Chapter 27 - Déjà Vu
Hitomi and Yuka were at the hotel in Eiger. Hitomi was counting the winnings, whilst Yuka surfed the web. They had already examined the C4 together and determined the suspension was a total loss. All four shock absorbers were beyond repair and many of the supporting arms had bent out of shape too. Luckily for the pair, the shocks didn’t shoot out of the top of the wheel arches.
“So considering how much we spent on our hotel here, our grand total is roughly 43,000 Euros! After selling the C4, we should be in profit before we go to England. What are you looking at anyway, Yuka?”
”Suspension for our C4.”
”Doesn’t your friend Luis have any laying around?”
”No. He said it’s expensive to buy them off the shelf here and that we should look into aftermarket items instead.”
“How much will it be to replace the standard set then?”
”About 3,000 Euros, because we need the control arms and the other supporting parts too. Not just the shocks and springs. Citroen charge a lot for these parts.”
”If we get some second hand ones?”
”There’s none to be found locally.”
“Are there any cheap aftermarket kits then?”
”There’s a Chinese-brand kit that includes more durable arms and replacement bushings for 3,000 Euros.”
“I don’t trust Chinese-brand parts, but I suppose it’ll be better than stock. Can you order them from here?”
”Yeah.”
“Do you want to order them?”
“Might as well. How long until the race in Rome?”
“A few days.”
”We’ve got enough time then. These will ship overnight. I’ll order the suspension now.”
“I suppose 3,000 Euros isn’t too high of a price, considering we’ve only just started this tour of ours and we’re already up to 40,000 Euros now.”
“I still feel like it’s my fault Hitomi…”
Hitomi walked over and hugged Yuka behind the chair.
”It’s fine! Honestly! We’re getting it fixed soon! Besides, I heard the English like to give out big prizes so we’re not going to miss 3,000 Euros.”
”It’s not the money, it’s the fact I nearly killed us.”
”Oh come on, we wouldn’t have died. Even though they’re slow, French cars have good safety ratings!”
”If you say so…”
”I say so. Anyway, it’s late but there are a few takeaways still open, lets go eat okay? It’ll cheer you up.”
“Alright.”
Meanwhile, in Japan…
Kei arrived home after her evening driving lesson. She waved goodbye to her instructor, as she drove off.
“Bye Miss Hakano!”
Kei turned around and jumped as she suddenly saw TJ standing by the apartment’s front door.
”TJ! You scared me!”
“I’m sorry!”
”What are you doing here anyway? Yuka is in Europe you know.”
”I know. I was wondering if you’d heard from her at all?”
”She calls me after every race, why?”
“I’m just curious. You know, as her mechanic and all.”
”Right… Well, the other day she said Hitomi won at Madrid and they were going to Eiger next. I’ve not heard from her since then.”
“Ah, that’s good.”
“Is that really all you want to know or is there more?”
TJ looked around before looking back at Kei.
”Can we chat inside?”
”I guess so.”
Kei went inside the apartment, TJ followed. She brought him over to the living room.
”Take a seat.”
TJ sat down. Kei sat on the opposite armchair.
“So what is it TJ?”
”I’m not sure if you know or if Yuka knows for that matter, but I used to street race myself.”
”I’m somewhat aware.”
”Then do you know why I stopped?”
”Eh… Nope.”
”I stopped because I killed my wife during a race. I crashed because I made a foolish mistake and I lost her because of it. I barely survived and now I have to live with the memories forever.”
”Oh my god… TJ…”
”That’s not what I wanted to tell you though. I wanted to ask you something.”
”Uh huh?”
”Would it be considered offensive to my late wife if I started racing again?”
”Erm… I’m honestly not sure TJ. Why do you want to race anyway?”
”Do you know Dave?”
”I think Yuka mentioned him. The guy with the Vitz you lent to Yuka?”
”Yeah, him. His Vitz got rammed off the road by someone.”
”Oh god. Is he okay?”
”He’s fine but the car isn’t. Anyway, his friend came to see me and wanted me to help. I said no of course, but now…”
”Now you think if you go racing like Yuka did to find out who did it and sort him out, it’ll redeem what happened to your wife?”
