Initial R: Night Sky GT-R (Initial D Fanfiction)

Act 12: A Talk

It was a day later when Emi arrived in Ibaraki.

Riku was at the gas station, just sending off a Benz when the white car rolled in. "Oh. Welcome." He said.

"Hello. 3000 yen's worth please." Emi said.

Riku nodded and went to work. He glanced over as she got out of the car.

"I wanted to ask you a question." She began. "Do you know why I wanted you to join me?"

"Because I beat you?"

Emi laughed. "Well, you could say that. The thing is, Tsukuba Pass has many great drivers. I should know, since I used to be one of them. But I digress. The reason why I wanted you to join was because you were able to take the legendary technique of Toshiya Joshima and make it your own. Not even the Eight-Six of Project D could beat him, so I wanted you to show everyone that our team could be as good as them."

"I... I don't drive the way I do because I enjoy it." Riku said.

Emi raised an eye. "Your technique is that good and you don't enjoy it?"

Riku shook his head. "The reason I started was because my mother told me to do so. She used to be a street racer but she's only around certain times of the year because of her job. So, I figured if I drove more I'd feel closer to her."

"I see." Emi touched the top of her car. "How about now? After defeating me and getting your car repaired, how do you feel about racing now?"

Riku looked down. "I... I think I like racing."

Emi smiled. "Then tell me why you won't join."

He met her eyes, his cap hiding the light from them. "I still have one more thing to do before I can join. After that, I'll do it."

Emi nodded. "Very well. Then give me a call when you're ready." She handed him a piece of paper from her pocket as well as 3000 yen and then got back in the car.

Riku watched her car pull off into the road. "Does she just carry these around?"

Takumi watched from the top of Akina as Keisuke came up the mountain. "I kinda wish Ryosuke was here. It feels odd not having him around during a race."

Keisuke parked his FD and walked over. "Hey, Takumi! What are you sulkin' for, we're racing next Saturday, aren't we?"

Takumi crossed his arms. "Well, yeah. Hey, Keisuke, I feel on top of my game, but also nervous for some reason. Do you?"

Keisuke frowned. "Don't start talking like that, Fujiwara. We'll beat these punks and then we can move on with our lives."

Takumi nodded. "Right."

"Hey, mom?" Riku asked as he came downstairs.

Kana turned around from the kitchen. Unlike her sister, she was able to cook. "Eh. What's up?"

"I'm going to have a race soon. The guy I'm racing's pretty good, so I was wondering if you could give me some advice." 

His mother shrugged. "Sure. What are you racing?"

"An Eight-Six."

"It wouldn't happen to be a white-and-black one, would it?"

Riku blinked. "Yeah. How did you know?"

Kana paused. "It must be his kid. No way he's still racing."

"Huh? You know who I'm racing?" Riku asked.

Kana turned to him, her eyes had a strange heat behind them. "I knew his father and I can tell you one thing. You will lose. Unless, you listen to exactly what I tell you."