As Asuka was cooking dinner that night, the phone rang. Washing her hands and wiping it on her apron, she walked over to the phone. Picking it up, she said," Hello, Fujiwara residence. Oh, hello Mogi... no, my dad's not home right now. He's at the café with Uncle Iketani and the guys. A picnic on Saturday with you and Tori at Akina Lake? I don't know... give me your number and I'll call you after I talk to my dad about it. Ok, I'll call you with my dad's answer. Bye." Then she hung up, wrote Mogi's phone number down on a post-it and returned to her cooking. Then, turning off the stove, she walked over and set the table. Hearing the door open, she went into the living room and said," Dinner's ready, Daddy."
" Ok," Takumi said, taking his shoes off. Then they went into the kitchen, sat down at the table and ate.
At the Takahashi residence, Ryosuke sat in his room starting on a new simulation. Lost in concentration, he didn't even hear his bedroom door open nor did he see Keisuke walk in and sit down on a chair by his bed. Clearing his throat, Keisuke said," What do you think about Takumi's daughter, brother?"
" From the reports, I'd say she's just like him," Ryosuke said, without looking behind him.
" Do you know if Fuma's going to go through with his plan, brother?" Keisuke asked.
" Ask him when he gets home tomorrow," Ryosuke said. Just then, Lloyd came in and said," Dad, I want to race her."
" No one's stopping you, son," Keisuke said," but if she's anything like Takumi, you'll have a tough time getting her to accept though."
" Get who to accept?" a voice asked.
Hearing that, all three of them turned and smiled. Standing, Ryosuke smiled and said," Son, you're back."
" Yeah," Fuma said, smiling and walking into the room.
" It's so good to have you back, brother," Lloyd said, hugging his cousin.
" It's good to be back, Lloyd," Fuma said, pulling back," but you still haven't answered my question. Who will you have a hard time getting to accept? And what?"
" Well..."
So Keisuke told him about everything that he missed. When he was finished, Fuma frowned and said," Hm... I'd like to meet her."
" If I remember correctly," Keisuke said," Takumi use to always wake up at 4 every morning to go drive on Akina. That's how he learned to race without knowing it. If she's anything like him then you'll find her on Akina at 4 o'clock, too. It's a bit farfetched but you'll never know until you try."
" Ok," Fuma said.
" Fuma, are you still going to go through with your plan?" Keisuke asked.
" Yes," Fuma said," but I'm going to take my time. I need to see who's a good candidate first before I can put it into action. You'll help me right, Dad and Uncle?"
" Of course," they said.
" You too, Lloyd," Fuma said.
" Sure," Lloyd said.
Asuka stood over the sink and washing the dishes while Takumi sat in the living room. When she finished, she dried her hands and put her apron away. Then, walking into the living room, she said," Oh, Daddy, Mogi called earlier."
" Oh," Takumi said," what did she want, sweetie?"
" She wants to know if we'd like to join her and Tori for a picnic on Saturday at Akina Lake," Asuka said, sitting down.
" Sounds fun? But I already told Iketani that we'd join them on Saturday," Takumi said.
" What for, Daddy?" Asuka asked.
" Mako and Sayuki wanted to go spend a day at the beach on Usui Mountain," Takumi said," and I told them that we'd join them already."
" Ooh, sounds fun," Asuka said. Standing, she said," Ok. I'll call her and tell her we already have somewhere to go."
" You do that, sweetie," Takumi said," I'm going to go to bed. Good night."
" Good night, Daddy," Asuka said, walking into the kitchen.
Picking up the phone, she dialed Mogi's number and waited. When Mogi picked up, Asuka said," Hello Mogi. I'm sorry but we won't be able to join you and Tori on your picnic on Saturday. We're going to be spending the day with my aunts and uncles at the beach on Usui Mountain. My dad had already promise them that we'd join them so I'm sorry but maybe some other time, ok? Ok. Bye." With that, she hung up, turned off the light and went upstairs to her room.
