Another picturesque morning on the outskirts of Gifu. Another refreshing cup of tea, serenaded by the sounds of nature. Another day living the dream that he had so unflinchingly sought.
(...And what of it?)
By all accounts, Makoto Shibuya has won the game of life. The son of an accomplished industrial executive, his business acumen came to him as quickly as he could read and write. From his youth, he was raised and crafted in his father’s image—his family saw in him a worthy successor to their legacy. They laid the corporate ladder before him, and ordered him to climb.
And climb, he did. Higher and higher, using his father’s connections and his own shrewd tactics to reach all the way to the top. That’s all it ever was to him: a game. A dream his parents planted inside his head. Now, the shackles of life lie broken and limp at his feet—he has everything he could ever need, and total control over the rest of his days.
...If only that were enough to make him feel he had achieved anything at all.
(This morning’s cup is...quite fine. As it is.)
A heavy sigh escapes his husky throat. He only ever did what was asked of him... Does that really deserve any special praise or celebration? Did it mean anything at all to his father, who saw in a vision his son’s entire life?
And what does Makoto make of himself, now that the old man is gone? There’s no one left for him to succeed, no goals to achieve... He has to figure out what to do with himself now.
But who is he, really?
(...Perhaps I’ll take a stroll before lunch.)
He has all the time in the world, and nothing to do with it. Perhaps that desperate yearning was what made him so receptive to his old friend’s invitation—a chance meeting with Clara’s own successor. She and her shop form the only open thread left in the tapestry of his life... Those memories from so many years ago have grown to sting in a different way.
Might it all have turned out differently, had he not been so...?
*BRRRING! BRRRING!*
“Ah.”
That would be her. She was scheduled to arrive in Gifu yesterday—how, from so far away in a car so old, he can’t begin to imagine. But she’s here now...a visitor from another world.
*CLICK!*
“Good morning.”
“Morning, Mr. Shibuya! I made it into Gifu last night. Are we still on for later today?”
“Yes, that’s all well by me. I’ve confirmed the reservation.”
Convenient though it would be, he recognizes that his home might be too daunting. Instead, they will do their business over food and drinks at his favorite local tavern—which Reina appreciates, both for peace of mind and for all she can eat.
“Great! Thanks again.”
“My pleasure.”
It’s uncanny, hearing her voice. She doesn’t have a hint of that gravely timbre that her grandmother did, but he can still tell she’s her granddaughter. Something about the family resemblance runs deeper than he can even quantify.
“I trust you don’t have any issue with the time?”
“Not at all. I got plenty of rest, so I’m good to go.”
“Very good.”
He only has a surface-level overview of her plan...and he’ll need more than just pretty words if he’s to sign on after today. But out of respect, he’ll give her his undivided attention.
“I’ll see you here, then. Take care.”
“Yup. See you soon!”
*CLICK!*
“Now, then...” Makoto finishes his tea.
“I believe this might finally provide some closure.”
The past has come rushing to meet him. It flies on wings of red.
***
A warm breeze and a cloudless sky welcome Reina to Gifu. It’s just now starting to dawn on her how far she’s really come... For the first time so far on this trip, she has no travel today, no far-flung destination to reach. She’s exactly where she needs to be.
“Ahhh... That breeze feels nice.”
It’s all oddly familiar, despite having never been... The narrow streets, the humble shops, the mountains looming in the distance. She knows she’s in a city much like her own, but the subtle differences combine to paint a new picture entirely—like the same piece of music, played with different instruments.
“Right. Got my briefcase, got myself cleaned up... Should be ready to go.” No looking back, but don’t get ahead of yourself either. In the moment, there’s a job to do.
“Just gotta keep moving forward.”
It’s been a long, long time since she was last in proper car country. Nagoya, the beating heart of the Japanese automotive industry, lies just 20 miles to the south. Further southwest along Ise Bay takes you to the city of Suzuka, upon which the entire motoring world shines its spotlight for one frantic weekend each year.
She’ll have plenty of time to take it all in once her business here is done. The clock ticks closer and closer to her meeting with Mr. Shibuya... She knows what she has to do.
With her head held high, Reina returns to her stalwart Road Runner. The old girl’s held up better than she could have asked for, handling the endless roads with not even a hiccup on the way...
*RRRrrrRRRrrrRRRRRMMMM!*
...And it’s not about to stop now.
“Alright, car,” Reina mutters as she shifts in gear. “Just a little more to go, and then we’re done with the meetings.”
She sets her course for a sleepy neighborhood on the edge of town.
“Let’s get this done.”
Trepidation lingers in the air as she eases the car onto the road. It’s one thing to meet with an old family friend like Akito and his daughter...but Mr. Shibuya is a whole different game. She’s only had brief exchanges with him on the phone—and heard nebulous stories from the gang back at the shop. His character, his outlook, his motivations are all a mystery. Whether he’ll be receptive at all to what would otherwise be a pie-in-the-sky proposal is unclear... She has to bring an outsider into the world she knows.
