Author's Note: OKAY, my bad I completely forgot that there's no school for them the next day. I edited the past chapters so that it's fixed! ANYWAYSSS HOORAY ANOTHER CHAPTER! I'm seeing the barbie movie tmr SLAYYY my fit is gnna go so hard u guys dont understand
Warning: Swearing, probably cringe
Disclaimer: I don't own Initial D, all rights go to Shuichi Shigeno.
Recap...
"Yeah, I...I probably will," he mumbled back, his gaze softening as she let out a pleased hum and turned back to look out the window, hiding the red on her cheeks as she felt her face warm from Takumi's charm.
Itsuki let out a yawn and glanced back at his friends, noting the look in Takumi's eyes as he glanced at Lana beside him.
'Oh man! If Takumi gets a girlfriend before me, I'm gonna lose it!' He internally sobbed, turning back to look longingly out the window of Iketani's S13.
Continued...
It wasn't long before Iketani dropped off the three at the bus stop, bidding them a friendly goodbye before driving off. The teenagers said their goodnights and goodbyes before departing, going in separate directions for night.
Itsuki and Takumi were walking together when Itsuki suddenly paused in his tracks, smacked with a thought that ran at him like a train.
"Wait- Takumi, we can't just let a girl walk home alone in the dark!" Itsuki realized in a panic before grabbing his friend's wrist and making a b-line to Lana.
Lana heard hurried footsteps rush towards her from behind, and she felt her heart freeze in her chest with fear. She hoped it wasn't some creepy stranger who was out to get her.
Her prayers were answered when she whipped around and lowered her tensed shoulders in relief as she spotted two familiar faces speed-walk to her.
"Oh, hey guys! What happened?" Lana asked, gulping down the small lump of fear in her throat from the surprise.
"We're gonna walk you home if you don't mind! It's not safe for a girl to walk by herself in the dark!" Itsuki explained, flashing her a reassuring smile.
Lana beamed and nodded, happy to continue their little hangout. "Of course, thanks for walking me, guys."
"It's nothing. But I think we should probably hurry, my dad doesn't like it when I stay out late and I end up sleeping in. I gotta make deliveries really early," Takumi told them as they began following Lana.
"Deliveries? Your dad owns a business or something?" Lana questioned, turning to him curiously.
Takumi nodded, shrugging. "It's just a tofu shop-" Lana's eyes widened. "-My dad's owned the place for a while. It's actually our home as well, we live in the back of the shop. My room's upstairs."
"Your dad owns a tofu shop? Your dad owns a tofu shop!" Lana exclaimed in realization and excitement.
Itsuki and Takumi looked at each other in confusion, wondering if there's something so amazing about a tofu shop.
"...Yeah...?" Takumi slowly nodded, squinting at her. "I don't understand what's so interesting about that."
"Takumi! Okay, get this: my uncle told me that there's a racer here in Shibukawa that holds the record of being the fastest downhill racer on Akina! And, that same guy now owns a tofu shop here!" Lana rambled excitedly. "I think it's your dad!"
Takumi and Itsuki looked at each other before they began to wheeze and laugh, leaning on each other for support.
"Huh...? What's with that?" Lana mumbled, furrowing her brows in confusion at their reaction.
"No offense, Lana," Itsuki chuckled, wiping a tear from his eye with a grin on his face. "I think you got punk'd by your uncle. Maybe he just wanted you to enjoy staying here so he made up a story!"
"Yeah, sorry Lana, but my dad is just a tofu vendor. He's never mentioned anything about street racing or anything like that," Takumi sighed, scratching his chin.
"Whaaat?" Lana huffed, crossing her arms. "No way! I bet it's true. Takumi, what car does your dad drive?"
"Uh...A Toyota, I think," Takumi shrugged. "Oh wait, I think I remember that the bottom flap thing on the tire says 'Trueno'."
"A Trueno?!" Lana and Itsuki gawked, their jaws dropping in utter shock.
"Wait- no way you have an eight-six! It's probably just an AE85!" Itsuki hummed triumphantly, seemingly confident that there's no way Takumi's dad owns an AE86.
