The Speed Of The Stars

As night falls the following day, Collei finishes her shift at the gas station and waits for Ayaka's arrival. The neon glow from the station's signage reflects off her Eight-Six, casting fleeting patterns on its polished surface.

Beidou approaches, her boots crunching on the gravel.

"How's the Skyline treating you so far, Collei?" Beidou asks, her tone casual but curious.

Collei shakes her head, letting out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know, Beidou. This whole AWD complex is confusing the living shit out of me."

Beidou raises an eyebrow. "First time spinning out?"

Collei nods. "Yeah. Took a corner in Yougou Pass the wrong way, and it's been messing with my confidence ever since."

March suddenly pops into the conversation, her energy palpable. "Come on, Collei! Don't let that get to you! Just drive the way you always do—your way!"

"I'm trying, March, believe me," Collei replies, her voice tinged with doubt. "But driving an AWD has this… this weight to it. It's like I'm battling my instincts every time I take a corner."

Amber steps forward, crossing her arms as she studies Collei. "So, what's the plan now? Aren't you heading out to Asase Pass in Seirai Prefecture soon?"

Collei nods. "That's the idea. But I called in a friend—someone who knows the Eight-Six as well as I do. Figured I'd get her perspective before heading out."

Amber tilts her head knowingly. "Ah. Ayaka, right?"

"Yeah." Collei sighs. "She gets it. If anyone can help me make sense of all this, it's her."

Amber places a reassuring hand on Collei's shoulder. "Do what you need to do to shake this off. You've got this."

Touched, Collei hugs Amber. "Thanks, Amber. I really appreciate it."

Right on cue, the deep rumble of a supercharged engine signals Ayaka's arrival. Her Levin pulls up smoothly, the headlights washing over the lot before coming to a stop in front of Collei's Eight-Six. Ayaka steps out, her presence as poised as ever, and waves.

"Hey, Collei! Come on, hop in! We're heading to Yougou Lake!"

Collei waves back and grins. "Got it!" She pats Amber's head lightly. "I'll catch you later."

"You bet!" Amber replies with a smile.

Collei climbs into Ayaka's Levin, and the duo heads out, the Levin's engine growling as it accelerates into the night.

The climb up Yougou Pass is intense. Ayaka tackles the uphill with precision, her supercharged Levin roaring as it grips the road. The car hits a sharp hairpin midway up the pass, and Ayaka brakes hard, downshifting into second gear. She hugs the inside line, her tires squealing as the Levin rockets out of the turn.

Collei watches, nodding in appreciation. "Gotta say, this Levin's got some serious punch coming out of corners."

"That's the supercharger at work," Ayaka replies with a smile, her eyes never leaving the road.

Collei chuckles. "Yeah, I've experienced that before. Clorinde's Lancia is the same—it's all about that instant boost. Makes a world of difference on uphill runs."

Ayaka nods. "Last I checked on the dyno, this thing's pushing about 280 horsepower. It's just enough for these climbs. The old turbo setup was only hitting 220."

The conversation pauses as Ayaka expertly navigates the final corner, and the two reach the summit. Moments later, they're at Yougou Lake, the serene waters reflecting the moonlight like a mirror.

By the lake, they skip stones across the surface, their laughter mingling with the quiet sounds of the night.

"You've officially beaten the Kannazuka team and now us," Ayaka says, tossing another stone. "You're running out of challenges around here."

Collei smirks, sipping her coffee. "Well, there's Asase in Seirai Prefecture. Ningguang's already set plans for us to head out tomorrow."

Ayaka's expression darkens slightly. "Seirai, huh? Shady territory. Real shady. The drivers there? A pair of pricks. The guy's decent behind the wheel, but the girl? She's the type to pull something underhanded before the race even starts. Watch your back—and bring spare parts."

Collei's eyes widen. "Spare parts?"

"Just a precaution." Ayaka waves dismissively. "I'm not saying they'll wreck you, but sabotage isn't off the table."

The warning lingers in the air before Ayaka turns to Collei. "So, what was it you wanted to talk about?"

Collei straightens, her tone serious. "I wanted to know if you've ever felt held back by the Eight-Six's limitations."