At 4 am the next morning, Asuka woke up, grabbed her purse and went downstairs. Grabbing her keys, she slipped into her shoes and went out. Closing the door behind her, she locked it and walked to her car. Then she got in and drove off.
Entering Akina Mountain, she stepped on the accelerator and sped up. Thinking back to her conversation with her dad, Asuka frowned. Hmm... knowing Ann and Reina, they'll want to go shopping... again, she thought, with a sigh. Shaking her head, she shifted and drifted around a corner. Exiting the drift, she shifted, stepped on the accelerator and sped down the road.
Parked aside the road with his emergency lights on, Lloyd and Fuma stood by the hood of Lloyd's car. Looking down the road, Fuma said," When do you leave for Spring break, Lloyd?"
" Next week," Lloyd said," what about you, bro?"
" This Friday," Fuma said," although I hadn't hoped on returning to hear that you lost a race, Lloyd."
" It wasn't a race, bro," Lloyd said," I was just curious about the 86's speed, that's all. Besides..."
" I take it that's her," Fuma said, cutting him off. Looking down the road, Lloyd smiled and said," Yep, that's her alright."
Clearing the corner, Asuka exited the drift and stepped on the gas. Seeing Lloyd's car up ahead, she frowned and slowed down. Coming to a stop behind his car, Asuke turned on her emergency lights and got out. Seeing her, Fuma stifle a gasp. My god she's pretty, Fuma thought, as she walked over to them. Smiling at them, Asuka said," Something wrong, guys?"
" Nothing's wrong, Asuka," Lloyd said," I'm here to offer a challenge. Next Friday at 10 o'clock on Akina peak. What do you say?"
" Hm… meet me back here same time tomorrow morning and I'll tell you my decision then," Asuka said.
" Sure," Lloyd said," oh, Asuka meet my cousin and brother, Fuma. Fuma meet Asuka Fujiwara."
" Hello," Fuma said, with a smile.
" Hello," Asuka said, smiling," well... I better go. I don't have much time before I must leave for school. So bye, guys."
" Bye," they said.
With that, Asuka turned and walked back to her car. Getting in and turning off her emergency lights, Asuka backed up and drove off. When she was gone, Fuma said, " It's amazing how she can drive a turbo charged car with such ease. Don't you think so, Lloyd?"
" Yeah," Lloyd said," I think that is part of the reason why she won her race against Ken Aino of the NightKids."
" No, it has nothing to do with how much power a car has, Lloyd," Fuma said," it's the experience of the driver that counts. Besides she pretty much know her way around Akina Mountain since she comes up here to drive whenever she has the chance."
" Maybe," Lloyd said," come on, bro, let's head on back."
" Ok," Fuma said. Then he turned, walked to the passenger side and got in. Then Lloyd got in and drove off.
Pulling into the school parking lot, Asuka parked and got out. Looking at her watch, Asuka sighed and walked to the school library. There, she walked over to the desk by the window and sat down in a chair. Just as she took out a laptop from her bookbag, a voice said," Morning, Asuka?" Looking up, she smiled and said," Good morning, Reina and Ann."
" Why did you bring your laptop, Asuka?" Reina asked, noticing her laptop.
" I wanted to watch one of Yuki's simulations before class starts," Asuka said.
" It's been what four years since he gave them to you and you haven't even touched them," Reina said," so why now, Asuka?"
" I just felt like it," Asuka said, opening it and turning it on.
As the computer finished rebooting, Asuka selected a simulation and opened it. As soon as the simulation was loaded, Reina gasped and said," That's Lloyd Takahashi's simulation."
" Of the many simulations you have, Asuka, why did you pick Lloyd's file?" Ann asked.
" Oh, some new data I've gathered," Asuka said, as she began typing.
Once finished, she hit the enter button and the simulation reloaded with the information she added. Seeing that, Reina said," He has gotten better since his race with Yuki." At that, Asuka looked at her but said nothing. Then saving her changes, she closed the simulation, turn the computer off and closed it. As she placed the laptop in her bookbag, the bell rang and they went to their homeroom.
