Chapter 3 - First Time
- Suichiro - "Good morning to you all, I'm Suichiro Fujime."
- Mrs. Takeuchi - "Okay, now that you've got yourself acquainted with the class, let's see...(looks around the classroom)...ah! That chair on Zaira's left side is empty, you may sit there."
Suichiro takes his seat beside Zaira.
- Ayane - "What's the matter, Zaira? You look so......I don't know, tense? Nervous?"
- Kimiko - "Yeah, you look like you can't hold it anymore. Are you okay?"
- Zaira - "Hey Ayane, do you remember when I brought you to Mt. Yabitsu because you wanted to see me race?"
- Ayane - "Uh, yeah. What about it?"
- Zaira - "When we were about to leave, there was this one guy in the crowds that kept looking at me. Even when we got into the car and left, he was still looking at me."
- Ayane - "Aaaaand, you're saying......that guy..."
- Zaira - "That guy is him!" (points at Suichiro)
- Ayane - "The transfer student? You serious?"
- Kimiko - "Maybe it's just your imagination..."
- Zaira - "No, I'm dead serious! I can remember the face clearly from back then!"
So, the day passed, Zaira feeling a bit...uncomfortable as Suichiro seated beside her.
*dismissal time*
- Zaira - "Hey girls, we planned we'd be hanging out at my place, right? C'mon, let's go!"
- Ayane - "Sorry Zaira, I need to get home right now. My mom's sick, and no one else has to do the chores."
- Kimiko - "Sorry, I'm going to the department store right now. These shoes of mine are pretty worn out, I need a new pair. And besides, have you forgotten that your car only has room for two people?"
- Zaira - "Damn, I completely forgot. C'mon, not even one of you is available? Man, this sucks, you guys are no fun! Oh well, guess I'll head straight home then."
*school grounds, Zaira goes to her car.*
- Zaira - "Where did I put those keys...... (keys drop) Oh!"
As she was about to reach them, someone else picked it up.
- ? - "...Here you go."
- Zaira - "Thanks-- !! ...You're the...transfer student..."
- Suichiro - "?? You know me? ......Oh that's right, you're my seatmate."
- Zaira - "You remember me... Oh no, he remembers my face!! ...Uh...thanks for picking up my keys for me."
- Suichiro - "You're welcome. (looks at Zaira's car) Is this car yours?"
- Zaira - "Yes it is."
- Suichiro - "I see."
- Zaira - "Uh...I 'm thinking...it would be unfair if I know your name and you don't know mine. Your name's Suichiro, right? I'm Zaira Akawa."
- Suichiro - "Akawa, you say?"
- Zaira - "?Huh? Uh...yes."
- Suichiro - "...hmm..."
- Zaira - "W-What is it?"
- Suichiro - "...It's nothing."
- Zaira - "Oh, I see... uhm, by the way, you don't happen...to be...busy?"
- Suichiro - "No, not at all. Why?"
- Zaira - "Uhm...uh...would it be okay if...you would come...to my house...??"
- Suichiro - "?? Why?"
- Zaira - " *cough cough* Well, I told my mom my friends would be coming over, but they said they were busy. Right about now, Mom should be getting the snacks ready. It would be a waste if no one came so...............will you?"
- Suichiro - "Hmm, I've got nothing else to do so...okay."
- Zaira - "Great! Let's go then! (in mind)
Man, what a way to welcome a transfer student..."
*Zaira's house*
- Zaira - (opens door) "Mom, I'm home."
- Zinaida - (walks from kitchen)"Welcome back, Zaira. So, did your friends come alo-- (notices Suichiro) Oh my."
- Zaira - "...Uhm... *cough cough* Mom, I'd like you to meet Suichiro. He...just transferred to my school. We're in the same class."
- Zinaida - "A new classmate, you say? What a handsome young man. Transfers during summer vacation are happening lately these days, I wouldn't be surprised."
- Suichiro - "Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Akawa." (bow)
- Zinaida - (chuckle) "No need to be so formal. Zaira, I'm gonna go get the snacks. Why don't you two sit down?"
- Zaira - "Okay."
- Zaira - "So, this is it. Nothing much around here." (a moment of silence)
- Suichiro - "...Akawa-san, may I ask you a question?"
- Zaira - "?? Uh sure, what is it?"
- Suichiro - "Did you happen to be on Mt. Yabitsu about two weeks ago?"
- Zaira - "Uh...yes............. !!"
(simultaneously)
- Suichiro - "Then you must be--... I knew it, you were the..."
- Zaira - "Then you must be-- !! I knew it! You were the..."
- Suichiro - "...The one who beat Sanada."
- Zaira - "...The one who was staring at me."
- Zinaida - (holding snack tray) "My, aren't we lively here? Zaira, I didn't know you're now getting friendly these days. I thought you were a shy-type."
- Zaira - "Mom, did you really have to say it in front of somebody else?!"
- Zinaida - "Ahaha, sorry dear. I didn't mean to slip. Well, I better leave you two alone." (puts snack tray on center table and leaves)
- Zaira - "*grumble* ...Sorry about, my Mom just wants to make me laugh. But I like that personality of hers. Oh yes, where were we? Ah! Right, at Mt. Yabitsu, you...kept......staring at me..."
- Suichiro - "Did I? Sorry about that, I didn't intend to stare at you."
- Zaira - "Is...uh...that so..."
