October.
The start of autumn.
The season when the weather finally began to settle into something mild and comfortable. The oppressive heat of summer had faded, replaced by cooler mornings, gentler afternoons, and evenings where a jacket no longer felt entirely out of place.
The leaves were beginning to change.
The days were growing shorter.
And across Japan, the racing calendar was entering one of its most important periods of the year.
Because October was special.
Or, rather...
The races held during this month could become something much more than just another entry on a career record.
They could rewrite history.
They could create legends.
And sometimes...
They could leave behind a question that would linger for years.
What if?
For one particular Umamusume, October could decide the direction of her entire career.
The direction of her future.
The story of what came next.
Specifically...
The story of King Halo's career.
Because after everything that had happened throughout the year—the victories, the records, the pressure, the expectations, and the doubts that had quietly begun to creep into her mind—there was now only one major race standing between King and the decision she had once believed she had already made.
The Shuka Sho.
The final leg of the Triple Tiara.
And in just three days' time...
It would be race day.
Inside her dorm room, King Halo had just finished preparing her luggage.
Everything she needed for the three-day trip to Kyoto had been packed neatly inside—enough clothes for the journey, her stay, and everything in between.
Beside the suitcase sat another, much smaller bag.
Her duffle bag.
Inside it was her G1 race outfit.
The outfit she would wear when she stepped onto the track at Kyoto Racecourse.
King glanced at it for a moment before reaching down and grabbing the lid of her luggage. She closed it firmly, then pulled the zipper all the way around until the suitcase was completely secured.
She grabbed the handle and extended it with a click.
Then she tilted the suitcase back onto its wheels.
King exhaled slowly.
"This is it, King."
She stared at the packed luggage for another moment.
"A five-hour trip to Kyoto..."
Her expression became more serious.
"...to write a page into the history books."
She wasn't exaggerating.
In three days, she would run the Shuka Sho.
The final race of the Triple Tiara.
The race that would determine whether everything she had accomplished throughout the year would culminate in something truly historic.
King turned away from her luggage and walked toward the window.
She reached the curtains and pulled them open.
Outside, the Tracen Academy dormitory parking area was already full of activity.
Cars were moving in and out of parking spaces.
Trunks were being opened and closed.
Students were carrying suitcases, duffle bags, backpacks, and all manner of travel equipment toward their cars. Some were checking tire pressures. Others were making last-minute inspections under their hoods. A few were already sitting behind their steering wheels, waiting for their friends to finish loading up.
It seemed as though half the academy had decided to leave for Kyoto at nearly the same time.
King blinked.
"Seems like everyone is planning on leaving at the same time."
She watched for another few seconds.
The sight almost made her smile.
The normally busy parking area had become even more chaotic than usual, with students preparing for one of the biggest racing weekends of the year.
King slowly exhaled.
Then she pulled the curtains closed.
The room became quieter.
She turned around and walked back toward her luggage.
"Might as well get a head start while I can."
She picked up her duffle bag with one hand and grabbed the extended handle of her suitcase with the other.
She took one final glance around the room.
Everything was in order.
Nothing had been forgotten.
King walked toward the door.
Then she released the suitcase handle and reached for the doorknob.
But the moment she opened the door—
Someone was already standing outside.
King's ears immediately perked up.
"Fumino-sensei?"
Her trainer, Fumino Nase, stood in the hallway with her arms crossed.
She looked as though she had been waiting there for some time.
Fumino raised an eyebrow.
"Ready to head out, I presume, King?"
King nodded.
"Y-Yeah."
She stepped out into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind her.
"I presume you are driving there, correct?" Fumino asked.
King nodded again.
"I am."
Fumino slowly nodded.
Then she reached one hand forward.
Her palm faced upward.
"Just as a precaution for the long drive to Kyoto..."
King looked at her hand.
Fumino continued.
"I'll drive for you."
King's eyes widened.
"A-Are you sure, Fumino-sensei?!"
Fumino nodded.
"I am sure."
She chuckled once.
"Besides, I drive my own car."
King stared at her.
Then her eyes slowly dropped toward Fumino's pants pocket.
She knew exactly what Fumino was referring to.
Her car.
The car Fumino drove herself.
King looked back up at her.
"Are you certain?"
Fumino gave her a confident look.
King hesitated.
"Because..."
She glanced away for a moment.
Then back at Fumino.
"The car is..."
She paused.
"Well..."
Another pause.
"...it's quite a car."
Fumino scoffed, casually waving a hand through the air in front of her.
"Psh."
She smiled.
"Nothing I can't handle, King."
King blinked once.
Then twice.
She stared at her trainer for a few seconds longer.
Finally, she sighed.
"Alright then, Fumino-sensei."
King reached into her pants pocket and pulled out her car keys.
She knew exactly which car she was bringing.
And she also knew that bringing the other car would probably be a very obvious sign of being cocky.
She had absolutely no need to make a statement before one of the most important races of her career.
So the R32 it was.
King placed the keys into Fumino's waiting palm.
Fumino looked down at them.
It was a relatively basic car key, but the key itself had a small black carbon-fiber base attached to it. Hanging from the keyring was a bright red REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT tag.
A little gift from Sirius Symboli.
Fumino turned the key over between her fingers for a moment before closing her hand around it.
She then slipped it into her pocket.
"Come on, King."
She turned toward the elevator.
"Let's head out."
King nodded.
"Right."
She grabbed her suitcase handle again.
With her duffle bag in one hand and her luggage rolling behind her, King followed Fumino down the hallway.
The door behind them remained closed.
King reached back and checked the lock one final time.
Click.
Locked.
Then she turned away.
She and Fumino began walking toward the elevator together, their footsteps echoing softly through the dormitory corridor.
Three days.
That was all that remained.
Three days until the Shuka Sho.
Three days until she stood on the starting gate at Kyoto.
And for the first time since she had begun thinking about what would come after the race...
King wasn't entirely sure what the finish line would mean anymore.
She pushed the thought aside.
Not yet.
There would be time for that later.
For now, there was a race to prepare for.
And a long road to Kyoto waiting outside.
They reached the ground level and walked out of the building.
The moment the doors opened, the sound of the parking area immediately greeted them.
The car park was full of activity.
Students were loading their belongings into trunks and rear cargo areas, carefully arranging luggage so everything would fit without crushing anything important. Others were performing one final inspection of their cars before embarking on the roughly five-hour journey to Kyoto.
Hoods were raised.
Tire pressures were being checked.
Engine bays were being looked over one last time.
Oil levels were being inspected.
Some students were even crouched beside their cars, looking underneath for any leaks or loose components that might cause trouble on the highway.
And then there were the few others who had apparently decided that a five-hour road trip was the perfect excuse to clean their cars.
Microfiber towels moved across paintwork.
Windows were being wiped down.
Wheels were being polished.
One student was even vacuuming the interior of her car while another stood nearby holding the door open.
King walked slightly ahead of Fumino, guiding her through the rows of cars.
"Over here, Fumino-sensei."
Fumino followed behind her.
She looked around at the sheer variety of vehicles scattered throughout the parking area.
Sports cars.
Sedans.
Hatchbacks.
Older classics sitting beside much newer machinery.
It was almost like a miniature gathering of the academy's car enthusiasts before everyone dispersed across the highways toward Kyoto.
Then Fumino looked over King's shoulder.
Her eyes immediately landed on two particularly distinctive cars.
One was impossible to mistake.
The Kyoseki Group A green Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R.
And parked directly beside it, to the right, was the Cobalt Metallic Blue Gemballa Mirage GT.
Fumino's eyes widened slightly.
She already knew King had quite the collection of cars.
But seeing the two of them sitting side by side was still something else.
To the left of the R32 was another familiar sight.
Mejiro Palmer's Toyota Supra.
And parked beside Palmer's Supra?