" Wow. You should definitely buy that swimsuit, Asuka," Reina said, looking at the aquamarine one piece swimsuit that Asuka's holding up.
" You think so?" Asuka asked.
" Definitely," Ann said.
" Ok," Asuka said.
With that, they walked over to the counter and paid for their swimsuits. Then they walked out of the store and over to their cars. Looking at them, Asuka said," See you tomorrow, girls. Bye."
" Bye, Asuka," they said. Then she got into her car and drove home.
Pulling up to Takumi's house, Mogi parked and got out. Walking up to the front door, she knocked and waited. When no one answered, she sighed and turned around. Just as she got to her car, she saw Asuka drive in and smiled.
I wonder what she's doing here, Asuka thought, pulling in behind Mogi's car. Parking, she turned off the engine and got out. Smiling, Asuka said," Hello Mogi."
" Hello Asuka," Mogi said.
" What are you doing here?" Asuka asked.
" I came to talk to your father," Mogi said," is he home?"
" I don't know," Asuka said, walking to the door," I went shopping with my friends. Did you knock?"
" Yes, I did," Mogi said," but no one answered."
" Oh," Asuka said," he probably stepped out then. Please, come in."
" No, that's ok," Mogi said," I'll just come back later."
" Ok," Asuka said.
When Mogi went to her car, she opened the door and went inside. Closing the door behind her, she had just taken off her shoes when the phone rang. Walking into the kitchen, she picked up the phone and said," Hello, Fujiwara residence. How may I help you? Oh, hello Mr. Taka... um, Keisuke. What... oh no, my dad's not home right now but I can give him a message for you... ok, meet you at Sakura Plaza at 5 o'clock. Ok, I'll make sure to tell him when he comes home. Ok, bye."
As she hung up, she heard the front door open. Glancing at the clock, she entered the living room and saw Takumi closing the door. Picking up her keys, she said, " Daddy, Keisuke called and said he wants you to meet him at Sakura Plaza in thirty minutes."
" Oh," Takumi said, opening the door again," let's go." With that, they went out, got in the car and drove off.
" Daddy," Asuka said, drifting around a corner," I have something to tell you."
" What is it, sweetie?" Takumi asked.
" Lloyd challenged me to a race next Friday at 10 o'clock on Akina peak," Asuka said, exiting the drift and stepping on the accelerator," should I accept or no?"
" That's up to you, sweetie," Takumi said, smiling," besides it's not it's your first race, either."
" Right," Asuka said.
" Whatever you decide, sweetie," Takumi said," make sure it's what you want, ok?"
" Ok," Asuka said, with a smile," thanks, Daddy."
Pulling into her driveway, Asuka saw a silver Honda Integra Type R parked in front of her house and frowned. Parking behind the car, she turned off her engine and got out. As she did, a guy with shoulder length light blonde hair stepped out from the car. As the guy turned around, she gasped and said," Yuki!"
Smiling, he walked up to her and gave her a hug. Hugging him back, she said," How've you been, Yuki? We've missed you."
" I've missed you guys too, Asuka," Yuki said, pulling back.
" Anyways, come in," she said, walking to the door and opening it. Then, closing it behind him, she said," Please have a seat, Yuki, and I'll be right back."
With that, she went into the kitchen and took two cups down from the cupboard. Placing them on a tray, she poured tea into each cup and took the tray into the living room. Setting it down on the coffee table and offering one to Yuki, Asuka said," How long are you staying before you leave again, Yuki?"
" I'm back to stay, Asuka," Yuki said, taking the cup from her.
" Why?" Asuka asked, taking a sip.
" Because I just graduated three days ago," Yuki said," so here I am."
" Congratulations, Yuki," she said, smiling.
" Thanks, Asuka," Yuki said, with a smile. Then, setting his empty cup down on the coffee table, he said," I take it you still race, Asuka?"
" Yeah," Asuka said, setting her cup down," what about you, Yuki?"
" I gave racing up four years ago, remember," Yuki said.
