When we last left off, Seiji and Ash were battling hard to the finish. Seiji now thought he was going to lose because he was losing grip in his tires.

At the start line, Drew said in his head "Ash is something else. May is right. She and Ash are now becoming the fastest in Haruna. It's like this when either Ash or May races. The tension in the air is the same. YOU CAN DO IT ASH! WIN FOR HARUNA! Kenji and Max say it's almost impossible for you to win but you have the more powerful car. May and Ash defeated all the opponents that everyone thought they couldn't beat. I can't base it on facts but I think Ash may beat the Evo IV, too."

Drew then threw a rock and then said to himself "I don't know why, but I'm suddenly feeling hopeful. Right, Ash?

Back to the action, Seiji and Ash were battling with everything they had. Ash seemed to be able to get faster and not let Seiji pull away.

Seiji said "I didn't think a Supra could race this well. The downhill race is so deep. That Supra's 2JZ-GTE engine is what makes it fast."

Ash then said "I knew Seiji was fast but not this fast. He certainly has a fast car!"

Ash then tried to pass Seiji but it didn't work.

Meanwhile, Kenta then said "I just, don't understand one thing, Keisuke."

Keisuke said "Yeah?"

Kenta said "Even if he sticks like super glue, how can he pass the Evo IV with his somewhat inferior Supra? I understand that downhill races minimize the power difference, but it can never make the Supra more agile. He's slower on the straightaways, despite having a powerful engine. Since they're equally skilled, it's almost impossible for him to get ahead at a corner. If he can't get ahead, he'll lose.

Keisuke told Kenta "Just wait. I don't need to explain it. What's about to happen right there is the answer to your question."

Kenta then said in his head "I don't get it. He can't get ahead. It's impossible!"

While racing, Seiji said "He shortens the gap right before we enter each corner. That's partially because my front tires have lost some pressure. It's a Supra after all. It has somewhat slow acceleration because the front is really heavy. I can always pull away after a turn. It pays to be in front, Kyle. Unless I make a stupid mistake, this race is 100% mine."

Ash then said "He's fast. He's the fastest I've seen, as far as acceleration after a turn is concerned." Ash then floored the gas pedal and then said "I can't stick with him. He has too much power. I've never felt this way before."

Ash then used the gutter again to try to pass Seiji, but to no avail. He then said "Even with the "ditch" turn, I'm falling behind. To offset my slow acceleration, I have to exit corners at a much higher speed than he does. Then I can catch him before the next corner. I guess I have to do what May did against Ryousuke Takahashi. The ditch turn #2 for faster exit acceleration. The corner before the bridge is the place. Can I catch the ditch correctly if I charge in at top speed? I have one chance! Man, I feel different tonight."

Kenta then called Keisuke and Hiroshi because Seiji and Ash were coming to where they were standing. Hiroshi said "They're just around the corner."

Keisuke then said "Honestly, I'm not 100% sure if he can actually pass the Evo IV. I just want to believe that no one can beat him when my brother couldn't. DON'T LOSE! I won't forgive you if you lose to anyone before I battle that R34 again."

Kenta then said "The Supra is behind!"

Ash then said it was now time to try to use the gutter technique. He gained a lot of ground on Seiji.

Meanwhile Seiji said "I won! This is the end." He then looked out his rear view mirror and noticed Ash was gone. Then he noticed that Ash was passing him. Seiji then said "WHAT THE HECK?"

Hiroshi then said "He caught the Evo IV at the turn's exit." & Kenta said "WHAT HAPPENED?"

Keisuke chuckled and said "It's over."

Seiji said "He got inside. WHY? It's heavy in the front, so how can it be so fast? Damn, I can't control the tires. DAMN IT!"

Hiroshi and Kenta then ran over to Keisuke. Hiroshi said "What an incredible race! What will happen next?"

Keisuke said "Nothing. It's over. It was over when he moved next to the Evo IV before this turn. There's no way to pass him now."

Kenta said in his head "Man, he showed him up big time. You're unreal, Ashton Morikawa. Just like that girl in the R34."

When Ash passed some spectators, one said in excitement "THE SUPRA IS IN FRONT!" & another spectator said "HE WON!"

Another spectator said "Haruna's Supra has stopped Team Emperor's sweep!"

A spectator then said "Unbelievable. He beat the Lan-Evo." Ash then parked a couple hundred yards from the finish line.

Ash then said "I won! I have now defeated both Kyle Sudou and Seiji Iwaki. May doesn't need to race Kyle or Seiji. I knew exactly where to attack and when to use the ditch turn. I would have lost anywhere else. Since I won, now I can put that new engine in May's R34."

A 100 yards behind Ash, Kyle slapped Seiji across the face. Seiji said "Sorry, Kyle." & Kyle said "Do you have any idea why I'm mad, Seiji? Do you think you can explain why you lost this race?"

Seiji then said "No, I don't. I just couldn't shake him off. I don't know how that Supra could keep up with me, or what kind of technique he used."

Kyle then said "Of course not. How could you see anything in the rear view mirror? You could have observed much more from behind. Simulation 3 was for that very reason. Had you listened to me, you wouldn't have suffered an ugly loss. Stop acting like a stupid monkey and start using your head! Because of your loss, we will not race that R34. If you won, we would have gotten our revenge for what happened last year and then challenge the R34. Now Morikawa has beaten both of us. He did it last year with that obese Corvette and now has beaten you in that over-steer happy Supra."

