Two weeks had passed since King Halo's emphatic victory in the Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.
And somehow, despite the passage of time, the victory had not faded from the public's attention.
If anything, it had only grown.
King Halo was still the subject of nearly every major Umamusume racing discussion.
Sports programs replayed the final stretch.
Commentators dissected her positioning.
Analysts argued over whether her late-race acceleration had been planned from the beginning or whether King had simply sensed the perfect moment to strike.
Fans, meanwhile, had their own answer.
They called it the "King Halo Burst."
A phrase that had quickly spread across social media, racing forums, fan magazines, and even casual conversations around Tracen Academy.
The most remarkable part was not simply that King Halo had won.
It was how she had won.
The Japanese Oaks was a 2,400-meter test of stamina, patience, positioning, and finishing speed.
King Halo had displayed all four.
She had remained patient through the opening stages.
She had conserved her strength.
She had allowed the leaders to dictate the early tempo.
And when the final stretch arrived, she had unleashed everything she had been saving.
The result had been devastating.
A victory by more than ten lengths.
A margin so enormous that it had rewritten the record books.
For years, the record for the largest winning margin in the Japanese Oaks had belonged to Liberty Island, who had won by six lengths.
Now, that record belonged to King Halo.
And the replay footage made the achievement look even more extraordinary.
The moment she accelerated.
The way her stride lengthened.
The way the gap between herself and Buena Vista seemed to grow with every single stride.
The way she crossed the finish line without ever looking back.
That section of the race had become the most replayed part of the entire broadcast.
One particular clip had been viewed so many times that even Umamusume who had no interest in racing had seen it.
Some fans slowed the footage down.
Others played it at normal speed.
Some analyzed her running form frame by frame.
Others simply watched it because they liked seeing the usually composed King Halo completely lose herself in the moment of victory.
And then there were the memes.
Plenty of them.
Some showed King Halo flying past the competition with exaggerated wings.
Others compared her final acceleration to rockets, fighter jets, and racing cars.
One particularly popular clip had replaced the sound of her footsteps with the screaming exhaust note of a high-performance engine.
King Halo had absolutely hated that one.
She had called it "ridiculous."
Then secretly watched it three more times.
But underneath all the attention, one fact mattered more than everything else.
King Halo now possessed two victories in the Triple Tiara.
Two crowns.
Two legs completed.
Only one remained.
The final test would arrive in October.
The final crown.
The final chance to complete the Triple Tiara.
And with every passing day, the expectations surrounding her became heavier.
But for now—
It was summer.
A hot Saturday afternoon.
Tracen Academy had entered one of those weekends where the entire campus seemed to exist in a strange balance between activity and relaxation.
The summer sun hung high above the academy grounds.
Heat shimmered faintly above the paved pathways.
The trees surrounding the campus were thick with green leaves, their branches occasionally moving whenever a warm breeze passed through.
Cicadas sang from somewhere beyond the dormitories.
Their constant buzzing blended with distant traffic from the surrounding streets of Fuchu.
The academy itself was unusually lively.
Not because of a major race.
Not because of a formal school event.
Just because it was the weekend.
And after two weeks of being surrounded by racing discussions, interviews, training schedules, and public attention, the students were finally allowed a little room to breathe.
Some Umamusume had gone into the city.
Shopping.
Eating.
Meeting friends.
Visiting arcades.
Going to cafés.
Others had decided that leaving campus in the summer heat was simply not worth the effort.
They stayed inside their dormitories.
Some talked with their roommates.
Some played games.
Some studied.
Others simply slept.
A few had gathered around the outdoor seating areas beneath the shade of the trees, enjoying cold drinks while talking about absolutely nothing important.
The academy was alive.
But it was not frantic.
It was relaxed.
For once, there was no starting gate waiting for anyone.
No stopwatch.
No commentator screaming into a microphone.
No trainer shouting instructions from the sidelines.
