Red-Line Chapter 16 : A Different Feeling Part 1
Editor's Note: The
bold text indicates the commentator for the race and the
italicized text indicates radio communication. Enjoy reading!
So, our next stop is Germany. There, I will finally have my taste of circuit racing. I'm so excited!
I woke up, realizing I had fallen asleep on the plane, holding the picture Zinaida gave me. I got tired, but it was Kyosuke who raced back then in the Swiss Alps. I don't know, I'm just......tired.....Maybe because I'm thinking too much about her...*sigh* I hope she's okay...
"Tori?"
-"Uh...huh...hmmm, ah! What is it, Kairi-san?"
"Oh, were you sleeping? Sorry if I woke you up."
-"No, you didn't. I'm fine."
"If that's the case, we'll be landing shortly. The airport is about 10 minutes from where we are right now. We'll be in Germany soon, better check your things."
-"Hai, Kairi-san."
Germany...that's right, it will be the first time I will race on a real race track. I have to focus on that matter right now.
I headed to the cargo bay, to check on my Spoon Civic. I saw some dirt on the left door, so I wiped it with my handkerchief. Then I gave the roof a slight rub with my palm. "We've been throug a lot, eh? Tomorrow will be the first time we roll on a race course."
We finally got to Germany. After the plane landed, we hustled on checking everything and unloading the cars. After we got to the hotel (which was classy BTW), Kairi said, "You two should get enough rest, especially you, Tori. You're going to race on unfamiliar grounds."
"Hai, Kairi-san."
"Hai, Kairi-san."
Tomorrow came, and after eating breakfast we headed over to the said race course. The way I see it, everything looks brand new, even the patch of tarmac leading to the course itself. The spectator stands only had a handful of people, because again the course is new.
We headed over to the garages, there I saw all different kinds of tuned cars: Audi's, BMW's, Renault, Toyota's, Nissan's, Honda's and many more. After finding a spot for our cars and vans, Kyosuke and I decided to go check out the course.
"Wow, I've never seen a home straight this long."
-"Me neither. Even though the course is brand new, tire marks are already left on the starting grid."
"So Tori, how do you feel that you are now racing on a race course for the first time"
"Me? I don't know...nervous? Excited? Both? How about you, Kyosuke-san?"
-"Well I have to admit, I had some experience on circuit racing so it's not quite a big deal for me."
"Lucky for you, you already know how to study a race course."
-"Nah, don't sweat it. It'll be fine! You just have to find the perfect racing line and---"
"HEY YOU!!"
Just then we heard a loud voice. We couldn't help but look for the direction where it came from.
"YEAH YOU!"
It was a man, right next to a car.
"I'm talking to you, Skinny Face! What's your name?"
-"Me? I-I'm Tori."
"Name's Robert Blithe, call me R.B. for short. Are you the owner of that Civic over there??" He points at my car.
-"Uh yes, I am. Why did you ask?"
"Listen up, this here's a brand new Toyota Celica, my car. I have this baby tuned and customized, just look at the kickass body kit and vinyls!"
He revs up the engine.
It was the most DISGUSTING thing me and Kyosuke have ever heard from a car. Our ears were ringing. "Hear that? Like that sound, huh? That's from the muffler included in the engine tuning I've done, and I can tell you that Civic of yours is toast."
Just then Kairi called us. "I'm sorry, but we have to get back, we still have work to do on our own cars."
-"Go ahead, don't even bother messing around with your car, you'll lose anyway."
As we were walking back, Kyosuke whispered, "Say Tori, what was the name of that guy again?"
-"Uh, I think it was R.B., Robert Blithe, or something..,"
"R.B., huh? Sound like 'Ricer Boy' to me. Listen here, if you two end up on the same grid, show him no mercy."
-"I'll certainly do that. He humiliated my Civic, I'm gonna make him pay!"
While working on our cars, Kairi went to the registration office. When he came back...
"All right, I have signed you two up. Tori, you'll be the first to race. The officials are giving you 5 laps of practice around the course."
-"Hai."
"Oh, by the way, we have tuned your car again but don't worry, Yamato has adjusted the settings so it should be easier for you to drive your car. We've also placed a radio and camera inside your car so that you communicate with us whenever you have problems."
-"Arigato, Kairi-san."
Off I go, out of the pit lane and onto the race track.
~"Hello? Tori, can you hear me? It's me, Kairi. Is the radio working??"
"Yes, Kairi-san."
~"Good. We'll be watching your practice through the monitors over hear in the pit lane. Remember, study the course and know when to brake and step on the gas. We'll stop all communications for now so that you can concentrate."
"Hai."
"Whoa!"
"Aagh! This is tough!"
"These sudden ups and downs on the course are making me sick..."
"I have to focus, concentrate!"
(Tori zooms past the pit lane) "There goes our boy, Kairi. I have to admit, he's pretty fast down the straight."
-"How'd the tuning on the car go?"
"We've restored the car's power to 250hp, and we've fine-tuned the suspension so that Tori can tackle the course with ease."
-"So, all he needs is a proper racing line and he'll be doing fine. Don't worry Yamato, he'll find it."
"Hmm, so that's how to go around that corner. Is this what Kyosuke meant by finding the racing line? Study the course?"
"I see..."
