Programmed Lives – Second Stage

Chapter Twenty Five

Takumi had just hanged up the phone, finishing the second call of the day when the thing rang again.

'Hello?' he said picking it back up.

'Hey Takumi, it's me, Itsuki…'

'What's up?' Takumi said.

'Nothing really, that's why I'm calling you. Are you doing anything this afternoon?' he asked and Takumi realised his friend sounded a tad on the desperate side. Probably poor Itsuki was bored off his mind: Takumi knew that Kenji was out of town visiting some relatives and Iketani was in full love-mode with Mako-chan so probably Itsuki didn't have anyone to hang out with. So, after a few instants of consideration Takumi said:

'We could go and get some coffee or…'

'What about a drive? I haven't gone to Mt Akina with you in ages,' Itsuki suggested instead.

'Alright, I'll go by your house after lunch, ok?' Takumi said.

'Sure,' Itsuki said sounding very happy.

True to his word and after he had finished doing the washing up, he told his father that he was going out. Bunta, who was busy making the tofu, didn't even bother to look up at his son, instead, he just said:

'Remember you've got to do the deliveries tonight…'

'I know, I know…' Takumi said before heading out towards his car.

By the time he arrived to Itsuki's house Takumi saw his friend standing by his turbo equipped AE85.

'Hi!' Itsuki greeted him enthusiastically making Takumi feel slightly guilty for he knew he'd been neglecting his friend quite a lot in these past few months.

They got going to Mt Akina and, after driving around for a while and with Takumi noticing that his friend had improved his driving skills even more, the two stopped by the vending machines near the lake to get a couple of cans of coffee.

'This feels almost as it did in the old days, when we used to hang around here all the time,' Itsuki commented with his gaze lost somewhere beyond the silvery surface of the lake.

'I know, things have changed quite a lot, haven't they?' Takumi said.

'Yeah…' Itsuki said, his voice loaded with melancholy.

'I'm sorry we haven't done this in such a long time,' Takumi said.

'Don't worry, I know you're busy with the racing team. You don't even have time to work anymore, do you?'

Takumi shook his head. It was true that he no longer had a proper job but again, with Kirin's sponsorship, Ryosuke-san was able to pay to both of his drivers a decent enough salary so neither would have to focus their energies in anything but driving. Objectively speaking, Takumi no longer needed a job so he had decided to quit it and, these days, he only helped his father with the deliveries very sporadically.

In fact, Takumi had the distinct impression that his father only asked him to do the deliveries when he saw him nervous or restless. Bunta Fujiwara knew his son very well and he knew that doing something as familiar as driving around Mt Akina late at night made his son feel much better.

'Are you free tonight?' Itsuki asked suddenly, taking Takumi out of his reverie.

'Nope, sorry,' the young man replied beginning to panic because he really didn't want to explain to anyone except the Takahashi brothers about his date with Mina-chan.

'Have you got a date?' Itsuki asked startling Takumi.

'Er…'

'It's okay if you did. Mika left you, remember? You've got every right to see other people…' Itsuki said.

'You think so?' Takumi said and Itsuki nodded twice.

'So, who is it this time? Do I know her?' Itsuki asked, obviously refusing to drop the subject.

'Er…yeah, you kind of know her,' Takumi finally admitted.

'Who is she?' Itsuki insisted.

Takumi took a sip from his coffee in a desperate attempt at trying to buy himself sometime during which he considered his options. He could lie or tell Itsuki to mind his own business or he could tell his friend the truth and hope Itsuki would keep the secret.

Remembering how hurt Itsuki had been when he'd found out about his break up with Mika through other sources, Takumi decided to be honest with him, and hope for the best.

'Alright, I'm going to tell you but you've got to promise me that you'll keep it to yourself and that you won't freak out.'

'Argh! Stop being so secretive!' Itsuki exclaimed.

'I'm serious,' Takumi said gravely for it was imperative Itsuki understood how delicate the situation was.

'Alright, I promise I won't tell anyone.'

'Stay calm, alright?' Takumi insisted fearing the potentially explosive reaction his friend would have when he found out.

'OKAY! Tell me already!' his friend said, sounding anything but calm making Takumi take a deep breath before saying, with as much nonchalance as he could muster:

'I've started seeing Mina-chan.'

Itsuki remained quiet, too quiet and by the time Takumi decided to look at his friend he understood why: Itsuki had chocked himself with some of his coffee and his face was now turning a very unhealthy looking shade of red.

'Itsuki?' he asked and, just in case, started patting his friend's back till he finally started coughing very violently.

'You're alright?' Takumi asked as Itsuk's face gradually returned to its normal colouring.

'Alright?' Itsuki wheezed using the first gulp of air that had got into his lungs, 'you're not kidding me, are you?' he asked Takumi frowning.

Takumi shook his head.

'Oh my god…' Itsuki said and, after a few moments, he added, 'how did it happen?'

Takumi spent the next few minutes explaining it to Itsuki.

'So, you're going to pick her up and take her to the circuit to teach her how to drive?' Itsuki asked as Takumi finished the story.

'Yeah.'

'Wow, I'm so jealous…'

'Why?' Takumi asked.

'WHY? Are you nuts? First you date the prettiest girl in the school. Then you get Mika who was extremely cute too. Takumi, with Mina-chan you're moving into a whole new level.'

'Why?' Takumi repeated and Itsuki made an exasperated noise.

'You're dating one of the most famous singers in the country! She's like an impossible dream for most of us.'

'She's a normal girl, you know,' Takumi said.

