Several Months Later…
Summer had long since rolled over the horizon.
The heavy heat that once lingered across the highways of Kanagawa had faded into cooler air, replaced by the unmistakable atmosphere of autumn. The skies above Hakone were layered in dense gray clouds, drifting slowly over the mountains as cold wind swept through the trees lining the pass.
Leaves rustled endlessly across the roadside barriers.
The scent of damp asphalt and mountain air filled the region once again.
And with autumn—
Came the return of one of Japan's most anticipated automotive events.
The Hakone Turnpike Uphill Time Trial.
For another year, a designated section of the famous Hakone Pass had been fully closed off under special authorization. The course began just beyond the toll gate at the Anest Iwata Turnpike Hakone Road and stretched relentlessly uphill toward the Sky Lounge near the summit.
A brutal uphill sector.
Fast.
Technical.
Dangerous.
And unlike a circuit—there were no forgiving runoff areas beyond the few emergency escape zones scattered along the route.
It was one of the only events in the country where tuners, privateers, manufacturers, and underground legends alike were given the opportunity to push their machines to the limit on an actual public mountain road—
Completely legally.
The popularity of the event had exploded after last year's broadcast.
This year, the turnout was nearly double.
Spectator parking lots were overflowing.
Crowds lined the safe viewing sections behind steel barriers and fencing while camera crews moved constantly between corners and checkpoints. Broadcast helicopters circled high overhead through the cloudy skies while drones followed cars screaming through the mountain roads below.
Massive LED timing boards displayed sector splits in real time.
The entire event was being livestreamed across social media platforms, major automotive channels, and YouTube streams nationwide. Television networks had returned as well—drawn by the massive audience numbers generated the year prior.
The sound throughout Hakone was deafening.
Rotaries shrieked against the mountain walls.
Turbocharged inline-sixes howled through anti-lag.
Naturally aspirated engines screamed at redline.
One after another—
Cars launched violently from the starting line.
A black BMW M5 (F90) exploded forward with all four tires clawing at the asphalt before vanishing uphill into the first sector.
Moments later, a dark blue R33 GT-R followed behind it, twin turbos whining sharply as flames burst from the exhaust during upshifts.
Further back, a Porsche GT3 RS idled impatiently beside a heavily modified RX-7 FD, both cars rocking slightly from aggressive camshafts and uneven idle vibrations.
Every machine present had come prepared for war.
Marshals stood stationed at every major technical section of the course wearing bright orange safety gear while radio operators constantly relayed status updates between checkpoints.
Emergency crews remained on standby nearby.
At several downhill runoff zones, massive sand pits had been prepared—designed specifically to stop cars whose brakes failed during the relentless climb. Ambulances waited with engines idling quietly while fire crews stood beside fully equipped rescue trucks.
No one underestimated Hakone.
Especially not after previous years.
The mountain demanded respect.
And everyone here knew it.
Near the main paddock area—
A very different crowd had gathered attention.
The Umamusume teams had arrived.
And unlike the previous year—
There were far more of them now.
Given the scale and publicity surrounding the event, every Uma participating had elected to appear in their official G1 racing outfits rather than casual clothing.
The result drew enormous attention from both fans and media alike.
Camera shutters flashed constantly.
Fans gathered behind barricades trying to catch glimpses of the famous racers as event commentators repeatedly shifted attention toward the growing lineup of legendary drivers.
Last year, only a select few had participated.
Maruzensky.
Silence Suzuka.
And the mysterious reigning uphill champion—
"The Emperor."
The driver whose identity had only later become publicly associated with Symboli Rudolf herself.
Her victory the previous year had become one of the most replayed moments in modern Japanese motorsport media.
And now—
She had returned to defend her title.
Along side Maruzensky, Suzuka, And Rudolf. Who chose to return. And with Rudolf defending her Title.
The field had grown dramatically.
King Halo had entered.
Agnes Tachyon had returned with the Midnight Blue Devil Z.
Orfevre had joined the lineup.
Nice Nature stood beside her Gallardo Superleggera
Mejiro McQueen had arrived as well.
And unsurprisingly—
Her road-legal Porsche 917K had become one of the biggest attractions of the entire event.
Even among seasoned enthusiasts and veteran tuners, the sight of a genuine 917-inspired machine sitting in the Hakone paddock felt almost surreal.
Sakura Chiyono O had also entered alongside Daiwa Scarlet and T.M. Opera O.
The combined lineup alone was enough to dominate headlines nationwide.
Meanwhile, several others attended as spectators and support crew rather than drivers.
Mejiro Ardan stood near the viewing barriers speaking quietly with Meisho Doto while Jungle Pocket excitedly watched cars launch from the start line.
Special Week and Forever Young wandered through the area together, occasionally stopping whenever another legendary machine rolled past.
And slightly away from the crowd—
Manhattan Cafe observed silently beneath the cloudy skies.
Her dark eyes occasionally drifting toward the mountain road itself.
As if listening to something only she could hear.
Among this year's drivers—
Was Tokai Teio.
And beside her—
Sat the Bayside Blue R34 GT-R.
The Starting Line was still packed with activity.
Cars continued cycling through staging inspection while officials waved the next competitors toward the launch lane one by one.
The smell of overheated brakes, race fuel, clutch material, and burnt rubber lingered heavily in the cold autumn air.
Further uphill—
The distant scream of engines echoed constantly through the mountain roads.
Several of the major runs had already been completed.
Symboli Rudolf had already attacked the mountain.
Silence Suzuka had made her ascent.
Agnes Tachyon's Devil Z had screamed through Hakone with its infamous high-rpm fury.
Mejiro McQueen had shocked nearly everyone by piloting the Porsche 917K up the mountain rather than her Bullitt Mustang.
Daiwa Scarlet had thundered uphill in the supercharged Corvette ZR1.
And Orfevre had already completed her run as well.
At that very moment—
T.M. Opera O was midway through the course.
Far above the toll gate, the roar of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT8 echoed through the mountain pass.
The naturally aspirated V8 barked violently during every downshift while television helicopters attempted to keep pace overhead.
A commentator's excited voice blared from one of the nearby mounted speakers.
"Opera O is entering Sector Three!"
The crowd nearby erupted into cheers.
"Beautiful line through the right-hander!"
"Very stable rear end!"
"She's absolutely attacking the course!"
Near the timing boards—
The current rankings remained displayed in massive glowing numbers.
1st — Symboli Rudolf
2nd — Silence Suzuka
3rd — Agnes Tachyon
4th — Maruzensky
Maruzensky had narrowly missed the top three by only a tenth of a second.