”You’re a mind reader, Kei.”
”Then I don’t think it would be offensive at all. Infact I think your wife would be proud of you!”
”Thank you Kei. You’re a big help.”
”No problem! I’m good at listening.”
”I noticed! Well then, I better go back to the garage. I’ve got a wrecked Vitz to clean up.”
”See you later TJ. Good luck with your racing.”
”Yeah. Tell Yuka I said hey and that her Civic misses her.”
”I will!”
TJ walked out of the apartment and down the road to where his R33 was parked.
“Looks like we’re going racing.”
TJ got into the R33 and picked up his phone and dialled a number.
“Hello TJ.”
”Dan. It’s been a while. How’s the Supercar Royalty Club these days after being beaten by a girl in a R33?”
“Very funny. What do you want?”
”A green car wrecked a red Vitz the other night on route 7. What are the odds that the green car is a part of your club?”
”Are you suggesting that simply because I had a part with that young lady’s car theft problem, that every problem that happens from then on is my doing?”
“I figured I’d skip the fish and go straight to the shark.”
”Well then, since you think so fondly of me, I’ll comply. Yes, there are a few green cars within our club, however I can confidently say that ramming Toyota’s off the road is not a pass time of ours. We value our cars too much for such a pointless task.”
”Are you sure none of your club friends has an old beater they don’t mind bending?”
”Very sure. I would stake my cars on it. You know how much I care for my cars.”
”Alright, fair enough. How about outside of your circle of friends?”
”Hmmm… Actually, come to think of it, yes.”
”Do tell.”
”A green Ford Mustang, apparently driven by a Japanese man with an American accent. He beat an entire field of drivers at Tsukuba.”
“Interesting. Could be the guy.”
”Other than that I have nothing.”
”Well Dan, for once you’ve been helpful straight off the bat. Thank you.”
”I’m actually at Tokyo Bay right now. How about you come here and let me even the score with that Skyline.”
”I need a good warm up session. You’ve got yourself a race.”
”Excellent. Be here before 7am.”
TJ ended the call and started up the R33.
”Let’s see what you can do, Skyline.”
Later on…
TJ arrived at Tokyo Bay. The Supercar Royalty Club was gathered near a kart track.
“Don’t tell me I’ve come for a kart race.”
”TJ! How wonderful to see you’ve turned up. Of course this wont be a kart race. The track is wide enough for our cars.”
TJ eyed up the parked supercars. He immediately spotted three Veyron’s and a couple of McLaren F1’s. None were green.
”Ah yes, TJ. Let me introduce you to the finest car I own.”
Dan brought TJ over to a light blue and white Veyron.
”Amazing, isn’t it? The Bugatti Veyron. One of the fastest cars on the planet. Nearly double the power of your Skyline.”
”But nearly double the weight. Around this track I’ve got an advantage.”
”TJ, you underestimate me. My racing skills go beyond the car’s advantages and disadvantages. Lets give it three laps. Three all out laps to decide the winner.”
”Fine by me.”
”And also, lets put a little wager down. When I win, you give me the keys to your Skyline. It’s only fair that I obtain the car that originally beat me. But, if for some profound reason you manage to win, well… I suppose I could give you a car I recently won from a cocky ricer I annihilated this morning.”
“Hardly seems worth it to me, thinking how poorly treated most ricers are. Throw some cash down on top of the ricer so it’s of equal value to my car and we have a deal.”
”Whatever you wish. I wont be the one losing anyway.”
Dan rounded up the club members.
”It’s show time boys!”
Starting Grid
1. Dan’s Blue Bugatti Veyron
2. Yellow TVR Cerbera Speed 12
3. Champagne Bugatti Veyron
4. Silver Cadillac Cien
5. Blue Bugatti Veyron
6. Black McLaren F1
7. Orange VW Nardo
8. Orange VW Nardo
9. Silver Cadillac Cien
10. Orange McLaren F1
11. Purple TVR Cerbera Speed 12
12. TJ’s Red Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R
“How idiotic of TJ. Lord knows when he last raced seriously like this. Oh well, another fuel saver I suppose.”