- Suichiro - "I might have an idea on what you're thinking right now. From that experience, to you I'm a suspicious person, now that I've transferred to your school. Even more suspicious is that we're in the same class. Don't get the wrong idea, I transferred not because I'm after you, but because of
family and financial matters."
- Zaira - "...I uh...see..."
- Suichiro - "Wait a second, you had a wrong impression on me??"
- Zaira - "...Ehehe..."
- Suichiro - "...And that all of what I said is true, that I'm some kind of 'stalker' to you?"
- Zaira - "...Mm hmm..."
- Suichiro - "......Damn, this is so messed up... I apologize for all of this."
- Zaira - "Ahehe, you don't have to. Whew, I'm just glad everything's clear now."
- Suichiro - "Sorry, it's just that, I was surprised."
- Zaira - "?? Surprised?"
- Suichiro - "Sanada may be just an above-average racer, but everyone knows for sure he's unbeatable at his home turf."
- Zaira - "Suichiro-san, you like street racing?"
- Suichiro - "Yes."
- Zaira - "A-And cars, too?"
- Suichiro - "Yes, a lot. Well, now that our conversation is now about cars and racing, I'd like to take this opportunity. Now I know that you also like street racing, I thought you might be interested in circuit racing as well. I assume you already know of the race track east of Shimotsuma City?"
- Zaira - "You mean the Tsukuba Circuit?"
- Suichiro - "No, Tsukuba Circuit is WEST of Shimotsuma City. I'm talking about the race track that just recently opened. I thought you already know about it."
- Zaira - "No, I don't."
Suichiro pulls out a piece of paper, a brochure of some kind, from his bag and hands it over to Zaira.
- Suichiro - "At the front is a map of the course. It's a bit short, not more than one-and-a-half kilometers. But it does have a straighforward layout, which makes it a challenging circuit. (Zaira flips the paper) At the back is a map and directions on how to get there. Races are held every Sunday. Since there are no classes on Sundays, I thought I'd go over there."
- Zaira - "You're going to participate in the races?"
- Suichiro - "No, I'm just going to take a look. I can't use my car right now."
- Zaira - "What are you driving?"
- Suichiro - "A Nissan Silvia S15."
- Zaira - "S15, that's not a bad car."
- Suichiro - "I know, thanks...So, do you plan to go?"
- Zaira - "Gee, I dunno, I still have to ask permission from my dad."
- Suichiro - "I see... (looks at cellphone, clock reads 6:30 P.M.) Crap, it's already late. Not good, I have a missed call. (Stands up) Akawa-san, I'll be heading back home now."
- Zaira - "Oh, I'd better join you outside."
*front door, outside*
- Suichiro - "Thanks for the food and hospitality."
- Zaira - "You're welcome."
- Suichiro - "Well, I'll be going now."
- Zaira - "Wait, you know how to get back to your house?"
- Suichiro - "Yes, don't worry."
- Zaira - "Oh, okay..."
- Suichiro - "See you at school tomorrow."
- Zaira - "See ya!"
*living room*
- Zaira - " *sigh* What a day..."
- Tori - " 'Suichiro-san, you like racing?' "
- Zaira - "Huh? Dad? *gasp* Don't tell me you-- !!"
- Tori - " 'A-And cars, too?' "
- Zaira - "You've been eavesdropping THE WHOLE TIME!!"
- Tori - " 'You mean the Tsukuba Circuit?' "
- Zaira - "How could you do this to me?!"
- Tori - " 'No, I don't.' "
Zaira punches Tori on the side.
- Tori - "Ow! C-Calm down, sweety. Sheesh, girls these days just can't take a joke..."
Zinaida then slaps Tori in the face.
- Tori - "Ouch! What was that for!"
- Zinaida - "Excuse me?! What's that supposed to mean?!"
- Tori - "C'mon, honey, you know I was just...kidding, ahehe......uhhh.......oh dear, two girls taking on one guy, this is so unfair...................................
I'm dead..."
*the next day, September 2, 2019. School, classroom. 8:00 AM*
- Zaira - (as soon as she enters the classroom...)"Hey, uh, Suichiro-san..."
- Suichiro - "Yes?"
- Zaira - "You said yesterday, you're going to the race track in Shimotsuma City, right?"
- Suichiro - "Yes. So, are you going too?"
- Zaira - "Uh huh, my dad wants to come along, too. I'm going to race there, I like to know how it feels like when you're racing in a circuit."
- Suichiro - "I see. I'll be expecting you to come over this Sunday, then."
- Zaira - "Yeah." (takes her seat)
- Kimiko - "Wow, that's something new, Zaira. How did you two get along?"
- Ayane - "Did you make friends with your 'stalker' ?"
- Zaira - "
Shut up! He is not my stalker!"
- Ayane - "Then who is?"
- Zaira - "
Nobody!"
- Ayane - "Hahaha!"
- Kimiko - "Ahaha...but seriously, how did you get along with him? What happened?"
- Zaira - "Long story, I'll tell you later."
While classes are going on...
- Zaira - (spacing out)"...Circuit racing...... come to think of it, this will be my first time racing in a closed circuit. I wonder how it feels like...is it different compared to street racing?? .........Only one way to find out..."
next on Red-Zone : Chapter 4 - Different Grounds
don't miss it!!
First race will be in the next chapter..,
*edit - note: big thanks to
AMG for the Motorland track map.., 👍
I think we need a PG-13 rating on Red-Zone ASAP before Tori and Zinaida get too comfortable. 
(I hope so at least
