Outside he watched the leaves fall from the trees, by this time next year he'd be out of school. While he felt relieved it also brought him a great amount of stress, what would he do after school? Keisuke preferred not to think about it and when his friends brought up the subject he'd avoid speaking. It was situations like these that made him wonder how his brother could handle the pressure he was constantly under.
Keisuke heard the last bell ring; he picked up his things and stuffed them into his bag. "You've got that look on your face" he heard Akemi say as she swung her bag over her shoulder.
"What look?" responded Keisuke as they walked out of the classroom.
"You look worried, it's the only face you make lately" she said as the two walked towards Yuta who stood at the end of the hall speaking to one of the teachers.
"I'm fine."
Akemi sighed as they stood by the lockers changing their shoes, "it's starting to get cold" she said pulling her hair out of its messy bun.
"Are you still training?" asked Keisuke now leaning against the locker.
"Yeah, I have a competition coming up, remember, the college scouts will be there-" she continued to speak but his mind was elsewhere, every time someone mentioned life after school, he'd begin to worry. He couldn't live off his salary at the bakery forever, he'd been saving up for months, and he still wasn't even close to buying a car. "Hell I even sold the bike and I still don't have enough money for a car."
Keisuke scowled as Yuta walked past him outside, Akemi trailed behind them. "You still got practice?" asked Yuta as they stopped waiting for Akemi who nodded.
"I'll catch up with you guys later" she said waving. The boys waved back as they walked out of the school gates.
Yuta walked along Keisuke in silence for a few moments before he spoke. "You know, you seem strange," began Yuta, Keisuke turned towards him his brows knit together before sighing.
"You know what you want after high school?" asked Keisuke, Yuta nodded in response. "See, I don't, the national entrance exams were last month, I only went because you two dragged me to them" said Keisuke as they crossed the street. "Hell, I have no friggin' clue what I want to do."
"Keisuke there has to be something you like to do" said Yuta as they walked towards the bus stop. Keisuke stuck his hands in his pockets searching his mind for some sort of answer, but he came up empty.
He stood silent on the bus ride to work, Yuta tried to strike up a conversation but only ended up talking by himself. At his stop Keisuke said bye to Yuta and walked out of the bus, and towards the bakery.
"Keisuke" said Nakamura as he walked inside, Keisuke walked behind the counter. "How was school today?"
"Good I guess" answered Keisuke as he put away his school bag and threw on his apron.
"You graduate this upcoming spring" said Nakamura as Keisuke walked to the cash register.
"Yeah" answered Keisuke trying to be nonchalant.
Before his boss could react the sound of the bells alerted them that a customer or in this case customers had walked inside. It was a small group of girls from a nearby high school.
"How can I help you?" Keisuke asked as the girls walked up to the counter.
"Do you have any sweets you could recommend?" asked one of the girls as the others looked through the glass pointing.
"Well I'd say the strawberry cheesecake" said Keisuke pointing it out to the girl, she smiled.
"I'll take five pieces."
"Alright then, believe me you won't regret it" said Keisuke grabbing one of the plastic plates.
In the last few months Keisuke had gotten better at talking to complete strangers. Even Akemi said he seemed friendlier at school.
"It'll be five hundred yen" he said, one of the girls handed him the money; he handed her back the change and watched as the group took a seat at a nearby table.
The afternoon at his job went as usual; he'd clean up and tend to the bakery's costumers. At the end of his shift Keisuke grabbed his things and left the store.
As soon as he turned the corner Keisuke grabbed his box of cigarettes from his pocket. He took one and put it in his mouth as he searched for a lighter. Dammit he thought, it was then heard the unmistakable sound of a motorcycle, he looked up the bikes rode past him. He watched them until they were out of sight; he now hated that sound more than any other. It only served to remind him what had happened last winter.
The sound of his phone ringing brought him back into reality, he flipped it open on the screen was his brother's name.
"Aniki" he said, on the other side he could hear his brother's engine idling, he was probably out late at Mt. Akagi again.
"Keisuke where are you?"
"I'm around the corner from the bakery" answered Keisuke holding his cigarette in between his fingers.
"Stay there, I'm on my way." With that his brother hung the phone.
