Killr, uphill battle at D1. L8ers. –E.'

"You goin'?" asked S.
"Maybe… but I'm not feeling too well. I was planning on resting tonight," suggested Kumiko.
"Yeah, I think you better stay home and spend all night on the phone with X, haha," teased W, poking his tongue out.
"Oh shut yo mouth, foo'." Kumiko sarcastically gave him a small little push.

Later that night, the streets of Route D1 was calm, and less crowded, as tonight's match wasn't properly scheduled. It was quarter past eleven, the race had already begun when S and W, followed by N parked around the galleries. The GTIR and the WRX had just speed off as they got out of their cars.

"I don't think this race is worth coming here," said S.
"Well, what else are we gonna do?" asked W.
"How bout one of us race the winner?" suggested N.
"I wanna race Ohjay. I wanna show him what a real Lancer can do!" ranted S.
"So do I," said N, slowing making his way to his car, a black Lancer Evolution III GSR.

Meanwhile, the Pulsar and the Impreza fought it out at the beginning of D1's hill climb. The Impreza was speeding ahead, as the GTIR stayed very closely behind. Valves hissed across the line, as the two 4WD's tore into the mild turns and moderately long straightaway section.
Ohjay continued his usual grip lines through the wide corners, working effectively accelerating from the outside to the inside, to the outside again. The GTIR followed the exact same line with the exact same moves.

"Hmm… this race is over. Your driving is very conceited. Its hard to believe that N-Angel lost to you," commented Hokuto for some reason, noticing how much his opponent slowed down before turning into really mild corners.

The GTIR pressed on as if it wasn't even fully accelerating.
"Get off my back!" demanded Ohjay, as he struggled to maneuver his car's heavy body into the corners.

The cars were nearing D1's medium speed, tight section, with less straight-aways, and some hairpin curves. "This is where you get buried," muttered Hokuto. The turns tightened a bit more, roads became a little narrower as the route was designed nearing the top of D1. The next hairpin, as Ohjay slowed down for the corner, the Hokuto released the throttle briefly, and quickly turned his car opposite the direction of the turn. In an instant, he quickly turned it back into the apex as the body of his car rocked at the rear and sent his car into a drift, flying past Ohjay's Impreza.

Ohjay jerked the pedals in disbelief as the Pulsar left him behind, flying sideways through the rest of the hairpins and glided through the rest of the mountain pass.

"He drifts, he scores! Another one for Dreadnaught Racing!" Hokuto celebrated in relief. But he did not stop his car there. He turned back around at the top of D1, facing the downhill and waited for Ohjay.

He stood out of his car for a few moments, engine still running. Eventually, Ohjay made his way up, and met up with Hokuto, congratulating him on his victory, and giving him the money.
"You're good man, you're good," sucked up Ohjay. "You should teach me how to drive sometime."
"Yeah, sure." Hokuto grabbed the cash, "First of all, use the pedals to move and the wheel to steer."

Hokuto stepped back into his car quickly and dashed off, beginning his little victory lap, running D1 downhill. The moon glowed, shining on his Pulsar GTIR. It was too quiet, however.

Moments later, Hokuto started to hear a noise coming from behind, and instantly, he knew it was another car. "I guess he's back for more huh." He looked on, gazing at his mirror. "Hmm… that's not him."

The car behind was not Ohjay's car. It was another Impreza, but the lights and front bumper looked very much different. It was an Impreza S202…

"You're in the way, kid," said E.
The Pulsar throttled on. The S202, not wasting anytime, quickly motioned itself next to the other car.
The two cars were side by side.

"Not bad! Let's play!" Hokuto got excited.
But with almost no effort, E pushed his S202 forward and left the GTIR, in much shock, Hokuto couldn't concentrate to execute a proper drift, as the S202 flung itself sideways, taillights disappearing from Hokuto's view.

Moment's later, at the bottom of D1, the three team members, N, S, and W talked amongst each other in boredom.
"So who do you think won?" asked W.

