That night, the team was parked at a rest area near Corner A105 in Amakane. The quiet hum of idling engines echoed in the cool air as Beidou, Seele, Collei, and Pela sat watching the locals expertly drift through the sharp 90-degree left-hander. Their cars, sleek and agile, slid effortlessly through the corner, showing just how well they knew the pass.
March glanced over at Collei, her curiosity piqued. "So... Collei?" she began, her tone gentle but curious. "I know you haven't driven any passes besides Yougou, but what do you think of this one so far?"
Collei, deep in thought, rubbed her chin before answering. "I can't really say until I try driving here myself. But from what I've seen from the back seat, this track is very tight... It's different from what I'm used to."
Before March could reply, the unmistakable roar of a Flat-4 Turbo engine echoed through the winding roads. The sound grew louder, and the group's attention shifted to the oncoming car.
Seele leaned forward, her eyes lighting up. "Here it is! The GT86!"
The car, a gleaming blue GT86, approached the corner with precision. As it neared, the driver expertly braked and initiated a perfect braking drift. The car slid through the sharp left turn, its tail kicking out effortlessly. The driver controlled the slide with skill, passing through the corner at breakneck speeds. Then, as if the laws of physics didn't apply, the car countersteered with ease and transitioned into a continuous inertia drift, seamlessly gliding through the next corner.
Pela's eyes widened in awe. "No way! A continuous inertia drift! And at those speeds! They're freaking quick!"
Beidou, watching with a smirk, crossed her arms. "I think we've seen enough. Let's head home, guys."
The group piled into their cars and began the journey back down the pass, the convoy flowing smoothly through the winding roads of Amakane. March, ever the enthusiast, decided to let Collei take the wheel of her Supra for a while. It would give Collei a feel for what driving a pass like Amakane was truly like.
As they made their way deeper into the pass, Beidou, who had been leading the convoy, started to increase her speed gradually. Her R32's engine growled, cutting through the crisp night air as the adrenaline in the car rose.
March, sensing the change in pace, leaned forward in her seat, her voice laced with curiosity. "Is it just me, or has Beidou picked up the pace a little here?"
Collei tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her eyes scanning the road ahead. "Looks like it," she replied, trying to keep up with the sudden shift in tempo.
Seele, sitting in the back, was watching Beidou's every move with a trained eye. "She's way out of her groove. It's not like her to push so hard on an unfamiliar pass," she noted, her voice filled with concern.
And then, just as Seele predicted, disaster struck. Beidou's R32 suddenly lost grip. The rear of the car broke loose as the turbo spooled too quickly. Despite Beidou's quick attempt to countersteer, the car spun out of control. It slid sideways, coming to a stop just inches from March's Supra.
March gasped, her heart racing. "Jeez! She spun!"
Seele leaned back in her seat, her expression calm but matter-of-fact. "I told you so. She doesn't normally drive fast when she's not familiar with the roads. She usually takes it easy."
The sound of a turbo wastegate suddenly echoed through the air, signaling the arrival of another car.
Collei glanced into her rearview mirror, her eyes narrowing. "Looks like we've got some company."
In the distance, the familiar blue GT86 appeared, slowly cruising toward them. But instead of rushing to pass, the car took its time, as though the driver was simply heading home after a long day. It slowed down further as it approached, creeping past the Supra and the R32 with a calmness that contrasted sharply with the earlier scene.
The co-driver, a young woman with dark hair, leaned over and glanced out her window at the two cars. "Looks like someone went a bit too fast and overcompensated," she remarked, her tone teasing yet concerned.
The driver, a tall woman with platinum blonde hair, glanced over at her co-driver. "Yeah. We should check on them," she said, her voice steady but with a hint of concern.
The co-driver rolled down her window, calling out to Beidou and the others. "Hey, are you guys okay? Looks like a nasty spin happened here."
Beidou, still recovering from the spin, glanced to her left, offering a sheepish grin. "Oh, um, yeah! I punched the gas a little too early, and the turbo spooling caught me off guard!"
Her eyes widened as she saw who was driving the GT86. "No way... Eula!?"
Eula's eyes locked onto Beidou's, her face showing the same surprise. "Beidou!?"
Inside the Supra, Collei's eyes widened as she processed the situation. "Amber!?"
March raised an eyebrow, confused. "Amber?"
Collei turned to her, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "She's one of my old friends from elementary school. She moved to a different town before high school."
Without another word, Collei opened the door of the Supra and stepped out. She walked toward the GT86, her footsteps light on the cool asphalt as she approached her long-lost friend.
"Amber?" Collei called, her voice tentative.
Amber, seated in the passenger side of the GT86, looked over her shoulder. Her eyes widened when she saw Collei standing there. "Oh... Collei," she whispered, almost as if she couldn't believe it.
The two of them stood there for a moment, their gazes locked. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the space between them filled with unspoken memories.
