Chapter 171 - The Blue Flash Shining in the Twilight
(1)
"Toya-kun, it's morning~ It's time for breakfast~"
Lately, Toya-kun has been extremely weak in the mornings.
He finally woke up today too.
It seems like he's doing something sneakily in the middle of the night, but I'm choosing to turn a blind eye.
Apparently, Toya-kun's struggle is that I barge into his room and he has no time alone.
I don't really get it, since time spent together is more fun than time spent alone.
But, if Toya-kun needs it, I figure that's fine too, so I'm choosing to turn a blind eye.
Though most of that time is spent watching strange videos. I want him to direct those urges toward me.
If it's something I can accept, I'd accept it for him, but he doesn't demand much from me.
Am I not enough?
I'm a little lonely.
Today, without fail, he wakes up looking sleepy.
I deliberately ask nothing.
This is where I show the breadth of a woman's heart.
Something Mika-san told me in the "Girls' Party" group chat.
"Airi? I'm finished changing."
Oh no, I was lost in thought.
I hurriedly change my clothes.
Huh? Isn't Toya-kun going first?
"It's okay if you go ahead, you know?"
Breakfast is already ready, so...
But Toya-kun hugs me.
"You've been feeling bottled up lately, haven't you? So, could you at least let me be the one you consult with?"
"Hoe?"
"If the problem is with me, I'll fix it..."
"I'm okay."
"Eh?"
I kiss the surprised Toya-kun.
"As long as you stay the way you are, I'm fine. So don't worry."
As long as you're looking at me properly, it's okay.
"Now, shall we go?"
I took the hand of the standing-still Toya-kun and left the room.
(2)
I enter the classroom and check the time. There was still a little leeway.
As I'm preparing, Kana, who sat next to me, strikes up a conversation.
"About that Blue Flash story we talked about last year, it seemed like Airi knew the true identity?"
I glance at Toya-kun beside me. Our eyes suddenly meet, and Toya-kun hurriedly averts his gaze.
"Apparently they've been appearing again lately, but only really every once in a while. So, when I said an acquaintance of mine knows, I was asked to pass on a message."
"A message?"
"Yeah, apparently they were slapped with another challenge. So is it time for the Blue Flash to make an appearance? Could you tell Airi to pass it on?"
Come to think of it, I've been hearing the sound of him leaving the room lately. ...Toya-kun, you've been overworking Car-san again, haven't you?
I give Toya-kun a sharp look. I could see nervous sweat on Toya-kun.
"But, what's this challenge?"
When I ask Kana, she takes out her laptop and shows me a site.
They aren't the people from last year; they said they wouldn't come again.
Ah, it looks like the driver for the downhill is different.
"Okay, I'll tell him."
"Great, I'm going to go watch this time! Airi, do you want to come too?"
"Sure, I'll probably go watch."
I said it intentionally in a loud voice so Toya-kun could hear.
Hehe~. Even if you thought you'd go alone, it's not going to work that way.
Just then, my smartphone makes a sound. I take a peek.
"Makoto invited Sakura."
Makoto refers to Makoto-kun, but who is Sakura?
"Nice to meet you all~"
Everyone is asking who she is.
The one who was the most angry was Kanna.
Lunch Break
"Makoto! What is the meaning of this! Explain!!"
Kanna is shouting into her smartphone; the opponent is Makoto-kun.
I tried asking Toya-kun too.
"I don't know."
Toya-kun claims that he is, strictly speaking, unrelated.
Kana was also asking Kimoto-senpai.
"Kazu-san, you didn't hear anything?"
"I was surprised when I saw it this morning too. I thought Watanabe-kun's consent was necessary."
"I haven't heard anything either."
Saying that, Watanabe-kun, Ishihara-kun, Emi, Shimizu-san, and Sakai-kun arrived.
"Ai-chan doesn't seem to know either... it looks like she's a girl from a Private University."
Emi answered.
"That total idiot..."
It seems Kanna finished the call. I tried asking Kanna about the circumstances.
"Apparently the cause is Eita."
"Eh!?"
The story goes like this.
