June.
The months of the peak of heat.
And the peak of humidity.
But despite the peak of humidity—
It's hot...
Very.
Very.
Hot...
The kind of heat where stepping outside already made you regret stepping outside.
The wind blew across the city.
But it wasn't cool.
No.
It was warm.
Like someone had turned a giant hairdryer towards Tokyo.
It was Summer break.
Classes were on hold.
Hallways around Tracen had become quieter.
Training schedules had loosened.
Some students had gone on trips.
Some returned home.
Others simply spent their time relaxing.
But to some of the Uma's?
Summer break meant only one thing.
The Hakone Turnpike Time Trial Event was coming closer.
Due to predicted weather around November becoming potentially the coldest period of the year—
The event officials decided to move the event forward.
August.
Closer than expected.
Much closer.
At the Ritto Parking Area—
The place was filled with activity.
Engines occasionally started.
Groups of Umamusume talked among themselves.
Some checked tire pressures.
Some cleaned windshields.
Some sat on hoods while drinking canned coffee.
Excitement quietly hung in the air.
Teio was doing one final inspection around her RX-7 before heading out.
Out toward Hakone Turnpike.
Rudolf, King Halo, Maruzensky, and Suzuka had already left earlier.
Leaving Teio, Mr. C.B., Chiyono O, Sirius Symboli, and Nice Nature behind.
Teio crouched beside the right front tire.
The Bayside Blue FD3S sat quietly under the summer sun.
Its paint reflected the sky overhead.
She placed both hands on the semi-slick tire.
Then leaned closer.
Inspecting the tire threads carefully.
Eyes narrowing slightly.
Looking for uneven wear.
Small cuts.
Anything unusual.
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
She blinked.
Opened her eyes.
And nodded.
She stood back up.
"Everything seems to be in order."
She rested both hands on the hood.
Pressing down slightly on the car.
The suspension compressed gently.
Then rose back up.
Her eyes shifted toward Chiyono O, Mr. C.B., and Nice Nature.
Chiyono O crossed her arms.
Chuckling softly.
"Seems like you're in a really good mood today huh, Teio-san?"
Teio raised an eyebrow.
Then nodded immediately.
"Of course I am!"
She clenched her hand into a fist.
Her tail swayed slightly behind her.
"I want one hell of a redemption story..."
The words left her mouth without hesitation.
No joking.
No teasing.
Just determination.
Then.
Another voice.
"Who wouldn't want to have one hell of a redemption story?"
Teio's ears perked up straight.
She glanced slightly to her right.
Walking toward them—
Was Forever Young.
Hands casually inside her jacket pockets.
A relaxed smile sat on her face.
Teio immediately raised a hand.
"Ebayan-san! You're back!"
Forever Young chuckled.
"Haven't heard that nickname in a while."
She smiled softly.
"But it feels good to be back."
Forever Young stopped by the opposite side of Teio's RX-7.
She leaned against it lightly.
One arm resting on the roof.
Teio rocked a fist excitedly.
"Congratulations on your win in Dubai, Ebayan-san!"
Sirius Symboli, who had been standing by her F355 moments earlier, finally walked over toward the group.
"It wasn't just a win."
She smirked.
"It was complete."
"Fucking."
"Domination."
Sirius walked behind Forever Young and gave her a firm pat on the back.
"You won by a massive distance from second place."
She leaned against Nice Nature's Gallardo parked beside Teio's RX-7.
Then blinked.
"Did that Uma..."
She snapped her fingers repeatedly.
"What's her name again?"
"The one you said likes teddy bears?"
Forever Young chuckled.
"Ah. Magnitude?"
Sirius immediately pointed.
"Yeah, yeah. That one."
Forever Young smirked.
"Her ass got beat."
"Not even top five."
Nice Nature blinked.
"I think you screaming at the top of your lungs after winning was the part that gave me the most chills."
Mr. C.B suddenly laughed.
"Forget about that!"
She pointed dramatically.
"It was chaos in the watch party!"
"Literal chaos!"
Forever Young raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
C.B shook her head.
"Golshi punched the television out of excitement."
Forever Young stared.
"...She did not."
C.B nodded immediately.
"Did so."
Then raised two fingers.
"Twice."
Forever Young's eyes widened.
"Tw— Twice?!"
C.B nodded.
"After punching the TV..."
She paused.
"...she dropkicked a window."
Silence.
Then—
Forever Young burst into laughter.
Teio followed.
Nice Nature nearly choked on her drink.
Sirius lowered her head laughing.
"No way..."
Forever Young wiped near her eye.
"No way she actually did that—"
C.B nodded.
"Oh she absolutely did."
She shook her head.
"Let's just say Rudolf had a really bad temper after that."
Teio laughed.
"Kaichou? Bad temper?"
She shook her head.
"I thought Kaichou raising her voice at me in the hospital months ago was her being angry!"
C.B slowly looked at Teio.
Then shook her head.
"No..."
Teio's smile slowly faded.
"...What do you mean no?"
C.B let out a small scoff.
"If you think Rudolf raising her voice at you was angry..."
Her expression darkened slightly.
"Rudolf was literally slamming her fist on the table while yelling at Gold Ship."
Teio's eyes widened.
"Yelling?!"
C.B nodded.
"Yelling."
Nice Nature sighed and smirked.
"And I thought Air Groove was the scary one."
Chiyono O laughed.
"Nattie."
"You should be used to Air Groove getting angry at this point."
Nice Nature's eyebrows drooped.
She slowly turned toward Chiyono.
"And how exactly is Air Groove not mad at your Gintani exhaust anyway?"
Chiyono blinked.
"Because I have turbochargers now?"
Teio shook her head while pressing down slightly on her RX-7 hood and leaning against it.
"And what about before?"
"You know..."
"When it was still naturally aspirated?"
Chiyono nodded.
"The foam pads I used."
Nice Nature's jaw dropped.
"How is it that foam pads work for you and not for me?!"
Sirius smirked.
"Because your Fluid Motor Union Anti-Reversion Megaphone Ear-Destroyer Exhaust is practically so straight-through that the backpressure probably looks at the foam and says—"
She raised both hands dramatically.
"'Yeah no. I'm leaving.'"
Nice Nature immediately snapped toward Sirius.
Then—
She sighed.
"I guess...?"
Sirius chuckled and shook her head.
Then she glanced behind Chiyono.
"Say Chiyono-chan."
"How's your Aventador?"
Chiyono O quickly turned around.
