Mark studied the readouts on his monitors for several minutes. As far as he could tell he'd made all the adjustments that he could make to the setup and construction of the mechs for the upcoming season, which started in only four days.

He and Ichi had completely redone the chassis and frames during the off-season, making the arms and legs stronger and more durable. The new setup he had designed was intended to give the mechs greater stability at higher speeds and it was doing its job better than he had anticipated. He'd also reinforced the armor around the cockpits with a new type of steel that had been provided by one of the team's new sponsors. It was lightweight and wouldn't produce any additional drag while continuing to add layers upon layers of safety measures to protect the pilots in case of a large accident.

There wouldn't be any more time on the track until the first race as per the rules of the IG-1, so he had to rely on what he and the pilots had gathered from their previous on track runs.

He removed his glasses and cleaned the lenses with a handkerchief. He'd done all he believed he could for now. The only thing left for him to do was wait and see what happened.

He glanced up at the mechs. I've done all I can for you guys. Now it's up to you to show the competition who's the best.

The door to the simulator hissed open and Takeshi emerged, clad in his white pilot suit. "Last run of the week?" Mark asked.

"Pretty much," Takeshi answered. "With us not being able to test on track until Tuesday, I figured I'd better get as much practice as I could to prepare."

"Not a bad idea as a matter of fact," Mark said.

Takeshi came beside him. "Anything else you think needs to be done to the mechs?"

Mark shook his head. "Not that I can see. I've already taken into account all kinds of outside influence. From where I'm sitting, they're as good as they're going to be."

"Great. That means I can relax this weekend."

"Got any plans with Liz?" Mark inquired.

"When do I not?" Takeshi responded. Mark laughed. "Still, she's great."

"So you've told me."

"No really, she is. I'm really glad that I have her to lean on in case stuff goes wrong."

"Yeah. Must be kind of nice."

Takeshi stretched his arms. "And then we have the preseason banquet tomorrow night."

"Oh yeah. How's that looking?" Mark asked.

"Alright I guess. There's nothing really new this year, so I'm not too worried."

"What's the agenda?"

"Oh, all the teams get introduced, we shake hands with a bunch of people, Benjamin shouts a lot…"

Mark laughed again. "Sounds like any other day."

"With a lot more media," Takeshi added.

"How are you and Liz going to handle that?" Mark inquired. "I know you guys have it hard as it is, but that thing's going to be a media frenzy."

"Don't remind me." Takeshi sighed. "I've had experience with that kind of thing, though. When I was with Fantine I had to go through the same thing, so I have at least a vague understanding of what I'm supposed to do."

"That's good."

"What about you? Are you going?"

"What?"

"To the banquet," Takeshi said. "Are you going this year?"

Mark frowned. "I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"Well, those kind of fancy get-togethers aren't exactly my type of thing," Mark admitted. "All those big-time business people that will be there and all the ass-kissing that I've heard happens there-"

"Oh, it does," Takeshi confirmed.

"-right. I just don't think I'd fit in there."

"Are you sure you don't want to go?"

"I think so," Mark answered.

"I think you should go," Takeshi said.

"Why is that?"

"I just think you'd like it more than you think."

"Really?"

"Yes. We really would like it if you went, Mark." Then he added, "And I think Miss Satomi really wants you to go, too."

Mark paused. That last remark had affected him in a way that he hadn't anticipated.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Takeshi nodded.

"Are you being serious, Takeshi?"

"Mark, she really wants you to go. She wants the people sponsoring us to meet the guy who's been pretty much responsible for our success in the IG-1."

Mark chuckled. "She gives me too much credit then."

"Come on, Mark."

"I don't know…"

"Trust me. She really would like it if you went. I mean it. I think it would really make her happy if you went."

Mark thought it over after Takeshi had taken his leave. Most of his thought process however, was centered on Michiru.

Would she really want me to go that badly?

Why does she really want me to go?

If I go, does that mean I'll get to see Michiru in a dress?

"Whoa, whoa, easy boy!" Mark said aloud. He rubbed his forehead with his hand. Where the hell did that come from?

He decided he would call Michiru herself to find out if she really wanted him to go to the banquet. If she said no, then wouldn't feel bad. If she said yes…

The image of Michiru in a beautiful dress came back into his mind.