In an instant, the Impreza S202 sped past them quickly, not slowing down.
"Hey… that's E," noticed N.
A few seconds later, the Hokuto and his Pulsar trailed behind, not a very good look on his face as he drove off after being lashed by the S202…

The day after was rather turbulent, rumors and news spread about, defacing N-Angel's reputation as their opposition, Dreadnaught Racing has defeated a driver that N-Angel have failed to defeat. Maya wasn't happy about it either. Koda's atmosphere basically depended and was based on Maya's mood. If she was pissed off, the whole café felt pissed off too. Koda's was Maya's castle to her. It was her turf.
Moments later, an unexpected pair of visitors stopped by the café to greet Maya.
An immediate frown came to her face, as Hokuto and Raide walked in and sat at the bar.

"Hello, Maya," greeted Raide politely.
"Raide… sup?" Maya replied with no expression, while half covering her face wiping a plate. "Don't worry, I've heard the news."
"Don't worry about it," added Raide, "But I didn't come to patronize you either."
"Then…?" wondered Maya.
"They were just apprentice drivers. It doesn't really count, does it, Maya?"
"Well, I guess…"

Raide lit himself a smoke. He tapped Hokuto on the shoulder, as if motioning him to do or say something.
"Um… Miss Maya…" asked Hokuto in a rather shy tone, "Where's your sister?"
"Idiot…" Raide shrugged him across the head, "Not that."
"Oh…sorry, hehe, I couldn't resist," apologized Hokuto, "Miss Maya, do you know anything about a team that races along Route D1 other than Dreadnaught Racing and Notorious Angel?"
"Hmm…" thought Maya. "Well, there's Honey C and the MIVEC Club… Why?"
"Occasionally, certain cars have been blindly passing our cars outta nowhere at random instances during the night. A lot of our team members have reported being overtaken and easily passed by a certain car on certain times of the night." Raide added.

"It can't be Honey C… their team strictly consists of lightweight cars such as Vitz, Colt, Fit and March's n stuff. And it couldn't be the MIVEC Club either. They all drive FTO's." explained Hokuto.

"Well… what cars exactly were reported by your team members? Maybe its probably ours," suggested Maya.

"No, definitely not," said Raide, killing his cigarette. "There have been reports of a speeding Integra Type R DC5 model, a white one with an unfamiliar sticker on it. There was also a red Altezza 280T Z Edition, also with the same sticker." Raide explained on. "And also last night, an Impreza S202 showed up and surprised Hokuto along Route D1."

"Huh? I don't recall anybody in D1 who uses an S202." Maya was lying. "In fact, I've never seen an S202 around here before."
"Are you sure?" asked Raide.
"Well, what did it say on the team sticker?" asked Maya.
"We couldn't see it for long," said Hokuto. "I guess it was clear that they didn't wanna be in the same road as us."
"Whoever they are, they're very fast and highly skilled," commented Raide. "There were only two people I knew that could rip out such moves like they did."
"And who might that be…?" asked Maya.
"One of 'em is you, Maya. But you're retired now…"
"Thank you, I'm flattered. And the other one?"
"The other… is the Neon Serpent of Route D1, Kumiko Fukada," amazed Raide.
"Wow… the beautiful Neon Serpent Kumi…" added Hokuto.

Minako on the other hand, was listening to their conversation in the background. She doesn't know anything about cars however. She joined in the conversation with the others, in curiosity.

"Um… excuse me," Minako shyly entered. "There's a white car outside… And it says 'Type R' along the side… was that the one you were referring to?"
Hokuto's eyes lit up, and turned around to see Minako, "Hey! Miss Minako! How are you?"
Raide interrupted, "Really? Did it have any stickers on it?"
"What did the car look like, Mina? Was it an Integra?" added Maya.
"I don't know. But I've never seen it around here before…" said Minako.
"Well… I hardly see any Integra Type R's around here anyway. Let's go check it out," suggested Maya.

