Zero To A Hundred With You

Chapter 10: The Struggle

The Akinabalu Motorsports drivers started training every day as the deadline approached. They trained in the morning, evening, and even at night to prepare for the race. Alice reviewed some of the footage that Ghazali gave her and managed to improve her time. On the final day of practice before the qualifiers, the team trained until night and held a group meeting inside the pit.

"Alright team, tomorrow is our big day. I want everyone to be well-rested and get here early in the morning. Tomorrow will be a tough day so be prepared!" The manager told the entire team.

They all agreed and began packing their stuff up and going back home. Sugimoto had already packed her stuff but noticed Alice's belongings still inside the break room. Sugimoto searched for Alice and saw her staring at the track from the pit.

"Yo kid, it's time to go home." Sugimoto calls her from a distance.

"Y-yeah, In a bit." Alice told him.

Alice begins walking down the pit lanes and sits on the barricade. The moon shines brightly on her face as she starts reminiscing about the past when her father used to bring her to watch his races.

"I wish you were here with me Dad. It's been years since you're gone." She muttered to herself and wiped away her tears.

Sugimoto steps outside the pit and sees Alice sitting on the barricade in the distance. He signals Alice to leave the track. Alice nodded and went back over to the pit and packed her stuff. As they walked out, Sugimoto remembers that

"Does the bus come this late on a Saturday night?" Sugimoto asked her.

"Shoot, I was so caught up with tonight's practice that I forgot all about home!" She said and began to get worried.

"That's quite unusual coming from you. Well, you want a ride?" Sugimoto asked her.

"R-Really? If it's not a burden or anything." Alice said hesitantly.

"We're teammates, aren't we? We still gotta help each other even if it's not on the tracks." Sugimoto reassures her.

"Thanks, Senpai, you're a lifesaver!" Alice told him happily.

After packing their belongings, they headed towards the parking lot where Sugimoto parked his car.  When they got in the car, Alice noticed that it had recently been cleaned and there was no trash in sight.

"Huh, You finally cleaned your car Senpai?" Alice said as she teased him.

"I just cleaned it yesterday and it now sparkles like a beauty!" Sugimoto replied happily.

Alice showed her address to Sugimoto and they began heading towards her home. During the car ride, there was an awkward silence and Alice twirled her fingers thinking of something to help break the ice.

"You remembered that Richard guy right?" Sugimoto asks her.

"You meant that jerk from the other day? She told him.

"That was Richard RIverson. He's the number one driver for the Riverson Racing team." Sugimoto revealed to her.

"I see, he's your friend or something?" Alice asked Sugimoto.

"He was one of my friends during the academy days. What did Richard tell you?" Sugimoto asked her.

"He said something about the company going through some financial issues." Alice told Sugimoto with a sad tone.

"He's not completely wrong you know?" Sugimoto revealed to her.

"So the company is truly struggling huh?" Alice sighs knowing it's probably the truth.