Initial D, A Night Kids Love Story *Remastered*

A Ride for Dinner

Kailyn

Once I got my nerves under control I change out of my coveralls, hanging them in my locker. I take a deep breath before swinging my bag over my shoulder and walking out. I see the boss and Takeshi conversing quietly as I walk over, they both show looks of concern when they look to me, "I'll give you a ride home," Takeshi says in more of a questioning tone than a statement. I give him a nod before looking to the boss to get any indication of what they talked about, he gave an awkward scratch to the back of his head, 'so everything', I take another breath, 'Great, this is going to be a long drive home', I turn to follow Takeshi to his car.

We sat in silence for a bit before I worked up the courage to speak, outside of directions, "I-I'm real," my words were as quiet as ever but it still catches the drivers attention, and I try again, "I'm sorry for Jiro," I say looking to the floor, "His actions aren't your fault," his states, "Besides he hurt you, you shouldn't be apologizing, I should," his voice softens, "You came out to help me and got hurt," he sighs, "I'm sorry," I look up when the words leave his mouth, "But you-," he puts a hand up to stop me, "You have nothing to be sorry about," he glances to me showing a small smile, I just nod sitting back in the seat.

"I, I am sorry though," I say fiddling with my fingers, "You had to witness... that," I can't bring myself to admit my breakdown. Takeshi is quiet for a moment, "Can I ask you something?" the question comes out almost timid, making me look up bobbing my head, "You don't have to answer," he professes, "But did he do something to you?" The question I knew was coming came out slowly, as if the words would shock me too much if said in quick succession. I take a deep breath finding my words, "Jiro has never 'done' anything to me," I emphasize the word, in truth he hasn't, not really at least, "Not physically, he just says a lot of unwarranted things," I admit, looking out the window, knowing that that wasn't the real question, "When he had grabbed my arm..." I take a shaky breath, 'Why am I telling him his,' "It made me recall an incident from years ago... that's why I reacted the way I did," my voice started to tapper off, but I ended up telling him the whole story. A part of my life I haven't shared with anyone, not even my uncle or cousin, and I live with them.

Takeshi was quiet, 'Oh  god, I shouldn't have told him,' I feel my chest start to tighten, 'Why did I tell him, it's gonna be so awkward now,' My mind starts to spiral, so lost in my own head I almost don't year the driver speak, "I'm sorry that happened to you," his words were softer then I've ever heard, "That must have been a terrifying experience, and I'm sorry that you had to be sent back to that memory," I feel hand ghost over my own. Takeshi's attempt at comforting without over stepping, instinctively I grab it with the little strength I have at the time, "Yea it was," I say actually looking to him for the first time since getting in his car.

A few more minutes pass in comfortable silence before either of us say anything, thedriver clears his throat in an attempt to change the pace of the previous conversation, "The manager told me you live with your uncle..." he leaves the statement open for me to expand on, having all the pent up fear and anxiety fade away from earlier I let out a relaxed huff, "Of course he did, he loves to share everything he knows," I shake my head, "But yes, that's right I just recently moved in, since its closer to university," I answer.

I hear him hum, "That checks outs, easier to live with family then to find housing on campus," he agrees, "So, how did you get into the car business?" Takeshi inquires, I can feel the muscles in my face pulling the edges of my mouth forming a smile, "Well, I've always loved listening to the stories people told about my uncle when he still raced the 86 and he would let me help when he made modifications," I start to tell him, "I mean I would help as much as a kid could at the time... But once I really got into it I had been working on cars ever since," I caught myself starting to ramble, I went to brush my hair out of my face when I realized that I'm still holding on to Takeshi's hand. Feeling my face heat up I look straight ahead, "Then does that mean you're going to school to be a mechanical technician?" Another question makes it my way, "Ye-yes I am," becoming more conscious of our hands sitting on my lap, "Um- wh- what d-do you do... When yo-you're not ra-racing?" I stumble over my words, causing me to blush even more.