Some 50 years ago, a band of starry-eyed entrepreneurs broke ground on an ambitious new project in the foothills of Mount Fuji. Enraptured by the stock car racing they saw over in the States, they sought to bring that brand of high-speed action across the Pacific—and so, their quest to build Japan’s Daytona began in earnest.
But it was not to be: just as quickly as they broke ground, their pool of funds ran dry as a desert. Only one of the oval track’s high-banked turns was finished before the group ran out of steam, their vision dying with a whimper. In 1965, the team abandoned their pet project and left it in the hands of Mitsubishi, who turned it into the circuit known today as Fuji Speedway.
If you don’t know its history, you’d be hard-pressed to find any evidence of its fleeting youth: the massive, mile-long front straight is countered by a labyrinth of twists and turns winding through the foothills, Japan’s greatest mountain staring down from above. Now hosting cars of all shapes and sizes, from formula single-seaters to big, burly GT machines, the speedway persists reinvented as a staple of Japan’s motorsport scene.
Maybe that’s why it feels so...full-circle that Reina’s finally here. This is her first time visiting the speedway—her first time seeing the remnants of a long-dead dream, resculpted by the river of time. Perhaps in a past life, she would be daunted by this monument to adversity sprawling before her...but instead, she looks at the big front gate with a smile. Fuji’s old flame may have sputtered out, but hers will burn bright like the stars. This, she knows.
“I can’t believe I’m finally here...” This has been on her bucket list for a long, long time. It’s already worth it—she can practically hear the excitement crackling in the air. She just has one last job to do...
“And I’m not too late, either. Just gotta find her.”
This is the busiest weekend of the year for Fuji Speedway, and an easy opportunity for feeder series lower on the ladder to support the main event. F4 has come rolling into town, and after qualifying the previous day, the grid is set for its second round.
The storylines are already writing themselves: a certain rookie from way up north put the field on notice after qualifying on pole in her first ever showing. She was unable to convert her blistering pace to a win, however—outdueled by a fellow rookie, a hotshot prospect from Tokyo. All eyes are on the both of them heading into Fuji, where she put her car on the second row of the grid.
There’s a strange rush she can’t explain. She still has hours before the race begins, left to kill time by the paddock...but her heart has been racing ever since she woke up in the morning. It’s one thing to do well in a series; it’s another to have this kind of pressure placed upon her. They know what she’s capable of—and if she wants to keep up appearances, she has to realize that potential. It’s a heavy weight for her to bear...
...It feels good.
“Oh, there she is! Yuzu!”
The racer is broken from her introspection by a bubbly voice floating into her ears.
“Huh...? Reina!”
“Surprise!”
Yuzu can only blink in silence, stunned briefly by Reina crashing her party. She never heard Reina was coming, nor that she was even leaving Sapporo at all. What in the world is she doing all the way down here?
“I didn’t expect to see you here!”
“I had some business to do down in Gifu, so I figured I’d drop by on my way back up! I signed up for that car meet too.”
“Well, uh... I was gonna say fair point, but you drove all the way down here?”
“Yeah, I just like driving! I’m weird like that.”
“...Okay, fair point to that.”
It’s been a lot easier for her to understand ever since she realized that she and Reina both are driven by a love for the same thing. Her own car has been a bundle of fun thanks to the Aikawa V6 they slapped into it, so she knows all too well where Reina’s coming from. She didn’t bring it down here with her, but now she’s wishing she did.
“Speaking of, how’s your car been treating you? It’s been a while since we last talked.”
“Oh, man. You did an awesome job on it. It’s not the most fuel-efficient car in the world, but it just runs so good that I don’t care.”
“I read up on how to do oil changes too. It’s not due yet, but I think I’ll give it a try myself.”
“Nice! It’s not too bad once you get used to it.”
“Heehee... Yeah.”
Here in this sea of lofty expectations, there’s something about Reina being here that really lifts her spirits. She too sees great things in Yuzu’s future...but it’s born from a personal bond, something that runs deeper than just numbers and stat sheets. She believes in her, and that’s a powerful thing.
“Thank you for coming here to cheer me on... It really means a lot to me. Being honest, I’ve kinda been on edge a bit, but seeing you here... I dunno, I just can’t explain it.”
“Aww, my pleasure!” Reina flashes her a disarming smile. “And hey, the least I can do is come down and root for you after you took a gamble on me. I know you’ve got this!”
Yuzu can’t help but return her smile. Reina just has that effect on people.
“Thank you...!”
Reina takes the initiative and pulls Yuzu into a brief hug, giving her the pick-me-up she didn’t know she needed. Her time is short—soon, she’ll take to the track and show the crowd what she’s made of.
It means that much more to have Reina in the stands watching.
“Go tear ‘em up out there.”
“Yeah... I will.”
Reina’s words of encouragement came just in time, as her team boss is coming to usher her to her car. It’s time for her to get serious.
“Good, there you are! We’re just about to get started.” He finds Yuzu talking with her friend, and he can’t help but inquire.
“Oh! She a friend of yours?”
“Yeah... We know each other from back home. She’s helped me out a whole lot.”
“She’s better than she lets on. You’re in good hands with her, sir!”
Yuzu blushes. “C’mon, don’t gas me up like that. Now I have to win.”
“Well, that’s just too bad~”
“Hah! C’mon now, Yuzu, I know you’ve got this. All you gotta do is drive clean, and let them beat themselves.”
This is a side of her that he hasn’t seen. She has a reputation for being...cold. Stoic. She keeps to herself and speaks only when spoken to...or so he thought. But this girl here seems to be the Yuzu whisperer. There’s more to the both of them than meets the eye...
But that’s neither here nor there. For now, the team has a race to win.