Mejiro Ardan's BMW Alpina B12 6.0 750iL.
Fumino's attention immediately shifted toward the Alpina.
She slowed down.
Her eyes traveled over the long-wheelbase BMW's elegant bodywork, taking in its understated appearance and the sheer sense of comfort it projected.
A small smile formed across her face.
She softly whispered to herself,
"King's got quite a taste in a comfortable car."
Fumino turned slightly toward the Alpina.
For a moment, she seriously considered walking over to take a closer look.
She took a few steps toward it.
Then—
"Hey, Fumino-sensei!"
Fumino jumped slightly.
"Huh?"
She turned around.
Her eyes traveled back down the line of cars.
King was standing between Palmer's Supra and the R32, looking directly at her.
Fumino blinked.
"What are you doing over there?"
King pointed toward the Alpina.
"That's not my car."
Fumino looked at the BMW.
Then at King.
Then back at the BMW.
"This is not your car?"
King shook her head.
"Nope."
She pointed toward the Alpina.
"That's Mejiro Ardan's car!"
Then she turned and pointed toward the two cars parked together.
"These two are mine!"
Fumino blinked.
"O-Oh!"
She immediately jogged back over to King's side.
When she reached her, Fumino let out a small sigh.
"Sorry. I thought you owned that BMW."
King shook her head.
"Nope."
She looked toward the R32.
"That's Ardan's."
Then her eyes moved toward the two cars beside it.
"These two are my cars."
Fumino stared at them.
The R32 GT-R.
The Mirage GT.
Two cars that couldn't have been more different from one another.
One was an early-nineties Japanese performance icon built around the philosophy of Group A racing and all-wheel-drive traction.
The other was a brutally rare, exotic German supercar built around a Porsche-derived platform and transformed into something considerably more extreme.
Fumino's eyes widened.
She slowly looked back at King.
"So..."
King tilted her head.
"Yes?"
"You own both of these?"
King nodded.
"Yes."
Fumino stared at the cars again.
"...Right."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the key King had given her earlier.
King noticed immediately.
"The car keys I handed you are for this one."
She pointed toward the R32.
"My R32 GT-R."
Fumino looked down at the key in her hand.
Then back at the R32.
Then back at the key.
A nervous little gulp escaped her.
"Ah."
She suddenly understood why King had been so hesitant about letting her drive.
Fumino slowly dropped the clothes bag she had been carrying.
It landed softly against the pavement.
King immediately picked it up.
"I'll load it up."
She tucked the bag together with her other luggage and carried everything toward the R32.
Then King looked back over her shoulder.
"Go ahead and get it started so the air conditioning can be cold."
Fumino stared at the R32.
The Kyoseki Group A green Skyline sat quietly beneath the parking area's lights.
Its paintwork was immaculate.
The wheels were clean.
The stance was purposeful.
And behind that understated exterior was the modified RB26DETT that had more than enough power to make the five-hour journey to Kyoto anything but ordinary.
Fumino looked down at the key again.
She took another breath.
Then she walked toward the driver's door.
"Alright..."
She stopped beside the R32.
"...Let's see what you've got, King."
As King walked toward the trunk, Fumino slowly approached the right-hand driver's door.
She reached for the handle.
Click.
The door swung open.
Fumino leaned slightly forward and looked inside.
At first glance, it wasn't nearly as intimidating as the exterior might have suggested.
The interior was still properly carpeted.
There was a functioning air-conditioning system.
The dashboard and door panels were still recognizable as an R32's cabin.
It wasn't some completely stripped-out race car.
But the longer Fumino looked...
The more she realized that this was absolutely not a normal R32.
Several things immediately stood out.
First was the steering wheel.
A three-spoke, deep-dish Nardi steering wheel sat directly ahead of the driver's seat.
Then came the seats.
Two black Bride Racing bucket seats occupied the front of the cabin, each equipped with matching Kyoseki-green Takata four-point racing harnesses.
Fumino's eyes moved toward the back.
There were no rear seats.
Instead, a half roll cage had been installed behind the passenger compartment, its bars running across the rear of the cabin and tying into the chassis.
Fumino slowly swallowed.
"Okay..."
She looked around again.
This wasn't simply King's daily driver.
This was a serious machine.
Then her eyes dropped toward the center console.
And stopped.
A five-speed manual transmission.
Fumino's expression slowly changed.
Her face began to sweat.
She whispered to herself.
"Ahhh... shit."
She stared at the gear lever.
"I can't drive manual..."
Her eyes immediately drifted toward the Gemballa Mirage GT parked beside the R32.
She looked through its window.
The Alcantara-trimmed gear lever was clearly visible inside.
Fumino's face went pale.
"Shit..."
She looked back at the R32.
"That's manual too."
She had somehow managed to walk into the exact situation she had been trying not to admit she was completely unprepared for.
Then—
THUD!
Fumino jumped.
"Eek!"
The sound came from behind her.
King had slammed the trunk shut.
Fumino turned around.
King walked toward her, carrying the last of the luggage.
"Fumino-sensei?"
King looked at her suspiciously.
"Any issues with the car?"
Fumino immediately shook her head.
"Oh! Nothing!"
She forced a smile.
"Everything's perfectly fine."
King narrowed her eyes slightly.
She clearly wasn't convinced.
But she said nothing.
Instead, Fumino opened the driver's door wider and climbed inside.
She lowered herself into the Bride bucket seat, sliding her body in first before bringing her legs over the door sill.
The bucket seat immediately held her firmly in place.
Fumino shifted her hips slightly.
Then she reached underneath the seat.
She found the adjustment lever and pulled it upward.
Click.
She slid the seat forward.
Then stopped.
She looked down toward the pedals.
Three pedals.
Clutch.
Brake.
Accelerator.
Fumino stared at them.
For several seconds.
She then cautiously tested the accelerator with her right foot.
She pressed it all the way down.
The pedal moved smoothly.
She released it.
Then she pressed the brake.
Firm.
She gave it another push.
The pedal barely moved.
Fumino nodded.
"Okay..."
King stood outside the open driver's door, watching her.
Fumino reached toward the steering wheel and adjusted herself into a comfortable driving position.
Then she reached for the ignition.
She inserted the key.
Click.
She turned it to the ACC position.
Immediately, the gauges came to life.
The instrument cluster illuminated.
The needles swept smoothly across their ranges, climbing all the way toward their maximum positions before returning to their resting points.
The tachometer settled at zero.
The speedometer settled at zero.
The warning lights illuminated across the cluster before beginning to go out.
Fumino stared at the gauges.
Everything appeared normal.
She took a breath.
Then she planted her right foot firmly on the brake pedal.
She closed both eyes.
"Alright..."
She turned the key farther.
Click-click-click-click...
The starter motor engaged.
Nothing happened.
Fumino slowly opened one eye.
She waited.
Still nothing.
She opened both eyes.
She looked at the gauges.
Then at the steering wheel.
Then at King.
"The car is not starting."
King stood outside with her arms crossed.
She calmly pointed downward.
At the clutch pedal.
"You need to depress the clutch pedal before starting."
Fumino blinked.
King continued.
"Otherwise, it won't start at all."
Fumino immediately looked back toward the pedals.
"R-Right!"
She moved her left foot over the clutch.
Then pressed down.
And immediately felt the resistance.
Fumino's eyebrows rose.
"Oh."
She pushed farther.
The pedal went down.
It wasn't exactly light.
In fact...
It was fairly heavy.
The pressure required wasn't something she was accustomed to.
Fumino gave it another small push to make sure it was fully depressed.
"Okay."
She looked toward the ignition again.
She twisted the key.
This time—
RRR-RRR-RRR...
The starter motor engaged.
A moment later—
WHUM!
The RB26DETT fired to life.
Six cylinders came alive beneath the hood.
