The following morning.
The skies over Takasaki, Gunma were partly clouded, thin streaks of gray drifting lazily across pale blue. The city was slowly waking for the weekend—store shutters rattled open, vendors prepared their stalls, and the streets near the station buzzed with anticipation for the annual Fall Festival.
The hotel they were staying in remained mostly quiet, its hallways echoing faintly as guests began to stir.
Inside one of the rooms—
Manhattan Cafe rolled onto her back and slowly opened her eyes.
She groaned softly, rubbing her right eye with the heel of her palm.
"Ugh… what a morning already…"
Turning her head to the left, she looked at the bed beside her.
Empty.
"T–Tachyon?" she called out quietly.
Cafe lifted her head slightly and glanced toward the sliding door that led to the balcony.
There stood Agnes Tachyon, still wrapped in her sleeping robe, leaning against the balcony railing. The cool morning breeze tugged gently at her hair as she stared out over the city.
Cafe blinked a few times before pushing the blanket aside and swinging her legs off the bed. Her bare feet met the cool tiled floor, sending a small shiver up her spine. She slouched slightly as she stretched, back arching, legs extending, tail stiffening for a moment before relaxing again.
With a quiet exhale, she stood and made her way toward the balcony.
The sliding door opened with a soft sound.
"Mornin', Tachyon."
Tachyon turned her head slightly.
"Oh. Mornin' to you too."
She reached out and slid a cup of coffee along the railing toward Cafe.
"Thought you'd need this."
Cafe approached slowly, eyes fixed on the cup. She picked it up and stared at it with suspicion.
"Y–You didn't put anything in this… did you?"
Tachyon took a calm sip from her own cup and scoffed.
"What? Expect me to tamper with your coffee? Tch. Please. That's a thing of the past now."
Cafe raised an eyebrow.
"Riiiiight…"
She leaned in and sniffed the coffee carefully, then pulled it back slightly.
"…Smells normal."
She took a small sip.
Her eyes widened.
"Actual coffee. And just how I like it."
Tachyon shook her head.
"See? Told ya."
Cafe nodded slowly, glancing sideways at her.
"Huh… so you really did change."
Tachyon smirked, scoffing.
"Not all of me though."
She bumped Cafe's shoulder lightly.
Cafe chuckled, steadying her cup.
"Hey, take it easy. Don't want this coffee to mysteriously spill on you."
Tachyon laughed.
"Alright, alright."
She then turned her attention back to Cafe.
"So. What's the plan today?"
Cafe took another sip before resting the cup on the railing.
"We head to Lake Haruna first. Then we'll tackle the mountain pass a few times before getting back on the road to Hakone."
Tachyon nodded.
"Right."
She glanced back at Cafe.
"So… you took a shower already?"
"Yeah," Tachyon replied. "It's all yours."
Cafe yawned softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Good. I'll get changed, head down for breakfast, and check us out."
Tachyon turned and headed back inside the room.
Cafe nodded.
"Sure. I'll stay out here a bit longer."
The sliding door closed gently behind Tachyon.
Cafe leaned against the railing, looking down at her coffee.
"…Times really are changing, huh?"
She chuckled quietly to herself and took another sip as the city below continued to wake.
Time passed.
The hotel's front lot was already livelier now, morning sunlight reflecting off rows of parked cars as guests began checking out. The cool Gunma air carried faint scents of food stalls being set up down the street—early signs of the coming Fall Festival.
Cafe walked calmly toward the parking area, one hand tucked into her jacket pocket. Her eyes quickly found Tachyon's S30Z near the front, its rear hatch lifted high.
Tachyon was half-inside the trunk, neatly arranging bags with almost uncharacteristic care.
Cafe stopped beside her and lightly tapped her shoulder.
"Hey."
Tachyon glanced over her shoulder.
"Oh. Cafe."
She slid the last bag aside and gestured to an open space.
"Here. You can put yours on the left."
Cafe nodded.
"Thanks."