“You ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
Reina takes her place in the stands, and Yuzu makes for the paddock to take her place behind the wheel. As her boss navigates through the crowd, he can’t help but think back to that brief encounter...
(That girl there, was she really...?)
Whoever she was—or indeed, whether she really was a certain someone’s daughter—he can see her energy has rubbed off on Yuzu. She looks much more calm now, more assured of herself... It’s amazing what that bond can do.
It might just give her that last little boost she needs to reach the top.
***
Steadily, the audience builds in anticipation of today’s feature. A modest crowd—nowhere near enough to fill out the behemoth stands at Fuji—but F4 doesn’t need big crowds nor flashy production to put on a show. Every last driver on the grid is young, hungry and itching to make a name for themselves—and if they want to get noticed by the teams higher up, they have to claw their way to the top of the pecking order. It’s sink or swim taken to its logical extreme.
As Yuzu suits up, dons her helmet and makes for her machine, she knows she needs a statement win. Her racecraft was sharp and precise as always, but she was putting too much strain on her tires; a late lockup cost her that top spot on the podium. She has to plan better this time, prove it was just a fluke.
She needs to knock her new rival down a peg.
“Ladies and gentlemen, your grid for today’s event!”
The tension builds on the formation lap, engines growling low and slow. The track is hot, tires warming up by the second. Yuzu has her work cut out for her, set to duel two rookies ahead of her and a sophomore beside. Every single one of them is just as hungry as her, if not more...but at the end of these 30 minutes, she has to be the one ahead of them all.
(Stay calm, Yuzu... You’ve got this.) Yuzu sees a little splotch of blonde in the crowd, sitting next to her parents. It makes her feel just a little more settled in.
(You can do this.)
Out go the lights, and a feisty pack of racers go screaming down the straight. Yuzu slots in on the bottom step of the podium, the row ahead of her locked in a dogfight going into turn one. Last time, she ran out front, dictating the pace of the lead pack until she used up her resources too quickly. This time, she’s content to hang back and let the leaders come to her—that way, she’ll have all the tire tread she needs when it matters most.
“Looks like she’s riding around for now. She’s trying to bait the other guys into making a mistake.” Reina might not be the most gifted racer herself, but she knows a thing or two about strategy. Even at this short length, the race is a game of chess—timing your attack is just as important as timing the braking zones along the way. More than just driving, more than just hitting her marks, Yuzu has to focus on when and where to go on the offensive. Until then, all she can do is bide her time.
(Yeah... Got them right where I want them.)
Yuzu’s not pushing as hard as she can, like she was when she led the last race. She built up a huge cushion that way, and it looked like she had it all in the bag, but when her rival mounted a late charge, she didn’t have the grip left to fend him off.
She will not make that same mistake again. This time, she’s the one following him, always there in the corner of his eye. The moment he falters, she’ll pounce like a tiger.
Time after time, they shoot through the tumultuous turns, the hectic back half broken up by the gargantuan front straight. Of the two racers ahead of her, one is already struggling: he’s got speed in bunches, but his consistency could use some work. This isn’t a qualifying session anymore, and those tires won’t let you overdrive the car like you used to. A lockup going into turn one causes him to panic, almost missing his shift and forcing his car way out wide. Yuzu happily takes the position with a smooth turn round the apex, kissing him goodbye as he struggles to gather himself. One down, one to go.
(There you are.)
Her main rival has had his hands full already, trying to fend off the third wheel from earlier. Yuzu can tell their lap times are both falling off as their tires wear down—but where he’s pushing his car at 100%, she can bridge the gap with better lines in the corners, saving precious resources. Come four laps to go, she thinks she can really make a run at him.
(...No. Still too early.) She hesitates. In the heat of the moment, she wonders if she’s too indecisive. She could very well screw herself if she waits too long—it’s not like you can just pass at will, even if you have the better car.
She decides to use the next lap as a litmus test: if her tires give her that much better a run down the straight, she’ll see about out-braking him into turn one. That one-mile stretch does give her plenty of time to think about it.
(Come on...)
Yuzu watches as the leader keeps driving his lines, hitting his marks, keeping his race clean as can be. He’s composed. It’s looking less and less likely she’ll force him into a mistake just by trailing behind him... She has to press the attack.
She can see he’s starting to adjust his line, taking the corners just that extra bit wider to compensate for his waning grip. She may only get one shot at this: turning extra hard into the final corner will give her a better run down the straight if she hits the apex just right, but it comes at the expense of rubber. She’ll have to cash in the grip she’s saved up, and that transaction can’t be refunded.
...But you gotta be bold if you wanna win.
(Now!)
Yuzu hugs the outside edge of the track and carves deep into the sweeping right-hander, her tires kissing the apex and cutting into her rival’s lead. From just a few car lengths back, she mounts her charge down the straight, slamming her pedal to the floor. Immediately, it looks like her gamble is going to pay off: she gets a better launch off corner exit and threatens to draw alongside the leader. By the time he moves to defend, she’s already opened the door on him. Three laps to go, and the two cars are side by side.
“You’ve got this, Yuzu!”
She’s faster, and she knows it, but she can’t get complacent. She’s running the suboptimal line going into turn one, and combined with her speed, she’ll have to adjust her braking point to compensate. She cannot screw this up.
(He’s gonna try and clear me out of two. I know it.) He has the preferred line for turns one and two both, and his hope is that he can power off corner exit and clear her before they reach turn three.
But that takes a lotta grip, and he doesn’t have that much left to spend.
(Come on, lemme see you outbrake this!)
The two cars are locked in a game of chicken, daring the other to keep that gas pedal welded to the metal. Their engines scream at full tilt, running hot under the harsh sun above. Yuzu’s mouth is dry, her heart pounding. All she can focus on are the numbers flying by on the side of the track, her hands and feet at the ready...!
