Shoko Komi's Ultimate Challenge

by Ulquiorra9000

Communication 32: take it for a spin

Studying for end-of-year exams was pretty tough, and Shoko Komi and her classmates were seriously feeling the pressure. Poor Hitohito Tadano kept yawning in class because, according to him, he stayed up late every night cramming while his little sister rewarded him with snacks and punished mistakes with a flyswatter to the head. And Himiko Agari seemed even more tense and agitated than ever. But then again...

You're in such a good mood today, Kaede, Shoko told her easygoing friend in the girls' locker room right before gym class.

"Oh, yes. My family and I went on a trip to the next prefecture over last weekeeeeend. I forgot its naaaaaaaame, though." Kaede made a blissful expression and clapped her hands together under her chin. "It was so relaxing to sit in the back seat while my mom and dad took turns driving the car. I think I even fell asleeeeeeep!"

"Whew. I could use some extra sleep myself," Nene Onemine commented with a big, Tadano-style yawn.

"Ugh. Me, too," Rumiko grumbled as she put on her shorts. "My mom keeps grilling me to get those grades up!"

Shoko, though, was more intrigued by Kaede's therapeutic car adventure, actually, and she eagerly asked the other girl for more details. Although Shoko had gone on plenty of adventures with her friends and family by now, she only ever focused on the destination, not the journey there. You're so wise to enjoy the trip there and back, Shoko remarked on her notebook. I should also relax and soak in the comforts of travel.

"Totally," Kaede said in her soft, sing-song voice. "Where do you wanna goooooo?"

That's a good question. I'll think of something, Shoko promised. New challenge: enjoy the leisure of travel! But she got the feeling that some details were missing. What was so challenging about relaxing in the car while her father drove her around in the quaint countryside in the Kanto Plain? Haha, wouldn't it be funny if Shoko was the one driving instead? She pictured herself behind the steering wheel of her dad's car -

Shoko dropped her notebook and gasped, clapping her hands to her mouth. That was it! What a scary but exciting challenge! It was time to really start thinking big and see what the Olympian in her was capable of!

"Here. You dropped this." Nene kindly picked up Shoko's notebook. "Did you just get a good idea?"

"Hmph!" Shoko pumped her fists.

"I'm happy for yoooooou," Kaede said before she put on her shirt backward and skipped out of the locker room for gym class.

Shoko also finished getting dressed and prepared for gym, but she was already thinking about cars and how to navigate countryside roads. Would it be difficult? Would she get lost? And what if she ran a red light?!

At least Masayoshi would be there to help.

*o*o*o*o*

That Sunday, in the middle of the afternoon, Shoko hopped into the family car and buckled herself into the front passenger seat, the one her mother usually sat in during road trips. It felt so cool to be up here, like that time Masayoshi took her to that lake to go fishing. But today would be even cooler!

Masayoshi settled right into the driver's seat, fired up the engine, and began the journey through the city. And along the way, he mentally gave Shoko a few reminders.

Now, you normally shouldn't drive without a valid driver's license, Masayoshi told his daughter. But we'll be out in the countryside where we won't bother anyone. And I'll be there with you.

Shoko nodded nervously. Was she pushing it with this particular challenge? Maybe she should back down and forget the whole thing!

Oh, don't worry about it, Masayoshi reassured her with a kind expression. Lots of parents do this all the time for their teenage kids. No one will mind. In fact, my old man helped me practice driving a whole four months before I got my own license. The early 1990s were a different time, but still...

It still felt a little weird. But it sounded like Masayoshi had things all figured out, and Shoko promised to be nice and careful. Just this once, she can bend the rules and see what she's capable of!

In the meantime, Shoko relaxed and watched the city go by as Masayoshi took the highway toward the surrounding countryside, but in the opposite direction of the area where Yuiko Komi lived. It occurred to Shoko that she had actually never visited this region before. It felt so fresh and new in her mind!

There are a few quaint towns and villages out here, Masayoshi's expression said as the Komi family car finally reached the countryside, where the traffic was much more sparse. It feels like the setting of a coming-of-age movie, doesn't it?

Shoko, who had once watched Summertime Wars! in middle school, had to agree. She pressed her face to the window glass, soaking in the gorgeous sight of the Japanese countryside, what with its distant mountains, expansive plains of green grass, some cute farms and pastures, a few bus stops, and of course, the sheer tranquility of it all. No bustling crowds, no traffic jams, no bright ad screens! Shoko was used to city life and loved its perks, but this... every so often, she needed this.

And today, she would drive in it! Hmph!

Eventually, Masayoshi slowed the car down and parked on the side of the road where there was no traffic at all, not even from the lovely town farther down the road. Trembling from head to foot, Shoko climbed out of the car and swapped places with her father, feeling like a princess as she sat in the driver's seat for the first time ever. Somehow, it felt so different! Maybe it was because of the steering wheel in front of her and the funny dials and displays on the dashboard. She didn't even know what most of them meant! Uh-oh!

Masayoshi shut the passenger door and rolled his shoulders. Let's review, he told her, and started pointing out the basic stuff. Luckily, Shoko realized, most of these funny dials and things weren't necessary for basic driving. For now, she could just focus on the speedometer and make sure to use turn signals. Oh, and be sure to brake gradually so you don't jolt to a stop! And check your blind spots! And drive defensively!

Okay, maybe this was kind of difficult. But Shoko could do it!

