Days have passed since the intense gum tape deathmatch with Silverwolf. It was a clear, bright afternoon, and Beidou was cruising down the road in her R32 after running an errand. The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting long shadows over the road as she drove, her thoughts drifting between memories and the tasks ahead.
It was then that she noticed something unusual: a Sky Blue Toyota GT86 pulled over to the side of the road, its hazard lights blinking persistently in the otherwise quiet afternoon.
Beidou's eyes narrowed slightly. A GT86—now thats rare sight. She slowed down and instinctively pulled her car to the side of the road. With a grunt of curiosity, she stepped out of her R32 and walked toward the sleek, sporty car.
As she approached, she couldn't help but admire the GT86's sharp lines and aggressive stance. "Look at that," Beidou muttered to herself, her voice tinged with admiration. "A GT86! And it even has a Rocket Bunny Wide Body Kit!"
Just as she was about to get closer, a voice suddenly called out to her.
"Oh hey! Sorry to trouble you!" a girl called out. "I got a flat, and I don't have a spare. Do you, by any chance, have one of those tire plug kits?"
Beidou startled slightly, turning her head. "Oh! Yeah, I do! It's in my car. I'll grab it for you—" she began, but as she turned to head back to her R32, something made her stop dead in her tracks.
A flash of recognition hit her like a bolt of lightning. The girl standing in front of the GT86 had blue hair—a vibrant shade that seemed to shimmer under the sun's light. Beidou blinked, eyes widening in shock.
"Eula?!" Beidou gasped, unable to contain her surprise.
The girl, now revealed as Eula, also froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Beidou?!"
The two of them stood there, staring at each other in stunned silence for a moment. The realization slowly dawned that this wasn't just a random encounter—it was an old friend. A friend from their youth in Ritou, before Beidou had moved to the town of Yougou.
Eula recovered first, a warm, genuine smile spreading across her face. She stepped forward and extended her hand. "Beidou! It's been ages! How have you been? I can't believe this is happening."
Beidou smiled back, rubbing the back of her neck in a bit of awkwardness. "Eula! Wow, it's been great! I was just out running an errand for a buddy of mine. But—this is crazy!"
Eula blushed slightly, her hand awkwardly shifting behind her back. "Yeah... sorry about meeting under such circumstances."
Beidou chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, it's fine! Let me just grab that tire repair kit for you."
As Beidou walked back toward her R32, Eula's eyes were drawn to the rear windshield of Beidou's car. She narrowed her gaze, spotting something familiar—a team sticker, a logo Beidou had designed herself. Eula's mind raced.
"Speedsuns...?" Eula thought, her brow furrowing. "Could she possibly know a thing or two about this AE86?"
Beidou grabbed the tire repair kit from the trunk of her R32 and made her way back to the flat tire. "So, which tire's got the puncture?"
Eula led her around the car to the rear right tire, the flat causing a slight sag in the rear of the car. "This one. I noticed the rear started vibrating a lot. I pulled over as soon as it got worse."
Beidou inspected the tire closely, nodding in approval. "Huh. Looks like it's intact, at least. You made the right call pulling over when you did. Could've been worse."
Eula laughed lightly, relieved. "Yeah, I was afraid it might shred itself to bits before I could stop."
Beidou worked quickly on the tire, her hands moving with practiced ease. "Sweet ride you got here. You race?"
Eula glanced around, her eyes scanning the empty road before shaking her head. "No, not really. I just tinker with cars for fun."
Beidou smirked, her lips curling into a playful grin. "Yeah? I get that. I do the same sometimes. But as for me... I race in the mountain passes over in Yougou."
Eula's eyes widened in interest. "Oh? You race?"
Beidou nodded, her tone a little proud as she plugged the hole in the tire. "Yeah. If you've noticed the rear window, that's my team's logo. I'm their leader."
Eula's arms crossed, and she gave Beidou a once-over, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I noticed it."
Finishing the tire repair, Beidou stood up, wiping her hands on a rag. "All done. That tire should hold up as long as it needs to."
Eula clapped her hands together, a bright smile lighting up her face. "Awesome! Thanks for helping me out, Beidou! Here—let me give you my cell number. Maybe we can grab a coffee sometime, catch up?"
Beidou gave her a thumbs-up, grinning. "Sounds like a plan. Hey, it's really good to see you again, Eula."
Eula smiled warmly at her, the familiar bond between them rekindling instantly. "Good to see you too, Beidou."
The two of them parted ways, Eula getting back into her GT86 and Beidou returning to her R32. As Beidou drove away, she couldn't help but feel a mix of nostalgia and excitement. It had been years since she'd last seen Eula, and now fate had thrown them back together. The thought of catching up was thrilling.
The following morning, Beidou filled in the rest of the team about her unexpected reunion with her old friend.
