Chapter 2: Words of Wise
"I know you too well Kyouichi…what could you possibly have planned" Ryousuke stared at his laptop running different possible simulations.
During his previous encounters with the Emperors, Ryousuke had acquired an enormous amount of data. By observing their drivers, hearing their engines and racing against Kyouichi, Ryousuke had found nearly every strength and weakness the Lancer Evolutions could possibly have.
So what still bothered him? He knew Kyouichi was, arrogant but to challenge Project D who had gone undefeated even against Todo Joku… seemed odd. All things considered the Emperors didn't seem to stand much of a chance.
After all, both Keisuke and Takumi had come close to matching the Emperors time records, and both young men had only been going 70 percent of their full capabilities.
On the other hand, the EVOs were powerful with all wheel drive and turbo powered 4G63's, a few like Kyouchi's EVO III had misfiring system's. Those cars had the advantages of both turbo charged and naturally aspirated engines.
But then again that had never been a problem in the past, all the power in the world means nothing if the driver is unable to control it and bring out the car full potential.
Kyouichi definitely had something up his sleeve this time. None of the Emperors had been in the starting line last night. Ryousuke had expected to see Emperors placed strategically all over Tochigi to observe Keisuke and Takumi, but he had only seen three cars and drivers who where located in one arbitrary corner.
Ryousuke frowned glaring at the laptop screen and thinking to himself. "How could they possibly be that confident? There is no way that…"
"Aniki!"
Keisuke always did have a habit of interrupting Ryousuke's train of thought. He couldn't hold it against Keisuke though, he always meant well.
"The rest of the Red Suns are waiting for us at Akagi. They're waiting for us to help them prepare for their upcoming race. The Seven Star Reef may have been an easy win for Project D, but Kenta and Leon are going to have a much harder time with them than we did."
"Very well Keisuke let's be on our way." Ryousuke seemed distant as he reached for his keys.
At that same time, in a local bar, near Mt. Akina two old friends were enjoying some well deserved drinks.
"Ikatani couldn't get over watching Takumi and that Takashi kid in action. Despite the weather conditions Project D was still able to overcome the North West Saitama Alliance. Its amazing to think how much those two have progressed, at this rate it doesn't look like anyone's ever going to beat Takumi." Yuuichi took a good sized gulp of his cold beer.
"I wouldn't be to sure, there are a lot racers out there that could really crush Takumi if they wanted. From what I hear my son won against that pro from Todo Joku by pure luck. Takumi isn't really that good, so he's won a few races, so what? Last I checked there are many regions that have legions of undefeated racers. It's really sad that no one can beat him. Unless you account for that loss at Akagi. As a matter of fact I've seen or heard at least of two other racers around his age that could beat him." Bunta took in a deep breath of his freshly lit cigarette, and drank some cool sake. "Takumi has not progressed as far as I could have hoped…"
At Akina during a Speed Stars Meeting, where Takumi is visiting some of his friends and former teammates.
"Achoooo!"
"Bless you, Takumi."
"Thanks Itski."
Back the bar.
"Bunta your being way too hard on the boy he's only 19, and to be at the level he is, leaves most people stunned. You can't possibly know how well he drives under pressure. You've never even seen him race, if you could only see him in action you would truly appreciate his abilities…".
Bunta's mind trailed off, he could barely he Yuuichi's voice. He smirked and thought to himself "Haven't seen him in action? Ha, that not what I would call the pathetic performance I saw in Akina. Really, that boy is doing no justice to the name Ghost of Akina. The way Takumi goes downhill looks like he's going backwards to a decent driver. I'll admit my son isn't bad but to go and say he's great, ha."
Bunta just smiled to himself as he looked passed the window to the blue Subaru in the Parking lot.
"I do want my son to win Yuuichi, and he has improved…to a point. But to say that he and Project D will continue winning is a joke. Sooner or latter, they will lose."