The engine settled into a deep, steady idle, the sound traveling through the chassis and into the cabin.
Fumino's eyes widened slightly.
She could feel the engine through the seat.
The R32 wasn't screaming.
It wasn't revving wildly.
It was simply sitting there...
Idling.
Waiting.
Fumino slowly began releasing the clutch.
King immediately pointed toward the gear lever.
"You have to check if it's in neutral before letting off the clutch."
Fumino stopped.
She looked at the gear lever.
"Uhh..."
She looked back at King.
"How?"
King sighed.
"Shake it left and right."
Fumino placed her hand on the gear lever.
She gently pushed it left.
Then right.
The lever moved freely through the neutral gate.
Fumino nodded.
"Okay..."
She released the clutch the rest of the way.
The engine continued idling perfectly.
King watched her.
Then suddenly dropped both arms to her sides.
"Do you know how to drive a manual car at all, Sensei?"
Fumino froze.
She looked at King.
There was a long silence.
"I'll be honest here."
She looked back toward the windshield.
Then at King again.
"No."
King stared at her.
Her expression slowly went blank.
Then she raised one hand to her face.
"Ugh..."
She dragged her palm down her face.
For a moment, she looked as though she was reconsidering every decision that had led them to this parking lot.
Then she shook her head.
"I think you should move over to the passenger seat, Sensei."
King pointed toward the passenger side.
"Let me be the one to drive instead."
She stepped toward the driver's door.
But before King could reach her—
Fumino raised one hand.
"No."
King stopped.
Fumino shook her head.
"No, no, no..."
She straightened herself in the driver's seat.
"I can learn this."
She looked toward King.
"Just..."
Her expression became determined.
"Give me a chance!"
King crossed her arms.
"Are you sure, Fumino-sensei?"
Fumino nodded.
King's expression remained serious.
"The last thing we want is to break down in the middle of the highway because of a burnt clutch."
Fumino blinked.
She slowly looked toward King.
"Is that bad?"
King stared at her.
"Yes."
Fumino swallowed.
King continued.
"It'll be even worse if you grind my gearbox into five neutral gears and a neutral reverse."
Fumino's face tightened.
She looked at the gear lever.
Then at the clutch.
Then back at King.
She took a deep breath.
And slowly exhaled.
"I can do it, King."
Her hands tightened around the steering wheel.
"I'll learn."
She paused.
Then looked toward King with a slightly nervous smile.
"In case I did damage it..."
She pointed at herself.
"I'll pay for the repairs."
King's eyes widened.
One of her ears flicked once.
She stared at Fumino for a moment.
Then she let out a soft sigh.
"Alright then."
King stepped back from the driver's door.
"But I'm watching you."
Fumino nodded.
"Fair enough."
King leaned slightly toward the open door.
"And Sensei?"
Fumino looked at her.
"Yes?"
"Don't stall it."
Fumino's confidence immediately faltered.
"...I'll try."
King closed her eyes.
"This is going to be a long five hours."
King walked around the front of the R32 and headed toward the passenger side.
She opened the door and climbed inside, lowering herself into the passenger-side Bride bucket seat. She adjusted herself until she was sitting comfortably, then reached across and pulled the door shut.
Thunk.
The cabin immediately became more enclosed.
The deep green R32 sat idling around them, the steady pulse of the RB26DETT vibrating faintly through the seats and floor.
Fumino glanced to her right.
Then behind her.
She looked around the cabin, apparently searching for something.
Her eyes moved toward the B-pillar.
Then the rear of the seat.
Then the roll cage.
Nothing.
She looked at King.
"Uh..."
King turned toward her.
"Where's the seat belt?"
King pointed behind Fumino's back.
"You are sitting on it."
Fumino leaned forward and twisted around as much as the bucket seat allowed.
She spotted the harness straps tucked behind her.
"Oh."
King nodded.
"Pull the shoulder straps over your shoulders."
She pointed toward the main buckle positioned between Fumino's legs.
"And buckle them into that main buckle."
Then she pointed toward the lap belt.
"Same thing with your right lap belt."
Fumino nodded.
"Right."
She reached behind herself and pulled the two shoulder straps forward.
One at a time, she brought them over her shoulders and down across her chest.
She lowered the connector into the central buckle.
Click.
Then she reached down for the right-side lap belt, pulled it across her waist, and connected it to the same buckle.
Click.
Fumino gave the harness a small tug.
Then she slightly lifted the shoulder straps.
They moved.
Still loose.
Fumino looked at King.
"Uhh..."
King said nothing.
Instead, she reached over and tugged firmly on one of the shoulder straps.
Then the other.
She looked at Fumino.
Fumino blinked.
"Oh."
She understood.
She grabbed both adjustment straps.
With both hands, she pulled downward.
Rrrt.
The harness tightened across her shoulders.
She gave it another pull.
The straps settled firmly against her body.
Fumino nodded.
"That's tight."
"It's supposed to be," King replied.
Fumino gave the harness another cautious tug.
"Definitely secure."
King straightened her own seating position and looked over at her trainer.
For a brief moment, she stared at Fumino sitting in the driver's seat, surrounded by a manual gearbox, racing harness, bucket seat, roll cage and a modified RB26DETT humming beneath the hood.
She quietly whispered to herself.
"I guess the trainer becomes the student today..."
King shook her head.
Then she turned toward Fumino.
"Right."
She raised one hand.
"Things you need to note when driving a manual."
Fumino nodded attentively.
She looked toward King.
"So the layout of the gears is this."
King pointed toward the gear lever.
"Left and up is first."
She moved her hand forward.
"Straight down is second."
Then she shifted her hand toward the center.
"Neutral, then up is third."
"Straight down is fourth."
She moved toward the right side.
"Right and up is fifth."
Then she pointed downward.
"And down is reverse."
Fumino nodded slowly.
King continued.
"Every time you shift through a gear, you have to press the clutch."
Fumino looked down at the pedals.
"Got it."
King then gestured with her hands as though her fingers were pedals.
"The best technique for avoiding a stall is to build the RPMs to around two to three thousand..."
She raised her imaginary right foot.
"...then slowly let the clutch out."
She demonstrated the motion with her hands.
"As you release the clutch slowly, apply a little more gas."
Fumino watched carefully.
"So..."
She mimicked the motion.
"More RPM as the clutch comes up."
"Exactly."
King nodded.
"Don't dump the clutch."
Fumino nodded.
"And don't panic if the car starts shaking."
King paused.
"That's usually your warning that you're about to stall."
Fumino swallowed.
"That's useful to know."
"And how about slowing down?"
King blinked.
"That's simple."
She pointed toward the brake pedal.
"The simplest way to slow down is braking without the clutch."
She then pointed toward the tachometer.
"When the engine speed gets close to one thousand RPM, press the clutch."
Fumino nodded.
"Got it."
King folded her arms.
"Simple enough?"
Fumino nodded.
"Simple enough."
There was only one way to find out.
Fumino placed her left foot firmly on the clutch.
She pressed it all the way down.
The pedal resisted her foot, but she pushed through it until it reached the floor.
Her right hand moved to the handbrake.
She lowered it.
Click.
Then her hand moved to the gear lever.
She wrapped her fingers around it.
Left.
Up.
First gear.
The lever slid into position.
Fumino looked toward King.
King gave her a small nod.
Fumino took a breath.
She gently pressed the accelerator.
The tachometer needle climbed.
Two thousand RPM.
Then two-and-a-half.
Then three thousand.
Fumino held it there.
She began releasing the clutch.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
The R32's engine note changed.
The clutch began to bite.
The nose of the car lifted ever so slightly as power began reaching the rear wheels through the drivetrain.
Fumino carefully fed in a little more throttle.
The car started moving.
Slowly.
Smoothly.
No violent jerk.
No stall.
No grinding.
