The Akinabalu Motorsports drivers started training every day as the deadline approached. They trained in the morning, evening, and even at night to prepare for the race. Alice reviewed some of the footage that Ghazali gave her and managed to improve her time. On the final day of practice before the qualifiers, the team trained until night and held a group meeting inside the pit.

"Alright team, tomorrow is our big day. I want everyone to be well-rested and get here early in the morning. Tomorrow will be a tough day so be prepared!" The manager told the entire team.

They all agreed and began packing their stuff up and going back home. Sugimoto had already packed her stuff but noticed Alice's belongings still inside the break room. Sugimoto searched for Alice and saw her staring at the track from the pit.

"Yo kid, it's time to go home." Sugimoto calls her from a distance.

"Y-yeah, In a bit." Alice told him.

Alice begins walking down the pit lanes and sits on the barricade. The moon shines brightly on her face as she starts reminiscing about the past when her father used to bring her to watch his races.

"I wish you were here with me Dad. It's been years since you're gone." She muttered to herself and wiped away her tears.

Sugimoto steps outside the pit and sees Alice sitting on the barricade in the distance. He signals Alice to leave the track. Alice nodded and went back over to the pit and packed her stuff. As they walked out, Sugimoto remembers that

"Does the bus come this late on a Saturday night?" Sugimoto asked her.

"Shoot, I was so caught up with tonight's practice that I forgot all about home!" She said and began to get worried.

"That's quite unusual coming from you. Well, you want a ride?" Sugimoto asked her.

"R-Really? If it's not a burden or anything." Alice said hesitantly.

"We're teammates, aren't we? We still gotta help each other even if it's not on the tracks." Sugimoto reassures her.

"Thanks, Senpai, you're a lifesaver!" Alice told him happily.

After packing their belongings, they headed towards the parking lot where Sugimoto parked his car. When they got in the car, Alice noticed that it had recently been cleaned and there was no trash in sight.

"Huh, You finally cleaned your car Senpai?" Alice said as she teased him.

"I just cleaned it yesterday and it now sparkles like a beauty!" Sugimoto replied happily.

Alice showed her address to Sugimoto and they began heading towards her home. During the car ride, there was an awkward silence and Alice twirled her fingers thinking of something to help break the ice.

"You remembered that Richard guy right?" Sugimoto asks her.

"You meant that jerk from the other day? She told him.

"That was Richard RIverson. He's the number one driver for the Riverson Racing team." Sugimoto revealed to her.

"I see, he's your friend or something?" Alice asked Sugimoto.

"He was one of my friends during the academy days. What did Richard tell you?" Sugimoto asked her.

"He said something about the company going through some financial issues." Alice told Sugimoto with a sad tone.

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"He's not completely wrong you know?" Sugimoto revealed to her.

"So the company is truly struggling huh?" Alice sighs knowing it's probably the truth.

"Yeah, but the issues didn't come recently. It started about 2 years ago when sponsors started pulling away and it has become a problem for the company for a few years now." Sugimoto told her.

"I-I see. I guess I really was the company's last option." Alice muttered feeling a bit sad.

"That's not true either." Sugimoto told her.

"Why do you say that? Why would they pick a random girl to race for such a prestigious company!" Alice questioned Sugimoto.

"We used to have another driver who drove for us but he quit just before round 5 and round 6 of ROA Cup. The manager was trying to find another candidate for this year's edition of the ROA Cup and he had a few drivers that he wanted to choose from. He had a variety of drivers to choose from and I was fairly certain he would probably pick someone he knew in the past. Somehow he picked you instead." He elaborates to her.

"Why did he pick me then?" Alice asked curiously.

"Like heck if I know, but once you arrived, the manager began smiling again. Maybe he was right about you, who knows, maybe you are our savior." Sugimoto told her.

Alice nodded and began feeling a bit better about herself. She starts smiling and looks towards Sugimoto.

"Thanks, Senpai. I really needed that. I'll show the manager and that brat what I got!" Alice said confidently.

Sugimoto smiled as she saw her return to her old self. He then gave Alice a head pat.

"Oi don't treat me like a kid!" She said as she pushed his hand.

Upon reaching Alice's home, Sugimoto dropped her off, waved goodbye, and drove off. Alice slowly entered her house so she wouldn't disturb her grandpa. She managed to make her way to her room without disturbing him. She sat on the bed and reflected on everything that had happened that day, recalling the various techniques she had learned. Eventually, she went to bed and dozed off.

The next day, Alice arrived at the circuit fairly early and well-rested. She began feeling nervous about what would have come if she succeeded in qualifying for the event. While she stands at the entrance, Sugimoto appears behind her and places his hand on her head.

"Senpai!" She squealed at him.

"Feeling nervous kid?" Sugimoto smiles at her.

"J-Just a bit, but I'm mostly confident!" She casually lifts his hand away.

"Well, I'm feeling confident today, so much so that I'm aiming for pole position for this race." He told Alice.

"You really are cocky today aren't you Senpai?" Alice told him.

They went to the main building and signed some documents. After that, they went over to the paddock where they saw many teams who would be participating in the qualifiers. Alice saw many types of cars including brands from all over the world. They entered their garage and the manager gathered everyone for a team talk.

"I want everyone to give it their all today, I'm confident that this season we will qualify for round one of the championship!" The manager said feeling enthusiastic.

The team clapped their hands and began doing some warm-ups outside the garage. After that, the crew checked the cars and their equipment to prepare. Ghazali on the other hand made sure everyone was in check as he acted as the driver's principal and head of the pit crew team. Alice and Sugimoto stared at Ghazali as he gave orders around the garage.

"Ghazali sure is working hard today." Alice told Sugimoto.

"Well, he is the principal, he has to make sure everything is in tip-top shape. I guess that's a good thing for us." Sugimoto told her.

All the drivers competing in the qualifiers were gathered together in a room to listen to a quick briefing about the procedures by the stewards who will be organizing the entire process of the qualifiers. The announcers began announcing the names of the racing teams and the racers for the qualifying of the ROA Cup Round 1. Alice looked onto the stands to see numerous people sitting and watching. Alice felt a bit nervous and she started overthinking.

"I need to succeed in the qualifiers. I don't want to let the team down if I messed up." Alice muttered to herself.

The manager checked off everything on his list and noticed Alice fidgeting by the garage entrance. He decided to approach her to help calm her down.

"Hey there Alice, you seem nervous." The manager told her.

"Ah, hey manager. I'm just a bit nervous that's all, I'm confident I could do it!" Alice told the manager.

"I see, you don't have to worry too much alright? Just be safe out there and show 'em what you got!" The manager told her and gave her some motivation.

"Thanks, manager, I'll show them what I'm made of!"Alice said to the manager after hearing his motivation.

The manager smiled as he heard her regain her confidence once again.

"I'm glad to hear it. Show them who you are Alice." The manager said.

The commentator began calling all the racers and pit crew to stand outside their garages and urged the bystanders at the spectator's stands to stand up for the Akinabalu national anthem. The national anthem starts playing and the sun begins rising on Mount Akinabalu. The sky is clear and the track conditions are optimal. After the national anthem ended, the crowd cheered and clapped their hands, waiting for the first cars to roll onto the track and begin the qualifiers.