Chapter 31 - When In Rome
It was race day at Rome, the final race of the European Hot Hatch Championship. Yuka and Hitomi were sat beside the pits, giggling over their childhood stories.
Yuka: Oh! You remember that kid who lived next door to you Hitomi?
Hitomi: The fat kid?
Yuka: Yeah! He had a huge crush on you!
Hitomi: Oh no! Thats disgusting! How did you know? Why didnt you ever tell me?
Yuka: I saw it written all over his maths workbook! He covered the inside cover with your name and hearts all around it! I didnt want to tell you because I felt sorry for him. He always got picked on and you wouldve made it worse.
Hitomi: Ugh! What if he still has the book? What if he has pictures of me that he
Ugh!
Yuka: Hitomi! Youre sick! I bet he found a new crush anyway.
Hitomi: I hope so. I think its sick when guys pleasure themselves over girls who arent interested in them! Get over yourself!
Yuka: That actually happened in PE during high school. All the boys would rub one out in the changing rooms after seeing the girls play netball.
Hitomi: Sick! How do you know all these things?
Yuka: Remember Stacy?
Hitomi: The gossip? Oh yeah she had her nose in everyones business.
Yuka: Yeah. She used to sneak into the boys changing rooms and spy on them for us.
Hitomi: Why?
Yuka: We threatened to tell her mother about the vibrator in her handbag if she didnt.
Hitomi: She had a
? At her age
? Wow. Just wow.
At that moment, a black Citroen C4 stopped and parked beside Yuka and Hitomis red C4. A tall, handsome Italian man stepped out and looked at Hitomi.
Italian Man: Excuse me Miss, is this your car?
Hitomi looked left and right, wondering if the man was really talking to her and not someone else.
Yuka: Hitomi, hes talking to you.
Hitomi: Umm
Hitomi stood up.
Hitomi: Yes. This is my car.
Italian Man: Really? Its a very nice car. I like how youve modified it. Would you like to chat? Assuming Im not interrupting anything.
Hitomi: Oh no, no! Ill be happy to chat!
Hitomi turned to Yuka.
Hitomi: Im sorry Yuka! I have to!
Yuka: Sure, go ahead.
Hitomi: Yes! Thank you!
Hitomi skipped over to the man and begun conversing with him. Yuka got off the wall and sat on the C4s bonnet.
Yuka: Well I suppose its good that Hitomi can chat up some guys whilst were travelling around. Its not like shell see him again. Oh thats right, I wont even see you again after this will I, C4? This is our last race together. Im sorry I crashed you on our last race. Hopefully your next owner wont be a racer, maybe youll live long enough for me to see you again. Oh look at yourself Yuka. Talking to cars again.
Hitomi returned an hour later, just in time for the race.
Yuka: Youre back on time. Did you enjoy your chat?
Hitomi: Oh yes Yuka. Turns out hes racing too! Can you believe he races a C4 too? Its like fate that I met him!
Yuka: Uh huh.
Starting Grid
1. Black Peugeot 207 GTi
2. White Volkswagen Golf GTi MkI
3. White Alfa Romeo 147
4. Gold Volkswagen Golf GTi MkIV
5. Silver Citroen Xsara
6. Yuka & Hitomis Red Citroen C4
7. Silver Mercedes Benz A160
8. Gold Fiat Punto
9. Black Citroen C4
10. Black BMW 120i
207 Driver: This 207 is beast!
Golf Driver #1: I wont lose to this French idiot today!
147 Driver: Italian engineering may be laughed upon, but you cant deny their good looks.
Golf Driver #2: Not a bad place to start, Ive got this.
Xsara Driver: Its that same C4 from Le Sarthe and Madrid! Not again!
Yuka: Hey Hitomi, thats the Xsara from the French races! Whats it doing here?
Hitomi: His name was Leon, thats such a dreamy name.
Yuka: Sure
As long as you win this race.
Hitomi: Dont you think Leon is handsome? I think he is.
Yuka: Oh for frig sakes.
A160 Driver: Not many people realise the AMG tuned engine in my car. Ill take everyone from the rear!
Chav: Yeah mate my Punto is sick! Brap!
Leon: If I am to meet you during this race Miss Hitomi, I will gladly concede my position to you. I enjoyed your company just now.
120i Driver: This is terrible, how am I supposed to have a chance of winning if Im all the way at the back? Ill have to make a presentation about this later!