She lifted her bag and set it down carefully, adjusting the strap so it wouldn't shift during hard driving. Stepping back, she watched as Tachyon reached up, grabbed the hatch, and lowered it smoothly.
Thud.
Tachyon leaned back against the rear of the Z, arms loosely crossed.
"That was a hearty breakfast."
Cafe chuckled, hands returning to her pockets.
"Yeah. It was. Teio practically annihilated the honey."
She shook her head, amused.
"I swear, she even brought some with her for the trip."
Tachyon opened her mouth to reply—but another voice cut in.
"Are we ready, my fellow Umas?"
Cafe turned around.
Approaching them were Tokai Teio, Maruzensky, Silence Suzuka, and Spe—already dressed for travel, light bags nowhere in sight.
Cafe tilted her head.
"Uh… yeah, but—your bags?"
Teio laughed, pointing a thumb back toward the cars.
"Already loaded. We checked out early, then came back for the free breakfast."
Maruzensky clapped her hands together, eyes gleaming.
"So—ready for some driving?"
Tachyon nodded without hesitation.
"Sure am."
Teio nodded enthusiastically.
"Yep."
Suzuka dipped her head slightly.
"Yes."
Maruzensky smiled wide.
"Right-o! Then let's drive."
Tachyon raised a finger.
"Quick note—we might need fuel before Haruna."
Suzuka nodded calmly.
"That's fine. We'll need fuel as well for the passes."
Tachyon nodded back.
"Alright."
Maruzensky turned and opened the scissor door of her Countach.
"I know a station near the base of the mountain. Not far from here."
She slid into the driver's seat, pulling the door down with a firm, mechanical thud.
Tachyon and Cafe exchanged a glance before walking to the S30Z. Cafe slipped into the passenger seat while Tachyon lowered herself behind the wheel.
Inside the cabin, Tachyon leaned forward, pulling the shoulder belts of her five-point harness over her shoulders. She seated herself firmly, then snapped the central latch closed.
Click.
One by one, she tightened the straps, the belts pulling snug across her shoulders and hips.
Cafe mirrored her movements, finishing her own harness before looking over.
Tachyon glanced sideways.
"Ready?"
Cafe nodded.
"Ready when you are."
Tachyon reached for the key.
She inserted it into the ignition.
Twist.
The 3.1-liter twin-turbo L28 straight-six roared to life, the exhaust note sharp and mechanical, echoing faintly through the lot.
Almost immediately—
The deep, thunderous bark of Maruzensky's 5.1-liter twin-turbo V12 followed.
Then the familiar growl of Teio's RB26DETT from the R34.
And finally, the high-strung whine of Suzuka's supercharged C30A from the red NA1 NSX.
One by one, engines settled into their idle rhythms.
Maruzensky's Countach rolled forward first, leading the convoy.
Tachyon followed, easing out the clutch smoothly.
Behind them came Teio, then Suzuka.
The convoy exited the hotel lot and merged onto the road.
The trip had officially begun.
But first—
A fuel stop.
Minutes passed.
It was a slow morning at an INEOS gas station tucked away in a small town near the base of Mount Haruna. The autumn air bit through jackets, the breeze carrying fallen leaves across the concrete forecourt.
One of the gas boys stamped his feet lightly, breath visible.
"Man… it's cold. And dead quiet."
Another gas boy chuckled while leaning against a pump.
"Relax, dude. It's autumn. Not many cars pass through here—especially this early."
The first sighed.
"Yeah… you're right."
He glanced sideways.
"So—how's he doing at the racing academy?"
The other smirked.
"Eh. He's doing alright. Remember that kid who ran the Hakone Turnpike time trial?"
The first gas boy's eyes widened.
"Yeah! The one who knocked that Ferrari F40 'Emperor' down to fourth again?"
He nodded.
"Mhm. Fourth year in a row, too."
Then he raised a finger.
"Could've been a she, you know."
The first narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
The other laughed.
