The Speed Of The Stars

Months had passed since Ningguang's legendary exhibition run with Clorinde and Collei—her two aces, the beating heart of Team Speed Stars.

In a small café, a man and his friends sat around a laptop, scrolling through the team's buzzing social media account, @TeamSpeedStars. The page brimmed with highlights and achievements, each post radiating with pride and raw speed. One post immediately grabbed their attention.

It read:

"Another Record Shattered! The Lancia 037 Dominates the Uphill Battle!"

The man's eyes widened as he leaned closer to the screen. "Incredible! Another record!" he exclaimed, awe in his voice.

Another friend pulled up a chair beside him, nodding enthusiastically. "I know, right? They've won every single race they've entered! Every. Single. One."

Curiosity piqued, the man clicked on a video link, its thumbnail showing a winding mountain pass at sunset. The clip opened with Clorinde's Lancia 037 roaring uphill, its supercharged engine screaming through the turns. Behind it, a black Honda Integra struggled to keep pace, its tires screeching in vain as the Lancia gracefully widened the gap, turn by turn.

The man switched to another video, this one showcasing Collei's Toyota AE86. It was a night race against a sleek silver Nissan 180SX. The iconic Eight-Six danced through the curves with almost magical precision, the gap between the cars stretching into oblivion. As the 180SX attempted a desperate drift, it oversteered wildly and spun out, barely avoiding the guardrail.

Just then, the man's girlfriend appeared behind him, peeking at the screen. "What's this? What's Team Speed Stars?" she asked.

He turned, smirking. "It's a racing team led by Ningguang—the mountain pass legend herself. She formed it to compete with the best racers outside her home region, the Narukami Prefecture."

Far away, at Nazuchi Pass, the mountain air was crisp and quiet under a canopy of stars. The silence was broken by the throaty roar of a red Mazda Miata NA1, its engine echoing against the cliffside. The car glided through the twisting hairpins with practiced precision, its driver attacking each corner with a blend of grace and aggression. Finally, the Miata crested the summit and pulled into the parking area, stopping behind a Bayside Blue Nissan Skyline R34.

The Miata's door opened, and its driver stepped out, stretching her arms and calling out, "Hey, Serval!"

Serval, leaning casually against her R34, turned with a grin. "About time you showed up, Topaz."

Topaz slammed her Miata's door shut and strode over, hands in her jacket pockets. "So, are they coming or what?"

"They're on their way," Serval replied with a calm nod, glancing at her watch.

Topaz sighed, brushing her fiery red bangs out of her face. "Tch, finally. Guess I'll warm up with a downhill run before they get here."

Her gaze flicked toward Serval's imposing Skyline. "And you can handle the uphill. That R34 is a beast on climbs."

Serval smirked. "Exactly what I was planning."

But Topaz's expression hardened, her amber eyes narrowing with fierce determination. "I don't know what kind of racers they've got in Narukami, but I'll show them what it means to get burned if they think they can take us down on our turf."

Before Serval could respond, the sharp sound of screeching tires echoed through the still night. The low whine of a supercharger grew louder, sending chills down their spines. Serval straightened, her gaze fixed on the dark road ahead. "Looks like they're here…"

Two headlights pierced the darkness, followed by the low rumble of engines. The first car was unfamiliar—a sleek, low-profile silhouette with aggressive lines and a supercharger's distinctive whine. The second car, however, was instantly recognizable: a Toyota AE86, its legendary frame unmistakable even under the faint glow of the moonlight. Behind the two vehicles, three Toyota HiAce support vans followed, their engines humming steadily.

The convoy emerged from the shadows and pulled into the parking lot, the headlights of the HiAce vans flickering as they parked behind the racers. The scene carried an air of authority, like a battalion assembling for battle.

Serval's eyes narrowed as she studied the arrivals. "What the hell are those cars? I don't recognize the one in front… but the one behind… is that an Eight-Six?"

Topaz's jaw dropped slightly, her breath catching. "Damn, they don't mess around. That's one hell of an entrance."

The vans came to a stop, their rear doors swinging open in unison. Bright floodlights flickered to life, illuminating the racers like a stage. The first car's door opened, and Clorinde stepped out of her Lancia 037, her expression as sharp as the lines of her car. Beside her, Collei emerged from her AE86, her emerald eyes serious and focused.

The quiet tension of the parking lot crackled like a live wire. Two forces had come face to face, and the mountains were about to witness a showdown of legends.

"Hello! How's it going? We're Team Speed Stars from the Narukami Area. It's nice to meet you."

Serval returned the gesture with a grin, though there was a trace of competitive sharpness in her eyes. "Nice to meet you too. Around this pass, we're the main team. If you're racing here, that makes you the outsiders. So naturally, we're the ones to beat."

