Lap 3
While Jody, Kamui, and Lucy were busy watching the men argue, Jack challenged Kuma to a race. Ryu said he would be the referee.
Kuma: "A race against the legendary Jack Levin will be wonderful. I can hardly wait."
Jack grinned and stood proud.
Jack: "You wouldn't stand a chance against the almighty Jack Levin."
Kuma struck a JoJo pose.
Kuma: "Ho… ho… you are challenging me instead of running away? You are challenging me?!"
He followed it up with a JoJo-style bow.
Jack stood before Kuma with a competitive look.
Jack: "Clank, he can use your machine, right?"
Clank crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at Kuma.
Clank: "As if he could drive the Dragon Bird. No one except me can do that."
Kuma started laughing and pretended to adjust glasses.
Kuma: "You mean Ryu couldn't drive it? That's a bold claim."
Jody and Tanaka interrupted their arguing and led them to the gliders.
Lucy: "Kamui, you drive with me."
Kamui nodded and got into her glider.
Jody led Kuma to hers, and he drove with her.
Jody: "Get in, Kuma."
Kuma's eyes sparkled like fireworks.
Kuma: "I'm about to sit in the White Cat! One of my dreams just came true!"
He climbed in and positioned himself in front of Jody.
Ryu arrived first, closely followed by Jack, who positioned his glider—the Astro Robin, number 14, blue with yellow rally stripes—near the finish line. A few minutes later, Clank Hughes arrived in his Dragon Bird and stepped out. They waited at a blue track surrounded by nothing but water, reachable from only one access point.
Kuma was in Jody's glider, the White Cat, number 2, white and purple. Kamui was with Lucy in her glider, the Elegant Liberty, number 31, yellow with a rear spoiler. Kamui sat in front and looked outside as they drove.
Kamui: "Did you know a fun fact? Your glider looks like a taxi, and now we're using it as one."
Lucy laughed it off.
Lucy: "You're right. It really is one now."
She raised an eyebrow, concentrating not to lose her temper.
When they arrived, Kamui and Kuma exited the F-Zero gliders.
Kuma: "Damn, it's refreshing here…"
He took a deep breath and felt his soul relax. Kamui rubbed her arms to warm herself.
Kamui: "Damn, it's cold."
Jody grabbed a jacket from her glider and threw it over Kamui. It was warm and cozy, even steaming slightly due to the temperature difference.
Kamui: "Haaa… I'm like a potato in a cooking pot. Thanks, Jody."
She sniffed the jacket deeply.
Kamui: "Ah… it smells like Jody's sweet and hard work."
Jody narrowed her eyes, a mix of disgust and genuine concern. Kuma just shook his head with a poker face. The others looked confused.
A disturbing silence fell over them. Only the sounds of Jack's and Clank's gliders could be heard. The day was clear. Kuma, now holding the key from Clank, felt nervous. His legs trembled slightly.
But this was one of his dreams. Even if he lost, driving an F-Zero machine—and racing against Jack Levin's Astro Robin—made him happier than anything else. Kuma took a deep breath before entering the Dragon Bird. He looked at Jack, who was already seated in his glider, staring at him mercilessly.
Kuma grinned as his competitive nature surfaced.
Jack: "Tch…"
Jack turned forward as his wind protection came down.
Kuma climbed into the Dragon Bird. Buttons covered the cockpit, and his thoughts raced.
Kuma: "Which one do I press?"
Clank walked up and showed him which button lowered the wind protection.
Clank: "You'll fail if you don't even know how to lower the wind protection."
Clank returned to the spectator area. Kuma nodded in thanks as the shield came down. Ryu raised his right hand.
Ryu: "Are you both ready?"
Jack's glider hovered above the ground, ready to start.
Jack: "Yes!"
Kuma's Dragon Bird, however, was still on the ground.
Kuma: "No!"
Jack sighed and glanced to his right, clearly enjoying the situation.