"Oh!"
She smiled.
Then looked back at Sirius.
"It's been well!"
"I've been slowly dialing everything in after the twin-turbo setup."
She rocked a fist slightly.
"The boost controller is really useful too."
Sirius nodded.
"Glad to know."
Forever Young suddenly whistled.
"Wheew..."
She looked around at the lineup of cars.
"So where are you all heading?"
She tilted her head.
"Mind if I come?"
Teio smiled and crossed her arms.
"We're heading to Hakone."
"Need some practice before the event."
Forever Young raised an eyebrow.
"Wait..."
"I thought the event was in November?"
Teio shrugged.
"From what we've been hearing..."
"The weather forecasts for November are supposed to be brutal this year."
"So they moved it to August."
Forever Young nodded slowly.
"Ahh..."
Then smiled.
"Mind if I join along?"
Teio immediately gave a thumbs up.
"Of course, Ebayan!"
Forever Young raised one back.
"Right on!"
Nice Nature suddenly looked around.
Then blinked.
"Is..."
She looked at Forever Young.
"Did you happen to see Air Groove around?"
Forever Young raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah."
"She was near the dorms a few minutes ago."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Why?"
Nice Nature shivered a little.
Sirius immediately began grinning.
Oh no.
Nice Nature already knew that look.
Sirius chuckled.
"Have you ever heard Nice Nature's Gallardo on a cold start?"
Forever Young shook her head.
"Not up close."
"No."
Sirius slowly looked at Nice Nature.
"Want to do the honors, Nattie?"
Nice Nature narrowed her eyes.
Then closed them.
A smirk slowly formed.
Her eyebrow twitched.
"Since you're all so eager to hear a cold start..."
She turned toward Sirius.
Pulled her keys from her jean shorts pocket.
And shoved them directly at Sirius' chest.
"Here."
Nice Nature dropped the keys.
But Sirius quickly caught them before they fell.
She blinked.
"...Uh."
"...Okay?"
She looked down at the keys.
Then at the Gallardo.
Then back at Nice Nature.
"...Why do I suddenly feel like I'm signing my own death certificate?"
Nice Nature simply crossed her arms.
Still smiling.
"Go ahead."
Sirius stared suspiciously.
"...You're enjoying this."
"No idea what you're talking about."
Sirius narrowed her eyes.
Then slowly began walking.
She walked around the front of the Gallardo.
The bright Arancio Borealis paint reflected beneath the summer sunlight.
Heat waves danced across the hood.
She reached the left-side driver's door.
Slowly pulled the handle.
And opened it.
The carbon bucket seats sat low inside.
The smell of leather and warm metal immediately greeted her.
She slowly slid inside.
Settling herself into the bucket seat.
Hands resting on the steering wheel.
She swallowed.
Then whispered softly—
"Please don't get mad at me, Groove..."
She slowly inserted the key into the ignition.
Twist.
ACC mode.
The dashboard lit up.
Needles swept across the gauges.
A soft chime echoed through the cabin.
Outside—
Everyone immediately took a few steps back.
Even Teio.
Forever Young blinked.
"...Why is everyone moving away?"
Mr. C.B quietly raised a finger.
"Watch."
Sirius took a deep breath.
Then pressed the clutch and brake.
Then—
Ignition.
The 5.0-liter Lamborghini V10's starter engaged.
Whirr—
Whirr—
Then—
BOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!
The V10 exploded into life.
Not started.
Exploded.
The full force of the Fluid Motor Union exhaust with its Anti-Reversion Chamber Megaphones immediately echoed around the parking area.
The exhaust note violently bounced between the dormitory walls.
The ground almost felt like it vibrated.
The sound slammed into everyone like a shockwave.
Forever Young jumped.
"EHH?!"
She immediately covered her ears.
Teio, Chiyono O, and C.B however—
Didn't even move.
Not even a flinch.
Like veterans already exposed to combat.
Nice Nature meanwhile immediately ran behind Teio's RX-7.
And crouched down.
Taking cover.
Not from flying debris.
But from Air Groove.
Forever Young leaned toward C.B and yelled as loud as she could.
"THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR TO COLD START LIKE THIS!!"
C.B nodded while covering one ear.
"I KNOW!!"
Inside the Gallardo—
Sirius lowered herself in the seat.
She lowered her head.
Covered her face with one hand.
Completely embarrassed.
She took a deep breath.
"Please don't come out..."
"Please don't come out..."
"Please don't come out..."
Then—
Faint footsteps.
Barely audible beneath the V10.
Then a faint voice.
"...Not again, Nattie."
Pat.
A hand landed on the roof.
Sirius slowly lowered her hand.
Then turned left.
Air Groove stared down at her.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh..."
She sighed.
"...I didn't expect you."
Sirius slowly nodded.
"...Yep."
"...I did it."
Air Groove stepped back slightly.
The Gallardo's idle dropped from its violent cold-start phase into its deeper, more stable warm idle.
The noise lowered.
Still loud.
Still very loud.
Just no longer apocalypse-level loud.
Air Groove rested an arm against the Gallardo's rear quarter panel.
Then shook her head.
"At this point..."
"I'm not even angry anymore, Nattie."
Behind Teio's RX-7—
Nice Nature's ears suddenly perked upward.
"...Huh?"
She slowly stood up.
Then tilted her head.
Her left ear drooping.
"What do you mean?"
Air Groove chuckled.
"Looking back at all those times I got angry..."
She looked up slightly.
"...I'm actually starting to find it funny."
Sirius immediately raised an eyebrow.
Then stepped out of the Gallardo and leaned against the roof.
"Funny?"
Air Groove nodded.
"Never in my life have I heard a car cold start so absurdly loud that yelling at someone becomes pointless."
She laughed softly.
"Not even race cars cold start this loud."
Sirius scoffed.
"Tch."
"Even the Zonda R?"
Air Groove nodded without hesitation.
"Not even the Zonda R."
C.B blinked.
"So..."
"You approve now?"
Air Groove shrugged.
"In a way."
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Then immediately shook her head.
"But the noise itself?"
She narrowed her eyes at the Gallardo.
"Still absolutely insane."
She pushed herself off the car and stretched.
Then gave the Gallardo's rear quarter panel a light pat.
"Well."
"You all better get going before Hakone gets crowded this afternoon."
"I heard a lot of people are heading there today."
She turned around.
Walked toward the dorm entrance.
Then disappeared inside.
Silence.