Apparently, Sakura-san joined Kiritani-kun's circle, and during the welcome party, he accidentally mentioned the group.
Becoming interested, Sakura-san pestered him, saying she definitely wanted to be let in too. But Kiritani-kun has a history of failures (T/N: refers to past mistakes within the social group).
So he consulted Makoto-kun. Makoto-kun said he wanted to speak with Sakura-san directly.
Sakura-san and Makoto-kun spoke. As a result, Makoto-kun invited her into the group.
"Are you telling Ai that?"
"I'm sending it now."
My smartphone rings. It's the "Girls' Party" one. As expected, Ai is furious.
"Bring her to Blue Bird today!!"
"Man, Blue Bird is going to be chaotic today... well, I suppose I can't not be present."
Watanabe-kun lets out a sigh.
Toya-kun is also sighing.
It was then.
"Katagiri-kun, about the final adjustments for next time, I want to talk a bit at Blue Bird..."
"Takemoto-kun, that conversation can wait!?"
Adjustments...?
Toya-kun, are you keeping secrets again...?
I won't get angry no matter what, so just tell me...
(3)
Blue Bird.
The inside of the shop was in a panic.
Ai was shouting at the apologizing Kiritani-kun.
Sakura-san was greeting them with a bright voice, oblivious to the atmosphere.
"I'm Kanzaki Sakura. Nice to meet you all~"
She has long pink hair tied in a side ponytail. Piercings in her ears. Her makeup is heavy, and the scent of perfume wafts around. She had a cute, small face.
"I'm Watanabe Masashi, the one who manages the Watanabe Group. Nice to meet you."
Ignoring Watanabe-kun, who offered a handshake, Sakura-san looked around the shop and was excited.
"You consult in such a stylish shop, and everyone is so handsome; I'm so glad I could join such a wonderful group♪"
"Just so you know, it hasn't been decided that we're letting you into the group yet!"
Ai showered Sakura-san, who was raising a voice of joy, with a cold remark.
"Ehh~ Makoto-kun and Eita-kun said it was okay~"
"The one managing this group is Watanabe-kun, whom you just ignored, you know?"
"Ah, is that so~. I'm sorr~y."
Watanabe-kun gave a wry smile at the bowing Sakura-san.
"So, what are we doing? Watanabe-kun."
"I think it's fine, isn't it just right? We might as well train the two of them together at this point."
Shimizu-san and Emi said that.
No voices of opposition rose from the men either.
Makoto-kun was trying to laugh it off, unlike Kimoto-senpai or Watanabe-kun, who would be strict at times like this.
Is everyone okay with that?
"Um, why did you want to join the group, Sakura-san?"
I asked Sakura-san.
"Eh? Because it seems fun, doesn't it~ doing things excitedly among inner-circle members."
"We don't intend to make you an inner-circle member yet... also, get away from Eita!"
As Ai pointed out, Sakura-san was clinging to Kiritani-kun.
But she wasn't doing it out of affection; it looked as if she were teasing Ai.
By the way, Toya-kun seemed completely uninterested, eating Napolitan as if he were waiting for someone. Who is he waiting for?
Clink-clink.
The door bell rings.
Two figures enter the shop. It's Hanayama-san and Takemoto-kun. I wonder if it's a coincidence that the two of them entered together?
"Hello, Toya-kun~"
"Katagiri-kun, sorry to keep you waiting."
"I was waiting, Takemoto-kun."
It seems the person Toya-kun was waiting for was Takemoto-kun.
However, something is strange; Toya-kun's expression is stiff. What happened?
"Hey~ isn't this cruel~? Not even giving me an answer~"
The two of them sit side-by-side in front of us.
Hanayama-san is glaring as if to say, "Why the hell are you sitting next to me?"
Noticing that, Takemoto-kun also orders with a somewhat awkward feeling.
By the way, Takemoto-kun had a change of image. His hair was trimmed into a two-block cut, and his clothing had a sense of cleanliness.
"Ah, I have business with Takemoto-kun today."
When Toya-kun said that, Takemoto-kun asked, "Is now a good time?"
"Takemoto-kun, wait a moment... Airi, I'm sorry!"
