The Speed Of The Stars

The night roars to life as engines rev in anticipation, their growls echoing against the mountain walls. Collei sits at the starting line, her foot pressing firmly on the clutch, her hands steady on the wheel. Her breath is measured, her eyes focused on the road ahead. The Eight-Six is ready, and so is she. Across from her, Topaz is bracing herself in her Miata, her gaze hard and unyielding.

Topaz glances at her rearview mirror, her amber eyes narrowing with determination. "Let's get this over with," she mutters under her breath, gripping the wheel tighter.

Without a moment's hesitation, Topaz slams the clutch and accelerates, her Miata screeching as it launches off the parking lot entry. The rear wheels kick up dust as they grip the asphalt, and the car surges forward like a bullet fired from a chamber.

Collei's reaction is instantaneous. Her foot snaps off the clutch, and the Eight-Six jolts to life, its tires squealing in protest as it barrels forward to chase the Miata.

From the sidelines, Serval watches the two cars disappear into the first hairpin turn. Her arms are crossed, her expression unreadable, but her voice carries a weight of expectation. "Go show them what you're made of, Topaz," she murmurs. "Win this for us…"

In the dim glow of the mountain road, Topaz narrows her eyes, her focus unwavering. The roar of her Miata fills the air as she pushes it to its limits. Leading was the right call, she thinks, her lips pressed into a thin line. If I'm out front, I don't have to worry about chasing anyone—or screwing up on these hairpins.

She knows all too well the risks of this course. One wrong move, one misjudged corner, and her car will meet the unforgiving guardrail. She's seen it happen before—drivers carried off this mountain road, their races ending in disaster. That won't be me.

The next hairpin approaches, sharp and unforgiving. Topaz pulls hard on the handbrake, locking the rear wheels. The Miata slides smoothly into the turn, its back end skimming perilously close to the guardrail. Gravel spits from beneath the tires as she powers through the drift and emerges still in the lead.

Behind her, Collei remains hot on her trail. The Eight-Six handles the corners with precision, its headlights cutting through the darkness as it relentlessly pursues the Miata.

Far above the action, Ningguang stands at the summit with Keqing and Clorinde, her sharp gaze fixed on the unfolding race. "When you compare the Eight-Six and the Miata," she begins, her tone analytical, "the Miata is the more compact car. Its size gives it an edge in technical driving—particularly in the corners. That's where it's strongest."

She pauses, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "As for Topaz's driving style, it's… rough. To put it kindly."

Keqing raises an eyebrow. "Rough? In what way?"

Ningguang continues, gesturing toward the winding road below. "Topaz relies on high-speed corner entries. She pushes the Miata into the turn as fast as possible, sacrificing exit speed. It's not a bad technique, but it's the mark of a rookie. It leaves little room for error, and it's hard on the car."

At this, Albedo chimes in, his expression thoughtful. "So, you're saying her driving style mirrors Collei's in some ways?"

Ningguang nods. "Exactly. Both drivers have honed their techniques on underpowered cars, which forces them to maximize every ounce of performance. It's a testament to their skills—but it also means they're limited by their cars' capabilities."

Her voice takes on a sharper edge. "The deciding factor for this course, however, won't just be the drivers. It'll be the gutters."

"The gutters?" Clorinde echoes, intrigued.

Ningguang smirks, her confidence palpable. "They're uncovered on this mountain, unlike the ones in Narukami. If either driver knows how to use them, it could determine the outcome of this race."

Albedo folds his arms, intrigued. "And how exactly do you use the gutters to your advantage?"

Ningguang glances at him, her smirk widening. "I think our resident rally driver is best suited to explain that."

Back on the mountain road, Topaz risks a glance in her rearview mirror. Her heart skips a beat. The Eight-Six is still there, its headlights glaring like twin spotlights. This is the longest anyone's managed to keep up with me, she thinks, her grip tightening on the wheel.

Collei's focus sharpens, her mind racing as fast as her car. "Now I see it," she murmurs, her eyes narrowing. "I finally understand the difference in our styles."

She presses the gas pedal to the floor, the Eight-Six responding with a deafening roar. The tachometer climbs higher—9,000 RPM, 10,000, 11,000. The engine screams, and the gap between the two cars shrinks with every second.

