August 16th, 1999A – 9:02 PM – Tokyo (Alternate Timeline)

Mako's eyes locked onto Iketani's. Cold. Focused. Her hand moved faster than he could react.

A gleam of silver.

She drew a pistol from her jacket and aimed.

"MOVE!" Ryosuke shouted, grabbing Iketani's arm and yanking him behind the RX-7.

CRACK!

Everyone from the crowds started running,the bullet shattered a nearby neon sign, raining sparks.

Mako walked toward them now, gun raised, boots echoing like war drums on the concrete.

"You think you can mess with me?" she snarled. "I'll make you pay once im done with you."

Iketani slid into the FC as Ryosuke got behind the wheel. The engine roared to life.

"Let's go!" Ryosuke shouted as Mako opened fire again.

Bullets pinged off the FC's rear as it fishtailed out of the alley and onto the main expressway. Traffic blurred past them in streaks of neon and chrome.

"She's insane!" Iketani said. "She's actually trying to kill us!"

"She's trying to kill you," Ryosuke corrected grimly. "I'm just collateral."

Behind them, Mako sprinted to her Sil80.

She yanked the door open, strapped in her racing harness turned on the ignition.

The beast of an engine roared awake.

"You can't escape from me!!" she screamed, slamming it into gear and rocketing out of the parking lot.

9:09 PM – Tokyo Expressway Loop

The RX-7 sliced through traffic, but Mako was gaining. Her Sil80 wasn't just fast—it was ruthless. She was tailing them through Tokyo's underground bypasses and elevated highways like a hunter chasing prey.

"She's catching up!" Iketani shouted over the wind and engine.

"I noticed!" Ryosuke yelled back. "Hang on!"

The RX-7 drifted around a tight off-ramp, nearly hitting a pillar. The Sil80 took the same corner tighter, more aggressively—Mako was pushing her car like she had nothing to lose.

"She's faster than the old timeline," Ryosuke muttered. "No fear. No hesitation. Just raw aggression."

"She didn't use to be like this," Iketani said quietly. "She smiled."

BOOM!

The RX-7 jerked as a bullet took out the right side-view mirror.

"She's shooting again!"

"Enough of this," Ryosuke growled. He pulled out a small device from his coat—an advanced control pad. "I just got the signal. I preprogrammed a 4 Dimensional Jump System."

"4D Jump System?"

"I teleported the DeLorean near an alleyway. but We need to shake her off first."

They took a hard right, nearly flipping the FC as it dove into a tunnel network. Mako followed them with terrifying speed. Steam hissed from pipes overhead. Shadows flickered across the walls. "You can't run forever, losers!" Mako shouted over the roar of her engine. "I'm not done with you until both you are dead!"

Then , just up ahead at the end of the tunnel, the road curved suddenly a sharp turn cutting through the mountain pass like a blade. The headlights of the RX-7 pierced the darkness, and without hesitation, Ryosuke flicked the steering wheel. With precise timing and perfect control, he initiated a drift, the rear tires breaking traction as the car slid sideways into the corner. The sound of screeching rubber echoed through the night, smoke trailing behind the FC as it glided through the turn at full speed, hugging the inside line like a phantom.

Close behind, Mako in her Sil80 mirrored the move, determination burning in her eyes. She threw the car into the drift, tires shrieking as the rear swung out, but she was pushing too hard too fast. Her entry speed was just a fraction too much. The rear end lost grip uncontrollably, and she couldn't correct it in time. Her Sil80 spun out violently, tires locking and screeching, the car rotating out of the corner and kicking up a cloud of dust and rubber as it slid to a halt, sideways on the shoulder.

Her hands clenched the steering wheel, breath coming in shallow, angry gasps. Her eyes widened in disbelief, rage boiling just beneath the surface.

"NO!!" she screamed, slamming her fist against the wheel.

"UGH, DAMN IT!!" Her voice echoed into the night air as the RX-7's taillights disappeared around the bend, shrinking fast into the distance.

She slammed her hand down again. "Lucky bastards..." she muttered through clenched teeth, frustration and humiliation knotting in her chest as she sat there in silence.

9:16 PM – Alleyway (Launch Point)

Iketani and Ryosuke got to the Alleyway and Iketani hopped Inside the DeLorean, the time circuits were already humming, destination preloaded: August 18th, 1998 – 3:10 PM – Kamameshi Billboard

Ryosuke's came over to the car talk to him.

"You need to go five minutes earlier than before. Hide behind the billboard."

"Don't let yourself see you."And yes—there'll be three of you. Deal with it. Carefully."

Iketani blinked. "Three of me? Won't that, like… rip the universe apart?"

"Only if you mess it up."

"Thanks, that's comforting."

"Iketani," Ryosuke added, voice serious now. "Make the right call this time. Or you could lose her… forever."

Iketani stared at the dash. At the glowing time circuits.

"Alright. One more trip."

He hit the throttle.

August 18th, 1998B – 3:10 PM – Kamameshi Billboard (Again)

The DeLorean appeared behind the massive wooden sign in a flash of white light.

Iketani climbed out immediately and crouched in the shadows. He could see it unfolding again, like a scene from a play on loop.

5 Minutes Later, 3:15 PM

Just then the First Disguised Iketani (the one from before) emerged from the bushes. "Listen, man, do not talk to her. It's not worth it."

Past Iketani, in his usual clothes, looked confused. "Well, thanks for the tip, man. Peace, dude."

He turned and began walking toward his S13.

That's when Current Iketani leapt out from the other side.

"Wait!" he called.

Past Iketani turned, now very confused. "Wait Who are you?"

Current Iketani stepped forward. "It doesn't matter, Just… ignore that guy. He doesn't know what he's talking about." Said Iketani as he heard the other Iketani get in the DeLorean and started driving away.

"Look I'm you," Current Iketani said to Past Iketani. "From a future where you never talked to her. Where she became cold, ruthless, and nearly shot me in the face. That other guy,"—"he's also you, from a different future. He tried to erase it all. But I'm here to fix it."

Past Iketani stood silent for a moment. Then:

"…Okay. What do I do?"

"Go talk to her. Introduce yourself. Help her. That's where it starts. You don't have to fall in love right now. Just be there."

There was a long pause,the past Iketani sighed. "Alright," said Past Iketani. "I'll do it." He turned and walked toward the car, where Mako was still fiddling with her jack. As he watched Past Iketani begins to talk Mako like how it's supposed to be. "Good stuff, Past Iketani" said Iketani as he hopped in the DeLorean and went back to 1999.

August 17th, 1999B – 6:01 PM – Tokyo Circuit (Restored Timeline)

The crowd's roar was deafening as Mako crossed the finish line.

Victory.

She stepped out of her Sil80, pulling off her helmet. Her hair was soft and tied back. Her eyes—warm, proud, present.

She turned—and saw him.

Iketani. Standing at the edge of the crowd. No disguise. No sunglasses. Just him.

She ran to him without hesitation.

Wrapped in her racing jumpsuit, still sweaty from the race, she leapt into his arms.

"You came," she whispered.

"Of course i did,anything for my love." he replied.

She kissed him right there in front of everyone, long and full of fire.

The announcer's voice came over the PA again: "Looks like the champion's got more than one win tonight!"

Mako pulled back, eyes twinkling. "You look like you've been through hell."

"I was," he said. "But I'd do it again."

She laughed. "You're such a sap."

From across the pit lane, Ryosuke leaned against the white FC, arms crossed, watching with quiet satisfaction.

"You did it Iketani, well done."

"Well done Indeed."