Ayaka's gaze turns contemplative. "Of course. That's why I swapped in a turbocharger first, then a supercharger. I'm always tweaking it to overcome those limits. But even with all that, there's only so much you can do. Sometimes I wish the Levin's body was lighter, more modern."

She pauses, looking at Collei. "It's surprising to hear this from you, though. I thought your Eight-Six was untouchable."

Collei sighs. "I haven't told anyone this, but… after the rematch with Feiyun, I got passed the very next morning. On my home turf."

Ayaka's eyes widen. "What? By who?"

"A Skyline R34." Collei's voice is quiet but firm.

Ayaka bows her head. "Figures. That's an AWD with the ability to switch to 4WD when needed. A real beast."

Collei nods. "Ever since, it's given me this anxiety—this AWD/4WD complex. I can't shake it."

Ayaka turns back toward her, her expression softening. "I get it. But don't let that complex own you. Remember, you've beaten 4WDs before. Focus on your strengths, not your doubts."

Collei exhales. "That's why I called you. I needed to hear that."

Ayaka smiles faintly. "Look, fear isn't a bad thing. It's there to keep you sharp. Use it. Push your skills further. Study your opponents, learn their strengths—and exploit their weaknesses."

The two share a quiet moment, the lake's surface rippling gently in the breeze. Collei nods, her resolve strengthening. "Thanks, Ayaka. I'll keep that in mind."

Ayaka pats her shoulder, her voice firm yet encouraging. "You've got this, Collei. Just keep doing what you do best."

Collei nods. "I understand. I'll try to keep that in mind."

Ayaka smiles, bending down to pick up a rock. She weighs it in her hand before throwing it toward the lake, letting it skip effortlessly across the surface. "That's what I like to hear. Sometimes, your cluelessness is what makes you such a special package, Collei."

Collei chuckles softly, watching the ripples expand across the lake as Ayaka's stone disappears beneath the surface. The quiet of the night settles in, carrying the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.

The following afternoon, Collei prepares to leave Arlecchino's house. As she steps outside, her gaze falls on Arlecchino's R34, gleaming under the midday sun in the driveway. She pauses, taking a moment to study the car.

"The strengths and weaknesses of a car that drives all four wheels… AWD or 4WD," she mutters softly, running her hand along the sleek hood. The metal feels warm beneath her touch.

Straightening up, she sighs. "Ayaka's right. Last year, I was driving my damndest without really understanding things like this. If ignorance were a scale, I'd give myself a solid 6.5 out of 10."

Her eyes narrow as determination settles on her face. "At least now I know more about cars like these. All I have to do is remember what Ayaka said: 'Learn its advantages. Exploit its weaknesses.'" She repeats the words like a mantra, her voice resolute.

Unbeknownst to her, Arlecchino watches silently from behind the doorway, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "That's what I like to hear, Collei," she murmurs to herself before retreating into the house, careful not to disturb the moment.

As night falls over Asase Pass, two drivers linger near their cars, their silhouettes outlined by the dim glow of nearby streetlights. The air is thick with anticipation, and the faint hum of insects fills the silence.

Kafka leans against her white Nissan Skyline R34, arms crossed. "So, Blade," she says, breaking the quiet, "what's the plan when Team Speed Stars show up?"

Blade grins, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Keep this between us, Kafka, but we could make some quick cash out of this."

Kafka's brow furrows as he pushes off the car, standing upright. "What happened to racing to test our skills?"

He giggles, his tone dripping with nonchalance. "Oh, please. It was never about skill. If we both win, we split half a mil. If just one of us wins, it's 250K. And if we tie with them? That's still 80 grand. Easy money."

Kafka hakes her head in disbelief. "This isn't about money. We're here to race, Blade—not hustle people."

"Tsk, tsk," Blade scolds playfully, wagging his finger. "Trust me on this, Kafka. Let me do the talking."

Before Kafka can argue further, the faint rumble of engines draws their attention. Headlights pierce through the darkness as Team Speed Stars' convoy approaches. The Lancia Rally 037 leads the group, its engine snarling, followed closely by Collei's Eight-Six. Four support vans trail behind, their silhouettes dark and imposing.

The convoy pulls into the lot, parking directly across from the local team. Clorinde and Collei step out of their respective cars, their postures confident yet alert. The duo heads toward Ningguang, who stands ready to deliver the briefing. As Ningguang speaks, Collei's gaze drifts toward the opposing cars: a white Skyline R34 and a white Lancer Evo V.