Taking a deep breath, Shoko pressed her foot to the brake pedal, took hold of the gearshift thingy, and carefully shifted the car from brake to drive. This was it! Shoko eased off the brake, then cautiously pressed her foot to the gas pedal.

The Komi family car inched forward like a drowsy snail.

You can go a little faster than that, Masayoshi urged her. He seemed quite amused.

Shoko nodded again and pressed harder. The car jolted forward harshly as the engine roared, and Shoko actually let out a little scream. How terrifying!

Whoa there. Gradually. You can do it, Masayoshi encouraged her.

Her heart hammering and mentally berating herself, Shoko did her best to get the car moving at a smoother pace, and well, it went better than before, at least. She heard the engine humming as the car got back onto the dirt road, and voila! Shoko Komi was on the road, ready to drive!

About 60 kilometers per hour should be a good speed, Masayoshi mentally suggested. Watch the speedometer and make sure you accelerate smoothly.

Shoko gripped the steering wheel rather tightly as she followed her father's orders, and to her immense relief, accelerating to 60 kph wasn't as scary as she expected. In fact, this felt really nice! The Komi family car was smoothly driving along at a leisurely but brisk pace, and Shoko already felt herself relaxing. Here she was, cruising across the country like a pro, and no one was any the wiser. Imagine what her classmates would think if they saw this!

Take that side road, Masayoshi suggested, and he pointed it out. Be sure to execute a proper turn. Keep these points in mind...

Shoko made the turn a little too aggressively, and she winced as the car kicked up a cloud of dry dust and dirt. Shoko actually felt a jolt in her stomach, too, but at least she made the turn, and now she was motoring down the narrower road at a decent clip.

Things got a little easier from there. So long as the directions were simple, Shoko could follow them, and she soon got used to the overall feel of driving this car, such as its weight, its size, the momentum... it was like riding a big horse, but from the inside. Or a really big bicycle with four wheels instead of two! So fun!

You're really getting the hang of this, Masayoshi thought as the Komis kept exploring the countryside, and Shoko felt herself smiling with relief and satisfaction. What a thrilling challenge! She felt like the whole countryside was hers. And every time she passed through a small town, she made sure to carefully follow Masayoshi's instructions to navigate intersections and obey the colorful street signs and road markers.

At one point, the Komis stopped at another town for an early, light dinner, and Masayoshi treated them both to some udon at a nice little diner and ice cream for dessert. They even picked up a few lovely souvenirs from a "mom and pop" shop before getting back on the road, and Shoko soon lost herself in the endless roads, the hum of the engine, the feel of the steering wheel in her hands... it was wonderful.

Where to, dad? Shoko asked casually, still feeling giddy in the early evening. Ah, such gorgeous colors.

I... I'm not sure, Masayoshi thought.

What do you mean?

Masayoshi shielded his eyes and checked the surrounding terrain, then scratched his head. We seem to be lost.

Shoko gasped. What?!

I can't get good reception out here, either, Masayoshi admitted, checking his phone. It's slow, and keeps cutting out. Tough to read a decent map this way. Hmmmmmm.

Shoko, meanwhile, was trying not to panic. What do we do, dad?! I got us lost! I'm so sorry!

It's all right. I can handle this, Masayoshi said with a reassuring look. Turn on the headlights, then pull over to the side of the road. I'll take over.

Shoko took a minute to figure out how to switch on the headlights, then gradually came to a stop and parked by the road's side, just as Masayoshi had done a few hours earlier.

This wasn't good, was it? Shoko sat meekly in the passenger side once again, hands folded in her lap, her head hung. She was supposed to be the queen of the road! And now this! Her father had trusted her...

I really do trust you, Masayoshi assured his daughter with a kind look. You did a wonderful job, Shoko. I'm very proud. And novice drivers make all kinds of mistakes before they get better. I once rear-ended a car and had to pay the owner 15,000 yen for repairs!

Shoko gasped in surprise. She had never known her father to make a single mistake on the road.

Masayoshi reached over and patted Shoko's head. Just hang tight. I'll get us home, map or no map.

Okay, and thanks, dad.

True to his word, Masayoshi got back on the road and drove at a crisp 70 kph, often scowling at the road ahead or checking the terrain to the left and right before making another move. It took at least half an hour, but they finally arrived at a small town as it was getting really dark, where Masayoshi parked at a convenience store and invited Shoko inside for a snack and restroom break. And once Masayoshi silently conversed with the clerk, he marched back to the car with renewed confidence.

I've got some directions. We'll be home before we know it, Masayoshi told Shoko when they climbed into the car. How about some music?

Shoko was finally starting to relax again, so she nodded happily and tuned in to the radio as her father resumed the countryside tour. It took a solid hour and ten minutes, but finally, the Komis arrived at the city limits, and the roads became wider, paved, and much busier. And there were some large signs with familiar street names on them, too! Ah, home territory! Even if it was totally nighttime by now!

Twenty minutes later, Masayoshi took a right turn into their neighborhood, and he leisurely pulled up to the Komi household at last. A grateful Shoko thanked her father for a wonderful adventure, hopped right out, and then ran inside, where she stood in the middle of the living room with her arms spread wide. Home sweet home, as they always say!

She also marked the challenge as complete, and gave Masayoshi a quick hug when he also stepped into the house. She had had enough of the road for now, but still, what great memories! It was a big world out there.