March, always eager for a juicy story, leaned in, her eyes wide. "Wait—you're telling me your old friend drives a tricked-out GT86? With a Rocket Bunny kit?"
Beidou nodded, a gleam of excitement in her eyes. "Yep. It was a total surprise. We're planning to catch up tomorrow. See how things are going."
Seele, who had been leaning casually against her Devil Z, raised an eyebrow. "Where exactly are you meeting?"
Beidou, a bit surprised by her interest, raised an eyebrow herself. "Don't know why you're so curious, but somewhere near Amakane."
Pela, her curiosity piqued, rubbed her chin. "Can we meet her? Can we see her?"
Beidou shook her head firmly. "Nope. This is just a catch-up between old friends."
March, her hands clasped together in a pleading gesture, leaned closer. "Pretty please, Beidou? We wanna meet her!"
Beidou was firm, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Sorry, no can do. Maybe next time."
As Beidou turned to leave, Seele motioned for Collei, March, and Pela to follow her behind the Devil Z.
Seele's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "How about we follow her tomorrow? Let's see what this 'old buddy' of hers is really like."
March grinned, winking. "I like the sound of that."
Pela gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "Count me in!"
Collei, however, frowned, her expression full of concern. "And what do we tell Beidou if we get caught?"
Seele winked at Collei, a cocky grin on her face. "Don't worry about it, we won't get caught."
The next day, Beidou was behind the wheel, cruising down the expressway towards a café in Amakane. She was in her R32 Skyline, a car that always commanded attention, and her friends were trailing her in March's Supra, though keeping a safe distance. The decision to not take any other car had been easy—Pela's MR2 was a two-seater, which made it impractical for a group outing, and Collei's dad had borrowed the AE86 for errands.
March, ever the playful spirit, loosely gripped the steering wheel of the Supra. "Hehe, gotta keep a low profile!" she said, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.
Seele, who was sitting in the passenger seat, leaned her elbow out of the window and surveyed the group ahead of them. "You know, Beidou's the type to overreact or exaggerate things. I remember this one time when she had just moved to Yougou. We went fishing at Lake Yougou to get to know each other. The fish aren't that big there, but when we caught a small one, she acted like we'd landed a monster." Seele chuckled, mimicking Beidou's dramatic reaction. "'LOOK AT THAT FISH!' she yelled. Everyone around us stared, probably thinking we were insane."
As Seele finished, Beidou glanced at her rearview mirror and immediately spotted the familiar Supra trailing her.
Beidou let out a soft sigh. "Those idiots. Heh."
She eased off the gas, letting March's Supra slide up next to her.
Pela, in the back seat of the Supra, laughed. "Haha! Didn't know Beidou was like that!"
As March, Seele, and Pela laughed at the story, Collei, who had been quietly observing, suddenly tensed. Her eyes widened, and she grabbed their attention.
"Umm, guys. We've got company!"
March, startled, looked to her left and immediately recognized the annoyed look on Beidou's face in her rearview mirror.
March's eyes widened in realization. "Oh crap! We were so focused on the story, we completely forgot to pay attention to the road!"
Collei, unimpressed, facepalmed. "No, March. You forgot to pay attention to the road."
At the Amakane Café, the group pulled into the parking lot. March immediately jumped out of the Supra, hands together in apology. "I'm so sorry, Beidou! Our curiosity got the better of us! Please forgive us!"
Beidou sighed, but with a good-natured smile, she nodded. "It's alright. I'll introduce you to her. But after that, you'd better part ways with us for a bit."
March's eyes lit up. "Awesome! Thanks, Beidou!"
Just as Beidou spoke, a girl with striking blue hair approached, walking with a graceful air that matched her poised demeanor. Beidou gestured to her friends.
"Hey, Eula. I want you to meet a couple of my buddies from my team."
Eula turned to wave at the group with an elegant gesture. "Hey there! My name's Eula Lawrence. Nice to meet you all."
The group stared at her, taken aback by how refined and composed she seemed, a stark contrast to their more casual nature.
Beidou then turned to Eula with a grin. "Come on, Eula, let's head inside."
The two of them walked toward the entrance, and Beidou waved her hand, shooing away the others before stepping inside.
Seele glanced at the others, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Say, since we're in Amakane, why don't we head over to Amakane Pass?"
March's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Great plan! Let's also remove the Targa top! Gotta make use of these clear skies!"
Without wasting a moment, March leapt into action, swiftly removing the Targa top from the Supra and placing it neatly in the trunk. The group then hopped into the car, the engine purring as they set off toward Amakane Pass. Meanwhile, Beidou and Eula were settling into their seats inside the café, their drinks in front of them.
Beidou scratched her chin thoughtfully. "So, Eula. Gotta ask you—do you race at all?"