(There! Good!)
With the surgical precision she’s known for, Yuzu hits her braking point on the money, shifting down through the gears with not a moment’s hesitation. For a tense moment, she watches the other car with the corner of her eye...
And she flashes a grin when she sees him sailing ahead with a puff of smoke.
“He locked it up!”
In a desperate bid to cut Yuzu off, he dives for the apex despite overshooting the corner. Alas, this only upsets his car further, the back end threatening to step out on him as he pushes his grip beyond its limit. Yuzu deftly hugs the line and sets herself up for the bend with a full head of steam. She sees him pull up alongside her to try and draft off of her, but by then, it’s too late. She’s won their duel.
“Yes! There you go!”
Yuzu has him beat going into the left-handed turn three, stealing the racing line away from him and using her fresher tires to pull away when it counts. All he can do is mount increasingly reckless charges in the corners along the way, but his tires are having none of it. He has to check up just to corral his unruly car as Yuzu bids him farewell.
(Now just bring it home from here!)
She tries not to think about what she’s just done—it’s not over until it’s over, and she’s not allowed to celebrate until she takes that checkered flag for herself. She has to survive for just a couple more laps out here... A couple more laps, and she’ll have made her statement.
The battle for second place behind her helps ensure her victory. The two other drivers, who started on the front row, now fight to remain on it when all is said and done. In using each other up, they widen the gap to the leader, and as she takes the white flag with a commanding lead, she can feel the excitement building in her heart.
(Come on. Almost there...!)
Yuzu takes the white flag unopposed. The cars behind shrink smaller and smaller from the leader’s sight, but Yuzu doesn’t even think about looking back. She’s focused on running one more flawless lap—just hit your marks, make your shifts, drive like you’ve been driving this entire time. The next time she emerges from that final complex of turns, throttle wide open down the main straight, she sees the crowd celebrating her victory on her behalf.
And when she takes that checkered flag, she finally allows herself to join them.
“YES!”
“She did it! Ohhh man, that was awesome!”
None of her wins have ever felt this satisfying. Until now, she was always the big fish in the small pond, her talent and skill undeniable. On this bigger stage, the playing field was reset before her eyes—her achievements back home suddenly meant nothing. All that mattered was that she was here, and that she had to prove herself by beating out the competition.
And did she ever beat them!
“I knew I was gonna do it... I knew I had to!”
Yuzu lets out a triumphant exhale, her heart overrunning with adrenaline. No late-race blunder this time, no settling for second place. She grabbed everyone’s attention with her pole position last time, but in the month since her miscue at Motegi, questions arose over her consistency. They weren’t sure if an untested rookie could really put together a complete weekend, much less make a run at the title. Now, she sits atop the standings, and there’s no doubt left in the paddock and in the stands that she means business.
Redemption never tasted so sweet.
“That’s how you do it, Yuzu!” Her boss is waiting at the paddock. Yuzu staggers out of her car, haggard and heaving for breath. Just 30 minutes in the hot May sun left her tired as she’s ever been, but it’s all worth it to climb the steps on the podium after. Her parents and her friend from back home watch as she takes her place atop the grid... The first, she hopes, of many victories to come.
“Yes... YES!”
In this moment, feeling the hot sun beating down on her, running purely on adrenaline after a hard-fought victory...she thinks back to her childhood hero. That iconic picture, framed by confetti and champagne. The crowd in the distance cheering her on. Never has her lifelong dream felt closer to her grasp, the lofty heights of the racing ladder hers to scale. This is how she does it: by going out and proving who she is.
(I’m gonna make it there... I know it.)
***
In the busy interlude between the race and the car meet, Yuzu finds her chance to quietly slip away and excuse herself from the paddock. She doesn’t have anything left to do today, for her job is done. Tomorrow, she’ll be but a spectator at the speedway, watching those sporty GT cars duke it out for hours and hours on end.
...But in the meantime, she’s found plenty to do today. She was planning on taking the rest of the day easy, but knowing a certain friend of hers has come to town with her titanic car and its home-grown motor, she finds an excuse to return to the speedway for an unscheduled visit. A quick trip back to their hotel to clean herself off, and then she’s ready.
“Japan Classics, huh...? Well, she doesn’t exactly fit the bill, but it’s not like her to care.”
Indeed, the Japanese makes dominate the roster. Vintage Toyotas, Nissans, Mitsubishis... For the nostalgic motorhead, the meet has everything you could want. But there’s no restriction at all on make, model or country of origin—and that opens the door for you know who and you know what.
“...Heh. Knowing her, she might just steal the show anyway.”
She wasn’t able to catch Reina after the race—too busy getting her own performance ready for the upcoming meet—but now they’ve both got plenty of time. In short order, Yuzu’s back on the road.
It feels strange coming back through that big front gate... She’s not here to race this time, nor is she here for business. She gets to be a spectator to a different kind of show—one that proudly flaunts a different side of the motoring world. A world she’s come to know, one step at a time.
“Wow... This is some serious turnout. I didn’t think it was gonna be this big.” Yuzu and her parents eventually find an open space toward the front end of the lot. The venue is still packed, as attendees have come in flocks to show off their prized possessions. The whole back end of the lot toward the track proper is swarmed with classic cars of every shape and size, decked in chrome and outdated fittings aplenty. That front gate might as well have been a time machine—it brings the group back to a bygone age.
Every one of these cars has its own story to tell, some better aged and better traveled than others. Some of them were common sights in her parents’ childhood, while others give off an exotic, unobtainable aura, their very appearance here a rarity. The owners vary as well, from young hotshots born in the wrong era to older nostalgia chasers and lifelong owners. It’s equal parts humbling and heartwarming how so many different people from so many different walks of life can be brought together by a shared appreciation for these time capsules on wheels.