Keqing smiled slightly, her expression calm but unwavering. "We figured as much. It's the same for us back in Narukami. Anyway, we're ready to go. I'm sure someone from your team mentioned our arrival, right? If you don't mind, we'd like to do a couple of practice runs tonight so we're fully prepped for tomorrow's race."

Serval gave a curt nod. "No problem at all." Her gaze shifted to the cars parked behind the two. "But if my eyes aren't deceiving me… you brought an Eight-Six and… what's that other car the girl with the purple hair is driving?"

Keqing glanced back, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh, that?" She gestured toward the Lancia. "That's a Lancia Rally 037 Group B car."

Serval's eyes widened, her calm demeanor slipping. "Group B? Why bring two cars, though?"

Keqing crossed her arms, her tone proud but professional. "We've spent months recruiting the best of the best in Narukami. This is the result of that effort." She pointed toward the Toyota AE86. "The Eight Six is for the downhill."

Her hand shifted to the Lancia 037. "The 037 is for the uphill"

Finally, she motioned to the two drivers casually leaning against their respective cars. "And they are our two aces."

Serval's sharp gaze flicked between the two drivers. Her competitive edge rose, mirrored in the narrowed eyes of Topaz, who stood quietly beside her.

"Thank you so much," Keqing said, breaking the tension with a polite bow. "We'll begin our runs now."

Serval remained silent for a moment, then gave a quick thumbs-up. Without another word, Keqing turned and walked back toward the two cars, where her team was already busy preparing.

Serval leaned closer to Topaz. "I've gotta say… they're friendlier than I expected."

Over by the Speed Stars vehicles, Albedo crouched beside the AE86, meticulously adjusting the tire pressures. Not far away, Clorinde and Navia were locked in a technical discussion about the Lancia's suspension setup.

Serval observed them from a distance, her eyes narrowing once more. "Is it just me, or do they seem… professional? Too professional for a casual street race." Her gaze lingered on the Lancia 037. "Why would they bring a Group B rally car here? And what's the deal with those support vans?"

Topaz raised a hand, silencing her with a sharp gesture. "You're overthinking it. Don't let them get in your head. This might be a trick to throw us off our game."

On the other side of the lot, Albedo approached Ningguang with a tablet in hand. "The AE86's setup is locked and ready to go. Here are the final specs."

Ningguang took the tablet and scanned the data—suspension charts, tire pressures, gear ratios, all optimized to perfection. She handed it back with a satisfied nod. "Perfect. Give Collei and Clorinde a basic rundown. If they have any questions, tell them to come to me directly."

She walked toward the two drivers and signaled for them to gather. When they approached, Ningguang clapped her hands lightly, bringing their focus to her.

"All right," she began, her voice carrying authority and calm. "Did you both watch the video I sent to our group chat?"

Both drivers nodded, their expressions serious.

"Good," Ningguang said, a small smile playing on her lips. "For this practice run, I want you both to drive at about 70% of your capability. Watching a video and driving the real thing are completely different experiences. Take your time to get used to the setup. Once you're comfortable, start pushing the pace gradually. Understood?"

Clorinde nodded firmly. "Got it, Ningguang."

Collei followed with a quiet but resolute, "Understood."

With that, the two hopped into their respective cars. The AE86 roared to life with ease, its pop-up headlights flicking open as Collei eased it onto the track.

Clorinde took longer, strapping into her five-point harness with precision before firing up the Lancia. The supercharged four-cylinder engine sputtered for a moment before growling to life, its raw power resonating across the lot. Slowly, she rolled forward, beginning her uphill practice run.

Not far away, Topaz slid into her Miata, adjusting her harness. Before taking off, she rolled down the window, stopping beside Serval. "I'm heading out too. Gotta make these practice runs count before tomorrow's big race."

She rolled the window back up, revved the engine, and launched off the starting line. The Miata's growling engine faded into the darkness as she disappeared into the mountain's curves.

Serval watched her go, muttering to herself, "What can they even achieve with one night of practice?"

The night came alive with the sound of engines. The supercharged roar of the Lancia, the high-revving wail of the AE86, and the growl of Topaz's Miata echoed through the walls of Nazuchi Pass, blending into a symphony of power and precision.

The mountains listened, as if waiting to witness the legends to come.

The first light of dawn illuminated Yougou as Collei stepped out of Arlecchino's home, her posture slightly bent as she approached her Eight-Six parked nearby. The car's sleek form gleamed faintly in the soft light.

Behind her, Arlecchino leaned against the doorway, a smirk tugging at her lips as she sipped from her cup of water. "Forgetting something, kiddo?"

Collei glanced back, matching the smirk. "Of course not."

Arlecchino chuckled softly. "That's what I like to hear. Stay sharp."

