The Speed Of The Stars

Weeks had passed since Collei's race with Ayaka. The autumn skies were steadily giving way to the wintry gray of approaching snow. Despite the seasonal shift, it was another ordinary day for Collei. She walked the familiar route to her job at the gas station, her thoughts drifting lazily with the crisp morning air.

"Hey, Collei!" a voice called from behind.

Collei turned her head to see March jogging toward her, her bright energy cutting through the cold air.

"Oh, hey there, March," Collei greeted with a small smile.

March grinned as she fell into step beside her. "So, what's up today, Collei?"

Collei raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her tone. "With what, exactly?"

March gave her a playful nudge on the shoulder. "Your Eight-Six, of course! It's been weeks since your race with Ayaka. How's she holding up?"

Collei's smile grew, a quiet pride shining in her eyes. "She's been great. It feels like the old days—before the engine swap. With this new engine, though, I've been pushing her faster and faster."

March nodded enthusiastically. "Man, I wish I could say the same for my NA Supra. But hey, once I get her in shape, you owe me another run on the mountain pass. And this time, you're driving!"

Collei giggled, her voice light. "Sure! Just promise me you won't freak out or pass out like Beidou did."

March burst out laughing, pretending to be offended. "What's that supposed to mean? I'm nothing like Beidou! I'm tougher, way tougher! You see?" She jokingly kicked at Collei's heel from behind.

The two friends laughed, their banter carrying them to work.

The day slipped by in a blur of customers, tasks, and the low hum of engines in the background. Before Collei realized it, the sun had already begun its descent, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. She finished assisting the last customer of the day and headed to the gas station's garage. Inside, Beidou was bent over her R32, reassembling a turbocharger after a thorough cleaning.

"Hey, Beidou? Mind if I talk to you for a sec?" Collei called, walking up from behind.

Beidou straightened, wiping her grease-stained hands with a cloth. "Sure thing, Collei. What's on your mind?"

Collei glanced at the exposed engine of Beidou's R32, her eyes lingering on the intricate mechanics. "I just wanted to know… How did you learn all of this? The ins and outs of cars?"

Beidou raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Well, my dad was a car mechanic when I was a kid. I practically grew up around cars. I started tinkering with his old Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 when I was still in school. When I got my R32, that's when things got serious—it was all mine to learn and mess with."

March, who had wandered in unnoticed, chimed in. "Seems like someone's catching the mechanic bug, huh, Collei?"

Collei shook her head with a laugh. "Not exactly. But I've realized something."

She stepped outside the garage, her gaze lifting to the fiery hues of the setting sun. "Since I installed the new tachometer and swapped the engine, everything feels different. The car's dynamics, my driving—it's all changed. I didn't expect a mechanical tweak to affect my style so much. It just reminds me how much I still have to learn."

Beidou and March exchanged surprised looks before Beidou broke into a wide grin. "Well, I didn't expect that level of insight from you, Collei."

They turned their attention to the distant mountains of Yougou, their peaks silhouetted against the fading light.

"What you've achieved this summer was beyond anything we imagined," Beidou continued, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "I mean, you didn't even know what an Eight-Six was back then. Now look at you—racing downhill and winning nonstop."

March laughed, leaning against Beidou. "Yeah, and think of all the convincing it took to get her to race in the first place."

Beidou draped an arm over March's shoulder, grinning. "Looking back now, it was worth every second. Those memories will stick with us forever."

Collei smiled softly, her thoughts drifting to the past. Memories of her races played vividly in her mind like scenes from a movie.

Her first race against Keqing and her RX-7: she was standing outside her Eight-Six, nervously talking to Beidou about her delivery routes. "I've been delivering tofu for my father for the past five years," she had said, unaware of the journey ahead.

Then came the race itself, flying through the five consecutive hairpin turns. The memory of her pulling off the signature gutter run and leaving Keqing in her dust made her heart race even now.

The image shifted to her match against Yelan's Porsche Turbo—Blackbird. She remembered the tension of the five hairpins, the daring feint to the outside before diving inside for the lead. The sight of Yelan's Porsche spinning into the guardrail played vividly in her mind.

Her thoughts jumped to the Gum Tape Deathmatch with Silverwolf. The adrenaline of chasing Silverwolf after being spun out, the reckless jump over the curb, and the aggressive slide into the guardrail—it was chaos. But in the end, she had claimed victory after Silverwolf crashed out.