...And then, there’s the one that stands out.
“Oh, I think that’s it over there... Yeah. There it is.”
You can always count on Aikawa to march to the beat of their own drum. Their pride and joy has joined the roster here today, but it makes no attempt to fit in. It couldn’t care less what side of the Pacific it’s on; it will always be unabashedly itself, as will its owner.
To Yuzu’s unsurprise, it’s drawn a crowd by virtue of its sheer audacity.
“Yeah, that’s just like her, isn’t it?” Yuzu remembers when she first laid eyes upon the beast...and it took her a while to warm up to its anachronistic appeal. But here in friendly company, the onlookers harbor none of the reservations she did. They appreciate it for what it is: a living, moving monument to a rebellious age in motoring.
Little do they know, that era is far from dead.
“Looks like people are pretty smitten, huh?” Yuzu finally makes her entrance.
“Heehee! Yup. Thanks for coming!”
“No problem. Sorry I couldn’t catch you after the race, I got held up a bit. By the time I was off the track, you were already gone.”
“Yeah, I had to get things ready. Man, that was awesome, though! You timed your pass perfectly there!”
“Thank you...” She was expecting she’d be more apprehensive around a crowd this size, really—especially now that they know she’s the winner from earlier in the day. But Reina just has this way of calming her down.
The crowd is no less enthused, though—and one inquisitive eventgoer wants to learn more.
“What kinda engine does it have? They came with V8s, right?”
“Well, I’m glad you asked!”
Reina will never turn down a chance to gush about the family jewel. She undoes the hood latches and hoists the cover up, giving the crowd a good, long look at the engine inside.
“They did come with V8s, but my family makes custom engine builds for cars like these. This here is our supercharged 611 design!”
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“Whoa, what?!”
All Yuzu can do is chuckle off to the side as a whole new group of people are introduced to Aikawa cars. To Reina’s credit, she’s cleaned the car up brilliantly: the exterior shines with hardly a blemish from its thousand-mile journey here, and the engine bay is spotless as can be. She really knows how to take care of the old girl—and when you take care of your car, your car takes care of you.
“This motor’s got some pretty high mileage on it, but it still runs like a dream. I drove it all the way down here from our home in Sapporo, and she handled it flawlessly!”
“Damn! Can I, uh... Can I hear it?”
“Because you asked nicely~!”
It’ll be interesting for Yuzu to compare and contrast. She’s gotten pretty used to how her Aikawa V6 sounds, but it’s little more than a yapping dachshund against the full-force 611. She watches Reina settle in, waiting for the call...
*RRRrrrRRRRRRMMMMM!*
(Yup. That’s Aikawa, alright.)
It’s like the whole venue stopped and stared for a second. The Road Runner’s war cry briefly drowns out everything else around them, only permitting the other engines once it settles down and finds its lumpy idle. Typically engines would have some kind of note at idle, but there’s so much bass in the Road Runner’s voice that it defies the scale. There are no words to describe it, no rave reviews—just a wide-eyed stare and a rush in their hearts.
(Man, and I thought my car sounded mean. This thing sounds even more aggressive with the hood up.)
After savoring the moment just a tiny bit, Reina reemerges from the car and lowers the hood back down, containing the beast just a tiny bit. Another exchange or two and the group is more than satisfied; one of them even whips out his DSLR to snap photos from every side. They got what they wanted and more!
“Glad you liked the show! Take it easy, now.”
“You too! Thank you!”
Another satisfied bystander. Whether any of them will eventually become customers is too tricky for Reina to guess...but the attention she’s getting really puts the wind in her sails. And that’s not all she has planned for today... The real advertisement comes later.
“You really get a kick out of that, huh?”
“Can you blame me?”
“Nope.”
Yuzu knows she can’t argue with that. She’d have trouble resisting the temptation herself.
“So how the heck did you get all the way down here anyway? Last time I talked to you, you didn’t mention anything about Fuji at all.”
“Yeah, it ended up being a spur-of-the-moment deal. I wasn’t planning on coming down, but I had some business come up down in Nagoya, so I went ahead and took the trip.”
“What kind of business?”
Reina chuckles as she adjusts her jacket. “You want the long version or the short version?”
“I’ve got time. Hit me.”
Reina didn’t mention this ‘business’ either, the last time they talked. Consider Yuzu’s curiosity piqued—after working with her on her Silvia, she’s interested to hear about what Aikawa’s cooking up next.
“Well... I’m in charge of an old project at Aikawa Auto now. It was sitting in limbo for years and years after my grandma passed away, but after I finished up your Silvia, my mom decided I was ready to take it on.”
“Wow... That big, huh?”
“Even bigger than you think. We’re refreshing our engine lineup—and we’re showing them off by putting them inside our own model line!”
Yuzu didn’t think Reina could still surprise her...and yet here she is, eyes wide in shock. After drifting down on their luck for who knows how long, the shop’s immediately swinging for the fences? A bold strategy, to be sure—and Yuzu knows Reina has a good head on her shoulders—but it’s not what she was expecting out of Aikawa Auto at all.
...Not to say she’s pessimistic. If anyone can pull that off...
“You’re making an entire car?!”
“That’s the plan! My grandma did a lot of work on the schematics before she passed on. Now it’s my job to finish what she started—and that’s what I’m down here on business for. I met with the chassis supplier in Kanazawa earlier this week.”
The chassis supplier, as luck would have it, is scouring the venue as they speak. A grumbly Yamaha searches the parking lot for an open space before giving up and making one on a strip of grass. While her father scans for a place to park his own car, the scion of Tetsukura Chassis immediately spies her friend.
“Oh, speak of the devil!”
“Heeey!”
Reina waves her over, the Road Runner happily chuffing to greet her.