"Well, your ex-girlfriend was a racer too. Street racer at heart, if I remember right."
The first gas boy lunged forward, locking him in a playful chokehold.
"Hey! I said it years ago! Street racers like us don't need girlfriends!"
He let go with a huff, crossing his arms.
"…But yeah. You might be right."
He looked back toward the road.
"There has been an uproar about female racers lately, Iketani-senpai. Especially since that Umamusume—Maruzensky—started running the Turnpike time trials."
Iketani nodded.
"That's true, Itsuki. In fact—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
The distant sound of engines reached them.
Low. Sharp. Mechanical.
Then unmistakable.
Itsuki's head snapped up.
"W-Wait… is that—?!"
Four cars rolled into view.
Leading was a red Lamborghini Countach, its wide body unmistakable even at a distance. Behind it came a classic S30Z, followed by a Bayside Blue R34 GT-R, and finally a red NA1 NSX.
Itsuki froze.
"Is… is that Maruzensky-san's Countach?!"
Iketani blinked, eyes shining.
"I-It is! It really is!"
The four cars pulled neatly into individual pumps.
Iketani rushed to the Countach's left side just as the scissor door lifted upward.
"Ma'am! Welcome!"
Maruzensky smiled brightly from the driver's seat.
"Heyya! Full tank—high octane."
Iketani snapped to attention.
"Y-Yes! H-High octane, coming right up!"
Meanwhile, Itsuki hurried over to the S30Z. Tachyon rolled down her window and glanced at him calmly.
"Full tank. High octane."
Itsuki nodded rapidly.
"S-Sure thing!"
Two more gas attendants emerged from the garage to assist with Teio's R34 and Suzuka's NSX, both receiving the same premium fuel.
Inside Suzuka's NSX, the cabin was quiet.
Special Week sat in the passenger seat, idly scrolling through her phone. The hum of the fuel pump was barely audible over the insulated cabin.
Silence Suzuka sat slightly slumped in her bucket seat, hands resting lightly on her thighs.
Special Week glanced over.
After a moment, she slipped her phone into her sweater pocket.
"Suzuka-san?"
Suzuka turned her head.
"Hm?"
Special Week rubbed her shoulder nervously.
"U-Umm… what we're doing today… it is safe, right? I-I don't want to get hurt…"
Suzuka smiled softly.
"Of course it's safe. We're all experienced drivers."
Special Week hesitated.
"A-Are you sure, Suzuka-san?"
Suzuka gently placed a hand on Special Week's leg.
"Trust me. We'll be fine."
Special Week looked down at Suzuka's hand.
Then up into her eyes.
"O-Okay… Suzuka-san. I trust you."
Suzuka nodded, her smile warm but steady.
"Thank you, Spe-chan… thank you for trusting me."
Iketani and Itsuki regrouped between Suzuka's NSX and Maruzensky's Countach, voices barely contained.
"Dude… this is unreal!" Itsuki whispered excitedly. "We've got Maruzen-chan here!"
Iketani nodded rapidly.
"I know, right? It's rare enough to see her at all—let alone somewhere like this!"
Itsuki leaned in closer, eyes shining.
"And that Countach of hers—one of two twin-turbo models ever built! Seeing it in person is insane!"
Iketani raised a hand, stepping back slightly.
"Hold on—one of two twin-turbo Countachs? And how the hell do you even know that?"
Itsuki grinned and pulled an automotive magazine from his back pocket, unfolding it flat.
"This issue. The publishers did a feature on Umamusume who can actually drive. They even tested a few of their cars at the Yatabe Test Track in Ibaraki."
He flipped through the pages and stopped.
"This one—Maruzensky's page."
Iketani leaned in, reading aloud.
"5.2-liter twin-turbo V12… RayJay twin turbos… Brembo brakes… modernized suspension…"
Then his eyes dropped further.
"…Wait—what?"
He froze.
"Eight hundred twenty-four horsepower? Top speed—355.1 kilometers per hour?!"