Eh? What is he apologizing for?
"Actually, I was playing with the car while hiding from Airi's eyes."
"Hoe?"
"And, I had Takemoto-kun in the passenger seat, asking him for the settings."
"???"
Takemoto-kun explained after that.
That Takemoto-kun is good at tinkering with machinery, and that just by being in the passenger seat, he can understand a car's performance. And that he is good at adjustments suited to that car.
After that, an explanation from Toya-kun followed.
That he had heard from an SS friend that the group Kana mentioned was coming. While he was thinking of a countermeasure, he heard Takemoto-kun was good at tinkering with machinery, so he had him in the passenger seat to examine Car-san.
And that there is another driving meet this weekend...
I listened to that story intently.
Kana was surprised to learn that the "Blue Flash" was Toya-kun.
Blank stare
"Sorry, Airi."
"What are you apologizing for?"
"For keeping secrets from Airi."
"...If you understand that, then it's fine. But I'm giving you a penalty game~"
"Yeah, I'll do anything."
"Then, take me with you!"
"Heh?"
"Let me ride in the passenger seat for that race."
Makoto-kun cut into the conversation.
"Tosaka-san, this time won't go like before. The opponent is coming quite seriously. They were even doing test runs last weekend. Measuring times and all. Toya won't win unless he gets serious too."
"If you make Car-san drive dangerously because I'm next to you, I won't forgive you~"
"It's fine."
Toya-kun said in one word. Yay.
"Isn't that kind of thing just annoying?"
The one who said that was Hanayama-san.
"You wouldn't understand, the depth of the bond between these two."
When Eguchi-san said that, she laughed through her nose.
"Bond? Don't make me laugh. That's just Tosaka-san binding Toya-kun..."
Clatter!
Black liquid spilled from the coffee cup placed on the saucer.
"I don't recall feeling bound at all. Are you misunderstanding something, Hanayama-san?"
Toya-kun... is he angry? It's a little scary...
They say you can feel the presence of someone's anger even if they say nothing, and I can feel that aura of anger vividly.
"That we'll do everything together with Airi is something the two of us decided. Since I broke that, it's only natural that I apologize, right?"
Perhaps overwhelmed by the aura of anger, Hanayama-san said nothing.
"Besides, Hanayama-san, you have to make someone in the group fall for you, right? Is it okay to put such a negative image at the forefront? Everyone is watching, you know?"
As if noticing only now because Toya-kun mentioned it, Hanayama-san looked around.
The men were all looking at Hanayama-san in bewilderment.
Hanayama-san came to her senses and began fake crying.
"Cruel... I... I said it thinking of Toya-kun's sake, but this is cruel."
"Unfortunately, your entourage isn't here. These aren't the kind of people such petty tricks work on."
Everyone fell silent at the cold words that occasionally come from Toya-kun.
Hanayama-san's fake crying changed to real crying.
"Toya, you've gone too far..." Makoto-kun cautioned.
"Toya, you've gone a bit too far too. I think Hanayama-san is reflecting, so leave it at that," Watanabe-kun soothed Toya-kun.
"Um, I don't really understand, but I think making a girl cry is not a good thing~" Sakura-san said.
"It's because everyone is soft that she gets cocky! I'm not so soft that I'll just smile while my fiancée is being made a fool of!"
Toya-kun shouted.
"Toya-kun, it's enough. I'm fine."
"Even if Airi is fine, I can't forgive it!"
What should I do?
"Katagiri-kun, you're getting a bit too heated. Calm down."
"Katagiri-kun, this isn't like you, be calm as usual."
"Katagiri-kun, I get that you're pissed because your girlfriend is being teased, but calm down."
Emi, Shimizu-san, and Ai tried to calm Toya-kun down, but Toya-kun showed no sign of settling.
Bam!
Hanayama-san slammed the table.
Everyone looked at Hanayama-san in surprise.
"What! Like idiots... playing lovey-dovey... it's irritating to watch."
Saying that, Hanayama-san walked away.
Clink-clink.
The door bell rings.
A newly intruding person grabbed Hanayama-san's arm.
"Giving up already? You're unexpectedly easy. That's not it, right? Then come."
