Summer, 202X. Mount Yougou. It was a peaceful night on the mountain pass, with the crickets chirping in the cool air and a gentle breeze rustling through the trees. The world seemed to stand still under the soft glow of the moon, the silence of the night only broken by the occasional screech of tires as a car sped down the mountain. It was 4:45 AM, and a White and Black AE86 Trueno was flying down the winding mountain pass, expertly drifting around corners with astonishing speed. The identity of the driver remained a mystery. Whispers around town said that every morning at 4:00 AM, this car would deliver tofu to Lake Yougou, no matter the weather. Rain, snow, shine, or clouds, the AE86 would always be there, racing through the mountain roads to deliver tofu to the nearby shops and hotels, almost like clockwork.
One afternoon, at a local gas station, March was pestering Collei about pooling their money together to buy a car. March had her sights set on something rear-wheel drive, something sporty.
"I was thinking about a Supra Twin Turbo," March said, scrolling through her phone, "but it's way over budget. And it's not even registered, so that adds to the cost."
Collei leaned against the gas station pump, arms crossed. "And how much is your budget?" she asked, a skeptical look on her face.
March sighed in frustration. "Around 8 million…"
She continued scrolling through used car listings, her eyes lighting up when she spotted something. "Wait, check this out!" she exclaimed, rushing over to Collei, phone in hand. "If we pool our money together, we could buy this AE86!"
Collei waved her hand dismissively. "I don't know, March. I already have a car for deliveries."
March's expression turned dramatic. "That old junker? It might as well be heading straight for the scrapyard!" She shook her head, exasperated. "What we need is something stylish—something that turns heads!"
Collei scratched her head in confusion as the two continued to argue. Just then, Beidou, who had been listening to their conversation from a distance, jumped in.
"You girls have good taste," she said with a smile. "An AE86 is a great car to start with. It's got a solid engine, a limited-slip differential, and it's perfect for mountain pass runs."
March turned to Collei, eager to make her point. "See? Even Beidou agrees! An AE86 is perfect for both of us!"
Before Collei could respond, Beidou added, "Speaking of mountain passes, my team and I are heading up to Mount Yougou tonight for some practice runs. You guys should join us!"
March jumped up with excitement but quickly realized their predicament—they didn't have a car.
Beidou, sensing March's dilemma, grinned and pointed to her Nissan Skyline R32. "I can give you a ride," she offered.
March let out a joyful cheer, immediately accepting Beidou's offer. She grabbed Collei by the arm, pulling her along. "Come on, Collei! You have to join too!"
Collei didn't have much of a choice as March practically forced her into the adventure, no matter how reluctant she felt.
That evening, as the sun began to set, Beidou waved to the girls from a distance. "Meet me at the bus stop at 8:00 PM sharp!"
March gave a thumbs up, dragging Collei along with her. Just as they were about to leave, Lyney Snezhevich, the manager and owner of the gas station, walked over to Beidou.
"I overheard your conversation. You headed to Yougou?" he asked.
Beidou nodded. "Yep, gotta keep my skills sharp. Plus, my team's the fastest on Mount Yougou."
Lyney crossed his arms and smirked. "You know, you're not the only one claiming to be the fastest around Yougou. Back when I was still racing, there was this one woman everyone knew as the undisputed fastest driver. And she's still around, racing the mountain pass to this day."
Beidou chuckled, thinking Lyney was joking. "You're kidding, right? I know every driver around here, and none of them are old timers."
Lyney's smirk widened. "Oh, I'm serious. This woman drives at a different time than you and your gang. You see, she owns a tofu shop."
Beidou looked confused. "Wait, what?"
Lyney explained, leaning in a bit. "She leaves every morning around 3 or 4 AM to deliver tofu to the hotels and Lake Yougou. Her speed is unmatched, and because it's her business, she's out there every day, rain or snow. She knows every crack and bend in the road like the back of her hand. Believe me, Beidou, the fastest car on Mount Yougou is an AE86—one that delivers tofu."
Beidou couldn't suppress a shiver. "A tofu delivery AE86?" she said incredulously.
That night, at the Narukami shopping street, Arlecchino stood outside her home, reading a newspaper. She was interrupted by the sound of footsteps.
"Where do you think you're going? Sneaking out?" Arlecchino asked, stopping Collei in her tracks.
Collei turned around, a sheepish smile on her face. "I've got plans with March. We're just hanging out."
Arlecchino raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Alright, but don't be late. And don't make me drag you out of bed tomorrow morning."
Collei nodded and then glanced over at the car in the driveway. She quickly made her way to the bus station where March was already waiting. Beidou's R32 was parked nearby, ready to pick them up.
As the night wore on and the journey to Mount Yougou began, the sounds of engines revving and tires screeching echoed through the mountain pass. Beidou's R32 led a convoy of three cars, with Seele following in her Nissan Fairlady S30Z and Pela in her Toyota MR2 W20. Inside the R32, Collei was clinging to anything she could in the backseat, her face pale with fear as Beidou expertly navigated the hairpin turns.
"Did you hit your head with a book, Collei?" March yelled over the noise of the engine. "You're making Beidou lose concentration!"
Collei, still holding on for dear life, yelled back, "Are you kidding me?! I'm screaming because I'm scared out of my mind!"
Beidou laughed, unfazed. "Don't worry, March. I'm used to it. You're riding with a real street racer now."
As they raced through the twists and turns of the mountain, Beidou expertly downshifted from third to second gear, maneuvering through another tight corner, her rear end fishtailing again. Collei screamed in terror, her grip tightening. March, growing more frustrated with the constant screaming, yelled at her, "Shut up, already!"
The night continued, and all three cars eventually reached the top of the mountain pass. Collei was the first to get out, stumbling to a nearby gutter to catch her breath.
Beidou, pulling over, apologized for the aggressive driving. March crouched down to face Collei, a concerned expression on her face. "What's wrong with you, Collei? It's like you're riding a roller coaster at an amusement park!"
Collei looked up at March, visibly shaken. "I like roller coasters, March. But this is different. You don't understand the fear, the crazy feeling inside me when we're flying down those roads."
March stood up, slightly baffled. Just then, Seele stepped in to defend Collei. "Come on, March. Cut her some slack. It's her first time riding with us."
March, realizing Seele had a point, nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It's her first time after all..."
Meanwhile, back at the gas station, Lyney was finishing his shift and locking up when he heard the unmistakable sound of rotary engines. He turned to look just as two RX7s—one white and one in midnight purple—zoomed past his station, one old and one new.
"Never seen those guys before," Lyney muttered to himself. "If they're headed to Yougou, something big is about to go down."