“This track is hardly suited to a beast like this. Such is the downsides of owning a Speed 12.”
“Starting the Veyron’s like this will ensure a Veyron one two three finish!”
“I didn’t do well at Tsukuba, but things will be different here.”
“Bring it on! The Veyron is unbeatable!”
“These Veyron drivers need to show some respect to the old F1, which still competes with the most modern of supercars even now.”
“Why is it that there’s always another Nardo when I bring mine?”
“Oh god, the other Nardo guy again.”
“The Cien is a bit wide for this track.”
“Why do I have to be stuck with TJ behind me? That R33 is going to launch itself up my backside…”
“Lucky I have the back row, I’d hate to scratch my Maziora paint here.”
TJ gripped the wheel hard.
”Ten years out of action. Lets see how many come back before the end of this race.”
The lights went green. TJ launched the R33 right off the line, swerving to avoid the slower McLaren in front.
He stuck to the outside of the track and floored it past the McLaren and the Nardo, giving him a clear shot straight at the Veyron’s ahead.
Within an instant, TJ was already up to fourth place before anyone else could even shift into third.
“Did I just do that?”
”Holy crap! The R33 is already on me!”
“This track isn’t wide like a car track. I need to pick my overtaking spots carefully.”
“Yeah that’s right, stay behind me, ricer.”
“They pull away on the straights because of my lag.”
”That’s it Veyron! Beat him good!”
“But my brakes are a lot sharper!”
”Woah! No way!”
“One down, two to go.”
”So, you’ve made it this far?”
“Looks like I’ve already figured out how to win this. It’s all in the corner entry.”
”Don’t look smug behind me, you’ll lose that car if you can’t beat Dan.”
“The final corner is a sweeper, maybe I can full throttle it and go around the outside of this Veyron… Woah crap!”
“Typical overpowered junk car.”
“What?! How are you beside me?! How did you even manage to drift without hitting the wall?!”
“Where did he get that sudden explosion of speed? Nitro?”
”This really is a traction monster, holy crap! Dan you’ve got no chance!”
“It’s only lap two and you’re behind me?”
“I can’t believe it. I’ve seemingly still got it.”
“You may be skilled TJ, but not as skilled as me.”
“Every time we clear a corner, I feel the turbo surge. The power wants to make the car explode out of the corner, but Dan keeps blocking me. He’s a cocky prick, but he’s got a decent anti-turbo strategy.”
“Last corner again, lets try and pass here again.”
“As expected, he’s skilled enough to avoid such a basic pass.”
“Where am I going to find the room to make a pass on the final lap?”
“Persistent as always.”
“Here?”
“Here!”
“Here?”
“Gotcha!”
”No way. He actually passed me.”
“Now to win!”
“I can’t compete with him now. He’s got an advantage here that I failed to suppress. Perhaps two laps would’ve been better.”
“It’s all rushing back to me now. The control, the feel, everything. It’s all rushing back like a drag Skyline launching off the line at full throttle!”
“I haven’t felt this good for a long time. Can you see me, Samantha?”
“Victory. How I’ve missed you.”
TJ pulled over, Dan parked beside him and got out.
”Congratulations TJ.”
Dan extended his hand to TJ.
“I’ve been put in my place twice now by this car. Let me offer a proper congratulations this time.”
TJ shook hands with Dan.
“I’ve never had any real problem with you apart from your attitude towards those who aren’t in your club. I actually thought you was an okay guy after you stuck to your word and gave Yuka her car back.”
”It’s the problem with owning a supercar you see. Everyone wants a piece of you so you grow tired of the attention. It’s only when I am beaten fair and square that I loosen up and let my kind side shine. Let me take you to the car now.”
“What car is it, anyway?”
”Some Mazda.”
”Some Mazda? Come on. That’s as bad as when Dave called Yuka’s Civic a blue sedan.”
“Haha! To be honest I have no idea which model of Mazda it is. All I know is that it has four doors.”
“So I’ve either struck lucky with an RX-8 or you’re going to troll me with a Familia.”
”You’ll find out soon enough.”
But I still have tranny tuning to do. 