Her eyes narrow. "A Skyline R34 and a Lancer Evo V… Ayaka was right. Our next opponents are cars that power all four wheels. A mix of AWD and 4WD," she mutters under her breath, the words heavy with realization.

Keqing raises her hand to interrupt Ningguang mid-briefing. "Ningguang, can you come over here? We've got something to discuss."

Ningguang's expression hardens. "Here we go…" she mutters before striding toward Keqing, Kafka, and Blade. Kafka takes a step back, clearly distancing herself from whatever Blade has planned.

Keqing explains, her voice tense. "Blade here says he wants to split the practice times in half—half for us, half for their team."

Ningguang sighs, already sensing the brewing conflict. She turns to Blade. "I don't see why we need to split the time. Can't we just practice together?"

Blade scoffs, folding his arms. "You kidding me? I'd rather practice with my team alone. I don't trust your drivers. What if one of them takes a corner too damn wide and wipes one of us out?"

Clorinde's fists clench, her teeth grinding audibly as anger flares in her eyes. "You—!"

Before she can finish, Collei grabs her arm, pulling her back. "Clorinde! Let it go!" Collei's voice is sharp, cutting through the tension.

Ningguang pinches the bridge of her nose, clearly frustrated. "Fine. I don't have much choice anyway. We'll split the time."

Keqing's eyes widen in protest. "Wait, are you sure about this?"

"It's final," Ningguang replies, her tone leaving no room for debate.

As Ningguang and Keqing walk back toward their team, Blade smirks victoriously and climbs into his car. Kafka hesitates, glancing toward Ningguang and the Speed Stars with a conflicted expression, before reluctantly getting into her Skyline R34.

The two cars roar to life, their engines echoing through the mountains as they peel out for their practice run.

Blade smirks, leaning back against the bucket seat of his car. "It worked…"

Inside the Skyline R34, Kafka grips the steering wheel, her jaw tight. "This… this is a bad idea, Blade."

Back at base…

Clorinde crosses her arms, glancing over at Navia. "I've got a bad feeling they're going to try something."

Navia nods, a shadow of concern crossing her face. "Yeah… good thing I brought spare parts for the engine, suspension, and brakes. Just in case they try to pull anything funny."

As Navia's gaze drifts to the Lancia, her eyes land on a small holster tucked against the right side of the driver's seat, snug between the metal frame.

"You… you brought your piece?" Navia asks, her voice low.

Clorinde nods, her expression calm but resolute. "Yeah. Just for protection."

She exhales sharply, shaking her head. "It still doesn't make sense. Why? They drive this damn course every day…"

Navia sighs, adjusting the laptop in her hands. "That's true. They must be scheming something."

Clorinde places a reassuring arm around Navia's shoulder, pulling her into a brief hug. "Don't worry, Navia. The team will pull through."

Her eyes narrow, her voice hardening. "And when we do, it'll be even more embarrassing for them knowing we did it with half the practice time."

Navia smiles faintly, drawing strength from Clorinde's confidence. "Yeah. I'll check the Lancia's setup one more time before our turn."

On Ningguang's side…

Keqing stands with one hand on her hip, the other gesturing toward the mountain pass. "So this is the kind of course that will push Collei to the next level as a driver, right? But with the time cut in half, it's going to be tight."

Ningguang nods solemnly. "Yeah. I already have a bad feeling about those two. They're probably trying to pull some kind of scam."

Keqing's eyes widen. "A scam?"

Ningguang sighs, her voice heavy with experience. "Yes. You know me, Keqing. I'm a businesswoman. I can smell manipulation from a mile away. Just… keep your guard up."

As hours pass, the rumble of engines signals the return of the Lancer Evo and the Skyline R34. The cars pull into the lot, parking opposite Team Speed Stars. Kafka steps out, giving a thumbs-up to the group.

"You guys are good to go now."

Keqing nods and turns to the team. "Alright! Let's light them up!"

Clorinde and Navia line up at the start near the tunnel. Navia double-checks her laptop, her fingers flying across the keys. "Ready to rock, Clorinde."

Clorinde smirks, gripping the wheel. "That's what I like to hear."

