TheFD's engine rumbled beneath him, but it didn't hold the samecommandit had earlier that night. Before, it had been the roar of a beast at the starting line, full of power and promise. But now?
Now, it felt like a hollow growl.
Keisuke rolled back up to the top of Mount Akina, but even if he cleared on the uphill, there was no salvaging the defeat on the down. Everyone knew that.
The adrenaline that had once pumped through his veins had soured into something .
He didn't even need tolookat the crowd to know they were staring. Hefeltit. The weight of their eyes, the whispers just barely covered by the engines rumbling all over the lot.
He'dlost.
Not just toanyone- no, that would've beeneasierto stomach. He lost to somenobodyin afucking damn panda-coloredTrueno.
His hands tightened around the steering wheel, fingers gripping the leather so hard his knuckles went white. Hispride, hisskill, theFDitself—none of it had beenenough.
And worst of all?
Ryosuke saw everything.
He didn't even have to look over toknowhis older brother was waiting for him at the top, posture composed, expression unreadable. Ryosuke hadn'tyelledat him, hadn't evenraisedhis voice since the time he was still running with his boys. But that quiet, knowing disappointment?Thatwas worse than any outburst.
Keisuke could alreadyhearhis own blood rushing in his ears, drowning out the noise of the crowd as he pulled into the clearing. The lights from the other cars cast long shadows, illuminating the eager faces of the gathered spectators.
This was supposed to behismoment.
Instead, it washis losson full display.
Shit.
He kept his head low, avoiding the expectant stares, the knowing smirks, the murmured conversations heknewwere abouthim.
"I can't believe it... Keisuke lost? To some random local?"
"The Takahashi brothers are legends, right? This is kinda embarrassing…"
"Damn… I almost feel bad for him. Almost."
His blood boiled. His pride screamed at him to saysomething—to shut them up—but what thehellwas he supposed to say?! It wasn't like he could deny it. That goddamnAE86had smoked him.
By7 seconds!
He exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face.
Then-
He sawher.
At first, it didn't register. He was just scanning the crowd, looking anywherebutat Ryosuke or the sneering spectators. But then his gaze snagged on somethingfamiliar.
A honey-blonde head of hair, curled and teased up to the nines.
A pink,gloss-coated smirk.
A flash oftan skinandglittering nails.
His breath caught in his throat.
She stood slightly off to the side, but there was no mistaking her.
Her.
Hoshikawa Bikome.
Thebitchiestgirl he'devermet.
His stomachflipped.
For a second, he thought maybe he was seeing the hell was she doing here?
Shelikedflashy things, sure—liked pretty-looking cars, likedmessing with him—but the last time he saw her was when he was eighteen years old, day of graduation. And then she was gone, her house up for sale like she was never even there.
No goodbye, no last look.
And yet, there she was, in the middle of the crowd, looking athim.
His chesttightened.
She hadn't changed atall.
Despite the cold mountain air, she wore ashort skirt, sheer black stockings hugging her thighs, lace on the trim. Her nails were painted, glinting under the headlights, and her makeup eyeliner, shimmery shadow, lips glossed andsmirking.
Thatfucking smirkthat he'd seen countless times when he was still a schoolboy.
She didn't looksympathetic. She didn't lookshocked.
She looked like she wasenjoyingthis.
Keisuke's eyetwitched.
Then-
She lifted a manicured hand.
Andwaved.
…
Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me.
Keisukewhippedhis head forward, jaw clenching so hard it ached.
Ofallthe peopleto witness this, it justhadto beher.
This night couldn't get any worse.