It was another day.
Morning light rose gently over Iwaya City, spilling gold across rooftops and the quiet harbor. The snowfall had stopped overnight, leaving behind a fragile stillness.
But the roads told a different story.
A thin, deceptive layer of ice coated shaded sections of asphalt. Guardrails shimmered faintly. Puddles had frozen into dull mirrors.
Winter hadn't left.
It was just watching.
At a small car park south of the city sat two familiar silhouettes:
Agnes Tachyon's midnight-blue Nissan S30Z
and
Silence Suzuka's Honda NSX.
Across the lot, parked neatly near the seaside road, was King Halo's Nissan R32 GT-R — she had arrived the previous evening and left early at dawn to secure a seaside restaurant reservation.
The morning air was cold enough that breath lingered visibly.
The hood of the S30Z was lifted.
Tachyon and Suzuka leaned over the engine bay, peering into the twin-turbocharged L-series inline-six.
Tachyon scratched the back of her head.
"I'm feeling a misfire somewhere… but I can't pinpoint it."
Suzuka tapped her chin thoughtfully.
Her eyes scanned methodically.
"Did you check ignition timing? Or the spark plugs?"
Tachyon nodded.
"I checked them early this morning. Plugs are clean."
She glanced toward the distributor cap.
"As for ignition timing… I honestly don't know what it's currently set to."
She sighed lightly.
"She was running perfectly when we left Tokyo yesterday. The misfire only started after we exited the highway."
Suzuka pressed her lips thin.
"Hm…"
She leaned in closer, examining the spark plug wires one by one.
Her fingers traced along the insulation carefully.
Then —
She paused.
Her eyes narrowed.
She twisted one of the coil wires gently between her fingers.
Her expression changed immediately.
"I think I found it."
Tachyon blinked.
"Where?"
Suzuka carefully removed the spark plug wire and pointed to a tiny imperfection.
"You see this pinhole?"
Tachyon squinted.
"…Barely."
Suzuka nodded.
"That's enough."
She rotated the wire slightly to show how the insulation had worn thin.
"With a tear like this, high-voltage current can arc to the engine block instead of reaching the spark plug."
She looked directly at Tachyon.
"In this case — cylinder two."
Tachyon exhaled slowly.
"So that's the misfire…"
Suzuka tapped the damaged section lightly.
"A temporary fix would be dielectric grease or electrical tape. It'll last the trip."
She straightened slightly.
"But the proper solution is replacing the spark plug wire."
Then she pointed to the remaining wires.
"And honestly — replace all six. Preventative maintenance."
Her tone softened slightly.
"You don't know which one might fail next. Better to keep the engine running at peak performance."
She gave a small chuckle.
"After all… this is the legendary Devil Z of the Wangan."
Tachyon smirked faintly.
"Heh… yeah."
She reached up and pulled the hood down, letting it settle before pressing firmly.
Thud.
Right on cue, three familiar exhaust notes approached the car park.
First — the sharp metallic pulse of Symboli Rudolf's Ferrari F40.
Then the deep, thunderous growl of Maruzensky's Countach.
And finally, the crisp air-cooled rasp of Mr. C.B.'s Singer DLS.
They rolled in carefully, tires crunching lightly over frost before parking beside the NSX and S30Z.
Doors opened.
Cold air rushed in.
Rudolf, Maruzensky, Tokai Teio, C.B., Sakura Chiyono O, and Manhattan Café stepped out and approached.
Café leaned casually against the S30Z's right fender.
"You seem worried."
Tachyon exhaled sharply.
"At first, yeah."
She crossed her arms.
"But it's just a small tear in one of the spark plug wires."
Café smiled faintly.
"Glad that's all it is."
Tachyon nodded.
"The last thing I want is an engine rebuild."
Chiyono looked around at the quiet seaside surroundings before turning to Rudolf.
"So, Kaichou… what's the plan?"
Rudolf looked toward the harbor briefly, then back to the group.
"We wait for King Halo's call. She's securing seats at the restaurant."
She folded her arms calmly.
"After we eat, we'll cross the bridge to Akashi."
Chiyono blinked.
"And then we head back to Tokyo?"
Rudolf nodded.
"We leave early tomorrow morning."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward the icy road.
"If weather or traffic worsens… we leave tonight."
Chiyono nodded thoughtfully.
"Ah. I see."
The sea breeze carried a faint scent of salt through the lot.
