The world was quiet in the aftermath.
Rain tapped gently against the garage roof as Kaito knelt beside the wounded LFA, his hand brushing over the deep scrape along the side panel. The car had taken the hit like a champion, but scars remained—both on the machine and in him.
Behind him, Mari stood in the doorway, clutching a towel in her hands. Her uniform was still damp, hair clinging to her cheeks. She had refused to leave his side since the crash.
"Are you… okay?" she asked softly.
Kaito exhaled. "I'm alive. That's enough for now."
She walked closer, kneeling beside him. Her fingers trembled as she touched the LFA's fender. "I hate this," she whispered. "I hate seeing you like this… hurt and hiding."
He swallowed. "I didn't want you to see this world."
"I want to see *your* world," she said, looking up at him. "Even if it scares me."
He froze, heart caught between guilt and something warmer.
---
Later — RINK Garage
Shoji examined the LFA's damage, whistling low. "You're lucky, Redline. Could've been a total loss. Fender, mirror, suspension tweaks… we can patch her up."
Kaito nodded. "Do it fast. Crimson Night doesn't sleep."
From the side, a familiar voice chimed in. "Neither does jealousy."
Reika leaned against the garage doorframe, arms folded, hair still damp from the rain. She eyed Mari, who had insisted on coming.
"You followed him out there," Reika said flatly.
Mari bristled. "I had to. He's my brother."
Reika smirked. "Is that all?"
The air thickened. Mari's cheeks flushed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Reika said, stepping closer, "the way you looked at him when he crashed. The way you ran to him like… he was your whole world."
Mari bit her lip, trembling. "You wouldn't understand."
Reika's gaze softened for a moment. "Maybe I do. Maybe that's why we're rivals—on the street… and off it."
Kaito stepped between them, voice firm. "Enough. Both of you."
But the truth lingered in the air, unspoken and undeniable.
---
That Night — Rooftop
Kaito stood outside on the building's rooftop, staring at the city lights. The streets below felt alive, whispering for him to return. The LFA was bruised, but she would heal.
The wind shifted, and footsteps approached.
It was Celeste.
She leaned against the railing, her leather jacket glistening under the moonlight. "You almost beat me. Impressive."
Kaito didn't look at her. "Almost isn't enough."
She smirked. "Then come prove yourself. I have an invitation for you. International circuits. Tokyo, Monaco, California. The best of the best. But it means leaving this little ghost town behind… and maybe the people who hold you back."
He hesitated, her words cutting deep.
"Think about it," she said, turning to leave. "Your car wants more. And so do you."
Alone again, Kaito gripped the railing.
His world was spinning faster than ever—and for the first time, he didn't know if he could keep all his lines straight.
[End of Chapter 11]