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

Souai: 4

After the race in Tsuchisaka, Motoko noticed the sudden difference in Keisuke's demeanor. He was lighter, didn't whine when she had him work in the shop to earn money, and when they were fixing his FD he also wasn't going on and on about how beat the assholes who wrecked his car to sabotage Project D's reputation. At first she ignored it until he came to her asking if he could have a day-off, which she replied: "yeah, not to be that kind of boss, but what do you plan on doing that day?"

Keisuke shrugged. "I'm gonna meet up with Kyoko, the one who lent me the FD for the race in Tsuchisaka. I owe her for giving me a chance to race that night, so I'm taking her out."

Wait, what?

"As in on a date?" Motoko asked carefully. She could feel the slight disappointment in her tone.

"Yeah, something like that. She's been persistent, and I wanna see where this goes... who knows it might work out. What do you think?" Keisuke raised a brow at her.

Clearing her throat, Motoko turned her attention to her laptop, her back turned to him, and said: "yeah, if that's what you want. Go ahead, take the day off. So, will you be borrowing Ryosuke's FC for that date?"

"I gotta beg him for it though. Help me out on that one?"

Motoko sighed, "I'll call him and tell him to lend you the damn car."

"Thanks, Motoko," Keisuke chuckled. "Say, you okay? You seem off. Is it Graduate Program stuff?"

"Yeah, stuff. Now, go back to work, I gotta finish this," Motoko shooed him away and opened a random file on her laptop to show she was busy.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Keisuke messed with her hair and then left her office to help out in the shop but mostly to fix his FD that was parked at the corner where Tomoguchi was working on it.

Watching from her office window, Motoko couldn't help but let out a dragging sigh at the idea of Keisuke going out with Iwase Kyoko. She didn't have anything against the girl, in fact she was grateful for her, but...

There was always a but.

In this case, it started when she saw Keisuke sleeping in Iwase's car and was almost late for race prep. They noticed him still missing so she hopped on her bike and went to look for him. She found the yellow FD being blocked by a black on, and when she knocked on the door she saw Iwase and Keisuke inside. Since then she's had a feeling about something she couldn't put a word on. Then that feeling recurred when Kenta ran his mouth about Iwase following Keisuke to Akagi to express her love for him which he turned down – that brought her a little sense of relief.

Then this happened. Rather, the race in Tsuchikasa happened, and Motoko wasn't there to help Keisuke with his car but Kyoko was. She was able to give Keisuke the key to winning that race. Literally. If it weren't for her and they keys to her car, he wouldn't have raced and won that battle.

Now here she was calling Ryosuke to convince him to let Keisuke use the FC for his date with Iwase.

"Are you seriously asking me to lend my brother the FC for his date?" Ryosuke asked.

With a heavy heart, Motoko said, "Yeah, I am... some things don't change I guess.."

There was silence at the other end and it lasted for a full minute.

"Yo, you still there?" Motoko asked.

"I am... sure, Keisuke could borrow it but he has to ask me. Not you. He's only using you to get on my good side."

"At least he knows how to get his brother's heart."

A chuckle. "Are you busy today?"

"Not really, things are stable at the shop, why?"