“That’s the girl from the chassis shop. Her name’s Akane Tetsukura!”
“Really...? I wasn’t expecting her to look like that.” Not to sound too judgmental, but Akane isn’t the first thing that comes to Yuzu’s mind when she imagines a coachbuilder.
“Then again, who am I talking to, right?”
“Heh heh. Yeah, she’s a good fit, isn’t she?”
The red hair, the outfit, the fiery disposition evident even at a glance... Of all the people Reina could be working with, Yuzu agrees that she’s the best girl for the job.
“Yeah, I’d say you chose well.”
She really does know her networking.
“Sorry I’m late! Couldn’t make it in time for that F4 race, but we’re all free now!” Akane takes her place beside the trusty old car. “And is this your racer friend?”
“You got it!”
“Nice! Yuzu Tachikawa, right? Reina was telling me about you.” She extends her hand.
“Akane Tetsukura. Nice to meet you!”
“Ah! Yeah, you too.” She struggles at first to keep up with Akane’s outgoing spirit—ironic for an F4 race winner. But she feels a similar energy to Reina from this girl... Perhaps even cut from the same cloth. Something about how assured she is, something about her candor. It makes her feel just a little more at ease when she reaches out to shake her hand.
“Glad I could make it. These cars here are all nuts! Did you see that one Fairlady over by the front of the lot?”
“Oh, I didn’t! I’ll have to check it out.”
“It’s a total beauty. The owner has it kitted out for race spec and everything!”
“Oooh!”
Alright. Definitely cut from the same cloth.
“So I take it you gave Yuzu the spiel about the Star Rider project?”
“Yup! Actually, when I think about it, I have her to thank for jumpstarting it.”
“Wait, you do?” Yuzu cocks her head. This is the first she’s hearing of it, and she’s to thank?
“Yeah. I think us two working together on that Silvia really gave me a shot in the arm. I had been waiting for a project like that for years and years—something to show that I had what it takes. Without your engine order, I might still be stuck treading water and doing ho-hum maintenance work back home.”
“You taking the chance on me, letting me take charge of our own project... That was the spark I needed to really get going. Once Mom saw me working on it, she knew I was ready.”
“The whole shop felt rejuvenated after that. One thing led to another, I learned about the Star Rider project...and well, now here I am!”
These things just happen so fast... It feels like only yesterday Yuzu was working away with Reina in that garage, watching her build an entire engine piece by piece. Now, they’re both well on their own paths in life—decidedly different, but still close together.
And to think it all happened because of a chance meeting at a local race track...
“Huh. I...never thought about it that way.”
“It’s really coming along now. The chassis design is looking good, and back home, we’re ironing out the kinks in the engine revamp. I even got some pretty optimistic news from the investor I talked to!”
“Wow...! Sounds like you’ve been real busy, then.”
“Yeah. It’s a good busy, though—this project was made for me.”
That brings Reina neatly to her point. She knows she’ll need a lot of outside help to refine the Star Rider; the more eyes on every little detail, the more polished the end result will be. She welcomes all the help she can get, from design to fabrication to assembly to testing...
And who better to test the prototype than a rising star in the formula scene?
“There’s actually something I wanted to ask you about.”
“There is? About the project, you mean?”
“Yeah. Once we finish building the prototype, we’ll need to test it as thoroughly as we can. It’s a new car and a new engine platform—so we need to iron out the kinks as best we can before it hits the market.”
“So if you’re up for it...” Reina’s eyes meet Yuzu’s, that signature smile on her face. “I want you to be our test driver.”
This is how it all comes together. Yuzu’s talent and appetite for racing are undeniable—and after taking the chance on the shop earlier in the year, Reina’s been eager to pay her back. For a little while longer, their paths will intertwine again...and Reina’s sure this deal will help the Star Rider shine ever brighter.
“I... Me? I mean, I’d be honored! I just...” Yuzu briefly fumbles. “I’m just surprised you’re not having Sami test it instead. And you’re a pretty good driver too, aren’t you?”
“Mom does know her stuff, yeah—and she wants to test the car plenty herself. But I think it’d be best if someone with a fresh perspective got to test it out too.”
“I can trust you to be honest with me. Mom and I are both used to big, beefy cars, and I think that might make us a little blind to problems with how they drive. It’s not our fault, just what we’re used to.”
There are plenty of test drivers out there for hire—some of whom may even be faster than Yuzu—but she doesn’t think she could find a better fit for the job. That’s what this project is all about: to get the best people, you need to get the right people.
“I get that, yeah... I’m not used to driving those. Even my Silvia is still pretty nimble with the V6 in it. Driving a huge car like that would be a whole new game for me...”
Driving an Aikawa prototype at Tokachi might as well force her to throw her muscle memory out the window. The throttle control, the braking points, the racing lines... It’s as drastic a departure from her lightweight formula cars as she could possibly have.
...But it sounds like fun.
“And you want me to drive it as hard as it’ll go?”
“Yeah. I don’t want it to drive like an old land barge. As much as I love the old Road Runner, we’ve come a long way in 40 years.”
“And besides: my goal isn’t just to chase the past anyway...” Reina knows she has to keep moving forward. But she’ll do it on her own terms.
“It’s to make something special.”
Yuzu sees that spark of determination in Reina’s violet eyes. If there’s anything she remembers from her childhood, from those fuzzy TV broadcasts, it’s that same glint on Sami’s face. That sheer force of will, carving her path to the top of the podium. Now, she’s come to know that very determination runs in the family—that when an Aikawa puts her mind to it, she can move mountains and shoot for the stars.
How can she say no?
“...Yeah. Count me in, then.” Yuzu returns Reina’s gaze with a casual smile. She’s already looking forward to this.