Damn it, Takeshi. Why did you have to put that image in my head?

"Are we ready for Tuesday night, Miss Satomi?"

Michiru took her gaze off of her computer screen and looked at Jessie, who was hovering typically over her desk.

She smiled. "I believe so. We've done all the testing we need and both the pilots and mechanics think we're as ready as we're going to be."

"Do you think we can win the championship again this year?"

Michiru paused. "Well…three-peat champions in the IG-1 are very rare…but there's nothing I've seen that says we can't do it."

"What are your plans for this weekend then?" Jessie asked.

"Oh, I don't know. We have the preseason banquet tomorrow night, so I have to worry about that before anything."

"Oh, yeah. How is that going to be this year?"

Michiru shrugged. "I don't know. It shouldn't be any different from the others ones other than Team Black Egg coming back into the IG-1."

"Who's representing the team there?"

"Myself, Takeshi, Liz, and Amy. The usual four."

"Oh…" Jessie sounded sad.

"What's wrong?"

"Well…I know that Mark was really hoping to go?"

Michiru was taken aback. "What? Really?"

"Yeah. He said he really wanted to go this year."

"Why?"

"I don't know why. He just said that was hoping he could attend the banquet this year."

"Well, he's more than welcome to come," Michiru answered. Thinking of the prospect of having Mark at the banquet surprisingly seemed to lift her spirits.

"I know, but I think he believes you have to invite him."

"What?"

"You're the leader of the team and you usually have the final say on things like this. So I think what happened is he really wants to go, but he isn't sure that you want him to."

Michiru felt as if someone had hit her in the stomach with a baseball.

Oh no…

"I-I didn't mean to hurt his feelings," she said quietly.

"Why don't you give him a call now? He should still be in the shop."

Michiru glanced at Jessie and then paused.

I feel terrible now. After all Mark's done for me and the team, I may have made him feel really bad.

Jessie was now making her way to the doorway.

"He would really look forward to it, Miss Satomi," she said as she left. "And I think you would to."

After Jessie had departed, Michiru sat in silence for a few moments.

I should call Mark up and invite him. I should let him know how much he means to the team.

And…I think I would really enjoy it if he were there with us.

Michiru was surprised at that last thought. She reached for the phone and called the machine shop.

"Hello?"

"Mark?"

"M…Michiru…" He sounded surprised. "Uh…I was j-just about to call you."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Just hearing his voice was having a strange affect on Michiru. Her insides felt twisted and she was having trouble speaking clearly.

What is wrong with me?

"Uh…what did you need?"

"W-well…uh, I ran the final checks on the mechs. Everything looks fine in regards to Tuesday night."

"Oh, that's great. I really appreciate that, Mark."

"Thank you." He paused. Michiru brought a hand up to her cheek and pushed a lock of black hair behind her ear. "So…what was it that you needed?"

"Oh…nothing."

What are you doing?!

"I just…wanted to know how you were doing."

"What…?"

"How are you, Mark?"

"Oh…I-I'm fine. You?"

"I'm okay…just getting ready for the banquet tomorrow night."

"Oh yeah, the banquet." His tone of voice was one of surprise. "Who's going for us?"

"Well, right now it's just me and the pilots…but…would you like to go?"

Another paused. "You're asking me to go?"

She smiled. "Yes."

"Oh…"

"Would you like to go with us, Mark?" she repeated.

"S-Sure. I'd…I'd like that."

"Great. We'll be at your apartment at 7:00 to pick you up."

"That sounds great."

"I…I'll see you then, I guess."

"Yeah…I'll look forward to it."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah."

"Bye…"

"Bye."

She couldn't believe how quickly her heart was beating after she hung up the phone.

What's wrong with me? she asked herself again. She couldn't get him out of her mind until some time had passed.

Mark wiped his brow with the back of his sleeve in order to stop the sweating.

He had been so nervous throughout the conversation, enough so that he was constantly fidgeting as he spoke to her.

But he was now going to the banquet…with her more or less.

Well, at least I'll get to talk with her outside of work for once. And at a formal event none-

Mark froze.

Oh crap…

I've got to get my suit cleaned!