The Elemental Drifters: The Christmas Stage (Second Stage OVA)

Chapter 5: Day One

(20 December, 5 days to Christmas)
(10:35hrs)

Rachel brushed her teeth excitedly as Airi went to make her bed. It was the first day of the competition and they weren't gonna be late. Katie changed into her white dress and put on her winter coat. It was probably 9 Degrees Celsius or lower outside.

Rachel got changed as Airi sipped her cup of coffee before turning off the heater. "Ready guys?" She asked the girls who nodded immediately.

"Let's get this show on the road!" Rachel demanded as she opened the door and left the hotel room. Airi locked the door behind her.

As they got out of the hotel, a cold breeze came and made the girls shiver even with their coats on. "Man, this isn't the Los Angeles I know!" Katie complained.

"Climate change can really do a lot Katie-chan," Airi told the freezing blue hair. "Come on, Alberto's garage is this way!"

The three girls made their way across the traffic and into the same alleyway. Airi knocked on the metal gates as she was sure that Carlos might be inside.

To her suspicions the metal door came up and revealed the mechanic. "Oh, you're here. Come on in, it's cold outside."

The three girls entered the garage, Carlos slammed the metal door shut behind. Xiao Lin and Huang were already there waiting for the three. "Hey, guys." Huang greeted.

"Hey." Was Airi's reply as she looked around the garage. Nothing seemed to have changed.

"Alright, guys gather up. I've something to tell you, amigos." Carlos ordered them as the team gathered in a circle.

"I'm sure you've been brief and will be again later, but I'll let you know again. The first day is a quarter mile drag race. Upon each round, there'll be five teams competing against each other but only one team that is able to gain first place gets to proceed to the second round the next day." Carlos explained with the team listening. "The first day is usually where most teams get eliminated. Since this year there a hundred teams, about 80 of them won't make it to the second round." Carlos made the team gulp.

"The racer who'll be going for this round better be good at power shifting and perfect launching," Carlos stated. "Anyone in our team good on the straights."

Airi and Katie had their eyes turned to Rachel stood there dumbfounded. Soon Alberto, Huang and Xiao Lin did the same.

"Wait you're not asking me to race are you?" Rachel stammered, going into panic mode. Airi placed her left hand on the blonde's shoulder to calm her down.

"Hey, I've seen you race before in the quarter mile and you're pretty good at it," Airi claimed.

"But Airi, I lost to you by seconds. Honestly, I suck at doing the quarter mile!" Rachel stated.

"Hey Rachel-chan it's ok," Katie told the blonde hair. "Well root for ya all the way. You can't lose!" She said having faith in Rachel.

"Me too!" Carlos joined in, supporting Rachel. "If Airi says you can do it then I'm a 100% sure you can."

The blonde turned to the Wang siblings.

"I'm sure you'll be fine out there," Huang assured the girl.

"Don't worry, I believe in you Rachel~." Xiao Lin shyness faded followed by a smile as she no longer felt a stranger to the older blonde hair girl.

"Ok, I'll try," Rachel replied. "Since you guys so heavily depended me to."

The team cheered happily.

"Alright it's settled then, the drag race is held just around the corner of here, they've closed the streets to make a quarter mile track downtown." The mechanic told the group. "I'll help tune Rachel's S30 so it suits the snowy roads. It shouldn't take long so how about you guys go and see the race first."