The door to Arashi’s makeshift bedroom—tucked neatly into the corner of his bustling garage—burst open with a loud bang. Lana stormed in, her fiery green eyes flashing with energy, her sleek black leather dress shimmering faintly under the fluorescent lights. Her black sneakers padded softly against the concrete floor, but the sound of her entrance was anything but subtle.
Arashi sat cross-legged on his bed, an old car manual in his left hand and a half-empty mug of coffee in the other. The room smelled of grease and machine oil, with tools scattered across a desk and a vintage steering wheel mounted on the wall like a trophy. Despite the clutter, everything had its place, a mechanic’s order within the chaos.
Lana’s gaze darted around, landing on him with a smirk. "Well, well, grease monkey," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "I bet you wouldn’t recognize a wrench if it slapped you in the face."
Arashi didn’t bother looking up from his manual. "Considering I practically sleep with one under my pillow, I’d recognize it just fine."
Unfazed, Lana sauntered closer, her sneakers crunching softly over a few stray bolts on the floor. "You know what, I don’t even care," she said, crossing her arms. "We’ve got work to do. Get up and follow me. Now!"
Arashi finally glanced up, raising an eyebrow. His expression was calm, his voice even more so as he responded with a single word: "Nope."
Lana froze, her smirk faltering for a moment before she recovered. "Excuse me?" she said, her tone a mix of incredulity and challenge.
"Nope," Arashi repeated, leaning back against the headboard with an air of finality. He set the manual aside and took a leisurely sip of his coffee. "I’m not going anywhere."
Lana’s green eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer, her hands on her hips. "You can’t just sit here hiding in your little grease cave while the world passes you by. I know what you really are, Arashi, and you’re not fooling me. So, stop pretending to be just a mechanic and come with me."
Arashi’s gaze didn’t waver, though something flickered in his dark eyes—something knowing, something guarded. "I’ve got enough to deal with here," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "I’m not interested."
Lana huffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Fine," she said, throwing her hands up. "Stay here and tinker with your little toys. But you’re missing out on the thrill of a lifetime."
With that, she spun on her heel and stormed out, but not before shooting him one last look over her shoulder—a smirk that said she wasn’t done with him yet. Arashi sighed, shaking his head as he picked up the manual again.
The door had barely swung shut behind her when Arashi groaned, leaning his head back in frustration. "WAIT!" he shouted after her, his voice booming through the space. "COME BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE BITCH!"
The sound of the door slamming open again was instant and forceful. Lana stormed back inside, her green eyes blazing like wildfire. Her black leather dress shimmered faintly as she moved, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides.
"What did you just call me, you little shit?" she snarled, her voice sharp and venomous, her fiery hair seeming to crackle with her rage.
Arashi stood his ground, his dark red eyes meeting her glare with calm defiance. A flicker of a sheepish grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "I said, come back here, Lana, Love." he clarified, his tone too casual for the tension in the room.
Her green eyes narrowed dangerously, and she stepped closer, jabbing a finger toward him. "No, no, you said something else," she hissed, her voice trembling with fury.
Arashi raised his hands in mock surrender, the smirk now fully forming on his face. "Alright, alright, I might’ve gotten a little carried away. But you were walking out all dramatic—figured I had to get your attention somehow."
Lana’s lips pressed into a tight line, her fury battling with reluctant amusement. After a long moment, she let out a sharp huff, crossing her arms as she glared at him. "You’re an idiot!" she snapped, though her tone had softened just enough to hint at something else.
"And you’re still here," Arashi countered smoothly, leaning against the bedframe with a self-satisfied grin. His dark red eyes gleamed, their mischievous light impossible to ignore.
Lana rolled her eyes, but the faintest trace of a smirk tugged at her lips. "Shut up," she muttered, quieter now. "What the hell do you want, then?"
Arashi shrugged, his grin turning almost boyish. "Maybe I just wanted to see if you’d actually come back."
For a moment, Lana stared at him, her green eyes locked on his dark red ones. Then, with a reluctant laugh, she shook her head. "You’re impossible, Arashi."
"And yet, you keep coming back," he replied with a chuckle, his grin widening.
Lana groaned, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Fine, but you’re coming with me this time," she insisted. "No excuses."
"Deal," Arashi said, grabbing his jacket. His dark red eyes gleamed with amusement as he followed her out, Lana muttering curses under her breath, already regretting her decision to humor him.