Spectators along the roadside erupt into cheers as the cars tear through another hairpin turn, their speeds dangerously close to the edge. "Look at them go!" one shouts. "That Eight-Six is right on the Miata's tail!"

Topaz's patience begins to waver. Her knuckles whiten as she grips the wheel tighter, her frustration mounting. "I'm not losing this. Not today!" she growls, slamming her foot on the accelerator.

But it's no use. Despite her efforts, the Eight-Six is relentless, closing the gap with surgical precision.

"How is this possible?" Topaz exclaims, panic creeping into her voice. "How is that car still behind me?!"

The Miata and the Eight-Six race through corner after corner, their battle intensifying with each turn. The sound of screeching tires fills the air, and the crowd watches in stunned silence as the two cars push their limits. At the summit, Serval receives another update over the radio. "They've reached the halfway mark," the spotter reports. "No changes—the MX-5 is still leading, but the Eight-Six is right behind."

Serval's eyes widen. "What? The Eight-Six is keeping up?"

She steps closer to the railing, peering down at the mountain road below. The cars are nothing more than specks of light weaving through the darkness, but her expression betrays her growing concern. "This race is going to be closer than we thought…"

Back on the road, Collei's focus sharpens further. She studies Topaz's every move, noting her entry speed into the hairpins. "Her cornering is impressive," Collei admits, her voice calm but resolute. "She knows this course inside and out."

Her hands tighten on the wheel, her gaze hardening. "But there's one thing she doesn't understand."

The Eight-Six surges forward, its engine screaming as Collei prepares to make her move. "My car is faster in the transitions—those precious seconds between exiting one corner and entering the next."

The battle is far from over, and Collei knows exactly how to turn the tide.

Back in the summit. Ningguang explains another topic to both Albedo And Clorinde.

"In passes like this. Its fairly easy to loose count of the corners at the speeds you are racing in. Of course its even worse if you are driving on the downhills. You pretty much loose all the ability to recognize if its a straightaway. Or a hairpin turn."

Keqing nods "That's true. You cant determine if you need to keep your foot to the floor. Or let it up when you enter a corner"

Ningguang nods "precisely. Knowing when or not to go all flat out. will make the biggest difference between Collei. And her opponent.

Ningguang's eyes light up with sudden realization as a sly smile spreads across her face. She crosses her arms, exuding confidence. "Looks like we've hit that pivotal moment, everyone. They're approaching the sector that will decide this race."

She shifts her gaze to Clorinde, who leans casually against the railing. "Looks like it's your turn to shine, rally star."

Clorinde chuckles, brushing her fingers through her hair as if she's been waiting for this. "Alright, I'll break it down for you. Overcoming these gutters isn't just about speed—it's about precision and concentration. It takes an absurd amount of focus to pull it off successfully."

Ningguang smirks knowingly. "Albedo, remember the technique Collei has been practicing?"

Albedo nods, catching on quickly. "The one where she hooks her tires into the gutters?"

"That's the one," Ningguang replies.

"So, it's just a more refined version of her usual gutter run?" Albedo asks, but Ningguang shakes her head.

"Not quite," she says. "Her typical gutter run won't work here. These gutters are completely lidless. She's doing something entirely different."

Clorinde picks up the explanation, her voice steady. "She's flipped the concept on its head. Instead of hooking into the gutters, she's using a method that prevents her car from falling into them entirely."

Albedo's brow furrows in thought. "What do you mean? How does that work?"

Back on the mountain, the race reaches a fever pitch. Topaz's frustration is starting to boil over as she fights to maintain control of the lead. Her hands clench the wheel so tightly her knuckles are white. "Damn it! I can't even see her driving style from here! What the hell is she doing to keep up with me?"

The two cars rocket through the first of many guttered corners. Topaz's Miata dives aggressively into the turn, but Collei notices a flaw.

"She's cutting in too early," Collei mutters under her breath, her sharp gaze locked on Topaz's car.

As they approach the next hairpin, Collei's mind races. She visualizes the corner, simulating an ideal line through the turn. A mental map unfolds, showing her the exact path she needs to take to overtake Topaz. Her pupils narrow in determination.

"That's it," she whispers, her foot slamming on the gas. "That's the line I have to take."

The Eight-Six screams down the straightaway, the engine roaring from 10,000 RPM to 11,000. The two cars enter a left-hand hairpin. Collei takes the outside line, her rear wheels skimming dangerously close to the lidless gutters.

