"Who are you..."
Takahashi Ryosuke looked at this person who was the same age as Chen Yao in confusion, not understanding why he wanted to participate.
[Let him participate; it is his wish.]
Finally, Chen Yao, who had been silent all this time, spoke to Takahashi Ryosuke.
Takahashi Keisuke asked with a smile, "What, so you actually can speak."
"...I have no objection."
Takahashi Ryosuke looked at Chen Yao, remained silent for a moment, then smiled and agreed.
Itsuki was stunned; he looked at A-Yao and then at Takumi. He seemingly didn't want to see a race between the two of them, but the person wearing the helmet and Takumi both patted his shoulder before getting into their cars one after another.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy, but it seemed like nothing bad would happen.
As a result of an unexpected situation, what was originally a race between akagi white comet and the black rain pirates had a mysterious 86 join midway; the downhill race turned into a three-car battle.
News of the three cars participating in this race reached the ears of every spectator, causing a stir for a while. Indeed, as Takumi had sensed, he was not the one drawing attention.
Everyone's eyes were on the race triggered by someone's scheme. In Yukinoshita's heart, she hoped Chen Yao would lose, but vaguely, she also hoped he could win.
Hachiman-kun had once said that 'the genuine thing' exists in life. She actually knew the concept of that meaning; the purpose of the Service Club was to pursue that 'genuine thing.' But no matter how much she understood interpersonal relationships, knowledge, or schemes... she actually felt that Chen Yao possessed 'the genuine thing,' which was living the life he wanted and protecting his own freedom... so she also hoped he could win.
"Race ready... 5! 4! 3! 2! 1!!"
With Takahashi Keisuke personally keeping time, the three cars took off simultaneously like arrows, hurtling down the downhill road!
Vroom, vroom, vroom!!
The roar of the three cars' engines was like thunder on a rainy day; the aesthetics of machinery were displayed to the fullest at this moment.
"Oh, it's finally starting!" Shizuka Hiratsuka said, enjoying this kind of race.
"Senpai, don't lose." Suzunoki Rin watched nervously.
Soon, Takahashi Ryosuke's FC began to fall to the back at the start. The one leading was the NSX, followed by the toyota 86.
Soon, after entering the first corner, the three cars began to drift.
As if in a rainy scene, people saw three closely following racing cars drift across the pitch-black road, sliding sideways in the darkness and taking corners at 130 kilometers per hour. They no longer seemed like cars but more like three UFOs flying in, giving the spectators on the opposite side goosebumps.
"Ohhh!!!"
Seeing such smooth and highly skilled drifting, the audience erupted. Only then did they realize that not only were the two sports cars living up to their names, but that 86 was also a master among masters.
"Amazing... can a car really do those kinds of movements?"
The motorcycle girls on the slope asked, their hearts pounding.
Suzunoki Rin became extremely excited; after all, the driving skills of the Chen Yao-senpai she knew were practically superhuman!
Raimu-senpai remained silent. Although motorcycles and cars were different vehicles, she had seen long ago that Chen Yao and his NSX were qualified to go professional.
"..."
It was also the first time Yukinoshita and the others saw the number one suspect of their school driving like this. Their expressions turned solemn; it could be said that Chen Yao indeed possessed non-human talent.
The three cars were as if glued together, chasing each other and constantly searching for suitable lines in the rain.
"I didn't expect that high schooler driving the 86 to be so strong as well. I've found a treasure this time; I haven't felt this way in many years."
Takahashi Ryosuke, following behind the two cars, thought with some surprise.
Chen Yao, who had always been good at leading, actually felt immense pressure coming from behind. He understood that Takumi was serious; as a friend, Takumi wanted to race him and use his full strength to defeat him in order to help him.
"My friend really indulges me..."
He thought with a heavy yet relieved heart while driving the NSX.
However, no one suffered more than Fujiwara Takumi. He could feel that Takahashi Ryosuke's technique was very strong, yet Chen Yao in front was even stronger than imagined, as if it weren't a human driving.
"Hang in there, Takumi. You're doing this for your friend. You have to win this race for A-Yao!"
Takumi's gaze began to sharpen. He gripped the steering wheel, staying glued to the NSX, figuring out his line.
Although Chen Yao had said he was caught in this race due to a scheme, his driving style was indeed very crazy, like a pirate ship in a storm, racing recklessly. He truly did what he wanted without the slightest hesitation. Takumi somewhat understood why others called him a 'pirate'; this driving style indeed gave people a chilling feeling.
"The NSX is indeed extraordinary; I can't replicate his driving style..."
After observing the NSX's line, Takahashi Ryosuke realized he couldn't drive like that. He estimated that person's neurological reflexes had a sharp ability exceeding the human range.
Not only that, the white 86 in front of the FC didn't fall behind at all, drifting around like a ghost. He was imitating the 86's driving style; otherwise, he would have likely been shaken off.