Seiji then said "I apologize."

The member of Emperor with the green sweater said "What do we do now, Kyle?"

Kyle said "Our plan to sweep Gunma is no more. Regret however won't erase this defeat. We'll suck it up and head to Akagi next."

Seiji then said "You mean the Red Suns?"

Kyle said "My ultimate target is Ryousuke Takahashi. If we win in Akagi, I will be satisfied. I just have to win."

The member of Emperor with the green sweater then said "What about the R34, Kyle?" & the guy with the cream jacket said "We have our pride. We can't just accept defeat.

Kyle then said "SHUT UP! You don't' have to tell me that! We're not racing her. We came to Haruna for one reason and that was to beat Ash Morikawa to get our revenge for last year. Since we lost to him again, I feel like we may not be able to beat her. But that doesn't mean she can't race us. If she wants, she can race me or Seiji at anytime and we won't turn her down." Kyle then said to himself "I am the one who is the most upset about this. I wanted Seiji to beat Ash for what happened a year ago at Irohazaka. It was bad enough we lost to him on our turf, but it was worse when he set the record there."

The next day, at May and Ash's house, May said "Can I talk with you, Ash?"

Ash said "Of course you can. What do you want to talk about?"

May said "I want to know how the race went for you last night. Did you win?"

Ash said "I won all right. It was tough though. I knew my car had the power advantage but I don't know why he passed me with such easy. Anyway I was able to pass him to win just before the finish line."

May said "That's good. I couldn't make it last night because I was on night patrol. Even though it was pretty quiet, I didn't get out until 10:00 PM. I wanted to go but I was too damn tired."

Ash then said "I didn't mind you were not on Haruna last night. I'm also glad you went home instead of going to Haruna because you were so tired. Listen, you probably don't have to worry about those Lan-Evos racing you. I heard that when the guy I raced against lost to me, Kyle Sudou said he didn't want to race you."

May then said "Well, I feel relieved. You said you were going to do something with my R34 because you won. Is that right?"

Ash then said "Yes, May. I've been waiting to tell you but I got a new engine for your R34. It's a highly tuned version of the RB26DETT. However, I want someone to challenge you first then I will install it before you race them."

Later that day, May was hanging out at Yuichi's gas station. Drew and Max noticed that May was acting weird.

Max said "When May looks spaced out, that means he's thinking about something, right, Drew?"

Drew then said "That's actually rare. Most of the time, she's just spaced out and doesn't think of anything."

Max then asked "Which one is it today?"

Drew said "I have no idea, but she's acting weird today."

Then Kyle pulled up to the gas station. This got May's attention.

Drew then said "A black Evo III!" & Max said "That must be Kyle Sudou."

Kyle then stepped out of his car to talk with May.

Drew then said "IT'S HIM!" & Max said "EMPEROR!"

Kyle walked over to May and said "I have decided that none of us will race you."

Drew then said "Why isn't he battling May?" & Kyle said "You guys wouldn't understand but I could never beat you. Your R34 is way too good for my Evo III. Besides, there's only one person I really want to battle and that's Ryousuke Takahashi. I don't have time for a race with you now, but you can race me at anytime if you want to. You can race me anywhere you want to." Kyle then left the gas station.

May then said to herself "There's no way I will race him. His Evo III doesn't stand a chance against my R34. He doesn't have what it takes to win against me."

Max then said "What nonsense! Who does he think he is? Anyway, I'm glad you're not racing him, sis. Besides, he doesn't have what it takes to defeat you and your R34. He acted cool but I bet he wants revenge in Akagi. I heard that last year, he was beaten badly by Ryousuke Takahashi. That's probably why he doesn't want to race you."

May then said "You're probably right, bro. He would never be able to defeat me and my R34. If his friend lost to Ash, there's no way he could beat me."

Later that night, Seiji and a couple other members of Emperor were driving along Akagi.

The next day, May was at the police station to get ready for patrol. That night, Ash invited Masashi to his house.

Masashi said "I saw it, Ash. I saw you race in Haruna. You are pretty good. Why do you want to replace May's engine despite the fact it's like a brand new car?"

Ash said "I believe May is now at the level where she can handle more power."

Masashi then said "What are you going to do? You said you wouldn't replace it until someone challenged her."

Ash said "That's right, Masashi. It's time for May to advance. She can't advance if she has the engine currently in the R34"

Masashi then said "What will happen first? Someone challenges her or she asks for you to install the new engine. Either way, the new engine is ready to go."

Meanwhile, May was lying on her bed. She said "My R34 is the best in Gunma. Why does Ash want to replace the engine? There's nothing wrong with it. However, he told me I won't advance if I remain the status quo. I won't race until someone challenges me except for one of those Lan-Evos. I don't feel like racing one anytime soon."

In Akagi, Seiji and Kyle were talking about the upcoming race against Ryousuke. Kyle said "How's it going, Seiji?"

Seiji said "I am more than ready to go. I have a strategy for this course. It was kind of annoying to see the Red Suns' lackeys timing me at every checkpoint."

Kyle then said "Ignore them. As long as you know the course perfectly, the strategy is basically the same for any pass."

Kyle said "I would say there's a 40% chance she will show up. But I have no plans of racing her. Once I defeat Ryousuke, we're done with Gunma. But I can't sleep well at night we let one escape in Haruna. Hopefully, I can destroy Ryousuke Takahashi and then our goal will be complete."