Itsuki nodded smugly.
"Mhm. No joke of a car."
Iketani swallowed and flipped to the next page, glancing instinctively toward Suzuka's NSX.
"Hold on… Suzuka-san's NSX is here too."
He skimmed the page.
"3.1-liter stroker C30A… supercharged? Top speed—346?!"
Itsuki nodded again.
"Yep. And Teio-san's R34? Around a thousand horsepower. Top speed—372 kilometers per hour."
Inside Tachyon's S30Z.
Cafe leaned slightly toward the open window, listening in.
"Heh. Looks like they're completely geeking out over Maruzen, Teio, and Suzuka's cars."
Tachyon leaned forward and to the left just enough to glance at the two attendants, her harness stopping her from leaning any farther.
"Oh yeah."
She settled back into her seat and looked at Cafe.
"You think they know about us?"
Cafe shook her head.
"I didn't participate in the Yatabe magazine tests. As for you…"
She paused.
"Maybe the car. But not you."
Tachyon smirked faintly.
"…Until today."
Back outside.
"This is one hell of a day," Itsuki said breathlessly.
Iketani nodded.
"Yeah…"
Then his eyes shifted toward the S30Z.
"But what about that Uma driving that car?"
Itsuki followed his gaze.
"Oh. You mean the Devil Z?"
Iketani's eyes went wide.
"Devil Z? As in—the infamous, unbeatable Devil Z? The one that ran with the Porsche 930 Blackbird Turbo?"
Itsuki nodded.
"Yep. That's the one."
He squinted toward the driver and passenger.
"Looks like the driver might be the new owner."
Iketani narrowed his eyes, focusing on Tachyon.
Then—
His eyes widened.
"…I think I recognize her."
Itsuki turned.
"You do?"
Iketani nodded slowly.
"Yeah. Press conference a couple weeks ago. She announced an indefinite retirement from racing—something about injuries. Her legs, I think."
Itsuki blinked.
"…Huh. I see."
It didn't take long before the tanks were full and payment settled.
Maruzensky rolled out first.
Behind her came Suzuka, then Tachyon, with Teio bringing up the rear.
The Countach came to a stop just before the station exit.
Maruzensky glanced to her right.
Iketani and Itsuki stood there—phones raised, eyes locked.
She chuckled softly.
"…They want a launch?"
Her smile widened.
"Then they'll get one."
She crept forward, the Countach's nose edging out onto the road.
Clutch in.
Throttle down.
The V12 climbed in pitch as the twin turbos spooled, RPMs rising rapidly.
Then—
She floored it.
The engine screamed to redline.
Maruzensky dumped the clutch.
The rear tires exploded into wheelspin as the Countach launched forward, the rear stepping out violently.
Maruzensky countersteered instantly, correcting the slide with practiced ease.
The rev limiter barked.
She snapped into second gear.
Suzuka followed, pulling out smoothly—then sending it once the car straightened.
Then came Tachyon.
She exited the gas station—
And slammed the throttle.
The S30Z lunged forward as the turbo spooled aggressively, rear tires breaking traction.
Second gear.
The wheels continued to spin—
Then—
The rear stepped out hard.
Tachyon countersteered immediately and lifted off the throttle.
The tires bit.
The rear snapped back in line.
The car coasted forward under control.
Teio followed last, keeping her exit clean and measured.
Tachyon shifted into fifth and let out a long, sharp exhale.
"Wooh… that was close."
Cafe chuckled.
"Nice save. Good rear-end control."
Tachyon wiped sweat from her forehead, laughing softly.
"Thanks. That one was toasty."
Cafe nodded, amused.
"Haha. It sure was. Try to keep it in one piece, yeah?"
The four cars disappeared down the road—
Heading straight toward the base of Haruna Pass.
Before long—
They reached the start of the uphill section.
The road narrowed, trees closing in on both sides as the asphalt began to climb aggressively. Guardrails hugged the edges, warning signs flashing past in quick succession.
