The Speed Of The Stars

The following morning Beidou And Collei meet up at the usual Café They always chill at in Yougou to talk about Eula's "Final Race".

Beidou puts both hands on the table and leans forward "So. I've talked with Eula last night. She said she wants to Race you In her home turf tomorrow night. Are you willing to do it for her Collei?"

Collei takes a sip of coffee and leans back on her chair "I don't know Beidou. Something about her bugs me. After what you said when we stopped by at that restaurant. She clearly lied to you. She tried to get as close to you as possible to challenge me to a race."

Beidou puts her hands together "Come on Collei!" She then puts her hands down "She told me, that its her wish to race you before stepping back from racing in Amakane. She said that she wants the most challenging racer This prefecture can find. Ningguang is out of reach. And you are the only choice that's open in the wild."

Collei thinks about it. While doing so. A flashback of her watching Eula Continuously drift into hairpin A105 in Amakane. A continuous inertia drift.

Collei then looks at Beidou. Eyes slightly narrowed "Alright. I'll do it. I'll take the Eight Six To Amakane Pass."

Beidou's eyes light up "Alright! Thanks Collei! You're the greatest!"

Collei puts a finger up "I'm only doing this because you asked. I don't care what is going on between the two of you. But it better be worth my damn effort Beidou."

The Next afternoon. Word spreads in the gas station about Collei's next race

March's voice echo's around the area "WHAT!? Why would Collei Agree to racing Amakane's GT86!? That is freaking Crazy!!!"

Seele Sighs. Crossing her arms in the process "I know. But Collei's accepted it. And knowing Collei. She wont back out at this point.

March rubs her cheek a little "It isn't Collei at all to race at another pass. Yougou is her home."

Moments later. Amber Arrives In her Blue Sileighty. 

Amber steps out and walks to Seele And March "Hey! what do ya think?"

Seele looks around Amber's Sileighty "Gotta say. The Blue's shade is pefect. And those Gold BBS LM's They're Exquisite!"

Amber blushes and puts a hand behind her neck "Gee, Thanks guys. I've been working on this build since i moved here."

March glosses over the Sileighty "Hey. What's the engine underneath?

Amber smiles Putting a hand on her waist "SR20DET slightly modified Pushing around 320 Horsepower to the rears"

Amber then leans against her Sileighty. "So, the race is tonight?"

Both Seele and March Nod silently.

Amber then speaks "Mind if i come along?"

Seele nods "Yeah, Of course. Support is always welcome!"

Lyney overhears the conversation "Looks like Collei is racing the GT86 Of Amakane. Hmm. Interesting"

As the sun sets At Arlecchino's house. She notices that she's out of some essential things at the fridge 

Arlecchino Closes the fridge door "Looks like were taking the Eight Six For a Spin to the Gorceries"

As Arlecchino steps out and approaches the Eight Six. She then gasps At what is sitting in her driveway she then walks to the front to look at it closer

Her eyes widen "What in the? My Eight Six Turned into a Supra?"

She then notices a note on the Driver's side window. She walks towards it and takes it off the window The note reads "Hey Dad, I borrowed the car. Here's your replacement - Collei"

In the expressway. A convoy of three are driving towards Amakane. The Eight Six, The Sileighty and the R32 in that order. 

In the Eight six March giggles a little "Hope your dad doesn't mind driving my supra for the night."

Collei's face remains serious "I hope not too." 

At the R32. Things are silent for the time being, until Seele asks Beidou a question

She looks at Beidou. "Hey Beidou. I gotta ask you something.

Beidou speaks "What is it Seele?"

Seele puts on a face of worry "I just want to know. Who's side are you on?"

Beidou gasps slightly and looks at Seele for a bit "I don't decide about that Seele. All i did was coordinate the race tonight. That's all.

Seele turns away from Beidou "Do you really expect for me to believe that Bullshit? Cause it seems to me that you're throwing Collei into the ditch just for you to try and mend your friendship with Eula.

Beidou remains focused on the road "That's a load of crap Seele, and you know it."

Seele gets annoyed at Beidou and looks at her with a face of slight anger "Oh. You think so? So tell me this. Do you think Collei has a chance of winning this race on a course she's unfamiliar with, Or leave Amakane with a loss in her rap sheet of victories."

Beidou remains silent. A Face of guilt clearly shows

Seele Looks away from Beidou again "I thought so. Too close to home i suspect?"

Beidou then mutters for a split second. She starts trembling a little. Her foot starts shaking a bit. The engine's turbo waste gate clearly fluttering as the gas is applied and released.

 Seele continues on "She doesn't have a chance at all at this course. The only course he knows at heart is Yougou. And Amakane is a course that's more like a Rally stage to everyone. You can forget about first timers! I know her technique is something to admire, I get that. But the matter of the fact is that She never driven the entire course of Amakane Pass. Collei's not like Ningguang where she can drive the course once and she's familiar with it. And with no practice runs. This race might already be decided. Is it really selling out Collei to an old friend just for her to finally race against her? Cause if you ask me. If she came by the gas station or Told you the truth. This conversation wouldn't have happened."

Seele then clenches her fist "If you keep doing shit like this Beidou. You can consider our friendship and my membership with your team Over.

Beidou's eyes widen in shock. She takes some moments to process what Seele just said. 

She then closes her eyes "Your right Seele. I fucked up And i fucked up big time... I'm sorry"

As the sun continues to set. They've arrived at the Convenience store at the base of Yougou. Everyone is around Collei.

Beidou speaks to Collei "Collei I think its best you back off from this Race. Your reputation. Your Win streak. Everything is on the line here.. Dont worry about the potential storm of Eula. Me and Seele will deal with it.

Seele looks at Collei. "I think its best you and the others turn back to Yougou.

