One week later—
Midweek.
A quiet Wednesday afternoon settled over Tracen Academy.
Training fields were still alive with motion—some Umamusume pushing through final laps, others stretching, cooling down, or chatting in small groups as the day began to wind down. The golden hue of the setting sun stretched long shadows across the campus.
Inside one of the classrooms in the main building—
The teacher gathered his clipboard and bag, then turned toward the class with a polite bow.
"Class dismissed. See you all tomorrow."
He slid the door open with a soft shhk and stepped out into the hallway.
Almost immediately, the room shifted.
Chairs scraped lightly against the floor. Bags zipped. Conversations sparked to life.
Some students filed out, eager to leave.
Others lingered, forming small circles of chatter.
Near the window—
Bathed in warm orange light—
Mayano Top Gun was already packing up.
Her notebook slid neatly into her bag. She zipped it up with a quick motion and swung it over her shoulder.
"Maya-chan!"
A familiar voice called out.
Mayano turned just as Tokai Teio approached from behind, her usual bright energy filling the space.
"Ah! Teio!"
Mayano smiled.
"What's up?"
Teio lifted a fist to her chest, leaning in slightly like she was about to reveal something important.
"I heard you're picking up your Pantera today, right?"
Mayano's eyes lit up instantly.
"That's right!"
She bounced slightly on her heels, unable to hide her excitement.
"Almost a full year of restoration—and it's finally done!"
Teio blinked, clearly impressed.
"Seriously? That long?"
"Mhm!" Mayano nodded eagerly. "Worth it, though."
Teio tilted her head.
"So where is it?"
Mayano grinned.
"You know that place—Ōi Futō?"
Teio's eyes widened in recognition.
"Of course! I've heard about it a ton!"
Late-night runs.
Industrial roads.
A hotspot for underground drivers.
Mayano nodded.
"There's this small American tuning and restoration shop there."
"That's where my DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S is."
Teio crossed her arms, thinking.
"Sounds kinda… intense."
Mayano chuckled.
"Yeah—but that's part of the charm."
Teio glanced around the classroom, then leaned closer.
"Anyone else coming?"
Mayano shrugged.
"Not sure yet."
"We could ask around, though."
Teio suddenly raised a finger, an idea sparking.
"Oh! We should ask Kaichou!"
Mayano blinked.
"Kaichou?"
Teio nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah! Symboli Rudolf!"
"She'd definitely have something to say about your build."
Mayano's ears perked up.
"You're right!"
She smiled wider.
"I'd love to hear Kaichou's input."
Teio nodded twice, already turning toward the door.
"Then let's go!"
The two quickly stepped out into the hallway, merging into the steady flow of students leaving for the day.
Their footsteps echoed lightly as they made their way through the corridors—
Up a flight of stairs.
Then another.
Until they reached the third floor.
At the center of the building, overlooking the wide open lobby below, stood a set of polished doors.
Behind them—
The office of the Student Council President.
The domain of Symboli Rudolf.
Mayano paused for just a second.
A mix of excitement—and just a hint of nerves.
Then she glanced at Teio.
Teio grinned.
Mayano smiled back.
And together—
They stepped forward.
Inside the Student Council office—
Symboli Rudolf was pacing.
Back and forth.
Her posture was composed as always—but the tension in her shoulders gave her away.
She had her phone pressed to her ear.
"I… I don't understand. The situation there is getting worse."
She stopped mid-step.
"You need to withdraw."
A pause.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"If she doesn't feel safe, then she should return to Japan. Immediately."
She exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Put Forever Young on the line."
At that moment, Rudolf noticed Teio and Mayano by the door.
She raised a finger toward them, silently mouthing—
"Wait."
The two exchanged glances, then nodded quietly.
The phone crackled.
"K-Kaichou…?"
Rudolf's voice softened slightly.
"Forever-kun. Are you alright?"
A shaky breath came through the line.
"As much as I want to race in the Dubai World Cup… the situation here is really scaring me."
Rudolf's expression hardened.
"Are you still willing to race?"
Silence.
Then—
"I… I don't know anymore…"
Her voice trembled.
"The sound of fighter jets… gunfire…"
A pause.
"I can't even sleep properly. I have to use earplugs… or bury my head in a pillow just to rest…"
Rudolf closed her eyes briefly.
"Do you still want to do this race?"
Another silence.
Then—
"I'm… skeptical. The officials say it's still happening… but other Umamusume have already withdrawn."
"Some of them already left the country."
Rudolf slowly nodded, even though the other side couldn't see her.
"What's your plan?"
A long pause.
"I… don't know… I'll stay here for now."
"I'll update you in a day or two…"
Rudolf sighed quietly, her hand covering part of her face.
"…Alright."