Keisuke didn't think much of his brother's call and continued searching in his backpack for his lighter. Finally he thought lighting his cigarette, finally able to take a drag. Keisuke leaned on one of the lamp post his mind wandering to the same dreaded subject.
How the hell am I supposed to know what to do? He thought frustrated.
Keisuke sighed flicking his cigarette; he could feel his frustration building. I probably failed the friggin' exams anyway he thought taking another drag. It was moments like these that made him think of his brother, he always knew what to do, Keisuke on the other hand just got frustrated with things, never thinking anything through.
His friends knew what they wanted, everyone in his classroom had some idea, Keisuke alone was unsure. The only thing he truly enjoyed was driving on Mt. Akagi, driving down the mountain at full speed kept his mind busy; it was only himself and the road.
He couldn't help but think of a conversation Akemi and Yuta had about her running, she said that it felt like her problems just melted away. I guess I kind of understand what she means thought Keisuke looking up at the night sky.
He put out his cigarette, it was then he heard the familiar sound of his brother's rotary engine. Keisuke watched as the car parked beside him, he walked to the passenger's side and took his seat beside his brother.
"How long have you been out of work?" asked Ryosuke.
"About a half hour" answered Keisuke as his brother got the car moving, they drove through the familiar streets, Keisuke was silent as he watched the scenery outside.
"Your results came in" said Ryosuke as they turned a corner, Keisuke felt his heart sink. "Our father has already seen them; he wants to talk to you."
"So" responded Keisuke watching the scenery "if he's just going to tell me how disappointed he is-"
"I think it's the opposite Keisuke" interrupted Ryosuke, Keisuke turned to face his brother who kept his eyes on the road as he spoke "he seemed surprised by the results, he asked me if I had helped you study-"
"You have to be kidding" interrupted Keisuke shocked; Ryosuke wouldn't lie about something like this.
"You don't work tomorrow so you'll make it to dinner" said the older of the two. "Also Keisuke, there's someone I want you to meet tomorrow; we'll go meet him after you talk to our father."
"Sure" answered Keisuke turning back to watch the scenery, his heart felt a little lighter, maybe his friends were right, he wasn't as dumb as people thought he was.
Once they arrived Keisuke and his brother split up, each walking into their respective bedrooms. As he closed the door behind him Keisuke could only wonder what his conversation with his father would be about.
The next day Keisuke was up early, his thoughts wouldn't let him sleep. The looming conversation with his father was in every thought; he walked down the stairs and found his mother sitting at the dinner table, her hair done in a bun.
"Keisuke" she said signaling him to take a seat next to her. "I haven't seen you for a couple of weeks."
"School keeps me busy" he said trying to end their conversation quickly.
"Ryosuke mentioned to me that you work at the Nakamura bakery."
Keisuke felt the color leave his face; he couldn't help but feel anger. He bit his lip before speaking "yeah."
His mother smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. "Keisuke, I know your father and I aren't the best parents, but we do love you" she then pulled something out of her pocket, it was a blank check with her signature on it, Keisuke for a moment froze.
"Why?"
"You've been working hard Keisuke, your father might not agree with me but I think you deserve to have a car, your grades have improved, and you are even able to hold a job" she said her hand on his cheek. Keisuke smiled for a moment; sometimes he forgot how kind his mother was when his father wasn't around. "Now go, but please be home for dinner."
Keisuke nodded pocketing the check, excited he stood up and made his way towards the stairs only to see his brother coming down.
"You're up early" said Ryosuke jokingly, Keisuke gave him a goofy smile as he pulled out the bank check. Ryosuke walked down a few steps to get a better look. He only smiled when he realized what it was. "I see our mother got to you before I did."
"You knew about this?" asked Keisuke placing the blank check in his wallet, Ryosuke nodded walking past him.
"Who do you think gave our mother the idea?" responded Ryosuke with his back facing his brother. "After breakfast I'll take you to see if we can find a car you like."
Keisuke felt a rush of gratitude towards Ryosuke I don't know how I'll ever repay you Aniki he thought following his brother back to the breakfast table.
After finishing with breakfast the brothers found themselves riding around town. "Have you thought about what kind of car you want?" asked Ryosuke, Keisuke smiled, he had been thinking about it for a few weeks.