“Awesome! This is gonna be great—I know it.”
And thus, the Star Rider project gains another member. Reina, Yuzu and Akane join hands for an unwritten deal—for a passion project and a vision of the future. There’s a long, long way to go before that dream becomes reality... A daunting path, with the end far out of sight. But Reina knows she doesn’t have to walk that path alone; just as she will guide them, they too can lend her a hand if she ever gets lost. Together, sharing a single longshot dream, they vow to make the Star Rider the very best it can be.
(Man... That’s finally it.)
Her final “meeting” for the week comes to an end—and Reina closes out her business trip an undefeated three for three. The friends she’s made, the connections she’s forged will all lift her up when she gets back home... Now, more than ever, she can see the path forward clear as day. She really can pull this crazy dream off.
Now, there’s only one thing left to do on her long, winding trip. She’s come all the way to Fuji Speedway with her family’s pride and joy...and from beyond that sweeping gate, the asphalt is calling her name. It’s about time she showed them all what the Road Runner can really do.
“I think it’s about time for me to get going,” Reina mentions, checking her phone for the time. “They’re letting some of the cars out on the track as part of the meet!”
The implication is clear. Yuzu and Akane’s faces alight.
“Please tell me they let you in.”
“You bet they did! Took a lot of convincing for them to let this car in, but I won them over in the end!”
“Oh, that’s AWESOME! You’ve gotta let ‘er rip down the front straight at least once!”
“It’s crazy enough doing that in a formula car. I can’t imagine what it’s like in a giant V8 monster twice my age!”
“Hah! Well, I’ll be sure to put on a show!”
The Road Runner is primed and ready. It’s been quite some time since it last tore up the track—longer still excluding its occasional trips to Tokachi. The speedway here faintly remembers its guttural growl from days long gone...as well as a certain traveling thrillseeker who made sure to visit between secretive street races. Though Sami might not be the one behind the wheel this time, the car still shines with the same luster it had all those decades ago.
“Man... Now I really feel like Mom.” This is a family tradition she’s happy to uphold.
“Alright, car. Let’s show ‘em what you’re made of.”
Yuzu and Akane watch as Reina commands the Road Runner out of its space, cruising up the lane like an apex predator on the prowl. It steals the attention of any and all in its path, eventgoers stopping and staring as it passes them by.
They ain’t seen nothing yet.
“There it is... I’m really doing it...!” A surreal feeling sets in as the marshals beckon her up through the pit lane. All this time, she’s commanded this speed demon, boasting power beyond all control...but rare are the days when she gets to fully unleash its fury. It’s fitting, then, that this is her reward at the end of her long journey: a drive she won’t soon forget. A chance to break the shackles over the Road Runner’s engine, and let that 611 scream.
Anticipation rising. Speed increasing. Her hand on the shifter, ready to slam it into action.
“Let’s go.”
*VRRRRRMMMMMM!*
At long last, the venerated 611 is put through its paces once more. The other cars out on the track are instantly dwarfed by this giant, growling cruise missile working through the turns. The spotlight falls on her right out of the gate—just the way she likes it.
“This is AWESOME! Oh, man, I’m so glad I got to fit this in!”
In short order, she’s joined by other vintage cars of all shapes and sizes, reliving their glory days together. Fittingly, the Road Runner shares little in common with these sleek, nimble classics...but it doesn’t need to. Aikawa has never fallen in line. A period piece this car may be, but it’s a far cry from period power—the engine still has plenty of spring in its step despite its age. It’s a testament to how well they’ve taken care of it...and now, it rewards Reina with a dominating drive through the sweeping speedway.
She does make sure to play by the rules, of course—she’s under extra scrutiny from the (understandably) cautious organizers. She vigilantly keeps track of her position and the other cars on the circuit...though it helps that she rarely needs to look back for anybody thinking to overtake. It helps the others that they can hear her coming from a mile away.
“Whoa, haha! Oh, this is dangerous, I’m having too much fun!”
There’s something exhilarating about throwing this car through the twisties when it absolutely wasn’t designed for them. The four-corner complex at the end of the lap gives Reina a handful, the G-forces straining her grip on the wheel. She’s still not driving all that hard, but she doesn’t even need to—she’s having a blast anyway!
“No wonder Mom did this all the time!”
Yuzu and Akane, meanwhile, are scrambling to find a good seat in the house. The view from the parking lot doesn’t do the sound justice; if they want to catch the Road Runner in all its glory, they’ll have to take to the stands. Under the tunnel they go in search of open seating, anticipation running hot.
“God, you can FEEL that thing every time it goes by.”
“It does leave an impression.”
“She was saying you have an Aikawa car yourself?”
“Yeah. A V6... It’s nothing like that. Absolutely nothing.” All Yuzu can do is shake her head and laugh as Reina flies by again... It turns every other engine note on the track into a plaintive little whimper.
Yuzu gets them to the stands in short order, her knowledge of the venue coming in handy. They emerge onto the big row of seating just in time to watch Reina pass them by again, hardly pushing the car but nonetheless enjoying herself.
One daring driver in a classic S30 challenges her to a drag down the stretch. He thinks he can take her with his souped-up straight-six—after all, his lightweight, turbocharged coupe can surely gap that garish, ten-ton limousine, right?
Wrong.
“You sure about that~?” Reina gives the Road Runner a bit more throttle at the start-finish line, and her challenger gets more than he bargained for in response. He mashes the gas to try and keep up, but it’s clear once he lets off to shift that he’s not catching her. All in good fun, of course, but he’s learned his lesson: don’t judge an old land boat by its cover.
“I’m almost worried I’m gonna lose track of the time!” Sadly, all good things must come to an end: she only has about 10 minutes left of her allotted track time. She’d love to drive around the track until the wheels fall off, but she has to play nice...