Inside the Miata, Topaz's frustration hits its peak. "You idiot! What are you thinking?! Those gutters don't have covers! You're going to wreck yourself!" she yells, though her words are drowned out by the roar of engines.

As the two cars exit the hairpin, they're side by side, hurtling toward the next right-hand hairpin. Collei's confidence surges. She's on the inside line this time, ready to capitalize on her positioning.

Topaz glances to her right, panic flashing in her eyes. "She's going for the inside! No way! I'm not letting her through that easily!"

Both cars slam on their brakes as they reach the turn's entry point, tires screeching in unison.

"All I need is to stay half a car length ahead," Topaz thinks desperately, her foot hovering over the accelerator. "If I control the entry, I control the turn!"

But as they drift through the hairpin, Collei seizes her chance. She hooks her car into the inside line and mashes the gas. The Eight-Six surges forward, its front tires skimming just inches from the edge of the gutter. Topaz tries to block her, pulling closer to Collei's left side, but it's no use. Collei's maneuver is precise and unrelenting.

The Eight-Six bursts out of the turn ahead of the Miata.

Topaz's eyes widen in disbelief. "What?! How is that possible? I didn't leave her any room to pass! Those gutters are lidless—there's no way she should've been able to take that line!"

At the summit, Clorinde begins her explanation. "It's simple. Collei's using an advanced version of her weight-shifting technique. To avoid falling into the gutters, she shifts the car's weight from the front to the rear by slamming on the gas at just the right moment."

Albedo snaps his fingers in realization. "So, by transferring the weight to the rear tires, she lightens the front end, allowing the front wheels to almost 'hover' over the gutter?"

Clorinde nods. "Exactly. It's called 'inner wheel lifting.' By shifting the weight, the inside front tire doesn't fall into the gutter. Instead, it floats just above it, letting the car maintain its balance and speed through the turn."

Ningguang claps her hands. "Perfectly explained, Teacher Clorinde. That's the essence of this technique. If you can master inner wheel lifting, you can conquer these lidless gutters without losing speed."

On the course, Collei executes another flawless inner wheel lift. Her Eight-Six glides through a left-hand hairpin, the left front tire lifting momentarily before landing back on the asphalt with a screech. Her lead grows as she powers through a straightaway, leaving Topaz in the dust.

In the Miata, Topaz is nearing her breaking point. "This has to be a dream. How is she doing this?!"

They then race through a right hand hairpin. Collei executes another flawless inner wheel lift. Her Eight-Six's right front tire visibly floating above the lidless gutters

Topaz's eyes narrow, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "If she can do it, then so can I!"

Determined, Topaz enters the next right-hand hairpin and attempts the same technique. She slams the gas, feeling the front right tire lift—but something feels wrong.

"I can't feel any feedback… Is my tire floating?"

Before she can adjust, disaster strikes. The Miata's right side dips, and the front tire falls into the gutter. The car's undercarriage scrapes violently against the tarmac, sparks flying as Topaz fights to regain control. But it's too late. The Miata spins 90 degrees, the right front wheel colliding with the gutter's sidewall.

The impact launches the Miata into the air, flipping it over as metal crunches and glass shatters. The car slams down on its right side before landing back on its wheels with a deafening screech.

Collei hears the crash and glances in her rearview mirror, her heart sinking. "What the—?!"

She slams on the brakes, bringing the Eight-Six to a screeching halt. Jumping out, she sprints toward the wreckage, her breath hitching in her throat.

"Topaz! Are you okay?!" Collei shouts, yanking the Miata's driver-side door open.

Topaz is slumped in her seat, her breathing ragged. A cut on her cheek oozes blood, but her voice is steady. "Y-Yeah… I'm okay," she mutters, her gaze unfocused.

Collei wastes no time, undoing Topaz's harness and helping her out of the car. Topaz wobbles but manages to stand on her own, shaking her head to clear the daze.

At the summit, Serval's radio crackles to life. "Topaz crashed at B7," the spotter reports. "She's banged up, but she'll be fine—just a cut on her face."

Serval exhales deeply, relief washing over her. "Thank goodness… I'm glad she's okay."

As the night stretches on, the mountain road falls silent. For Collei and Team Speed Stars, it's another hard-earned victory. But for Topaz, the lesson is as harsh as the course itself.