"I want a rotary" he said turning to face Ryosuke who smiled. "I've gotten so used to the FC, I feel like any other car just wouldn't do it for me."
"Alright then, I know where I'll take you."
Those would be the last words Ryosuke spoke for about a half hour when they would arrive at what looked like to be a used car dealer. Once parked Keisuke undid his four point harness, he stepped out of the car and watched a young man walked towards them, short tidy hair, Ryosuke walked towards him and shook his hand.
"Fumihiro, it's been a long time" he heard his older brother say as he walked towards them. "This is my brother Keisuke."
Fumihiro and Keisuke shook hands "I suppose you're looking for a car."
Keisuke nodded and looked around as Fumihiro and Ryosuke made small talk, a few feet away something caught his eye. All he could see from afar was the car's yellow color; he walked towards it leaving his brother behind. As he got closer Keisuke could feel himself smile, aside from the color he admired the car's shape.
"An FD" he mumbled now standing right in front of the car. He noticed some small scratches in the paint but that didn't distract him. He wiped the dust from the window and looked inside noticing that it had a manual transmission.
"I see you and Ryosuke have similar tastes" he heard Fumihiro say in an amused tone of voice. "This FD has been here for a while."
"Why?" asked Keisuke curious to know why such a treasure would be abandoned at a used car dealer.
"The color's a bit too strong for most people."
"Well you're in luck Fumihiro, Keisuke is quite fond of the color" said Ryosuke, Keisuke was almost sure he was referring to the bright blonde color of his hair.
"Though I should warn you, it needs some work" said Fumihiro turning to Ryosuke who turned to Keisuke.
"I don't care, even if I have to work on it myself" said Keisuke his eyes on the yellow FD.
"Alright, I'll go get the paperwork." It took around a half hour to get the paperwork done, during that time Keisuke could almost hear the engine of the car calling him. Once they were finished with the paperwork Fumihiro handed Keisuke the keys. "It's all yours" said Fumihiro with a small smile.
Keisuke turned to his brother to make sure this wasn't a dream. "Well Fumihiro, Keisuke and I will get going" said Ryosuke patting his brother on the shoulder as if to wake him up from a dream.
"Alright, enjoy your new car Keisuke" with that Fumihiro walked the brothers outside where Keisuke stepped into his new FD, he wrapped his hands on the steering wheel. It was a feeling he wasn't able to describe, a connection even.
It's mine he thought elated as he started the car and followed his brother out of the dealer, he guessed that they would go home afterwards but instead he found himself following his brother to the outskirts of town into what looked like a large warehouse.
His brother parked the white FC outside and he parked beside it.
"What is this place?" asked Keisuke once he stood next to his brother.
"I have a friend here who's agreed to help you" said Ryosuke as he began to walk inside. Keisuke followed.
"Help with what?" asked Keisuke as they walked inside, he took a look around.
There were around four to five men all wearing dark jumpsuits working in groups of two on two different cars. One was a white R34, the other a blue roadster.
"Ryosuke" he heard one of the men call, he was tall with dark hair as he walked out from behind the R34 towards them he wiped his hands on a small towel. "I thought we agreed to meet later on today."
"I know Matsumoto but as some people say there's no time like the present" said Ryosuke, Matsumoto took a glance at Keisuke.
"You must be Ryosuke's brother" he said, Keisuke nodded. "I'd shake your hand but I was just working on the R34."
Before Keisuke could say a word his brother spoke, "Keisuke just bought an FD, it needs some work."
Matsumoto nodded before Ryosuke could go on.
"I thought that in exchange for helping him work on the FD he could help you around the shop on weekends." Keisuke immediately turned towards his brother.
"I have no problem with that" said Matsumoto as Ryosuke led him outside where the two cars were parked.
"Aniki, you do know I have zero experience with mechanics?" whispered Keisuke.
"With Matsumoto you'll learn everything there is to know, not only is he a good mechanic but he's also a friend" responded Ryosuke before stopping in front of the FD. Keisuke popped the hood open; Matsumoto leaned in taking a look inside.
"If you're anything like Ryosuke you'll want the FD ready for the mountain" said Matsumoto checking the car's oil.