She releases the handbrake and slams her foot on the gas. The Lancia launches off the starting line with a roar, its tires screeching as it accelerates into the darkness of the pass.

Moments later, Collei and Albedo line up, awaiting the signal from Keqing. Collei grips the wheel tightly, her focus sharpening.

Albedo glances at her, his tone calm but firm. "We don't have much time, so we've got to make these runs count. Alright?"

Collei nods, her jaw set. "I understand. Let's make this count."

She glances to her left, where Keqing stands, giving her two enthusiastic thumbs up. Collei narrows her eyes, her determination flaring. She drops the handbrake, slamming her foot on the gas as the Eight-Six surges forward, its engine roaring into the night.

The car grips tightly to the road as it tackles the first right-hand turn. Reaching the first left-hand hairpin, Collei slams on the brakes, initiating a perfect four-wheel drift. The car glides through the corner effortlessly before rocketing forward down the pass.

Back at the base. Blade leans against his car, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "They won't be so cocky after this practice run. I'm going to set my sights on that Italian relic. Give her a little surprise."

Kafka's expression darkens as he approaches her. "Blade, what's your plan?"

He smirks, pulling out her phone. "I want an easy win. No way I'm beating that Group B rally car fair and square."

As Kafka stares at him in disbelief, Blade dials a number. The call is picked up instantly.

"Hey, you still there?" Blade says. "Listen up. Our target is the Lancia."

On the other end of the line, a man at the bottom of the pass, near a sharp right-hand hairpin, frowns. "Are you sure? That thing's worth a fortune. If they find out, you're talking 1.3 million dollars."

Blade scoffs dismissively. "Doesn't matter. They'll never find out."

The man sighs. "Fine."

He hangs up and turns to his team. "Alright. Our target's the Lancia."

As time ticks by, Collei races her way up the pass while Clorinde rockets down.

Inside the Eight-Six, Collei's grip tightens on the wheel. She slides through another hairpin with ease, her focus unshaken. Beside her, Albedo sits silently, his gaze locked on the data streaming across the laptop screen.

In the Lancia, Clorinde powers through another sharp corner, the car's tires gripping the road as Navia closely monitors the telemetry.

Collei's frustration bubbles up as she maneuvers through a fast right-hand turn. "This sucks. Having the course for only half the time is seriously pissing me off. Worse still, I've got to memorize every bump!"

She hits a small bump mid-corner, causing the car to bounce slightly. With quick reflexes, she maintains control, her composure unshaken.

Clorinde faces a similar challenge as she barrels down a straightaway. The Lancia hits a large bump at high speed, lifting onto two wheels momentarily before slamming back down. Clorinde's grip tightens, but her focus remains unbroken.

Navia glances up from the laptop. "The bumps are tricky, but other than that, the course seems straightforward."

Clorinde nods, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Yeah. Let's finish strong."

As Clorinde races down the straightaway, she notices headlights approaching from the corner ahead. Collei's Eight-Six flashes by, heading uphill. The two cars pass each other in opposite directions, but Clorinde remains focused, pushing through a left-hand hairpin.

Approaching the right-hand hairpin on the bridge, Clorinde presses the brake to initiate her drift. That's when she notices something unusual on the road.

Her eyes narrow. "What the hell is that? Water? That wasn't there when I went uphill!"

Then her gaze sharpens as she focuses on the dark sheen. "That's not water—it's oil!"

The Lancia hits the slick patch, and the car immediately understeers. Clorinde grits her teeth, slamming on the brakes, but the oil is too slippery. The rear of the Lancia skids out, and the left side slams hard into the guardrail. The impact crumples the rear suspension, ripping it from its mounts. The car spins sideways, its engine revving wildly before sputtering to an idle.

Inside the cockpit, Navia slowly opens her eyes, shaken but unharmed. She turns to Clorinde, who sits frozen, gripping the wheel.

"C-Clorinde!? Are you okay!?" Navia's voice trembles.

Clorinde doesn't respond immediately, her breath shaky. Finally, she exhales, her eyes twitching with suppressed rage.

Back at base…

Keqing receives an urgent call and answers, putting it on speaker.

"Keqing! It's Clorinde!"

Keqing frowns. "What's going on, Clorinde? You don't sound alright."

Clorinde's voice erupts in frustration. "FUCK'S SAKE! I'm not alright! Are they still there?"