One tenth.
A gap so painfully small it had become one of the most discussed topics in the paddock.
Especially considering how aggressively the twin-turbo Countach had climbed through the upper sectors.
Several mechanics and spectators still debated whether traffic hesitation near Sector Four had cost her the position.
But regardless—
The current benchmark remained brutally fast.
And several major drivers still had yet to run.
At the very front of the launch queue—
King Halo waited inside her R32 GT-R.
The metallic green Skyline idled deeply beneath the gray skies, the RB26DETT rumbling through the titanium exhaust with an unmistakably aggressive tone.
The car vibrated subtly at idle.
Its Group A-inspired suspension sat low over the silver LMGT1 wheels while heat shimmered faintly from the hood vents.
Inside—
King Halo sat calmly in the driver's seat.
At least—
On the surface.
Her left hand rested near the shifter while her left tapped rhythmically against the top of her thigh.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Her left foot rested against the dead pedal.
The heel of her white Mary Jane tapped thudded lightly against the carpet..
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Outside the car, cameras occasionally flashed toward her direction.
The pressure surrounding her appearance this year had increased dramatically after her Triple Crown victory.
But King Halo kept her eyes forward.
Focused.
Then—
Another figure approached from behind.
Tokai Teio.
Her Bayside Blue R34 GT-R rested several cars back in the queue behind Nice Nature's Gallardo, but Teio herself had stepped out while waiting for her turn.
She casually approached the R32 before resting an arm along the top of the open driver-side window frame.
"King-san. How are you feeling?" Teio asked casually.
King Halo glanced toward her.
Then nodded once.
"Confident."
Teio grinned immediately.
"That's the spirit."
The wind swept lightly through the staging area as engines continued roaring nearby.
Then Teio suddenly snapped her fingers.
"Oh right!"
She pointed toward King Halo dramatically.
"By the way! Congrats on your Triple Crown win!"
King Halo's expression softened slightly.
"Thank you, Teio."
Her voice lowered afterward.
"Only if my mom was that happy."
A faint twitch crossed her right eye.
"All she said was…"
King exhaled quietly through her nose.
"That it was luck."
She let out a soft chuckle afterward.
Not angry.
Not bitter.
Just tired.
"I guess Haru-chan's nickname for her makes sense…"
Teio raised an eyebrow immediately.
"Your mom is really that bad, huh?"
King Halo shrugged one shoulder lightly.
"She's alright at times."
Her fingers tapped once against the steering wheel.
"But throughout my childhood…"
"Not once did she support my dream of becoming like her."
The words lingered for a moment beneath the sound of engines and announcers.
Teio stared at her for a second.
Then abruptly slapped the air dramatically.
"To hell with that!"
Several nearby spectators turned slightly at the sudden outburst.
Teio pointed directly at her.
"You're a Triple Crown winner now!"
King Halo blinked once.
Then smiled.
A genuine one this time.
"Agreed."
She raised her fist slightly out the window.
Teio immediately bumped it with her own.
The metallic ticking of cooling engines echoed nearby as both girls smirked.
Then Teio turned toward the group gathered near the toll booth barriers.
Mejiro Ardan stood there alongside Special Week, Meisho Doto, Jungle Pocket, and several others watching the timing screens.
Teio pointed dramatically toward Ardan.
"Ardan-san!"
"Was it YOU that made McQueen drive a vintage race car up this pass?"
Mejiro Ardan immediately covered her mouth politely as she laughed.
"Not so!"
She smiled elegantly afterward.
"McQueen was debating between the Mustang or the 917."
Her eyes shifted briefly toward the timing monitor.
"Figures she'd choose the 917 instead."
Teio smirked immediately before raising one finger straight upward.
"And that decision put her down in eighth!"
Several nearby Umas laughed softly.
Even Special Week nearly lost composure hearing that.
Teio stepped backward innocently.
As Tokai Teio stepped back from the window—
An event official wearing a headset and bright orange marshal gear approached the R32.
He leaned slightly toward the driver-side window.
"King Halo-san."
He gave a respectful nod.
"It's your run. Good luck."
King Halo nodded once in return.
"Thank you."
The official stepped aside immediately and motioned her forward toward the launch lane.
Behind her—
Teio raised both thumbs high into the air dramatically.
"You got this, King-san!"
King Halo smirked faintly.
Then winked once toward Teio before easing the Skyline forward.
The metallic green R32 GT-R rolled slowly toward the white starting line.
Its RB26 growled deeply beneath the cloudy skies.
Cameras immediately turned toward the car.
Commentators shifted focus.
Even nearby crews paused briefly.
Because despite the stacked field—
Many people had quietly been waiting for this particular run.
The Group A-inspired R32 slowly crept forward.
Then stopped precisely before the white line.
The engine note deepened.
And then—
The launch lights activated overhead.
One red light.
Inside the cockpit—
King Halo reached down and pulled the handbrake upward firmly.
Click.
Locked.
Her left foot pressed the clutch pedal fully down.
Her right foot feathered the throttle once.
Then again.
The RB26 snarled violently.
Two lights.
She began building revs.
The tachometer climbed rapidly.
Three lights.
The entire chassis vibrated aggressively now.
Turbo flutter hissed through the intake.
The exhaust boomed sharply against the concrete walls near the toll gate.
Four lights.
King Halo suddenly slammed her right foot flat onto the accelerator.
The RB26 instantly screamed to life.
8500 RPM.
The needle smashed violently against redline.
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG—
The limiter cracked repeatedly through the mountain air.
Flames burst violently from the titanium exhaust.
Blue-orange fire spat from the rear while anti-lag detonations echoed across the staging area.
The entire car shook under the strain.
Ardan immediately covered her ears.
Special Week flinched hard from the explosions.
Even Meisho Doto recoiled slightly behind the barriers.
"T-that's loud…!"
The R32 trembled against the handbrake.
All four tires twitching impatiently.
Then—
The overhead lights changed instantly.
Five green lights.
King Halo dropped the handbrake.
And dumped the clutch.
The Skyline exploded forward.
The rear tires spun wildly as smoke erupted behind the car.
The rear stepped slightly sideways for a split second—
Then the ATTESSA E-TS system transferred torque forward.
Grip returned instantly.
The R32 clawed itself into the asphalt like an animal.
BANG—
Second gear.
BANG—
Third.
The RB26 screamed relentlessly at high RPM while boost pressure surged violently through the twin turbos.
BANG—
Fourth.
The green Skyline shot uphill past the toll gate at terrifying speed.
And within seconds—
Disappeared into Hakone.
The crowd erupted immediately.
