The morning air hung heavy with the scent of damp concrete and faded tire marks - the usual signs that the Humming Bird Crew had been here countless times before.
This cracked lot behind the old train depot had become their second home, a sanctuary of speed and sound, now eerily silent under the clouded sky.
But today felt different.
There was a weight to the air, something unspoken threading between them like a brewing storm.
June stood with his arms crossed, brow furrowed, staring at the faded paint lines that used to guide their drills.
"I just don't get it..." He muttered, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
"The last race barely ended and now this?" He sighed, rubbing his temples "Why is the organizer pushing this so hard? It's like they're trying to wear us down".
He wasn't wrong. The last race had drained them - mentally, physically and emotionally.
Jay hadn't even unpacked his gear.
None of them had.
Dom - in his usual layered jacket despite the warm breeze, dropped onto a rusted folding chair.
He exhaled sharply, running a hand across his upper lip and grimacing.
"Even my mustache feels sore" He complained, half-joking, half-serious "This is not fair~ I haven't even had a full night's rest since that mess of a final round".
Shelly leaning against a nearby lamppost with arms loosely folded, let out a soft laugh "You two act like we've just come back from war".
Her eyes sparkled with quiet mischief, she walked over to Jay, resting lightly against his arm.
"You're unusually quiet..." She said gently, tilting her head to catch his gaze "What's on your mind?".
Jay didn't respond right away.
He stared off toward the street where the sunrise struggled to pierce the clouds, the city still in its early hum.
His voice, when it came, was low and distant "Just... thinking, I didn't expect the next race to come so soon either".
He didn't say it, but the weariness in his eyes told the rest.
Jay wasn't just physically tired, something deeper gnawed at him - uncertainty.
Maybe.
Or the pressure of leading the Crew through another brutal gauntlet.
Vinny - who had been absentmindedly tossing a small rock between his hands.
"It doesn't matter how soon it is" He spoke with a calm confidence that perfectly matched his steady nature "We can't afford to fall behind! If we rest too long, someone else gets the edge. We start next week - same place, same time".
His tone left no room for argument.
He wasn't being harsh, just realistic.
That was Vinny's way - always looking ahead, planning, making sure the Crew didn't crumble under the weight of their own doubts.
There was a pause, then a collective murmur of agreement.
Even Dom - still rubbing his face like he was trying to erase his fatigue, gave a slow nod.
June groaned quietly, his voice a mix of complaint and acceptance "So we're back on the grind, huh? Guess we're signing up for more bruises and late nights".
Shelly walked by him and gave a playful pat on his shoulder "Fighting!" She chimed with a grin, her energy infectious even in the gloom.
But the mood shifted again.

YOU ARE READING
↪WIND BREAKER STORY↩
Fanfiction『❛SUMMARY❜ Winning the major tournament, The Humming Bird Crew went on with their normal lives. Will they take on new challenges and fight for what they want?』 Hello everyone, I'm Dun🌷. I quite like the Wind Breaker Webtoon so I decided to write...