"Update me as soon as you can."
"I will, Kaichou… please take care."
"You too."
The call ended.
The room fell into silence.
Rudolf lowered her phone and slipped it into her uniform pocket.
Her gaze dropped slightly.
"What is her trainer thinking… keeping her in a situation like that…"
Mayano hesitated, raising a finger slightly. Her mouth opened—then closed.
Then, finally—
"I-Is Forever-san okay?"
Rudolf looked up at both Mayano Top Gun and Tokai Teio.
She nodded.
"She's… alright. For now."
A brief pause.
Then Rudolf straightened, returning to her usual composed demeanor.
"So—what brings you two here?"
Mayano glanced at the time on her phone, then looked back up.
"Are you free in about… 10 to 20 minutes, Kaichou?"
Rudolf checked her own phone briefly, then nodded.
"I am."
"What's the occasion?"
Mayano scratched the back of her head, smiling.
"Well… I wanted to ask if you'd like to come along."
"I'm picking up one of my restored cars."
Rudolf's ears perked instantly.
"Restored?"
Mayano nodded.
"Yep!"
Rudolf leaned forward, placing both hands on her desk.
"What car?"
Mayano quickly unlocked her phone and pulled up a photo.
She stepped closer and held it out.
"A DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S."
Rudolf leaned in.
On the screen—
A striking machine.
Marlboro red paint.
Gold wheels.
Black "Pantera" lettering running along the side.
Rudolf's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Oh… now you have my attention."
She straightened slightly and pointed at the screen.
"You're picking this up today?"
Mayano nodded eagerly.
"Yep! It's finished—and Gold City is giving me a ride there."
Teio stepped forward, fists raised near her chest in excitement.
"We were hoping you could come along and give your thoughts!"
Rudolf nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
"I don't have anything planned tonight."
Mayano pumped her fist slightly.
"Perfect!"
She grinned.
"We're also planning to do some Wangan runs afterward—just to stress test the car."
Rudolf leaned back, crossing her arms.
"I see…"
Then, under her breath—
"A good excuse to stretch the Ferrari F40's legs."
Teio's ears twitched.
"Did you say something, Kaichou?"
Rudolf immediately shook her head.
"Nothing important."
Then she nodded once more.
"I'll join you."
Mayano raised her hand in excitement.
"Alright!"
She bowed slightly.
"We'll meet at the Ritto Dormitory parking lot!"
Rudolf chuckled.
"I'll be there."
Teio and Mayano waved as they stepped out, gently sliding the door closed behind them.
The hallway buzzed with the fading energy of the day as the two made their way back toward the dormitories.
Inside the Ritto Dormitory—
Their shared room welcomed them with familiarity.
They quickly changed into casual clothes—comfortable, practical for the evening ahead.
Fifteen minutes later—
They were ready.
Mayano grabbed a small bag, making sure everything was inside:
Wallet.
Phone.
And the remaining cash for the restoration.
The two stepped outside and headed toward the parking lot.
Waiting there—
Two machines.
Two completely different philosophies.
The Ferrari F40, low and aggressive, its raw presence unmistakable.
And beside it—
The legendary Ford GT40 Mk II, its black paint and gold accents glowing under the fading sunlight.
Leaning casually against the driver-side door of the GT40—
Gold City.
Hands tucked into her gray coat pockets.
She glanced toward Rudolf.
"It's nice seeing you actually take the F40 out on a weekday."
Rudolf chuckled.
"I try."
Gold City smirked, turning slightly.
"You should try more often."
She gestured outward.
"Night drives on the highway? Nothing beats that."
Rudolf nodded.
"Agreed."
"Fast or slow… the city feels different at night."
She looked toward the dorm entrance.
"There they are."
Teio hopped forward, raising her hand enthusiastically.
"Kaichou! You brought the F40?!"
Rudolf smiled and nodded.
"I did."
"I've been meaning to drive it more."
Her gaze shifted briefly to the car.
"I also want to see how the Hakone setup handles a Wangan run."
Gold City's smirk widened.
"So we're really doing this tonight, huh?"
Rudolf nodded.
"I don't see why not."
Mayano laughed softly.
"Like I said earlier—I need to stress test the Pantera anyway."
Teio nodded eagerly.
"I'm riding with you to the shop, Kaichou!"
Rudolf shook her head lightly.
"Of course."
Teio then turned to Gold City.
"And later—can I ride with you on the Shuto?"
Gold City smiled.
"Sure."
"You're welcome anytime."
Teio beamed.
"Alrighty!"
The evening was set.
Cars.
Highways.
And a freshly restored machine waiting to prove itself.
By the low-slung silhouette of the Ford GT40 Mk II—
Gold City reached for the door handle.