"That launch was insane!"
"She nearly wheelspun the whole start sector!"
"The ATTESSA hooked up perfectly!"
Television helicopters immediately shifted direction overhead to follow the Skyline climbing into Sector One.
Meanwhile—
The timing boards still displayed the benchmark looming over the event.
Symboli Rudolf's all-time record from the previous year still remained untouched.
2:50.867.
An almost unbelievable uphill time.
And during today's session—
Rudolf herself still held the current fastest run.
2:58.558.
No one else had broken into the fifty-eights.
Not yet.
But further uphill—
King Halo continued attacking the mountain.
And she was driving the R32 right on the absolute edge.
The Skyline moved nothing like a normal street GT-R anymore.
Its suspension behavior.
Its steering response.
Its chassis balance.
Everything resembled a full JTCC machine unleashed onto public mountain roads.
The car rotated aggressively into corners before the AWD system dragged it violently back out on throttle.
At one of the sharpest uphill hairpins—
The inside rear wheel visibly lifted off the ground.
Spectators near the corner shouted immediately.
The suspension compressed hard as the Skyline attacked the apex curb with brutal precision.
The car never lost composure.
Not once.
Commentators became noticeably louder.
"She's pushing HARD through Sector One!"
"That car looks unbelievable through direction changes!"
"She's using every inch of the road!"
Then—
The first timing split appeared.
SECTOR 1.
Purple.
The crowd erupted instantly.
King Halo was faster.
Eight tenths faster than Rudolf through the opening sector.
Even several professional teams standing near the monitors visibly reacted.
"That's impossible…"
"She gained THAT much already?"
Further uphill—
The Skyline continued climbing relentlessly.
The RB26 screamed through another sequence of corners while the chassis remained razor sharp beneath her.
Then Sector Two appeared.
And the reaction became even louder.
Purple again.
A full second faster.
The timing tower exploded with noise.
"She's STILL gaining!"
"The R32 is flying!"
"That AWD traction out of the slower corners is making a massive difference!"
And it was true.
The combination of the Skyline's lightweight setup, aggressive Group A suspension geometry, and ATTESSA all-wheel-drive system was proving devastatingly effective on the uphill course.
Especially through corner exits.
Where other FR cars struggled for traction—
The R32 simply launched itself forward.
At the very top of the course—
The summit parking area overlooking Lake Ashi had become a gathering point for drivers who had already completed their runs.
Cold autumn wind swept through the open lot.
The cloudy skies reflected dimly across the lake below while the distant sound of engines occasionally echoed upward from somewhere further down the mountain.
Several high-profile cars sat parked side by side beneath the overcast sky.
Symboli Rudolf's Ferrari F40.
Silence Suzuka's red NSX.
Agnes Tachyon's Midnight Blue Devil Z.
Daiwa Scarlet's Corvette ZR1.
Orfevre's 992 GT3
And perhaps most absurdly of all—
Mejiro McQueen's road-legal Porsche 917K.
Even parked motionless—
The car looked completely unreal.
Its low Gulf-liveried body sat barely inches above the asphalt while the center-lock wheels still radiated heat from the uphill attack earlier.
Small metallic ticking sounds echoed softly from the exposed flat-12 as it cooled.
Tourists and event staff walking through the upper parking area repeatedly slowed down just to stare at it.
Some still genuinely could not believe someone had driven a 917K up Hakone.
Especially in weather like this.
Standing nearby—
Orfevre stared directly at the Porsche.
Silently.
Her eyes narrowed slowly.
Then—
She turned toward McQueen.
"How in the hell…"
She gestured toward the car.
"And why?"
McQueen chuckled softly.
"I don't have to explain how."
She crossed her arms elegantly.
"You already know."
Orfevre shook her head immediately.
"I didn't mean how you bought it."
She pointed toward the Porsche again.
"I mean how you managed not to crash it with the tires you have."
McQueen stepped forward slightly before glancing toward the 917 herself.
"Well…"
"I gingerly drove it around."
She smiled awkwardly afterward.
"I was already pushing the limit of grip on it anyways."
Orfevre smirked immediately.
"No wonder why you're sitting in eighth."
McQueen's eye twitched instantly.
"How about you, Orfe?"
She pointed back toward her.
"You're in fifth!"
Orfevre chuckled.
"Well…"
She shrugged casually.
"I didn't push it too hard."
The wind swept through her hair as she glanced toward her own car nearby.
"You have to remember."
"That car is also my daily driver."
McQueen blinked once.
Then nodded slowly.
"Oh…"
"That actually makes sense…"
Nearby—
The faint sound of another car screaming through the lower sectors echoed up the mountain.
Everyone briefly glanced toward the timing monitor.
King Halo's sectors were still glowing purple.
But before anyone commented—
McQueen turned toward Agnes Tachyon instead.
"How about you, Tachyon?"
"How was your run?"
Tachyon leaned casually against the right front fender of the Devil Z.
The dark blue S30Z clicked softly as its engine cooled, the enormous turbo setup still radiating heat through the hood vents.
"It was alright."
She adjusted her gloves slightly.
"Had some sketchy moments through a few hairpins."
She smirked afterward.
"But it was fine."
Rudolf let out a soft chuckle nearby.
"You did lower your power, right Tachyon?"
Tachyon nodded immediately.
"I lowered the boost."
"Just enough to make the car manageable."
She then smirked mischievously.
"But…"
"I DID keep the Wangan setup."
Rudolf sighed through a faint smile.
"At least you considered my opinion about power."
Tachyon shrugged casually.
"If I were slightly more insane…"
"I'd have ignored it entirely."
Several nearby drivers laughed quietly.
Tachyon crossed her arms afterward.
"But considering I drive a Wangan legend as my daily driver…"
"I reconsidered."
Rudolf nodded approvingly.
"A rare moment of self-preservation."
"That alone is shocking."
Tachyon grinned.
"I know."
Then—
Rudolf turned her attention elsewhere.
Specifically—
Toward Maruzensky's Countach.
The red Lamborghini sat nearby beneath the cloudy skies, lower than before and noticeably more aggressive in stance.
The polished silver 3-Piece HRE 305 wheels reflected faintly against the gray afternoon light while the lowered ride height gave the Countach an unmistakably old-school street-racer appearance.
Rudolf studied it carefully.
Then glanced at Maruzensky.
"And I've got to ask you something."
Her eyes shifted back toward the wheels.
"Why switch to HRE 305s?"
Maruzensky smiled immediately.
"I wanted to update the styling a little!"
She gestured proudly toward the Countach.