"Even if it was, there's nothing inherently bad about the AE85!" Lana lectured pointedly, squinting at Itsuki. "It was just made for economic purposes rather than technical."
"Yeah, right! Everyone knows that it's better to have the real deal '86! Bringing an '85 is begging to be laughed at in the racing scene!" Itsuki retorted, wagging his finger.
Lana rolled her eyes but knew he might be right. It was easy to confuse the two, and even she struggled learning the difference between a Corolla Levin and a Sprinter Trueno along with the difference between the AE86 and the AE85 when she started researching the '86.
If you went around bragging to have an AE86, only to pop the hood and be exposed as having an AE85, it's only natural to be made fun of. Apparently, you could also tell from the sound of the car. Trained ears could definitely distinguish between the engine of an '86 and an '85, no doubt.
"Alright, well, anyways Takumi, I'm sure that your dad probably has experience in street racing. He's the only tofu shop owner in Shibukawa as far as I know, so there's no other explanation," Lana said as-a-matter-of-factly, nodding to herself with the confidence of a guy who was convinced his best friend couldn't possibly own an AE86.
"Actually, do you mind if I come over tomorrow or something to meet him? That sounds kinda weird- okay, but um...How about we just hang out at your house and then do whatever?" Lana suggested, giving him a smile.
"Sure, I guess. I don't think I'm doing anything after work, anyways. You'll be at the gas station tomorrow, right?" Takumi asked her as they turned down the street, their feet pattering on the old cement.
"Yeah, I'll definitely be joining you guys everyday from now on! I don't really do anything else at home, anyways," Lana nodded with a giggle.
"Alright, but just don't be disappointed when you realize he's just an old tofu vendor," Takumi shrugged.
It wasn't long before they reached her home, waving her goodbye for the final time that day and departing.
Lana watched them turn the corner before she finally opened the door and stepped inside the house, her uncle sitting in the living room and smoking a cigarette in front of the television, an ad for a drink playing on the screen.
"I'm home," she called out, closing the door behind her, the cold knob under her palm.
Yuichi turned his head and waved at his niece, a relieved smile on his face.
"Welcome home."
Lana headed over to watch TV beside him, plopping down on the tatami mat and watching the illuminated screen in front of her.
"So," Yuichi cleared his throat before taking a drag of his cigarette. "How was it?"
Lana eagerly turned to him and beamed, pure joy radiating off of her face. It was as if she was a child who had just been told they were going to Disneyland.
"It was amazing! Iketani drove us up the pass, and I was in the passenger seat, so I got the best view while he was attacking the corners! Takumi got kinda sick though, he was scared out of his mind. I was so worried, so I got him a water bottle, and-"
"Takumi was scared of Iketani's driving?" Yuichi blinked at her before a hearty laugh escaped his lips, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "Was it really that bad?" He snorted, wiping a tear.
Lana half-chuckled half-huffed in reply. "No, not at all! I dunno, I think it might've been Takumi's first time going uphill at such a fast pace."
"With Bunta as his dad? No way," Yuichi dismissed, raising a brow and taking another drag.
Lana's eyes widened as she remember something important.
"That's right! You didn't tell me that Takumi was the son of that tofu vendor-street racer guy! You had all that time today at the gas station!" She exclaimed in mock frustration, her uncle sheepishly shrugging as she went off.
"I kind of wanted you to figure it out for yourself. Which I see you did," he hummed, patting her head.
"Ugh! I guess...Anyway, I'm just, like, utterly shocked that Takumi doesn't have any passion for cars or racing...It's literally in his blood! And apparently, his dad never told him anything about his street racing days," Lana rambled, laying flat on the floor.
"I figured. Bunta is the type of guy to just let things happen. Well, besides the fact that he's been sending his son on delivery runs since 7th grade everyday! Can you believe that?!" Yuichi exclaimed, causing Lana to shoot up at his words.
"What?!" She gawked, rubbing her ears from possibly mishearing her uncle. "But- that's five years! Dammit, Takumi has been driving so much longer than me! Ugh, do I feel pathetic." She sniffled, placing her palm on her face.
