『𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐝』𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘴

「𝐑𝐀𝐂𝚰𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒: 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄₁ » ʀs

〖 part one 〗

HIS PLACE

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EVEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, racing was amazing.

A display of inhuman speed, only possible in cartoons and films with fake stunts, and on these circuits, of course, where ordinary people had the opportunity to see the magic happen in real life.

Rin could remember being twelve, seated next to Sae and their parents while his godfather drove in the track. Two or three cars passed by so fast they raised a cloud of dust that smacked him in the cheek. Starry-eyed, Rin turned his head to follow the cars until they were out of his vision, and his legs trembled with the impulse to run behind them.

It must have lasted something like half a second, but that was enough for Cupid's arrow to hit him straight in the heart. Half a second or less, and Rin would be in love with racing for the rest of his life.

He was so young, a child getting up and yelling as he smiled. That was incredible! So fast!

His older brother ruffled his hair made him sit down again.

One day, I'll be faster. He bragged.

Sae used to race, too, though that was long ago. They never got to compete at the same time because Sae debuted in F1 younger than average, and Rin caught up years later, which might be to blame as to why the strain in their relationship never eased. Sae always thought Rin didn't take racing seriously enough.

You can't win just one title and retire; what the fuck do you think this is? Real fucking drivers get to be world champions more than once. They prove the first time wasn't shitty luck. They start an era.

Sae had created one: The Itoshi Era, they called it. It lasted five years, making him one of the most outstanding drivers in F1 history.

When Rin won his first world title, some people said he was continuing the Itoshi Era. He hated the suggestion and had made snarky remarks when journalists counted his victory as some sort of extension to Sae's legacy. Rin would make history on his own; he already had a trophy under his belt. He only needed five more, just to outdo Sae and make the Itoshi family name his on the Wikipedia page.

There was only one obstacle between him and his goal.

And said obstacle was currently driving.

Loki, the chief engineer in Rin's team, whistled as he stopped the chronometer he had in his hand. He shook his head, fascinated by the numbers. Rin hated the little smirk the guy did whenever he delivered the bad news — he enjoyed seeing Rin in trouble.

"1.22.108," he said, "seems like you'll be starting second, huh?"

Rin clicked his tongue, annoyed. "Let's wait for the official results."

"You already know what they're going to say."

They would say Isagi's timing had been a hundred milliseconds shorter than Rin's, so he would be starting first the following day, having earned his seventh pole position that year. In comparison, Rin would be second in the line-up, which pissed him off because it would show everyone Isagi had been quicker for qualifiers, even if Rin could still overtake him at some point in the race.

"Everyone has their days." Loki clapped him on the shoulder, teasing him.

Rin was not allowed to have bad days. That was his personal rule. "What a fucking jerk," he mumbled under his breath, crossing his arms as he stared at the McLaren coming into the pits.
Isagi came out of the car with the brightest smile in his royal blue race suit. He began talking to his team while Rin glared at him.