Page 3 - Invitations
Location: A mountain pass in Kanagawa, Japan
Time: 12 pm, the next day
Monday - it may be the start of the work week for many, but as for one Yuki Kanonji, it isn't. He takes the day off in the first day of the week, something that only a few would dare.
But in actuality, he had been working in some of Honda's prototypes for all week, so it's just reasonable for him to take a day off, of course approved by his higher-ups.
And so, he hikes up the hills of Kanagawa to have a leisurely drive...
However, he encounters some rally cars, and that leaves Yuki bewildered...
As it turns out, it's a practice session for the participants of Rally Japan. Yuki may not be aware of it, but decides to play, by shifting down to 1st gear and hit the throttle.
Yuki: "Maybe some company might cheer me up a bit more. But one thing is for sure, heh...
....you're my prey."
(Background Music starts here)
His sudden appearance surprises the rally drivers. What's more surprising, is that a family hatchback, out of all cars, is crashing their party.
Yuki: "Evo? Pfft... Yeah, you Evo and Impreza owners think that 4WD is the best on tarmac."
And overtakes another Evo...
Yuki: "You've got torque? This Fit doesn't, I know... but does it really matter on the downhill? This little Fit only has 216 horsepower and 23 kilos of torque for goodness sake."
Yuki: "I really gotta commend Spoon Sports for tuning this little Fit. I love the engine..."
The Lancia Delta S4 driver literally dropped his jaw upon seeing the Fit RS' incredible cornering speed.
And disappeared in a flash.
Yuki: "You call yourselves rally car drivers? Pathetic."
(Music ends here)
Yuki stops by at a convenience store, as hunger hits him. He purchases a microwavable bento meal for take out.
He decides to turn back and go home instead. He'll reheat the food later.
While driving along, he receives a call.... from none other than his Senpai, Nobuhiko.
Yuki: "Senpai! You called. Is there something important?"
Nobuhiko: "Are you busy?"
Yuki: "It's my day off today, Senpai."
Nobuhiko: "Day off? On a Monday? That's quite odd."
Yuki: "I spent the entire Saturday and Sunday working on prototypes, you know?"
Nobuhiko: "I see. That's rough."
Yuki: "Why have you called?"
Nobuhiko: "Can you clear your schedule on Saturday, if you don't mind?"
Yuki: "What is it about, Senpai?"
Nobuhiko: "It's a decisive battle, that has been left unsettled for 30 years. I will make sure, that I will be the winner.
Suzuka Circuit, on Saturday... 12 pm. Kanonji vs. Hiramoto."
Yuki: "You mean, you're going to have a duel with Takuma?"
Nobuhiko: "That's right. I cannot let the world wait for longer."
***************************************************************
Location: Takuma's home, Aoyama, Tokyo
Time: 8 pm
Rob just returned from the Mochi shop across the street, and has purchased a box of six with varying flavors. He sees Takuma's family, save for Takuma, in the dining area, waiting for the patriarch to arrive as Kokoro is busy cooking.
He observes them, as if having a family suddenly piqued his interest, after what Kokoro had told him. The woman then approaches him.
Kokoro: "Hey, please join us in the dining area. Your friend will arrive shortly."
Rob: "I see."
Rob sits on the floor, as the setup is of the traditional Japanese dining style. He sees the meals prepared in an extravagant manner, especially on the alignment of sushi rolls on the big platter. In front of him is a covered bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks on the side.
Rob: "Hey, what's up, Little Ben?"
Little Ben: "I'm really happy today. Daddy just signed me up in a karting tournament once again."
Rob: "That's a great start there, kid. I hope you prevail."
Kokoro: "How about you, Rob? How's your family back in London?"
Rob: "We're doing fine as well. Such a lovely arrangement tonight."
Kokoro: "My husband, oddly enough, prefers traditional Japanese dining, even right down to the etiquette, despite the fact he grew up abroad."
Rob: "I could learn a thing or two from this."
Kokoro: "But the most important thing is, that he keeps this family together, thanks to his hard work. You know, having a family is one big achievement for your part."
Rob: "How I'd wish I can say that to my friends too. Unfortunately, wounds are just starting to heal."
Little Ben: "Wounds?"
Rob: "You'll understand this when you've grown."
Takuma has finally arrived. He takes off his shoes before entering the living area, and he heads straight to the dining room.
Takuma: "Sorry, everyone. Traffic is bad and I had lot of work to finish."
Rob: "First time I've seen you arriving late. Nice achievement."
Takuma: "First time I've seen your head so shiny. I could really use it for fortune-telling."
Rob: "You've got a bone to pick? I'm afraid this dining table hasn't."
Takuma: "Whatever. Enough bickering around. I have an important announcement."
Kokoro: "Announcement?"
Takuma: "This Saturday, we shall all head to Suzuka."
Rob: "Suzuka Circuit? What for?"
Takuma: "A duel. I shall face off against Nobuhiko, and finally settle the rivalry that lingers for over 30 years. It's time for the victor to be decided."
Rob: "What a surprise. I thought you two are getting along well."
Takuma: "We are getting along well. But that rivalry.... suddenly awakened during the FIA GT3 Championship. He had outdone me not just once, but twice. Even before the championship, Nobuhiko and I already planned it."
Rob: "I guess rivalries within teams are getting more common. It's a great way to boost yourselves up.
This will be a worthy show. Heh..."
***************************************************************
Location: Route 5, Tokyo
Time: 10 pm
A loud, grumbling V8 bellow roars through the empty Route 5 road. Surprisingly, rush hour traffic has cleared easily.
This provides the chance for this souped-up white Ford GT to tear up.
It turns out, that Kazunori Yamauchi is driving it. His passion for cars and his games have made him possible to acquire such stunning supercar.
It hits 320 km/h on the end of the straight, then he slams on the brake pedal.
Rumors of the duel in Suzuka spread like wildfire in the racing circles. Of course, Kazunori has heard of it, and it further strengthened his interest on the Dream Alliance, after being defeated by them in the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Kaz: "Rumor has it that a duel will commence in Suzuka Circuit this Saturday. A duel between the fastest men in the world of racing.
I am curious how these men managed to overcome all the hurdles set by the increasingly stringent FIA Organization."
It seems that my project will not have a smooth sailing. But that does not matter. I like being challenged."
Kazunori carries along with his run, along with his curiosity. It seemed that he'll definitely watch the showdown.
End of Page 3
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
- Yuki's Fit RS only has 445 PP.
- Kaz's Ford GT has 793 horsepower and 639 PP. With Sports Soft tires, it managed to beat the lap time set by Takanori's C7 Corvette in Route 5. How faster? By 1 SECOND!"
- Expect this story to be really short, arguably the shortest one I'll ever make. Because this only focuses on the Kanonji-Hiramoto rivalry, anyway. The first part of the battle will already be on the fifth page.