The R32 rolled forward.
Fumino's eyes widened.
She kept her left foot moving until the clutch was completely released.
The car continued creeping toward the parking-area exit.
King blinked.
Then slowly nodded.
"I'm surprised you didn't stall on your first attempt."
Fumino laughed once.
"I guess I'm a fast learner, am I, huh King?"
King nodded.
"You got that right."
Fumino smiled.
The R32 continued forward.
They approached the exit of the parking area and came to a gentle stop.
Fumino kept her foot on the brake.
King reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
She unlocked it and opened the navigation application.
The destination was already entered.
The hotel in Kyoto that Tracen Academy and the URA had arranged for selected students competing that weekend.
Other students had been assigned accommodations at several hotels throughout Kyoto City.
The Marriott Hotel.
The Mitsui Kyoto.
And others.
King checked the route.
Then she turned the phone toward herself.
"Alright."
She zoomed in slightly.
"I've got the directions here."
She placed the phone into the phone holder mounted on the dashboard.
"Just follow it."
Fumino leaned slightly toward the phone, studying the route.
The screen showed the long journey ahead.
Tokyo.
The expressways.
Then westward toward Kyoto.
Five hours of driving.
Fumino looked at the route again.
"Five hours, huh."
King nodded.
"And if you feel tired at all..."
She looked directly at Fumino.
"...at least let me take over at some point."
Fumino nodded.
"Alright, King."
She settled her hands back onto the steering wheel.
"For both our sakes."
King chuckled.
"Damn right, Fumino-sensei."
Fumino nodded.
"Alright, alright..."
She looked forward through the windshield.
Then she checked the mirrors.
Left.
Right.
Center.
Everything clear.
She released the brake.
The R32 began moving again.
It rolled through the parking-area exit and merged onto the road outside the academy.
Soon, the familiar buildings of Tracen Academy disappeared behind them.
They were now on the streets of Fuchu.
Traffic was already fairly busy.
Cars moved through the intersections.
Buses passed in the adjacent lanes.
Pedestrians crossed at designated crossings.
And mixed among the ordinary traffic were other Umamusume heading toward their own cars, stations, or departure points.
Fumino kept both hands on the steering wheel.
Her left foot hovered near the clutch.
Her right foot worked between the accelerator and brake.
The R32 moved steadily through the streets.
King watched the road ahead.
For now, Fumino was doing fine.
No stalling.
No grinding.
No sudden jerks.
Just a beginner learning how to operate a machine that was considerably more serious than the average manual car.
King leaned back into her bucket seat.
Outside, Fuchu slowly gave way to the larger roads that would eventually connect them to the expressway network.
Kyoto was still hundreds of kilometers away.
Five hours.
One long drive.
And at the end of it...
The final race of the Triple Tiara.
The Shuka Sho.
Across the parking area, over at the Miho Car Park, Sakura Chiyono O and Maruzensky were also preparing their cars for the long journey to Kyoto.
The two had been going over everything one final time.
Fluids.
Tires.
Engine bays.
Luggage.
Everything that needed to be checked before spending several hours on the road.
Chiyono O slowly lowered the front trunk lid of Maruzensky's Countach.
The panel descended carefully into place.
She pressed down gently in the center.
Click.
The latch caught.
Chiyono gave the panel a final glance before stepping away.
The Countach looked immaculate.
Its freshly refreshed red bodywork gleamed beneath the afternoon light, with its wide stance and sharp lines making it impossible to mistake for anything else in the parking lot.
It had only recently returned from its rebuild.
And now, for the first time since then, it was about to embark on a proper long-distance road trip.
Chiyono walked over toward Maruzensky.
Maruzensky was standing beside her Testarossa with the engine compartment open, giving the flat-twelve one final inspection.
She leaned slightly over the engine bay, checking the components and making sure everything was exactly where it was supposed to be.
Chiyono reached over and gently tapped her on the shoulder.
"Maruzen-san!"
Maruzensky looked up.
Chiyono stepped beside her and leaned forward slightly, looking into the engine bay herself.
"Everything is set and ready, Maruzen-san!"
Maruzensky smiled.
She gave Chiyono a wink.
"Thanks, Chiyono-chan!"
Chiyono nodded.
She straightened herself and glanced toward the freshly rebuilt Countach.
"Still surprising that you're loaning me your Countach."
She looked back toward Maruzensky.
"I could've brought my own car, ya know, Maruzen-san."
Maruzensky nodded.
"I know, I know!"
She closed her eyes for a moment.
"This is the first long road trip for the Countach since its rebuild."
Her smile became slightly more mischievous.
"And knowing my old self..."
She pointed a thumb toward herself.
"I'd definitely be doing everything I could to stress-test it."
Chiyono chuckled.
Maruzensky's expression softened.
"Although..."
She glanced toward the Countach.
"The car is still in its break-in period."
That was the important part.
The engine was completely rebuilt.
Forged internals.
High-performance components.
The new twin-turbo system.
The revised exhaust.
Everything had been built to handle considerably more power than the car had before.
But none of that meant it could immediately be driven as though it had already completed thousands of kilometers.
Maruzensky looked back toward Chiyono.
"That's why I'm loaning you my Countach."
She winked again.
"Because I trust you to keep it within the limits during the break-in period!"
Chiyono immediately snapped her fingers.
Snap!
"Ah! I see, Maruzen-san!"
She placed a hand against her chest and gave a determined nod.
"I will keep your word then!"
Maruzensky laughed.
"I know you will, Chiyono-chan."
She reached over and gave Chiyono's shoulder a friendly rub.
"Just remember."
She pointed toward the Countach.
"No unnecessary hard acceleration."
Chiyono nodded.
"No unnecessary high RPM."
Another nod.
"And definitely no trying to see how fast it can go."
Chiyono gave her an innocent smile.
"Understood!"
Maruzensky narrowed her eyes.
"That sounded suspiciously enthusiastic."
Chiyono laughed.
"I'm kidding!"
Maruzensky shook her head with a smile.
"Alright, alright."
She turned back toward her Testarossa.
Then she reached up and lowered the engine hatch.
The panel came down with a smooth motion.
Thump.
She pressed it firmly until the latch engaged.
Click.
Maruzensky stepped back and looked over both cars.
The red Countach.
The white Testarossa.
Two Italian icons.
Two very different machines.
And now they were going to make the long trip from Miho toward Kyoto together.
Maruzensky turned toward Chiyono.
"Ready to head out?"
Chiyono O immediately nodded.
"Ready, Maruzen-san!"
Maruzensky smiled.
"Then lead the way, young apprentice!"
Chiyono straightened.
"Wilco!"
She turned and walked toward the Countach.
Maruzensky headed toward her Testarossa.
Chiyono reached the Countach first.
She opened the driver's-side scissor door.
The door rose upward.
She ducked underneath it and climbed inside.
The champagne-colored seats welcomed her as she settled into the driver's seat.
She adjusted herself slightly.
Then reached for the four-point harness.
One strap.
Then the other.
She pulled them across her shoulders before connecting them into the center buckle.
Click.
She gave the harness a firm tug to make sure everything was secure.
Then she reached up and grabbed the edge of the raised scissor door.
With a smooth pull, she brought it downward.
Thunk.
The door closed.
Chiyono was now sealed inside the Countach's cabin.
She reached toward the ignition.
The key slid into place.
She turned it.
The starter motor engaged.
RRR-RRR-RRR...
The freshly rebuilt 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged Lamborghini V12 cranked beneath the rear deck.
For a moment, there was only the sound of the starter.
Then—
WHUM!
The V12 fired.
The engine immediately settled into its deep, mechanical idle.
A faint puff of blue smoke emerged from the Countach's quad exhaust outlets.
Chiyono watched the mirrors for a moment.
The blue haze quickly dissipated into the air.