"These rumble strips are killing my butt!! But Kairi said I should treat them as part of the course and maximize them. Seems like I have to get used to it. Oh well.."
*after a few laps* "I think I'm getting the hang of this course. Yosh, Time to go full out on the next lap and---"
~"All right Tori, that's a wrap. You already made 5 laps, come back now to the pits."
"Aww man, I lost track of how many laps I did! Just when I was about to.....*sigh*.....Hai, I'll head back now."
As I headed back to the pits and entered the garage, Kairi was waiting for me.
"So Tori, how'd the practice run go?"
-"I was about to go flat out but I lost track of how many laps I did."
"Is that so? Hmm, here's what you will do, since you ran out of time on your practice, just remember the racing line and you'll do fine on the race. Is that okay for you?"
-"I'll try, arigato Kairi-san."
Suddenly we noticed a sound. A car was zooming down the straight.
Yamato spoke, "A Honda S2000...that's a pretty fast car when tuned properly. Don't you agree, Kairi?"
-"I remember seeing one in a touge battle, its opponent was six seconds behind. That thing's a great machine."
"Yeah, let's just hope Tori and that S2000 won't be on the same grid."
-"No, you're wrong Yamato. Let's hope Tori and that S2000 WILL BE on the same grid."
"But that's insane! That car's superior than Tori's Spoon EK9! He won't stand a chance!"
-"That's the plan."
"*sigh* You know Kairi, sometimes I hate this personality of yours. You're too much of a risk-taker."
The time came and I was up for the next race. 2 laps, and the lineup was...
1st: AMUSE S2000 R1 '04
2nd: GRAN TURISMO SKYLINE GT-R (PC) '01
3rd: TRIAL Celica SS-II (ZZT231)
4th: Nissan 240RS Rally Car '85
5th: Opera Performance S2000 '04
6th (me): Spoon Civic Type R (EK) '00
I was getting nervous, can I do this? Overtake all 5 cars on 2 laps and win?? Race 9, begin!!
[POV Shift]
*"Okay folks, time to get back on your seats 'cause it's time for the next race and we got an exciting lineup! And it's go!!"
"All right, time to put that racing line to use. Ikkeee!!"
"So far, so good..."
"What?! No way! How can a FF rush on the outside and pass me??"
*"This is a surprise, the Honda Civic instantly overtook two cars! This is certainly something to watch!"
"!Huh?! That guy's fast!"
"Hehe, I wonder where that Skinny Face is. He probably understeered on that sharp right-hander and crashed..."
*looks at rear view mirror* "I-Impossible!! He overtook two cars already?!?!"
"How could he have caught up this fast?!"
"You'll pay for underestimating me and my Spoon Civic!"
"Hey, where'd he go?"
*"This is amazing! The Celica is going to be the Civic's next victim- on the straight!"
"N-No way! How can a low-torque Civic go side-by-side with my Celica on this straightaway?!"
"Grrr, I don't get this!!"
"He's fast!"
"Good. If I keep up this pace I'll win."
"Huh? Wait a sec, a minute ago that Civic---"
"--was on the back of the grid. Now it---"
"---just passed me???"
*"This is UN-believable! The Civic overtook 4 cars on a single lap! That driver's out of this world!"
"He's pretty darn quick!"
"Nothing can stop me and my S2000. This race is mine for the taking!"
"All right, 4 down..."
"...1 to go. Okay Tori, better be patient, he's the last one."
*"This race has just turned into a touge battle!"
"If I do anything rash, I'll blow it for sure."
"Was that the Civic I saw earlier? Don't tell me he passed all those guys behind me! This is not good..."
"Now!"
"Blast it! He's trying to pass me!"
"You're mine!"
"I will not lose to a mere FF!"
"Take...this!"
(shunt)
"Gaah! This guy's desperate!"
*"And the two cars are trading paint!"
"If that's the case, I will not lose either! Go Spoon Civic!"
"Yes, I have the lead!"
"Darn that driver and his Civic!"
"!The last corner! I'll regain my lead there! I know for sure FFs suck at cornering."
"He's fast! I can't catch up, it's not enough!"
*"The Honda Civic wins the race!!"
"All right, I won!!"
"...Impossible..."
[POV Shift]
I can't believe it. I won...in my first circuit race. I'm so proud of myself!!
"Way to go Tori! You da man!"
-"Ahaha, thanks Kyosuke-san."
"A job well done, Tori. You were amazing out there."
-"Arigato, Kairi-san!"
As we were celebrating, the driver of the orange S2000 approached us.
"Uh, I apologize back there, when I didn't give you room to pass me. You deserve to win, you're an amazing driver. Congratulations."
He offered a handshake. -"That's okay," We shook hands. "Thanks for the great race."
"My name's Albert Hicks. Let's race again sometime." then he left.
"Say Tori, where'd that R.B. guy go?" All of a sudden we saw him and his car leave the race track, as if he was in a hurry. -"Oh there he is."
"Hahaha! He must be so embarrased that you beat him and won the race!"
-"Yeah, that's what you get for humiliating my Civic!"
My race is over, now it's Kyosuke's turn. I can't wait to see him in action!
Next on Red-Line - Chapter 17 : Kyosuke's Time to Shine
don't miss it!!