Engines ticked as they cooled.
The sky above Iwaya was clear — but winter was still present, quiet and watchful.
The cold breeze from the shoreline had begun to pick up again.
Salt hung faintly in the air.
Then—
C.B.'s phone rang.
She slipped a hand into her winter coat and pulled it out, glancing at the screen before answering.
"Halo-san?"
King Halo's voice came through clearly.
"Our table's ready. Come on in."
C.B. nodded.
"Alrighty. We're coming."
She ended the call and slid the phone back into her pocket before looking at the group.
"Come on. Let's head inside. Halo called."
Rudolf nodded once.
"Right. Let's not keep her waiting."
The group made their way toward the steakhouse entrance. A server opened the sliding glass door, and a rush of seaside wind greeted them immediately — colder and sharper than expected.
Outside, near the railing overlooking the water, stood King Halo beside a large wooden table positioned for the view.
She waved.
"Hey there! Seems the wind startled you!"
Rudolf chuckled lightly.
"Not at all."
Her eyes shifted toward Special Week.
"But it appears Spe-chan did."
Special Week straightened immediately.
"Did not!"
Suzuka lightly bumped her shoulder.
"Just a reminder, Spe-chan — this isn't a buffet."
Special Week laughed sheepishly.
"I know, Suzuka-san! I know!"
They settled into their seats, jackets draped over chair backs, steam rising faintly from cups of water placed in front of them.
Orders were placed quickly.
Maruzensky leaned back comfortably, crossing one leg over the other. Her gaze drifted toward Sakura Chiyono O sitting beside her.
Chiyono was swiping through listings on her phone.
Used cars.
Maruzensky leaned slightly closer.
"Looks like you're hunting for something."
Chiyono nodded without looking up.
"Yep. Something sporty… flashy…"
She tilted her phone slightly.
"Something red. Just like yours."
Maruzensky laughed softly.
"Doesn't have to be red, you know. Any color can work."
"Of course!" Chiyono replied, grinning.
Maruzensky leaned closer again.
"What exactly are you looking for?"
Chiyono tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Something fast. Preferably European…"
She scrolled.
Maruzensky spotted a listing and pointed.
"How about that?"
On the screen was a red 1995 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta fitted with a Challenge rear wing and silver HRE Classic 305 wheels.
Chiyono shook her head.
"It's cool… but Sirius Symboli-san already owns one."
She scrolled again.
Then paused.
A red Lamborghini Aventador SVJ filled the screen.
Maruzensky blinked.
"Well. That escalated quickly."
Chiyono nodded slowly.
"It's an option… but I need to think."
King Halo leaned forward slightly.
"What about a Porsche 993 GT3 RS?"
Rudolf chuckled softly.
"Or perhaps a Murciélago. Prices are reasonable for what you get — especially with that legendary Bizzarrini-designed V12 heritage."
C.B. crossed her arms.
"How about a Ferrari 288 GTO?"
Chiyono pointed at Rudolf.
"Nice choice."
Then at C.B.
"Too expensive."
Café tapped the table gently.
"Ferrari 308 GTB. If you do — get the Quattrovalvole. Better breathing, better power."
Chiyono nodded thoughtfully.
"That's actually a solid option. Around the same era as Maruzen-san's Countach."
Special Week raised her hand slightly.
"Are you getting two cars? Or just one?"
Chiyono nodded.
"One daily. Planning to get that soon."
She glanced toward Rudolf.
"And one for fun. Like Rudolf-san."
Maruzensky smiled.
"I'd go with Café's suggestion, honestly. A 308 GTB makes a great daily Ferrari."
King Halo nodded in agreement.
"If you get the targa version… the wind through your ears feels amazing."
Right then—
King Halo's phone rang.
She checked the screen and answered immediately.
"Urara-chan! Good morning!"
Haru Urara's cheerful voice came through.
"Good morning, Halo-san! Hope you're enjoying the trip!"
King Halo smiled faintly.
"We are. I joined Kaichou and the others last night."
"I know! I bet the snow is amazing!"
King Halo shook her head.
"Yesterday was rough. Roads were slippery like crazy. But today seems calmer."
Urara exhaled softly.
"That's good—"
Suddenly, a door slammed loudly in the background.
"Urara-chan! Good morning!"
A startled yelp followed.
"Ahh! Seiun-san! What the fu—?!"
There was fumbling. The sound of a phone dropping.
Then Urara's flustered voice.