Eula giggled softly, a sound that seemed to blend perfectly with her poised manner. "No, I don't race as much. I prefer modifying my cars to my liking. I do race here and there, but mostly at circuit events. If not that, I show them off at car meets or park them at various spots around the Pass."
She placed her hands on the table, leaning forward slightly. "So, you race in Yougou, right?"
Beidou's grin widened as she nodded. "Yeah, I run a racing team there. Those buddies you met a while ago, they're members of my team. One of them is even an honorary member."
Eula raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Honorary?"
Beidou smirked, clearly enjoying the chance to share this detail. "Yeah. She doesn't belong to any team, but if a challenger comes from outside our league, she steps in. She races on behalf of everyone in Yougou, like some kind of lone knight."
Eula's eyes narrowed in thought. "It has to be the AE86," she thought, a smile slowly curling at the edges of her lips. "Oh, really? That sounds incredible! It's nice to know that there's someone so dedicated to their home turf and their team."
Meanwhile, at Amakane Pass, the others were observing the winding road ahead.
March leaned forward, a hint of concern in her voice. "Man, is it just me, or are these roads ridiculously curvy and narrow?"
Seele, squinting ahead, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, there's a ton of corners on this pass. It's pretty tricky to navigate, especially if you're not familiar with it. You'd almost need a rally co-driver to race here."
Pela nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, but I wonder who holds the time record here. I bet they're really talented."
Back at the café, Beidou and Eula had just finished their food and drinks. Eula took a final sip of her coffee before setting the cup down gently. "So, Beidou. What's it like being a street racer?"
Beidou smiled with a hint of pride. "Well, being a street racer means you do your best to set the fastest times on your home turf, accept challenges from outsiders, and protect your territory. It's all about proving yourself."
At a local gas station in Amakane, Seele, Collei, Pela, and March were informed by a gas attendant about the fastest car in the area.
Seele raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A GT86?"
The gas boy nodded, clearly eager to share the gossip. "Yep. A sky-blue GT86 holds the fastest time around here. And get this— recently word spreads that the driver now has a co-driver, almost like rally style."
Pela, who had just taken a sip of coffee, nearly spat it out in shock. "A co-driver? But why do they need one?"
The gas boy leaned in, his voice low with excitement. "Amakane Pass has too many tight corners. To stay safe and maintain control, the driver runs with a co-driver who knows the pass so well, she could probably drive it with her eyes closed. She knows exactly when to start drifting, just by the sound of the engine."
March, ever curious, turned to Seele. "So what exactly is a GT86?"
Seele's eyes glinted with knowledge. "The GT86 is the successor to the AE86. It was built in collaboration with Subaru. It's a lightweight, affordable sports car with tons of modification potential. And like the AE86, it's not about brute force power; it's all about agility and precision."
Pela scratched her head, still processing the information. "But still, the fastest racer here is a GT86?"
The gas boy finished topping off the Supra's tank. "Yep. You can catch her on the pass most nights, but if you plan on challenging her, I'd reconsider. She's unbeaten, and even the best of the locals can't touch her."
Back at the café, Beidou and Eula were wrapping up their conversation. Eula raised an eyebrow in amusement. "So, Beidou, if I were to get into street racing, what car would you recommend?"
Beidou tapped her chin thoughtfully. "What kind of style are you thinking? Grip or drift?"
Eula looked up as if weighing the options. "I'd go with drift."
Beidou grinned and winked at her. "Then your GT86 is perfect! I don't know what modifications you've got under the hood, but like my buddy's AE86, the GT86 is a great car to start your drifting career."
Eula's eyes narrowed slightly, a thoughtful smile playing at the corner of her lips. "So, that AE86... it's the 'honorary member' of the Speed Suns. Very interesting."
She straightened up, her voice laced with admiration. "Really? That's awesome!"
Moments later, Beidou and Eula stepped out of the café, their conversation still lingering in the air. Eula shook Beidou's hand. "It was really nice catching up with you again, Beidou. Until next time."
Beidou waved as Eula walked back to her car. "Till next time, Eula!"
As they parted ways, Beidou walked toward her R32, but the sound of a familiar engine roar caught her attention from behind.
She turned to see March and her crew stepping out of the Supra.
March spotted Beidou and grinned sheepishly. "Oh, hey Beidou. We're just gonna grab a cup of coffee here. Hope you don't mind."
Beidou smiled, waving them off. "Oh, it's no big deal. I was about to head up to Amakane Pass to see the locals anyway."
Seele's face lit up. "Alright, we'll take our coffees to go then. We'll follow along."
Soon after, the group grabbed their coffees and headed for Amakane Pass, the convoy of cars speeding off into the distance, eager to see the racing scene up there. The streets of Amakane were calling, and the group was ready to embrace the thrill of the road.