Lana rolled her eyes at Arashi's cocky grin, though a small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "You’re really asking for it today," she said, shaking her head in exasperation as she turned to leave the room once more.
Arashi followed her, a knowing smile playing on his lips as they walked out into the dimly lit hallway. Lana threw open the door to the garage, revealing her prized Nissan Fairlady 350Z. The deep purple car, adorned with white tribal designs, gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights. Its engine, exposed and worn from countless races, reflected the miles it had clocked in the streets.
The scent of gasoline and hot metal filled the air, creating an all-too-familiar atmosphere that only added to the tension between them. Lana strode confidently toward her car, the sound of her black sneakers echoing in the quiet garage. She popped the hood with ease, revealing the engine that needed a lot more than just a quick fix.
"Okay, let’s see what you’ve got," Lana called over her shoulder, not bothering to glance back at Arashi. Her voice was sharp, filled with frustration. "This baby’s a mess! You know how good Nissan engines are, yet you keep refusing to tweak mine! What exactly do you want from me?!"
She turned to face him, her green eyes blazing with annoyance. "I know you’re a brilliant mechanic, despite your cocky attitude, and I need you and I want you to work on this!"
Arashi stepped forward, his tone calm but laced with a quiet challenge, his smirk growing wider. "Let’s stop at I need you and want you, shall we?"
Lana felt a rush of heat flood her cheeks, her hands clenching into fists at her sides as she tried to hold her ground. Her mind raced, and for a second, she forgot what to say. Instead, she turned her attention back to the car, frustration evident in the sharp line of her jaw.
"God, you’re so annoying," she muttered, not bothering to mask the reluctant amusement that flashed in her eyes.
Arashi’s grin only deepened as he moved closer. "Oh, I’m not the one who can’t stay away." he teased, his voice smooth, almost too knowing. "You keep coming back to me for a reason, Lana."
Lana shot him a glare, her heart pounding a little faster than she wanted to admit. She didn’t answer right away, though a faint smirk crept onto her lips. She wasn’t going to let him get under her skin, but she knew he was right. She couldn’t help herself.
"Fine," she said after a long pause, her voice colder now. "But you’re fixing it now. No more excuses."
Arashi stepped forward, his grin widening into something far more mischievous. "Oh, don’t worry!" he said, his voice dripping with confidence, "I’m about to make this car purr... and maybe even a few other things, too."
Lana shot him a raised eyebrow, trying not to show just how intrigued she was by his response. She crossed her arms, knowing she’d regret asking, but couldn’t help herself. "You better, or I’ll make sure you regret ever agreeing to this."
Arashi gave her one last playful wink before turning to the engine. "I thrive on making people regret things. Consider it... a challenge."
Lana watched Arashi approach, her green eyes narrowing as he moved closer to the exposed engine. She crossed her arms over her chest, a small smirk tugging at her lips despite herself.
"So, now you're ready to get your hands dirty?" she teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she tilted her head slightly, watching his every move.
She stepped aside, giving him just enough room to work, but her gaze remained locked on him. Her fingers brushed through a strand of her red hair, tucking it behind her ear with a deliberate, casual motion.
"I’ll be keeping an eye on you," she warned, her tone playful but laced with a hint of challenge. "Don’t think you can slack off just because I need this fixed."
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Her words hung in the air, and she couldn't help the flicker of amusement in her eyes as she studied him. She knew how he worked—quick, efficient, but always with that cocky attitude. And maybe, just maybe, she was a little curious to see if he could live up to her expectations this time.
Arashi finished changing Lana’s car air filter and cleaning the clogged exhaust pipes, wiping his hands on a rag as he stepped back and surveyed his work. He glanced over at Lana with a smug grin, his voice cutting through the air with his usual confidence.
"As you keep losing your races, what ‘means’ will you ‘use’ or ‘do’ to ‘pay’ for my service? And especially, the 350Z’s air filter isn’t exactly cheap."
Lana's eyes widened at Arashi's blunt question. Her face flushed a deep crimson, and she immediately looked away, clearly taken aback by his boldness. She kicked at the gravel beneath her black sneakers, trying to hide the discomfort his words had caused.
"Well... I can’t just pay you back with money…" she muttered, her voice lower than usual. "You know I'm not exactly swimming in cash."
She paused for a moment, unsure, but then her gaze met his once more. There was a mix of determination and vulnerability in her green eyes, a subtle challenge hanging in the air.
