THE FIRST NIGHT'S AFTERMATH
The night air was cool as Akko coasted down the street, the red Eclipse GSX humming low in the dark. Akko's excitement from the race had definitely worn off, replaced by a creeping exhaustion and a gnawing sense of disappointment. The fact that Diana had crushed her effortlessly left quite a wound in her.
Behind her, Lotte's blue Volkswagen Golf R32 followed at a steady pace, its headlights cutting through the darkness. Lotte had been quiet on the radio since the race ended, likely sensing that Akko needed time to process the loss.
"Well at least the car held up," Akko muttered, gripping the steering wheel. She glanced at the boost gauge, still half expecting it to spike like it had during the race. "Guess I shouldn't have pushed it so hard…"
However, just as the thought crossed her mind, the Eclipse jolted violently. The engine sputtered, coughing out a wheezy groan that sent a chill down her spine.
"No, no, no!" Akko yelled, as the RPM needle plummeted. She frantically tried to downshift, but the car shuddered and coasted to a dead stop on the side of the road. Steam hissed from under the hood, rising like a ghost in the moonlight.
Lotte's Golf pulled up behind her moments later, and the blonde scrambled out with a flashlight in hand. "Akko? What happened?"
Akko slammed her hand against the steering wheel, groaning in frustration. "I think I blew the engine!" she said as she rested her head against the wheel "This is so bad… I just spent all my savings on upgrades for that race, and now I have to pay for repairs?! How could fate be so cruel to me?!" She slumped in her seat, muttering curses under her breath.
Lotte shone her flashlight over the Eclipse, her face twisting in sympathy as the beam landed on the faint trail of oil pooling beneath the car. "Oh no… This isn't just bad, Akko. You might have cracked something serious."
Before Akko could respond, another set of headlights appeared in the distance, growing brighter as a familiar purple Subaru BRZ pulled up alongside them. The window rolled down to reveal Sucy, with her half-lidded eyes as uninterested as ever.
"Wow," Sucy drawled, her monotone voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Nice fireworks back there. I could hear your turbo screaming for mercy all the way from town."
Akko groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Please don't rub it in, Sucy. I'm already dying inside."
Sucy tilted her head, resting her chin on her palm. "Relax, I'm not here to make fun of you. Well, not too much. I can call Amanda. She might give you a tow back to her garage to get that little car of yours a look."
Akko perked up slightly. "Really? You'd do that?"
Sucy shrugged, pulling out her phone. "Sure. I was just driving back from the shop anyway. Figured I'd see if you managed to survive your first race." She smirked. "Barely, it seems."
Lotte sighed, shaking her head as Sucy made the call. "Thanks, Sucy. Akko really needs the help right now."
A good few minutes later, the rumble of a tow truck's diesel engine echoed down the road. Amanda's truck came into view, its flatbed rattling as it slowed to a stop in front of the Eclipse. Amanda jumped out, her ever-present grin widening when she saw Akko's forlorn expression.
"Well, well, rookie! First race and you already fried your ride?" Amanda teased, slapping her thigh as she laughed. "That's gotta be some kind of record."
"Not helping," Akko grumbled, crossing her arms.
"Relax, I'm just messing with you." Amanda walked over to the Eclipse, inspecting the damage with a practiced eye. After a thorough look, she whistled low as something intrigued her. "Yikes. You really did quite a number on this poor thing. But don't worry, we'll get it sorted. Let's load her up."
With Sucy and Lotte's help, they guided the Eclipse onto the flatbed, securing it with chains as Amanda overlooked the process. Akko climbed into the passenger seat of Lotte's car, glancing at the Eclipse through the windshield.
"You really think it can be fixed?" Akko asked, her voice tinged with doubt.
Amanda smirked as she hopped on to the truck. "Oh, it'll take some work, but we'll get her back on the road. Maybe this time, I'll teach you a thing or two about not blowing your engine. Deal?"
Akko managed a small smile. "Deal."
As the tow truck rumbled toward Amanda's garage, Akko rested her head against the window, watching the lights of Oahu pass by. She was broke, humiliated, and her car was in pieces—but somehow, she felt a little better. If nothing else, she had friends who had her back. And one day, she'd show them all what she was capable of.
After what felt like a lengthy ride, they eventually arrived at Amanda's garage. The tow truck's brakes let out a squeal as Amanda eased it into her garage's lot, a modest but bustling space tucked just off the main drag of the industrial district. The place was alive with activity even in the dead of night with other racers' cars lining up outside, and Amanda's crew was hard at work under the fluorescent lights, their shouts mixing with the hum of tools and engines. With such an ease, Amanda and the other mechanics managed to take the Eclipse off the flatbed, ready for inspections.
