The Speed Of The Stars

Chapter 7: Act: 1 Chapter: 7 | Everything Unravels.



That Afternoon at a well known Seaside restaurant at Ritou. Collei, Seele, Beidou, Pela, And March are sat down at a table, waiting for their food to arrive. March begins some form of conversation. 

March : Hey Collei, Is it true you've been driving in Yougou for the past five years? 

Collei: Yeah, Sounds about right, About that long.

March : But why all the secrecy around it? I though we were very close friends!

Collei : If i mentioned it at all, My father would have gotten into trouble, don't you thing?

March : Fair point there. 5 years ago we started junior high. Back then, it seemed that trouble always finds ways to getting to us anyway.

Beidou : But since junior high, you've been driving every day on Mt. Yougou. Snow or rain, it didn't even matter. What mattered is that you drove.

Collei : Yeah, before dawn. Nobody then was on the road. No big deal at all.

Beidou : I didn't mean it like that Collei. Those corners! Weren't you scared at all?

Collei : At first, yeah i was. In the following months, that fear vanished without a trace. While driving up there in the beginning, I noticed that the tyres slipped naturally, don't know why, but I've adapted from it. It took at least 6 months before i had any control over it.

Seele : So in around a year, you've mastered the downhill right?

Collei : I suppose you can say that. Driving the same route for my dad everyday gets super boring. So i try finding ways to break up the routine once in a while. Like seeing how close i can get to the guardrail.

March is stunned. And condemns from trying to get close to the guardrail

March: That's insane! Why in the world would you do that?!

Collei shifts from her seat slightly.

Collei : I wouldn't call it insane, and besides, i never wrecked. And at my best, the closest i can get to the guardrail is about a centimeter or so.

Everyone in the table is stunned. Realizing how much Talent Collei has driving around Yougou. But something kind of bothers Beidou.

Beidou : There's one thing i don't though. How is it that you drive a trunk load of tofu quickly up Yougou? Drive too fast and that tofu is gonna slosh around there. You could damage your haul from that.

Collei : Well on the uphill, i don't really have much speed, So the tofu doesn't get sloshed around as much. And my dad would put a cup full of water in my cupholder as a reference on how the tofu in the back behaves. Saying if i can drive without spilling the water. Then i'm all set.

The food then arrives and they say their thanks for the meal and begin eating away. the sun, clearly beginning to set. Seele restarts the conversation they had a while ago.

Seele : About that water cup. How in the world do you not spill the water cup going uphill as quickly as you can?

Collei then Explains with hand gestures.

Collei : Well the first few times, yeah i did spill the water all over. The slightest rough input can make it spill. Eventually, i got the hang of it. Dad would say things like " Roll the water around the cup. I was confused at first but i understood what she meant.

March : What does roll the water around the cup mean?

 Collei : Something with the surface tension of the water. It would only stretch so much before it spill. So what you'd do is you roll the water around the rim of the cup. It took me a while before i can drift without spilling the water. Seemed impossible then but eventually i was able to do it consistently.

Everyone is in awe with what they just heard. Collei drifting around a corner in lighting speeds without spilling the water.

Beidou : Drifting without spilling, You can actually do that crap!?

March then closes in on Collei side, grabbing her collar.

- You better not be lying to us Collei, You hear me!?

Seele taps March's shoulder asking her to settle down.

- Settle down March! People are looking at you!

March panics for a split second before sitting back down. the fellow patron's of the restaurant quickly focus back on what they were doing. Pela finally understands what's going on.

- The primary control point of any car is its center of balance. That's the starting point, Its not an easy trick at all to master any car's center of balance. For Collei to drive without spilling the water, means Collei has mastered the Eight Six's Center of balance. Forget anything about drifting. This is a whole new level.

Beidou then finally has the courage to ask Collei a big favor.

- Collei. Can i ask a favor from you? Can i ride with you on the Yougou downhill before we head home?

Collei's eyes widen and was left speechless from the favor.

- I- Uh.... I guess, sure?

Beidou pumps her fist in the air with joy

- Yes! Thank you so much Collei! It really means a lot!

