The Speed Of The Stars

That morning at the gas station, the air was crisp and filled with the scent of fuel and faint autumn leaves. Collei had just finished informing March, Amber, Beidou, and Seele about Ningguang's invitation when the calm morning was shattered by their collective outburst.

"WHAAAAT?!" they all yelled, their voices echoing off the nearby hills.

March, unable to contain her shock, closed the distance between them in an instant, grabbing Collei's collar with a mix of disbelief and excitement. "Ningguang invited you to an expedition team?!"

Collei gave a small nod, her green eyes meeting March's wide, incredulous gaze. "Yeah," she replied evenly. "She said it'll last a year. Her plan is to race outside this prefecture, break records, and leave a legacy as legends."

Beidou's fists clenched, trembling with excitement. "Dude, that's awesome! You should totally go for it!"

Amber was practically bouncing on her heels, her amber eyes alight with enthusiasm. "I agree! This is a huge opportunity for you, Collei. Think about it—the great Ningguang, personally inviting you and Clorinde to her team! It's insane!"

Collei's gaze drifted away from the group, landing on the silhouette of Mount Yougou in the distance. The mountain stood tall, silent, and imposing against the blue sky. "I'm considering it," she said softly. "But… I feel like there are some loose ends I need to tie up first. Before I can even think about joining."

Seele crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow with open skepticism. "Hold on a second. Isn't anyone else suspicious? It's like Ningguang is trying to drag Collei away from us. She's the Hero of Yougou, after all. Why would she want to leave?"

Beidou paused, her expression briefly clouding, but then she smirked. "Nah. I think this is exactly what Collei needs. If it makes her an even better driver than she already is, we should give her our full support."

Lyney, who had been leaning casually against a nearby wall, finally chimed in, his voice smooth and confident. "An expeditionary team, huh? That's something Arlecchino and I tossed around back in the day. It's great training for a driver—pushing boundaries, learning new terrains. You should take it, Collei. This is the kind of opportunity people dream about."

Collei remained silent, her eyes still fixed on the distant mountain as the others' voices buzzed around her. Her thoughts swirled like autumn leaves caught in a breeze. As the day wore on, the lively chatter of the gas station began to quiet, giving way to the soft hum of engines and the occasional call of birds overhead.

By sunset, Collei had slipped away unnoticed, seeking solitude at Lake Yougou. She sat beside her Eight Six, its white paint glinting faintly in the waning sunlight. Leaning her back against the car, she wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the still water, its surface mirroring the fiery hues of the sky. Memories began to surface, unbidden and vivid.

Last month.

She could still see it—the sharp curves of Araumi's downhill, the roar of Feixiao's Lancer Evolution IX ahead of her. The race had been intense, every moment etched into her mind as if it were happening all over again.

Collei remembered chasing the Evo, her Eight Six's engine screaming as she pushed it to its limits. The turns came fast, but her hands moved faster, guiding the wheel with precision. Then came the fateful straightaway. Feixiao's Lancer Evo surged ahead, its power advantage undeniable. Collei's foot stayed planted on the accelerator, the tachometer needle hovering over 8,000 RPM.

And then—it happened.

A deafening bang. Her engine gave out, the sound echoing in her ears as oil spilled across the road. The rear wheels locked up, and the car skidded wildly, sliding into an emergency layoff area. The screech of rubber against asphalt was deafening, the acrid smell of burning oil filling the air. When the car finally stopped, smoke billowed from under the hood, escaping through the gaps in thick, ominous plumes.

She remembered stepping out, her legs shaking, and dropping to her knees. Her eyes locked on the smoke as it rose into the night sky. The engine… it was gone. Her heart felt like it had shattered alongside it.

The memory faded, leaving Collei staring blankly at the lake. Her breathing was shallow, her pupils wide and unfocused. Then, with a sharp inhale, she shook her head, banishing the past. Her expression hardened into one of quiet determination. She stood up, brushing dirt from her skirt, and pulled out her phone.

At Ningguang's household, the faint clatter of keys echoed as Ningguang worked diligently at her laptop. Her phone buzzed on the desk, and she picked it up after two rings.

"Hello? Collei?" she said, her tone calm but curious.

"Sorry to bother you, Ningguang," Collei said, her voice steady despite the conflict swirling in her mind. "This isn't about the team initiation. I'm still thinking about that. But… I wanted to ask you something else."

Ningguang leaned back in her chair, intrigued. "Of course. How can I help?"

