The Speed Of The Stars

Collei walks toward Ayaka, her steps confident but focused. Ayaka, in turn, approaches Collei, the tension between them palpable. The two come to a halt, standing mere feet apart. They are now face to face.

Ayaka smirks slightly, her lips curling with a hint of challenge. "So… the time has finally come," she says, her voice smooth yet laced with a quiet threat. "Just to remind you, this course is tight and narrow. A perfect test of skill."

Collei narrows her eyes, a determined glint shining in them. "I don't care," she retorts, her voice steady but full of resolve. "Let's get this race going."

Ayaka's smirk widens, growing more devious. "Alright then. Let's make it interesting. A sudden death match-style race. We'll keep changing positions until one of us outruns the other, or passes." Her challenge hangs in the air, as though daring Collei to back down.

Collei's lips twitch into a grin, barely perceptible but full of excitement. "Sounds like a plan," she agrees, her confidence building as she slips into the driver's seat of her AE86 Trueno.

The engines of the two cars roar to life, the sound vibrating through the air. Ayaka settles into her Levin's seat, her hands gripping the wheel with a focused intensity. They both roll up to the starting line, and Collei chooses to chase Ayaka for the first stint of the race, eager to study her rival's moves.

As the countdown begins, the two drivers are ready. The moment the signal flashes, both slam their feet onto the accelerator. The turbocharged Levin shoots forward aggressively, its engine howling as Ayaka takes the lead. Collei's Trueno follows close behind, its engine revving as she begins to match Ayaka's pace, studying the car ahead with sharp eyes.

The two cars barrel toward the first corner—a sharp S-turn. Collei tightens her grip on the wheel, pushing her Trueno harder. The tachometer surges past 8000 RPMs, and she doesn't hesitate to push further. 9000 RPMs. 9500 RPMs. Her heart pounds in her chest as the Trueno jolts forward, its engine singing a powerful tune. Collei shifts up, but still, she hesitates, not yet trusting the full 11,000 RPMs that Arlecchino recommended.

"Whoa, what the hell is this handling?" Collei mutters under her breath, wide-eyed as the Trueno responds more eagerly than she anticipated. The car's power at 9000 RPMs makes it lurch forward, but it's still not the explosive burst she's hoping for.

Ayaka glances in her rearview mirror, seeing Collei closing the gap. "You've got a finely tuned machine there, Collei," she calls out, a hint of admiration in her voice. "Even for your first true run, you're keeping up. Looks like there's no reason to take it easy after all."

Ayaka downshifts, and her Levin's turbo kicks in, propelling her forward as the two cars dive into another series of sharp, narrow turns. The course twists and winds, pushing both drivers to their limits.

They reach another hairpin, and this time, the two cars drift in perfect harmony, gliding through the corner with precision. Their tires skim the edges of the bushes on the inside line, and the sound of rubber screeching fills the air. The race is still incredibly tight, with neither driver willing to give an inch.

Ayaka smirks, her voice tinged with pride. "The reason I chose an AE86 was to prove that old cars can still be as fast as the newer models, even when modified. But racing another AE86… Now, that's where the real test begins. I want to show you that my Levin is far superior to your Trueno."

Her eyes flicker to the rearview mirror, where she spots Collei's Trueno emitting a faint orange aura, glowing softly against the darkened road. "That's insane… I can see your aura radiating from your Trueno, Collei," Ayaka murmurs, a mixture of awe and disbelief in her voice.

Meanwhile, at a nearby stairway, Keqing, Ningguang, and Ganyu wait, all aware of the high-stakes race about to unfold. Ganyu looks at the winding course with a skeptical expression.

"Is this really the best spot we can find to watch the race?" she sighs, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment.

Keqing nods, her gaze never leaving the road ahead. "Yeah, the other places are too steep to access, and the narrowness of the course leaves us with no other options. This is the only place we can safely spectate from."

Just as she finishes speaking, two pairs of headlights suddenly appear, cutting through the darkness of the fast-paced right-hand turn. Ayaka's turbocharged Levin leads, with Collei's Trueno close behind. The two cars shoot past the trio of spectators like bullets, their engines growling as they race toward the upcoming left-hand turn.

Ganyu nudges Keqing's shoulder, her curiosity piqued. "Keqing, what's the main difference between Ayaka's Levin and Collei's Trueno, anyway? I know Ayaka's car is a Levin, and Collei's is a Trueno, but what does that really mean in terms of performance?"

Keqing smirks, clearly enjoying the question. "I wish I could explain it in detail, but I'll let Ningguang handle that one."

Ningguang giggles, nodding in agreement. "Alright, then. The Levin and Trueno AE86s are quite similar, but it's what's under the hood that makes the difference. Ayaka's Levin is turbocharged. It's a bit slower on corner entry and exit because the turbo has to spool up to compensate for grip. But once it hits, the acceleration out of a corner is something else—superior to any mechanically tuned car. Collei's Trueno, on the other hand, has a mechanically tuned engine. The response is instantaneous, giving her better entry and exit speeds. It's all about how Collei handles the throttle—it's more in her control than in Ayaka's."