The group then heads back to their food and finishes up March secretly grabs a cup of water from the counter to put in the Eight Six's Cup holder. As everyone settles in to their respective cars from when they arrived. Collei notices the water in the cup holder. Collei then turns to March with a face of displeasure.

- Seriously March?

March is caught red handed. But has a good explanation for the reason why.

- Come on Collei! I got to see if you really cant spill the water in the cup!

Collei sighs. And just accepts it. Pela and March straps themselves in their seats and Collei begins driving back towards Yougou. Seele and Beidou following behind. 

As the night quickly grows, They are back at Yougou, at the summit. Beidou is ready for her ride with Collei

Seele leans in near the window looking at Beidou and Collei from the passenger side. 

- Look at you, all nervous as sweating. 

March bouncing up and down, Her heel, Clacking.

- You are so lucky Beidou!

Beidou finishes setting herself up.

- I know right? This is gonna be epic!

Collei looking at the passengers side window

- Come on guys, its just a Downhill run, Not like we're gonna go to the moon. Now come on, lets get this show on the road!

Beidou Looks at Collei, Clearly excited

-Right on! Lets go!

Beidou then turns to the window waving March and Seele And Pela To Back away from the car, The car then launches off, beginning its downhill run. March looking at the eight six driving away into the darkness

- She's gonna have the time of her life.

At the Eight six, Beidou thinks in her mind.

- I'm gonna figure out her technique, and then seal it for myself to use!

Right on queue they are fast approaching into Turn 1, Collei grips the door handle tightly and braces herself.

- Hey, Whoa! Aren't we going a bit to fast? Collei! Brake!

Beidou screams as Collei Drifts across Turn 1, Exiting near the guardrail, her car being mere centimeters away from hitting it. As they accelerate down into turn 2, which is a right hairpin turn, The Eight Six's Speed Limit Chime starts ringing. Beidou Notes of it, Still hanging on for dear life

- The Speed Chime! It means we are going over 100 Kilometers per hour!

She then looks out of the windshield, Realizing the 2nd Turn is coming up, Hot!

- And we are headed straight to the next corner!

Collei slams on the brake, Quickly downshifting from Fourth to second in a second, Heel and toeing through the downshift. and Initiates a Braking drift. The car quickly sliding around turn 2, Beidou screams and looks outside. realizing the tail is nearing the guardrail little by little. Collei glances for a split second and decides to give the eight six a little love tap on the guardrail she smirks a little, She widens the exit just a little bit, The eight six's rear end lightly taps the guardrail, the sound of a tiny scrape, heard inside. At this point everything for Beidou suddenly brightens, She then glances to collei who is relaxed while driving as fast as she can on the downhill. As soon as collei slams on the brakes for the next corner, Beidou then passes out.

At the summit, everyone is waiting for Beidou and Collei to arrive when, they hear engine sounds. Pela immediately notices.

- Whoa, i hear engine sounds. Are they back already?

Right on queue, The headlights of the eight six is now visible. March realizing that something might be wrong.

- Its too early for them to be back here. Something must have happened!

Collei arrives at the summit and quickly pulls over to the side of the road. Once to a stop. Collei turns the emergency hazards on. March Pela And Seele Rush over to the eight six's drivers side window. Everyone, including Collei is left in an awe. There in the passenger's seat, slumped with a smile on her face, drooling. Is passed out Beidou. March quickly opens the driver side door and takes a closer look, She then goes near collei and whispers not to disturb Beidou.

- At what turn did this happen?

Collei stays silent, and hold out three fingers. March is in shock. Pela and Seele takes a peek at the cup holder and they are amazed on the water's status. Not a single drop spilled Collei then softly speaks.

- What do we do now?

Seele hatches a plan

- I got an idea, Collei, You follow me, Beidou can rest at my place for the night. Pela can sit behind.

Collei understands and hops out to let Pela in into the back seat. Collei then turns to Seele.

- How will be get her out of the car?

Seele doesn't have any idea but they will find a way

- Don't know. but we'll find a way.

The Group then drives off back down into the streets of Yougou. The cold night and the winds echoing around the Mountain. But this isn't the end. In fact. this is just the beginning for Collei. As the Downhill Ace Of Yougou


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