With a metallic click—
The door swung upward.
Not just the door—
Part of the roof came with it.
She placed her left hand along the roof edge for support, then carefully stepped in—right leg first—lowering herself into the impossibly tight cockpit. Her body slid down into the seat, the high sills forcing a practiced, deliberate motion.
She ducked her head slightly—
Then pulled the door down.
THUD.
Sealed.
A moment later—
Mayano Top Gun opened the passenger-side door and began climbing in.
Just as she reached for the door—
Gold City raised a hand.
"Wait."
Mayano paused.
"Huh?"
Gold City pointed upward.
"Part of the roof comes down with the door."
She gestured again.
"Duck your head—or sink into the seat first."
"I don't want your ears getting caught when that shuts."
Mayano blinked.
"A-Ah…!"
She quickly sank deeper into the seat, slouching slightly before pulling the door shut.
THUD.
Inside—
The cockpit was tight. Mechanical. Alive.
Gold City reached to the right side of the dashboard and inserted the key.
Click.
She turned it to ACC.
Switches lit faintly.
Then—
Her fingers moved to a toggle switch beneath the ignition.
Fuel Pump — ON.
A faint whirr echoed from behind them.
She placed her foot on the accelerator—
Pump.
Pump.
Pump.
Fuel primed the carburetors.
Then—
She twisted the key.
The 427 cubic-inch Ford big-block V8 cranked.
RRR—RRR—RRR—
Another quick stab of the throttle—
And—
BOOM.
The engine roared to life.
The revs surged to nearly 4,000 RPM before settling down into a deep, uneven idle around 1,000 RPM.
The entire chassis vibrated with raw mechanical force.
Gold City calmly pulled her shoulder harness over and tightened it down.
Beside her—
Mayano tapped her shoulder lightly.
"Hm?"
Mayano looked around the cockpit, then back at her.
"City-san… can I ask something?"
Gold City glanced over.
"Shoot."
"How do you start a carbureted engine so easily?"
Gold City chuckled.
"It's not easy—you just get used to it."
She pointed toward the pedals.
"With carbureted engines, you need to pump the throttle before starting."
Mayano scratched her head.
"Why though?"
Gold City raised an eyebrow.
"You have driven your Pantera before, right?"
Mayano nodded.
"Yeah—but only a few times before sending it for restoration."
She mimicked pressing a pedal.
"Sometimes it starts fine… sometimes it struggles."
Gold City nodded knowingly.
"That makes sense."
She lifted a finger.
"If it's hard to start, usually one of two things is happening."
"A—You didn't pump enough, so there's not enough fuel in the carb."
"B—You pumped too much, and now it's flooded."
Mayano blinked.
"So… how do you know how much is enough?"
Gold City scratched her cheek slightly.
"It depends."
She glanced forward.
"On a normal day? Two to four pumps usually works."
She tapped her chin.
"Cold weather's worse."
"Sometimes six pumps… sometimes more."
She laughed lightly.
"And sometimes you're cranking the engine while pumping the gas just to get it to fire."
Mayano stared.
"It's that difficult in the cold?"
Gold City nodded.
"Yeah. Sounds about right."
She smirked slightly.
"Good thing your daily is fuel-injected."
Mayano nodded.
"Y-Yeah…"
Gold City gave a quick thumbs-up.
"You'll get used to it."
"The more you drive a carbureted car, the better your feel gets."
Mayano nodded with determination.
"Got it."
Gold City rested her hand on the gear lever.
"So—ready?"
Mayano tightened her harness.
"Ready, City-san."
Gold City smiled.
"Alright."
She moved the shifter—
Left.
Then down.
A dogleg first gear—just like the Ferrari F40.
She brought the revs up.
Then slowly eased off the clutch.
The GT40 rolled forward.
Behind them—
The F40 followed.
Their journey to Ōi Futō had begun.
A 30-minute drive from central Tokyo—
Toward an area once infamous in the 90s.
Industrial roads.
Open space.
Late-night drifting.
The cars exited Tokyo Port Rinkai Road, turning into a quieter stretch.
Towering warehouses rose on both sides.
Shipping containers stacked like walls.
The atmosphere shifted—
From city to industrial silence.
Gold City leaned forward slightly, scanning the surroundings.
"You sure this is the place?"
Mayano glanced at her phone, then out the window.
"Yeah… this is it."
Gold City side-eyed her.
"When was the last time you came here?"
Mayano tapped her chin.
"Uhh…"
A pause.
Then a slightly uneasy smile.
"Last November…?"
Gold City sighed.
"Mate…"
Then—
She spotted it.
A modest garage.
An American flag fluttering on a fence nearby.
Gold City's eyes lit up.
"Wait… is that it?"
Mayano turned quickly.