...To an extent.
“I’ve gotta punch it at least once.”
She’s been trying to line it up. A few of the cars ahead went out a few minutes before she did; having already taken their checkered flags, they’re due to pull into the pits at the end of this lap. Reina still has a good two or three laps left... She wants as much clean track ahead as possible—both for safety and for fun—and this might be her best chance to get it.
“I can’t wait...!” Every sweeping turn, every braking zone brings her closer and closer to the launch pad. The hairpin, the 300R bend, the tricky Dunlop complex... Her eyes glimmer with excitement, her heart ready to ignite.
The final corners come to play—13th, Netz, Panasonic... Reina negotiates them as smoothly as she can to give herself the best run off the corner. She feels like the Road Runner has been wanting this too—the engine growls with glee at the slightest tap of the throttle. It’s looking forward to this just as much as she is; now, it’s almost time to give it what it wants.
“There she is!”
“She’s really cutting deep. Is she gonna...?”
They see several cars ahead pulling off into the pit lane. The track ahead is clear as it’ll ever be. For a brief moment, the Road Runner quiets down to a simmer as Reina takes the final turn, rolling off the throttle and waiting for the grip to come to her. This is the calm before the storm... The energy crackles in the air. The two of them watch with baited breath as time seems to slow, counting down the moments before pandemonium is unleashed upon the speedway.
“Aaaaand... NOW!”
*VRRRRRRRRMMMMMM!*
Everything else just...stops. All attention invariably centers on the pure, unbridled fury screaming down the front straight. From the stands to the parking lot and everywhere inbetween, heads turn, ears pucker and eyes widen in shock. Neither Yuzu nor Akane has seen nor heard anything like this before; they can only sit there, slack-jawed, as the car slices up the straight like a bolt of lightning.
...And then there’s the driver behind the wheel.
(GOD ALMIGHTY!) The torque is so strong, the acceleration so violent that it threatens to rip the steering wheel right out of her hands. She likes to think she’s accustomed to the Road Runner’s power, but she still feels like she’s holding on for dear life. Every gear shift brings a moment of reprieve, like the lull between drops on a roller coaster, before the 611 comes right back up to its signature roar. She’s on the ragged edge, her heart overflowing with sheer adrenaline.
The scariest part is that she’s not even at full throttle yet.
“H-Holy SHIT!”
Yuzu and Akane await her at the halfway point on the straight as she rapidly approaches. This is their first time hearing the V8 in full song—and they’re about to be treated to the quintessential fly by sound.
“Here she comes!”
Inside, Reina is so focused with keeping the car under control that she almost forgets to react. Tokachi pales in comparison to this mile-long drag—indeed, this is the fastest she has ever taken the car. She shifts up into that fabled final gear, and at last, her foot goes flat to the floor. With Yuzu and Akane rushing by, she still has half the straight left... Precious few seconds that will burn themselves into her memory for the rest of her days.
“YEEAAAAHAHAAAAH!”
The sheer force of the passing Road Runner hits Yuzu and Akane like a gale, almost forcing their eyes closed as they watch Reina streaking by. That sweet, sweet sound is worth every last second of anticipation... Akane howls with excitement when it graces her ears.
“That. Was. AWESOME!” She wishes she could just play it on repeat for the rest of her life.
The Road Runner’s war cry echoes off the stands and the paddock, careening into the woods nearby. For precious seconds more, Reina charges up the straight, bringing the 611 toward the top of its rev range. She’s so laser-focused, so overtaken by adrenaline, she doesn’t even think to work out how fast she’s going. This is one of the few places available to her where she can even sniff the Road Runner’s top speed... How fast can it really go? Not even she knows.
“Okay! That’s good!” Alas, she won’t be reaching that peak today. She’s finally run out of real estate, and with a heavy foot on the brake, she ends the Road Runner’s wild charge. Down she goes back through the gears, the sound of her shifts like music to everyone’s ears. Unfazed as ever, the 611 emerges out the other side of the first turn like nothing even happened at all. She’s still struggling to catch her breath.
“Hah! Come on, girl, at least pretend to sound tired!” Reina’s incredulous. She doesn’t even see any serious movement on the temp needle; the only sign of “exhaustion” is the unbelievable amount of fuel it used.
This thing just takes a lickin’ and keeps on kickin’.
“I am definitely gonna need new tires after this trip is done, though. Heh.”
She did take her checkered flag when she came roaring by; this will be her final lap on the circuit. To cool herself and the car down after their high-octane exhibition, she takes this last tour nice and slow... She’s not ready for it to end just yet, but she knows she has to keep moving forward.
“Still...” Reina pats the wheel for a job well done. “You really went above and beyond for me. That was the most fun I’ve had in a long, long time... Thank you for that~”
At last, the Road Runner retreats from the circuit, and the sounds of smaller, humble cars fill the air in its place. Reina lets out an accomplished huff to try and offload all this residual adrenaline. She still has the wind knocked out of her... Short of sitting in a plane, that’s the fastest she’s ever gone in her life.
And she doesn’t regret it one bit.
“Ohhh, man...” All she can do is laugh and shake her head. “Well, I hope those two enjoyed it just as much as I did. I think that’s enough for me for a good while, though!”
Like a dog back from a walk, the Road Runner comes strolling back into the parking lot without a care in the world. She finds Yuzu and Akane waiting for her—and while the car seems nonchalant, the look on their faces betrays anything but.
“Hey there!” Reina waves out the window as she backs into her spot—a less flashy skill, but equally impressive on a car this gargantuan. She relinquishes the key from the ignition, giving the car a well-earned break.
“Well! She sounds pretty good, eh?”
“Does she! And she sounded like she still had more to give.”
“That is absolutely overkill. Really impressive the engine holds up under that load, though.”