Sirius blinked.
"...Well."
Nice Nature exhaled sharply.
"That..."
"...That was something."
Sirius nodded slowly.
"It..."
"...was."
Teio groaned while tapping fingers against her RX-7 roof.
"Come on!"
"We should get going before we arrive at dusk!"
Forever Young chuckled while leaning against Teio's RX-7.
"I hope you don't mind if I'll be your passenger princess today, Teio."
Teio immediately gave a thumbs up.
"Not at all, Ebayan!"
She pulled the RX-7's door open and hopped inside.
Soon followed by Forever Young.
Nice Nature walked toward the driver's side of her Gallardo and slid inside.
She looked toward C.B and Sirius.
"Well?"
"Make your minds up."
She smirked.
"Bringing the multi-million yen cars..."
"...or Sirius' glorious-sounding Ferrari?"
Nice Nature winked.
Then shut the door.
Almost immediately—
Brraaaaap—
Teio's RX-7 came to life.
Then—
VROOOOMMMM!!
Chiyono's twin-turbo Aventador SVJ fired up beside it.
C.B and Sirius exchanged looks.
Sirius placed a hand on her hip.
"Well?"
C.B shook her head.
"I'm not bringing the Singer."
"And the TAG Turbo's at home."
Sirius smirked.
"Well then."
She tossed the F355 keys.
C.B caught them midair.
"You're driving, C.B."
Sirius walked toward the passenger side and slid inside.
C.B looked down at the Ferrari keys in her hand.
Then closed her palm around them.
And sighed.
"...Right."
She walked toward the driver's side.
Pulled the door open.
And settled into the bucket seat.
As she buckled the four-point harness—
She glanced at Sirius.
"Why make me drive again?"
Sirius pulled on the belt adjuster tab.
"Figured you needed something cheaper to drive."
C.B chuckled.
"Cheaper?"
She scoffed.
"I drove a Z32 with Rudolf back in the day."
Sirius froze.
"...You owned a Z32?"
C.B nodded while inserting the key.
"And still do."
Vroooom—
The Ferrari V8 roared awake.
She adjusted the harness straps.
"It's been sitting under a cover for three years though."
"I really need to get it running again."
Outside—
Teio's RX-7 rolled forward.
Followed by Chiyono's Aventador.
Then Nice Nature's Arancio Borealis Gallardo.
C.B shifted into first.
Slowly releasing the clutch.
The F355 rolled out behind Chiyono.
Sirius blinked.
"Planning on entering the event someday?"
C.B nodded.
"In the TAG Turbo."
Sirius chuckled.
"So you're planning on running Hakone in a one-to-two-million-dollar car?"
C.B scoffed.
"And yet Rudolf runs Hakone in a three-to-five-million-dollar Ferrari."
She shook her head with a smirk.
"Her car is worth more than my DLS and TAG Turbo combined."
Sirius blinked.
"...Fair point."
One by one—
The four cars exited campus grounds.
And entered the busy streets of Fuchu.
Summer sunlight reflected against paintwork.
Blue.
Orange.
Red.
White.
Rotaries hummed.
V10s roared.
V8s sang.
Soon—
The city slowly disappeared behind them.
Buildings became hills.
Hills became mountains.
And within an hour—
The roads of Hakone finally welcomed them.
The four cars cruised through Hakone at a reasonable pace.
No hard acceleration.
No racing.
Just the sounds of engines echoing softly through the mountain roads.
Ahead—
Teio led the group.
Her FD3S smoothly followed the curves of the road.
Behind her sat Nice Nature's Arancio Borealis Gallardo, Chiyono O's twin-turbo Aventador SVJ, and Sirius Symboli's F355 driven by C.B.
Inside Teio's RX-7—
Forever Young rested her elbow on the door armrest.
One hand supported the side of her face as she watched the scenery outside.
Dense trees.
Guardrails.
Sunlight cutting through leaves.
Mountain air.
Then she glanced toward Teio.
"How are you doing now since the accident, Teio?"
Teio exhaled slowly.
"Much better than before."
Forever Young nodded.
"I've been hearing you've been improving your driving skills lately."
Teio smiled slightly.
"That's right."
Her eyes remained on the road ahead.
"I owe Kaichou a lot..."
"Especially for the fact she gifted me this car."
Forever Young's eyes widened.
"She gave you this car?"
Teio nodded again.
"As a way to get me back into the driver's seat."
"And to help me drive again."
Forever Young blinked.
"...Ah."
She slowly straightened her posture.
"You should know something, Teio."
Teio glanced at her briefly.
Then back toward the road.
"Hm?"
Forever Young sighed.
"Maruzensky wasn't particularly happy during the accident either."
Teio slowly exhaled.
"I don't blame her."
"I mean..."
She shrugged slightly.
"Who wouldn't?"
She let out a small chuckle.
"Anyone that drives these cars and participates in the event would've been upset."
Forever Young pressed her lips together.
Then slowly nodded.
"Maruzensky said..."
She looked away slightly.
"...and I quote."
"I like Teio, but she needs to take driving seriously when it matters."
Teio blinked.
"...Is that it?"
Forever Young immediately looked at her.
Concern rose in her face.
"A-Are you sure you want the worst part?"
Teio nodded.
"I want to know."
She glanced at Forever Young for a moment.
"It's better for me."
Forever Young sighed.
"...Right."
She stared outside for a second.
Then spoke.
"She also said..."
"The way you drove..."
"...was someone who really wanted to kill someone."
"Or get themselves killed."
Teio stayed silent.
Forever Young continued.
"And that you treated driving like a video game."
"Like you could reset when you crash."
Silence.
The RX-7 continued humming along the road.
Then—
Forever Young hesitated.
"And finally..."
She looked down.
"...the worst one."
"If Teio gets back on her feet and still drives like that after an accident that could've killed her..."
"...I wouldn't even consider her my friend and colleague anymore."
Silence.
Teio's eyes widened slightly.
Then—
She sighed.
"...Ah."
"Maruzen's other side, huh..."
Forever Young nodded.
"Yep..."
She looked toward Teio again.
"But deep down..."
"Maruzensky really cares."
"She was just furious because the accident could've killed you."
Teio remained quiet for a few seconds.
The RX-7 smoothly entered another long bend.
Her hands calmly adjusted the steering wheel.
No sudden movement.
No panic.
Just smooth inputs.
Then she smiled.
"And yet I don't blame her."
Forever Young raised an eyebrow.