"B..but there are ‘other ways’ that I could repay you..." Her voice trailed off suggestively as she took a step closer to him, her confidence returning as the distance between them shrank. The air between them thickened with unspoken tension.
Arashi raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "’Other ways’, huh?"
Lana leaned in, her voice dropping to a low, teasing whisper. "You’re always talking about how much you love racing, so why don’t we make it interesting? Winner ‘takes all.’ Loser does ‘whatever’ the winner ‘wants.’"
A smirk crept across her lips as she watched Arashi, her heart pounding in her chest from the anticipation of his response. She stood there, her gaze locked with his, daring him to take the challenge.
"Winner ‘takes all?’" Arashi repeated, amusement dancing in his dark red eyes.
Lana’s green gaze burned with excitement as she stepped even closer, the scent of gasoline and leather mingling in the air, drawing them together. Her voice was low, dripping with promise as she repeated the rules.
"Winner ‘takes all!’" she said again, the words hanging between them like a challenge. "No holds barred. Loser does ‘whatever’ the winner ‘wants.’"
She leaned in closer, their faces mere inches apart now, her breath a gentle whisper against his skin. "You know you can’t resist me on the track!" Lana purred, her voice smooth and seductive. "I’ll destroy you out there... and then collect my prize!"
The tension in the air was thick, their unspoken understanding of the game they were about to play hanging heavy between them.
Arashi casually reached for a remote on an unused counter, his fingers brushing over the worn buttons before pressing one marked with ‘OPEN.’ He glanced over at Lana with a cocky smirk, his voice dripping with a casual confidence.
"You're saying… in order to ‘get into your pants,’ I only need to beat you in a race, huh? Fair enough."
As his finger pressed the button, a hidden gate slowly began to open, the sound of its hinges creaking ominously. Lana felt a chill run down her spine, a strange, uneasy sensation settling in her chest. The pressure from the room behind the gate was almost tangible, pushing against her like a weight. She stood frozen for a moment, her body tense, her heart beating faster as the door crept open.
The air in the garage seemed to thicken, and the pressure from the room beyond grew with every inch the gate revealed. It was suffocating, like something was alive in there, something breathing and waiting to be released. Lana’s usual bravado faltered as her instincts screamed at her to turn away.
"What the fuck is this?" she whispered under her breath, eyes wide as she instinctively took a step back from Arashi, who was already walking toward the opening door.
The sound of Arashi’s steps echoed as he made his way into the room, and Lana felt the weight of the darkness inside pull at her, the uncertainty clawing at her. She hesitated for a moment before following, her curiosity pushing her forward despite the strange fear gnawing at her insides.
"Arashi... what have you gotten me into?" she called out, her voice wavering slightly, as a mix of fear and intrigue filled her chest.
She peered into the darkened room, trying to make sense of what lay hidden within. Her mind raced with possibilities, but none of them felt good. What kind of room was this? Why did it feel like something was calling to her, despite the unease?
"Well?" Arashi’s voice called back, cutting through the thick tension in the air, almost as if he were inviting her into a game she hadn’t agreed to play.
Lana’s breath caught in her throat as the door creaked open fully, revealing the darkness inside. Arashi walked in without hesitation, but Lana stayed just behind, unsure what awaited her.
Then came the sound. The unmistakable click of a car door opening, followed by the deep, rumbling growl of an engine starting up. It was vicious—inhuman, almost—a sound that sent a shiver of dread crawling up her spine.
Before she could even process it, a mysterious matte black Nissan Skyline GT-R 400 R began to roll out of the hidden room, its engine roaring to life with an almost supernatural intensity. The car moved effortlessly, its black paint gleaming under the garage lights, the air around it humming with power.
Lana froze. Her eyes widened in shock, the reality of what she was facing slowly sinking in. The sleek car rolled to a stop just feet away from her, and the oppressive heat radiating off its hood only added to the sense of danger that now seemed to envelope her.
"Shit… I’m so fucked tonight…" she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible as the full weight of the situation hit her.
Her breath caught in her throat as she realized just how outmatched she was. The GT-R wasn’t just a car. It was the car—the kind of machine built for speed and control, a beast she had no chance against.
"Fuuuck…" she muttered again, shaking her head in disbelief, her heart pounding in her chest.
"You’ve got to be fucking kidding me..." she whispered to herself, but there was no denying the truth in front of her.
Arashi turned to look at her, his expression unreadable, but there was amusement in his eyes.