But, all things considered, she’s about as well prepared as she can be at this point. On the backseat lies a briefcase full of all the information he could possibly want and need—and even if she didn’t have all those papers with her, she has the whole thing memorized from top to bottom. There’s no time left to prepare, nowhere left to go...
She’s just gotta put her chin up and get it done.
“Good, traffic’s still pretty light. I wasn’t sure what it was gonna be like with the holidays and all.” Gifu, like Sapporo, magnifies her car’s awkward dimensions, almost claustrophobic with its smaller streets. The Road Runner dwarfs everything else on the road, offering a ridiculous contrast whenever it lines up at stop lights. But Reina’s used to that by now—she knows how to get this car places it doesn’t belong.
“Almost there, I think...”
From what Mr. Shibuya has told her, the tavern’s regulars are mostly salarymen types, coming to drown their frustrations in sake after a long day’s work. With the holidays, though, they’re free from their cubicles for the time being; as a result, he expects the tavern to be quiet today. The regulars will all be catching up on sleep, spending time with their families, taking long-awaited trips to far-flung corners of the country...
And he will judge the future of Aikawa Auto.
With one more turn, Reina commands the Road Runner down a narrow side street, bright storefronts fighting for her attention. The V8 rumble echoes off the walls, headlights scanning like a beast on the prowl. It takes some finessing, but with patience and a deft hand on the shifter, Reina maneuvers the car through the twists and turns. Deep within the corridor lies the tavern, and Mr. Shibuya inside...
“Ooo-kay, that should be it.”
As Mr. Shibuya expected, the bar is slow. The lights are still on, but gone is the omnipresent murmur and the constant clinking of glasses. He let the staff know he could reschedule if needed, but they insisted on staying open for him—it’s the least they can do for their most loyal customer, and his guest.
Inside, he checks his watch: 6:55 PM. He values punctuality in his clients and business partners—it demonstrates that they respect his time. If Reina knows what’s good for her, she’ll be arriving any second now...
*RRRRRMMMMM...*
“...Ah.”
The Road Runner. It sounds exactly like he remembered from the company’s glory days. That she’s brought it all this way tells him an awful lot about her...some good, some bad, but for the moment, he reserves his judgment. He respects Reina’s dedication in blazing her own trail to see him...
And for some reason he can’t fully explain, the lass has him awfully curious.
“It has been an age, hasn’t it...?”
The hour draws near. He makes to the open entrance to welcome his guest.
Soon enough, the Road Runner falls silent beside the tavern door. She can already smell the welcome aroma of meat, her mouth watering and her stomach rumbling...but she can’t let it distract her too much. Her business takes priority. She takes a deep breath, retrieves her briefcase from the back seat and crosses the boundary between worlds.
“Mr. Shibuya?”
He wasn’t sure what to expect from the woman walking through that door... Somehow, she’s everything and nothing like he had assumed.
“Miss Aikawa! Good to see you.”
“Thank you for having me! Pleased to meet you!” Reina greets him with a bow, her golden hair spilling over her shoulders.
“The pleasure’s mine. Thank you for coming all this way.”
Mr. Shibuya has just enough instinct to get himself through the formalities, but in truth, he’s at a loss for words. She looks so much like Clara did—and the way she carries herself only strengthens her family ties. She doesn’t wear the stuffy suit of a salaryman... Instead, she presents herself as is, unfiltered, untamed. She bears the pride of her family, a living testament to their decades-long legacy...
But he feels like there’s more to her than that. She’s...different. How, exactly, he struggles to explain. Perhaps this plan will reveal to him who she truly is.
“Let’s go ahead and get down to business, shall we?”
“Yes, let’s. Our table is right over there.”
Reina dutifully obliges, following him to a table for two. The staff can’t help but sneak brief glances at her—between her imposing stature and the car she rode in on, she wields a presence unlike any other. Just who she is, and what she’s doing with Mr. Shibuya, they can only speculate.
Nonetheless, they quickly start the two off with drinks and their first portions of the night. It’s not their place to question things, so long as the two remain above board.
“Good evening, Mr. Shibuya! The usual drink today?”
“Ah... Just some water tonight.”
“Oh! That’s just fine. And for you, ma’am?”
“I’ll have some orange juice, please. Gotta drive back home tonight.”
“Gotcha, sounds good. And what’ll it be for your first plate?”
Pick of the litter for the hungry lass.
“Ooh, these chicken skewers look really good!”
“Good choice! And still the usual appetizer for you, Mr. Shibuya?”
“You know me too well.”
“Perfect! We’ll have that out for you in just a minute.”
Reina can see why he likes this place—it’s got the right blend of casual and professional. They don’t dress themselves up with fancy décor or other platitudes; they just let the food speak for itself.
Like her, really.
“So: before I ask for the specifics, I admit I’m curious about a detail or two.”
“Ask away.”
Mr. Shibuya takes a sip of water.
“I’m sure Takashi and others told you about my prior dealings with the company—with Clara. And that our split wasn’t exactly on the most amicable terms.”
“That much I know, yes. Beyond that, though, the details get fuzzy.”
“Right. I see... Not to cast doubt on your proposal, but I’d like to know why you would want to work with someone who has that prior history, rather than wiping the slate clean.”
