August 28th,1998 – 8:30 PM– Esso Gas Station
"Get out of here, or you're fired!" Yuichi's voice thundered, bouncing off the walls of the dimly lit gas station.
The urgency in his words finally jolted Iketani into motion. For a moment, he was still—paralyzed by hesitation—but then instinct took over. He spun around sharply, almost losing his footing on the slick, oil-stained ground, and bolted for his S13 parked just outside. The tires squealed as he tore out of the lot, the rear end kicking out before gripping hard and launching down the road in a blaze of smoke and fury.
He flew through the quiet streets of Shibukawa like a man possessed. Traffic signals, street corners—none of it registered. Only the streetlights flickering across his face gave shape to the night as he gunned the accelerator, every ounce of focus channeled into one thought: Mako.
He didn't care about anything else. Nothing else existed. His entire world had narrowed down to this one desperate drive.
I'm a frickin' moron! He thought bitterly, gritting his teeth. A girl like Mako… I'm never going to find another woman like her again! She's one of a kind, and I let her slip through my fingers like an idiot! If there's a God out there, I'm begging you now… just give me one chance! Don't take my angel away before I make things right!
But fate had a cruel sense of humor. Up ahead, the soft red glow of taillights began stacking up.
No. Not now. Please, not now!
A full-blown traffic jam blocked the road ahead. His heart sank.
"Are you kidding me?!" he yelled, fists pounding the steering wheel. "Come on!"
His eyes darted wildly, scanning for any possible escape—then he saw it. A tiny opening near the exit ramp. No hesitation. He cut the wheel hard, forcing the S13 into the narrow space. Horns blared. Drivers screamed. Tires screamed louder. But Iketani didn't stop.
He bounced onto the ramp, barely managing to keep control as he merged onto the open road again. Wind roared past his windows, and his pulse thundered in his ears.
"Just hang on, Mako… I'm coming."
He gave the dashboard a firm pat. "Come on, Syl. Don't give out on me now."
—
Elsewhere, under the flickering Kamameshi billboard…
9:50 PM
Never again. Heels are dead to me. Mako leaned against her Sil80, nursing her sore feet and her bruised heart. Tears glistened as they traced her cheeks, catching the glow of the parking lot lights.
The pain boiled over. She jumped into the driver's seat and fired up the engine, the Sil80 snarling in sync with her fury. She yanked the wheel, spinning into tight, smoky donuts that screamed defiance into the night.
When her rage could no longer be contained by circles, she launched the car out onto the road. She wasn't driving—she was releasing.
—
Not long after, a mint-green S13 came skidding around the far end of the parking lot. Iketani had arrived—just moments too late.
But then—he saw it. The faint, retreating glow of her Sil80's taillights vanishing into the distance.
"There!" he shouted, slamming his foot down again.
Mako's car surged toward Mount Usui, her thoughts a mess of anger and heartbreak. She didn't care about technique. She didn't care about the road. She just needed to feel something real. Something fast.
Behind her, Iketani was gaining. Every turn he nailed, every line he held, pulled him closer.
She didn't notice him at first—not until those same persistent headlights clung to her rearview mirror longer than any random driver should.
Alright, whoever you are… time to disappear. Her eyes narrowed as she powered into the next corner, executing a flawless drift.
She glanced at the mirror. Still there.
Her lip curled. "Fine. Let's see what you've got."
Corner after corner, they stormed the mountain pass in a whirlwind of tire smoke and raw emotion. This wasn't a race. It was something deeper—a battle of unresolved feelings, of fear and longing and hope clashing at every turn.
For the first time in his life, Iketani wasn't driving with skill alone. A heat, almost visible, blazed around his car—a manifestation of everything he'd buried. It pushed him beyond what he thought he was capable of.
Mako could feel it. She didn't want to, but she did. That presence… that intensity. It made her chest tighten.
Was it fear? No.
It was something else. Warmer. Familiar.
The energy between them built like wildfire. Two souls, colliding through speed. Every curve of Usui echoed with their shared storm.
Eventually, the world outside blurred. The past, the pain, the what-ifs—they all fell away. There was only this, only them.
If anyone had been watching, they'd have sworn a legend was being born that night. But there were no fans. No witnesses. Just two people chasing what they'd almost lost.
—
At last, the summit drew near. Mako let off the gas, heart heavy, and watched as the S13 glided ahead.
And then… she saw his face.
Iketani? No… it can't be…
Up front, it took him a second to realize he'd passed her. When he did, he yanked the handbrake, swinging the S13 into a dramatic stop.
They climbed out of their cars slowly, eyes meeting in the warm glow of their headlights. The engines ticked quietly as they cooled. Neither of them spoke.
Finally, Iketani stepped forward, swallowing hard.
"Mako, I messed up. I should've come sooner. I thought I didn't deserve to—"
She cut him off, voice shaky. "You… chased me up Usui… just to talk to me?"
He nodded. "Of course I did. I'd chase you to the ends of the earth. I was a fool to let you walk away. But I swear, I won't make that mistake again."
Tears welled up again—but this time, they were different. Softer. Hopeful.
"I thought you wouldn't show," she whispered. "I thought… I was wrong about you."
"No. You weren't," he said gently. "I just needed to find the courage to catch up."
She took a step closer. "Then… don't fall behind again."
"I won't," he promised, pulling her into his arms.
In that embrace, the mountain fell away. The past didn't matter anymore. They had this moment, and this time, neither of them was letting go.
P.S. This Chapter serves as a refined reimagining of Fax5's narrative titled "Less Late" on Archive of Our Own (AO3) hence which explains why some of the fanfiction is still written almost the same.