" You... oh, so that's why you gave me your simulations," Asuka said.
" Yeah," Yuki said," and now I'm just a plain mechanic."
" That's good," Asuka said," tinkering with cars was your second passion, Yuki. Anyways, I have something to show you."
" What is it, Asuka?" Yuki asked.
" You'll see," Asuka said.
With that, she stood up and walked up the stairs to her room. Entering her room, she grabbed her laptop and went back downstairs. Entering the living room, she sat back down on the floor, opened her laptop and turned it on. When it finished rebooting, she opened Lloyd's simulation and, turning it towards Yuki, said," Look at this, Yuki." Seeing that, Yuki said," Hm... he's gotten better since our race." Then, looking at Asuka, he said," Asuka, you didn't..."
" No," Asuka said," I was on my usual drive on Akina when he came up behind me. So we had a mock race and I was quite surprised at how he was able to keep up with me until we reached the hairpins. Although, I didn't know it was him until yesterday."
" No one can tackle the hairpins without coming out unscathed during a race except you, your father and a few other people that I know of," Yuki said, shaking his head and smiling.
Glancing at him, Asuka just shook her head and closed the simulation. Just then the door opened and Takumi came in. Standing, she said," Daddy, guess who's here?"
" Who?" Takumi asked.
" Yuki," Asuka said. Standing and turning, Yuki bowed and said," Hello, sir."
" Welcome back, Yuki," Takumi said, smiling.
" Well... it's late and I have a busy day tomorrow," Yuki said," so I'll see you around, Asuka."
" Ok," Asuka said," bye, Yuki."
" Good-bye, Yuki," Takumi said.
With that, Yuki left and walked to his car. As he drove off, Asuka sat back down and said," So what did you and Keisuke talk about, Daddy?"
" Nothing much," Takumi said," he just wanted to challenge me to a mock race tomorrow at 4 o'clock on Akina before we leave for Usui."
" Hm… that's weird because I have to meet Lloyd tomorrow too," Asuka said.
" Oh. What for, sweetie?" Takumi asked.
" Whether if I accept his challenge or not," Asuka said.
" And have you decided, sweetie?" Takumi asked.
" Yes," Asuka said," and I accept his challenge, Daddy."
" Are you sure, sweetie?" Takumi asked.
" Yeah, I'm sure," Asuka said," anyways, how many people is going to be present, Daddy?"
" Since it's a mock race," Takumi said, climbing the stairs," it'll be you, me, Ryosuke and his son, Fuma, Keisuke and Lloyd."
" Oh ok," Asuka said," well... good night, Daddy."
" Good night, sweetie," Takumi said.
When he was gone, Asuka turned off her laptop and closed it. Then she put the cups on the tray and carried it into the kitchen. Setting it in the sink, she washed them and put them away. Then she wiped her hands and walked back into the living room. Picking up her laptop, she climbed the stair and went to her room.
At 4 am the next morning, Asuka woke up, grabbed her purse and went downstairs. Smiling, she said," Good morning, Daddy."
" Morning, sweetie," Takumi said, standing. Then, grabbing her keys and slipping into her shoes, she said," Let's go." With that, they went out, got in the car and drove off.
On Akina peak, Ryosuke, Fuma and Lloyd stood in front of their cars in the rest area while Keisuke sat on the hood of his car in the road. Twenty minutes later, Asuka pulled up beside him and got out, followed by Takumi. Glancing at Keisuke, she said," Ready?"
" Let's do this," Keisuke said. Then he got in his car while Takumi walked around and got in. Walking to the front of their cars, she turned, raised her hand and said," 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... GO!"
At that, both cars sped off. Turning, Asuka watched as both cars disappeared around the corner and walked over to the empty rest area. Reaching the guardrail, she turned and leaned against it, arms crossed over her chest.
A hour later, Takumi and Keisuke both drove in and parked. Smiling, Asuka straightened and walked over. Opening the door, she glanced over at Lloyd and said," Hey, Lloyd, see you next Friday." With that, she got in, closed the door and Takumi drove off.