He affords Reina some time to craft her answer. She already knows what she wants to say.
“Well...because I don’t think that matters.”
“Hm... If I may ask, why not?”
Mr. Shibuya’s eyes narrow, his gaze briefly drifting. Skeptical though his tone sounded, deep down, he wants to agree with her.
“I really don’t know much about what happened back then—I don’t think I was even born yet. I had no part in Aikawa Auto’s past...but I think that’s exactly what makes me suited to this project.”
“How so?”
Reina briefly adjusts her glasses.
“I’m not just Clara’s granddaughter. I’m not just the next in line at Aikawa Auto. All of those things did shape me, yes, but I do what I do first and foremost because this is what suits me best. I’m not just following in their footsteps; I’m charting my own course now, with their help.”
“I still hold an immense amount of respect for the examples my mom and grandma set... I always will. But that also means I can see the past for what it is.”
“If I let that past control me, if I let it tie me down, then I won’t ever find my way forward.”
The words hit him right where it hurts. For a moment, he feels like she might know more about the past than she lets on...but no. He realizes she’s speaking from her own experience. She’s lived a turbulent life, but it’s only made her stronger—taught her a lesson he wishes he’d learned sooner himself. In some ways, he still doesn’t fully understand it.
...Perhaps Reina can help him.
“So...why me, then?”
“Because of all the executives and investors I could turn to, I figured I’d have the best shot with you, even with the past being what it is.”
His face briefly softens. She may be right.
“Whatever caused that falling out between you and Clara, the fact is, something prompted you to build that partnership in the first place—something you saw in her work.”
”I like that in a business partner: you weren’t turned away by Clara being so far off the beaten path. You saw her work for what it was, and you let the quality speak for itself.”
“I’m confident in my pitch because I know you’ll treat it the same way. I want to prove myself with the quality of my work, just like Clara.”
“And if there’s anybody who can hit the same notes Grandma did, it’s me.”
She speaks with a conviction unerring, her violet eyes piercing through his facade. She knows just as well that the company’s body of work needs no introduction—he was there to watch Aikawa Auto take off and become the aftermarket juggernaut it once was. It’s clear to Mr. Shibuya now that Reina isn’t just coasting off nostalgia... She chose him for a very deliberate reason.
“Bold claims. I respect that.”
(But can she back them up...?)
He takes a moment to adjust himself. Her words echo in his head... One’s purpose in life is a function of past, present and future—and giving sole deference to the past leaves you hollow and directionless in time, like driftwood floating on the waves.
How did she pin him so well...?
“...You’re certainly right on that count: I need no introduction to Aikawa build quality. That built your grandmother a loyal following in the company’s heyday.” And he was one of them. Bittersweet though those memories was, he can’t help but yearn for that sense of...individuality he had. That was before he formally entered the corporate world—before he became a carbon copy of his father.
The battle in his mind is only getting fiercer.
“Of course, it’s been quite some time since then.”
“You’re right: it has. We can’t rely on that old base any more.”
“And that leads me to perhaps the most pressing question: what market do you envision for your products in this day and age?”
Reina knew this question was coming. It’s a fair point: she can make the greatest car on this earth, but it won’t count for much unless people want to buy it.
Thankfully, she knows exactly what angle to take. She just has to lead him there...
“I’m of the opinion that Aikawa Auto’s success in the past came down to their dominance of a burgeoning market niche. Aikawa engines were simply the best choice available, and that endeared them to a very large demographic.”
“In today’s market, however, the average buyer is spoiled for choice. Japanese automakers thrive on simple, reliable power—and though your products may very well meet the same standard of quality they did in the past, they will nonetheless struggle against the plentiful options available today.”
“So have you changed yourself to reflect the changing market, or do you simply believe you can catch lightning in a bottle twice?”
It’s true. If she were to stick to that same approach from decades past, she would be sunk.
...So it’s a good thing she’s not.
“I can’t deny that if I were to try and compete with the big Japanese makes, I would lose in an instant. But that demographic isn’t what I’m after.”
“Then how can you be so sure that a sustainable market for this project exists?”
Reina takes a deep breath. This is her make-or-break moment.
“...Let me answer that question with another question: why do people go out of their way to buy ‘different’ cars?”
Mr. Shibuya blinks.
“Why do people take on old project cars? Why do people pay extra for foreign models? Why are there these growing online subcultures for cars that break the mold?”
“Why is it that, no matter how much market research you do, how perfect you make a car, there’s always a demographic you just can’t capture?”
This isn’t the argument he was expecting her to make. She challenges his conventional wisdom and experience...and his better judgment is telling him to dismiss her thinking. But for now, he humors her.
“A car is more than just a tool—more than just a business. To car people, it’s an expression of themselves. They make those specific choices because they know exactly what kind of car they want. That’s the market I’m after, and they don’t behave like the rest of the consumer base does.”
“If basic transportation is all they need, they’re more likely to buy a cheap second-hand car and save up their money to buy something they want more. When they’re in the market for a newer car, they don’t think: this does what I need it to do. They think: I want this.”
