That morning at the gas station, Seele and Pela inform March and Collei that Beidou's R32 engine had blown up during a practice run the previous night at Yougou. March's face falls as she hears the news, her voice filled with concern.
"Is Beidou okay?" she asks, her tone heavy with worry.
Seele reassures her, though there's a hint of relief in her voice. "She's fine, thankfully. Her car narrowly missed the guardrail. It could've been much worse."
Pela chimes in, adding more details.
"She spun it 360 degrees but managed to regain control before it got out of hand. It's a good thing her driving skills are top-notch."
March, still shaken by the news, asks, "So... who's going to race in Beidou's place?"
Seele doesn't hesitate for a moment. "That will be me, with my S30Z."
Meanwhile, across town, Beidou visits her mechanic. She stands in the garage, examining the wreckage of her R32 as her mechanic looks on with a mixture of concern and relief.
"Glad you're alright," the mechanic says, sounding grateful. "You were lucky. But we have a contact who specializes in modified engines. We won't be putting another stock RB26DETT in that car. Instead, we've ordered a billet RB26DETT, custom-built for your R32."
Beidou's eyes brighten slightly, a sense of excitement bubbling up as she imagines her R32's new heart. But her smile fades just as quickly, replaced with a shadow of worry.
"I'm excited for the new engine," she says, "but the race is tomorrow..."
Back at the gas station the next day, Beidou asks Seele to take her to Harth's Tofu Shop. There's something she needs to do before the race, and she's determined to make it happen.
Upon entering, she spots Arlecchino, who is waiting for customers. The moment their eyes meet, Arlecchino recognizes Beidou with a knowing look.
"Oh, it's you," Arlecchino says with a smirk. "Where's your car?"
Beidou hesitates for a moment before answering. "It... its engine blew up two nights ago."
Arlecchino's expression softens, genuine sympathy in her voice. "That's rough. I'm glad you're alright, though."
Beidou nods, brushing off the concern. "It's alright. Can I get a box of fried tofu, please?"
As Arlecchino begins preparing the order, she delivers some unexpected news.
"You know, kid... I thought it over, and I might race for you tonight."
Beidou's face lights up in pure joy, and she immediately thanks Arlecchino. "Thank you so much! You won't regret this!"
Arlecchino simply hands over the tofu, but before Beidou can say anything else, she's already heading back to Seele's S30Z, leaving Arlecchino behind, slightly amused.
"You won't regret this, Ms. Arlecchino!" Beidou calls out as she climbs into the car.
Arlecchino watches her leave, a cryptic smile on her lips. "Little did you know... I'm not the one driving the Eight-Six tonight. It'll be a surprise for you…"
That afternoon, Collei arrives at the gas station. She heads up the stairs, but suddenly stops and turns back toward Arlecchino, who is browsing her phone.
"Hey, Dad," Collei calls out. "Is it possible for me to borrow the car tomorrow?"
Arlecchino doesn't even look up, her response quick and firm. "No can do, kiddo. I've got a meeting tomorrow, and I need the car."
Collei's face flushes with irritation, her frustration rising. "Really? Ugh, your timing really sucks. I need it!"
Arlecchino chuckles, a teasing glint in her eye. "I see how it is. Planning to go on a date with that pink-haired friend of yours, are you?"
Collei, flustered and embarrassed, snaps back. "None of your business! Stop being a pain and just let me take the car. I'll take it if I want to!"
She stomps up the stairs, but Arlecchino's voice halts her in her tracks.
"That car isn't going anywhere without the key, and that key's going to be hanging around my neck like a necklace."
Clearly annoyed, Collei rushes back down the stairs. "What's your deal?"
Arlecchino raises her hand in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. You can take the car."
Collei's face brightens with relief. "Really? Thank you so much!"
But Arlecchino's expression shifts to something more serious as she stands up, holding the keys to the Eight-Six dangling in her hand.
"But.. There's one condition," she says, her voice low.
Collei, now curious, asks, "What's the condition?"
Arlecchino's smile widens slightly as she shows her the keys. "Tonight, at 10 PM, you'll head up to Yougou. Find some girl driving an FD. They say she's the fastest in Araumi. Beat the living fire out of her in a downhill race."
