Zero To A Hundred With You

Chapter 13: The Qualified

Alice's heartbeat synchronized with the purr of the M6's engine as she stared into the void, feeling immense pressure. Gripping the wheel, she tried to calm herself while waiting for the race to begin. Suddenly, she received a transmission from her team radio.

"Ally, get ready in a few more minutes alright?" Ghazali's told her over the radio.

"Y-yeah, sure." She said to him.

As she double-checks all her equipment, she looks towards the stewards, who all wave the green flag, signaling they're ready. A steward signals to Alice with a thumbs up, asking if she's good to go. Alice replies back with a thumbs up.

"Alright, Ally. The race is about to begin. This is your shot; make us proud!" Ghazali enthusiastically told her.

"I'll do my best for our team, Gaz!" Alice told him.

Alice remembering all the people supporting her began igniting her heart with determination to qualify for the race. Alice holds her steering wheel and watches the red lights turn on one by one with intense focus.

"Go Go Go!" Ghazali told Alice over the radio.

The lights went out and Alice stepped on the gas and began zooming on the straights towards the triple hairpin. Alice enters the hairpin quite smoothly and exits it towards Sector 3. She warms her tires and begins to push her limits. Upon reaching the chicane of Sector 3, she brakes a bit late and nearly drives off the track but manages to save it.

"Damnit! I braked too late!" Alice said in distress.

"Concentrate Alice, don't let the pressure take over." Ghazali told over the radio.

"Sorry, I'm getting a bit distracted. I need to remain focus!" Alice told Ghazali.

"You don't need to focus, just drive with your flow. Do not overdrive yourself." Ghazali said in a calm tone.

"Y-yeah, I'll try that. Thanks, Gaz." Alice told Ghazali.

Alice turned off her mic trying to drive with her flow and avoid entering tunnel vision. On the second straight, Alice pushed hard on the accelerator as she sped through the straight. As she approached the right-hand corner, she slowed her car. She entered the corner and navigated through Sector 4 with ease. The M6 emerged from the chicane speeding through the straight of sector 1 and crossed the finish line.

"A. Shah. Number 430. Time 2:21." An announcement was made from the speaker.

"Not bad Alice, but not enough either. Push yourself to the limits, Alice!" Ghazali said on the radio.

"Will do Gaz!" Alice determinedly told Ghazali.

Alice began flooring it on the long straight of Sector 1, then braking hard into Sector 2 of the track. Alice disappears from everyone's vision as she enters Sector 2. While Alice was doing her qualifiers, Sugimoto and Kara were in the stands as they began talking to each other about Alice.

"Do you think she can make it to the top 24?" Kara asked Sugimoto feeling worried.

Kara looks understandingly worried for Alice and Sugimoto notices her concerns for Alice and he gives her a confident look.

"Why are you worrying? She's already doing quite fine." Sugimoto reassures her.

"You do realize that the pressure from this kind of tournament is pretty intense, right? Racing professionally for the first time can take a toll on a 17-year-old. The first time I participated in an event like this I almost crashed! How can you believe she could handle this?" Kara asked him.

"She's not like any other person, she's different from us Kara." Sugimoto told her.

"What makes you say that Asashi?" Kara asked confusedly.