Collei hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I'm looking for Feixiao. I want to know if it's possible to race her."

Ningguang's brow arched slightly. "Feixiao? Hmm. Yeah, I can arrange that. We go way back. Where would you like the race to happen?"

Collei's lips curled into a faint smirk. "If possible, on her home course."

Ningguang chuckled softly, impressed by the boldness of the request. "That would be Jakotsu Pass in Yashiori. Just know—it's no easy task to beat her there."

Collei nodded, her resolve firm. "I know. Thanks, Ningguang. I'll call you once I've made up my mind."

"Good luck, kid," Ningguang said warmly. "I'll give Feixiao a heads-up that you're heading her way."

The phone call ended with a click. Collei slipped her phone into her pocket, exhaled softly, and stepped toward her Eight-Six. The dim glow of streetlights shimmered on its hood. She pulled open the door, slid into the driver's seat, and gripped the familiar steering wheel. With a practiced motion, she turned the key, and the engine roared to life, its throaty hum reverberating in the quiet parking lot.

The dashboard lights illuminated her face, reflecting her determined expression. "Time to see what Jakotsu Pass is all about," she muttered, she then tightens her seatbelt. She eased the car onto the road and began the drive toward her destination.

By the time Collei arrived at Jakotsu Pass, the clock read 8:45 PM. The evening air was cool, and the faint sounds of insects filled the stillness. She pulled into a small turnout at the summit, stepping out for a moment to take in her surroundings. The track was renowned—a winding road with a mix of straightaways and sharp, unforgiving hairpins. It was a one-way downhill, the kind that demanded respect and precision from anyone daring to challenge it. Reaching the summit required a loop around an intersection at the bottom near the finishing line.

The first stretch was deceptively simple—a long straightaway that lulled drivers into a false sense of security before leading into a sharp, narrow hairpin. Collei approached the turn, easing off the gas and smoothly downshifting. The Eight-Six handled like a dream, responding to her every input with precision. She pushed harder, navigating the road with growing confidence.

"So this is Jakotsu Pass," she thought aloud, her voice cutting through the engine's hum. "Weird that the GPS lists two locations with the same name. But now it makes sense—this one-way downhill and the uphill section after the finish line share it. That road leads straight back to the summit."

Another hairpin came into view. Collei shifted her weight, countersteered, and drifted through with ease, her tires squealing in protest. The adrenaline was exhilarating. "These hairpins are unbelievable!" she exclaimed, grinning as the Eight-Six emerged unscathed and ready for more.

Farther down the road, the roar of her engine reached a small group of spectators. Among them, a Lancer Evolution III stood parked, its driver leaning casually against the door.

"Whoa, is that Yougou's Eight-Six?" one spectator asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Yeah!" the driver of the Evo III replied, his excitement growing. "We better call Feixiao."

Collei's focus remained sharp as she tackled one of the faster-paced corners. She felt the car's rear slip momentarily before her corrections brought it back in line. Moments later, she crossed the finishing line. Instead of stopping, she executed a swift, precise 90-degree drift onto the connecting road that would take her uphill. The Eight-Six's engine roared, echoing against the jagged cliffs as she powered back to the summit.

At the summit's rest area, Feixiao finished a phone call, her expression unreadable. A spotter had confirmed Collei's presence.

"I'm glad she's okay," Feixiao murmured, tucking her phone away. Her gaze shifted toward the winding road below. "And her Eight-Six... it's fixed. She's took that exhibition run seriously, like it's a real race. But I can't blame her. Not after what happened."

Meanwhile, in Araumi, Keqing stepped into Ningguang's study. The room was bathed in the cool glow of a laptop screen, Ningguang's eyes flicking between lines of data. On the screen was a detailed readout of Collei's Eight-Six. Especially its high revving engine.

"Hey, Ning," Keqing began hesitantly, walking closer. "Can we talk for a bit?"

Ningguang glanced up and turned her chair toward Keqing. "What's up?"

Keqing wasted no time. "I heard from some guys at Jakotsu that Collei's Eight-Six is there to race Feixiao's Lancer Evo. Is it true?"

A sly smile tugged at Ningguang's lips as she nodded. "Sounds about right."

Keqing's eyes widened. "And you knew all along!?"

Ningguang chuckled softly. "Sort of."

Keqing stepped closer, her voice lowering. "Is she doing this for vengeance or something else?"

Ningguang's expression turned thoughtful. "I'm not sure. But from the way she sounded... it feels like she wants a rematch. The engine failure during that exhibition run really hit her hard."