Then there was the duel with Eula's GT86 in Amakane. She remembered the thrill of chasing Eula like she'd been racing those roads for years, their cars side-by-side through Turn A105, drifting in tandem. The daring overtake still gave her chills.

Finally, her mind settled on the biggest race of all: the showdown with Ningguang, the White Star of Araumi. The final hairpin before the finish line replayed vividly. She could still feel the surge of triumph as she passed Ningguang's understeering FC, breaking her rival's winning streak in the last corner.

As the memories faded, Collei found herself smiling. Her journey had been unexpected, challenging, and unforgettable. And it wasn't over yet.

The flashback fades, and Collei snaps back to the present. A soft smile graces her lips. "Thinking about those races in the past... it makes me happy to see how much I've changed."

Beidou grins and nods enthusiastically. "You've got that right, Collei! Back then, you were this quiet, socially distanced girl who only hung out with a couple of close buddies. Now? You're like the knight in shining armor for Yougou's street racing scene—protecting it from all those outsiders."

Right on cue, the distinct hum of a rotary engine fills the air. The group turns toward the sound, their gazes locking onto a sleek, white RX-7 FC pulling into the gas station.

March's eyes widen in recognition. "Holy... That's Ningguang's FC!"

The car glides to a stop, and Ningguang steps out with her usual poise. Beidou wastes no time walking over. "Hey, Ningguang! How can we help you?"

Ningguang offers a polite smile. "Fill her up with high-octane, please."

Beidou gives a thumbs-up. "You got it!"

As Beidou gets to work refueling the FC and March starts cleaning the windshield, Ningguang strides toward Collei.

"Collei," she begins warmly, "it's great to see you again."

Collei smiles back. "Nice to see you too, Ningguang."

Without hesitation, Ningguang places a hand on Collei's shoulder. "Do you have any free time later? Can you meet me at Lake Yougou tonight?"

Collei tilts her head slightly but nods. "Yeah, sure. We can meet up tonight."

"Perfect," Ningguang replies, handing her a neatly folded piece of paper. "Here's my phone number."

Collei takes the note, her smile never fading. "Thanks, Ningguang."

After paying for the fuel, Ningguang gets back into her car. The roar of the rotary engine crescendos as the FC pulls away, the sound gradually fading into the distance.

March and Beidou return to Collei's side, both wearing inquisitive expressions.

"Collei, what was that all about?" March asks, crossing her arms. "What did Ningguang want?"

Collei rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. "I don't know. She just asked me to meet her later at Yougou."

March raises a suspicious eyebrow. "Really? Then why are you blushing?"

Collei's hands wave defensively. "I-it's not like that! It's just… We're still in our uniforms, and I get nervous when Ningguang shows up like this. That's all!"

Meanwhile, across town, Clorinde is in her garage, focused on her Lancia's engine. Lying underneath the car, she tightens the oil drain bolt, completing the messy task of removing the old oil.

As she shifts her hand, it brushes against the sharp edge of the engine frame. "Argh! Shit! That fucking hurts!" she exclaims, quickly pulling her hand back. Blood wells from a fresh cut on her palm.

Standing up and examining the wound, she mutters, "Damn it... Gonna need a bandage."

Before she can head to her medical kit, the familiar hum of a rotary engine grows louder. Ningguang's white FC pulls up outside her garage. Clorinde glances toward the entrance, a smile breaking through her irritation. She steps out to greet her visitor.

"Hey, Ningguang!" Clorinde calls out. "What brings you to my lively home?"

Ningguang exits the car, her composed demeanor unshaken. "Hey, Clorinde. I just wanted to talk to you for a second."

Clorinde steps closer, her curiosity piqued. "Sure. What's on your mind?"

Before answering, Ningguang's sharp eyes notice the cut on Clorinde's hand. "Wait—are you okay? That looks like it's bleeding."

Clorinde glances at her injury dismissively. "Oh, this? It's nothing. Just got nicked while working under the car."

Satisfied, Ningguang nods. "Alright. I was wondering if you're free tonight. I'm meeting Collei by Lake Yougou and thought you might want to join us."

Clorinde casts a quick look at her Lancia 037, as if weighing her plans. "Yeah, I've got time tonight. I'll see you there."

Ningguang smiles and hands Clorinde a piece of paper. "Here's my phone number, just in case. See you tonight."

Clorinde pockets the note with a slight nod. Ningguang steps back into her FC, and with a low rumble, the car speeds off into the distance. Clorinde watches the taillights disappear, a faint trace of curiosity in her expression.