Akko's mood however, soured as she stepped out of Lotte's car, her eyes immediately landing on a sleek white Nissan Skyline R34 parked near the garage entrance. Its paint gleamed under the lights, every curve flawless and precise, as if it hadn't just obliterated half the competition that night.
Diana Cavendish was standing nearby, chatting with Amanda's head mechanic, her arms crossed in her usual composed manner. Even in a grease-streaked garage, she somehow looked immaculate, her golden hair shimmering as she turned toward the sound of the truck. Her sharp blue eyes landed on Akko, and her lips curved into a subtle, knowing smirk.
"Ah, Kagari," Diana said, her voice as smooth and cutting as polished glass. "I had a feeling I'd see you again tonight."
Akko froze mid-step, her jaw tightening as embarrassment flooded her. "You've got to be kidding me," she muttered under her breath.
Amanda hopped out of the truck, completely unbothered. "Well, well, looks like the queen herself has graced my garage with her presence tonight. What's the occasion, Diana? Your R34's running perfect as usual."
Diana gave a small shrug, gesturing toward her car. "Just a routine check. I like to keep everything in peak condition. Unlike some people who push their vehicles to the point of catastrophic failure." Diana said with a piercing look towards Akko.
Akko bristled at the jab, her hands curling into fists. "Hey! That was my first race! And maybe if I had your endless budget, my car wouldn't have blown up!"
Diana arched an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Excuses, Kagari. A true racer doesn't blame their equipment. But I suppose that's something you'll learn in time. Assuming your Eclipse ever runs again."
"Why, you—!" Akko took a step forward, only for Lotte to grab her arm, pulling her back.
"Akko, don't," Lotte whispered urgently. "She's trying to get under your skin."
Amanda chuckled as she walked toward the Eclipse, inspecting the damage. "Alright, ladies, let's cool it. Diana's just here to show off as usual, and Akko's here because… well, she overcooked her turbo. No shame in that."
Diana's smirk didn't fade as she turned to leave. "I'll be back tomorrow to pick up my car, Amanda. Make sure everything is perfect, as always."
Amanda gave her a mock salute. "You got it, your highness."
As Diana walked to another car waiting for her, Akko glared at her retreating figure, gritting her teeth so hard she thought they might crack. "She's so full of herself! I can't stand her!"
Sucy wandered over from the shadows, holding a wrench she had no business carrying. "You know, I kind of like her," she deadpanned. "She's like a shark. Cold, efficient, and fun to poke at when you're bored."
"Not helping, Sucy!" Akko snapped, throwing her arms in the air.
Amanda shook her head, her grin never faltering as she patted the hood of the Eclipse. "Well, Kagari, the good news is your car isn't completely totalled. Bad news is… it's gonna cost you. You torched the turbo and probably cracked a cylinder or two. And, uh… I don't even wanna think about the oil pan right now."
Akko groaned, leaning against the truck as the weight of her situation hit her all over again. "Great. Just great. How am I supposed to pay for all this? I'm already broke!"
Amanda shrugged, pulling a rag from her pocket to wipe her hands. "Guess you'll have to work it off, rookie. You know, helping out around the shop, fetching parts, maybe cleaning up after Diana's precious Skyline." She shot Akko a teasing grin. "Don't worry. I'll give you the racer discount."
Akko buried her face in her hands, muttering, "This is the worst night of my life."
Lotte gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "It's not so bad, Akko. At least your car can be fixed. And working here could be fun! Amanda's crew seems nice."
Sucy tilted her head. "Plus, you'll get free entertainment every time Diana shows up to gloat."
Akko groaned louder; her voice muffled. "You're all terrible."
Amanda laughed, slinging an arm around Akko's shoulders. "Cheer up, rookie. Every racer's been where you are. Blown engines, empty wallets, and bruised egos—it's all part of the game. The question is, are you gonna let it stop you?"
Akko hesitated, her frustration flickering into determination. She straightened up, clenching her fists. "No way. I'm not giving up. I'll fix my car, work my way up, and next time, I'll show Diana that she's not invincible!"
Amanda grinned. "That's the spirit! Now, get yourself a good night's sleep. If you're gonna work here, you're starting the first thing tomorrow morning."
Akko blinked. "Wait, WHAT? You can't be serious?!"
Amanda played with her wrench anyway. "Welcome to the grind, Kagari. Let's get to it."
As the garage lights burned late into the night, Akko stood by her battered Eclipse, her determination shining brighter than ever. It wouldn't be easy, but one day, she'd make Diana eat her words—and maybe even that smug smile.
A/N:
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