The FC's overly powerful horsepower severely interfered with Takahashi Ryosuke's precision during the downhill run. He had only tuned his technique for the NSX, but on the downhill, under the influence of horsepower, his handling wasn't as good as the NSX, and in terms of nimbleness, he wasn't as good as the 86.
"...Horikita, your plan probably won't be realized."
Sweat began to bead on Takahashi Ryosuke's forehead, but he couldn't help but smile. He suddenly had an unpredictable premonition.
The three cars fought through the latter section, and the order still hadn't changed at all.
"What did you say? The NSX is in first, the 86 is in second! akagi white comet has fallen to the very back!?"
Hearing the real-time report, Itsuki was so shocked he seemed petrified.
The three of them were good friends who vowed to dominate Mount Akina together. As a result, Itsuki only just realized that his two buddies both had the strength to do it, while he was the only fake... "What are you worried about? Big brother always runs like this. He always overtakes the opponent at the last moment to win the race. akagi white comet is undefeated."
Takahashi Keisuke retorted dismissively.
"...Chen Yao can actually still be in first place." Yui Yuigahama said in a low voice, dumbfounded by what she heard.
"Running such a winding mountain road at 130 kilometers per hour, he's a monster, right?"
Hearing the piercing screech of brakes, even Hachiman Hikigaya felt these street racers were terrifyingly excessive.
It must be said that Yukinoshita Yukino was also left breathless by Chen Yao's overwhelming talent, which was even much stronger than her sister's talent. Hearing this news, she felt a vague joy in her heart, but at the same time, she remembered the scene when Horikita Manabu tried to test Chen Yao at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School and she had grabbed Chen Yao firmly... So, if things continued like this, would Chen Yao eventually transfer to Koudo Ikusei High School?
Her hand couldn't help but tighten... Just as her mind wandered for a moment, suddenly, she seemed to see Horikita Manabu's figure across from her, and she froze in place... —— [They're almost at the Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns!]
Suddenly, the announcer said the three cars had reached the Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns that local people found a headache.
The expressions of everyone present turned grave.
"Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns? What's that?"
Sakura Hane, who seemed not very bright, asked curiously.
Amano Ensa scolded, "Idiot, it's that section of the road with all the twists and turns that was so hard to drive when we were going up the mountain."
The Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns, which were even a bit difficult for motorcycles, but cars needed to drift through them consecutively at 130 kilometers per hour. This level of difficulty immediately made the faces of the four beginner motorcycle riders turn pale.
"Is something like that even possible?"
Suzunoki Rin and the others looked at each other and asked.
Raimu-senpai nodded; experts could do it.
The final Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns were undoubtedly the critical section to decide the winner. The three cars prepared to enter the corners one after another.
"Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns... I remember Takumi won against Takahashi Keisuke and Takahashi Ryosuke by relying on the gutter technique in this section."
As a transmigrator, Chen Yao unfairly predicted Takumi's secret to victory.
According to the principle of fairness, he shouldn't have known this winning technique belonging to Fujiwara Takumi in advance, but if he chose to intentionally ignore this foresight, he would seem to be intentionally going easy on Takumi... Between the two choices, he thought carefully for a while and ultimately decided that out of respect for Takumi, he had to give his all in the race. After all, Takumi had also said to leave everything to him afterward.
The NSX suddenly began to hug the inside, trying to find the timing to enter the gutter. Takumi immediately realized that Chen Yao seemed to know about the gutter cornering on this road, and his heart instantly went cold.
"Does A-Yao know about this method?" Takumi thought to himself.
Facing the NSX that seemed to be going wild, Fujiwara Takumi frowned deeply and gripped the steering wheel. He had to win to help Chen Yao, but the 'pirate' before him, who seemed to have fallen into a frenzy, was also a resident of Mount Akina. He had blocked the only passage that could defeat him. How was he supposed to win this race... Chapter 032: The One Who Won't Give Up
At night, Mount Akina was immersed in a fine drizzle. Dim lights illuminated the pitch-black roadside. Ahead were the Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns. Fallen leaves danced and drifted with the night wind. Just as they were about to hit the ground, suddenly, with a 'whoosh, whoosh, whoosh,' three rapidly passing sports cars swept the leaves high into the air. At this moment, the three racing cars emitted a faint luster in the rain and mist, engaged in a high-speed downhill race.
The NSX entered the corner first, and the 86 followed closely behind. Both began to take the corner toward the inside.
Takahashi Ryosuke didn't understand why they were both taking the inside line. Seeing his chance, after a series of maneuvers, the FC immediately performed a continuous drift from the outside to overtake!
—— [An overtake! The FC has started to overtake the 86 at the Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns!]
These words made the hearts of the spectators on the mountaintop race. akagi white comet finally began to display its superhuman technique.
Itsuki's face turned pale, and he felt cold all over. He didn't want Takumi to be defeated by some White Comet.
"Don't lose, Takumi!" He cheered for Takumi excitedly.
However, Itsuki soon became speechless again. He also didn't want Takumi to defeat Chen Yao. His heart was extremely conflicted.