"So I figured…"
"I'd lower it and give it lower-profile tires too!"
Rudolf pressed her lips thin thoughtfully while examining the car again.
Then nodded slowly.
"I have to admit…"
"It does look good."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"And the stance…"
She blinked once.
"…also works."
Maruzensky immediately gave her a thumbs up.
"Thank you, Prez!"
She crossed her arms proudly afterward.
"I took inspiration from the Mid Night Club's Countach."
Rudolf chuckled softly almost immediately.
"No wonder you went for this look."
She glanced once more toward the car.
"The styling definitely matches that era."
Nearby—
Suzuka quietly observed the conversation while leaning against her NSX.
Then—
From the timing monitor nearby—
An announcer's voice suddenly erupted loudly.
"UNBELIEVABLE!"
Everyone's attention snapped instantly toward the screen.
King Halo's Sector Three split had just appeared.
Purple again.
Right on cue—
The roar of a British V8 echoed up the mountain road.
Everyone near the overlook instinctively turned toward the guardrail overlooking the final uphill section.
Far below—
A Cinnabar Red Aston Martin Vantage GT8 emerged from the final corner.
Its titanium exhaust barked sharply against the retaining walls as the car powered uphill toward the summit.
The naturally aspirated V8 sounded completely different from the screaming rotaries and turbocharged Japanese cars dominating the event.
Deeper.
Sharper.
Mechanical.
The GT8 swept cleanly through the final bend before easing off throttle near the finish area.
The sound reverberated beautifully through the mountain air.
Several spectators nearby applauded immediately as the Aston slowed and exited toward the Sky Lounge access road.
Rudolf smiled faintly while watching the car approach.
Then shook her head.
"I'm glad to see more of us doing runs like this."
Suzuka nodded quietly beside her.
"It's surprising Opera O-san chose to make a run herself."
Rudolf chuckled softly.
"This entire year has been full of surprises, Suzuka."
She glanced sideways toward her.
"You running the Monaco Historics was the bigger surprise."
Suzuka blinked once.
Then looked away slightly.
"…Fair."
Below—
The Aston Martin rolled toward the checkpoint marshal.
The official standing near the finish line motioned for the GT8 to stop briefly.
Opera O lowered the driver-side window smoothly.
The marshal bent slightly toward the car and handed her a printed timing slip.
"Clean run, Opera O-san."
He smiled.
"Three minutes five."
Opera O nodded gracefully and accepted the paper.
"Much appreciated."
The marshal pointed toward the left access road leading into the summit parking area.
"Enter left and join your friends."
"They're waiting there."
Opera O nodded once more before gently pulling away.
The GT8's titanium exhaust hummed richly at low RPM as the Aston entered the Sky Lounge grounds.
The car climbed the small crest leading into the upper parking lot.
Then turned left.
The Vantage rolled slowly between the parked supercars and race machines before finally pulling up beside Rudolf's green F40.
The contrast between the two cars was striking.
The sharp modern aggression of the GT8 beside the raw mechanical brutality of the F40.
Inside the Aston—
Opera O reached toward the center console.
Her finger pressed the start-stop button.
The V8 rumbled once.
Then shut down cleanly.
Silence settled briefly around the car aside from the metallic ticking of cooling exhaust pipes.
Opera O unbuckled her seatbelt.
Click.
Then opened the door.
The right-side swan door swung outward and upward slightly in one elegant motion.
She stepped out gracefully before smoothing part of her casual outfit.
Unlike most of the others—
She was no longer wearing her G1 race attire.
Rudolf immediately clapped lightly.
"Not a bad run, Opera O."
Opera O chuckled warmly.
"Oh! For I have indeed tried my best, my dear compatriot!"
Then her theatrical tone softened slightly.
"But seriously though…"
"I really did push myself there."
She swung the swan door shut carefully with a solid click before walking toward the group.
Daiwa Scarlet smiled almost immediately.
"It's funny seeing you in casual clothes compared to your G1 outfit."
Opera O laughed awkwardly while rubbing the back of her neck.
"Well…"
"For starters…"
"My G1 race outfit is not exactly comfortable when sitting down."
Several nearby girls immediately nodded in understanding.
Opera O then pointed down toward her footwear.
"And my gold boots are huge."
"My right foot keeps brushing the brake pedal slightly."
She sighed dramatically afterward.
"Not to mention they're awful for heel-and-toe downshifting."
That immediately drew several laughs from the group.
Opera O then looked toward Maruzensky, Orfevre, and Daiwa Scarlet.
"I genuinely don't understand how the three of you drive in heels."
She crossed her arms.
"Let alone while wearing casual outfits."
Maruzensky grinned proudly.
"Years of practice!"
Daiwa Scarlet smirked.
"You adapt eventually."
Orfevre shrugged casually.
"You stop thinking about it after a while."
Then—
Rudolf quietly pointed at herself.
Opera O immediately blinked.
Then pointed directly back at her.
"You don't get a say in this, Rudolf."
Several nearby girls burst out laughing instantly.
"For starters—your heels are tiny."
"And you mostly wear flats anyway."
Rudolf coughed awkwardly into her fist.
"…That is not the point."
Opera O then shifted her gaze toward McQueen.
"And same goes for you."
"Though your casual outfits are slightly better."
McQueen nodded calmly.
"Fair enough."
Daiwa Scarlet suddenly glanced down at her phone.
The live timing application was still updating sector data in real time from the course below.
Then—
Her eyes widened.
"Whoa."
The rest of the group immediately looked toward her.
Scarlet stared at the screen another second before looking back up.
"King Halo is MOVING."
She held the phone slightly higher.
"She's three seconds up in Sector Three!"
Everyone's attention snapped immediately toward the timing monitor nearby.
Even Rudolf's expression sharpened slightly.
Three seconds.
That was an enormous margin on a course this short.
Then—
From below—
The sound arrived.
The screaming howl of an RB26DETT echoed violently through the mountain pass.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the final crest overlooking the finish section.
And then—
The metallic green R32 GT-R appeared.
The Skyline burst over the crest aggressively, suspension compressed hard from the uphill transition.
The car moved fast.
Very fast.
King Halo immediately slammed on the brakes approaching the finish control zone.
CHIRP—
The front-left tire skipped sharply against the asphalt before she smoothly eased brake pressure.
The GT-R remained perfectly stable.
No twitch.
No instability.
Just clean control.
King Halo's run was over.
The R32 slowed rapidly before rolling toward the finish marshal station.
The same official who had greeted Opera O stepped forward again.
He handed King Halo her timing slip through the open window.
She accepted it with one hand before giving him a polite nod.