The lights went green. Hitomi floored the throttle.
Hitomi: For Leon!
Yuka: Please dont do this for the entire race
Yuka: The inside is wide open Hitomi! Go for it!
Hitomi dove down the inside, passing an entire line of angry racers.
147 Driver: Hey! Watch it you idiot!
She narrowly missed clipping the corner off the Golf ahead.
Golf Driver #1: This C4 girl is crazy! Get off me! Take second place if you want it so badly!
Golf Driver #1: I didnt say you 147! I said C4!
Hitomi was now on the tail of the leading 207.
Hitomi: I dont need three corners to win this, let alone three laps!
Yuka: Christ Hitomi, is the C4 that good now or are you showing off for Leon?
The 207 struggled for grip around the corner, the C4 was right behind, pressuring the 207 hard.
Hitomi: Ive got a turbo, move over!
207 Driver: Damn!
Hitomi: Thats right! Turbo power!
207 Driver: Damn and blast!
The C4 piled through the next corner, leaving the 207 behind within seconds.
The race was over already. Hitomi opened up the lead between herself and the 207 to the point where the race didnt even need a second or third lap.
Hitomi had enough of a lead to comfortably cruise the rest of the race, spending more time bubbling over Leon than actually conversing with Yuka. By the time they crossed the finish line, the 207 wasnt even a speck in the mirror. Hitomi cruised past the finish line in first place, completely overjoyed. Yuka didnt share her excitement however.
Hitomi: We won! Oh yes! Leon will surely like me now!
Yuka: Yeah, great.
Hitomi: Oh Yuka its so wonderful!
Yuka: Uh huh.
Hitomi: Do you think hell ask me out?
Yuka: Totally, sure.
Hitomi: You do?! Hows my hair? Hows my make up? Oh no I didnt do my nails or anything!
Yuka: Im sure he wont mind. Sigh.
Hitomi pulled into the pits and parked in front of the podium. She got out and ran to the stage, accepting the trophy and prize money with nothing but joy. Yuka dragged herself up alongside Hitomi. Hitomi hugged Yuka.
Hitomi: Weve won little cousin! Next stop, England!
Yuka: Yeah.
Hitomi: Whats wrong Yuka?
Yuka: Nothing
Hitomi: Come on, what is it?
Yuka: Im going to miss the C4, thats all.
Hitomi: Oh yeah, this was our last race with it. Oh Yuka, its okay! Youll forget about it the moment we get a hot British car anyway!
Yuka: I guess.
Hitomi: Come on, you hold the cash and Ill drive us to the hotel.
Yuka: Alright.
Yuka got into the car and counted the prize money, adding it to their current total.
Yuka: 50,000 Euros. Wow, this is quite a lot. Hey Hitomi how much is
Hitomi?
Yuka looked around, she couldnt see Hitomi anywhere. She got out of the car and looked down the pit lane, immediately seeing Hitomi beside a familiar black C4.
Yuka: Oh for f
Hitomi! Hitomi!
Hitomi looked up at Yuka and ran over to her.
Hitomi: Oh Yuka! Hes not there! I need to wait for him!
Yuka: What?! Ive been waiting here counting money whilst youve been waiting for a guy you just met?! What the hell Hitomi?!
Hitomi: Look, you just take the car and everything and go to the hotel. Ill be fine.
Hitomi forced the car keys into Yukas hand and ran back to Leons car.
Yuka: Oh fine, whatever Hitomi. Ill see myself home while you give a total stranger a quick one in the back seat. Not that your cousin matters or anything.
Yuka got back into the C4, this time in the drivers seat. She raced off, shredding what little rubber was left on the tyres.
Meanwhile, in Japan
TJs phone started ringing. TJ slid out from under Yukas Civic and glanced at the caller ID. It was Cooper. TJ answered the call.
TJ: Hey Cooper.
Cooper: TJ, we found him.
TJ: That Shin guy?
Cooper: Yeah. He beat practically everyone at Race Wars last night.
TJ: Even I could do that. Did you get any more info?
Cooper: Yeah, word is hes after a tune-up so he can go after some bigger fish. No word on where hes staying though. Probably some hotel out of town.
TJ: Ill spread word among the local tuners, hopefully he goes to one of them for his tune-up.
Cooper: Yeah, then well have him where we want him.
TJ: Yup.