The race continues, growing more intense with each passing second. Collei focuses, pushing her Trueno further. She's still not quite at the 11,000 RPMs that Arlecchino suggested, but she's getting closer. This time, she manages to reach 9500 RPMs, and with a surge of power, the Trueno closes the gap between her and Ayaka.

The two cars approach the final corner, and Ayaka suddenly jerks the wheel to the right. Without warning, a sign covered in dirt appears, startling Collei. Reacting instinctively, Collei jerks her own wheel to the right, narrowly avoiding the guardrail. She exhales in relief.

"That's too fucking close!" Collei curses, her heart racing. "What the hell was that, anyway?"

As they finish the first run, both cars execute a flawless 180-degree handbrake turn, now facing the opposite direction. Ayaka's Levin is behind, with Collei leading for the second round. Ayaka flashes her high beams in a clear signal that she's ready for round two. Without missing a beat, Collei launches her Trueno forward, the engine roaring as they head into the first corner once again.

Ayaka's Levin stays hot on her tail. Collei shifts up at 9500 RPMs, still not reaching the peak 11,000 RPMs, but it's enough to keep Ayaka close. Collei's mind races, trying to find that sweet spot, that elusive power surge she needs to gain the upper hand.

Ayaka's focus sharpens. "Second run… Now I'm the one chasing," she thinks to herself, watching the Trueno ahead. "This will give me a chance to understand its driving style. I'll see how she does things."

The two cars continue through the relentless series of turns and hairpins, their positions unchanged. Collei leads, and Ayaka follows, their rivalry more intense than ever.

But Collei's patience is wearing thin. Frustration bubbles to the surface as she shouts to herself, her hands gripping the wheel tighter. "This road is shit! It's too bumpy, and the surface is way too slippery! I can't even use the outer edges—they're filled with dirt! There's barely anything useful here!"

But even in the face of these challenges, the race rages on. Neither Ayaka nor Collei is willing to back down.

Back at Yougou, Arlecchino stared up at the sky, the cool air thick with the hum of the night. "Collei," he began, his voice quiet but firm, "You've got to listen closely. If you haven't figured it out yet, you better do so soon. The suspension settings changed based on the new power output of the engine after I installed it. You kept telling me it doesn't corner the way it used to. It makes sense now, doesn't it? I set the car up to behave like this from the start. But by getting your engine up to 11,000 RPMs, you'll be able to corner at the higher speeds you've been aiming for all along..."

Back in the race, Collei's connection with the engine grew stronger. The tachometer slowly crept from 9,000 to 10,000 RPMs. Her eyes widened as she shifted up, feeling the engine respond. The needle dropped again to 8,000 RPMs, but Collei's eyes grew even wider.

"What the hell just happened? Did I imagine that!?"

The power of the Eight-Six surged instantly with her shift. It was like nothing she had felt before. The car continued to accelerate, and as she shifted later, the RPMs stayed locked within the power band she had desperately needed.

The two cars passed Keqing, Ningguang, and Ganyu again, marking the halfway point of their second run. The group watched in silence, eyes fixed on the spectacle before them. Ningguang finally spoke up, breaking the stillness. "Looks like Collei is getting the hang of the new engine."

Keqing and Ganyu turned to her, both exclaiming in unison, "Huh!?"

Ningguang flashed a smile. "The Yougou Eight-Six is finally back."

As the race pressed on, Collei's confidence soared with each passing moment. Her RPM needle steadily climbed to 10,000.

"At this range, I can control the car even better. It's a lot easier now. Just like before!" Collei mused as she flew through the next hairpin, grinning. "A couple of days ago, I was struggling, but is it because I'm revving it higher?"

Meanwhile, Ayaka, ever focused on the Eight-Six, noticed something odd. Collei's aura had shifted from its usual orange to a striking red. Ayaka's eyes widened in surprise.

"What in the...?"

Her gaze narrowed, but she quickly recovered. "Doesn't matter. I was just playing the observer for this round. Now I know how your Eight-Six behaves..."

What Ayaka didn't know was that Collei still hadn't reached the full potential of the Eight-Six yet. She had only begun to tap into its power.

As the two cars sped down the straightaway, Collei's focus tightened on her tachometer. She slammed her foot down on the gas, feeling the needle race from 8,000 to 9,000, then 10,000... Her eyes narrowed in concentration as the RPMs pushed even higher. Then, the tachometer hit 11,000 RPMs, and Collei's eyes widened. She shifted up. The Eight-Six jolted forward with a sudden burst of aggression, leaving Ayaka in its wake.

Ayaka's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell was that!?"

Ayaka hit the throttle again, trying to close the gap. She managed to catch up, but only slightly. The two cars hit the end of their second run and performed a perfectly executed 180-degree handbrake spin. As they came out of the turn, Collei trailed Ayaka once more. She flashed her high beams, signaling her next move. Ayaka immediately launched off the line again, with Collei hot on her heels.

Ayaka glanced at her rearview mirror. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell!? The Trueno is literally right on my ass! How is that possible!?"

