"Ryotaro-saaan!"
"Good morning, Shizuka-san!"
Shizuka had arrived at the meeting spot an hour early for her date with Ryotaro. Spotting him, she waved enthusiastically and jogged over, her excitement palpable. Sure, she might've been playing up her charm a bit, but cut her some slack. Reflecting on their last date—fun but perhaps a touch overdone—she was determined to make up for any missteps. Fortunately, her demeanor was just barely within the realm of acceptable (even Yahata would've grudgingly given it a pass), and Ryotaro, ever the open-hearted guy, didn't seem fazed in the slightest. Then again, in matters of the heart, nothing's ever guaranteed.
"Oh… I'm so sorry, I got carried away…" Shizuka said, suddenly worried she'd come on too strong and made Ryotaro uncomfortable. Memories of past relationships flashed through her mind like a montage, and she felt a cold sweat trickle down her back. But her fears were unfounded.
Ryotaro, oblivious to her concerns, bowed his head apologetically. "I tried to get here early, but it looks like I kept you waiting. I'm really sorry, Shizuka-san!"
Shizuka blinked, caught off guard and feeling a pang of guilt. It was still thirty minutes before their agreed time—Ryotaro hadn't done anything wrong. "N-No, that's not it, Ryotaro-san! I just got here way too early. Please, don't apologize."
"Huh? Well, yeah, maybe, but…" Ryotaro paused, then flashed a wide grin. "Alright, then we've got an extra thirty minutes together—lucky us! Let's just focus on what's ahead!"
"Man, I'm pumped!" he added, his enthusiasm infectious. Shizuka felt a renewed fondness for his upbeat attitude.
"No sign of Yahata's car either," Ryotaro noted, glancing around. "Guess they're not crashing this one. So, Shizuka-san, shall we get going?"
"Yes, Ryotaro-san," Shizuka replied with a smile.
The two hopped into her car, kicking off their second date. Right away, Ryotaro complimented Shizuka's outfit, which put her in high spirits, and she chatted animatedly with him. Their lively conversation filled the car with warmth for a while.
"First time I've been around here," Ryotaro said, looking out the window. "It's weird how driving somewhere new makes time feel longer, but the second time, it's like it flies by."
Shizuka chuckled. "You're right. Why is that, I wonder?"
"No clue! It's wild, right?" Ryotaro said, eagerly scanning their surroundings.
At a traffic light, he happened to glance back and noticed a sleek, black sports car behind them. Thinking Shizuka would know about it, he casually asked, "Hey, Shizuka-san, that car back there looks pretty cool. What kind is it? Doesn't seem Japanese."
"Hm? Uh, let me see…" Shizuka, caught up in their chat, hadn't been paying attention to the road behind them. She glanced at the rearview mirror, then froze. Something clicked, and she whipped around, her sharp gaze locking onto the car behind them.
Ryotaro, assuming it was a rare vehicle, said innocently, "Is it something special? It's got a unique vibe."
Shizuka didn't answer immediately. Her hands, gripping the steering wheel, seemed to tremble slightly. Ryotaro, still thinking it was about the car, waited patiently for her response. Then, under her breath, Shizuka started muttering.
"No way… It can't be… But it is. To think that car's here, of all places… And is that… a gull-wing door? Incredible… I want it."
Her last words betrayed her longing. Ryotaro, suppressing a chuckle, wondered idly how many months' salary a car like that would cost. As Shizuka continued muttering, he cautiously spoke up. "Uh… Shizuka-san?"
Snapping back to reality, Shizuka launched into an excited explanation. "S-Sorry, I got carried away! That's a Trans Am. It's not supposed to look like that—it's heavily modified, probably to match the style from an old American TV show. The car talks, you know. And those doors… I can't see clearly, but they've likely been customized to gull-wing style."
"An old TV show… a talking car…" Ryotaro mused. "Oh, like that late-night rerun I saw! Knight something—"
"Yes, exactly!" Shizuka nodded eagerly.
"Gull-wing doors, the ones that open upward, right? Man, car enthusiasts are on another level…" Ryotaro said, impressed.
Shizuka grinned. "In the show, it didn't have gull-wing doors, though."
"Oh, right, yeah!" Ryotaro said, jogging his memory. "That must've cost a fortune to mod like that."
"Definitely," Shizuka agreed. "You'd need money like the Yukinoshita family to pull that off…"
Mid-sentence, she froze again, as if struck by a realization. She turned back, staring intently at the Trans Am, and spotted familiar faces inside. After a moment of stunned silence, she let out a delighted chuckle. "Heh… I see what's going on."
"Shizuka-san, what's up?" Ryotaro asked, startled by her sudden shift.
With a sly grin, she replied, "Ryotaro-san, that car's Hikitani's attempt at revenge."
"What? Yahata?!" Ryotaro whipped around, peering into the Trans Am. Sure enough, he saw Yui in the driver's seat and Yahata, Asuna, and Yukino waving from the back. "Whoa, it's really them… Yahata, Asuna, Yui-san, and… Yukino!"
"Hikitani must've realized he couldn't keep up with me on his own, so he called in Yui and the others for backup," Shizuka said, gazing skyward with a wistful expression. "To think that lone-wolf Hikitani, who always tried to handle everything himself, would turn to others so quickly…"
She turned to Ryotaro. "Ryotaro-san, I thought my last lesson for Hikitani was over, but it looks like he needs one more. Will you stick with me for this?"
"Absolutely!" Ryotaro nodded firmly.
And so, the rematch began. At first, Shizuka held the lead, but once Yahata's group synchronized their efforts, the tide turned dramatically.
"Right turn! Left in three seconds!" Yahata called out. "Yukino, you were worried about stamina before—holding up okay?"
"I'm fine," Yukino replied. "I don't make empty boasts, so don't worry. I've been training since then."
"Now that you mention it, your legs do look a bit sturdier—" Yahata started.
Before he could finish, Yukino pinched his side, and he yelped in pain. "Yukino, ow, that hurts!"
"How's Asuna doing?" he asked, recovering.
"I'm good," Asuna said. "I run every morning, so my legs are stronger than ever. No problem."
"Yeah, your legs have gotten a bit—" Yahata began again.
Asuna pinched his other side, and he doubled over. "Asuna, ow! I meant it in a good way, like, healthy!"
"Hmm," Yukino said skeptically.
"Really?" Asuna echoed.
Feeling the heat, Yahata sighed. "Alright, my bad. Sorry."
Despite the banter, their teamwork was flawless. With smooth weight shifts, Yui's focused driving, and Kit's precise adjustments to braking and handling, they steadily closed the gap. Finally, at the next curve, they overtook Shizuka's car.
Moments later, Shizuka flashed her headlights twice in surrender and briefly signaled left. Both cars veered left, pulling into a nearby rest area. Shizuka stepped out and approached, while Ryotaro hung back, watching from a distance.
Yahata had everyone disembark and wait by the car, then walked alone to meet Shizuka. The two faced each other, ready for their final confrontation.
There are no battles like this in real life! Drive safely!
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