"...You don't?"
Teio chuckled.
"Of course I don't."
She blinked.
"Maruzen to all of us is like a big sister."
"She really cares about every single one of us."
"And if she said those things..."
She smiled a little.
"That was probably her way of letting her anger out."
"Without taking the Countach and driving it at ten-tenths."
Forever Young stared at her.
Then looked back outside.
"...So Maruzen is really like that when she's angry?"
Teio nodded.
"She's like that."
"But after getting angry and going for a drive..."
Teio laughed.
"It's like she completely forgets why she was angry in the first place."
"Or forgets she was angry at all."
Forever Young laughed.
"That sounds exactly like Maruzen."
Ahead—
The road began climbing higher.
The trees grew denser.
The corners tighter.
And for the first time since the conversation started—
Teio's smile looked different.
Not forced.
Not hiding something.
Just genuine.
Because now—
She understood something.
Being scolded that hard...
Only meant somebody cared enough to be angry.
Farther behind the convoy—
Inside Sirius Symboli's F355.
The white Ferrari moved smoothly along Hakone's mountain roads, its flat-plane V8 singing through the titanium exhaust as the trees blurred past outside.
C.B kept her left hand on the steering wheel.
Her right rested casually on the polished metal gated shifter.
Clink.
Fourth gear.
The sound echoed lightly inside the cabin.
Ahead, Teio's blue RX-7 moved between corners while Chiyono's twin-turbo SVJ remained farther up the road.
C.B glanced briefly toward Sirius.
Then toward Sirius' phone.
Then back to the road.
Her eyebrow slowly rose.
Sirius was scrolling through what looked like an aircraft listing.
C.B smirked.
"Already upgrading your plane now, Sirius?"
Sirius blinked.
Then chuckled.
"Not exactly..."
She looked out the windshield.
"I'm thinking of adding another one to the fleet."
C.B narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
She smirked.
"You already outgrew your Bonanza?"
Sirius laughed.
"More like..."
She lifted a finger.
"...limited operations."
C.B raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Sirius gently placed her phone down onto her lap.
"My Bonanza is mostly flown under VFR."
C.B blinked.
"...VFR?"
Sirius nodded.
"Visual Flight Rules."
She gestured outside the windshield.
"I mostly rely on what I see outside."
She pointed ahead.
"Clouds."
"Terrain."
"Runways."
"The horizon."
She shrugged.
"Basically flying while seeing the world around you."
C.B raised a finger.
"Let me guess."
"You fly using what you see."
She smirked.
"Like driving."
Sirius pointed immediately.
"Exactly."
She laughed.
"Just with a little more paperwork involved."
C.B chuckled.
Sirius leaned back into her seat.
"But what I want now..."
She looked out the side window.
"...is something I can take farther."
"Higher."
"And faster."
She paused.
Then smirked.
"But not too fast."
She crossed her arms.
"And something rare."
"Something unique."
C.B blinked.
Ahead—
A left-hander approached.
She pressed the brake pedal lightly.
The nose dipped.
Clink.
Down to third.
The F355 turned in smoothly.
She fed throttle at exit.
The V8 climbed through the rev range.
"Isn't your Bonanza already rare and unique?"
Sirius nodded.
"In a way."
"It's unique because it's an older seventies Bonanza."
"But I want something truly strange."
C.B looked over.
"What are you eyeing?"
Sirius slowly turned her phone around.
A photograph filled the screen.
C.B looked.
Then looked again.
Then her eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"You know it?"
C.B nodded rapidly.
"Maya-chan told me about that thing!"
She pointed at the screen.
"Beechcraft Starship NC-35!"
"Fully composite structure."
"Pusher propellers."
"Looks like a spaceship."
"Five still flying!"
Sirius smirked.
"Correct."
C.B stared.
"...How much does something like that even cost?"
Sirius glanced back at the listing.
"This one was eight hundred thousand."
Silence.
Then—
Sirius casually added:
"I already bought it."
CLUNK.
C.B nearly missed the next shift.
Her eyes widened.
"YOU WHAT?!"
Sirius blinked.
"What?"
C.B looked at her.
Then back at the road.
Then back at Sirius.
"You bought it already?!"
Sirius nodded casually.
"Sure did."
She crossed one leg over the other.
"Interesting history too."
"This Starship. Serial Code NC-35 had an accident in the early thousands."
"It was repaired."
"Then later seized in Mexico."
"The accident dropped the value pretty hard."
She shrugged.
"Normally these sit around one point three to one point eight million."
C.B stared at her.
Then laughed.
"So your rare airplane costs less than Rudolf's F40."
Sirius smirked.
"At least for cheaper..."
"...I get to fly around the world."
She tilted her head.
"Well."
"Within seventeen hundred nautical miles."
C.B laughed.
"You better bring us for the pickup flight."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Where's it even coming from?"
"Mexico?"
Sirius shook her head.
"Nope."
"It's back at the factory in Kansas."
"It's flown a few times since then."
She smiled.
"And honestly?"
"I think I got a steal."
C.B blinked.
"Did you pay cash?"
Sirius shook her head.
"Half."
"Four hundred grand from me."
"The rest is financed."
"About sixty-seven grand monthly for six months."
C.B nodded slowly.
"So not a lease."
Sirius shook her head.
"Definitely not."
She smiled.
"It'll be under my name."
"And maintained by my mechanics."
C.B raised an eyebrow.
"Mechanics?"
Sirius nodded.
Then grinned.
"Funny enough..."
"Some of them are former Beechcraft employees."
"They actually worked on Starships back in their twenties."
Silence.
C.B blinked.
Then blinked again.
"...You're telling me you somehow found actual Starship mechanics?"
Sirius slowly turned and smiled.
"They know."
C.B nodded slowly.
For a moment, silence settled inside the Ferrari.
The F355 hummed through the mountain roads, its naturally aspirated V8 singing softly behind them.
Metal gate shifter.
Engine vibration.
Tires rolling over the uneven pavement.
The occasional chirping of cicadas hidden in the summer trees.
Outside, Hakone stretched around them in shades of deep green.
Sunlight pierced through gaps in the leaves, casting shifting shadows across the road surface.
Ahead, Teio's blue FD3S followed the curves smoothly.
Farther up, Chiyono O's twin-turbo Aventador occasionally flashed sunlight off its bodywork.
Nice Nature's Arancio Borealis Gallardo remained ahead too, the orange paint almost glowing beneath the summer sun.