"Y-Yeah! That's it!"
Gold City laughed.
"I know this place!"
Mayano blinked in surprise.
"You do?!"
Gold City flicked the turn signal and guided the GT40 into the lot.
"Yeah."
"This guy built my big-block when I started modifying the GT40."
Mayano smiled widely.
"Then you know Kogashiwa-san!"
Gold City pointed forward.
"That's him."
She pulled the car to the side of the garage, leaving space open.
Behind them—
Rudolf parked the F40 neatly beside a steel chain fence.
Doors opened.
Both stepped out.
THUD.
Gold City stretched slightly, chuckling.
"Been about a year and a half since I last saw him…"
In front of the garage—
There it was.
The DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S.
Facing outward.
Its rear hatch lifted high.
Engine exposed.
Waiting.
Footsteps approached.
Rudolf and Teio joined them.
Rudolf slipped her hands into her pockets, observing the place.
"So this is it."
Gold City nodded.
"Yep."
Teio peeked between them—
And froze.
Her eyes locked onto the red machine.
She raised a hand, pointing.
"Is that yours, Mayano?!"
Mayano turned, glancing over her shoulder—
Then smiled.
"Yep."
"That's the one."
A metallic clack echoed as the rear engine lid of the Pantera dropped shut.
The man behind it wiped his hands on a rag before looking up—
And smiled.
"Well, well… look who came to see the finished product!"
He walked toward them with an easy stride.
"Good to see you, Mayano."
Mayano Top Gun stepped forward, smiling brightly as she shook his hand.
"Good to see you too, Kogashiwa-san!"
Kogashiwa then turned to Gold City, extending his hand again.
"Didn't expect to see you back here!"
Gold City smirked slightly as she shook it.
"Good to see you too."
Kogashiwa leaned slightly, peering past her—
His eyes locking onto the Ford GT40 Mk II.
"How's the engine treating you?"
Gold City nodded.
"Still brutal."
"You did a fantastic job."
Kogashiwa laughed.
"Glad to hear it!"
Mayano chuckled.
"I didn't even know City-san had her car built here."
Kogashiwa grinned.
"I figured you'd be surprised."
Then he turned toward the car.
"Well…"
He gestured.
"Want to take a look?"
Mayano nodded immediately.
"Of course!"
Gold City followed with a nod.
"Definitely."
The group moved toward the DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S.
Just before reaching it—
Mayano stopped and opened her bag.
"Kogashiwa-san?"
"Hm?"
She handed him a thick envelope.
"This should cover the remaining balance."
Kogashiwa opened it, flipping through the cash briefly.
Then he looked up and nodded.
"All settled."
"Thank you for your business, Maya-chan."
Mayano waved her hand quickly.
"No, no—I should be thanking you!"
Kogashiwa chuckled.
"Glad we could be part of it."
He reached into his pocket—
And pulled out a key.
A small De Tomaso logo keychain dangled from it.
He held it out.
"And here's your car."
Mayano took it carefully.
Her fingers closed around the key.
"...Thank you."
Behind him, an accountant stepped forward. Kogashiwa passed the envelope along without another word.
At the car—
Tokai Teio was already peeking through the window.
Her jaw dropped.
"Whoa… this interior…"
"It's all leather?!"
Mayano nodded proudly.
"Genuine Italian leather."
She reached for the metal latch and pulled the door open.
Teio leaned in further, scanning everything.
"Man… this is mint."
Mayano grinned.
"Right?"
Teio pointed toward the seat.
"Can I—uh…?"
Mayano raised a hand.
"No need to ask."
"Go ahead."
Teio carefully stepped inside.
Her eyes immediately dropped to the center console—
Then widened.
"Whoa!"
"A gated shifter?!"
She turned to Mayano.
"Just like Kaichou's Ferrari F40!"
Mayano laughed.
"Yep."
Meanwhile—
Mayano reached behind the driver's seat.
Click.
The rear deck lid release popped.
She walked around to the back, reaching under the panel to unlatch it fully.
With a firm push—
The rear hatch lifted.
She grabbed the prop rod and secured it in place.
Then stepped back.
"...Would you look at that."
Kogashiwa joined her side.
"What do you think?"
He pointed toward the exhaust system.
Mounted high.
Running over the transmission.
"Custom-fabricated X-pipe."
"Headers all the way back."
He grinned.
"It'll sound like a NASCAR Gen 4 car on a superspeedway."
Gold City stepped in closer, alongside Symboli Rudolf.
Rudolf leaned slightly, observing the engine bay.
"This is… serious work."
Gold City crossed her arms.
"So what exactly are we looking at?"
Kogashiwa cleared his throat.
"4.9-liter—302 cubic inch—Ford small-block V8."