For a freshly rebuilt engine, it wasn't particularly alarming.
Residual oil and assembly lubricant were still being burned away as the engine continued its initial break-in.
Chiyono smiled.
"Sounds healthy."
She rested her hands on the steering wheel.
A few spaces away, Maruzensky climbed into her white Testarossa.
She settled behind the wheel and pulled the door shut.
Then she reached for her own ignition.
The Testarossa's starter motor turned the flat-twelve over.
Rrrr... rrrr... rrrr...
Then the engine caught.
The twelve-cylinder engine hummed into life.
Its exhaust note was unmistakably different from the Countach.
Smoother.
Lower.
Yet still unmistakably Ferrari.
Chiyono looked into her mirrors.
Maruzensky was ready.
Maruzensky looked forward through her windshield.
Chiyono was ready.
The Countach eased out of its parking space first.
Its engine note rose slightly as Chiyono carefully fed in throttle, keeping the RPM well within the limits Maruzensky had given her.
The Testarossa followed.
Two Italian machines rolled toward the exit.
They were the next ones to leave for Kyoto.
Over time...
The parking areas at both Ritto and Miho gradually became quieter.
One by one, cars pulled out.
One by one, students said their goodbyes to those staying behind.
The constant movement that had filled the lots earlier in the day slowly diminished. Empty spaces began appearing between the remaining vehicles, and the once-crowded parking areas started to resemble their usual selves again.
Most of the students had already departed.
Some had left in the morning.
Others had waited until lunchtime.
And a few had stayed behind to finish training or other academy responsibilities before beginning their own journeys.
Eventually, only a handful remained on campus.
Most of them were juniors.
For them, there was no Shuka Sho to prepare for.
No major race that demanded a trip across the country.
They would remain at Tracen while the senior students, trainers, staff, and racing fans descended upon Kyoto.
The academy became quieter.
But far away from the campus...
The roads toward Kyoto were anything but quiet.
It was now the peak of the day.
The sun was high above the horizon, shining through a mostly clear autumn sky.
And hundreds of kilometers away, the Kyoseki-green R32 GT-R continued cruising down the highway.
The Shin-Tomei Expressway stretched ahead of them.
Long.
Fast.
And remarkably smooth.
The R32 had already traveled approximately 220 kilometers since leaving Tracen.
They were now well into their journey.
Far southeast of Tokyo, the familiar urban landscape had gradually fallen behind them.
The dense buildings and constant traffic of the capital had given way to wider stretches of highway, rolling terrain, roadside greenery, and distant mountains.
Fumino Nase was still driving.
And, surprisingly...
She was doing well.
Very well, actually.
Her hands rested comfortably on the Nardi steering wheel.
Her eyes remained focused on the road ahead.
Every so often, she checked the mirrors.
She had become considerably smoother with the clutch since leaving the academy.
Her gear changes weren't perfect yet, but they were no longer accompanied by the nervous hesitation she had shown in the parking lot.
The R32 settled into its cruising rhythm.
The RB26DETT hummed beneath the hood.
Tire noise whispered continuously against the asphalt.
Occasionally, the engine note changed slightly as Fumino made a small adjustment to the throttle or shifted through the five-speed gearbox.
King Halo, meanwhile...
Sat silently in the passenger seat.
She looked out the window.
Her head rested lightly against the headrest as she stared through the glass at the passing scenery.
Clouds drifted slowly across the autumn sky.
The occasional truck passed in the neighboring lane.
Cars appeared in front of them, then gradually disappeared behind.
Nothing seemed particularly interesting.
Nothing demanded her attention.
For once, King wasn't thinking about cars.
She wasn't thinking about training.
She wasn't thinking about the race strategy Fumino had prepared.
She wasn't thinking about her rivals.
Her mind was strangely quiet.
Well...
Almost.
There was one thing she couldn't stop thinking about.
The Shuka Sho.
Three days.
Only three days remained.
King slowly shifted her gaze downward.
Her eyes landed on the glove compartment.
She stared at it for a few seconds.
Then she reached forward and opened it.
Click.
The glove compartment dropped open.
Inside were a few small items.
But one immediately stood out.
A ticket.
A front-row ticket to the Shuka Sho.
King reached inside and gently picked it up.
She looked at it.
The ticket wasn't for her.
Obviously.
It wasn't for Fumino, either.
It was for her mother.
Her mother was already in Kyoto.
And tomorrow, the two of them were supposed to meet.
Face to face.
It wasn't simply supposed to be a quick meeting before the race.
There was more to it than that.
King's mother wanted to see her.
And King wanted to see her mother.
After everything that had happened between them over the past year, there were things that needed to be said.
Things that couldn't be said over the phone.
Things that couldn't be resolved through short conversations between training sessions.
King wanted to make some form of amends.
Not necessarily to fix everything.
She knew better than to expect that.
But perhaps...
They could at least understand one another.
Even if only a little.
She turned the ticket between her fingers.
Her mother would be sitting in the front row.
Watching her.
Watching the race.
Watching to see whether King could complete the Triple Tiara.
King slowly exhaled.
She placed the ticket back into the glove compartment.
Then she pushed the compartment upward.
Click.
It latched shut.
King leaned back into her seat.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then her lips parted.
"Feels weird being a passenger in my own car."
Fumino glanced at her for a second.
Then returned her eyes to the highway.
"Oh yeah?"
King straightened her posture.
"Yeah."
She looked down at her hands.
"I'm always the one driving, anyways."
Fumino nodded silently.
The R32 continued forward.
A few seconds passed.
King looked at Fumino.
Then at the road.
Then back toward Fumino.
"How do you think I'm doing?"
Fumino raised an eyebrow.
King clarified.
"Driving."
Fumino smiled faintly.
"You?"
She thought about it.
Then nodded.
"You learn fast, Fumino-sensei."
King chuckled.
"Our first fuel stop, you literally floored it on the on-ramp to merge onto the highway."
Fumino's expression immediately became slightly embarrassed.
She laughed dryly and rubbed the back of her head.
"Ha ha..."
She glanced at King.
"My inner speed demon got the better of me."
King raised an eyebrow.
"Your inner speed demon?"
Fumino shrugged.
"It was a perfectly reasonable merge."
"You buried the accelerator."
"It was a spirited merge."
"You nearly put me into the back of the seat."
"That's called acceleration."
King stared at her.
Fumino continued driving as though nothing had happened.
King eventually shook her head.
"You really are something, Sensei."
Fumino smiled.
Then her expression slowly became more serious.
She blinked twice.
Her hands remained steady on the steering wheel.
After another few seconds, she sighed.
"Do you really have to meet with your mother tomorrow, King?"
King looked toward her.
She didn't hesitate.
"I have to."
Fumino's eyes remained on the road.
King continued.
"Practically just to make some form of amends with her..."
She looked out the window.
"...and my relationship."
Fumino sighed.
"I'm sorry, King..."
There was genuine concern in her voice.
"But I've got a bad feeling about this."
King raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean, Fumino-sensei?"
Fumino glanced at King.
Then immediately returned her attention to the road.
"The proximity of the scheduling."
King remained silent.
Fumino continued.
"If anything happens between you and your mom..."
Her grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
"And you come out of it mentally affected..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"It might put your Shuka Sho race in jeopardy."
King's expression changed.
Her ears slowly lowered.
Fumino continued.
"If you two get into an argument..."
She paused.
"That is the last thing any of us would want."
She looked toward King again.
"Because the following day, you have a race to win."
King looked down.
She knew Fumino was right.
The timing was uncomfortable.
The day before the biggest race of King's career, she would be sitting across from the woman whose words had affected her more than anyone else's.
The same woman who had dismissed her Japanese Oaks victory.
The same woman who had praised Daring Tact over her.
The same woman whose approval King had spent years chasing.
Fumino continued.
