The Speed Of The Stars

That Morning. Beidou's curiosity got the better of her. As she drove slowly down Yougou Narukami Shopping Street, her eyes caught the sign for Hearth's Tofu Shop. Curious, she backed up and noticed a familiar silhouette parked on the driveway: a panda-colored AE86. Rolling down her window, she leaned out for a closer look.

"No doubt about it. That's an Eight-Six," she muttered to herself.

Her mind drifted to the conversation she had with Lyney the previous night:

"Mark my words, Beidou. The fastest car on Mount Yougou is an Eight-Six that delivers tofu."

Beidou hopped out of her car, walking up to the AE86 for a closer inspection.

"This can't be the fastest car on Yougou," she scoffed, circling the vehicle. "It looks like a regular Eight-Six. Early model GT-APEX, totally stock except for the fog lamps and wheels." she then scoffs again. "This relic's got nothing on the latest models, let alone the top-tier cars of its era."

She turned toward her car, scratching her head.

"What am I doing? Chasing urban myths like some chump."

As Beidou heads back towards her car. Right on cue, Collei arrived, catching Beidou's attention.

"Hey, Beidou! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, hey, Collei," Beidou said, startled.

Collei tilted her head. "You here sightseeing? Or buying tofu?"

"Tofu? Oh, you mean the. Um"

"The sign?" Collei finished while pointing at the shop sign.

Moments later, Beidou and Collei were on their way to Lyney's gas station. Collei broke the silence.

"Hey, Beidou, do you spend a lot of time near my house?"

Beidou waved her hand dismissively. "No, no. Not at all. I didn't even know it was your place! I just happened to be in the area. Say, Collei... is this 'I don't know squat about cars' act for real?"

"Huh?" Collei asked, genuinely confused.

They stopped at a red light, the conversation continuing.

"Come on, Collei. Let's face it—you said you didn't know what an Eight-Six was, but there's one parked in your driveway."

Collei looked defensive. "Wait, wait, wait. Are you trying to play tricks on me, Beidou? That junker isn't an Eight-Six at all. Pretty sure the badges say GT-APEX Trueno."

Beidou sighed, shaking her head. "It is an Eight-Six, Collei. GT-APEX Levin or Trueno—they share the same nameplate and chassis. That's why they're all called Eight-Sixes."

Collei scratched her head, clearly perplexed.

That Afternoon, Beidou informed March about her discovery.

"WHAAAT?!" March shouted. "Collei OWNS an Eight-Six?!"

"I'm not kidding," Beidou said, crossing her arms. "It's sitting in her driveway. That means it's hers."

March stormed over to Collei, who backed away, startled.

"Collei, you jerk! Why didn't you tell me you had an Eight-Six?!"

"I didn't know I had one until today!" Collei exclaimed. "And if it were mine, it would have AE86 badges, not GT-APEX Trueno!"

March looked ready to explode. "Why, you little piece of sh-!"

But instead of hitting her, March suddenly shifted to a pleading tone. "Can I borrow it? Just once? Please? We'll look so cool showing it off to Ningguang and Keqing!"

Collei shook her head firmly. "No can do. It's not even my car. It belongs to my father, Arlecchino."

Beidou blinked in realization. "So that's it. Your father owns it. I've been overthinking things."

March on the other hand is down on her knees. She puts her hands together

"Please Collei! Let me borrow the thing Please!" She muttered.

Then Lyney walks up to them " Hey what is this? A Gas station or a high school drama play? Come on we got customers!" Lyney yelled.

That evening, Keqing returned to Yougou Pass, her RX-7's rotary engine roaring through the night.

"Where are you, phantom?!" she shouted into the empty mountain roads. "I won't leave Yougou until I face you again!"

Her car darted through corners and hairpins with flawless precision, the sound of her engine echoing through the valley and with each corner, She's driving faster and faster.

