Part 26: Aya

Katsuta, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki

The next day

Oono Aya shrugged off the cold as she walked from the train station to her teammate and friend Sawa Azusa's house, stepping over patches of ice on the sidewalk. She didn't know what was waiting for her there, other than that it was a surprise, and that the rest of Rabbit team would also be there.

Luckily for Aya, Sawa's home wasn't very far from the station, so she made it in just a few short minutes. Azusa's father answered the door after a few knocks. He welcomed Oono in and took her jacket while directing her to the house's garage, where the Commander was waiting.

The Gunner had never been inside her friend's house, as out of the Rabbits, she lived the farthest away from Ooarai, and from Azusa. Ayumi was close second, hailing from Omitama. Karina was practically Sawa's neighbor, and Saki resided on the carrier itself.

Yuuki lived close by as well, at one point.

The atmosphere of the house quickly distracted Aya. It wasn't particularly large, but she soon understood why Azusa always seemed to have the best school supplies, nicest clothes, and the latest electronics. Her family was clearly rather wealthy, or at the very least, had money to throw around. Artwork lined many of the walls, most of the furniture looked brand new, or at least well cared for. The living room was home to a television that took up an entire wall. A younger boy was planted on the couch, playing a car racing game. He didn't look up when Aya passed, likely assuming her to be his sister, or one of her friends, if he even noticed her presence.

Oono stepped through a breezeway and into the garage, where Azusa was indeed waiting, sitting on a workbench and scrolling through her phone. She smiled when she saw Aya, dropping down from the bench and hugging her.

"So, what's this about?" Aya asked. "And where are the others?"

"On their way." Sawa explained. "I told them a different time, so you would arrive first. Now… I want you to close your eyes."

Oono tilted her head. "You better not do anything dumb. Or gross."

"Who am I? Ayumi?" Azusa demanded with a giggle. "Now close your eyes. And turn around."

Reluctantly, Aya complied. "This better be on the up and up." She muttered. "I picked up some moves in Abashiri. KYA! HWAH!" Eyes shut, the Gunner playfully karate chopped the air, following it with a crane kick that impacted the front of the workbench. "Ow! Dammit!" She hopped on one foot for a moment, shaking the pain out of her toes. Unbeknownst to her, Azusa padded towards a covered vehicle in the otherwise empty garage. She clumsily yanked the cover off, struggling with the side mirrors. Finally, the sleek new car was unveiled, and the Commander quickly bundled the canvas up and threw it haphazardly to the side.

"Okay… now… turn around. Eyes closed!"

"Yeah, yeah. They're closed." Aya turned slowly, facing roughly where she thought Azusa was standing. Sawa rolled her eyes when she was met by her friend sticking her tongue out.

"Close your mouth, baka. Turn to your… right." Sawa instructed her. "A little more… stop! Now open your eyes."

Oono blinked open her bespectacled eyes, and was greeted by a shining maroon colored car. Blinking again, she spotted the make, and immediately recognized the vehicle.

The Nissan GT-R Nismo. 2015 model year, based on the facelift. Six speed transmission, 592 horsepower, zero to sixty in two and a half seconds, and it set a course record at Nürburgring with 7:08.67.

She also recognized it because of its status as her dream car.

"Woah…" Aya said after a moment.

"What do you think?" Azusa asked, pulling open the driver's door and gesturing to her friend to enter. Oono did hesitantly, treating every surface as if it were made of glass.

"It looks just like the one at that auto show last year."

"It is." Sawa said. "...just like that one. We picked it up yesterday. A bit of an early Christmas gift."

"Huh…" Aya looked around the inside of the car further. "I didn't know you liked this car, too."

"Guilty." Azusa smiled. "You have good taste."

"Finally. Someone realizes." The Gunner nodded, gently touching the steering wheel. "Seriously, Azusa. This is cool."

The Commander's smile grew wider. "And you know what makes it even better? It's… actually yours."