With a brief nod, Collei climbed into her Eight-Six. The engine purred to life, its familiar sound grounding her as she set off down the road for her daily deliveries.

Later in the day, the gas station buzzed with activity. Beidou and March had just finished servicing a customer's car, both wiping their hands clean with practiced efficiency.

March hummed cheerfully as she cleaned one of the pumps, her mood contagious.

Beidou raised an eyebrow. "What's got you so chipper today?"

"Have you forgotten?" March replied with a wide grin. "It's payday tomorrow!"

Beidou laughed, shaking her head. "Ah, right. I almost forgot. So, what's the plan? You've been saving up like crazy since going full-time in January."

March gestured toward the back lot, where her Supra rested. "You already know! I'm finally converting my 2JZ-GE to a GTE."

Beidou's eyes lit up with understanding. "Ah, now I remember. So what's next after the conversion?"

March smirked. "It's not going to be a stock GTE. I'm planning to upgrade with aftermarket components, really push for some extra power."

Beidou leaned against the workbench, glancing toward the silhouette of Mt. Yougou in the distance. "Sounds like a solid plan. Speaking of which, I wonder how Collei's doing with her new team. Hope they're treating her well."

As the sun dipped below the horizon at Nazuchi, Collei and her mechanic Albedo walked along Nazuchi Pass. Their eyes were fixed on the course ahead—a sharp right-hander flanked by an open gutter that carved through the road's edge.

Albedo crouched near the ditch, his expression darkening. "Holy crap... these gutters are no joke. If anyone drops a wheel here, it's over."

Collei stood beside him, her arms crossed. "Ningguang mentioned these last night, but I didn't expect them to look like this."

Albedo nodded grimly. "Narukami's paneled gutters are bad enough, but these? They're brutal. Unforgiving. One mistake, and your car's underside could be shredded."

They continued up the curve, studying the terrain.

"Ningguang said something else about these gutters," Collei added after a moment.

Albedo glanced at her curiously. "What's that?"

"She told me and Clorinde, 'How you handle these gutters will decide whether you win or lose.'"

Albedo stopped, his brow furrowed. "Well, she's not wrong. But at the end of the day, the best advice I can give is simple: Don't fall in. Trust her instincts, sure, but trust your own too."

Collei nodded, her gaze steady. "I will."

As the night fell, Arlecchino and Lyney sat at a cozy corner table in a local restaurant. The two shared dinner, their conversation flowing easily.

Lyney leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on one hand. "So, you still have Collei doing deliveries?"

Arlecchino smirked, swirling her drink. "Yep. Nothing's changed in the past year."

Lyney raised an eyebrow. "But she's part-time at my gas station too. I even pay her a full-timer's salary."

"She can handle it," Arlecchino said with a grin. "She hasn't complained once. If anything, she's working harder than ever."

Lyney nodded slowly. "That's true. And I heard Ningguang's Speed Star team is breaking records left and right."

Arlecchino leaned back, her grin turning sly. "They are. But someday, someone's going to beat them. It's just a matter of time."

Over at Nazuchi Pass. The crowd buzzed with excitement as the racers prepared. The summit of the pass was alive with chatter.

"They're starting with the downhill runs first," one spectator said.

"Yeah, and the other team brought an Eight-Six!" another replied.

"Doesn't matter what they brought," a third added. "This mountain belongs to Topaz and Serval."

At the summit, Keqing gathered her team. Her sharp gaze swept over them as she spoke. "The plan is clear: Downhill first, uphill second. It's a chase format. They'll start ahead. If they escape, they win. But if you pass them, hold the lead to the finish line. If we get away, we win. Got it, Collei?"

Collei nodded firmly. "Crystal clear."

Across the parking lot, Topaz sat in her MX-5, her hands trembling slightly. Serval approached, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"You okay?" Serval asked.

Topaz nodded quickly. "Y-yeah. I'm fine."

"Good. Just remember, that Eight-Six isn't ordinary. Drive like your life depends on it." Serval gave her a thumbs-up. "Now go win this thing!"

Topaz smiled faintly and stepped out, meeting Collei in the middle of the lot. The two stood face to face under the dim light of the parking lot.

Topaz extended a hand. "I'm Topaz. Nice to meet you."

Collei shook her hand, her grip steady. "Collei."

As their hands clasped, Topaz felt a strange chill run through her—a flutter in her stomach that left her unsettled. What is this feeling?

Collei released the handshake and turned, climbing into her Eight-Six. Its engine roared to life, cutting through the chatter of the crowd.

Topaz shook off her nerves, heading back to her MX-5. Once inside, she fastened her harness and took a deep breath. "Let's get this done."

The engines roared, the air thick with anticipation. The crowd hushed, watching intently.

The battle for Nazuchi Pass was about to begin.