Standing before Toya-kun, she poured the water from a glass over Toya-kun.
"Did your head cool down a bit, you idiot Baka Toya who doesn't know how to stop when you snap! I know the gist of the story from the messages. Get calm."
"Kanna..."
"Saki too! Don't get heated. There's no point in competing if you self-destruct."
"...I'm sorry."
Saying that, Hanayama-san bowed her head.
"No, I also went a bit too far... sorry."
Saying that, Toya-kun sipped his coffee.
"So, which one is this new Sakura?"
Sakura-san timidly raised her hand.
"It's this kind of group, but... it's better than only seeing the pretty parts. If you're okay with that, I don't mind."
"Y-yes. Nice to meet you all~. It's kind of nice, isn't it~. Like, throwing your true feelings at each other~"
"Watanabe! What do you think?"
"For now, the only ones opposing are Tosaka-san and Sashihara-san, but..."
"I'm not opposing."
When I said that, "If everyone is okay with it, then that's fine, but for goodness sake, get away from Eita," Ai said, and everyone laughed.
(4)
Weekend night.
"Airi, wake up."
I wake Airi.
When Airi opens her eyes, she clings to me.
"Come to think of it, you said let's do it this weekend."
"That's not it, right? This weekend. Did you forget?"
Airi thinks for a while; she seems to have remembered.
She gets out of bed.
"I slept in my skirt, so it got wrinkled. Maybe I'll change into something else?"
"We don't have time for that."
"Uuu, Toya-kun, aren't you embarrassed to have your fiancée seen in such an unsightly state?"
"It's the middle of the night, and if we're inside the car, no one will know."
"Uuu..."
And so I led Airi out and headed for the usual mountain.
Upon reaching the mountaintop, a van with a new team logo and several cars were waiting.
They seemed to be doing final checks.
Apparently, they had been preparing by staying overnight since last night.
They really go all out.
What's different from last year isn't just the opponent; the gallery on our side has increased too.
The entire Watanabe Group had come as spectators.
"Katagiri-kun, the preparations on this side are done."
Lowering the jack, Takemoto-kun looks at me.
"Toya-kun, here's a drink, do your best."
Saying that, Hanayama-san hands me a sports drink.
"Thanks."
"While Toya is going down, I'll finish the preparations on this side."
While Kanna was saying that, Takemoto-kun began adjusting Kanna's car.
I judged that the uphill was impossible with my car, so I decided to borrow Kanna's car.
The opponent for the downhill felt like a boy who had just gotten his license, younger than me.
We greeted each other.
"My name is Katagiri Toya. I'm looking forward to it."
"His name is Fujisawa Takuya. Nice to meet you... wait, huh?"
The person in charge of coordinating noticed something strange about my car. I have a woman in the passenger seat.
"Is that okay? I want you to fight seriously."
"I can get more serious if she's next to me."
When I said that, the coordinator guided the car to the start line.
I'll breathe life into you!!
"3, 2, 1... GO!!"
Along with the GO!! signal, I race through the first straight.
There's no difference on the straight.
Even with an AT, they're keeping up.
I enter the first corner.
Not a drift to show off, but a drift to run fast.
The type seems to be the same.
I glance at Airi. I wonder if she's okay with car sickness?
The pavement on this road isn't that good. Since I've tweaked the suspension quite a bit, I think the ride quality is bad... but Airi seemed fine.
Straights and corners continue to alternate for a while. Eventually, I reach the 5-consecutive hairpins. If I'm going to make my move, it's here.
I swing out wide from the inside to the outside.
The opponent's car takes the inside as it is.
I hold on until the last possible moment, step on the brake, turn the wheel, and enter the drift.
The tires have been specially changed.
The tires grip right at the shoulder, and I accelerate.
I exited the corner before the opponent. Up to here, it was according to plan.
Since I ended up overtaking the opponent's car, the opponent naturally had to slow down.
The match was decided.
At the next corner, the opponent tried to do the same thing, but because cat's eyes are embedded, they couldn't enter the inside even if they went outside.
My car gradually widens the gap.
The result was my overwhelming victory.