Then pulled forward toward the Sky Lounge access road.
Behind the group—
The timing board updated.
Several spectators nearby immediately erupted.
Rudolf calmly turned toward Daiwa Scarlet.
Scarlet smirked while holding up her phone.
"Just so you know, Rudolf…"
Rudolf raised an eyebrow slightly.
Daiwa continued.
"She's two and a half seconds faster than your run today."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Rudolf smiled.
And nodded.
"I suppose King-chan's JTCC suspension setup worked exactly as intended."
Orfevre folded her arms while watching the Skyline approach.
"I'm impressed."
McQueen clenched a fist excitedly.
"Good going!"
The green R32 rolled slowly toward the group.
As it neared—
Everyone began clapping.
King Halo laughed softly from inside the cockpit before raising a fist out the open window.
She pumped it once proudly into the air.
Then eased the Skyline into a parking spot near the others.
The car stopped fully.
King Halo pulled the handbrake upward firmly.
Click.
Then pressed the ignition switch.
The RB26 shut down with a final deep rumble before silence settled over the GT-R.
Heat shimmered from the hood vents.
Metallic ticking echoed softly from the cooling exhaust.
Daiwa Scarlet immediately approached the driver-side window and leaned slightly inward.
"Nice driving, King-san!"
King Halo chuckled while nodding.
"Thank you!"
Suzuka stepped closer as well.
"Fine driving out there, King Halo."
King blinked once.
Then smiled faintly.
"Thanks, Suzuka-san."
Daiwa Scarlet reached down and pulled the driver-side door open just as King Halo began unbuckling her four-point harness.
Click.
Click.
The straps loosened across her shoulders.
King Halo stepped out of the Skyline before pushing the door shut behind her.
Thunk.
She pulled off her dark violet driving gloves one finger at a time before casually tossing them into the cabin through the open window.
"That was a really fun run."
Daiwa Scarlet laughed immediately.
"I can tell!"
She pointed dramatically at the R32.
"You were literally three-wheel peeling through some of the sharper corners!"
King Halo leaned back slightly.
"Three wheels?!"
She shook her head immediately.
"Nah."
"I don't think so."
Daiwa Scarlet immediately held her phone out toward her.
"See for yourself."
King Halo took the phone curiously.
On the screen—
A high-resolution still image captured mid-corner showed the R32 attacking a left-hander at full load.
And sure enough—
The rear-left wheel was visibly lifted off the asphalt.
The suspension on the opposite side compressed brutally hard while the Skyline clawed through the corner.
King Halo's eyes widened slightly.
"…Sheesh."
She stared another second before handing the phone back.
"I guess my tuner really went all out with the suspension setup…"
Opera O stepped beside her and patted her shoulder.
"And that setup just brought you to the top of the charts."
Suzuka nodded calmly.
"You can put a terrible driver in a good car."
"But if the car is built correctly…"
"They at least have a chance."
Maruzensky laughed immediately.
"That's right!"
Then—
Opera O's phone suddenly rang.
She blinked before pulling it from her pocket.
The caller ID displayed instantly.
"Ah."
"Doto."
She answered the call before enabling speaker mode.
Meisho Doto's nervous voice immediately came through the phone.
"H-How was your run, Opera O-san?"
Opera O chuckled warmly.
"It went well!"
She smiled proudly.
"Though sadly, I missed out on the top three."
A disappointed sound came through the speaker.
"Aww…"
"T-That's unfortunate, Opera O-san…"
Then Doto immediately tried encouraging her.
"H-Hopefully you get there next year!"
Opera O laughed softly.
"For I shall one day, Doto."
The cheerful confidence in her voice made several nearby girls smile.
Then—
The call disconnected.
Opera O lowered the phone before slipping it neatly back into her pocket.
And nearby—
The timing board still displayed King Halo's name at the very top.
One by one—
The remaining cars continued their ascents.
Engines roared through the mountain roads while spectators near the toll gate watched machine after machine disappear into Hakone.
Some runs were smooth.
Some messy.
A few drivers overcommitted corners and lost precious seconds correcting slides.
Others held back slightly, unwilling to risk expensive machinery on unforgiving public roads.
The event atmosphere remained electric.
Every launch drew cheers.
Every sector split drew reactions.
And slowly—
The final launch position approached.
At the starting line—
Tokai Teio waited silently inside her R34 GT-R.
The Bayside Blue Skyline sat low beneath the gray autumn sky, its engine rumbling with a deeper, more aggressive tone than most of the other cars present.
Heat shimmered from the hood vents.
The car vibrated subtly at idle.
Inside the cockpit—
Teio remained unusually quiet.
No joking.
No exaggerated reactions.
Her gloved hands rested lightly on the steering wheel while she stared straight ahead at the empty road climbing into the mountains.
She was the last driver left.
The final run of the session.
Ahead of her—
Hakone waited.
Then—
Her phone suddenly rang.
Teio blinked before glancing toward the passenger seat.
The caller ID displayed immediately.
Rudolf.
Teio quickly picked up the phone before answering and placing it on speaker.
"Kaichou?"
From the other side—
Rudolf's calm voice answered almost immediately.
"Teio."
A brief pause followed.
"Good luck."
Teio smiled softly.
"Thank you, Kaichou!"
Then Rudolf spoke again.
"Did you take my advice regarding your setup?"
Teio froze.
Very briefly.
Inside her head—
Panic immediately erupted.
I didn't change anything.
It's still at full power.
Full 1000 horsepower.
Still running the Wangan setup.
Her eyes flicked toward the dashboard for a split second.
Boost settings unchanged.
Suspension unchanged.
Everything unchanged.
Teio nodded instinctively despite Rudolf obviously not being able to see her.
"Yes, Kaichou."
A dangerous lie.
Rudolf chuckled softly through the speaker.
"Alright, Teio."
"I'll see you up here."
Click.
The call ended.
Teio stared at the phone another second.
Then slowly exhaled.
"…Oops."
She opened the glovebox.
Placed the phone carefully inside.
Then pushed it shut.
Click.
Outside—
The starting lights flickered to life.
It was her turn.
Teio straightened immediately.
Her entire posture shifted.
Playful Teio vanished.
Driver Teio remained.
Left foot into the clutch.
Handbrake pulled upward.
Her right foot feathered the accelerator gently.
The RB26 growled sharply.
The revs climbed.
One light.
Teio built more throttle.
Two lights.
The Skyline vibrated harder now.
Twin turbos whining softly beneath the engine note.
Three lights.
Teio tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
Four lights.
Then—
She buried the throttle.