Keqing glances at Kafka, who stands by, arms crossed. "Blade left, but Kafka's still here."

Clorinde's voice shakes with anger. "FUCK! Look, tell Collei to stop her runs right now! This is important!"

Keqing leans forward. "What's going on!?"

Clorinde sighs heavily, trying to calm herself. "There's oil spilled on one of the turns—maybe one of Blade's buddies set it up. I don't know, but it's sabotage!"

Keqing's eyes widen. "What!? Are you okay? How's the Lancia?"

"I'm fine…" Clorinde says, her voice strained. She glances at her car's mangled rear end. The suspension is ripped apart, the left wheel dangling by the shock absorber. The engine bay hatch is cracked, and the rear spoiler hangs by a thread.

"But my Lancia? It's fucked."

Hours later…

One of the support vans arrives with spare parts, Keqing, Ningguang, and Ganyu onboard. Collei's Eight-Six is parked nearby as they inspect the oil spill.

Keqing slides a finger across the slick substance, examining it. "Jesus Christ… why?"

Ningguang crosses her arms, her expression grim. "Even I couldn't avoid something like this. Any of us would have wrecked."

Ganyu frowns. "Who could have done this?"

Clorinde's composure breaks. "ISN'T IT OBVIOUS?! WHO ELSE WOULD TRY TO SCREW UP MY RIDE?!"

Ningguang surveys the area. "There's a road leading to the next town. Most likely, that's where they went. But they're long gone by now."

The group moves to Navia, who is inspecting the damaged Lancia.

Ningguang leans in. "How bad is it?"

Navia sighs heavily. "It's bad. The entire rear left suspension is ripped out. Thankfully, the mounting points are intact. I've got spare suspension components in the van, but it'll take a whole day to fix this. Worse, the driveshaft's damaged, so the gearbox might be too. We have a spare gearbox in the van, though… The chassis and rear space frame are fine. That's the only good news."

Ningguang nods firmly. "Alright. Start the repairs immediately. We need it running before the race."

Navia nods. "Got it."

Turning to Collei, Ningguang gives orders. "Collei, continue your practice runs. But when you reach that left-hand hairpin, slow down and turn around. Got it?"

Collei nods sharply. "Understood."

Right on cue. A white Lancer Evo V rolls into view, stopping near the wrecked Lancia. Blade lowers His window, her face smug.

"There you are! I figured something was up—it was too quiet at the parking area above."

His eyes drift to the wrecked Lancia, and she laughs mockingly. "Ha! Can't believe you wrecked at this corner!"

Clorinde's face twitches with anger as she storms up to Blade's car, slamming her hand on the roof.

"That's a dirty fucking trick your friends pulled tonight! Do you have any idea how valuable this car is?! Don't you DARE pretend you don't know!"

Blade scoffs, unfazed. "I'm not pretending. My team was prepping for the race, and Kafka was with you the whole time."

Clorinde points at herself, her voice shaking with rage. "Don't FUCK with me! I know you're behind this! Now get out, and we'll settle this like real people!"

Keqing steps between them. "Clorinde, knock it off!"

Blade smirks, his confidence unshaken. "Figures. You need someone to hold you back. Listen, the race goes on with or without the Lancia. If you don't show up, it's a forfeit. Your call."

Keqing leans into Blade's window, smirking. "Don't worry. The Lancia will be there, you prick."

Blade scowls, slamming his foot on the gas and speeding off.

Clorinde stomps on the guardrail, her voice raw with frustration. "FUCK! I'm going to end her when I get the chance!"

Ningguang raises her voice, snapping her out of it. "If you're done taking it out on the guardrail, get to work! Help Navia with the repairs—you know the car better than anyone."

She turns to Keqing and Ganyu. "We'll clean up this oil. Let's move."

As Time ticks by, somewhere in the pass. Collei continues her practice runs, her grip on the wheel tight. Her eyes twitch with anger as she mutters under her breath.

"That's so fucked up. Clorinde didn't deserve that. Now it's personal. I don't care if I'm racing Kafka or Blade—they're going down."

She downshifts, slamming her foot on the gas as the Eight-Six roars into the night.

As the night ends, Collei finishes her practice runs. The Lancia is still down but not out. The team works tirelessly, preparing for the race that promises to settle everything.