"I'll stay here and clean up," said Minako, without any interest for the car outside.

Outside Koda's usual parking lot full of M3's, XR6's, Impreza's, was a car that parked away from all the others. It was a white Honda Integra Type R, DC5 model. Maya, Hokuto and Raide made their way closer to it to check it out. It looked race-tuned, with a carbon fibre racing spoiler, side skirts, aerodynamic mirrors, and front and rear bumper. The car looked rather ricey.

"Hey… look," pointed Hokuto. "The sticker."
"Zui Hou R…" read Raide. "Who the hell is 'Zui Hou R'?"
"I've seen this same sticker on the Neon Serpent's VR-4," remembered Hokuto. "She also has a 'Zui Hou R' sticker on it."
"Must be a tuning company of some sort…?" wondered Maya, pretending not to know anything.
"Definitely not… I've never heard any part on the market under a label called 'Zui Hou R'." said Raide.
Moments later, a young, chubby-looking guy dressed in casual jeans and shirt walked by them, and pulled out keys from his pocket.

"Can I help you?" asked the guy.
"Um… this is your car?" asked Raide.
"Yeah, its mine."
"You race, right?"
"Sometimes…" said the guy.
"I don't see you often. Are you a D1 local?"
"Sorta," paused the guy, "But not really."
"Who are you?" continued Raide.
"I'm known as the General of the North, Shireishou N." said N.
"…Shireishou," murmured Maya.
"I don't understand you…" said Raide. "But are you available sometime tonight?"
"I take it that you wanna challenge me? Fine with me," said N.

Maya, however, was laughing to herself. She knew about Zui Hou R and the Shireishou Unit. Minako was still inside. She had no interest in what was going on, whatsoever. She was lost in her own thought like always. She felt alone like this. Nowadays, Minako felt as she was alone more often. It was as if she was missing things in her life. She envied everyone, who seemed to have found what they really want, unlike her. She felt so different to everyone else.
It was as if… she was most hopeless. Unconsciously, Minako knew the only thing that could satisfy her and lift her as high as heaven that's always made her feel more alive.
But was the very thing that Minako felt has been long lost… forever?

Some time, some where, at some place, a peaceful, quiet layout, though a very boring looking area. This place was the hospital. Fu Huo's impatience was killing him. His restlessness was getting the best of him, as he stated standing up and walked back and forth around his dorm.

I wanna get out of here… so bad. Its like a prison…

He looked to the left, there was a bag on the chair, filled with a change of clothes and a towel.

Minako must've left these quite some time ago… Hmm… Thanks.

Fu Huo used the bathroom and took a quick shower. He stripped himself of all the bandages and removed the sling on his arm. His arm was still hurting a bit, but at least he could walk.

There's nothing else to do… No credit or chat minutes left on my phone…

He stepped out of the shower, and dried himself. He walked over to the mirror and examined himself.

Well… I seem to be fine…

His face had already cleared up. The bumps seemed to have healed too. But he still had a slight headache, not to mention his arm.
Fu Huo put the sling back on his arm, but left the bandages.
He put on a pair of dark jeans, a tank top and a jacket. He was getting ready to leave.
He collected his bag, and other stuff, as he made his was through the door.

His nurse, who caught him right at the door, intercepted Fu Huo.
"I was just about to check on you," said the girl.
"I'm feeling fine now," said Fu Huo.
"You still have to rest," the nurse continued, "Get on the bed."

Oh come on…

"I'll let you know when you're due out," said the nurse. "Don't try anything silly afterwards, ok? I'm just taking care of you."

I seem to hear that a lot from everyone. But I can take care of myself

Fu sat back down on the bed, as his nurse left him in peace…
He motioned his left arm back and forth, trying to get used to the pain.

I'll be able to manage like this. It can still move at least.

Moments later… Fu received a phone call…