Confused by the countless buttons, Kuma pressed one at random, dashing sideways into Jack. Jack steered sharply to counter it.
Jack: "Hey! What was that for?!"
Kuma jolted from the impact.
Kuma: "Sorry! Wrong button!"
Jack dashed back as Kuma scraped along the ground and returned to the starting point. The spectators covered their faces. Clank trembled, fearing damage to his Dragon Bird.
Clank: "Stop dashing into my machine, Jack! He's not even off the ground yet!"
Jack ignored him. Clank then spoke to Kuma through the console, hacking in with his scouter.
Clank: "It's simple, Kuma. Press the green button in the upper-left corner. That'll lift the machine."
Kuma pressed it, and the Dragon Bird floated slightly above the ground. Now it finally felt like his favorite game.
Kuma: "Thanks, Clank. You're a lifesaver."
Over the speakers, Kuma announced he was ready. Ryu dropped his arm.
Ryu: "Go!"
Jack Levin's Astro Robin shot forward at insane speed while Kuma still sat still. He placed the key into the slot and pushed the power lever—backwards. The machine spun wildly.
Kuma: "Shit… I'm too nervous. What's wrong with me? Come on, brain, calm down. This feels like a hardcore blackout mission in Call of Duty."
Kamui's voice came through Clank's scouter.
Kamui: "You can do it. Don't be nervous—just show them who's the boss."
Hearing her support, Kuma steadied himself. Playing was different from actually sitting in the machine. After a moment, he pushed the lever forward and accelerated. Jack was already halfway down the track.
Kuma sped up, hitting the barriers a few times. Slowly, he got the hang of it. Minute by minute, he improved, closing the gap. Jack slammed into Kuma, sending him drifting into the barrier. The sideboards rattled violently.
Kuma dashed back, spinning wildly, hoping Jack would fall off the track.
Jack: "You think cheap tricks like that work against a pro?!"
Kuma laughed.
Kuma: "No… but I don't need that. I'm already happy. Not just racing against you—but with you. We should talk afterward."
They raced side by side. At three-quarters of the track, Jack activated his boost. The Astro Robin roared to 1400 km/h.
Jack: "See ya!"
Kuma searched for his boost button. He aimed for yellow—but hit red.
Kuma: "Why am I getting slower…?"
Suddenly, he was ejected into the air toward the water.
Kuma: "I'm blasting off!"
His heart dropped as he saw the height.
Kuma: "Aaaah! I'm falling—! …Oh, never mind."
A parachute deployed, lowering him gently. From above, he saw massive columns, domes, and entire cities beneath him—views he had never imagined.
The spectators shook their heads.
Clank: "Jody, get your glider. Pull him out of the water. I can't believe he pressed the ejection button."
Jody's eyes widened in disbelief.
Jack crossed the finish line and stopped immediately, noticing the empty spectator area.
Jack: "Where did everyone go…?"
Ryu walked over and pointed toward the three-quarter mark, where the Dragon Bird stood with its wind protection open.
Ryu: "He pressed the ejection button."
His voice was calm but firm—he knew how hard it was for beginners.
Jack burst out laughing. He had expected something to happen—but not this.
As Jody flew toward Kuma's landing point, Lucy followed with Kamui.
Jody: "He needs to learn a lot more about our machines."
Lucy smiled knowingly.
Lucy: "Everyone starts somewhere."
They reached Kuma just as he landed gently—right on Jody's roof.
Jody: "That was quite the ejection, don't you think… King Falcon?"
She teased him.
Kuma's cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
Lucy opened her wind protection. Kamui stepped out and tapped Kuma's shoulder.
Kamui: "You drove better than I would have."
Kuma crossed his arms and sighed.
Kuma: "King Falcon can wait. Apprentice Falcon it is."
Kamui smiled warmly.
Lucy untied Kuma from the seat, and he climbed into her glider. Kamui took his place in Jody's.
Jody: "Let's head back."
They all nods and then flew back to the Mobile Task Force, where Tanaka was waiting.