Collei scratches her head, slightly confused. "Wait, what?"
Arlecchino smirks, clearly enjoying the moment. "If you do it and win, I'll throw in a full tank of gas for you."
Collei hesitates for a moment, but then nods in agreement. "A full tank of gas? Fine, I'll do it."
Arlecchino's grin widens as she tosses the keys to Collei. "That's my girl. Now get some rest. You're gonna need it tonight."
Back at the gas station, Beidou is carefully inspecting the engine of Seele's S30Z, while Pela checks the suspension setup on the lift. Beidou, in her usual focused manner, runs through the engine specifications in her head.
"If I remember correctly, this is a 3.1-liter L28 six-cylinder with twin turbos," she mutters. "And it's tuned to about 600 horsepower. Look, Seele, I get it. Power's important, but when it comes to downhill racing, it's all about cornering, not just power."
Seele, slightly defensive, glances up from her work. "I know that. I lowered the boost on the turbos. Last time I checked the dyno, it was pushing around 400 horsepower, tops."
Beidou looks unconvinced, but before she can say anything more, Pela straightens up from checking the suspension. "All is good here. The setup is solid. If you need to race Keqing, you're ready."
Seele remains unsure about Arlecchino's appearance. "I'm still not convinced she'll show up."
Beidou places a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "She'll be there. She promised me."
That evening, as Lyney locks up the gas station, several convoys of cars head up to Mt. Yougou. There's a palpable buzz in the air. The race between Beidou's team and Keqing's is about to go down, and it's going to be a massive event.
The Yougou Pass is packed with spectators eager to watch the showdown. At the top of Yougou, Beidou and her team wait, glancing at the clock, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Keqing and Ningguang. But they're also waiting for one more crucial arrival—Arlecchino and her Eight-Six.
The two RX-7s arrive at the top of Yougou. Ningguang parks her FC in the rest area, while Keqing parks her FD at the starting line. Keqing steps out of her car, her gaze sharp and focused, while Ningguang walks over to her side. They exchange a few words and wait, the tension growing with every passing second.
Back at the base of Yougou, Collei is preparing to leave. She asks Arlecchino if she should bring a cup of water for the race. Arlecchino giggles, amused by the question.
"You won't need a water cup, kid," she says. "You're not carrying tofu this time. All you need to do is drive your hardest."
Collei nods, understanding the unspoken message. She rolls up the window and drives off toward Yougou, her mind racing with thoughts of the challenge ahead.
As the clock ticks closer to 9:30 PM, Keqing's impatience begins to show.
"Come on! What are we waiting for? If that Eight-Six isn't showing up, at least tell me who's racing me!" she calls out, frustration evident in her voice.
Beidou lowers her head, the truth sinking in. She turns to Seele. "Alright, Seele. Looks like it's your turn with the S30Z."
Seele, her nerves starting to show, lines up her car beside Keqing's FD at the starting line. Beidou walks up to the driver's side window, offering some final words of encouragement.
"Are you ready for this?"
Seele wipes her palms nervously on her pants, "Kind of? I don't know, Beidou... I'm so nervous."
Beidou pats her on the shoulder, a grin crossing her face. "You've got this, Seele. Drive it like you stole it!"
Just as they're finishing their conversation, Ningguang's radio crackles to life. A spotter at the finish line reports seeing a car coming up Yougou.
Beidou's eyes widen, her heart racing with excitement. Keqing signals Ningguang to hand her the radio, and then she asks, "What's the make and model? What color?"
The radio crackles again. "It's a black-and-white car with pop-up headlights. Could be an Eight-Six? It flew past us like lightning!"
Keqing's smile widens into a knowing grin. "Finally. You showed up... Phantom."
She turns to Seele, her tone suddenly more casual. "Mind moving your car out of the way?"
Seele exhales in relief. "Not a problem at all."
Seele backs up her S30Z and parks it in the rest area. Right on cue, the Eight-Six appears, slowly cruising toward the start line. The car then turns around and parks next to Keqing's RX-7.
March watches, her eyes narrowing. She could have sworn it looked like Collei's Eight-Six. As the car door opens, out steps a young girl with green hair—someone they all recognize. The driver... is someone they all know.