Amber's voice broke the silence. "I... I'm sorry we have to meet like this," she said, her tone full of regret and a hint of sadness.
Collei didn't look away. "So do I, Amber," she replied softly, her heart heavy with mixed emotions.
Amber sighed, then gently leaned back into her seat. Eula, sensing the moment, gave a small nod before driving off slowly. The blue GT86 rumbled away, leaving the rest of the group in quiet contemplation.
Beidou, her adrenaline still high, spun her R32 around and followed Eula's GT86 to a nearby rest area, her mind buzzing with thoughts of the encounter. The night was far from over.
They stop by at a convenience store before an intersection, Beidou then pulls Eula to one side while Collei approaches Amber who steps out of Eula's GT86
Beidou pointed aggressively at Eula. "Okay, Eula. Enough of the bullshit. What's going on? Are you really the fastest in Amakane?"
Eula nodded firmly, her expression unyielding. "Yes. Yes, I am."
Beidou turned away briefly, throwing her hands up in exasperation. Moments later, she spun back toward Eula. "Why didn't you say anything sooner!? It would have made everything so much simpler to understand!"
Eula clasped her hands behind her back, her voice quiet and unsure. "I don't know, Beidou. I really don't know what I was thinking."
As the tension between Beidou and Eula continued, Collei and Amber caught up, their footsteps soft against the asphalt.
Collei leaned casually against the GT86 beside Amber, flashing her a bright smile. "How have you been? It's been forever since I last saw you."
Amber grinned, her eyes sparkling. "I've been great. I've actually been hearing a lot about you, Collei."
Collei blinked, her eyebrows raising slightly. "You've heard about me?"
Amber nodded, her voice teasing. "Oh, yeah. The downhill ace of Yougou. You racing those top-of-the-line sports cars in your father's AE86? That's incredible."
Collei's cheeks flushed slightly, her gaze dropping to the ground for a moment. "Oh… I was just… um… doing what I was tasked to do."
Amber giggled softly, nudging her playfully. "You never changed, did you, Collei?"
Collei chuckled. "I don't know about that."
Amber's eyes softened, a warm blush creeping up her cheeks. "You still look as good as the first time I met you, you know."
Collei blushed deeply, her face turning a shade of red that was almost impossible to ignore. "Oh… um… thanks?"
Amber laughed lightly, the sound carefree and joyful. "You never change at all, Collei."
Collei scratched the back of her neck, a slight nervousness creeping into her voice. "So… um, Amber? Just wondering… do you live around here now?"
Amber smiled warmly. "Actually, yeah. I moved back to Yougou a couple of months ago."
Collei's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you moved back?!"
Amber winked, her expression playful. "Yep! I moved back."
Collei touched her chin thoughtfully. "So… you and Eula—are you partners or something?"
Amber shook her head lightly, her smile still genuine. "No, we're just friends. I helped her tune the suspension in her GT86. Made sure she could get all the potential out of it."
Collei let out a relieved breath. "Oh, I see… Heh."
Amber's laughter filled the air. "You definitely haven't changed at all, Collei."
Meanwhile, the conversation between Beidou and Eula continued with renewed intensity.
Beidou narrowed her eyes, her tone low and serious. "Tell me the truth, and I mean it. What are you really after, Eula?"
Eula sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I'm after the Eight Six."
Beidou's eyes widened in shock. "The Eight Six?"
Eula nodded, her expression tinged with determination. "Yes. In fact, I want to step back from street racing for a bit. I'm not here for the fame or the spotlight. I just want to drive. And drive as fast as I can. I don't want to be coerced into racing here and there."
Beidou's features softened, and she slowly nodded in understanding. "Now I get it. You want your final race to be with one of your most challenging opponents. You want the Eight Six to race you?"
Eula nodded again. "Yes. And if possible, I want to race on my home course, here in Amakane."
Beidou nodded thoughtfully. "I see. But come on, Eula. Had you been honest with me from the start, it would have been much easier for me to have Collei race you."
Eula sighed, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry, Beidou."
Beidou placed a reassuring hand on Eula's shoulder, her tone softer now. "It's alright, Eula. Just… be honest with me next time."
Eula nodded, grateful. "Thank you, Beidou."
Inside the convenience store, March, Seele, and Pela had been watching Collei and Amber closely from a distance.
Seele, her gaze fixed on the pair, whispered to March. "Is it just me, or is there something more between them?"
March nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I agree. Collei mentioned on the way here that they're childhood friends, so... yeah, I'd say there's definitely something deeper there."
Pela, blushing slightly, chimed in. "Not gonna lie, those two make a pretty cute couple."
Seele and March both turned their heads toward Pela at the same time, raising eyebrows in surprise.
Pela, realizing she'd said too much, flushed with embarrassment. "Guys, get real. It's actually true, you know."
March straightened up, nodding slowly. "Now that I think about it… yeah, they really do seem like a couple."