"Hotels around Kyoto are sold out."
King looked toward her.
"Most of Japan has traveled to Kyoto just for you."
She paused.
"To see you crowned the first Umamusume to win the Double Slam."
King blinked.
Her ears perked up.
The magnitude of it suddenly hit her again.
The Japanese Oaks had changed everything.
Her record-breaking victory had drawn attention from across the country.
People weren't simply coming to Kyoto because the Shuka Sho was the final race of the Triple Tiara.
They were coming because they wanted to see history.
They wanted to see King Halo complete it.
The pressure wasn't just coming from the track anymore.
It was everywhere.
On television.
In newspapers.
On posters.
On racing broadcasts.
Online.
And now...
In the hotel rooms throughout Kyoto.
Fumino sighed.
"King."
King turned toward her.
Fumino's expression softened.
"Look."
King waited.
"I love you."
King blinked.
Fumino quickly clarified.
"As a trainer."
King's eyes widened slightly.
Fumino continued.
"But I'm not a fan of your mom at all."
Her eyebrows drooped.
She stared ahead through the windshield.
"If anything happens to you tomorrow, King..."
She paused.
"I'll be there."
King looked at her.
Fumino's voice became quieter.
"But..."
She turned her head slightly.
Her eyes met King's.
"If something bad happens..."
She paused again.
"...your mom will take the front of the blame for it."
King slowly exhaled.
"I know, Sensei."
She looked down at her lap.
"My mom is quite the old hag character, huh?"
Fumino scoffed.
"That's putting it lightly."
King gave a small, reluctant smile.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The R32 continued onward.
The highway stretched endlessly ahead.
The engine continued its steady rhythm.
And somewhere beyond the mountains and miles of expressway...
Kyoto was waiting.
So was the Shuka Sho.
And tomorrow...
So was King's mother.
Then—
Right behind them, bright lights flashed through the rear window.
Fumino's eyes immediately flicked toward the rear-view mirror.
"Huh?"
King noticed the change in her expression and gently patted her shoulder.
"Keep your focus on the road, Fumino-sensei. I'll take a look."
Fumino nodded and kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel.
King turned in her seat, looking through the rear glass.
The first car she spotted was unmistakable.
A Rosso Corsa Ferrari F12tdf.
Its long hood and aggressive front fascia filled the rear window for a moment before the Ferrari smoothly moved into the outer lane, giving them a little more room.
King's eyes widened slightly.
Then another set of headlights appeared behind it.
A Symboli Green Ferrari F40.
Behind that came a white Lexus LFA.
And trailing just behind the LFA was a silver Lanzante 930 TAG Turbo.
King stared for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Of course..."
Fumino glanced at her.
"Friends of yours?"
King nodded.
"Definitely."
As if on cue, her phone began ringing.
The sound came from the center console.
King reached down, picked it up, and glanced at the screen.
A group call.
Symboli Rudolf.
Gentildonna.
Mr. C.B.
Orfevre.
King raised an eyebrow.
"Well, speak of the devils."
She accepted the call.
Immediately, C.B.'s voice came through the speakers.
"Hey-ho, King-chan!"
King laughed under her breath.
"Hi, C.B."
Then came Rudolf's calm voice.
"Need a fellow Uma to escort you to Kyoto?"
King looked back through the rear window again.
The green F40 was now clearly visible.
"Rudolf..."
Gentildonna's voice followed.
"We've got your back, King. All the way."
Then, finally, Orfevre spoke.
And for the first time in quite a while, there was a small chuckle in her voice.
"You two just relax there. We'll let you lead."
King shook her head, smiling.
"You guys are such a pain in the ass at times!"
C.B. laughed loudly through the phone.
"Hey! It comes with the Triple Crown Recipient Package!"
Orfevre hummed.
"Mhm..."
King glanced at the navigation mounted near the center of the dashboard.
A green symbol appeared several kilometers ahead.
She tapped the screen.
"Hey. There's a rest stop ahead."
She looked toward Fumino.
"Why don't we grab some lunch and take a quick break from all of this driving?"
There was a brief pause.
Then Rudolf sighed dramatically.
"Please. My back is killing me."
Gentildonna immediately laughed.
"Why did you not bring your RX-7, Rudolf?"
Rudolf answered without hesitation.
"My spine would turn into fine powder if I did so."
C.B. burst out laughing.
"Still blaming the suspension?"
"I am blaming everything about that car."
"That's fair."
King grinned.
"Sounds like everybody needs a break."
Fumino nodded.
"Absolutely."
She glanced at the navigation.
"Next rest area?"
King pointed ahead.
"Yep. Just keep following the route."
"Got it."
The group continued down the Shin-Tomei.
For a few more kilometers, the six cars maintained their formation.
The Kyoseki Group A green R32 stayed in front, Fumino carefully keeping the car in its lane.
The Ferrari F12tdf followed behind.
The Symboli Green F40 kept its distance from the Ferrari.
Gentildonna's white LFA followed Rudolf.
C.B.'s silver Lanzante 930 TAG Turbo stayed behind them.
And finally, the dark cherry red Toyota GR GT joined the formation.
Then another voice suddenly came through the phone.
"Hi, everyone!"
King's eyebrows rose.
"Ah."
The voice continued.
"Apologies for my tardiness!"
Right on cue, the dark cherry red GR GT pulled alongside the R32.
Fumino instinctively glanced toward her right.
There, sitting behind the wheel, Forever Young raised one hand from the steering wheel and gave them a playful wink.
Then she waved.
"Yanko?!"
King chuckled.
"Relax, Fumino-sensei."
Fumino stared at the GR GT for another second before returning her attention to the road.
"How many people did you invite?"
King shrugged.
"I didn't."
"Then how did they all know where we were?"
King smiled.
"Because they're Umamusume."
Fumino stared at her.
"That explains absolutely nothing."
King laughed.
Forever Young moved ahead slightly before falling back into formation.
King looked at the navigation again.
"Lunch first."
She pointed toward the upcoming exit.
"Exit on the next rest stop."
Fumino nodded.
"Got it."
A few moments later, the group approached the interchange.
Fumino activated the R32's turn signal.
The green GT-R smoothly moved toward the exit lane.
The others followed.
One by one, the six cars peeled away from the Shin-Tomei Expressway and descended toward the rest area.
The sound of the highway gradually faded behind them.
Soon, the convoy entered a large rest area filled with cars, buses, trucks, and travelers.
Fumino slowed the R32.
She carefully pressed the brake pedal, downshifted from fifth to fourth, then third as the entrance lane tightened.
Her left foot pressed the clutch.
The shifter moved cleanly into second.
She released the clutch smoothly and allowed the RB26's revs to settle.
King watched quietly.
Fumino was getting better.
Much better.
For someone who had admitted only hours earlier that she couldn't drive a manual transmission, she was adapting surprisingly quickly.
The R32 rolled into the parking area.
Fumino found an empty space and carefully guided the GT-R into it.
She pressed the clutch.
Moved the shifter into neutral.
Pulled the handbrake.
Then turned the key.
The RB26DETT's growl faded into silence.
The sudden quiet almost felt strange.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the other five cars arrived.
The F12tdf came in first.
Its V12 made a deep, mechanical note as Orfevre brought it to a stop.
Rudolf followed in the Symboli Green F40.
Gentildonna parked the white LFA beside it.
C.B. brought the silver Lanzante 930 TAG Turbo into the next space.
And Forever Young parked the GR GT nearby.
Six cars.
Six Umamusume.
One long trip to Kyoto.
The engines gradually fell silent.
Hoods ticked softly as hot metal cooled.
Fans whirred briefly beneath engine bays.
The smell of warm brakes, tires, fuel, and exhaust hung lightly in the air.
Fumino stepped out of the R32.
She stretched her arms over her head.
