To be completely honest, this is probably the second romantic piece I've ever written. I'm an angst writer first and foremost and a platonic writer second. So I don't really write romance. But I had to do it for Keikumi because I am absolutely obsessed with that ship.

Beta read by my lovely friend HowtoProcrastinate, who encouraged me to actually write this.

—

Takumi leans against the balcony, the metal slick with dew and cool to the touch. Humidity hangs heavy in the air and the night is silent. It's early, far earlier than Takumi should be awake when he has a race tonight (it's more than just a race, it's his final race, possibly the most important one of his life and it's against another Eight-Six of all things), but he can't sleep.

It was different this morning, when he woke to darkened skies and the beady green time blinking on his phone. Sleeping in the cabin was far more comfortable than in his car, but he still finds his rest light and fragile. Usually he'll just acknowledge the time, reminding himself that he doesn't have to wake for the deliveries this morning, and fall back to sleep. Even when he had to drag himself out of bed for them, he never had any trouble falling back asleep before school or work.

But it wasn't that easy tonight. A heavy feeling rested in his stomach and he couldn't settle his thoughts. He wouldn't call it apprehension or even anticipation. It was an odd mix of reluctance and anxiety. It wouldn't let him sleep and laying around didn't do anything for him.

He planned to just grab his keys and take his Eight-Six out. He didn't have a destination in mind, but he didn't really need one. Just resting his hands against the steering wheel and hearing the engine rumble is enough to put him at ease.

But it wasn't as easy as just grabbing his keys and leaving. The first part is easy enough, he leaves them on the nearby table, but the leaving part is significantly harder. He doesn't want to wake anyone else. They've worked impossibly hard preparing for this race. Waking them for something as meaningless as wanting to drive aimlessly around in his Eight-Six isn't worth it.

He stepped outside, shutting the balcony door soundless behind him, and leaned against the balcony. The mountain rises before him, shadowed by the barely rising sun. It cuts across the city, bathing it in a chill that's been missing the past couple of months. If Takumi isn't careful, it's going to become cold before he knows it.

By then, Project D will be long gone.

Takumi has made a deliberate effort not to think about that. But this is the morning of the final dawn. No matter what happens tonight, this will be the official end of Project D.

Sure, they won't cut contact with each other the moment the race ends, but there will be a time where that comes. His time with Project D has been one where the only thing he needs to think about is how he's going to tackle his next race. There was nothing for him to think about beyond that.

But now, he's starting to face what comes afterwards. He can't help but think that he's already failing at that. Because he can't imagine a future without Project D. He can't imagine himself without driving with Keisuke every night, desperately awaiting the day they finally can race again.

Waiting for this race has an entirely different feeling than when Takumi raced Keisuke the first time. Every time Takumi sees Keisuke's skills improve, it just makes him that much more eager to race.

But after this upcoming race, will they even have the opportunity to? Takumi doesn't know what Keisuke is going to do after Project D. Would they even be able to see each other again?

Takumi doesn't like to acknowledge it, but he already has an idea of where he wants to go after Project D. It's far beyond the scope of Japan.

The balcony door slams open. Takumi jumps and whips around to see Keisuke standing there, giving Takumi a sheepish smile. He steps out onto the balcony and slides the door shut behind him, much quieter this time. "You can't sleep either?" His voice is low and still rough with sleep.

Takumi shrugs, turning back to lean against the balcony. Keisuke joins him, leaning on his elbows with his back against the metal. "Then what are you doing out here?"

"I wanted to go driving." Takumi's voice barely breaks the silence but it is still loud against the mountain side. "But I didn't want to wake everyone else."

Keisuke hums in agreement, no doubt coming to the same conclusion that Takumi did. The cabin isn't exactly large by any standard and even walking around makes enough noise to filter through the rooms, let alone unlocking and opening the front door.

The conversation drops off as a breeze runs down the mountain, carrying the same chill in the air. The trees shift in front of them and the shadows of animals dark in between the undergrowth. For now, the leaves are green. But it has to be a month at most before they start changing colors.

Takumi laces his fingers together. They're cold. He hasn't realized that he's been sitting out here for long enough for them to chill.

"Keisuke." Takumi's voice cuts through the silence. It curls as he says Keisuke's name. "Do you know what you're going to do—after all this?"

Keisuke looks up at the sky, frowning. From here, Takumi can see the barest hints of dark roots that he needs to touch up. "Kinda? I haven't given it too much thought. I've been planning on going pro from the start."

Takumi should've expected it. He couldn't imagine Keisuke doing anything else. He nods.

Keisuke looks back at him, confusion clear in his gaze. "What brought this up?"

Takumi shrugs. "I don't really know. It's that this is our final race, I guess."

"Yeah? But why does that matter?" Keisuke narrows his eyes and concern flickers in his eyes. "What—you're not planning on stopping driving after this, are you?"

"No." Takumi stops him before he could even consider continuing. It's even harder for him to imagine a future without driving than it's to imagine one without Project D. "It's just…." He sighs and shakes his head.

"What are you planning on doing then?" Keisuke asks carefully, giving Takumi a look he can't read.

"I don't know completely yet. But…" Takumi draws in a breath, the chilled air settling into his lungs. He exhales slowly. "I'm thinking about going to England."

The admission hangs heavy in the air. Keisuke looks at him, eyes wide. Takumi hunches over on himself and looks away. He wasn't planning on saying anything until after the race, but he hated feeling like he was hiding this from Keisuke. Out of anyone, Keisuke deserves to know.

"You're going to England?" Disbelief colors Keisuke's words. "When?"

"Next year, probably." Takumi hasn't gotten everything figured out for it yet, but he's done his research. He'll need to get situated before the next rally season starts or he'll risk missing it.

"Damn." Keisuke leans further onto the balcony and Takumi can't force himself to meet his gaze.

"You….don't like that, do you?" Takumi hesitates, every word fighting him as he says it.

"No it's not that!" Keisuke says quickly. "It's just that I didn't expect it."

Takumi isn't quite convinced but he isn't going to push Keisuke on it. "I've been thinking about it for the past couple of weeks."

"Really? Why didn't you say anything?" A smile tugs at Keisuke's lips, lopsided and achingly soft. "I would've been more than happy to help you."

"I thought about it. It's just that…." Takumi doesn't know how to word this. He doesn't understand how Keisuke can be this unaffected by it. "We're going to be halfway across the world from each other."

"You don't think I wouldn't be spamming your cell every day, do you?" Keisuke moves closer to Takumi, resting a hand over Takumi's. "Don't worry. That won't matter."

Takumi loosens his grip on his own hands and grabs onto Keisuke's hand. It's warm and his fingers are calloused. "You do know that it's night right now in England?"

Keisuke's smile sharpened. "When have either of us had a normal sleep schedule?"

Takumi smiles and looks out over the mountain. Sunlight bursts over it, the sky a cascade of yellows and oranges. He still isn't certain about the future, but he'll trust Keisuke. He's been doing that this entire time and it hasn't failed him yet. What's one more time?

He tightens his grip on Keisuke's hand and tension bleeds from his shoulders. He'll still be with Keisuke, and in the end, that's all that matters.

—

I hope you enjoyed this short one-shot! This is honestly the exact type of romance I like to read, casual with simple gestures that never fail to make me smile, so I enjoyed writing it a lot. I'm hoping to write a few more one-shots to accompany this one, so look out for those!