Maruzensky glanced at her side mirror.
A smirk tugged at her lips.
"Alright then… let's see if you can catch up."
Her right hand moved decisively.
Fourth gear—
Down to third—
Then second.
She dumped the clutch and buried the throttle.
The Countach exploded forward, twin turbos screaming as the rear squatted hard under acceleration. The V12 howled, echoing through the mountain road as she pulled several car lengths almost instantly.
Inside Suzuka's NSX—
Special Week leaned forward instinctively, the five-point harness snapping her back against the seat.
"W-Whoa! Maruzen-san is leaving us behind!"
Suzuka's eyes narrowed, focused and razor-sharp.
"And I won't let her."
Special Week snapped her head toward Suzuka.
"W-Wait, what—?!"
Too late.
Suzuka was already braking hard.
Heel—
Toe—
Downshift to second.
The supercharged C30A responded instantly, torque flooding in without delay as Suzuka rolled back onto the throttle.
The NSX surged forward in pursuit.
Behind them—
Cafe spotted Suzuka's headlights rapidly closing the gap on Maruzensky.
She turned sharply toward Tachyon.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Give chase!"
She pointed forward.
Tachyon smirked.
"With pleasure."
Her hand snapped to the shifter.
Fourth—
Third—
Second.
She slammed the throttle.
The S30Z lunged forward violently, turbo spooling hard as the rear tires fought for grip. The straight-six screamed as the car charged uphill.
Moments later, Teio followed suit, the RB26 roaring as the R34 launched into pursuit.
The four cars tore through the first left-hander—
No position changes.
Suspension compressed, tires biting hard as each driver clipped the apex with precision.
Then came the second corner—a tightening right-hander.
Maruzensky braked late.
Very late.
The Countach's nose dipped aggressively as she went hard on the brakes.
Fourth—
Third—
Second.
Perfect heel-and-toe.
But as she turned in—
Her right front wheel locked.
"Damn it!"
She eased off the brake instinctively.
Just a fraction too much.
The Countach drifted wide.
Suzuka saw it instantly.
A gap.
She floored it.
The NSX rocketed forward, supercharger whining sharply as it surged past Maruzensky's rear quarter.
Inside the NSX—
Special Week clutched her harness tight.
"M-Man… Suzuka-san is like a completely different person when she's racing!"
Maruzensky clicked her tongue, shaking her head slightly.
"I can hear that blip anywhere, Suzuka…"
The short straight disappeared beneath them.
Suzuka pulled ahead.
And Tachyon didn't take long to close in on Maruzensky.
Cafe braced herself as the S30Z danced over surface changes, Tachyon keeping it balanced with precise throttle modulation.
Maruzensky glanced at her left side mirror.
"I see you there, Tachyon-chan. Try and keep it together, will ya?"
The fourth corner approached—a left-hander leading into another straight.
Maruzensky turned in—
But the Countach understeered slightly.
She lifted off the throttle just enough to bring the nose back in.
And that was all Tachyon needed.
The S30Z dove in.
Inside line.
Clean.
Controlled.
Maruzensky's eyes widened.
"W-What?!"
Tachyon slipped past, her rear quarter clearing the Countach's nose.
She eased back onto the throttle smoothly, avoiding wheelspin as the turbo fed power progressively.
Cafe exhaled sharply, gripping the door handle.
"Nice move…"
Tachyon's smirk widened.
Then—
The rear stepped out.
Sudden oversteer.
The S30Z snapped sideways, the rear swinging violently toward the outer guardrail.
Cafe shouted instantly.
"Tachyon! Easy—easy! EASY!"
Inside the Countach behind them, Maruzensky slammed the brakes.
"Tachyon! You went in too fast!"
Tachyon's eyes flicked to the right.
Guardrail.
Too close.
For a split second, the distance vanished.
But she didn't panic.
She countersteered—just enough—then planted her foot on the throttle.
The turbo surged.