That Afternoon, Collei, Beidou and March are currently on their Lunch break, Watching an Episode of "HOT VERSION!" And watching Keiichi Tsuchiya Drifting His AE86 around a Closed circuit. March Admiring His Technique

"I have to tell you Beidou Keiichi Tsuchiya Is The Drift King! No Questions Asked!" March said while focusing on the television

"He's controlling that drift merely with the throttle. You know that right March?" as Beidou looks at march

March bumps Collei's shoulder "Hey Collei Are you seeing this? don't tell me this doesn't want you to go out there and Show them who is the best!?"

Collei, Not focusing just replies "Sure"

March tries to get Collei's attention again." Look at him go! Those drifting techniques are SICK!"

Collei responds "Sure" once again.

March then looks at Collei "Yo, Is that a phone?"

Collei Responds again. "Sure" But then she looks at march "Uh, yeah." she startled

March then catches Collei in the act. " Aha! You weren't even focusing on the film "Miss Sure" Do you even know what a drift is?"

Collei Nods her head " Of Course. Everyone knows it."

March is skeptical. "Okay Miss Sure, Tell me and Beidou, How do you drift?"

 Lyney is in the background Just listening in.

Collei then explains briefly. "Well In a Corner, You make the front tires slide, so the car isn't facing towards the inside. when you are turning. Otherwise you are toast." as she mimics holding a steering wheel and turning it.

March and Beidou look at each other, Trying to hold their laughter, But cant hold it anymore. They burst into laughter.

"You're a funny one Collei!" As March laughs.

"Making your front Tires slide in a corner is understeer which mean you are about to eat some of that guardrail!" While Beidou tries to hold in her laughter, only to laugh again.

March then Continues "For a drift You use the Rear Wheels! Not the front wheels. Let me tell ya Collei You are a funny one!"

Collei scratches her head in confusion.

Lyney Then Speaks on his mind his eyes narrows" Sorry Fellas. But you are wrong. In the middle of a drift The Car is essentially Understeering. Collei's is the type of answer you would get from someone who mastered the Four Wheel Drift. I'm Impressed Kid. Very Impressed"

Lyney then looks outside and right on cue. A Car horn is heard Lyney Grabs Everyone's attention.

"Customers, Come one fellas, Earn your keep" Lyney said

Collei, March And Beidou Rush outside to welcome the customer, Beidou, Who came out last immediately recognizes the car that just pulled up to the Pump. A Midnight Purple RX7 FD

"Is that Keqing's RX7?" Beidou muttered under her breath

Collei then Approaches the driver side window. "How can i help you Miss?"

Keqing rolls her window down "Fill her up. High octane please"

Collei nods and begins filling up Keqing's RX7

Beidou Wipes Keqing's Windshield when She Recognizes Her. "Hey, Beidou Right? Thought i recognized you. Say, Do you happen to know anyone in Yougou That drives around in a Panda Eight Six Trueno? You know. Your Junker type?"

While Beidou Processes an answer in her mind. Collei looks at the Big Rear Wing In Keqing's FD.

"What in the hell is that? Is She a driver Or a Boeing 747 Pilot?" She mutters

As Beidou Finishes wiping the Windshield. She finally has an answer.

"Sorry but, i don't know anyone around here that Races In An Eight Six." As she folds the towel

As Collei finishes fueling up the RX7. Keqing Pays Using her card

"I see how it is... If its your secret weapon for Saturdays Race. Then Tell Him Or Her I'll be waiting for them." Keqing then rolls up the window.

Keqing then Speeds off back towards Yougou. Beidou is stunned at what she just heard.

"Keqing Lost a race on Yougou. Beaten... By An Eight Six!?" As her eyes widen a little

Then she Hears footsteps from behind her and peeks behind. Seeing Collei walking past. She then stops and looks at Beidou with confusion in her expression. 

"Now i get it. The Eight Six i saw at Collei's place the other day.. That was a Trueno" she mutters under her breath

"Lyney Was right all along. That Car is still owned by the fastest Racer in Yougou." As her eyes widen

The next morning, Collei's alarm blared at 4:00 AM. She groggily got ready, grabbed the keys to the AE86, and slid into the driver's seat. The car roared to life, its iconic pop-up headlights illuminating the driveway.

Arlecchino handed her a paper cup filled with water.