"Seiun-san! What's wrong with you?! You're lucky my phone didn't crack!"
Laughter echoed faintly.
"Sorry, Urara-chan!"
Urara hurried back to the call.
"S-Sorry, Halo-san! I gotta go!"
The line cut.
King Halo remained completely still.
Eyes wide.
Silent.
Then she slowly slid her phone back into her coat pocket.
Her jaw tightened.
"I swear to Christ, I'll crucify Seiun Sky for letting Haru Urara hear that."
Rudolf calmly crossed her arms in an X.
"Calm down, Halo."
She lowered them slowly.
"I'll speak to Seiun when we return."
King Halo clenched her left hand into a fist, covering her mouth as she exhaled sharply.
"The things Urara hears and learns from Seiun are not helping her…"
Rudolf sighed lightly.
"I said I'll handle it."
As if perfectly timed—
Servers arrived with trays.
Plates were set down one by one.
Steam rose from sizzling cuts of steak. Butter melted slowly over seared surfaces. The smell of grilled meat and pepper filled the seaside air.
A young female server bowed politely.
"Enjoy your meal."
She straightened and walked away.
For a moment, conversation paused.
Knives lifted.
Forks pressed down.
The group began to eat.
The sound of cutlery against ceramic mixed with the steady crash of distant waves.
For now—
The engines were quiet.
The wind steady.
And the road ahead… could wait.
The wind coming off the strait had grown colder.
Lunch was over.
Bills were paid.
Engines fired back to life one by one, exhaust notes cutting through the seaside air.
They pulled out in formation and headed north toward Akashi via National Route 28.
Leading the pack was Rudolf's scarlet F40.
Behind her, Tachyon and Café in the midnight-blue S30Z.
Then C.B.'s blue-and-gold Singer DLS.
King Halo's R32 GT-R followed.
And at the rear, Suzuka's NSX with Special Week in the passenger seat.
Traffic was steady. Not congested—but busy enough to demand attention.
The roads were still slick in patches.
Inside the F40
Teio was now in the driver's seat.
Rudolf rested her elbow against the door, watching her carefully.
"How does my F40 feel, Teio?"
Teio blinked.
"I can't believe how heavy the clutch is, Kaichou!"
She winced slightly as she shifted.
"And the stiffness! You feel every single bump in the road!"
Rudolf chuckled softly.
"That's the compromise of driving a road-legal race car."
Teio shook her head in disbelief.
"Seriously… how you drove this at Hakone and set that record—I'll never understand."
She glanced sideways.
"And you literally went airborne."
Rudolf allowed herself a faint smile.
"The landing is what still reminds my back from time to time."
Teio pointed at the dogleg gated shifter.
"And this thing! I'm used to first being left and up. Not left and down. What's with that?"
Rudolf straightened slightly.
"A dogleg layout places second and third in a straight line. It's optimized for performance driving."
She gestured lightly.
"Faster, cleaner upshifts. Especially when you're pushing."
Teio nodded slowly.
"Ah… I see."
She tightened her grip on the wheel.
Two Cars Behind
Tachyon kept a careful two-car gap from the F40.
The S30Z's cabin was quiet.
Just engine hum.
Wind noise.
And Café staring ahead.
Then she spoke.
"You think Chiyono-chan suits an Aventador SVJ? Or a 308 GTB?"
Tachyon shrugged.
"SVJ? I'm not sure."
She flicked a finger forward lazily.
"But a 308 GTB? Definitely."
Café nodded.
"Same here."
She leaned back slightly.
"Not that I don't want her owning an SVJ. Those things are insane."
Her ears drooped a little.
"But it might be… too much car for her."
Tachyon nodded.
"A 308 still has bite. Balanced. Communicative."
They began entering the long bridge stretch.
The wind intensified.
Traffic compressed slightly.
Then It Happened
A dark navy Tesla Model 3 suddenly cut across lanes.
Directly into Tachyon's path.
Brake lights flared.
Hard.
Tachyon's eyes widened.
She slammed the brake pedal.
"You fucking dumbass!"
The rear wheels locked instantly on the icy patch.
The S30Z's tail stepped out.
Left.
Right.
The car began to fishtail violently across the lane markers.
Tachyon eased off slightly—
But timing betrayed her.
One rear wheel regained traction.
The other stayed locked.
The rear snapped.
The Z rotated.
Now fully sideways.
All four wheels locked.