“That’s what our market has always been. We don’t make the things people need—we make the things they want. I think that’s the real reason behind our past success.”
“And you believe that if you build it, this demographic of people will come?”
“I do! And it’s not just conjecture: I’ve put my fair share of research into one particular niche. I know exactly what they want—and it’s something Japan just can’t give them.”
Now is the time. Reina seizes the initiative and brings the briefcase up onto the table, ready to reveal the treasure trove within. Mr. Shibuya watches intently as she works the padlock, every click building the anticipation further and further...
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
(Ah...)
Finally, the fruits of her labor are unveiled. She carries with her the collective sum of all her work: technical documents, market analyses, logistics, every last iota of proof he could possibly want from her plan. And sitting at the top of the stack of papers is an analytical piece tailor-made for him and his skeptical eye. At her direction, he takes the paper and opens it to its first page...revealing a photo of a brand-new Dodge Challenger.
She’s not taking aim at the mass market at all. Instead, she has her sights on the muscle market, and she has full confidence in her plan to conquer it.
“I see... So that’s the demographic you’re after.”
“It is—and I’ve got a bit of a mouthful as to why.”
Mr. Shibuya chuckles.
“Well, do enlighten me, then.”
Reina clears her throat, taking another sip of her orange juice. She can feel the nerves and the adrenaline fighting inside her body...but she can’t stop to quell the storm. She has to press the attack while he leaves himself open to suggestion.
“If you ask somebody why they want a muscle car, they won’t tell you about utility or convenience. They want one because they’re badass. They give people looking for big V8 power a simple, no-nonsense option, without having to pay a premium for something more upscale like a Lexus or a Mercedes.”
“They’re not for everybody, and they’re not designed to be. That’s what people like about them: they throw all convention to the wind and give them exactly what they want.”
While by no means are muscle cars mainstream in Japan, they can still work—indeed, just as Skylines and Supras are hailed as JDM legends in the West, the Camaros and Mustangs of the world enjoy a cult following across the pond. There’s a certain counterculture demographic drawn to the exotic, uncompromising power of American V8s...
But USDM muscle cars face numerous problems that make owning them here a nightmare.
“The problem is, muscle just isn’t cheap anymore. It’s one thing in the States, but in Japan, the costs really add up—and for that price, you’re getting a car that arguably isn’t worth it at all.”
The paper conveniently provides him with a host of technical details pertaining to the “big three” American carmakers—which, in the wake of the 2008 recession and subsequent government bailout, have garnered a reputation for abysmal build quality. There are a great many hoops to jump through for anyone hoping to own a muscle car in Japan...but today’s offerings really don’t measure up, in Reina’s eyes.
“For one, you’re paying a lot up front for these cars. You’re either paying a hefty import duty or eating the dealer markup—both of which are prohibitive for prospective buyers.”
“And even if you do get one, the big three are notorious for poor build quality. Once the honeymoon phase wears off and you start racking up the kilometers, you’re gonna start getting repair bills. Those are expensive too—parts are pricey because they’re all shipped from overseas, and maintenance is a headache because there are so few licensed techs for these kinds of cars here.”
“These cars are just giant money sinks waiting to happen... There really is no cheap muscle car anymore.”
“...But there is demand for one.”
She thinks back to her chance encounter with those boys at the museum. How their faces lit up when they saw her car, how they dreamed they could have one of their own... They and so many others share that secret fondness for no-holds-barred muscle. Those are the people she needs to reach.
Those are the people who will love this car the most.
“The reason these cars aren’t bigger in Japan isn’t because there’s no demand... I think the fact that people still jump through all those hoops to get them shows there is a market out there. The problem is that the market isn’t optimized for Japan—there are muscle cars people want to buy, but none that people want to keep.”
“Indeed...”
“But what if you had an American-style muscle car that was cheaper to buy and maintain thanks to domestic assembly and parts? What if that car were still worth owning 20 or 30 years from now because the company behind it is known for its build quality?”
“What if you combined the American fun people want with the Japanese quality that makes it worth the asking price?”
She makes it sound so much simpler than it actually is. To design, build and manufacture a car from the ground up is a behemoth undertaking, almost too difficult to put into words. At best, it’s biting off more than you can chew; at worst, it’s the kind of misguided project that dooms companies to extinction. And in this day and age, it’s tougher than ever for new companies to break the mold.
Ordinarily, Mr. Shibuya would shun such a reckless proposal. Even the biggest and best carmakers in the world struggle to get their new designs and platforms right—a hard truth he learned all too well at Nissan.
But there’s something different about this project, a factor he might not be giving enough credit. Though this hypothetical car is nothing but a blueprint, a collection of papers floating around an office in Sapporo, its fundamental concept is stronger than most. Reina knows exactly what she wants the car to be...and if there’s anyone who can replicate the mad science that put Clara on the map, it just might be her.
“...You’re putting yourself in a very precarious position with this idea.”
“I’ve been walking a tightrope this entire time. I’ve gotten pretty good at it.”
...Why does this have to be such a difficult choice?
