Programmed Lives - First Stage
Epilogue
Suzuka Race Circuit.
He had to do it, he simply had to pass that bloody car. No matter how much it took he would pass that NA1. It had taken Takumi another one of his miracles to get the car into second position and he, Keisuke, would not waste all his team-mate's efforts by driving poorly. No matter how tired he felt.
Finally, after following the black Honda through three consecutive laps, he saw an opening, whether it had been a mistake from its driver or not, Keisuke didn't care: he pressed the accelerator so hard that it touched the floor or his Mazda, the latest racing evolution of the FD3S.
Pushing through a space that seemed otherwise much too small for the car to get through, Keisuke finally managed to pass the Honda.
'Now, watch my ass as I pull away from you!' he shouted.
Sweating so much that his entire racing suit was wet and sticky, Keisuke crossed the finish line screaming so loudly that the mechanics at the Kirin Takahashi Racing Team box had to remove their headphones from their ears.
'He's done it!' Takumi shouted still looking exhausted from his contribution to the team's victory.
'Yeah, he has, we all have…' Ryosuke said still not being fully aware of what this meant for his team.
After so many sacrifices, after endless nights of hard work and eternally long training sessions, the team he had put together after the dissolution of his Project D, had managed to do what he had dreamt his entire life: they had won both titles of the Japanese GT300 championship.
And this with over two years to spare before he had promised to give up racing!
Ryosuke observed as his brother parked the white and yellow car getting out of it and being completely surrounded by fans and journalists as he did so.
Takumi joined the celebration as the photographers took several pictures of them. Then, Keisuke called him:
'Hey, Aniki! Come here!'
Ryosuke walked towards them and, after hugging his brother and Takumi, the three of them posed for a final picture.
Almost an hour later, and after picking up the trophy and answering to the hundreds of questions all journalists seemed to have, Takumi and Keisuke joined everyone back in the box.
A small toddler walked as fast as possible towards Keisuke.
'Kee-kee!' the baby shouted happily.
'Hey little guy! Your favourite uncle's won!' he said picking his nephew up from the ground.
'Keisuke, you are the only uncle he has,' Takumi was insensitive enough to point out.
'Oh shut up!' Keisuke said laughing.
'I'm sorry Keisuke, he escaped my control for only one second,' Akiko said coming towards them.
'Don't worry, give the poor Kyosuke some freedom!' Keisuke exclaimed.
'Yeah right, so he turns right like you,' Ryosuke countered joining the group making everybody laugh.
'Kyo-chan, your parents are boring,' he said to the little boy who was having fun playing with one of the patches of his uncle's racing suit, 'what do you think if we go for a spin with my racing car? Would you like that?' he said still talking to the baby.
'NO WAY!' Akiko said snatching the kid from his uncle's arms, 'he's much too small for that. Give him at least another twenty years.'
'Rubbish, he's a Takahashi, he'll be racing before you know it!' Keisuke said then his smile widened even more seeing the girl who was approaching the group.
'I'm sorry, I've been busy with the journalists,' Kyoko said, 'I didn't know being the team's press officer would be this tiring!'
'There is a reason why I didn't want to get involved my dear,' Akiko said.
'That's right but working at the clinic while taking care of your son too is no joke,' Kyoko commented.
'Don't forget my husband and your boyfriend, sometimes they're worse than Kyosuke,' Akiko added.
Ryosuke observed the whole picture. He was immensely happy with his life.
'Hey Aniki, do you have what I asked you to bring?' Keisuke asked taking the chance that both Akiko and Kyoko were distracted.
'Sure. Good luck,' he said while handing him something.
Keisuke took his helmet and called Kyoko.
'What's up?' Kyoko said following Keisuke to a quieter area of the box.
'Take this and have a look inside,' Keisuke said handing Kyoko his racing helmet.
'Oh my…is this…' Kyoko said taking the small box she had found inside it.
'Well…' Keisuke started saying.
'Yes, yes and a million times yes!' Kyoko started shouting bobbing up and down.
'Hey, I'm supposed to ask you first, you know?' Keisuke complained.
'Oh alright, ask then,' Kyoko said with a huge smile on her face.
'But I already know the answer,' Keisuke complained.
'Keisuke, you've known the answer for two years already,' she countered.
'Alright then: Kyoko, do you want to marry me?' Keisuke asked getting serious.
'Oh, I don't know,' Kyoko replied biting her lower lip making Keisuke grunt.
'Do you always have to be this difficult?' he asked while taking her in his arms and kissing her.
'Everyday, otherwise you'll get lazy,' she replied.
She was right so Keisuke just laughed and kissed her again.
'So, I take we'll be organising another Takahashi wedding soon, huh?' Akiko asked still carrying her son Kyosuke in her arms. Ryosuke and Takumi were also there both trying to contain their mirth.
'You can say that out loud sis,' Keisuke said laughing happily.
See you next stage…