They raced through the corners with ease, Collei now fully in the zone.

Collei's grip tightened on the wheel. "This car feels amazing! Now I can really push it harder…"

Her eyes narrowed as she prepared for the final stretch. "It's time to end this... once and for all."

But then Ayaka changed her driving style. Instead of drifting through the fast corners, she gripped, clinging to the tarmac with precision. Collei's eyes widened in surprise.

"What the hell!? She's changed her style! Now she's gripping the corners! We're going so fast, I can barely keep up!"

They sped through two more corners, each one tighter than the last. Collei's confidence surged as she approached her limit.

"I'm starting to get the hang of this new engine! I won't lose! I'll chase you until the end!!" she yelled, her voice filled with determination.

She revved the engine to 11,000 RPMs again, shifting with precision. The Eight-Six stayed in the sweet spot, maintaining its power for cornering and acceleration. But as they reached a fast-paced left-hander, Collei went too wide. Her rear wheels hit dirt, and the car began to fishtail.

"NO! NO, COME ON!" Collei fought for control, wrestling with the wheel.

The rear bumper of the Eight-Six skidded dangerously close to the guardrail. With a heavy breath, Collei managed to regain control, her heart pounding in her chest.

"That was too damn close! I need to take it easy... or I might lose more than this race," Collei muttered, still shaken. But a fire burned within her. "But not yet. I'm not taking it easy just yet!"

She mashed the gas once more. The Eight-Six shot forward, and they reached an uphill crest. Both cars, with their combined speed, went airborne and slammed back onto the tarmac. The two drifted into the next corner without missing a beat.

Collei's confidence surged past its peak as she began to fully understand how the Eight-Six handled at high speed.

Her eyes widened in realization. "It's just like before! The more I use the gas, the less I have to countersteer. The more I swing it, especially at full speed!"

She smiled, a glint of gratitude in her eyes. "Thanks, Dad! Now I understand how the Eight-Six feels."

With a fierce yell, she shouted, "Alright! Let's show her what you're made of!!!"

They passed Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu for the final time as they entered the last stretch of the course. No positions had changed as they sped into the next set of hairpins. But now, Collei had fully closed the gap.

The two cars raced toward the final fast-paced corner—the one with the dirt patch blocking half the road. Collei saw an opportunity and slammed the gas. Before Ayaka could even react, Collei's Eight-Six was beside her Levin. With the Trueno now riding along the edge of the dirt, the car shook aggressively.

Ayaka glanced to her left, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What the fuck!?"

She glanced at the dirt. "No way! There's less dirt on the turn!"

The two cars were side by side now, Collei on the bumpy dirt. Ayaka fought to maintain her pace, but Collei's Trueno edged ahead.

Collei's eyes narrowed as she pushed the car harder, stomping on the gas again. Suddenly, the Eight-Six leaped off a stack of dirt and slid in front of Ayaka's Levin. Sparks flew as the car slammed back onto the road. Collei countersteered effortlessly, holding the drift. She was officially in front.

Ayaka's jaw dropped. "She's out of her fucking mind!"

Collei eased off the gas, exhaling with relief. "This race is over... I won."

At the starting line, Clorinde, Amber, Beidou, March, and Pela waited for the two Eight-Sixes to appear. The convoy of cars roared into view. Collei's Trueno was in front, her fist raised triumphantly out the window.

Celebrations erupted. The cheers from Collei's group echoed through the night air, their laughter filling the moment.

A few minutes later, Collei stepped out of her Eight-Six. Ayaka approached her with a smile. "Collei... You're one crazy son of a bitch," she laughed.

Collei smiled and shook Ayaka's hand. "Thanks!"

The two shared a laugh and exchanged friendly words after their intense race. As they said their farewells, Collei climbed into the convoy, heading back to Yougou.

By the time Collei reached Arlecchino's home, it was well past midnight. She slowly got out of the car, shutting the door with a yawn. She gazed back at the Eight-Six, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. She walked toward the front of the house and found Arlecchino waiting.

Arlecchino smirked slightly. "Looks like you're back late, Collei."

Collei nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Yeah… I know."

Arlecchino walked over to the Eight-Six, eyeing it with approval. "You've got about an hour before your delivery runs, kid."

Collei yawned again. "I know. Just wake me up when it's time to leave."

Arlecchino nodded. "Sure thing."

As Collei reached for the door handle, she paused and looked back at him. "I never knew our car was that good. I just found out tonight," she murmured.

Arlecchino turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "Huh?"

Collei smiled, her voice light with realization. "Maybe you should teach me more about engines when you have time?"

Arlecchino scoffed playfully. "What made that light bulb inside that thick skull of yours finally turn on?"

Collei chuckled softly. "Because I realized there were gaps in my technique."

Collei entered the house and made her way upstairs to her room. As she lay down to sleep, Arlecchino pondered the words she had said, letting out a quiet laugh. "That's my girl," he muttered.

And with that, the weeks of sorrow and pain ended on a high note. The Yougou Eight-Six had finally been reborn, a new legend in the making.