Heated Nights

Chapter 15: The Most Determined

Eli and Josh prepared themselves for a high stakes tie breaker race on the Kanjo Loop. With the score tied up, It was down to them to prove which team was better. The roar of Eli's 70's charger echoed on the highway. The count down began and both drivers had their minds on victory. Their cars launch off the start and they speed down the road side by side.

Josh gained an advantage through the turns in his 350z fairlady.
"Hopefully my modifications help me set a new record here." Josh said to himself. 
"These outsiders don't belong here, Tonight I'll prove that." He said confidently. He increases his speed through the corner as the wind flows pass his rear wing. Eli watches how Joshua's car moved through the turns and smiled as he got closer.

"You might be fast in the corners, but I  have more than enough power to outrun you on the Straights." Said Eli. "You act like you're the best racer, Tonight I'll prove you wrong." He said. The drivers speed pass Kyobashi and began to drive more aggressively. Eli powers pass the 350z on the straight road but Josh doesn't seem surprised by that. They both weave through the traffic cars then Josh gets closely  behind Eli for a few moments.

"It appears that the Charger has been lowered to improve its handling capability." Joshua stated.
" That would explain why he kept up so well in the corners." He said.
"Its obvious that he has more power in his car compared to mine." He said to himself.
"I'm not going to win unless I restrategize my plan." Joshua noted. "Lucky for me, I have time." He said to himself.

The racers rapidly approached the Tennoji section and Josh regained the lead through the corner then pulled away. Josh held the lead through the Imamyia Section and maintained it towards the Bentencho section.
"This is it, last section of the race!" Eli yelled.
"If i pass him through here i can leave him behind on the straight!" He told himself.
"I've got you now punk!" Eli shouts.

He goes high then drifts the sharp turn to block Joshua's line. Josh speeds up and taps Eli's rear end. Eli is surprised and the Charger gets sent into the wall. The muscle car slams front first then flips onto its roof. Josh crosses the finish with a smug look and Eli's teammates become concerned.

"Where's Eli!?" Nikki shouts in a worried tone. The entire team rushes to their cars and race down the motorway to find him. Josh stands on the Shoulder with his team proudly without guilt. After driving around almost the entire loop, they find him sitting against his wrecked Charger with tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry guys, I let you down, all of you." He cried.

"Are you hurt?" Walter asked him. "Can you stand?" Victor asked.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Eli replied. "Forget about the race Eli, Let's go home." Damien told him. Eli gets into Nikki's car and breaks down at the sight of his Car on the side of the road.

Josh rendezvoused with Yuki in Osaka after the race and congratulated her on her victory. She noticed the damage on the front of his car and became curious.
"I did what was necessary to keep my team on top." He explained to her. "This isn't why i joined, You can't Cheat Joshua!" She shouted.
"You need the money, right?" He asked.
"We get paid when we win!" He yelled .

"If you're going to cheat, then I quit." She replies in tears.
"Enjoy your money Joshua!" She says whilst entering her car.
"He won't forgive you,Yuki!" Josh shouts.
"You're alone now!" He yelled as she drove away. Joshua's phone rings shortly afterwards.

"Did you do as i asked?" Said the man on the phone.
"I beat them, I even took out one of their drivers." Joshua replies.
"I'll meet you in Osaka soon to deliver your payment, Good work." The man replied then hung up.
"I guess I'll go home now, there isn't much i can do anyways." Joshua says to himself.
"I'm not going to lie, that team was very admirable and skilled." He thought to himself.

"I don't know what happened." Eli said to Nikki as they drove back to their hotel.
"I don't know what i did wrong." He cried.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Eli." She told him.
"You did your best and that's what matters." She said with one hand one his shoulder.
"Besides, at least you're not hospitalised." She laughed.

The group returned to their hotel as soon as they could with barely anything to say. They simply just comforted Eli then went straight to bed. Eli sat in this room thinking to himself. He wasn't pleased with himself and felt humiliated. However the more he thought about it, the more he began to realise what actually happened.

"That loud mouth Nakazato rammed me, I didn't realise that before." Eli said silently.
"I spent my entire life working on that car, and the A-hole wrecks it!" He said frustratingly as he walks around his room.
"The punk calls himself a racer, but he drives without any honour!" He tightens his fist.
"I will race you again Joshua Nakazato, and I will improve!" He said as he stares outside his window.
"When that day comes, I will beat you and that's a damn promise!" Eli shouts.

                     END  OF VOLUME
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