The RB26 instantly screamed to redline.
8500 RPM.
BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG—
The exhaust detonated violently against the limiter.
Flames burst from the rear.
Blue-orange fire flashed repeatedly beneath the cloudy skies while anti-lag crackled through the staging area.
Several nearby spectators covered their ears immediately.
The R34 shook aggressively against the handbrake.
All four tires twitching.
Ready.
Then—
The lights switched.
Five green lights.
Teio instantly dropped the handbrake.
And dumped the clutch.
The R34 launched violently.
All four wheels spun aggressively as the drivetrain shocked hard under full boost.
The chassis shuddered violently for a split second—
Then the AWD system hooked.
The Skyline rocketed forward.
Teio slammed second gear instantly.
BANG.
Third.
BANG.
Fourth.
The R34 screamed uphill through the toll gate as boost surged violently through the twin turbos.
The sound of the RB26 echoed across Hakone.
And just like that—
Tokai Teio disappeared into the mountain.
At the summit—
The group remained gathered near the timing monitors overlooking Lake Ashi.
Cold wind swept through the parking area while engines ticked softly as they cooled.
On one of the larger livestream displays—
Tokai Teio's onboard feed was currently playing live.
The camera mounted near the dashboard shook violently as the R34 tore through Hakone.
The RB26 screamed relentlessly at high RPM while the scenery blurred past the windshield.
Rudolf watched silently.
But almost immediately—
Her eyebrows lowered.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
As Teio approached a slight left-hander transitioning into a medium-speed right—
The Skyline hesitated.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
The front end lacked bite.
The car pushed wider than expected before Teio corrected the steering slightly.
Rudolf's expression flattened immediately.
Her mind already piecing everything together.
Then she softly muttered under her breath.
"She ignored my advice entirely…"
Suzuka glanced toward her briefly.
Rudolf sighed quietly.
"I told her to change the setup."
Onscreen—
Teio continued climbing.
The R34 accelerated brutally on the straights.
But every time the road tightened—
The weakness became more obvious.
Then came the bridge corner.
A left-hander requiring immediate front-end commitment before transition.
Teio braked.
Turned in.
And the Skyline resisted.
The front tires pushed outward noticeably before finally rotating into the corner.
The speed difference was obvious.
Painfully obvious.
Several people near the monitor visibly reacted.
"She's slow there…"
"That entry looked awful…"
"She lost so much speed…"
And they were right.
The full Wangan setup was crippling the car uphill.
The suspension geometry optimized for ultra-high-speed expressway stability severely compromised turn-in response on tight mountain roads.
The R34 remained stable.
But unwilling to rotate.
And every second lost on corner entry multiplied throughout the entire uphill climb.
Teio was already down several seconds compared to King Halo's run.
Even Sakura Chiyono O's Aventador SVJ—
Currently sitting fifth overall—
Had carried significantly more corner speed through the technical sectors.
Nearby—
Chiyono O continued watching quietly before glancing toward Maruzensky.
"Maruzen-san…"
She looked back at the monitor.
"Something's wrong with Teio-chan's car."
Maruzensky sighed softly.
Then nodded.
"I can tell too, Chiyono-chan."
She crossed her arms while watching the struggling R34.
"It's because she's still running a Wangan setup."
Nice Nature blinked immediately.
"Seriously?"
She looked back toward the monitor.
"Even I had to change some things with my suspension."
She adjusted part of her jacket slightly.
"The car lacked turn-in on corner entry."
"And it understeered like crazy on exits."
Several nearby drivers nodded in agreement.
Nice Nature continued.
"At the end, I barely managed to get everything adjusted in time for this event."
Maruzensky smiled before winking toward her.
"And your car sounded incredible going uphill, Nattie."
Nice Nature laughed awkwardly.
"Thanks…"
Rudolf chuckled before glancing over her shoulder toward the Gallardo parked nearby.
"Did you ever get those foam pads for your exhaust during cold starts?"
Nice Nature immediately nodded.
"Yep!"
Then scratched her cheek slightly.
"Although…"
"It did a horrible job muffling the cold start anyway…"
Several nearby girls laughed softly.
Rudolf smiled knowingly.
"Well…"
"Your Fluid Motor Union exhaust is already absurdly loud."
"There's only so much padding can do."
Nice Nature sighed dramatically.
"Especially with Air Groove around…"
That drew another round of laughter.
Meanwhile—
Back on the monitor—
Teio's run continued deteriorating.
The R34 still exploded out of straights with terrifying acceleration.
But every technical section punished the setup harder and harder.
Corner entry understeer.
Delayed rotation.
Poor weight transfer.
The car simply refused to behave like a proper uphill machine.
Then—
The first sector split appeared.
Yellow.
The summit crowd reacted immediately.
A yellow sector.
Slow.
Very slow.
Especially compared to the purple sectors laid down earlier by King Halo.
And the gap only worsened.
Teio was already tens of seconds off the leading pace.
Inside the cockpit—
Even Teio herself knew it now.
The car was fighting her.
Teio reached Turn 19.
A fast left-hander.
The R34 remained planted as she feathered the throttle carefully, keeping boost pressure alive while avoiding upsetting the chassis.
The RB26 roared through the corner.
But inside the cockpit—
Teio already knew.
This run was falling apart.
Her eyes darted briefly toward the sector timer flashing on the dash.
Way off pace.
Her mind raced faster than the car itself.
Man…
I'm so off the pace…
The Skyline drifted slightly wide on exit before the AWD system clawed it back into line.
Teio gritted her teeth.
I should've listened to Kaichou…
I should've changed the setup…
She exited the corner.
Then planted her right foot flat onto the throttle.
The twin turbos immediately began spooling aggressively.
WHOOOOOO—
Boost surged violently.
The R34 shot forward uphill.
Second gear screamed.
Then third.
BANG.
Fourth.
The Skyline blasted toward the crest at enormous speed.
The front end became light.
Then—
The car slightly lifted.
All four wheels briefly unloaded over the crest.
And slammed back onto the road.
THUD.
Teio immediately jumped onto the brakes.
Hard.
Her left foot buried the clutch.
Heel-and-toe.
Blip.
Third gear.
The RB26 barked sharply.
Turn 20 approached rapidly.
A technical corner.
Dangerous if entered wrong.
Teio turned in.
Mid-corner—
She got impatient.
And slammed back onto the throttle.
Too early.
Far too early.
The turbos spooled instantly.
Violently.
The sudden torque hit the rear wheels like a hammer.
The rear end snapped sideways.
Fast.
Teio reacted instantly.
Countersteer.