"Illegally, might I add," her uncle reminded her, taking a final puff of his cancer stick. "But still, I have to agree that it's rather impressive. In fact, I ran into him the other night and I thought it was Bunta. I called him earlier and he confirmed it wasn't him, but his son. Drifting, like a damn pro down Akina!"
Lana was shaken to her core, trying to process all this information about her new friend. She couldn't fathom that the same sleepy-eyed brunette without a care in the world for the world of street racing has years of experience under his belt- so much so that her uncle confused that 18-year-old for his own street-racer-retired father!
The more she learned about him, the more she wanted to see his driving in action. No doubt about it, she had made up her mind.
She was going to make Takumi give her a joyride up and down Akina, even if she has to tag along his delivery trips.
The next day, Lana and Yuichi got up early in order to open up the gas station. Her uncle was surprised to hear that she wanted to begin hanging around the station, but figured he could use the extra help. He even gave Lana her own uniform! It surprisingly looked good on her, but she figured that her pretty looks made the outfit look good instead of the clothes itself.
She officially had a job at the gas station. Even better, her coworkers were already her friends!
The uncle and niece arrived at their workplace and immediately began setting up as the others arrived. Itsuki was the first to show for the morning.
"Lana? You work here now?" He asked her, immediately noticing her new fit as he looked her up and down.
"Mhm, you're gonna be seeing a lot more of me. Isn't that cool!" She winked, throwing him a thumbs up. She was actually really glad to have this job, her ultimate goal of saving up for a shiny blue WRX was one step closer!
It didn't take long before Iketani's S13 drove up to the station, Takumi in the passenger seat. Lana didn't think much of it, but Itsuki seemed surprised.
"Hey Iketani-senpai, Takumi. You gave him a ride today?" Itsuki asked Iketani after greeting the two.
"He was hanging outside of my house. It was a little strange," Takumi explained, adjusting his hat.
Iketani froze but quickly regained his composure. "Actually, I was there running errands. I wasn't just 'hanging around'..."
Iketani shook his head before dropping the news to the two that Takumi's place had an AE86 parked outside.
"REAAAALLLY? IKETANI-SENPAI, TAKUMI HAS AN '86?!" Itsuki screeched, utterly gob smacked with the truth. He knew Iketani wouldn't lie to him about this, so he immediately understood that it had to be fact; Takumi had an AE86. Well, more accurately, his dad owns an '86.
"I knew it! Itsuki, I told you!" Lana said in a bright 'Aha!' tone, jogging up to the boys.
Iketani and Takumi were surprised to see a similar uniform to theirs adorning Lana's figure. She wore the same shirt and tie, same color as well. The only difference being that she wore a skirt and a visor instead of pants and a cap.
"Lana, you work here now?" Iketani asked, crossing his arms and scanning over her.
"Yeah, I wasn't expecting that..." Takumi added, a slight tint on his cheeks. He had to admit, she looked kind of cute with her little bowtie and skirt.
Lana grinned and nodded.
"I just told my uncle that I was gonna start coming with him to work, and he'd rather have me doing something instead of just lounging around, so I got hired!"
Itsuki grunted and started lightly punching his brunette best friend, a look of betrayal splayed on his face.
"Damn you, Takumi!" "It's not my fault, I didn't know," Takumi muttered, looking irritated.
By this time, Iketani already started walking off to do his job, an action that went pretty much ignored by the high schoolers.
"Ohmygosh, so I get to see the AE86 and meet your street racer dad!" Lana squealed, stars in her eyes as she remembered she'd be hanging out with Takumi after work.
Suddenly, she also remembered the AE86 she saw in her dream from the previous night, and her eyes widened as she had a thought.
"Takumi, I was going to tell you yesterday that I had a dream about driving down Akina, and then a panda Trueno, AKA your dad's car, passed by me and dusted me! I think- I think I might've dreamt about you! ...Or your dad." Lana said that last part awkwardly but was still eager explaining her dream, nonetheless.
"You think you dreamt about me or my dad? We've never even met until yesterday, that can't be possible," Takumi retorted, raising a brow and placing a hand on his hip.