"Ahhh..."
King climbed out from the passenger side.
Fumino looked toward her.
"How was that?"
King smiled.
"You didn't stall."
"That's a good thing, right?"
"Very."
Fumino smiled proudly.
"I'll take that."
The others gathered around.
Rudolf immediately stretched her back.
"Thank goodness."
C.B. looked at her.
"That bad?"
"I've been sitting in an F40 for hours."
"You could have switched cars."
"No."
Rudolf pointed at the green Ferrari.
"I chose the F40."
C.B. shrugged.
"Then suffer with dignity."
Rudolf sighed.
King laughed.
"Come on. Let's get inside before Rudolf starts complaining about every vertebra in her spine."
"I heard that."
"You were supposed to."
They entered the restaurant together.
The rest area was busy.
Travelers filled nearly every table.
Some people had clearly come from Tokyo.
Others were heading west.
Families were eating together.
Truck drivers sat quietly with their meals.
Students in school jackets could be seen scattered throughout the dining area.
And every once in a while, someone's eyes would drift toward the windows.
Toward the six exotic cars sitting outside.
It didn't take long before whispers began.
"Was that an F40?"
"I think so."
"Is that an LFA?"
"Wait... is that a 930?"
"That's a GT-R."
"Who's driving all those?"
King ignored the attention.
She was used to it.
The group found a large table toward the back.
Fumino looked at the seats.
"You girls go ahead."
King looked at her.
"What?"
"I'll sit somewhere else."
"Why?"
Fumino smiled.
"You haven't had much time together lately. Go talk."
King stared at her for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Alright."
Fumino picked up her food and moved to another table nearby.
The others sat together.
Their orders soon arrived.
Ramen.
Curry.
Rice bowls.
Sandwiches.
Tea.
Coffee.
And enough food to make it clear that the long drive had worked up everyone's appetite.
For a few minutes, there was nothing but the sound of chopsticks, utensils, cups, and casual conversation.
Then Forever Young leaned back against her seat.
"It's weird seeing you not driving your own car, King!"
King chuckled.
"Fumino-sensei insisted she drive so I wouldn't stress myself."
Rudolf laughed.
"And it's not like driving for us is stressful!"
C.B. nodded.
"Driving is a way for us to actually de-stress!"
King shrugged.
"Well..."
She looked toward Fumino, who was sitting at the nearby table.
"You know how humans sometimes think of us horse girls."
Forever Young frowned.
"Yeah."
"They think every single one of us is going to drive like we're trying to qualify for a race."
C.B. smiled.
"To be fair, some of us do."
Gentildonna nodded.
"Most of us."
King pointed at her.
"Especially you."
Gentildonna simply smiled.
"I have standards."
King rolled her eyes.
Then her attention shifted toward Orfevre.
"Speaking of cars..."
Orfevre looked up from her tea.
King leaned forward.
"You got a new car, Orfe?"
Orfevre slowly sipped her tea.
She placed the cup back onto the coaster.
"Right."
"I sold my Porsche for a Ferrari."
King raised an eyebrow.
"You actually sold it?"
"Yes."
"What Ferrari?"
Orfevre smiled.
"A grand tourer."
She crossed her arms.
"Perfect for a King like myself."
C.B. immediately laughed.
"Of course you'd say that."
Orfevre ignored her.
Gentildonna nodded.
"I actually drove her car once."
King looked at her.
"You did?"
"Yes."
Gentildonna leaned back.
"It's nice."
"Easy to drive. Comfortable. Very quick."
She paused.
"Not as good sounding as my V10."
C.B. raised a finger.
"Here we go."
Gentildonna continued.
"But it's an Italian twelve-cylinder engine."
She smiled.
"You can't go wrong with that."
C.B. raised a fist.
"Amen to that, Gentil!"
Rudolf chuckled.
"Apparently we're all becoming Italian car enthusiasts."
King smiled.
"You already own an Italian car."
Rudolf looked toward the window.
"Yes."
"The F40."
"And?"
Rudolf sighed.
"That thing is basically a road-legal argument with an engine."
C.B. laughed.
"That's why you love it."
Rudolf paused.
"...Maybe."
King laughed.
The conversation continued naturally.
For a while, the upcoming race seemed almost forgotten.
They talked about cars.
About driving.
About the trip.
About the ridiculous number of people already heading toward Kyoto.
It felt normal.
Comfortable.
Like they were simply friends taking a road trip together.
But eventually, the conversation began to shift.
Rudolf looked at King.
"So..."
King looked up.
"Are you ready for the final leg of your racing season?"
King nodded.
"Absolutely ready."
She took another sip of her drink.
Then she sighed.
"Although..."
Forever Young raised an eyebrow.
Gentildonna and C.B. leaned forward.
Orfevre's right ear perked up.
Her eyebrow raised slightly.
Rudolf simply blinked.
King placed her cup down.
She licked her lips.
Then she spoke.
"But... I think..."
Everyone waited.
"After this race..."
King looked down at the table.
"I'll transfer to the Dream Trophy League."
Silence.
Forever Young's eyes widened slightly.
C.B.'s jaw dropped.
Rudolf blinked.
Both of Orfevre's ears stood straight up.
Gentildonna's expression tightened.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then, almost simultaneously—
"Huh?"
King couldn't help but chuckle.
"Come on."
She leaned back.
"You guys shouldn't be surprised."
C.B. stared at her.
"King-chan..."
"I'm way past my prime."
King looked around the table.
"And yet, I'm still winning."
She shook her head.
"I think it's time to finally end my Twinkle Series run after this race."
The words hung over the table.
This time, nobody laughed.
Nobody made a joke.
Because they knew King.
They knew how hard she had worked.
They knew what the Triple Tiara meant to her.
And they knew what the Shuka Sho represented.
It wasn't just another race.
It was the final piece.
The final race of a campaign that had already placed her name into the history books.
Forever Young slowly blinked.
Then she looked at the others.
"She has a point, you know."
King looked at her.
Forever Young shrugged.
"She's already accomplished a hell of a lot."
Rudolf nodded.
"You, Yanko, are already in the Dream Trophy League months ahead of King."
Forever Young smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
She looked back at King.
"Whatever your decision is..."
Her voice became gentler.
"We'll be here to support you."
Gentildonna nodded.
"She's right."
She folded her arms.
"You've already proven yourself."
Orfevre nodded.
"You had a great run."
She picked up her tea again.
"And it is something you should be proud of."
C.B. leaned back.
Then she gave King a familiar grin.
"You've written yourself into the history books as one of the greatest of all time."
She raised her cup.
"Take a bow, King Halo."
C.B.'s smile softened.
"You deserve it."
King stared at them.
For once, she didn't have a clever response.
She didn't have an arrogant comeback.
She didn't have a sarcastic remark.
She simply sat there.
Listening.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the table.
Then loosened.
"Thank you."
It was quiet.
Almost too quiet for King Halo.
Rudolf smiled.
"You don't have to decide everything today."
King looked at her.
Rudolf continued.
"Whatever happens after Kyoto..."
She placed her hand on the table.
"You'll figure it out."
King lowered her gaze.
"I know."
"But..."
She paused.
"I don't know if I'm ready."
The others remained silent.
King looked toward the large windows.
Beyond the glass, the six cars were still sitting in the parking lot.
Her R32.
The green machine that had become such a huge part of her identity.
The car she had driven through countless nights.
Through Tokyo.
Through mountain roads.
Through victories.
Through failures.
And now...
She was sitting inside a restaurant while someone else drove it.
It was a strange feeling.
Almost symbolic.
King rested her cheek against her hand.
"I've spent my entire life trying to become the best."
Her voice was softer now.
"Every race."
"Every training session."
"Every mistake."
"Every victory."
She looked down.
"And now I'm finally at the point where I can actually say that I did it."
