"Alice?"
"Earth to Alice?"
The voices echo in her mind as she looks at her father, who stands right in front of her. She looks around and notices that they are in the spectator stands of the Akinabalu circuit. The crowd around her cheered loudly as powerful engines roared throughout the circuit.
"D-dad? W- What are you doing here?" Alice asked confusedly.
"Sweetie you okay? You seem troubled?" Her father asked concerningly.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine." She looks at him.
"Good, just stay here and watch the race okay? I'll be back after an hour or so. Be a good girl alright?" Her father said to her,
"D-dad! Please don't go!" She said in a scared tone.
She reached for his hand and the sky turned into darkness and thunder lit the sky. Her father turned his back and began walking away from her. Her father walks toward the dark figure that is waiting for him in the distance.
"Kid?"
"Hey, kid?"
"Kid!"
Alice woke on the sofa seemingly panicking as she looked around her surroundings. She saw Sugimoto in front of her and began looking around before remembering that she had slept on the sofa in the break room when Sugimoto was out.
"You okay kid?" Sugimoto asked her.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine." Alice told him.
"You seem like you had a pretty bad dream huh? Maybe sleeping after working out isn't the best idea." Sugimoto advised her.
"Y-yeah, I know. I accidentally fell asleep here. I'll go and change real quick." She told him.
"Great, 'cause I want to use the sofa now." He chuckled.
"Of course you do." Alice said teasingly.
Alice left the break room and went to the main building where the changing room was located. She changed into her racing attire and went out. As she walked outside, she met Kara still in her casual outfit waiting outside the changing room.
"Hey, Alice! Didn't expect to meet you here." Kara says while smiling.
"Were you going to change into your racing attire Kara?" Alice asked Kara.
"Yeah, why do you ask? Do you perhaps want to join me?" Kara said teasing Alice.
"W-What? No way, I just wanted to know that's all!" Alice said slightly blushing.
"Aww, I guess I'll just change by myself then." Kara told her teasingly.
Alice slightly taken aback by the conversation decides to change the topic.
"So Kara, are you excited for the race?" She excitedly asked Kara.
"Why wouldn't I? I can't wait to beat Asashi!" She said feeling confident.
"I see, do you always have a rivalry with him, Kara?" Alice asked.
"Well, only back then at the academy. We've never faced each other at the Pro level since I had to move." Kara told her.
"I see, I guess this is your chance then. Good luck with that!" Alice said.
"You too! Hey, what's your goal for this race, Alice?" Kara asked her.
Alice was surprised by her question. Alice began thinking of a casual answer.
"G-Goal? I-I don't know, I'll probably try maintaining my position and hope I don't get passed." She said as she tried to make up an answer.