"Well?" He called over his shoulder, his voice laced with playful mockery. "Ready to race for your freedom... and other things?"
The question hung in the air, thick with unspoken meaning as the roar of the GT-R’s engine seemed to echo in the depths of the garage.
Lana’s instincts screamed at her to run, to escape the situation she was caught in. But her sense of responsibility, the pride she had in her skills and her reputation, held her feet firmly in place. As the realization hit her like a thunderclap, she felt a rush of anger surge through her veins.
She spun toward Arashi, her eyes blazing with fury. "Shit, Arashi! You lured me into this race! You planned to win from the start, driving that monster GT-R!" she protested, her voice rising in disbelief and frustration.
Arashi’s response came with a casual shrug, his expression unreadable but his words sharp. "Nope, I was just following your flow, Lana. You're the one that 'offered' me this racing session, right?" He paused, a hint of amusement creeping into his tone. "But let me tell you something—there’s a saying from Sun Tzu: ‘Who wishes to fight must first count the cost.’ Have you counted your cost before inciting a fight of speed between us, Lana?"
Lana’s face twisted in a mix of anger and humiliation. Her mind raced, trying to digest the full scope of his manipulation, the layers of his game that she had unwittingly walked into. She clenched her fists at her sides, her fingers trembling from the sheer force of her rage.
"You sneaky bastard!" she spat, her green eyes flashing dangerously. Her whole body was tense, like a coiled spring, ready to snap.
Lana took a step forward, narrowing the space between them, her voice low and venomous as she squared off against Arashi. "You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Luring me into this trap with your smooth talk and that… that abomination of a car." Her eyes flickered to the menacing GT-R, the engine still rumbling ominously in the background, as if taunting her with its power.
She didn’t flinch. Instead, her gaze hardened, the sharp edge of determination cutting through the humiliation she felt. "But let me tell you something, Arashi," she continued, her voice quieter now, but no less dangerous. "I’m not just some easy conquest for you to toy with. I may have underestimated you... but I won’t make that mistake again."
Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, her heart still racing, but her resolve strengthening. Whatever game Arashi had been playing, she wasn’t backing down. Not now.
Lana's thoughts raced as she gripped the steering wheel tighter, her knuckles white with determination. "He's just a mechanic, ain't no racer! His driving skills must be shitty! Yes! I can win this!" she told herself, trying to shake off the pressure building in her chest. The track stretched ahead, a dark, dangerous path, but she was ready. She was always ready for this.
As the green light flashed, signaling the start of the race, Lana slammed her foot down on the gas pedal. Her Fairlady 350Z roared to life, the engine surging beneath her as the car shot forward with explosive force. The thrill of acceleration rushed through her veins, and for a moment, she could almost taste victory.
She kept her eyes locked on the rearview mirror, watching Arashi’s monstrous GT-R in the distance, his headlights glowing ominously behind her. Stay ahead, stay ahead... she thought, pushing her car even harder, feeling the grip of the tires on the asphalt, the engine's growl under her command.
"Hah! Told you I could keep up!" she yelled over the deafening roar of their engines and the screech of tires against the track. A defiant grin tugged at her lips, a rush of adrenaline pumping through her.
"Your fancy car may have more horsepower, but my skills are unmatched!" she murmured to herself, her voice full of confidence. This was her turf. She knew how to handle a car like no one else, every twist and turn of the course ingrained in her mind.
She slid her Nissan into the next sharp corner, the tires screaming in protest, but the car stayed true to its path. With every lap, she could feel herself pushing her Fairlady to its absolute limits. Her hands were steady, focused, but deep down, she knew that Arashi’s GT-R wasn’t just another fancy machine.
She could feel the difference. The rumble of the beast behind her was constant, never fading, always gaining. She looked in the rearview mirror once more, her pulse quickening. Arashi was gaining. The distance between them was shrinking with every passing second.
Then, Arashi’s grin reached his ears. His expression can be seen inside Lana’s rearview mirror. Lana, looking at it, her brain played an illusion of Arashi’s laughing voice in her head, the voice was chilling—like a savage predator closing in on its prey. The sound of it crawled down her spine, cold and mocking.
"Dammit!" she muttered under her breath, feeling a pang of doubt gnaw at her. Despite every effort, despite the grit and determination that kept her going, the pressure was starting to mount. The GT-R was relentless.
But Lana refused to back down. She wasn’t about to let Arashi get the better of her—not when everything was on the line.
“This isn’t over, not yet.”