“Alright. Let’s hear it, then. As promised, I’ll give it my attention.”
“And I won’t disappoint!”
She’s settling in a little more now. With his curiosity piqued, Reina can direct his attention to her pièce de résistance: a complete overview of the Star Rider project, printed in full color and boasting a finely-tuned mix of precision and production. She hands him his copy of the paper, which grabs his attention with a simple passage on the title page:
AIKAWA
Make it yours.
“In the past, we sold our engines standalone, leaving it to the customer to use them however they wanted. I’ll agree with you that that model of business isn’t the most sustainable anymore, given what we make... It depends on how big that niche is in the first place. But that’s where this comes in.”
“This car will bring new customers into the market—customers who will see our car, with its time-tested engine and aggressive styling, and think: Damn. I want one of those. This gives us the chance to show off what we’ve always been known for, in a package that so many more people can appreciate.”
“And with its advantages over American offerings, people who would otherwise be put off by the barrier to entry will have exactly what they’re looking for.”
“That’s what the Aikawa Star Rider is all about!”
And speaking of that engine, that’s the first thing that jumps out at him when he turns the page. He’s all too familiar with the old Aikawa platform...but something is different here.
“...This is a new engine?”
“You bet it is! This is our fourth-generation platform. I see you’ve picked up on some of the changes already.”
“I have. Very interesting, I must admit.” This new Outrunner shares the same overarching structure as the old 611, but he can see several key differences. It really is just an Aikawa powerplant brought up to modern specs.
“There’s a delicate balance between keeping with the times and not fixing what isn’t broken. With these, we’re keeping everything that made the old engine great, just with some updates to bring it in line with modern tech.”
“I hadn’t realized Aikawa had been designing this... I can still see some of Clara’s old handwriting all over it. Was she involved in its development?”
“She was. This was her last big project...and though she wasn’t able to finish it, I’m more than ready to pick up where she left off.”
“I see...”
Another wrinkle in the equation. A car with Clara’s genius behind it is a formidable thing indeed—and he can tell that Reina fully intends to preserve her grandmother’s spirit in the Star Rider’s development. But he can see her own additions to the design as well, incomplete though it still is. For someone so thoroughly inexperienced with designing engines, her work passes the eye test so far...
Color him intrigued.
“You’ll be finishing development of this new platform, then?”
“That’s the plan. In terms of what I need, I won’t mince words: building and testing a series of prototypes will take a significant chunk of change. But for that price, you’re getting the magnum opus of Aikawa Auto—and I’m sure you can see the value in that, no?”
“And you’ll still be selling these standalone, I presume?”
“You bet! When most V8s have to be imported for projects, having a new domestic motor will be huge for people who want more power. And it doesn’t stop there: we’ve really focused on making these engines as accessible and user-friendly as possible. They’re designed for ease of maintenance and the ability to plug and play with anything you could possibly want. Boost, blowers, drag and race spec... You name it, it can take it!”
“That’s why we gave it the tagline, ‘Make it yours.’ They’re not just engines—they’re platforms for whatever you want to do with them.”
She talks big—as does the design. It’s hard to argue with the schematics as they stand, because he knows he’s looking at a quality product. He remembers looking at parts and designs just like these back when he was working with Clara.
Back when he was himself...
(...I mustn’t let that cloud my judgment. Not yet.)
The walls are being torn down with every word, every thought. His decades of experience at the very top echelon of the automotive world are clashing with the fleeting time in his life when he was actually happy with his job. The more he thinks about it, the more his entire career was fueled by toxic influences... Family pressure, social obligations, spite. He’s been living a miserable dream all this time, and Reina is the alarm pushing him to wake up.
So now what does he do?
“...What of this car, then? I see designs for three separate sizes.”
“Yup. One size doesn’t really fit all, in this case—maybe you want a sportier, lightweight package with our V6, or maybe you want the biggest, beefiest drag racer. Whatever the use case, we’ve got people covered with this range. I think the differences between them are big enough that it’ll be worth having all three as options.”
“And you’re aware that designing one car is a herculean undertaking, let alone three?”
“Fully. For that, we’ve recruited Tetsukura Chassis in Kanazawa—and trust me when I say those guys know what they’re doing.”
(Tetsukura?) He remembers that name. A bright-eyed young designer who made waves at Nissan before opening up his own shop. And that’s not all: she’s got Ichimura Foundry as the block supplier, plus a slew of other names he knows well from his executive days... Somehow, Reina’s already managed to surround herself with very competent partners.
“I would indeed vouch for Tetsukura—and many of these other names as well.”
“The base concept is still ours, but Tetsukura has really helped refine it and deliver on our vision—namely ease of maintenance. A lot of the internals were very carefully sculpted so that you can do routine jobs that much easier.”
Several figures on the page illustrate that fact to him, demonstrating workflows for doing maintenance tasks in minutes that might take hours on other cars.
“And we’re absolutely gonna advertise that—I think people in this market will recognize the value of saving hundreds if not thousands per year on maintenance and repairs.”
“Without a dealer network?”