“Thanks... It’s been a while since she got to stretch her legs like that.” Reina rests her hand on the hood. It does feel quite hot.
“That’s what Aikawa Auto is about: simple, no-nonsense power. That’s what the muscle car used to be back in the day—and it’s what we happen to like most.”
“By extension, that’s what the Star Rider project is about too. I think I can get people to appreciate this kind of engineering in the same way I do...and it all starts with us.”
Reina looks to the group. Her hair glistens in the sun, her smile radiant. And in her eyes burns that same determination that built Aikawa Auto brick by brick.
“I think we’ll make a really good team. I don’t want bean counters and focus groups on this project... I just want a car that comes from the heart. And I wouldn’t want anybody more than you two to be here with me.”
With that, she extends the group a closed fist. “So let’s make this the best we can, yeah?”
Yuzu isn’t normally one for tacky scenes like these—though Akane certainly is. In spite of their differences, Reina motivates the both of them to share her hand. They go wherever she goes.
“Hell yeah!”
“You got it.”
*BUMP!*
Trust is a powerful thing. For Yuzu, it’s a welcome change from the heavy-handed expectation she’s grown accustomed to on the track—Reina believes in her in a way few others do. She’s more than just a prospect, more than just a business partner... She’s a friend. And this project isn’t just another goal to cross off on her endless career list; it’s something special, and Reina believe that she’ll help make it even better.
“...Thank you. Really.”
For Akane, it’s validation. The trailblazer trusts her, and puts her lingering insecurities to rest. She saw through that veneer of doubt, and got a good, long look at who the girl inside really is. She knew then that Akane was a perfect fit...and Akane will repay that trust with the very best work she can muster.
“I’m gonna rock your world with this. Just you watch!”
“Thank you... Thank you so much, both of you!”
Reina lets slip a sigh of satisfaction. The wheels are in motion; now, all she has to do is get back home and get to work. It’s a shame she has to bid the two of them farewell for now, but she knows this is just a temporary split; their paths will always remain in sight on the horizon. When they intertwine next... That’s when the magic will happen.
“Well...” Reina checks her phone once more. It’s getting rather late. “I think I’ve gotta start heading back now.”
“Is it really time already...?”
“It feels like just a few minutes ago we caught up again.”
“Yeah... I’ll make sure to stay in touch, though. I’ll keep you posted every step of the way as this project comes together!”
“I’d be mad if you didn’t!”
“Drive safe on the way back, okay?”
“Of course!” Reina briefly looks back at the Road Runner. It’s been perfect for a thousand miles already... What’s a few hundred more?
“You take care too!”
“Thank you. I’ll stop by back in Sapporo when I get the chance!”
“Safe travels!”
“See you!”
With a wave, Reina sees her friends off, the sun just starting to set in the distance over Mount Fuji. It’s just starting to set in that her trip is nearing its end... After all these meetings, all these cities, all these memories, the only thing left for her to do is bring it all back home.
It’s a bittersweet thing, this feeling of closure...but all the same, the end of this chapter is but the beginning of another. Soon, her journey will take her into truly uncharted territory, and the comfort of familiarity will become a distant memory. She’ll have to forge a brave new world with her own two hands... A world only she, her friends and her family know.
And she welcomes it.
“Alright... Let’s head on back to the hotel now, shall we?”
The Road Runner’s seat is still as comfy as ever. Lending barely an extra thought to her muscle memory, Reina shuts the door, slots the key in the ignition, and commands the car to life...
*RRRrrrRRRrrrRRRrrrRRR-POP!*
“Oh!”
Reina cocks her head. The 611 briefly fires, but just as soon, it trips over itself. Without the starter to help, it lets out a cough and shudders to a stop.
Not that Reina’s all too concerned; she knows the car just needs a little extra encouragement this time.
“Aww, heehee... Maybe she’s a little tired after all.”
This tends to happen—the 611 can get a little fussy when starting hot like this. Running ever so slightly rich, if she had to guess. Undaunted, Reina eases her foot down on the gas halfway and grips the key again, making sure not to let go too early.
“Come on, girl. Just a quick little drive back to the hotel, and then you can sleep for the night, okay?”
*RRRrrrRRRrrrRRR-POP-VVVRRMM!*
This time, she manages to coax the engine to life—and she’ll be sure to drive it gently on her way back to their hotel. It’s the least the car deserves after how hard she thrashed it, after all.
“There we go... See, that wasn’t so hard, was it~?”
Quirky, for sure—and perhaps unrefined. But she’ll never stop loving this car of hers.
“Now let’s get going. Gotta get plenty of rest before we start the drive back tomorrow.”
The evening sun pans across the sky as she turns the Road Runner out of the lot, bidding Fuji Speedway farewell for now. The sound of the engine is all she needs for this brief stint on the road—she’ll be going through that whole stack of CDs tomorrow anyway.
It’ll be hard not to think about tomorrow—about the future—when she gets back to her room. But for the sake of a good night’s sleep, she has to try and put it aside.
...Or perhaps, for all she knows, it’ll help her sleep better instead. After all, she doesn’t have to be scared of the future anymore. It’s an open book, and she’s got the pen.
(Heehee... Tomorrow’s gonna be fun.)
As Reina puts the sun and the day behind her, the stars begin to peek out on the horizon, just barely visible against the backdrop of orange and purple. She’s one step closer today, and she’ll take another step tomorrow—day, after day, after day, steadily walking this path she’s chosen.
She smiles. Whatever tomorrow brings, and all those days after, she’ll face it all with a spring in her step and wind in her sails. One more night in dream land, out here in the shadow of Fuji...and then, she’s taking those dreams home with her.
“Good night, car... You rest up now~”
Come dawn, they’ll both be ready.