The rear tires bit back into the asphalt.
The S30Z skimmed past the guardrail, the metal nearly kissing the rear right quarter panel as the car snapped straight.
Inside the cockpit—
Cafe glanced right.
The guardrail was inches away.
She exhaled heavily.
"…Holy shit."
Her heart hammered.
Is this really the same Agnes Tachyon who messes with my coffee and runs experiments on her own legs?
Because this doesn't feel like that person at all.
Behind them—
Inside the Countach, Maruzensky burst out laughing.
"T-That was spectacular, Tachyon-chan! Outstanding!"
In Teio's R34, her jaw dropped.
"H-How is that even possible?! She should've hit the guardrail!"
She shook her head rapidly.
"N-Not like I want her to, but—damn!"
Her eyes narrowed with determination.
"I really need to understand how Kaichou does it… Hopefully we get to ride together someday."
Teio upshifted into fourth.
The RB26 barked, spitting flames as she lifted and got back on the throttle.
The four cars tore through the next fifteen corners—
No position changes.
Through sweepers, switchbacks, and blind apexes, engines echoed through the forest as suspensions loaded and unloaded rhythmically.
On a short straight—
Tachyon glanced sideways at Cafe before snapping her eyes back to the road.
"What is it with Suzuka-san and those rhythmic throttle blips?"
Cafe raised an eyebrow.
"Hm?"
Tachyon continued, focused.
"I mean… she taps the throttle mid-corner. Doesn't that make the rear loose?"
Cafe nodded.
"That's the point."
Tachyon blinked.
"Huh?"
Cafe explained calmly.
"Suzuka bases that technique on the late, great Ayrton Senna. Four-time Formula One World Champion."
She lifted her right hand, mimicking a foot pulsing a gas pedal.
"He used rhythmic throttle blips to intentionally loosen the rear—just enough to rotate the car. That lets him straighten earlier and get on full throttle sooner than anyone else."
Cafe adjusted her seating slightly.
"Suzuka does the same. She taps the gas to induce controlled oversteer—just a hint—to sharpen turn-in or slide slightly through entry."
Tachyon nodded slowly.
"Ah… I see."
Up ahead—
Special Week glanced nervously at the left rear-view mirror.
"U-Umm… I don't want to break your concentration, Suzuka-san, but Tachyon-san is catching up."
Suzuka tightened her grip on the wheel.
"Not a big deal, Spe-chan. Tachyon is a good driver."
She paused.
"It's just that her car lacks the turn-in needed for a technical course like this."
Special Week blinked.
"Huh?"
Before Suzuka could continue—
She slammed the brakes.
Special Week lurched forward, the harness snapping her back into the seat.
Suzuka threw the wheel left, diving into the final hairpin.
She tapped the throttle.
Once.
Twice.
The engine sang with a distinctive rhythm.
As the NSX rotated—
Suzuka buried the throttle.
The rear slid—just a little—before gripping hard.
The supercharger screamed as the car rocketed out of the corner.
The final right-hander flashed past.
They crossed the start/finish line.
Results:
1st — Silence Suzuka
2nd — Agnes Tachyon
3rd — Maruzensky
4th — Tokai Teio
The four cars slowed, engines settling as they returned to a cruising pace.
Inside the NSX—
Suzuka shook her head lightly, ears twitching.
"Sorry, Spe-chan. Where were we?"
Special Week blinked.
"Something about… turn-in on Tachyon-san's car?"
Suzuka nodded.
"Ah, that."
She continued calmly.
"Tachyon's S30Z is tuned mainly for highway runs—especially the Shuto Expressways in Tokyo."
"There, it's all about speed."
She glanced briefly at the road ahead.
"But in mountain passes, you need balance—grip and acceleration."
Special Week tilted her head.
"So… what does that mean?"
Suzuka chuckled softly.
"It means cars built for highways are sub-optimal here."
"Mountain-pass cars sacrifice top speed for control, while highway cars struggle to rotate in tight technical sections."