She caught the oversteer—
But at the exact same moment—
The ATTESSA E-TS system compensated automatically.
Torque transferred aggressively toward the front axle.
The front tires suddenly bit hard.
Too hard.
The Skyline snapped violently back the opposite direction.
Straight toward the outside.
Teio's eyes widened in pure panic.
Oh no…
No no no no no—
She slammed onto the brakes.
At the summit—
Rudolf's eyes widened instantly.
And then—
For the first time all day—
She completely lost composure.
"TEIO NO!"
Too late.
The ABS never engaged properly.
The unloaded suspension and uneven surface upset the braking balance completely.
The R34 jumped the curb violently.
THUD.
Inside the cockpit—
Teio instantly let go of the steering wheel and crossed both arms tightly against her chest.
Bracing.
The Skyline slammed into a small embankment.
Then—
CRASH.
The front-left corner smashed violently into a tree.
The impact hurled Teio forward against the harnesses.
The R34 spun immediately afterward.
Too fast.
The rear-left quarter panel slammed hard into another tree.
CRACK.
The Skyline rotated again before the front end crashed heavily back onto the asphalt.
THUD.
Then—
Silence.
The car rolled slightly.
And stopped.
Smoke immediately began pouring from beneath the hood.
Coolant spilled across the road.
Oil dripped onto the asphalt.
Brake fluid leaked beneath the damaged chassis.
The once pristine Bayside Blue R34 GT-R now sat mangled against the roadside.
The livestream feed fell silent.
Commentators froze.
Nobody spoke for several horrifying seconds.
At the summit—
Rudolf sprinted toward the marshal station.
"TEIO!!"
Back inside the wreck—
Teio groaned softly.
Her ears rang violently.
The world spun.
She blinked repeatedly before looking around.
The cockpit was destroyed.
Cracked plastics.
Bent metal.
The smell of coolant and deployed safety systems filled the air.
But—
She was conscious.
Alive.
Teio immediately looked toward the side-view mirror.
No blood.
No cuts.
No visible injuries.
Not even bruising.
Her breathing shook slightly.
Then slowly—
She reached toward the door handle.
The right-side door creaked open.
Teio weakly raised one hand outside the car.
And waved.
Above the crash scene—
The camera drone captured it immediately.
At the summit—
Everyone watching the livestream visibly relaxed all at once.
Commentators nearly collapsed in relief.
"She's okay—!"
"Teio is conscious!"
"She's moving!"
Emergency crews immediately accelerated toward the crash site.
Inside the Skyline—
Teio unbuckled her seatbelt shakily.
Click.
Then froze.
Pain.
A sharp pulse from her left foot.
Her breathing hitched instantly.
She looked downward.
Her foot still moved.
But it hurt badly.
Teio's face paled.
"No…"
She shook her head desperately.
"No no no no…"
Her voice trembled.
Not again.
Anything but this.
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly.
"Please…"
"Please let it just be a sprain…"
Her breathing shook harder.
"I'd be done if it's another fracture…"
Flashing lights from safety vehicles painted the trees and asphalt in alternating red and white as the mountain air filled with shouted instructions and radio chatter.
Firefighters were first on scene.
One of them moved quickly to the driver-side of the damaged R34, checking stability before pulling the door fully open.
"Teio! Are you okay?"
Teio blinked a few times, still dazed from the impact.
Then nodded firmly.
"I'm fine."
Her voice was steady, but slightly strained.
She shifted her weight carefully inside the cockpit and pointed downward.
"But I think I sprained my left foot."
The firefighter immediately glanced down, assessing her condition while another responder spoke into a radio for medical support.
"Copy. Possible lower limb injury. Conscious and responsive."
Teio exhaled slowly, trying to stay calm as safety crews worked around her.
At the Sky Lounge—
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
An event official sprinted across the parking area toward the gathered group.
He stopped in front of Rudolf, Suzuka, Maruzensky, McQueen, Tachyon, and the others.
"Are you all related to Miss Tokai Teio by chance?"
Without hesitation—
Everyone nodded.
The official immediately gestured down toward the mountain course.
"Please go to her side. She would love to have you there."
Rudolf didn't even answer.
She was already moving.
Her heels struck the pavement sharply as she turned toward her Ferrari F40.
The engine cover was already ticking faintly from heat.
She jumped into the cockpit, hands immediately moving to the controls.
No harness.
No hesitation.
Key turned.
The F40 barked instantly to life.
The Tipo F120B V8 roared violently as it spun up toward redline, the twin turbos spooling with an aggressive metallic scream.
Rudolf released the clutch.
The rear tires chirped hard against the asphalt as the Ferrari surged forward.
She didn't wait for anything else.
Just pointed the nose downhill.
And went.
Behind her—
The rest of the group reacted immediately.
McQueen moved toward her Porsche 917K.
Maruzensky headed for her Countach.
Tachyon slipped into the Devil Z.
Suzuka returned to her NSX.
Daiwa Scarlet and Orfevre followed without a word.
Engines fired one after another across the summit parking area.
And soon—
A convoy formed.
A descending line of machines roaring down Hakone in unison.
Ferrari.
Lamborghini.
Nissan.
Porsche.
Honda.
Chevrolet.
All of them—
Moving as one toward the crash site.
Down the mountain road—
Toward Tokai Teio.
Rudolf's mind raced the entire way down the mountain.
Even after pushing the F40 to its limits, even after braking hard into corners and accelerating out of them with barely any regard for tire temperature or drivetrain stress—
Her thoughts never stabilized.
They stayed locked on one thing.
Teio.
By the time she reached the crash site, the scene was already controlled.
Emergency lights bathed the forest road in alternating flashes of red and blue.
The R34 sat motionless where it had come to rest—
Crushed front-left corner against the tree line, bodywork folded and torn, glass scattered across the asphalt like broken ice.
Steam and smoke still drifted faintly from the engine bay.
Rudolf slammed the door of the F40 shut.
She didn't even bother switching off the ignition properly.
She ran.
Straight past the barriers.
Straight toward the ambulance.
"TEIO!"
An official immediately stepped into her path.
"Rudolf! Please wait!"
She stopped abruptly, chest rising and falling quickly.
Her voice was sharp.
"No."
"I need to see if she's okay."
The official raised both hands slightly.
"She is okay, Rudolf."
"Calm down."
Rudolf froze.
Just for a moment.
Then her shoulders dropped slightly as she forced herself to breathe.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
The official softened his tone.
"She has a suspected sprained left ankle."
"But apart from that…"
He paused.
"She's okay."
"No scratches."
"No serious injuries."
Rudolf slowly lowered her head.
