CHAPTER 1

The city of Honolulu pulsed with life beneath a humid twilight. The neon glow of the Waikiki strip blurred into the distant mountain silhouettes, where the true heart of Oahu's underground beat. The air was thick with gasoline, burning rubber, and adrenaline—this was Akko Kagari's first night in the island's infamous street racing scene. She gripped the steering wheel of her red Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX, her foot tapping nervously on the floorboard.

Atsuko "Akko" Kagari, despite being relatively new to the racing scene, Akko was no stranger to Oahu. Entering the university on scholarship even graduated with a remarkable mark. However, the high-octane nature of Oahu's street racing scene enticed her more than anything else. Shortly after graduating, Akko used her saving to buy a used Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX from Amanda. She even started working part time as delivery driver at Amanda's garage to save some money for the upgrades, and tonight she was ready to put her hard work to the real test.

"Okay, Akko," she muttered to herself, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "You've got this. You're not some rookie. You've been practicing for this. You came here for a reason."

The Eclipse, a turbocharged all-wheel-drive machine she had built over the last years, was her ticket to proving she could belong in this world. Its polished hood reflected the flicker of streetlights as she rolled into the makeshift starting line carved into the abandoned stretch of highway. The crowd was small but electric, gathered around the lineup of cars ready to race.

Lotte Jansson, her closest friend and crew member, leaned into the open driver's side window. Her blue eyes were wide with worry behind her glasses, and she clutched a tablet loaded with performance data. "Akko, are you sure about this? You're up against some serious racers. Diana Cavendish is here, for crying out loud!"

At the mention of Diana, Akko tensed. The queen of Oahu's street racing scene—a perfectionist with a silver-tongued wit and an untouchable record—had already gained a reputation as someone you didn't challenge unless you wanted to be humiliated. Her white R34 Skyline sat at the far end of the line up like a spectre of intimidation. It looked pristine, almost untouchable, much like Diana herself.

"I know, Lotte," Akko said, trying to sound braver than she felt. "But this is my chance. If I can at least hold my own, I can get my name out there. Besides…" She glanced over at Diana, who was casually chatting with the other racers, completely unfazed by the competition. "I'm going to beat her one day. This is just step one."

Lotte sighed, adjusting her cap nervously. "Alright, just… don't do anything crazy. The Eclipse still has issues with the turbo spool if you push it too hard."

"Got it, got it." Akko waved her off, though she wasn't listening. She was too busy staring down the line of cars: A Mazda RX-7, Toyota Supra, a fire-orange Camaro ZL1, a Nissan 240SX and of course, Diana's white Skyline R34. All of them were seasoned racers with reputations and egos to match. Akko swallowed hard.

The signal came. A man with a flare strode into the middle of the road, raising his arm high. Engines roared to life, the sound rattling her bones. Akko hovered her hand over the gear shift as her heart thundered in time with her car's engine.

"Ready," the man shouted, his voice drowned out by the revving engines. "Set—"

The flare dropped, and the street exploded into chaos.

Akko slammed the accelerator, the Eclipse lurching forward with a deafening roar as the turbocharger spooled up. The launch was smooth, but the AWD struggled for grip on the dusty pavement. The Camaro and the RX-7 immediately shot ahead, their rear-wheel-drive setups eating up the road with aggressive force.

"Come on, come on!" Akko growled, shifting up as the Eclipse climbed in speed. She stuck close to the RX-7's tail, drafting it as they hurtled down the narrow, winding stretch of highway.

Up ahead, Diana's Skyline was already pulling away, its taillights glowing like an unreachable goal.

"She's fast," Akko muttered, gritting her teeth. She glanced at her boost gauge. The needle was climbing, the turbo finally waking up.

Lotte's voice crackled through the radio. "Akko, your turbo pressure's redlining! Watch it, or you'll overheat!"

"Not now, Lotte!" Akko barked, throwing the car into a hard left as the first corner loomed. The tires screeched in protest, but the AWD held firm, propelling her through the turn with surprising finesse. She could feel the Eclipse responding to her every input, like it was alive.

"That's it!" she shouted, adrenaline surging through her veins.

She gained on the RX-7 as the road straightened, her turbocharger screaming as the Eclipse surged forward. The RX-7 tried to block her, swerving left and right, but Akko wasn't deterred. She timed her move perfectly, slipping past on the inside with inches to spare.

"Yes!" she cheered, punching the gas harder.

Little by little, Akko managed to beat the pack but up ahead, Diana was still untouchable. Her Skyline glided through the turns effortlessly, as if the road bent to her will. Akko's frustration mounted. How could anyone be that good?

"Focus!" she told herself, barrelling into another turn. Her tires kissed the edge of the road, sending a spray of gravel into the air. She was pushing the Eclipse harder than ever before, but it wasn't enough.

Diana, sensing the challenge, glanced in her rear-view mirror and smirked. She downshifted, and her Skyline roared like an apex predator, vanishing around the final corner.

Diana managed to cross the finish line first with Akko crossed the finish line seconds later, skidding to a halt as the crowd erupted in cheers and jeers. She slammed her fist against the steering wheel, panting heavily.

Diana was already out of her car, leaning casually against the door as if she hadn't just obliterated the competition. When Akko stumbled out of the Eclipse, her legs shaking, Diana approached her with a bemused smile.

"Not bad for a newbie," Diana said, her tone dripping with condescension. "But you'll need more than enthusiasm to keep up with me."

Akko glared at her, sweat dripping down her face. "I'm not done yet. I'll beat you next time."

Diana chuckled, brushing a strand of blonde hair from her face. "I'll be waiting. Try not to embarrass yourself."

As Diana walked away, Akko clenched her fists, her determination burning hotter than ever. She had a long way to go, but this was just the beginning.

The streets of Oahu weren't ready for Akko Kagari. Though it may not seem like it, this was the story of Akko's rise to power until she's eventually ready to properly challenge Diana for the crown of the queen of Oahu's street racing scene.

A/N:

Heyo! Back at it again after a long while!
New story which is actually largely based on Test Drive Unlimited (The OG one from 2000s)
I'm no Hawaiian native so apologize for any geographical mistakes here
As always, reviews and inputs are always welcome as I have a long vision for this story