Chapter 6

Keisuke took the time to introduce Kyoko to everyone. They all greeted her very well and inquired how she was feeling since the accident.

Fumihiro kindly offered her access to the food and water they had in each van.

'They're all so attentive' she thought.

Then Ryosuke gathered Keisuke and Takumi to discuss what he wanted out of each of them during the practice.

Kyoko watched curiously from the van. Both drivers rode with their mechanics and a computer.

'They move quite professionally, even though this is just a home practice.'

"Are you feeling alright?"

Kyoko jumped.

"Oh! I'm sorry you scared me Ryosuke"

"I'm sorry for startling you. You're looking a little pale, do you feel okay?"

"I do feel a bit light headed. I think it's time to take my medication again"

"Perhaps it'd be better to have something to eat before you take it"

"Oh you're right"

Kyoko turned around and opened the cooler which was stocked with rice balls and bottles of water.

"Thank you" she told Ryosuke.

He gave her a nod and returned to his business with his computer.

It wasn't long until both drivers were out again. She observed the team for the last hour until Keisuke finally returned.

Ryosuke gathered everyone again and Kyoko just listened from the van.

"I've gathered the results. Our next opponent has pushed back the race. Consider these next two weeks a break."

Keisuke approached Kyoko with a guilty expression.

"I hope that wasn't too boring for you to wait"

She gave him a tiny smile.

"No not at all. It was nice to see you drive and to see how Project D operates."

"Cool, so where too next?"

"Well… I am getting pretty hungry. Do you want to come over and I'll make us some dinner.

Kyoko was surprised at herself. She just invited Keisuke over to her place to make him dinner.

"Yeah sure, that sounds really good, I'm starved."

As the two walked back to the FD, Kyoko noticed Kenta giving them a strange look.

She gave him an embarrassed smile.

Kyoko saw Keisuke shew Kenta off and she uttered a quiet laugh.

"Sorry about him" he said.

"Ha…it's okay. I'm guessing you don't get many visitors at your practices."

"You could say that" he laughed.

Kyoko was quiet as they drove down the mountain; she was enjoying the flow of the downhill drive.

She wasn't quite as good at the downhill like the uphill. But Keisuke seemed to be great at both. She couldn't imagine how Takumi's downhill was being the specialist.

"Woah…"

Kyoko put her hand to her head.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah…yeah I think the change in elevation is just a bit of a shock."

"I'll get you home quick then."

Kyoko noticed Keisuke's determined look as he drove faster on the expressway.

It was practically a miracle that they weren't pulled over by the police.

Kyoko led him up to the apartment and as she walked in she noticed she left her bandages on the table.

"Oh sorry about that"

"Don't worry about it"

While Kyoko was off in her room, Keisuke took the liberty to see her apartment.

He noticed some pictures on the wall. The most recent seemed to be her high school graduation; just her and her parents.

'She was just as beautiful back then' he thought.

"Snooping through my past eh?"

"Oh no…just looking" he said uneasily.

"It's okay. Those are all pretty good pictures" she laughed.

As Kyoko cooked the ramen, Keisuke observed her. He had no idea how to cook. He could make coffee; but that was about it.

Thirty minutes later the ramen was done. Serving herself and Keisuke, she watched him take the first bite.

"Wow, this is really great Kyoko!"

Keisuke saw Kyoko's eager expression turn into a smile like a blooming flower.

"So what'd you think of the team today?" he asked as he took a large slurp of noodles.

'You guys are really professional. Even though it was a home practice, I was surprised."

"Well we try to maintain the same level of seriousness out or at home."

"I wish I took racing half as serious as you guys do."

"I think you do."

He smiled at her as Kyoko's head tilted in confusion.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I just mean when you and I raced, I thought you were pretty serious. There aren't a lot of racers who can surprise me like that."

"Thank you" she said.

Keisuke saw Kyoko turn a light shade of pink.

'She's so cute' he thought to himself.

Ding…ding

"Huh who could that be?"

Kyoko got up from the table to answer the door.

Keisuke tried to peel around Kyoko to see who it was when he heard a mans voice.

"Hey sweetie!"