"SCCA-spec race engine."
He pointed across the bay as he spoke.
"Tore it down completely."
"Forged internals."
"Upgraded valvetrain, cams, ignition, fuel system—"
"And individual throttle-bodied carburetors with a proper air filter setup."
He tapped the side of the engine.
"With everything reinforced, we pushed the tune further."
He smirked slightly.
"Last dyno run—about 637 horsepower."
Gold City's expression shifted instantly.
"Ooh… that's spicy."
Teio climbed out and rushed to the back, peeking inside.
"Whoa… this thing looks like it could do a thousand!"
Mayano laughed.
"Feels like it, honestly."
Kogashiwa chuckled, then looked at her.
"Why don't you fire it up?"
Mayano raised the key with a smirk.
"You read my mind."
She stepped into the driver's seat.
One leg.
Then the other.
She settled into the leather.
Pulled the seat forward slightly—
Closer to the wheel.
Key into ignition.
She glanced down.
Clutch in.
Turn to ACC.
Then she hesitated.
Eyes drifting toward the gas pedal.
"Uhh… how many pumps again…?"
She scratched her head.
Then shook it off.
"I'll trust my gut."
Pump.
Pump.
Pump.
Pump.
She twisted the key.
The starter engaged—
And instantly—
The engine fired.
A sharp, aggressive roar filled the garage.
A faint puff of blue smoke burst from the exhaust.
The others instinctively stepped back.
"Whoa!" Teio jumped.
Inside—
Mayano quickly scanned the gauges.
RPM—stable.
Oil temp—good.
Water temp—warming.
Oil pressure—healthy.
She leaned slightly out the window.
"What's the redline?!"
Kogashiwa shouted back—
"Eight thousand!"
Mayano grinned.
She eased the throttle—
3,500 RPM.
Then—
She planted it.
The engine screamed—
The needle surged—
8000 RPM.
Limiter.
BRAAAP—BRAAAP—
She lifted.
The engine dropped back to a steady idle.
"DAMN, MAYANO!" Teio yelled.
Mayano raised a hand apologetically.
"Sorry!"
Gold City circled slightly, eyeing the car's stance.
Her gaze dropped to the wheels.
Gold.
Against red.
She nodded.
"That combo works really well."
Teio turned back toward Kogashiwa.
"Uh… is that blue smoke normal?"
Kogashiwa nodded.
"Yeah."
"Just some leftover oil burning off."
"It'll clear after a proper drive."
Mayano stepped out of the car.
She clenched her fist in excitement.
"Oh man… I cannot wait to take this on the Wangan."
Kogashiwa smiled.
"I'll be waiting for your feedback."
"Especially on the suspension."
The Pantera idled behind them—
Low.
Aggressive.
Alive.
Ready for its first real run.
Kogashiwa suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Oh—right. This just reminded me."
He looked between them.
"Do any of you know an Umamusume who drives a gray Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1?"
The group exchanged glances.
Mayano looked at Rudolf.
Rudolf looked at Teio.
Teio looked at Gold City.
Then back again.
All of them shook their heads.
"No," Symboli Rudolf answered calmly.
Kogashiwa scratched the back of his head.
"Huh… that's strange."
"I mentioned your Pantera, Mayano—and she recognized you."
Mayano blinked, then scratched her head.
"Maybe just a fan?"
Kogashiwa shrugged.
"Could be."
"She came in for a quick oil change."
Then he raised a finger.
"But let me tell you—her Corvette is stacked."
Gold City's eyes narrowed slightly.
"How stacked?"
Kogashiwa grinned.
"The 6.2-liter LS9 isn't running a supercharger anymore."
"It's running a ProCharger."
Gold City's eyes widened.
"A… ProCharger?"
Kogashiwa nodded.
"And that's just the start."
"Exterior's almost completely stock."
"Only giveaways are the silver R10 Signature Series wheels—and a big brake kit."
Teio tilted her head.
"Wait… what's a ProCharger?"
Gold City leaned slightly against the Pantera, explaining.
"It's another form of forced induction."
"Like a supercharger—but different."
She gestured with her hand.
"It's belt-driven, but instead of sitting on top of the engine, it's mounted up front."
"So it gets cooler air."
She glanced at Teio.
"That means more efficient power—and smoother delivery at higher RPM."
Kogashiwa nodded approvingly.
"Exactly."
"A supercharger gives stronger low-end torque."
"But a ProCharger—like a turbo—really shines at high RPM."
He smirked.
"Perfect for Wangan runs."
Rudolf lowered her gaze slightly, thinking.
Then she looked back at him.
"No… we don't know anyone like that."
Gold City glanced sideways at her.
"You think we'll run into her tonight?"
Rudolf shrugged.