She smiled faintly.
"But that makes the question afterward even harder."
Forever Young nodded.
"Yeah."
King looked at her.
"You understand?"
Forever Young smiled.
"More than you think."
She leaned back.
"When you spend your whole life chasing something..."
She glanced toward the window.
"It's weird when you finally catch it."
King's ears lowered slightly.
"What if..."
She stopped.
C.B. looked at her.
"What if what?"
King took a slow breath.
"What if I leave the Twinkle Series..."
She paused.
"...and regret it?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Then Rudolf spoke.
"Then you'll deal with that when it happens."
King looked at her.
Rudolf smiled.
"But don't make a decision because you're afraid of the future."
King's eyes shifted.
The words struck something inside her.
She remembered Maruzensky.
The night drive.
The Countach.
The conversation on the way back to Tracen.
Don't confuse the two.
King's fingers curled slightly.
She looked toward the table.
"I've heard that before."
Rudolf raised an eyebrow.
"From whom?"
King smiled.
"Someone with a very loud Countach."
C.B. laughed.
"That narrows it down to one person."
Gentildonna smiled.
"Maruzensky."
King nodded.
"She told me not to retire because I'm afraid of what comes next."
Rudolf's expression softened.
"Then perhaps she's right."
King looked toward the window again.
The afternoon sunlight reflected across the parking lot.
Her R32 sat quietly among the other cars.
The Kyoseki green paint caught the light.
The RAYS wheels were still dusty from the long journey.
The windshield reflected the open sky.
For a moment, King imagined herself driving it.
Her right hand wrapped around the Nardi steering wheel.
Her left hand resting on the shifter.
The RB26 climbing through the rev range.
The road stretching ahead.
And then she imagined something else.
The final race.
The starting gate.
The crowd.
Her name being called.
The moment the gates opened.
The final straight.
The finish line.
She closed her eyes.
Three days.
Only three days.
That was all.
After that, everything could change.
"King."
She opened her eyes.
Fumino was standing beside the table.
She had finished her meal.
"Ready to go?"
King looked at her.
Then at the others.
"Yeah."
She stood up.
The others followed.
C.B. stretched.
"That was good."
Gentildonna stood and adjusted her jacket.
"Agreed."
Orfevre picked up her tea.
"Then let us continue."
Forever Young grinned.
"Kyoto isn't going to come to us."
Rudolf sighed.
"And neither is the hotel."
King laughed.
"Alright."
They left the restaurant together.
Outside, the warm afternoon air greeted them.
The parking lot was still busy.
A few people looked over as the group walked toward their cars.
Some recognized them.
Others recognized the cars.
A few stared openly.
King didn't mind.
She walked toward the R32.
Fumino followed.
At the driver's door, King stopped.
She placed her hand on the roof.
The metal was warm from the sunlight.
She looked at the car for a moment.
Then at Fumino.
"Want to drive?"
Fumino blinked.
"Me?"
King nodded.
"You've gotten this far."
She tossed the keys over.
Fumino caught them.
"Besides..."
King smiled.
"I think my trainer deserves to enjoy the car she's been learning to drive."
Fumino grinned.
"Don't mind if I do."
She opened the driver's door.
This time, she climbed in with far less hesitation.
Her movements were more confident.
She lowered herself into the Bride bucket seat.
Pulled the door shut.
Adjusted the seat.
Checked the mirrors.
Then reached for the ignition.
King opened the passenger door and climbed inside.
She settled into the bucket seat.
Her hands rested loosely on her lap.
Fumino looked over.
"Ready?"
King smiled.
"Let's go."
Fumino pressed the clutch.
Checked neutral.
Turned the key.
The RB26DETT roared back to life.
The engine settled into a deep, steady idle.
King watched the tachometer.
Fumino released the handbrake.
Selected first.
Held the clutch at the bite point.
Added a little throttle.
And smoothly pulled away.
King smiled.
"Much better."
Fumino grinned.
"I told you."
The R32 left the parking space.
Outside, the other five cars started their engines one by one.
The F12tdf's V12 came alive.
The F40 fired with its unmistakable rawness.
The LFA's V10 barked sharply before settling into its idle.
The Lanzante TAG Turbo rumbled to life.
And the GR GT's engine started with a deep mechanical growl.
The six-car convoy began moving toward the expressway entrance.
Fumino kept the R32 ahead.
She shifted into second.
Then third.
Her movements were smoother now.
Less hesitant.
King watched her hand move from the shifter back to the wheel.
"You're getting it."
Fumino smiled.
"Having a good teacher helps."
King looked at her.
"Don't get sentimental."
"I wasn't."
"You absolutely were."
"Maybe a little."
King laughed.
The convoy merged back onto the Shin-Tomei.
The road opened ahead.
The six cars accelerated together.
One by one, they settled into their lanes.
The R32 led.
The F12tdf followed.
The F40 stayed behind.
The LFA and Lanzante 930 TAG Turbo maintained their positions.
Forever Young's GR GT brought up the rear.
The scenery began to change.
The sprawling outskirts gradually gave way to mountains.
Autumn colors became more visible along the hillsides.
The sky had begun taking on a warmer shade as the afternoon slowly moved toward evening.
King sat quietly.
For the first time since leaving Tokyo, she wasn't thinking about the destination.
She wasn't thinking about the hotel.
She wasn't thinking about her mother.
She wasn't thinking about the reporters.
She wasn't thinking about the Triple Tiara.
She was simply listening.
To the RB26.
To the tires against the road.
To the occasional shift from Fumino.
To the faint sound of the convoy behind them.
And somewhere deep inside her mind, she realized something.
Maybe this trip wasn't about reaching Kyoto as quickly as possible.
Maybe it wasn't even about the race.
Maybe it was about everything waiting beyond it.
Her future.
Her friends.
Her cars.
The roads she had yet to drive.
The places she had yet to see.
The people she had yet to meet.
The races she might still run.
Or the races she might choose to leave behind.
King looked out the passenger window.
The mountains slowly rolled past.
She smiled.
She still didn't know what she would do after the Shuka Sho.
She still didn't know whether she would transfer to the Dream Trophy League.
She still didn't know whether she could truly walk away from the Twinkle Series.
But for the first time, she wasn't terrified of not knowing.
She simply had time.
Three days.
Three days until the final race of the Triple Tiara.
Three days until she stood at the starting gate in Kyoto.
Three days until she found out whether all those years of chasing greatness would finally reach their conclusion.
King lowered her gaze to her hands.
Then she looked at Fumino.
"Sensei."
"Hm?"
"Thanks."
Fumino glanced at her.
"For what?"
King smiled.
"For driving."
Fumino laughed.
"You're welcome."
A moment passed.
King looked forward again.
"And..."
She paused.
"For everything else."
Fumino didn't answer immediately.
She simply smiled.
"You're welcome, King."
The R32 continued down the expressway.
Behind them, the five other cars followed.
Six cars.
Six friends.
One road.
And one destination.
Kyoto.
The sun continued to descend toward the horizon as the convoy disappeared deeper into the western part of Japan.
For King Halo, the road ahead had never felt so uncertain.
But it also had never felt so open.
Whatever happened at the Shuka Sho...
Whatever happened with her mother...
Whatever decision she ultimately made about the Twinkle Series...
She knew one thing.
She wouldn't be facing it alone.
Not anymore.
Her friends would be there.
Fumino would be there.
And the road would always be waiting.
King rested her head against the seat and watched the sky through the windshield.
The final race was three days away.
The next chapter of her life was even closer.
And somewhere beyond the mountains, Kyoto was waiting.
The R32's engine continued to hum beneath them.
Fumino changed into fifth.
The revs settled.
The convoy maintained its pace.
King smiled quietly.
For now, there was no finish line.
Only the road ahead.
And for the first time in a long time...
That was enough.