'NO! She's not!' Itsuki shouted, 'Takumi, she's gorgeous, she's rich, she's very famous and for normal people like me, there is no way on earth she'd ever pay any attention to us. Goodness knows why she likes you…but, again, you've never been normal.'

'What's that supposed to mean?' Takumi said getting annoyed.

'Takumi, you've always been different. There is something about you that's always made you stand out. Maybe it's the fact that you've been born with an innate talent for racing…I don't know…' Itsuki explained.

Takumi didn't know that to say to that. He had had the very same dilemma about the reason why Mina-chan felt attracted to him and, not having found any convincing one, he'd decided that it was probably better not to think about it too much. He'd just enjoy her company for as long as it lasted without expecting too much from this newborn relationship.

After driving back to town, Takumi went to the petrol station where he had worked with Itsuki and, after his friend had filled the 86 with high octane, he drove off towards the motorway that led to Tokyo.

He had arranged with Mina-chan for him to drive into her house, a magnificent looking villa in a very posh area of Tokyo. She'd wait for him so she could board the car and leave her property without being seen by anyone.

Takumi was pleased to see that her two accessories, the bodyguards, weren't with her that evening.

'Did you have any problems finding the place?' Mina-chan asked the minute she got into the 86 and as she fastened her seatbelt.

'No, your map was very good,' Takumi said, 'you've got a very nice house,' he then commented.

'Yes. You know that after my father died, Mum had to work very hard in order to raise me. Well, she couldn't afford to buy a house so we rented this small apartment and I've always known that she hated not having a garden and not having enough room for the two of us so, when I became famous and using the money from the first album's sales, I bought her this house where she can live as comfortably as she deserves.'

'That's nice of you,' Takumi commented.

'Yeah, it's the least I can do for her,' she replied then, as usual trying her best to avoid painful topics of conversation, she asked, 'I take your boss has agreed for us to use the circuit?'

'Yeah,' Takumi replied.

'Good, I'm looking forward to your lessons, Takumi-sensei,' she said teasingly making Takumi blush slightly. Did she have any idea how sexy her voice sounded in the darkness of his car?

At long last, they arrived at the circuit saving Takumi from his own imagination. He opened the main gate and drove the Toyota all the way to the finish line of the small track. There, the two of them swapped places in the car.

'Wow, this feels weird,' Mina-chan said sitting for the first time on the AE86's bucket seat.

'I know, it takes some time to get used to it,' Takumi explained, 'right, so, let's start…' he added and took a short pause to look at her.

'We've got the pedals here,' he said pointing at her feet.

'I already know about those,' Mina-chan said interrupting him.

'Ah, alright, so, why don't you start the car?'

'Ah…'

'With that,' Takumi said pointing at the ignition key.

'Right,' Mina-chan said with a nervous giggle.

She then proceeded to turn the engine on being, once more, impressed by the roaring sound it made.

'Alright, now, press the clutch, that's the pedal on your left,' Takumi said.

'Got it,' she said as she visibly stepped on it.

'Insert the first gear,' he then said and, seeing that Mina-chan was looking at the gear stick doubtfully, he decided to take her hand from the steering wheel to place it on top of the gear stick's knob. Before he could lose his concentration because of her soft skin, he pushed it forward and engaged the first gear.

'Now, take the handbrake off,' Takumi said pointing at it and, after she had done so, he added, 'now, gradually, press the accelerator a very tiny bit as you release the clutch.'

She did it and, predictably enough, the engine stalled.

'What's wrong?' she asked worriedly.

'It's okay, don't worry. You let go of the clutch too soon,' Takumi said and then he added, 'let's try again.'

It took poor Mina-chan about ten times of trying to engage the first gear before she got the car to move a few metres. Then, probably overcome by the emotion, she made the engine stop again.

'Oh no!' she said sounding very upset, 'I was doing so well!'

'Hey, you moved the car several meters, look,' Takumi said encouragingly as he pointed at the back of his car.

'Oh wow! You're right! Oh my gosh, I've just driven a car!' she said almost bouncing on her seat making Takumi's lips curve into a small smile.

'Let's try again, okay?' Takumi said repressing a chuckle.

'Sure,' she said sounding very enthusiastic.

After a few more tries, Takumi was happy to see that Mina-chan was getting the hang of it and, by the end of the hour, albeit going at turtle-speed and making the car's engine stop twice, she had even managed to drive around the circuit once. Takumi was confident that, with enough practice, she'd probably be a good driver.

'I don't think so, I stopped the poor thing a million times,' she said when he'd told her so and as she got out of the car.

'I'm serious,' he said joining her by the driver's side of the car, 'this AE86 is a very difficult car to drive. When you'll drive a normal one you'll see the difference.'

'Really?' she said looking at him with her pretty head tilted to one side and as she bit her lower lip.

'Trust me, you're good,' he said patting her shoulder.

'You know, I think I deserve a kiss then,' she said and Takumi could tell she was, yet again, having fun making him blush.

This time though, Takumi was prepared and, instead of feeling all flustered, he put his other hand on her other shoulder and, pulling her towards him, he bent down to kiss her.

'Oh no,' Mina-chan said when they separated startling Takumi in the process: he had definitely not expected that kind of reaction to his kiss.

'What's wrong?' he asked a bit apprehensively.

'A photographer…' she said looking at some point at Takumi's back. As he turned round, he saw a guy with a camera hanging off his neck who, knowing he'd been discovered, was already running away from them.

'Crap,' Takumi said as he prepared himself to chase the photographer.

To be continued…