Lana shrugged with an exaggerated flair. "It's a dream! They can't be explained why they are the way they are. In fact, I get dreams of the future quite often."
"The future?" Her two now-coworkers questioned, glancing at each other in disbelief.
Lana nodded, smiling.
"Well, I only remember that I dreamt it once the event is happening. It's not like I know when it's gonna happen."
"How lame. Then you're the only one who knows you dreamt of future, then!" Itsuki deadpanned, an unimpressed brow raised high on his forehead.
"What-evah!" Lana dismissed in English, waving a hand carelessly. "The point is, this is way more exciting for me since I get to see that AE86!"
'...And possibly ride in it!' Lana internally squealed, a cheeky look on her face.
"Speaking of which, I have a request to make..." Itsuki said as he leaned on Takumi's shoulder, his face splayed in a weirdly serious expression. "Takumi, can you borrow that '86 next Saturday?"
Takumi furrowed his brows, slightly irked by his best friend's request as he sensed an intention that was deeper than face-value. Surely Itsuki wasn't simply asking for a drive on Saturday, Takumi felt that much.
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious? So we can watch the race between the SpeedStars and the RedSuns, of course!" Itsuki exclaimed, only proving Takumi right in his suspicions.
Lana wanted to be on Takumi's side, but part of her also hoped Takumi would agree, especially since she'd been wanting to see the Takahashi brothers again.
"I've totally been into the street racer world ever since what happened yesterday!" Itsuki huffed at Takumi. "Don't you want to see the Takahashi brothers, fastest on Akagi, too?!"
'YES!' Lana screamed in her mind as she nodded along to Itsuki's words.
"...Not really," Takumi shrugged, causing Lana and Itsuki to deflate before the latter suddenly got him in a chokehold, causing Lana to yelp in fright and Takumi to gag from the pressure around his throat.
"ITSUKI, CUT IT OUT!" Lana cried out, rushing over to tug at his hands.
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?! I'm asking you so nicely! What sorta friend are you?!" Itsuki screamed at Takumi before he continued to beg him to take the eight-six Saturday night.
"Just this once! Please!"
"Let-! Ugh, go!"
"Ghk!"
"HEY! What are you three doing!? There's customers!" Iketani suddenly yelled as he caught sight of his coworkers slacking off.
"SORRYYY!" The three yelped as they scrambled to get to work.
"I'm counting on you, Takumi!" Was the last thing Itsuki yelled back at his friend before the three rushed off to get started on caring for their customers.
'It's not that simple...' Takumi thought, rolling his eyes as he watched Itsuki jog off.
Lana remained at Takumi's side as they greeted their first customer of the day, getting to work with filling their tank and wiping down the car. She looked at the brunette, concern in her eyes as she gazed at his neck which was previously being throttled. She wasn't sure how rough Itsuki was being with him, but she worried that he might've been too rough.
"Hey, Takumi..." Lana started after they waved away the car, the used microfiber rag held limply in her grasp.
He turned to her, noting the clear worry and care in her eyes. He felt his chest clench, wondering what made her give off that expression.
"What's wrong?" He asked, a twinge of concern in his voice.
"Is your neck okay? Itsuki didn't look like he was playing around when he was choking you..." Lana frowned as she gripped the rag a little tighter, feeling the soft texture scrunch beneath her fingers.
Takumi noticed this but decided not to hesitate on a reply.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Itsuki's just like that sometimes, I'm pretty much used to his roughhousing when he gets all dramatic like this," the boy shrugged, adjusting his cap.
Lana frowned further at his response, but slowly nodded.
"I guess...Friends shouldn't be handling each other like that. But if you say it doesn't hurt, then I believe you."
She furrowed her brows and rose up a fist to emphasize her next words.
"If you get bruises later though, I'll definitely have a talk with Itsuki!"
Takumi felt his chest flutter at Lana's display of concern for him, a small chuckle escaping his lips.
She was so sweet to him.
He wondered if she was like this with everyone she meets.
"No need for that, he's just playing around. I appreciate the concern, though. You're a good friend," he said almost awkwardly, but still sincere.
Lana grinned, and winked at him.
"Anything for you, Takumi."
...To be continued...