But the FC's drifting and line-taking techniques were extremely high. After overtaking the 86, Takahashi Ryosuke discovered that the NSX seemed to have made a mistake at this moment.
Chen Yao actually found that he couldn't find the best timing to enter the gutter!
In the rapidly flashing corners, even with his extraordinary sensitivity and eyesight, he couldn't find the right timing to enter the gutter. He only then realized that this wasn't a problem that could be solved by skill alone, but an art of cornering that could only be completed after research by top-tier experts familiar with the road section. For someone coming to the Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns for the first time, it was simply difficult to find the entry point into the gutter.
"Damn, I thought gutter cornering was too simple. And it's deeper than I imagined. Will it scrape my chassis?"
Chen Yao realized this in an instant, but just as he straightened his direction and prepared to use his own method to take the corner quickly, the 86 began to let its right wheels into the gutter at a certain point!
Takumi's eyes immediately caught the opportunity. With a 'thud,' both Chen Yao and Takahashi Ryosuke heard a strange sound. At that moment, Takahashi Ryosuke saw the 86 next to him perform a high-speed cornering on the inside as if by magic, making him watch this astonishing scene in shock.
The headlights illuminated Chen Yao's right side, and he also experienced the chilling moment Takahashi Keisuke had in the anime. The 86 began to rally and catch up to him.
He turned his head to look and saw Fujiwara Takumi passing through the S-curves with an expression of giving it his all, finally using the gutter cornering method twice in a row to pull away from him.
"..."
That was the sight of his best friend desperately driving the 86 for him... Everyone at the Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns saw the 86, which had suddenly overtaken the NSX like magic by using a strange cornering method consecutively, finally drift out of the corner and completely block the path to victory. The faces of the spectators, including Nakatomi Tsuyoshi, all turned pale and they became completely silent.
The NSX and the FC came out of the corner neck-and-neck, but both cars seemed to have completely lost their voices.
—— [It's the 86! The 86 defeated the NSX using a very strange method and was the first to pass through the Five Consecutive Hairpin Turns! Ryosuke's FC is running side-by-side with the NSX, but it feels like they can't catch up.]
As this news arrived, the spectators on the mountain immediately fell into a dead silence, but soon, they erupted into deafening cheers.
"Big brother lost..."
Takahashi Keisuke listened to this shocking news in astonishment. The myth of akagi white comet's invincibility had been broken... "The 86 won! The 86 defeated akagi white comet and the black rain pirates!"
On the mountaintop, spectators passed this shocking news one after another.
Takeuchi Itsuki didn't cheer like Iketani Kouichirou, nor was he as dejected as the RedSuns team. He was a bit happy and a bit sad, but perhaps his two friends felt the same way as him at this moment.
"..."
Amidst the atmosphere of the Akina people's cheers, Yukinoshita Yukino and some others fell silent. The rain and mist seemed to have become a bit colder. She looked at this wet, cold, yet lively road. Clearly, Chen Yao's danger was resolved, but her heart actually sank completely.
"The crisis is resolved. But Mr. Chen Yao is really amazing. Finishing neck-and-neck with akagi white comet at the end is quite an honor. Perhaps there will still be drivers who will try every means to challenge him..."
Shizuka Hiratsuka felt it wasn't enough and said with a sentimental smile.
Meanwhile, the motorcycle girls nearby fell silent collectively. They actually also felt that Chen Yao-senpai was already very impressive, but several of them lowered their heads in silence. Seeing their senpai so strong and hardworking, yet losing at the final moment, they indeed felt an indescribable sense of disappointment in their hearts.
But the sound of a motorcycle engine attracted them. They looked up and saw Kawasaki Raimu on her motorcycle, signaling them. They looked at each other and understood. If they felt frustrated, they might as well go for a ride on their motorcycles.
"...To think it would end like this?"
Horikita Manabu was completely taken aback; it was entirely different from what he had expected.
But throughout the process, Chen Yao indeed did as he hoped; he truly chose himself over schemes. Although the spotlight was stolen by that suddenly appearing AE86 in the end, losing the negative impact of letting Chen Yao fall into the world of amateur racing, he had actually mostly gotten what he wanted.
Soon, he noticed that across the road, Yukinoshita Yukino was looking at him with a very scary gaze. He hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave.
"Yukino-chan, the race is over, the danger is gone. Shall we head back too?"
Just as Yui Yuigahama and the others were about to leave, she noticed Yukinoshita Yukino was still standing in place with her umbrella. She curiously pulled her wrist.
In response, Yukinoshita Yukino directly put down her umbrella. After several motorcycles sped past, she left the Service Club members and quickly chased after the figure across from her that looked like Horikita Manabu.
Amidst the coming and going of people, Horikita Manabu's figure flickered like a ghost. She constantly avoided the dispersing crowds, ignoring Yui Yuigahama's shouts from behind, and clenched her fists to track Horikita Manabu.