C.B loosened one hand from the steering wheel and lightly rested it atop the gated shifter.
Click.
Click.
Her fingers absentmindedly nudged the polished metal gate.
Sirius meanwhile had already gone back to scrolling through photos of her newly purchased aircraft.
Interior shots.
Engine bay shots.
Cockpit pictures.
She smirked slightly.
C.B glanced sideways.
"You really bought it huh..."
Sirius looked up.
"Hm?"
"The Starship."
She smiled wider.
"Yeah."
C.B shook her head.
"Most people celebrate winning races by buying watches."
She looked ahead again.
"You celebrate by buying extinct airplanes."
Sirius crossed her arms.
"I prefer interesting things."
She leaned back against the seat.
"And besides..."
She looked outside.
"I can drive cars any day."
A smirk formed.
"But flying something only a handful of people still own?"
"That's a different feeling."
C.B chuckled.
"Fair enough."
Then—
From behind.
A sound.
Not a V8.
Not a V10.
Not even a flat-six.
A sharp mechanical roar echoed through the trees.
A deep induction sound mixed with turbo whistle.
WHOOOSH—
BRAAAAAAAAP!
C.B's eyebrows rose.
She glanced toward her rear-view mirror.
Then blinked.
"Whoa..."
Sirius looked up.
"Hm?"
Behind them—
A car rapidly approached.
Low.
Aggressive.
Montreal Green paint flashing through sunlight.
An Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA.
Its front dipped slightly as it loaded up entering a corner.
Then—
The rear stepped out.
Not wildly.
Controlled.
Purposeful.
The driver caught it instantly.
Countersteer.
Throttle.
Tires sang against the pavement.
The Giulia slid beautifully through the turn.
FLASH FLASH.
Its headlights blinked twice.
C.B leaned forward.
"Whoa! Look at'er go!"
The Giulia immediately moved into the opposite lane.
Twin-turbo V6 roaring.
The Alfa surged forward.
It shot past the Ferrari.
Past Nice Nature.
Past Chiyono's Aventador.
And disappeared ahead like a missile.
Sirius watched with a growing smile.
"Now that..."
She pointed ahead.
"...is how you drive a sports car on roads like these."
She smirked.
"Drive it like you stole it."
C.B narrowed her eyes.
"That phrase coming from you is concerning."
Sirius laughed.
"What?"
C.B pointed.
"You literally own an F355, a Bonanza..."
She looked at Sirius.
"And now a Starship."
She squinted.
"You're one private island away from becoming a movie villain."
Sirius stared blankly.
Then smirked.
"...You know?"
"I'll add that to the list."
C.B's eyes widened.
"WAIT WHAT—"
Up ahead—
The green Giulia vanished over the crest.
Gone.
Leaving only fading turbo noise echoing against the mountains.
For a few seconds—
Silence.
Then C.B shook her head.
"...Hakone really attracts weird people."
Sirius looked ahead.
Her smile remained.
"No."
She crossed her arms.
"It attracts car people."
June sunlight poured over Hakone.
And there was a difference.
A noticeable one.
The four cars continued onwards at a steady pace.
No screaming down straights.
No late-braking heroics.
No tire squeal echoing against mountain walls.
Just smooth driving.
Measured driving.
The kind of driving that felt completely different from a few months ago.
Soon enough—
The roads opened up.
The familiar Hakone Sky Lounge finally came into view at the top.
As they entered the parking area—
They spotted their group.
King Halo.
Maruzensky.
Rudolf.
Tachyon.
Opera O.
Suzuka.
Along with Special Week and Manhattan Cafe.
Most of them were gathered behind their cars.
Though oddly enough—
Most of the attention seemed to be centered around Tachyon's S30 Z.
And among the parked cars—
Sat the same Montreal Green Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA.
Forever Young blinked.
"Huh."
She pointed outside.
"That same Alfa that passed us earlier is also here."
The group parked up.
Engines shut down one after another.
Doors opened.
Heat shimmered above engine covers and exhausts.
The smell of warm brakes and fuel lingered lightly in the summer air.
Everyone stepped out and headed toward the others.
Maruzensky swallowed her bite and waved.
"Hey there! Glad to see you all made it for lunch!"
Rudolf nodded.
"We prepared extra food considering we knew you'd all arrive eventually."
C.B waved dismissively.
"No thanks!"
"We already ate back at campus."
Then—
Another voice joined.
"You guys were taking the course easy huh?"
"You gotta pick up the pace like it's a dance!"
Chiyono O immediately laughed.
"I knew it'd be you Tap Dance City-san!"
Standing near Tachyon's Z—
Tap Dance City rested her arm casually on the S30's front fender.
Leather jacket.
Relaxed posture.
Confident smirk.
"A car sliding around corners without fighting back..."
She closed her eyes.
"...is a form of dancing."
Teio grinned.
"You drove your Alfa like you stole it, Tap-san!"
Tap raised both hands.
"On a course like this?"
She shrugged.
"I couldn't resist."
Maruzensky laughed.
"You practically own one of the best handling sport sedans ever made."
Tap shook her head.
"The Giulia?"
She slipped her hands into her leather jacket pockets.
"One of the best?"
"Nah."
Suzuka nodded.
"It's true actually."
"The Giulia GTA and GTAm are regarded as some of the best handling four-door sports sedans available."
She looked toward the Alfa.
"Especially those versions."
Teio immediately wandered over.
She bent down slightly and peeked inside.
Then—
Her eyes widened.
"You have bucket seats and racing harnesses in a sedan?!"
Tap nodded proudly.
"I got GTAm bucket seats and harnesses."
Then smirked.
"While keeping four doors."
Special Week raised a hand.
"Then how did you attach the harnesses?"
Tap shrugged.
"No idea."
"Ask my mechanics."
Cafe nodded quietly.
"If there isn't a harness bar..."
"They're probably attached to reinforced floor points near the seat rails."
Teio crouched lower.
She looked through the rear door.
Then down at the floor.
"Yep!"
"It's mounted there."
She blinked.
"Looks custom too!"
Tap blinked.
"Well."
She snapped her fingers.
"That solves the mystery."
Nearby—
Rudolf finished eating.
She patted her mouth with a napkin and placed the empty cardboard tray on Tachyon's tailgate.
Then looked at Teio.
"Teio."
"Give me a few minutes to digest."
"Then we'll go for your run."
Teio immediately raised a thumbs-up.
"Got it Kaichou!"