"Uuu... Kanna is cheating!"
Airi protests, but Kanna doesn't care.
"I'm the one lending the car, so there's no problem if I ride too, right?"
Saying that, Kanna gets in the passenger seat.
"I've wanted to ride in it once... I'm looking forward to Toya's driving."
"Then, please take your positions..."
When the opponent's staff said that, I moved to the designated spot.
I rev the engine lightly. I see... this looks easy to drive.
While climbing the mountain, I've arranged for Takemoto-kun to return my car's settings to normal. I can't go for a drive with those settings.
By the way, everyone donated for the setting costs. I put in a bit too. It was the same for Kanna's car.
I'll breathe life into you!!
"3, 2, 1... GO!!"
When the GO signal is given, we all start climbing the uphill slope at once.
Far from losing in acceleration, perhaps because the gear transitions are smooth, I'm slightly more advantaged than the other side.
It feels fresh not to lose on the straight.
After pulling away on the first straight, the corners go without saying; I had the advantage.
I gradually opened the gap every time I passed a corner.
The opponent's car was perhaps panicking, and they did an out-in-out at a hairpin where cat's eyes are embedded.
At that point, the car's behavior became unstable, and the car stopped.
Confirming that in the rearview mirror, I turned and rushed over.
The tire had burst, and there was even damage to the wheel.
The opponent driver was crying, perhaps out of frustration, or perhaps because they damaged the car.
In place of the driver who seemed unable to recover from the shock, I conveyed the situation to Watanabe-kun.
Eventually, the opponent's van arrived and began repairs.
At that point, the match was decided.
By the time I descended the mountain, the adjustments to my car were finished. I had Kanna switch driving with me, and I took Airi in my car and headed toward everyone on the mountaintop.
I was congratulated on the mountaintop.
Kanna looked frustrated.
"I couldn't ride until the end. But as expected, you're amazing, Toya."
"It's because Takemoto-kun did the adjustments, it was easy."
"The basic performance hasn't changed, so it's definitely the difference in Katagiri-kun's skill."
Takemoto-kun humbled himself.
"Thanks to both of you! Today's match was more moving than the last one. It seems a course record was also set for the downhill."
The street racer friend said that and shook hands.
I also had Takemoto-kun return Kanna's car to normal. Since it was adjusted for me, it's better that way.
During that time, I received congratulations from the members of the Watanabe Group.
"Toya-kun, I want you to do it with my car next time~"
No no, left-hand drive is impossible, Hanayama-san.
"Toya, my car would be fine, right?"
Get permission from Sashihara-san first, Kiritani-kun.
"Katagiri-kun, you don't need to teach Eita any unnecessary things!"
See.
The opponent team, after finishing repairs, went home in silence.
We also decided to withdraw tonight.
(5)
As expected, Toya-kun is amazing.
I was still excited alone.
Looking at the site, he defeated an opponent team that had apparently been undefeated in every match across various regions.
I was frolicking alone. I felt a sense of incongruity when I first rode in Toya-kun's car, but Takemoto-kun had added his touch, hadn't he.
But it's better now. It's definitely easier to ride in.
But if I praise Toya-kun here, he'll get carried away again, so I refrained.
After all, you mustn't push Car-san too hard.
When we return home, Toya-kun goes back to his room, changes, and tries to go to sleep.
Are you going to sleep while leaving this flushed body alone?
I wrap my arms around Toya-kun's waist and shake my head.
Toya-kun was bewildered, but he accepted my request.
Please comfort me instead of Car-san.
But Toya-kun seemed tired too.
Toya-kun fell asleep halfway through.
Blank stare
"Idiot..."
I can't believe he falls asleep after getting a woman in the mood.
But just like Car-san, Toya-kun was tired too.
Clinging to Toya-kun, I also suppress my excited body and fall asleep.
Let's see the continuation of the spring dream tomorrow.
I wake up in the morning.
Toya-kun is still sleeping.
He's tired, isn't he.
But school starts today.
Because Toya-kun told me, I've made it so Monday starts from the second period.
...Maybe I'll let him sleep just a little bit more?
And so, daily life begins.