"Maybe."
Mayano chuckled and lightly patted Kogashiwa's shoulder.
"Thanks again for everything."
Kogashiwa bowed slightly.
"Thank you for trusting us with the build."
Mayano bowed back.
"I'll come back if I need anything else done."
He grinned.
"I'll be here."
Mayano smiled.
Then turned to the group.
"Shall we?"
They all nodded.
Teio stepped closer to Gold City.
"Can I ride with you?"
Gold City smiled.
"Of course."
They split once more.
Each heading to their machines.
Mayano opened the door of the DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S and slid into the driver's seat.
She reached instinctively for the seatbelt—
But paused.
"...Huh?"
She glanced over her shoulder.
Then spotted it.
"A… racing harness?"
Knock knock.
She turned.
Kogashiwa stood by the window.
Mayano rolled it down.
"I forgot to mention," he said.
"I replaced the standard seatbelt with a four-point Takata racing harness."
Mayano raised an eyebrow.
"Was that included in the payment?"
He shook his head.
"Nope."
"That one's on the house."
Mayano smiled warmly.
"Thank you… again."
Kogashiwa nodded, patting the roof.
"Anytime."
"Take care of her."
He stepped back, already heading toward another project car.
Mayano rolled the window back up.
She pulled the harness straps over her shoulders—
Adjusted them—
And locked them into place with a firm metallic click.
Secure.
She reached forward—
Click.
The headlights switch engaged.
With a smooth mechanical motion—
The Pantera's pop-up headlights rose into position.
She gripped the shifter.
Clutch in.
First gear.
Slow release.
The car rolled forward.
Ahead—
Gold City reversed the Ford GT40 Mk II out into the road.
Behind—
The Ferrari F40 fired to life, its twin-turbo V8 barking sharply as Rudolf joined in.
One by one—
They merged onto the road.
Engines echoing through the industrial district.
The convoy moved toward the port exit.
Toward the city.
Toward the highways.
They rolled out of Oi Wharf, merging back toward the arteries of the city.
The skyline dimmed.
The last traces of sunlight faded behind the industrial horizon.
Night had taken over.
They passed through a tunnel beneath Haneda Airport, the roar of engines compressing into a deafening echo—
Then out again, streaking past Ogishima.
Still cruising.
Still calm.
Inside the Pantera—
Mayano's hands rested lightly on the wheel.
Steady.
Controlled.
Silent.
Then—
Her eyes flicked to the side mirror.
A smirk formed.
"The sun's down…"
Her grip tightened slightly.
"I think it's time."
They exited the Shuto Expressway Bayshore Route at Daikoku Junction, heading north toward Namamugi.
And that's when—
Mayano moved.
Clutch in.
Fourth.
Third.
Second.
Blip—blip—blip.
Rev-matched downshifts, clean and aggressive.
Then—
She buried the throttle.
The DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S exploded forward.
The SCCA-spec 302 V8 roared violently—
Rear tires broke loose—
Then bit hard.
Inside the Ford GT40 Mk II—
Teio lurched forward—
Stopped instantly by the harness.
"Whoa—!"
She leaned toward the windshield.
"Look at Mayano go!"
Gold City smirked.
"Oh, we're not letting her run."
Clutch.
Second gear.
Full throttle.
The GT40 surged like a missile.
"WAIT—WHAT?!" Teio yelped.
Behind them—
The Ferrari F40 came alive.
Twin turbos spooled—
And Rudolf joined the charge.
They tore through traffic.
Past Namamugi.
Northbound.
Engines screaming against concrete walls.
Up front—
Mayano grinned.
"This feels so good…!"
"All that work—worth it!"
Then—
At the next intersection—
Two engines cut through the chaos.
Distinct.
Sharp.
Six cylinders.
One inline.
One flat.
They appeared from the on-ramp.
The midnight blue Nissan Fairlady Z S30.
And behind it—
The black Porsche 930 Turbo.
More had joined the hunt.
Mayano blasted past them.
Then Gold City.
Then Rudolf.
Rudolf glanced into her mirror.
"Hm…"
Her eyes sharpened.
"This just got interesting."
Tachyon's grin widened as she locked onto the F40 ahead.
"Well, well—Rudolf."
"Taking your Ferrari out on the Wangan?"
"I like that."
Behind her—
Cafe shifted cleanly into fifth.
Flat.
Unwavering.
"The more… the better."
The S30Z surged.
Pulled.
And then—
Blew past Rudolf like she was standing still.
The Blackbird followed.
Relentless.
Rudolf reacted instantly.
Lane change.
Throttle in.
Now she was chasing.
Ahead—
Gold City.
Still locked in pursuit of Mayano.
They blasted through Haneda.
Showajima.
Oi.