Meanwhile—
Maruzensky and Special Week walked toward Teio's RX-7.
Maruzensky slowly circled around it.
Hands inside her pockets.
Looking over every detail.
"Hm..."
"So what's changed since before?"
"Anything interesting?"
Teio grinned proudly.
"Well..."
"I started with safety."
She counted with her fingers.
"Half roll cage."
"Racing harness."
"Fire extinguisher."
"Reinforced and stiffened chassis."
Then she smirked at Maruzensky.
"And..."
"I took your words seriously."
"I improved my driving too."
Maruzensky's eyebrow twitched.
"So..."
"Yanko told you what I said."
Teio nodded.
"Yep!"
She waved her hand.
"And don't worry."
"I didn't take any of it as an insult."
Maruzensky took a deep breath.
Then slowly exhaled.
"I'm glad..."
She chuckled weakly.
"I thought you'd hate me if it got out."
Teio shook her head immediately.
"Even if it did..."
"A lot of younger students see you as a big sister anyway."
Maruzensky froze.
Her eyes widened.
Then slowly watered.
She sniffed hard.
Then suddenly—
"TEIO-CHAN!!"
She rushed forward and wrapped Teio into a tight hug.
Teio's eyes widened.
"O-Okay M-Maruzen!!"
She laughed awkwardly.
Though her voice came out slightly crushed.
Nice Nature smirked.
"Really showing your age there Maruzen."
Maruzensky instantly pushed herself back.
"I'm not that old!"
Nice crossed her arms.
"Really?"
She smirked.
"Then explain the old-school slang."
"The Countach."
"The fact you own a house."
"And the fact you still use cassette tapes."
Maruzensky's eyebrow twitched violently.
"Firstly."
"The Countach is something I've wanted since I was a kid."
"Second."
"I live in a house because it's near campus."
"Third."
"Modern radios ruin the interior."
"And the slang?"
She shrugged.
"Old habits die hard."
Rudolf chuckled.
"Old habits really are difficult to kill."
She then walked toward Teio.
And looked directly at her.
"I would like to remind you..."
"I won't be holding back."
"I also hope you learn something from the way I drive."
Teio nodded repeatedly.
"Of course!"
"Any damage caused by you driving is on me, Kaichou!"
Rudolf smiled.
"Very well."
Teio handed over the keys.
Rudolf accepted them.
She looked at them briefly.
Then closed her palm.
She walked toward the driver's side.
As her hand reached for the handle—
She looked at Teio.
"Are you sure you want to continue?"
Teio nodded instantly.
"Yes!"
"It's better if something breaks now than during the event!"
Rudolf stared for a moment.
Then sighed softly.
She opened the door.
Lowered herself into the bucket seat.
Adjusted herself.
Pulled the seat backward slightly.
Thud.
The door shut firmly.
She reached behind.
Pulled both shoulder harnesses over.
Click.
Click.
Then tugged firmly.
Secure.
She inserted the key.
Then looked at Teio one final time.
"One last chance."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Because I won't hold back."
Teio nodded immediately.
"Yes! Really really sure!"
Rudolf blinked.
Then nodded.
"Alright."
Twist.
The 13B-REW came alive.
Brrrmmm—
The rotary hummed to life.
Settling into a smooth idle.
Rudolf pressed the clutch.
Guided the shifter into first.
Built revs gently.
Then released.
The RX-7 rolled forward.
And slowly left the parking area.
Maruzensky took a few steps forward and crossed her arms.
C.B and Sirius walked beside her.
Sirius slipped both hands into her pockets.
"You think she'll hold back?"
C.B chuckled.
"I think the better question is..."
She smirked.
"Will Teio survive the experience?"
Maruzensky watched the RX-7 disappear around the corner.
Then smiled.
"Knowing Rudolf?"
"She won't hold back."
She crossed her arms tighter.
"Teio..."
Her smile widened.
"...is just there for the wild ride."
Then.
The faint sound of Teio's RX-7 echoed through Hakone.
A distant sound at first.
Then growing louder.
Louder.
Until—
The RX-7 blasted past the Start / Finish line.
BRAAAAAAAAP—WHOOOOOOOSH!!
The rear tires immediately protested.
The twin turbos hit hard.
The rear wheels suddenly spun.
Smoke briefly kicked up behind the car as rubber fought against asphalt.
Inside the RX-7—
Rudolf's eyes narrowed.
No panic.
No surprise.
Just complete focus.
Her left foot quickly came off the clutch.
Both hands steady on the steering wheel.
The tachometer needle flew upward.
6000 RPM.
7200 RPM.
9000 RPM.
Rudolf grabbed the shifter.
SLAM.
Second gear.
CHIRP.
The rear wheels barked violently.
The car surged forward.
Teio's eyes widened.
"W-Whoa—!"
The scenery immediately began blurring beside them.
The RX-7 rapidly accelerated toward the uphill crest.
Rudolf kept the steering inputs small.
Tiny corrections.
Tiny movements.
Nothing wasted.
The crest approached rapidly.
The nose climbed.
Then—
The car slightly unloaded.
For a split second the suspension became light.
Weightless.
Then—
THUMP.
The suspension compressed again as the car settled.
Immediately—
Back on throttle.
No hesitation.
Third gear.
The rotary screamed.
BRAAAAAPPPP!!
The speedometer needle climbed.
140
160.
180.
The speedometer stopped.
Pinned.
Maxed out.
But the car kept accelerating.
Teio blinked.
"W-Wait..."
"It only reads to one-eighty?!"
Rudolf didn't answer.
Eyes ahead.
Slight left.
Tiny steering movement.
The RX-7 remained planted.
Another slight left.
Fourth gear.
CLACK.
Then—
A tighter right-hander approached.
Rudolf immediately lifted.
Then—
Hard on the brakes.
The nose dipped.
ABS rapidly clattered beneath the pedal.
Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak-tak!
Her right foot rolled effortlessly.
Brake pressure maintained.
Heel.
Blip.
Toe.
BRAAAP!
Third gear.
Another blip.
BRAAAP!
Second.
No jerking.
No instability.
Just smooth mechanical perfection.
Turn in.
The front immediately bit.
Then—
Back on throttle.
Not full throttle.
Feathering.
Thirty percent.
Forty.
Fifty.
Tiny movements.
Tiny adjustments.
Boost gradually built.
The turbo gauge climbed.
The rear tires loaded up.
Exit.
Then—
Foot down.
The twin turbos screamed alive.