"Time to kick things up a notch" Arlecchino, muttered.

She then walks up to Collei's window and gives her the paper cup.

Collei glances at the cup, "More water than usual?" Collei asked, eyeing it skeptically.

"Maybe. But the same rules still apply." Arlecchino says.

Collei sighed "Yeah, yeah." and carefully placed the cup in the holder before driving off. Arlecchino watches as her Eight Six disappears into the night. As she approached the uphill, Collei takes a deep breath, and exhales.

Then she muttered under her breath, "Let's do this."

Downshifting from fourth to second, she floors the accelerator. The AE86, though underpowered, swiftly drives though each corner and each hairpin turn with ease, not spilling a single drop on the way up, At the final hairpin of the Five consecutive hairpin turns, she rolls the water around the rim of the cup, at first it looked like the water might spill. But it didn't as soon as she exited the hairpin turn, the water settles back down, She looks at it with a face of displeasure but that didn't stop her from driving as fast as she can going up hill. And sooner than later, the Delivery run was complete. To her, this was just another normal Morning routine.

The Following morning, Beidou stops by Hearth's Tofu Shop to ask Arlecchino if its possible to race for her team on her behalf. As soon as she enters, The door chime rings, Arlecchino steps out from a door and Beidou just stares at her. Taking in the fact that this is the fastest Downhill racer in Yougou.

She looks at Arlecchino "This is the fastest street racer in Yougou. Her Eight Six Beaten Keqing's FD?" as she continues to stare.

 Arlecchino puts her hand beside her ear and snaps her fingers "Hey kid? Are here for Tofu or are you just staring?"

Beidou snaps out of it "Oh! Um.. Fried tofu please!"

Arlecchino Nods "Coming right up" she then looks away and prepares the tofu.

Beidou then gains the courage "By the way, I'm Beidou. I run a team called the Yougou Speedsuns. Is it possible if i can ask for a favor from you?"

Arlecchino Puts the tofu on the counter. "Alright, What's on your mind kid?"

Beidou gains more courage and asks "Is it possible for you to race on my team's behalf on Saturday?"

Arlecchino scoffs, "Sorry kid, But i cant. Someone in my age, racing your youth? That doesn't sit right for me. It'd have to be someone at least close to your age group. And besides. I'm well past my Prime time on racing in Yougou." As she crosses her arms

Arlecchino apologizes if she cant help much, Beidou somewhat understands and pays for her tofu. Despite receiving no for an answer, She informs Arlecchino She'll be back tomorrow, incase she changes her mind. She Hops in her R32 and Drives slowly away from The Tofu Shop. Arlecchino watching her Black R32 drive away.

"Hopefully I wasn't too mean. But i do think this is a chance for Collei To Shine." Arlecchino muttered

That Night, Beidou is back at Yougou, trying to find ways to get faster and faster. But every run on the downhill, Her times are to be desired, Slow time after slow time, Beidou isn't satisfied, She takes a breather at the Summit of Yougou, Sitting beside her R32 Hazards, Blinking away.

"Damnit, This is hopeless. I cant improve on these times at all. Not even a prayer or a miracle can save me. Is this really the best my technique can give me?" she exclaims 

Beidou however gains some courage and decides for one more Downhill run before calling it a night. And for once her times actually started improving, Beidou glances at her stop watch for a second and is starting to feel a bit satisfied.

"Whatever I'm doing, it's working! If I keep this up, we might have a chance!"

As She races down a straightaway. Beidou suddenly starts noticing a lack of power from the engine. But despite this random issue. Beidou ignores it. But just before the five consecutive hairpins, disaster struck. A loud BANG echoed through the pass as her engine gave out, spewing oil and smoke. Beidou wrestled the car to a stop, her heart sinks. She pulls the hood lever and hops out of her steaming R32. The then inspects the engine, she opens the hot oily hood. She stares at was once her R32's beating heart. Smoking away. Sounds of metal contracting contract away. Oil dripping from under the engine.

"Fuck!," she muttered, staring at her blown RB26DETT. "This is hopeless..."