"What's she up to? Why'd she come all the way here?" Clorinde mutters under her breath. She looks down at her still-bleeding hand, a few crimson drops now staining the concrete floor. Shaking her head, she heads back into the garage to fetch a bandage.

As the Night Rises at Lake Yougou. The cool evening air wrapped around Ningguang as she stood leaning against her FC, the engine still idling. She took a slow drag from her cigar, the tip glowing faintly in the dim light. With a soft sigh, she crushed the cigar under her heel, the ash scattering into the breeze. The quiet was soon broken by the distant sound of engines roaring toward her.

Two cars appeared from the far horizon. The first, Collei's sleek Eight-Six, its headlights cutting through the dark, and the second, Clorinde's powerful Lancia Rally 037, roaring with the distinct growl of a race car built for domination. The two vehicles parked side by side with Ningguang's FC, the engines winding down as their drivers stepped out.

Collei waved enthusiastically, a bright smile on her face. "Hey, Ningguang!"

Clorinde leaned casually against her Lancia, her arms crossed as she gave Ningguang a curious look. "So, why did you bring us here?" she asked, her tone a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.

Ningguang straightened her posture, her gaze steady and focused as she glanced at both of them. "The reason is simple," she began, her voice calm but commanding. "I want you both to drive for my expedition team."

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, neither Collei nor Clorinde spoke. Their eyes widened with surprise. "An expedition team?" Collei echoed, her voice filled with wonder.

Ningguang nodded, her expression serious. "That's right. I want you both to take on the mountain passes outside this prefecture, and we'll challenge the locals on their home turf. If they have records, it's your goal to break them. Leave a legacy—become a legend in the area. Once that's done, we disband. Simple as that."

She paused, her gaze shifting as she let the words sink in. "Unfortunately, I don't have much time left in racing. Maybe a year or two—maybe more, if I'm lucky."

Ningguang turned to Clorinde, her eyes focused. "Clorinde, I want you to take on the uphill races."

She then looked to Collei, her gaze softening. "And Collei, I want you to tackle the downhill."

Collei's eyes widened, her surprise evident. "Are you for real!?" she asked, her voice rising with a mix of disbelief and excitement.

Ningguang smiled knowingly, a glint of confidence in her eyes. "Of course, I am. After all, you're the one who broke my winning streak. And if you join, it will be an incredibly rewarding experience—for both of you." Her smile softened, but there was a steely resolve in her words. "Collei, up until now, you've relied on your raw talent and senses when you race. But sooner or later, you'll hit a wall. With this team, you'll break that wall. You'll ascend to a higher level of racing. I'll train you in skills that go beyond mere instinct. We'll hone your abilities with sound theory, not just what you were born with."

Her gaze sharpened as she fixed her eyes on Collei. "And haven't you realized yet? You need more than what you've been working with. If you really want to drive faster, it's knowledge that will get you there."

Collei blinked, her expression one of surprise. "Huh?" she murmured, caught off guard by Ningguang's words.

Ningguang smirked, her voice turning almost playful. "When you have talent backed by solid theory, you'll become an unstoppable force. You'll be like a knight—unbeatable. And with me by your side, I can teach you everything you need to know. It's far better that you learn this from the perspective of racing itself, not some dry lecture in a classroom."

She turned back to both Collei and Clorinde, a challenge in her eyes. "Let's do this together. You can give me your answer now, or take some time to think it over. But don't take too long."

Suddenly, Clorinde stood up straighter, her eyes locking onto Ningguang's with quiet determination. She answered with a soft but firm tone, "I'm in."

Ningguang's smile widened, her excitement barely contained. "That's great!" she exclaimed, before turning her gaze to Collei.

Collei scratched the back of her head, clearly torn. "I'll need some time to think about it… but I'll consider your offer."

Ningguang's smile softened, an understanding look in her eyes. "Alright, Collei. I hope your answer is a yes."

Turning toward her FC, Ningguang climbed into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life as she began to drive off, heading back toward Araumi.

As Ningguang's FC disappeared into the distance, Clorinde walked over to stand beside Collei, a grin on her face. "You should really consider joining us, Collei. It'd be an amazing learning experience for you!"

Collei nodded slowly, still processing the offer. "I'm gonna have to think about it for a while. Hopefully, in two weeks, I'll have an answer for you guys."

She looked up at the night sky, the cool autumn breeze brushing past her. The stars above were clear, but she couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to change. Winter would be here soon, and with it, the start of a new year—and perhaps, a new chapter for herself as well.