WHOOOOOOOOSH!!
Boost maxed.
The RX-7 lunged forward.
Slight left.
Lift.
Back on throttle.
Slight left again.
Tiny lift.
Then—
Another right-hander.
Foot flat again.
The rear stepped out slightly.
Not violently.
Not suddenly.
Just enough.
Rudolf calmly fed in countersteer.
Five degrees.
Maybe six.
No panic.
No dramatic steering.
Just enough.
The RX-7 drifted wider.
Crossing toward the opposite lane.
Teio's eyes widened.
"W-Wide—?!"
But Rudolf wasn't aiming for the corner.
She was aiming for the exit.
An imaginary line.
An apex that existed only inside her mind.
Then—
Another right immediately followed.
Hard braking.
Weight transferred instantly.
Still second gear.
Turn in.
Then—
The rear rotated.
The car slid.
Four wheels drifting together.
No excessive angle.
Barely any countersteering.
The car simply... rotated.
Perfectly balanced.
Teio stared.
Completely speechless.
Her eyes sparkled.
Not fear.
Not shock.
Admiration.
Pure admiration.
Inside her mind—
Everything slowed.
"Kaichou..."
Her eyes moved toward Rudolf.
Watching everything.
Every movement.
Every input.
Every action.
"Seeing Kaichou like this..."
Her eyes widened further.
"...up close is surreal."
Her hands slowly tightened.
"She's like a completely different person behind the wheel."
"Her steering..."
"So little movement..."
"But every movement does so much."
She glanced downward.
Toward Rudolf's feet.
Then froze.
"H-Her footwork..."
Brake.
Throttle.
Clutch.
Heel and toe.
Everything flowed naturally.
Like water.
Like dancing.
No hesitation.
No delay.
No wasted movement.
"So smooth..."
"So effortless..."
Her eyes widened further.
"This..."
Her heart pounded.
"This is hard driving."
"This is flat-out driving."
"This..."
"...is the bond between a driver and their car."
The RX-7 continued down Hakone.
Faster.
Faster.
And faster.
Pushing Teio's RX-7 to its limits.
Actually—
Way beyond its limits.
Halfway through the course—
Rudolf had already reached a conclusion.
"The suspension..."
A small smile formed.
"Very well dialed in."
"The stiffness is balanced."
"Enough body movement to feel the weight transfer."
"But controlled enough to absorb bumps."
Another corner.
Smooth steering.
Smooth throttle.
"The brake bias is excellent too."
"No sudden lockup tendencies."
"The rear stays planted."
Then she smirked.
"And the power delivery..."
The rotary screamed toward redline.
"Kitami Jun tuned it..."
"But surprisingly..."
"The power comes in beautifully."
She smiled wider.
"The car has exactly the amount of power it needs."
"Perfect for mountain roads."
Then her eyes narrowed.
"And perfect..."
"...for the Shuto."
Soon—
The bottom section approached.
Rudolf suddenly braked hard.
Weight transferred forward.
Then—
Quick right.
Immediate left.
Then—
Her thumb pressed the handbrake button.
YANK.
The rear snapped outward.
The RX-7 rotated.
Handbrake released.
Then—
CLUTCH KICK.
WHOOOOOOOSH!!
The rear wheels exploded into wheelspin.
Smoke immediately poured out.
BRAAAAP-BRAAAP-BRAAAP!!
The rotary smashed against its 9000 RPM limiter.
The car straightened.
Grip returned.
Second gear.
CHIRP.
Acceleration again.
Rudolf blinked.
Smiling.
"Even more impressive, Teio."
"Just from one downhill run..."
"The car's power is linear."
"The suspension reacts beautifully."
"The handling is predictable."
"Very nimble."
She glanced toward Teio.
Who was still staring at the road.
Still occasionally glancing toward Rudolf.
Still looking amazed.
Rudolf looked back toward the road.
Then smiled softly.
"You tuned it correctly."
"I'm proud of you, Teio."
Teio froze.
Her eyes widened.
For a moment—
She forgot to speak.
The RX-7 continued climbing back toward the top.
Despite heading uphill—
It was barely any slower.
Still attacking.
Still accelerating.
Still screaming through Hakone.
As if gravity itself had decided—
Back at the top...
Maruzensky peeked inside the Engine Bay of Chiyono O's Aventador.
Heat waves lightly shimmered upward from the rear compartment.
The polished twin-turbo piping reflected sunlight as the metal surfaces glinted.
"How's the twin turbo setup behaving Chiyono-chan?"
Chiyono nodded, peeking inside too.
"So far I'm liking it."
She then looked slightly up at Maruzensky, who stood across her.
"Is it true that Vodka has a '73 Charger with a NASCAR engine inside it?"
Maruzensky looked at Chiyono O.
And nodded.
"That's right."
"A perfect example of what we call a Restomod."
Chiyono tilted her head.
"Resto... Mod???"
Maruzensky nodded.
"That's right."
Suzuka then approached them.
Leaning slightly toward the engine bay from the rear side of the Aventador SVJ.
"A Restomod is where you take a classic car and put modern technology into it."
Chiyono O nodded attentively.
Suzuka continued.
"What Vodka did was put in modern wheels, a modern NASCAR engine from a Gen Six NASCAR race car..."
"Modern brakes."
"Modern electronics."
"And she also added ABS."
Chiyono blinked several times.
"So basically..."
She pointed at the engine.
"You take an old car and make it modern?"
Suzuka nodded.
"Pretty much."
Special Week then approached Suzuka and the group.
"Wait."
"I think I saw Vodka's Charger once."
"I saw her drive it out of campus early this morning when we all left, Suzuka-san."
She scratched her cheek.
"Is it a gray Charger with registration number Four Zero Four?"
Suzuka nodded.
"That's the one."
Special Week scratched her temple.
"Is it by chance any faster than Scarlett's Corvette?"
Suzuka shrugged.
"I'm not too sure."
"But I presume it's just as fast as Scarlett's Corvette if not faster."
Then C.B approached.
"But I do have to hand it to Vodka though."
She smirked.
"She does have one badass ride."
Suzuka chuckled, glancing at C.B who now stood at her right.
"I agree C.B."
Maruzensky chuckled.
"Now that's how I'd like to have a modern car!"
She nodded repeatedly.
"Modern technology."
"Modern safety features."
Her eyes sparkled.
"But keeping the old classic body style."
She suddenly clasped both hands together dramatically.