Collei closes her eyes and smirks "I'm not heading back."

Beidou and Seele's eyes widen. Beidou steps forward "You're not heading back?"

Collei opens her eyes. "No. But that does mean you will or wont watch the race tonight. I just wont leave until i race this Chick in the GT86. That's the only reason why i came here in the first place."

Beidou's eyes widen "But Collei. You've seen what Eula is capable of! She'll leave you in the dust around this course. You got no chance."

Collei Sighs "And i don't care. This is not about Winning or loose anymore."

Seele gets closer to Collei "You cant say that collei! You have a Reputation! You're the Eight Six Of Yougou Now. Have some Racer's pride in you!"

Collei smirks "And i'm supposed to give a shit about what some strangers say about me?"

Collei looks at the convoy line up "Look, I won a couple of races. Local races Then word starts spreading like crazy, made me sound like i'm some hotshot. The Quote on quote. The Real Life Takumi Fujiwara. You'd know. I'd feel alot better about driving if people stopped talking about me all the time.

Seele Backs off "Are you sure about this"

Collei smiles "Of course i'm sure about this. I want to try something new. Try out and attack a new course. Try something that's not Yougou. Give myself a challange."

Moments later the group is now driving up Amakane. Collei and March Leads in the Eight six. Followed by Seele and Beidou in the R32, and Amber in the Sileighty

Seele looks at Beidou "Sorry if i'm an ass to you earlier. But Honestly. How can we talk her out of this after that monologue?"

Beidou puts her elbow out of the window "I know right. She's something else. You cant really wrap your head around her. I cant tell if she's got a gift. Or a bolt loose.

The group continues to drive up Amakane. Collei Dead set focused on the road. Studying how it feels.

Moments later they arrive at The Top of the Pass. 

Eula stands up from her GT86. "Hey Collei, Nice to see you again."

Collei smirks walking towards Eula "Likewise Eula." 

As Eula walks up to Collei. She notices how young Collei is.

Eula speaks up "Gotta say kid. You're young. How old are you?"

Collei nods "If you gotta know. I'm Eighteen"

Eula's jaw drops "You're serious. You're in Senior high?"

Collei smirks a little "Not anymore. I graduated earlier this year."

Eula then leans against her GT86 "Alright then. Lets set some rules. We run a Cat and mouse game. To put it simply. If the Mouse runs away. The Mouse wins. If not. We swap positions over and over again until the race is decided. What do you say?"

Collei nods "Sounds good to me."

Eula crosses her arms "Since you're the Outsider and i'm the local here. I'll let you decide if you want to chase. Or i'll chase you.

As Collei thinks on what to decide. Seele, Amber Beidou And March drag Collei away towards their cars to help Collei decide. They settle her down near Amber's Sileighty

Seele Whispers to Collei " Look Its best if you go right infront of the GT86 for this first run. Use this as an opportunity to learn the track

Amber shakes her head. "Bad idea. Guys."

Seele, Beidou And March look at Amber the three of them speaking at the same time "How? Care to explain?

Amber smirks "If you ask her to be the one to choose. She'll chase. Cause she wants to learn the Opponent's driving style. At the half way mark. She has enough data to thin on what to do to overtake you. So if i were you. I'd chase and do the same thing to Eula."

March Seele and Beidou looks at each other and thinks it through again.

Seele makes up her mind "Collei. I think you should chase her."

Collei smirks "I was thinking of Chasing her anyways."

Collei then stands up and approaches Eula. "I'll chase you, if you dont mind"

Eula gasps. She then speaks in her mind "For real? I wished you were in front so i can study your Driving style! Damnit!"

Collei nods silently and heads back to The Eight six to prepare herself for the Race. She then sits down and straps herself into the drivers seat. Then she starts up the engine. The 4A-GE Roars into life. She then flicks the headlight switch. Its popup headlights Flick up and its lights turn on.

Back in Yougou. Arlecchino is cooking dinner when suddenly her phone begins vibrating. 

Arlecchino gets annoyed "Damn. Just as when i was making dinner."

She then walks up to her phone and answers it "Hello, Harth's tofu shop. May i help you?"

the phone crackles "Hey Arlecchino? It's me Lyney.

Arlecchino sighs "Oh, its you. Make it snappy alright? I'm in the middle of making dinner.

the phone crackles "I had to call you cause i need to tell you something. Collei and the others went to Amakane pass tonight. figures you might need to know.

Arlecchino sighs again "So the kid went up to Amakane Pass for another race. So what?

Lyney's eyes widen the phone crackles again "So what!? It that all you can say for Collei? Listen. You're kid went up to Amakane pass without any advise from you at all."

Arlecchino scoffs "Thats all i have to say. Please excuse me. I got food to cook. Please. Call me when i finish"

Back at Amakane. Eula prepares as she straps her harness on. She then tightens it. She then revs the engine. Warming it up for the race. Beidou then walks up the eight six of Collei

She pats on the roof of the car. "Alright Collei. All the best buddy."

Collei smiles "Just to let you know. I am the chaser for a reason you know.

The rest of the team overhears this and rushes to Collei's window

March peeks a little "Tell us Collei! Tell us your plane!

Amber Clenches her fist out of excitement "Yeah! Tell us!"

Collei smiles "Alright. I am chasing her cause i want to understand how she moves around this corner. If i'm able to mimick it like how shoe does it. Then i can go as fast as she can."

Beidou pats the roof of the eight six "Thats the spirit! Go get er Collei!

Beidou then Signals Eula that they're good to go. Everyone backs Up and watches the race from behind as they begin. Collei rolls up her window and then flashes her lights to Eula And the two begins to move. The night, filled with excitement. And worry. As Collei's first race in unknown territory. Is about to begin.