“Absolutely. I hate this trend of maker-specific tools and sizes. We think this should be able to be serviced by anybody with the know-how to do so, without some suite of specific tools you can only get straight from the OEM.”
She’s very opinionated, just like her grandmother. It’s hard for him to disagree, though—he knows full well how the modern game is played. Even Japanese carmakers aren’t above funneling would-be garage mechanics to the dealership instead. Qualifications aside, it’s a lot more lucrative for the company that way.
Her outside perspective isn’t the most financially self-centered, but she’s banking on that fact endearing her car to a more savvy audience. If she can properly advertise that, then it just might work after all.
(Logistics, assembly, even aftermarket support... This proposal is more comprehensive than I expected.) He can tell she’s picking and choosing her battles. Rather than trying to dazzle him with up-front features, she’s letting the engine do the talking and focusing on the logistics behind it instead... She even has an itemized breakdown of estimated costs for each prototype engine already.
(On one hand, these are quite presumptuous details...but on the other, she’s very much focusing on the right things as a project manager.)
“You’re quite confident in this plan.”
“Absolutely. Our main competitors are struggling to shake their bad rep here in Japan, and that leaves the door wide open for us. This is as big of an advantage as we’ll get.”
“And maybe it’s a bit too soon for me to say, but I can see this doing well in America too. Japanese cars are big over there now, because they’re cheap, they’re reliable and they can still be fun. People are getting burned by the big three all the time in America, but Toyota and Honda? Mainstays.”
“So having a muscle car without that stigma of unreliability and bad build quality? That’ll help cover the added cost of having to import the car and parts. I think we stand a real chance of beating them at their own game—and getting a foothold in an even bigger market thanks to that.”
“That’s quite a ways off, of course. Let me ask about the immediate timetable: with the budget, how soon would you deliver a prototype?”
An optimistic question. Reina smiles.
“Well, it’s hard to say at the moment, given staff and circumstances can always change, but if I got to work this summer?”
Reina doesn’t want to over-promise and under-deliver. She pauses ever so briefly before giving Mr. Shibuya his answer.
“...Two years. Give me two years and I think we can have a working prototype.”
That’s still a tall order—and she’ll absolutely have her work cut out for her. But she wants to strike while the iron is hot. She has momentum on her side, after years and years of drifting in the doldrums... Now, it’s time to go somewhere with all that built-up pace.
“It helps that most of the design work is already done. Clara poured years and years of research into this car—not to mention her decades of experience designing engines. If you sign on, you’re getting all that for free.”
Mr. Shibuya ponders. It’s difficult not to be skeptical... It’s very, very difficult. The executive side of his brain is telling him to dismiss her, telling him that her far-fetched scheme isn’t worth the investment...
But is that who he is?
“...A moment, if that’s alright. I need to think for a bit.”
“No worries! I think there’s some more food coming, so we can take a break for a bit.”
They’ve been snacking on and off throughout the meeting; now, another sizzling platter of grilled meat comes right to their table. The staff have been curiously listening in, hearing bits and pieces of Reina’s impassioned proposal. The more they hear, the more that giant car outside makes sense.
On the outside, Mr. Shibuya is as calm and collected as always, enjoying one more skewer and washing it down with a refreshing glass of water. On the inside, however...
(...What in the HELL am I supposed to do?)
Reina’s got his number. He doesn’t know how... He’s not even sure Reina’s aware of the effect she’s having on him. But her proposal today clashes so hard with those memories from all those years ago that he can’t ignore the cognitive dissonance any longer. There’s an elephant in the room that only he can see; it taunts him with his own reservations. He knows those doubts are still there... The same doubts that drove the wedge between him and Clara, and set their paths apart.
...It’s only fair to her, he reasons with himself. If she wants to work with him, then she deserves to know why he’s truly skeptical. Maybe then, she can put his doubts to rest.
“I’d like to ask one more thing...and if you don’t mind, I might end up rambling on for a bit.”
“Sure. I don’t mind.”
Mr. Shibuya takes a deep breath. He relives the golden years in his head before sharing them with her.
“...In truth, I needed little persuasion with regard to this project’s technical and logistical specifications. You’ve gone above and beyond to translate Clara’s work—and I’ve no doubt that you will continue to uphold her standard of quality.”
“But that’s not the reason why I hesitate.” He briefly sighs. “I need to know, above all else, what kind of leader you are.”
Reina’s eyes narrow. She isn’t sure what he’s getting at, but she’s nonetheless curious.
“How so?”
Mr. Shibuya takes a brief drink. If he were younger, he might have a smoke.
“...Your grandmother was a very headstrong woman. Though she managed to capitalize on a burgeoning market, I agree with your assessment that she never particularly cared about following the market trend—and that she simply designed what suited her best, whether it had buyers or not.”
“Though this garnered her attention, at times she needed guidance to realize the company’s true potential.”
“In fact, I was the one who convinced her to design the scaled-down Pocket line, which went on to become her most successful engine at the time.”
He wonders if he should even be saying this...but the time for second-guessing has come and gone. His is a cautionary tale—and a test of Reina’s own character.