"Ohhh how I wish car companies do that today!"
Nice Nature approached from behind with a smirk.
"Then what about that Ferrari Luce, Maruzen?"
Instantly—
Maruzensky's entire mood darkened.
The smile disappeared.
"Dont mention that goddamned name again Nattie."
Nice Nature jumped.
"Eek!"
C.B chuckled and bumped Maruzensky slightly.
"Chill out Maruzen! She's only kidding."
Maruzensky sighed.
"Kidding or not..."
"I hate that thing with every fiber of my being."
Finally, King Halo approached them.
"You and Rudolf both hate the thing."
"So do I actually."
She leaned against the Aventador and crossed her arms.
"I just think of the Luce as the so-called cancelled Apple Car."
She shivered.
"Eugh..."
"I really really despise it..."
Then—
Forever Young stepped in.
"Thank you Europe for introducing these stupid emissions crap."
She crossed her arms and sighed heavily.
"Thanks to them, Euro brands are introducing quite possibly the shittiest cars today."
She groaned.
"The new Four Door AMG GT Coupe."
"The new BMW i3."
"And now..."
"The Luce."
She raised a finger dramatically.
"The Unholy Trinity."
The group burst into laughter.
King Halo nodded while rubbing her right eye.
"We went from having the P1, LaFerrari, and the 918."
"The Holy Trinity."
She shook her head.
"To having the Unholy Trinity today."
She sighed.
"Seriously."
"Where's the soul?"
"Where's the passion?"
Everyone nodded.
Tap Dance City then raised a finger while leaning against Tachyon's S30Z.
"Good modern sports cars from the factory that perform and look good are very hard to come by nowadays."
Tachyon and Cafe nodded.
"Agreed." They said in unison.
Tachyon then continued.
"It's only a matter of time where we drive electric cars with manual gearboxes."
"As someone who becomes a crazy mad scientist at times..."
She frowned.
"Even I find that absurdly depressing."
Cafe chuckled, shaking her head.
"That's the main reason we drive combustion engine cars."
"The smell of gasoline."
"The sound of a roaring engine."
"The emotion of driving a car with an engine as its soul."
Her mood darkened.
"A car that feeds engine noise with a speaker?"
T.M Opera O shook her head and continued where Cafe left off.
"That sucks the emotion out of a car."
"It's like a theater play."
"You put all your emotion and energy into a performance."
"Take away the emotion—"
She crossed her arms.
"And you got a theater performance that feels just as dead."
Silence followed.
Then—
From somewhere down below Hakone—
A very faint sound echoed through the mountains.
WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH—
BRAP—BRAP—BRAAAAP—
Everyone blinked.
Maruzensky raised an eyebrow.
King Halo smirked.
Suzuka slowly looked toward the mountain road.
C.B folded her arms.
"...Well."
"Sounds like Rudolf isn't holding back."
Everyone turned toward the entry of the parking area.
Up the slight crest leading into the Sky Lounge exit road—
A familiar silhouette appeared.
Teio's RX-7.
It climbed the incline smoothly, engine note echoing off the mountain walls, before rolling into the parking area at a controlled, steady pace.
The sound softened.
Then settled.
A sharp click echoed as the handbrake was pulled.
The car came to a clean stop.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then, almost in sync—
Both doors opened.
Rudolf stepped out first, composed as ever, gently closing the door behind her.
Teio followed a moment later, pushing her door shut with a bit more energy, the excitement still visible in her stance.
Rudolf rested her left arm lightly on the roof of the RX-7 and exhaled.
Teio turned immediately toward her.
"Well Kaichou? What do you think?"
Rudolf looked at the car properly this time.
Not just as a machine.
But as a driver evaluating another driver's soul put into metal.
She took a slow breath.
Then exhaled.
"I think you built one fine machine, Teio."
A pause.
She nodded once.
"Your car is ready for Hakone."
Teio's expression lit up instantly.
She clenched her fist and raised it high.
"Yes Kaichou!"
"Thank you so much!"
Then—
Applause.
It started lightly at first.
Then grew.
The group gathered ahead of them, watching the RX-7 and its driver.
"Congratulations, Teio!"
"Atta girl!"
"You did it!"
Teio straightened, then bowed deeply.
"Thank you all for your continued support!"
"And for keeping me in high spirits during the hard times!"
She lifted her head again.
"Thank you for not giving up on me!"
Her eyes shifted toward Rudolf.
She bowed again.
"And thank you, Kaichou, for giving me a second chance!"
Rudolf's expression softened slightly.
"Everyone deserves a second chance, Teio."
She glanced at the RX-7 again.
"And you came back with one hell of a car."
A brief silence settled over the group.
Then Rudolf tilted her head slightly.
"So, Teio..."
"What's next?"
Teio's lips curled into a smirk.
She turned her gaze toward the distant mountain roads of Hakone.
The winding asphalt stretched into the horizon like a promise.
"I think..."
She paused.
A grin formed.
"...you all owe me a Wangan run tonight."
That line landed.
Rudolf blinked once.
Maruzensky let out a small amused breath.
C.B crossed her arms with a faint smirk.
Chiyono O tilted her head, already interested.
Tachyon adjusted her glasses.
Cafe quietly nodded.
King Halo exhaled through her nose, almost impressed.
Nice Nature sighed like she already knew this was inevitable.
Sirius Symboli just smirked.
Opera O closed her eyes slightly.
Teio looked from face to face.
Then pointed.
"Well?"
Rudolf glanced at the group.
The others exchanged looks.
A silent vote passed between them without a word.
Then—
Maruzensky smiled.
"Why the hell not?"
A ripple of agreement followed immediately.
One by one.
Nods.
Smirks.
Grins.
Even reluctant acceptance.
C.B shrugged.
"Yeah, I've got time."
Tachyon adjusted her coat.
"This could be… scientifically interesting."
Cafe quietly added.
"As long as we're careful."
King Halo straightened.
"I refuse to lose on the Wangan."
Nice Nature sighed.
"I'm already regretting this."
Sirius chuckled.
"Let's make it worth it then."
Opera O gave a slow, composed nod.
"It shall be a proper performance."
Rudolf finally closed her eyes for a moment.
Then opened them.
"Alright."
She looked at Teio.
"Lead the way."
Teio's grin widened.
The mountain wind picked up slightly.
Engines ticked as they cooled.
Some already imagining the next run.
Some already anticipating the chaos.
And somewhere beyond Hakone—
Tokyo's expressways waited.