"What do you think?" asked Ryosuke, Matsumoto turned towards him.
"The engine isn't in bad shape, but it's far from race ready, it'll take a couple of weeks but I could get the job done" he said shutting the hood of the car then he turned towards Keisuke. "How about you come tomorrow and we'll get started then?"
Keisuke nodded looking down at the FD, he hadn't felt this excited in ages. Keisuke couldn't wait to have the FD in racing conditions.
"He'll be here early Matsumoto" he heard his brother say.
"Alright, it was nice meeting you Keisuke."
Keisuke nodded as the mechanic walked away back into his shop. His brother stepped into the FC whilst he sat in his own. Again he followed his brother around this time he was headed back to their home.
Keisuke parked his car beside his brother and quickly stepped out; it was then that he noticed a third car in garage. Shit, the old man thought Keisuke as he followed Ryosuke inside.
"You're finally home" he heard their mother say once she noticed their presence. She then turned to Keisuke. "Your father is in his office waiting for you."
Keisuke took a glance at his brother who nodded; maybe the conversation wouldn't be so bad. He walked up the stairs with each step a different scenario popped into his head. This is going to suck he thought now standing in front of the door to his father's office; sighing Keisuke twisted the doorknob and let himself in.
Keisuke and his brother hardly ever entered their father's office, but he always remembered what it smelled like. It was a mixture of expensive cologne and alcohol; behind the desk he could his father reading a file with a cup of whiskey on his desk. He hadn't even noticed Keisuke's presence.
"You wanted to see me" said Keisuke causing his father to look over the file to see him. The older man nodded signaling him to sit down.
Keisuke took his seat; the chair was as he remembered it when he was a child, uncomfortable and cold. The old man needs to change this furniture.
"I was surprised to see you decided to take the college entrance exams" began his father "but what surprises me the most is that you passed them, not with the score I would've liked, but what matters is you've passed them."
"What's your point?" asked Keisuke roughly, his father raised an eyebrow.
"You're still as disrespectful as usual" said his father before taking a sip of his drink.
Keisuke bit his tongue in an effort to keep quiet. And you're the same asshole you've always been.
"I wanted to ask you, what is it you plan to do with your life after school?"
Asshole, he probably wants to force me to go to medical school like aniki thought Keisuke trying to think his answer through.
"You scores aren't as impressive as Ryosuke's were, but I could secure a spot for you at the Kami medical school-"
Keisuke stood up his sudden anger getting the best of him "You just don't get it!" he bellowed, his father slammed his fist against the desk.
"You've always been an ungrateful, disrespectful child" shouted his father back, his face turning red. "You never think about what's best for this family! Look at your brother-"
"Don't bring aniki into this!" Keisuke could hear someone knock on the door but didn't care as he went on. "It's my friggin' life! I'll do what the hell I feel like!"
His father laughed fueling Keisuke's rage. "You can't even hold on to a job!"
"I have a job!" shouted Keisuke as he heard the door fly open.
"Hajime calm down!" he heard his mother say, she stood at the doorway. Keisuke took the opportunity and stormed out of the office slipping his hand into his pocket pulling out his car keys.
Just as he entered the garage Keisuke felt someone grab onto his arm. "Keisuke!" he heard his brother say, he stopped but didn't turn to face his older brother. "You can't keep losing your temper-"
"You wouldn't understand" interrupted Keisuke angrily "he's never comparing you to me."
With those words Keisuke pulled himself away from his brother and walked into the garage, behind him he could hear his brother's footsteps.
"You shouldn't drive the car around until Matsumoto has had a better look at it" said Ryosuke, Keisuke looked down at his keys. "Come with me, I'll let you drive." For moment Keisuke could feel his heart swell up, his brother wasn't angry; he could hear the concern lacing his voice. Keisuke felt Ryosuke shove the FC's key into his hand. "Let's go before our father decides to come downstairs."
"No" said Keisuke shoving the keys back into his brother's hand "I'm going out for a walk." Before his brother could change his mind Keisuke was out of the house walking down the familiar streets.
Hello readers, I know I don't usually post A/N but I'll try to include them from now on, I appreciate every single one of you so feel free to leave a review. Shout out to my beta reader: Shadow55419.