The world turned into spinning asphalt and headlights.
Then—
A delivery truck barreled toward them from the opposite direction.
Tachyon froze.
Café squeezed her eyes shut.
The truck swerved at the last second—horn blaring—barely missing the Z's rear bumper.
The S30Z completed its rotation.
Its nose pointed forward again.
Instinct.
Tachyon countersteered and stabbed the throttle.
The rear tires bit.
The car snapped straight.
Stability returned.
Silence.
Except for Tachyon's heavy breathing.
Café cracked one eye open.
"A-Are we dead?"
Tachyon didn't answer.
Behind them, C.B. was rigid in her seat.
Suzuka's knuckles were white on the NSX steering wheel.
Special Week's face had gone pale.
King Halo stared ahead in stunned silence.
In the Countach—
Chiyono blinked repeatedly.
Then muttered,
"Pardon my language, Maruzen-san but… holy fucking Christ."
Maruzensky slowly exhaled.
"No, Chiyono-chan. That's appropriate."
She shook her head.
"That was way too close…"
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"But what a save."
The convoy continued.
Speed reduced.
Spacing widened.
No one spoke over the radios.
The bridge stretched ahead toward Akashi.
And for the first time since the trip began—
The weight of winter driving truly settled over them.
Later that afternoon…
They arrived in Akashi.
The convoy rolled smoothly into the first parking lot of Hyogo Prefectural Maiko Park.
One by one, the engines shut down.
F40.
S30Z.
Singer DLS.
R32 GT-R.
NSX.
Countach.
All lined up in a perfect row beneath the winter sky.
Beyond the railing, the vast steel span of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge stretched across the water, disappearing into pale blue haze. The sea below rolled steadily, reflecting fractured light from the afternoon sun.
The group gathered along the railing.
The wind was colder here.
Sharper.
Tachyon leaned forward against the metal rail, head bowed, arms crossed over it.
She exhaled.
"That was way too damn close…"
Rudolf stepped beside her and nodded once.
"You tell me, Tachyon."
She gave her a firm pat on the back.
"But that recovery was exceptional. That much, I can commend."
Teio clenched a fist against her chest.
"Seriously! What was that driver's problem anyway?!"
Suzuka shook her head slowly.
"Who knows, Teio… But they clearly lacked proper awareness for conditions like these."
Special Week nodded firmly.
"Yeah! That was totally unsafe driving!"
King Halo slipped her hands into the pockets of her denim jacket.
"It doesn't matter now."
Her tone was calm.
"What matters is we're all safe."
Tachyon turned and leaned back against the railing this time, staring out at the bridge.
"What that driver did was reckless."
She paused.
"Though… part of that spin is on me."
The others looked at her.
"I adjusted brake bias slightly rearward this morning."
Rudolf shook her head immediately.
"That adjustment made sense. In cold conditions, too much front bias would've locked the fronts even faster."
Suzuka nodded.
"You might've hit a patch of slush the moment you braked."
She looked out toward the roadway in the distance.
"That would explain the rear locking first."
Tachyon sighed.
"Yeah… maybe."
Maruzensky let out a soft chuckle, warm despite the cold air.
"Relax, Tachyon."
She smiled gently.
"You're safe. We're safe. No one got hurt."
She turned her gaze toward the towering bridge.
"What happened… happened."
For a moment, no one spoke.
The wind moved through their hair.
The sound of waves crashing against the seawall below filled the quiet.
Engines cooling ticked softly behind them.
They had pushed hard these past few days.
Snow.
Ice.
Highways.
Mountains.
Bridges.
And close calls.
Rudolf stepped forward slightly, eyes fixed on the horizon beyond the steel cables.
"We head back to Tokyo tomorrow."
Her voice was steady.
"Early."
The group nodded.
No arguments.
No bravado.
Just understanding.
Tachyon straightened up and glanced back at her midnight-blue S30Z.
The Devil Z.
Still idling quietly in spirit.
Still alive.
She allowed herself a faint smirk.
"One hell of a trip."
Suzuka stepped beside her.
"And it's not over yet."
Special Week raised both hands slightly.
"Next year's going to be even better!"
Teio grinned.
"As long as we survive it!"
Laughter finally broke through the tension.
Light.
Earnest.
Real.
Above them, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge stood unshaken against the winter sky.
And beneath it—
The group stood together.
Engines silent.
Hearts still racing.
Ready for whatever road came next.