The road opened up ahead.
The four cars continued onward—
Descending toward Lake Haruna.
Minutes passed.
The four cars rolled into a scenic parking area overlooking Lake Haruna, engines ticking softly as they cooled.
Tachyon stepped out first.
She stretched her arms high, arching her back as her tail stiffened briefly before settling.
"What a ride…"
Cafe stepped out next, gently closing the passenger door behind her.
"Mhm… it sure was."
She leaned against the S30Z, resting her right elbow on the roof, eyes on Tachyon.
"You actually did really damn well on that run."
Tachyon scratched her left cheek, glancing at Cafe.
"Did I?"
Maruzensky suddenly appeared, patting Tachyon firmly on the back.
"You did better than we all expected, Tachyon-chan!"
She leaned against the S30Z's right fender, arms crossed with a grin.
Teio, Suzuka, and Special Week soon joined them.
Teio shoved her hands into her jacket pockets.
"Yeah. You handled that Wangan monster like it belonged on mountain roads."
Suzuka nodded, smiling calmly.
"You even managed to keep up with cars that are actually tuned for roads like this."
Tachyon rubbed the back of her head.
"Uh… I guess it's about the driver?"
Maruzensky burst out laughing.
"You're too silly, Tachyon-chan!"
Teio stepped closer, her expression turning serious.
"But I do need to ask you something."
She looked Tachyon straight in the eyes.
"How long have you been driving?"
Tachyon glanced upward, tapping her chin.
"Uhh…"
She looked back at Teio.
"With a license? About a year and a half."
She paused.
"As for actually driving seriously…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…It's been a couple of weeks since I got the car."
Silence fell.
Everyone stared at her—
Everyone except Cafe, who was smirking and barely holding in laughter.
"…What?" Tachyon said.
She nodded again.
"Yeah."
Maruzensky straightened, her tone turning serious.
"That doesn't make sense."
"You've never driven before the S30Z—and now you're pulling four-wheel drifts and overtakes straight out of Formula One?"
Suzuka nodded slowly.
"Yeah… it feels like you've been driving for years."
Special Week hesitated, then spoke up.
"Is… is that really true? Or are you joking?"
Tachyon shook her head.
"I'm not lying."
She stepped forward toward the guardrail overlooking the lake.
The others followed, stopping just behind her.
"You probably won't believe me when I say this, but…"
She stared out over the water.
"It feels like I've driven the S30Z before."
"I don't know how."
"But when I first got behind the wheel… it was like muscle memory."
"…Like I drove it in a past life."
Teio laughed awkwardly.
"C'mon, Tachyon. That sounds like something Matikanefukukitaru would say after fortune-telling."
Tachyon turned around.
Her face was stiff. Serious.
Teio froze.
"…Oh."
"So you're serious."
Suzuka nodded gently.
"It's not that surprising."
She stepped forward.
"I felt the same thing the first time I drove an ex-Senna McLaren MP4/6."
She looked down at her hands.
"It felt… familiar."
She raised her gaze toward the lake.
"And after the test, the engineers told me my driving reminded them of Senna himself."
"They even asked me to go out again—this time deliberately mimicking his throttle techniques."
She sighed softly.
"…Well. We know where that led."
Maruzensky suddenly pulled both Tachyon and Suzuka into a tight hug.
"Hey, hey—don't get gloomy about it!"
She leaned against the railing, smiling brightly.
"Be grateful you were handed down those skills!"
"Cherish them. Live through them."
"And improve upon them."
Tachyon and Suzuka exchanged glances—then smiled.
Tachyon nodded.
"I appreciate those words, Maruzen-san."
Suzuka nodded as well.
"Thank you, Maruzensky."
Maruzensky nodded proudly.
"Of course."
"We're all umas."
"We've got each other's backs."
She smirked.
"And besides—how many umas do you know who get to drive cars like these?"
The lake shimmered quietly below them.
And for a moment—
Everything felt perfectly still.