Then—
The city.
The road tightened.
Corners approached.
Two exits ahead.
Left—Shibuya.
Straight—Ginza.
Mayano chose.
Hard right.
Toward Ginza.
The pack followed.
A three-lane left corner loomed.
Mayano slammed the brakes—
Front tires chirped—
Fifth to fourth—
Fourth to third—
The Pantera rotated—
Gripped—
And shot through.
Behind—
Gold City braked hard.
The GT40 snapped into the corner—
All four tires sliding—
A controlled, old-school drift.
The rear stepped out—
She countersteered—
Then planted the throttle.
Exit speed—massive.
Rudolf's F40?
Clinical.
Pure grip.
No drama.
Tachyon's S30Z—
Sideways.
Controlled chaos.
Cafe's Blackbird—
Surgical precision.
They carved through the city.
Right.
Tunnel.
Left.
Right.
Then—
An underpass split by a concrete divider.
Mayano flicked right.
Gold City went left.
Rudolf and Cafe—right.
Tachyon—left.
And then—
A new sound entered the battlefield.
A screaming V8.
High-pitched.
Mechanical.
Relentless.
BRAAAP—BRAAAP—BRAAAP—
Limiter.
They regrouped at the merge.
And there—
It was.
The Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1.
Cyber Gray.
Low.
Aggressive.
Teio twisted in her seat.
"H-Hey—!"
"That's the Corvette Kogashiwa-san mentioned!"
Gold City caught it in her mirror.
"Yeah… looks like it."
The Corvette moved.
Inner lane.
Throttle down.
It surged past Tachyon.
Then Cafe.
Tachyon reacted instantly—
Slipped into its draft.
The Vette closed on Rudolf—
Then passed.
Now hunting the GT40.
Tachyon saw the gap.
Took it.
Hard left.
Downshift.
Full throttle.
The S30Z lunged forward—
But—
Mayano peeled off.
Left exit.
Back toward the Bayshore.
She cleared it clean.
Gold City followed.
Side by side—
Tachyon and the Corvette.
Then—
Tachyon braked hard.
Front-right tire chirped.
The Corvette—
Braked late.
Too late.
Understeer.
Wide.
Opening.
Tachyon dove inside.
Closer.
Closer to the wall—
An imaginary apex.
She cleared it.
Clean.
Behind—
Rudolf and the Corvette fought.
But the F40's traction—
Was absolute.
She took the position.
Cafe narrowed her eyes, accelerating hard.
"Who… are you?"
She glanced at the plate.
5-13.
No recognition.
They stormed through Ryogoku—
Toward Kasai.
Speeds climbed.
Mayano pushed.
But the rear wing—
Drag.
Holding her back.
Gold City's GT40—
Still pulling.
Near the limits of its gearbox.
Then—
Lane change.
Inside.
Full throttle.
She surged ahead.
Mayano exhaled.
"Damn it… thought I had it."
Tachyon passed her next.
Then Rudolf.
Behind—
The Corvette and Blackbird clashed.
Kasai approached.
Decision point.
Tachyon stayed on—
Rejoining the Bayshore.
Right exit.
The others followed.
Cafe braked first.
Clean.
The Corvette—
Late again.
Understeer.
Wide.
Cafe slipped inside.
Passed.
Now—
They were back where it all mattered.
The Shuto Expressway Bayshore Route.
Top speed territory.
Gold City led.
Tachyon closing.
Rudolf behind.
Mayano still fighting.
Then Cafe.
Then the Corvette.
Cafe passed Mayano.
Then—
The Corvette followed.
But Mayano didn't give up.
She moved lanes.
Drafting the Corvette.
Gaining.
Tunnel.
Left sweeper.
Past Shinonome Junction.
Gaps tightened.
Tachyon pinned it.
Speedometer maxed.
But the GT40—
Still pulling.
Behind—
Rudolf began to fade.
Then—
Headlights shifted.
Cafe.
Out of the slipstream.
Past the F40.
Now—
Final stretch.
Mayano—
Limiter.
Top speed.
No more left.
The Corvette—
Same.
Pinned.
Haneda tunnel again.
Engines screaming into the void.
Then—
Higashiogishima.
Gold City flicked her hazard lights.
Click—click.
Tapped the brakes.
Coasting.
Tachyon exhaled.
She knew.
"It's over."
She leaned back slightly.
A grin forming.
"Heh…"
"Going up against a Le Mans car…"
Her hand tapped the wheel.
"You did good."
"Really good."
The tension faded.
Speeds dropped.
One by one—
They regrouped.
Cruising together once more.
Toward Daikoku Parking Area.
The night at Daikoku Parking Area was alive.
Rows of tuned machines filled the lot—
Rotaries ticking.