“She always had an exact vision, and convincing her to compromise was an arduous affair. Ultimately, that was what soured our working relationship, and led us our separate ways.”
“It was...?”
“She saw the writing on the wall... She knew her success in the aftermarket scene would not last forever. But she refused to change herself.”
“I found working with her to be difficult as the shop began to decline—too many problems, too few solutions. In the end, our disagreements became too much to bear, and we ended our partnership to focus on our own objectives.”
“Try as she might, Clara could not escape the reality of her choices: she had let time pass her by, and the shop was stuck along with her.”
This is the world Reina grew up in—the world of dire straits and aimless futures. It’s a hard reality she’s had to accept: her role model was not infallible. Clara and the shop, set in their ways, turned her world into what it is today. Convenient though it may be to blame her father as a bogeyman, his fraud was only a symptom of the real problem. One way or another, the world she knows must change.
“If you mold yourself in the shape of your grandmother, you may very well be doomed to repeat her mistakes. The potential of this project is very real—but too difficult a manager, too uncompromising in her vision, and her partners may be unable to walk by her side.”
Reina takes his words in, her gaze slowly closing...
“That is why I still have my reservations. I see in you a brilliant mind, an echo of your grandmother...but I need to know one last thing.”
His eyes meet hers, a solemn tension in the air. He’s getting closer to his answer... It all depends on hers.
“Do you trust your collaborators to see your vision through? Do you believe in them, as they believe in you?”
Reina’s mind begins to contemplate the question, his words echoing in her head...but her heart beats her head to the punch. The spirit burning within her already knows the answer, and without a moment’s hesitation, she answers him with complete and total confidence.
“Yes.”
(Ah...)
He finally understands now: this is what sets her apart from her grandmother.
“I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. I’m certainly not as good of a mechanic as my grandmother was.”
“But you know what? I don’t need to be perfect anyway. That’s not the point of all this.”
His eyes widen. The storm in his head is finally subsiding.
“I’m doing this to earn my name as an Aikawa, and share what we do with car lovers everywhere. I could never do that on my own... Of course not.”
“But what I can do is surround myself with people who complement my strengths.”
She thinks back to Akane: the girl who always wanted to stand out. She admires Reina’s strength, her confidence, her candor... Forged after years and years of being tested by the world around her. Akane believes in her—and together, they’ll walk the path to the future.
“I know that I have to change the way things are, because I lived the consequences of my family’s choices. That’s what made me who I am today...and I tried to deny it for as long as I could, but now, I finally know what I have to do. I have the people around me to thank for that... They’ve made me stronger than I ever could’ve been on my own.”
She thinks back to Yuzu: the girl who learned to believe in her. Reina might as well have been a stranger, an outsider at first... Someone so out of touch with reality that Yuzu struggled to relate to her. But the two of them helped each other out of their shells, strengthening their bond in the process... Now, together, they’ll walk the path to the future.
“They’ve already done so much for me... They showed me who I needed to be, and now, they’ve helped me gain the confidence I needed to take this project on. So they’ve more than earned my trust—and I know beyond a doubt they believe in me.”
She thinks back to her family: the ones who always believed in her. Clara’s letter washed away the final vestiges of doubt left in her soul...and though she may be gone, her unfailing belief in her one and only granddaughter empowers her to carry on.
Now, she walks the path to the future with everyone.
“That’s why I’m working with them...and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
(I...)
Mr. Shibuya is left stunned. At long last, he understands who Reina truly is. She’s not just her grandmother’s living memory... She’s not just the scion of a company consigned to time. She wears herself on her sleeve—her thoughts, her feelings, her weaknesses, her ambitions. In doing so, she ceases to be some untouchable monolith like her grandmother was... Instead, she’s a leader who surrounds herself with all the right people. This is her true strength, a power even Clara and Sami could never grasp: the power to take others under her wing and make her goals their own.
This is the future of Aikawa Auto.
“...Thank you.”
All his life, he dedicated himself to climbing the ladder, reaching the top of the world, only to be left directionless when he finally got there. Now, a ripple from his past shows him the way. Reina has given him a cause he can believe in...and though his fears and reservations may not fade overnight, she’s already done a great deal to quell the tension in his head.
She’s a lot stronger than she gives herself credit for.
“It goes without saying that this is a most unorthodox project...and its success hinges on your ability to direct the people working with you.” Having said that, his face softens. This isn’t Clara he’s working with... This is someone new, a fresh face to ease his doubts. It’s exactly what he’s needed this entire time.
“But I see now how well you understand that role. No car is the product of one mind alone... It is the collective effort of an entire team of people.”
“When you complete your engine schematics, do contact me, and we can discuss the next phase of this project. There will be many more logistical hurdles yet, but I would be happy to assist you.”
He takes a deep breath, his wrinkled eyes heavy with thought. It’s about time he gave his final statement now... She deserves as much. Makoto has his answer.
“And if funding is still a concern...then we may be able to make an arrangement.”
Those words set Reina’s face alight. She strains to keep herself under control and maintain that air of professionalism, but to know she’s finally succeeded, even if just for the time being, makes her heart race too fast for her to keep up.
