Ao no Sumika [Initial D - Keisuke Takahashi | Novella}

Natsuo: 2

The arrival of the Akagi Redsuns to Mt. Akina caused quite a stir in the locals there, especially when Keisuke made a declaration to anyone about their goal to race Akina's fastest driver. Since it was an introductory or an initiation of the match, Motoko arrived at Akina driving her MR-S to have a feel of Akina Pass herself, and there, she stayed at the top while Keisuke and Ryosuke did their runs on the pass, along with the other Akina Speedstars to see how the match will look like.

"So, what do you think?" Fumihiro came to Motoko's side, leaning on her car as they waited for the brothers' return.

"I see it as an easy win," Motoko shrugged. "After seeing the Speedstars' lineup, none really stood out much."

"And what makes you say that?" Tomiguchi asked. "Don't tell me that you're basing it all on their looks, Moto."

"Well, you can't deny that some of them looked a little green when Keisuke made his grand entrance," Motoko drank her vending machine coffee. She was glad that the vending machine here had hot beverages in its lineup. "I can't also blame them for that too. Ryosuke's made a name for himself when he was racing solo, and when the Redsuns came, he's already considered a king to those in Gunma. In other mountains we've battled, each of the racing teams there have their own champions and each one Ryosuke beat them."

"Ryosuke and Keisuke," Kenta reminded her.

"When Ryosuke mentioned Akina, not one name or car came to mind for their champion, and I'm sure you can see why that is. I'll even bet that Ryosuke might sit this one out."

"And Keisuke?"

"Does he look like he has a choice in doing so? He needs to do it if the Redsuns will make their mark on Akina."

"How about you? Will you race – ACK!" Kenta winced as Motoko did a chop on his head. "The hell did you –"

Motoko has already gone to talk with the locals, leaving the Fumihiro with the others to explain to Kenta exactly what he did to have Motoko do a chop on his head.

~*~

Driving down the pass, Motoko yawned but forced her eyes to be wide open as she rode with Keisuke with his practice run before the sun comes out and Akina Pass will be a busy with in coming traffic of the locals. It was a long night of him running practice laps on the track with Motoko at his side to see the car's condition. Before heading to Akina, she had to work on her shop a good eight hours, got a two-hour nap, and then was picked up by Keisuke so they could "scout the battlefield", and once at the top, she took a nap in one of their cars before joining Keisuke to see the condition of his car as they descended the mountain and head home.

Another yawn left her lips and one thought ran through her head: she was getting old for this. She wondered how Keisuke even had the energy to pull off an all nightery... wait, he wasn't exactly working. He can sleep in the day if he wants to. And sometimes she shows it to her face that he can keep up this lifestyle by sleeping in Motoko's bed at her shop, which means Motoko would take the couch or kick him off so she could rest.

"Am I boring you or something?" Keisuke snickered. "Maybe I should speed up a bit more."

"Anything to get us home faster so I can sleep before it's time to open the shop," Motoko muttered and tried to adjust herself in her seat to sleep. "Wake me up when we're home – and I don't care which house you bring me, yours or my place, I just want a bed to lay down."

"You're seriously going to sleep in this speed?"

"A tired worker doesn't complain. Say where're the others?"