Turbos cooling.
Engines clicking as metal contracted under the night air.
Owners gathered in clusters, conversations blending with the distant hum of the expressway.
The six cars rolled in together.
One by one—
They pulled into a row near the restaurant.
Engines shut off.
Silence… then—
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Heat fading from metal.
Between the cars—
Agnes Tachyon and Gold City met halfway.
Clap.
A clean high five.
"Nice one, City-san!" Tachyon grinned.
Gold City chuckled, brushing her hair back.
"Not bad yourself."
She glanced toward the midnight blue S30Z.
"You kept up with a machine built for Le Mans."
Behind them—
Tokai Teio jumped, fist in the air.
"We won! We won!"
Tachyon laughed, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, yeah—I heard you the first time."
A hand rested on Tachyon's shoulder.
Symboli Rudolf stepped beside her.
"Nicely done."
Then she gave a small thumbs-up toward Gold City.
"And that was an excellent run."
Gold City nodded.
"I had the speed advantage. It showed."
She tilted her head slightly.
"But you weren't far behind."
From behind—
Manhattan Cafe stepped in quietly.
Her gaze shifted to Rudolf.
"So… how did the F40 feel on the Wangan?"
"Did the Hakone setup translate well?"
Rudolf nodded.
"A bit stiff in certain sections…"
She folded her arms.
"But overall—balanced."
"More than capable."
Then—
Mayano Top Gun walked up, stretching her shoulders.
"Man… catching up to you guys isn't easy."
Gold City smirked.
"You've got the advantage in corners, Maya-chan."
Mayano nodded.
"Yeah… it grips like crazy."
She exhaled.
"But on the straights… I'm lacking."
Rudolf gave a small shrug.
"Then take it where it excels."
"The tighter routes of the Shuto will suit your car perfectly."
A brief pause settled over the group.
Then—
Cafe glanced behind them.
Toward the last car.
Still idling.
Low.
Growling.
The Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1.
"…Any idea who owns it?" Cafe asked.
They looked at each other.
Then shook their heads.
"No clue," Tachyon said.
"Same here," Gold City added.
Then—
The V8 cut.
Silence.
The driver's door swung open.
And out stepped—
A girl with twin ponytails.
"You guys are such a pain to race against!"
Everyone froze.
Mayano rubbed her eye.
"There's no way…"
Teio blinked.
"…Daiwa Scarlet?!"
Daiwa Scarlet raised both hands, startled.
"W-What? Did I do something wrong?"
Gold City shook her head quickly.
"No—no, it's not that."
Daiwa tilted her head.
"Then what?"
Mayano pointed straight at the Corvette.
"You… have a car?!"
Daiwa blinked.
"I thought you already knew!"
Mayano shook her head.
"Nope."
She hooked a thumb back at the group.
"We just came from Kogashiwa-san's shop."
"He told us about an Umamusume who recognized us… driving a Cyber Gray Corvette."
She pointed again.
"And that was you?"
Daiwa scratched the back of her head, a little embarrassed.
"Heh… yeah. That was me."
Rudolf chuckled softly as she stepped forward.
"Well then."
She placed a hand on Daiwa's shoulder.
"We've said this to every Umamusume who shares this passion."
A small smile.
"Welcome to the club."
Daiwa laughed nervously, scratching her cheek.
"Th-Thank you… Kaichou."
Rudolf's eyes drifted toward the Corvette.
"But seriously… a ProCharged build?"
"Did you do it yourself?"
Daiwa nodded.
"I had an American tuner here in Tokyo handle most of it."
Then—
She pointed.
At Tachyon.
"I actually got into driving because of you."
Tachyon blinked.
"M-Me?"
Daiwa nodded.
"Yeah…"
She turned slightly, looking back at her Corvette.
"I saw you run the S30Z once."
Her voice softened.
"That car… the way you handle it…"
She smiled.
"They call it the Devil Z for a reason."
Then she looked back at them.
"The C6 ZR1 has a nickname too."
"'Blue Devil.'"
She let out a small laugh.
"Heh… mine's not blue—"
Her eyes flicked to the car.
"But it definitely drives like one."
Teio grinned, raising her voice.
"With how your wheels were spinning up to third gear?"
"Yeah—you definitely earned that name!"
Laughter broke out across the group.
The tension from the race dissolved into something lighter.
Warmer.
Around them—
Engines cooled.
Voices filled the air.
The glow of streetlights reflected off polished paint and glass.
Above—
The night deepened.
Tokyo's skyline shimmered in the distance.
And in that moment—
It wasn't about winning.
Or losing.
Or who had the fastest machine.
It was about the road.
The machines.
And the people who chased the night together.
The beginning of something bigger.
A new rival.
A new ally.