Her hands trembled faintly.
"…I see."
She crouched slightly on the roadside, taking deeper breaths now, forcing her heart rate down.
The official wiped sweat from his forehead, visibly relieved the situation wasn't worse than it could have been.
And then—
Engines arrived.
One by one.
The convoy reached the crash site.
Maruzensky was first to rush over, stepping out of her Countach and immediately going to Rudolf's side.
She gently took her arm.
"Rudolf! Are you okay?"
Rudolf nodded faintly.
But didn't look up.
"I'm fine…"
Her voice lowered.
"I'm just… worried about Teio."
Behind them—
Tachyon stood silently, eyes fixed on the wrecked R34.
Even she didn't speak immediately.
The sight was hard to ignore.
The Skyline was completely destroyed.
Front-left corner obliterated.
Crumpled panels folded inward like paper.
The wheel twisted at an unnatural angle, suspension components hanging loose.
Glass fragments glinted under the emergency lights.
The entire car looked like it had survived something far worse than it actually had.
And yet—
The driver had walked away.
A paramedic stepped out of the ambulance, removing his gloves as he approached the group.
"She is okay and responding."
He looked toward Rudolf directly.
"Sprained ankle is our current suspicion."
"But no cuts. No trauma beyond that."
He paused.
"We will transport her for full examination at the nearby hospital."
"Then later tonight, she'll be moved to Tokyo Medical Center in Higashigaoka, Meguro City."
Rudolf straightened immediately.
"Can I go with her?"
The paramedic nodded.
"Of course."
No hesitation.
No restrictions.
Just protocol.
Rudolf exhaled slowly, finally letting some tension leave her shoulders.
Then turned toward Maruzensky.
"Can you pick up Yanko-kun and have her drive the F40 back?"
Maruzensky nodded instantly.
"Of course."
She gave Rudolf a reassuring look.
"Go."
"I'll handle everything here."
Rudolf gave a small nod of thanks.
Then turned toward the ambulance doors where Teio was being stabilized.
As Maruzensky walked back toward the Countach—
The V12 fired back up softly.
The car rolled forward carefully, passing the emergency vehicles and the shattered R34 at a slow, respectful pace.
Then descended the mountain road.
Leaving behind the wreck.
And heading back down Hakone—
While the rest remained behind with Teio.
Maruzensky pulled out her phone as she descended the mountain road in her Countach.
The engine purred low now—no longer under full attack, just a controlled cruise back down Hakone.
She tapped the screen and dialed quickly.
Forever Young.
The call connected almost instantly.
"Maruzen!"
Her voice came through sharp with concern.
"Is Teio okay?!"
Maruzensky exhaled slowly, then nodded even though she knew it couldn't be seen.
"She's okay…"
A pause.
Then she added more firmly.
"Rudolf wants you to drive the F40 back to campus with us."
A short silence followed.
Then relief.
"Got it."
"I'll head there now."
The call ended.
Back at the crash site—
The ambulance doors were open.
Inside, Teio sat upright on the stretcher, a blanket draped over her shoulders, her left foot already stabilized.
Her expression was tired.
But present.
Alive.
Rudolf stepped inside.
The moment Teio saw her—
Her expression softened immediately.
"K-Kaichou…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Then she shook her head.
"I'm so sorry…"
Rudolf didn't respond right away.
She simply walked forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
Until she reached Teio's side.
Then she crouched down to her level.
Without hesitation—
Rudolf placed her hand over Teio's and gently closed her fingers around it.
A steady grip.
Firm.
Grounding.
"Don't worry about it."
Her voice was quiet.
But absolute.
"You're alive."
"You're unharmed."
"That's what matters."
Teio looked down, her shoulders easing slightly.
"…My car is a wreck."
A brief silence followed.
Rudolf nodded once.
Slowly.
"I know."
Then she added, softer than before—
"But don't worry about the car."
"They're replaceable."
The paramedic stepped inside at that moment and slid the ambulance doors closed.
He looked toward Rudolf.
"Please, Miss Rudolf. Take a seat."
Rudolf nodded and sat down beside Teio without hesitation.
The ambulance engine started.
A low hum filled the cabin.
Then it began to move.
Slowly at first.
Then steadily.
Down the mountain pass.
Up on the road above—
Maruzensky and Forever Young passed the convoy and emergency vehicles on their way down.
The Countach continued gently.
Inside the Countach, Forever Young glanced out the window, then back at Maruzensky.
"I'm just glad Teio is okay…"
Maruzensky nodded.
"Yeah…"
Forever Young adjusted her seating position slightly.
"W-what do you think caused it?"
Maruzensky's expression tightened a little.
She didn't sugarcoat it.
"Driver error."
Simple.
Direct.
Then she sighed.
"I like Teio."
"I really do."
"But the truth will hurt."
Her eyes stayed on the road.
"She brought the wrong setup for this course."
"You can have all the power in the world…"
"But if you can't put it down properly in corners?"
"That's just negligence."
A pause.
Then she softened slightly.
"Again…"
"I like Teio-chan."
"I do."
"But sometimes…"
"She needs to take driving seriously when it matters."
Forever Young stayed quiet for a moment.
Maruzensky continued.
"If you receive advice…"
"You take it."
Back at the wreck site—
The R34 sat motionless as a tow truck carefully positioned itself.
Chains and straps were prepared.
The car, once sharp and aggressive, now looked quiet.
Broken.
Finished.
Maruzensky and Forever Young stepped out.
Forever Young adjusted her glasses slightly, staring at the wreck.
"…Fucking hell."
"That must've been a hard hit."
Maruzensky nodded.
"It was."
They walked together toward the others.
Near the barrier—
King Halo stood silently.
Forever Young approached first.
"Hey, King-san."
King Halo looked up.
"Ah… Yanko."
Forever Young gave a small nod.
"Congrats on the win, by the way."
King Halo nodded faintly.
"…Thanks."
But her expression didn't brighten.
Instead—
Her gaze drifted toward the wrecked Skyline as it was slowly loaded onto the flatbed.
A long silence settled over her.
Then she spoke quietly.
"But…"
"In a way…"
"This win feels tarnished."
She looked down slightly.
"Because one of us got hurt…"
"And wrecked…"
The wind swept through Hakone.
Cold.
Quiet.
And for a moment—
Even the sound of engines cooling in the distance felt distant.
Rudolf's voice, faint but steady, carried from the ambulance as it descended the mountain.
And the convoy of cars slowly followed behind—
Leaving Hakone Turnpike behind them.
Not just with times on a board.
But with the weight of what had just happened.