Aya performed a double take. "What?!"

"I'm serious." Sawa pulled a set of keys from her pocket and dropped them in her stunned friend's lap. Oono picked them up and studied them for a moment, before looking up at the Commander again.

"W…why?"

She was taken aback, brow furrowing. "What do you mean 'why'? It's a gift." Azusa looked down and stepped closer. "I… know you still feel shitty about… everything. Even with the talk at the party, and ours afterwards… I wanted something that would prove that we all love you, Aya. Nothing will change that. Hopefully… this will go a ways to show that."

Aya abruptly stood up, trying to give the keyring back. "No. Sawa, no. I can't. I couldn't! I'm still only a learner!"

"Too late. The title is already in the glove box." Azusa grinned. "And if you won't take it as that… consider it a simple, 'just because you're my best friend' gift."

"I…" Oono was speechless. She looked down at the car again. "How… how did you guys have the money for this?"

"You've seen my house." Sawa placed her hands on her hips. "My mom is a COO for Idemitsu Kosan, plus my dad used to work in sales. He knows his way around making deals." She playfully used her sleeve to wipe her friend's chin. "Close your mouth, Aya-chan. You're starting to drool."

"I just…" Aya batted Azusa's hand away. "This is just… unbelievable."

"You've told us that this is your dream car. Nakajima-senpai even promised to service it for you if you ever got one."

"It's just like how I pictured it." The dumbstruck Gunner ran her hand over the glossed fender, spotting the 'Hoosier' maker mark on the tire. "I… thank you."

Before Azusa could respond, her friend enveloped her in a tight hug.

"So…" The Commander said as her hold was released. "Want to take it for a spin?"

"Let's wait for the others."

For the next several minutes, the girls circled the car, looking under the hood and beneath the chassis. Aya found herself rattling off different specs for the car, and Azusa responded with a few basic ones that she knew. It seemed like only seconds later when Mr. Sawa peeked in, announcing the arrival of their other teammates. Saki, Karina and Ayumi trickled into the garage, ogling the shiny car in front of them. Yamagou whistled at the sight.

"Sparkly." She observed. Sakaguchi approached behind her.

"Wow, Sawa-sensei. Nice wheels." The Driver nodded. "But you have to realize… stealing cars is a felony."

"Yeah, so's pretending to be that kid from Home Improvement." Aya shot back.

"She's starting out young." Ayumi added with a giggle.

Maruyama remained oblivious to the banter, gently running her finger along the logo on the hood.

With the remaining Rabbits present, Aya climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine. Her fellow Gunner, standing at the very rear, got a facefull of exhaust that made her hair fly wildly. Oono grinned at her through the rear view mirror, repeatedly revving the motor until Ayumi scrambled out of the line of fire. Someone suggested driving to the carrier, in order to show off to Leopon, and the girls began climbing aboard. Before entering the passenger seat, Azusa glanced back at the doorway and saw both of her parents. Her father sent her a thumbs up, which she happily returned.

Aya pulled out of the garage and onto the street, taking off towards Ooarai. For the first time in months, not a single thought of sadness, resentment or guilt crossed her mind.

A/N: What's this? Somewhat regular uploads? What's happening here?

So I decided to make Aya the car girl out of the Rabbits. Ordinarily, I would have done this with Karina, with her being the Driver, but she's more into tanks than cars

Karina also seems like the type to have a tank as a recreational vehicle. I personally picture her driving around town with a Stuart, or a Panzer 1

A bit of writer's room trivia here... this entire chapter stemmed from a single joke from a popular American sitcom, airing between 1987 and 1997. A small hint, it's a joke directed at another character, from a man who is known for his quick wit

Coming up soon will be the climax, both storytelling wise and... otherwise... for the 'B' story, sprinkled with some shots of the rest of the cast trying to get back to their daily lives

See you all soon. Stay tuned for more!