Just then, Eula walked over to her GT86, her steps purposeful. She glanced at Amber, her voice uncertain. "So, um… we part ways here, right?"
Amber nodded, holding out her hand. "Yep. Well, Eula, it's been a pleasure working with you."
Eula took Amber's hand and shook it firmly. "Likewise, Amber. I'll see you when I see you."
With that, Eula got into her GT86 and started it up, the engine growling to life. She drove off, heading into the town of Amakane. Collei and Amber stood side by side, watching her leave.
Beidou approached Seele, Pela, and March as they exited the convenience store, her expression curious. "So, what's the deal with Amber?"
March bowed her head slightly, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "We overheard their conversation a bit. Apparently, Amber lives in Yougou now."
Beidou put a hand on her waist, intrigued. "Well, what do you know?"
Pela leaned in, whispering to Beidou. "Collei and Amber are really close friends. They've known each other since they were kids."
Beidou's eyes widened in realization. "Ah, I see."
She then walked over to Collei and Amber, a wide grin on her face. "Hey there, you two. Ready to head home?"
Collei and Amber exchanged a quick glance before Collei responded, "Yeah, let's head home."
Beidou pointed to her R32 with a smile. "Say, how about you two drive my R32 back to Yougou? You can catch up on the way. I'll ride with March in her Supra."
Collei and Amber exchanged another look before Collei raised an eyebrow, hesitant. "Are you sure?"
Beidou pulled out the keys and tossed them to Collei with a wink. "Don't sweat it, kid. Have fun!"
As Beidou made her way to March's Supra, Collei and Amber walked over to the R32, ready to begin their drive back. The convoy pulled away from the convenience store, heading back to Yougou under the clear, starry sky. The time was 10:30 PM.
On the expressway, Beidou reached over and gently touched March's shoulder. "So, March. What do you think of Collei and Amber?"
March glanced briefly at the rearview mirror, then focused back on the road. "Not gonna lie, Beidou. Amber's a great friend to Collei. She told me a bit about their past."
Beidou sat back in her seat, eager to know more. "Oh really? Do tell!"
March leaned back, still driving with one hand, her voice low. "Keep your voice down, Beidou. Pela and Seele are asleep. You see, when Collei was younger, she was really socially anxious. The type who preferred to stay indoors, away from people. She'd go out to run errands with her father, but that was about it. Then she met Amber. Amber's the type who gets along with everyone—always positive, always friendly. She helped Collei come out of her shell, and now, look at her. Collei's the type who'll talk to anyone and actually make friends."
Beidou smiled warmly, nodding in understanding. "I see. So Amber really helped Collei with her issues, huh?"
Meanwhile, in the R32, Collei glanced at Amber out of the corner of her eye. "So… Amber?"
Amber turned her gaze toward Collei. "What is it, Collei?"
Collei lightly gripped the steering wheel, her voice soft but curious. "Do you have your own car? And do you race at all?"
Amber giggled, her tone playful. "As a matter of fact, I do. I drive a blue Nissan Sileighty."
Collei raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Sileighty?"
Amber nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! It's a Nissan 180SX, but the front end has been swapped with that of a Nissan Silvia S13. Hence the name—Sileighty. 'Sil' from Silvia, and 'Eighty' from 180."
Collei snapped her fingers, her eyes lighting up with realization. "Oh, now I get it! So you do race?"
Amber smiled. "Yep. I mostly race on the uphills, but I do the downhills here and there, too."
Collei's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Actually, Beidou's team is still looking for someone to handle the uphill section in Yougou. Let me call her."
She quickly grabbed her phone and dialed Beidou's number. The phone crackled to life.
"Hey, Collei. What's up?"
Collei spoke into the phone, her voice eager. "Hey Beidou. Are we still looking for an Uphill Ace for the team?"
The phone crackled again. "Yeah, we're still looking."
Collei grinned, her fist pumping slightly. "Perfect! I'm talking to Amber right now. She drives a blue Nissan Sileighty and she mostly races the uphills in Yougou."
The phone crackled again. "A blue Sileighty? I've seen a fast one making runs on the Uphill in Yougou! The driver's quick, I'll tell you that."
Amber leaned in closer to Collei's phone, grinning. "Yeah, I was the one driving."
The phone crackled again, Beidou's voice full of excitement. "Amber! It's you!? Wow! So, how about joining the team? We're looking for an Uphill ace like you!"
Amber smiled brightly, her voice filled with joy. "I'd be honored to join your team, Beidou!"
Beidou raised her fist in triumph, even though she was in the Supra with March. "Yes! We've got ourselves an Uphill Ace!"
Amber laughed softly, glancing back through the rear windshield. "Gotta love your team leader, Collei."
Collei laughed, her eyes glinting with fondness. "That's our Beidou. Always energetic and happy."
The convoy continued their journey, a sense of camaraderie filling the air. A day full of ups and downs, drama, and the reuniting of old friends, came to a close under the vast, starry sky.