“I... Thank you! Thank you very much!”
She can only think to bow, her arms straight at her sides. She has no idea what kind of face she’s making right now—she can feel her sheer emotion fighting against her stiff upper lip. She tries to keep herself cordial for just a little while longer...
“I’ll keep you posted, of course. I expect I’ll have the designs finished within the next couple months—and we’ll have made more progress on the chassis and frame design by then too.”
“Very good.”
Makoto extends his hand. “I look forward to working with you.”
“The feeling is mutual!”
Without another moment’s hesitation, Reina and Makoto shake on their unofficial agreement, rebuilding a bridge that had been out for some 20 years. It’s such an odd feeling for him...like he’s rediscovered a part of himself. Aikawa Auto never was the most profit-driven enterprise in the world, but he saw in them a certain authenticity, a candor that bigger companies could stand to learn from. All his executive years only stoked his nostalgia for those days further... Perhaps in some ways, he himself was stuck in the past.
But he doesn’t have to be any longer. The future is calling, and those wings of red have swept him up on a course for the stars.
“I believe that about does it, then.” Time flies, indeed. The sun has long since set on Gifu, their meeting having stretched well into the night. What few patrons stopped by have packed up and headed out for the night, leaving only the two of them left. A convenient time for them to finish their business... A far more productive day than either of them could have hoped for.
“We’d best be going now. I believe the staff are in the mood to close early.”
“Yeah, I think it’s about time. Let me see here...” Before going, Reina briefly checks the tab they racked up for their food and drink. They did eat indeed.
“Alright, want me to go ahead and cover half, or...?”
“Oh, don’t worry.” Makoto waves his hand. “Consider this my first payment.”
It’s been a while since he smiled so earnestly. He really has turned over a new leaf.
“Thank you very much!” Reina’s own smile briefly stuns him. In this moment, swelling with passion for her craft and her family, she is absolutely beautiful.
“Take care, then. Happy holidays!”
“You as well!”
Mission accomplished. After a long and enlightening discussion, Reina and Makoto finally part ways. He watches as she bids him farewell, retreating back into her own little world through the narrow pub doors.
He can’t help but don a gentle smile of his own. Her infectious energy, her unfiltered love for what she does is too strong for him to resist. He knows now who Reina is and what she stands for...and in his eyes, the girl’s really something special.
He came in today a conflicted man... Tonight, he leaves resolved.
“It’s been a great while since I worked on a project in this way. Compared to all my work in the C-suite, I must admit the prospect sounds quite refreshing.”
(...And design by committee just isn’t as fulfilling as design by heart.)
***
A cool nocturne comes on the wind to congratulate Reina as she steps out into the night. At long last, her business is done... Three days of travel and two days of networking have led to the one result she needed. Makoto Shibuya has thrown his hat into the ring—and with his help, this project might just get off the ground after all.
For a fleeting moment, the sheer rush of emotion overwhelms Reina to the point that she can’t even react at all. Instead, she just keeps on walking the narrow street back toward her car. Her heart is confused, her mind racing. Like a bottle of champagne, all the pent-up tension from the meeting is ready to release, replaced by unbridled joy.
*sigh* “I... Holy crap, did I really do that?”
And pop, goes the cork.
“...YEHEHEEESSS! God, yes! Wooohoohoooo!”
Reina literally jumps for joy, throwing all discretion to the wind. To know she did it, to know she conquered the past, to know she made the guys back home proud... She can barely find the words anymore. She’s overcome with a joy so visceral, so radiant that her whole world is blooming before her eyes.
“Yes! YES! We can DO this now! We can really do this!” On one hand, she knew this was what she had to do—and that she wouldn’t accept any less. But on the other, it’s such a tremendous relief to have this all behind her now. She felt the tension building for her entire trip, the uncertain future looming over her like a dark cloud above. Now, the sky is crystal clear, and she sees her path again.
...And now, as a reward, she can celebrate!
“Man, it feels so good...!” Finally, Reina can begin the vacation part of her vacation—for all her hard work, she gets the next few days of Golden Week all to herself. No cutthroat negotiations, no long-haul drives, nowhere to be but wherever her spirit carries her.
And you bet the Road Runner is still up to the task.
“Thanks for waiting. Let’s head on back to the hotel, alright?”
The car’s interior is refreshingly cool after all the heat and meat from the pub. The plush seat will never not be comfy... She sinks right in and lets out another satisfied sigh, the crickets giving her a mellow backing beat. She almost feels guilty about cranking the car up and disturbing the tranquility of the night...
...Almost.
*RRRrrrRRRRRRMMMM!*
“That’s my girl.” Reina pats the wheel. The old car’s still up for more.
“Gimme some time, and I can give you a friend soon~”
The future can be such an uplifting thing. No longer is Reina governed by fear, burden, uncertainty... She controls her own destiny, with her own two hands. She’s risen up and reclaimed her future—and though she still has a long, long way to go on her road to her dream, she can look forward to every new day as bringing her one step closer to the stars.
Tomorrow is another day—and you bet she’s looking forward to it.