No photographers surrounding the athletes.
Just another Saturday.
And yet, one particular Umamusume remained difficult to escape from.
King Halo.
Even when she wasn't physically present, her name seemed to appear somewhere.
A television in the cafeteria was showing a replay of the Japanese Oaks.
A group of younger Umamusume were discussing her final burst near one of the dormitory vending machines.
Someone had even taped a printed screenshot of King crossing the finish line onto a bulletin board.
The photograph showed her fist raised toward the sky.
Her expression was fierce.
Determined.
Triumphant.
The caption underneath read:
KING HALO — TWO CROWNS.
King had seen it earlier that morning.
She had stared at it for several seconds.
Then walked away.
She had not removed it.
She had secretly been pleased.
Very pleased.
But she would never admit that.
Especially not publicly.
Because she was King Halo.
And according to King Halo herself—
A first-rate Umamusume did not get flustered by praise.
She simply accepted it.
With dignity.
At least, that was what she told herself.
Inside the Tracen Academy dormitories, however, things were considerably quieter.
The weekend had given most students an opportunity to sleep in.
For once, the hallways were not filled with the sound of hurried footsteps.
There were no students rushing toward morning training.
No doors constantly opening and closing.
No trainers calling athletes from downstairs.
Just the occasional muffled conversation from behind a door.
Somewhere farther down the hallway, someone laughed.
Another voice answered.
Then the corridor returned to silence.
Outside, the summer sun continued climbing.
And somewhere within the dormitory—
King Halo was beginning another ordinary Saturday.
At least, as ordinary as life could be for an Umamusume who had just become the holder of the Japanese Oaks' largest winning margin in history.
The Triple Tiara was still ahead.
One final race.
One final crown.
One final opportunity to turn an already extraordinary season into something legendary.
But October was still months away.
There was time.
For now, King Halo had something she rarely allowed herself.
A weekend.
And perhaps—
Just perhaps—
A little time to enjoy being King Halo.
At least, that was what she had told herself.
In the hallway of the Ritto Dormitory, the weekend atmosphere was considerably quieter.
Most of the students had already settled into their rooms.
Some were chatting with their roommates.
Others were watching television.
A few had gone out into the city.
The hallway itself was nearly empty.
Only the faint hum of the building's ventilation system and the occasional muffled voice from behind a closed door disturbed the silence.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The sharp sound of heels echoed down the polished hallway.
King Halo walked at an unhurried pace.
Her phone was held against her ear.
Her free hand rested casually against her side.
She had changed out of her training clothes for the day and was now wearing a simple casual outfit, though she still carried herself with the same unmistakable confidence.
Her ears remained upright.
Her tail swayed gently behind her with every step.
She turned a corner.
Then continued down the hallway.
"Hey, Mom... How are things?"
A brief crackle came through the phone speaker.
"I'm doing well, King-chan. Thanks for calling. I appreciate it."
King's expression softened slightly.
"I bet you are doing fine yourself at school?"
King blinked.
She nodded slowly, even though her mother obviously couldn't see her.
"Yeah..."
She continued walking.
"School's alright."
A pause.
"Been busy with training."
Another pause followed.
King's eyes shifted toward one of the windows along the hallway.
Bright sunlight poured through the glass, illuminating dust particles floating lazily through the air.
She watched them for a moment.
Then slowly exhaled.
She already knew how these conversations usually went.
They always started normally.
School.
Training.
How she was feeling.
Whether she was eating properly.
Whether she was getting enough sleep.
Simple things.
Ordinary things.
But eventually—
Somehow—
The conversation always drifted toward racing.
And whenever racing entered the conversation, King's patience usually followed it straight out the window.
Especially when the subject was her own racing.
King Halo had learned to recognize the warning signs.
The slight changes in her mother's tone.
The way her mother talked about other Umamusume.
The way she praised someone else's performance in great detail.
And then—
The inevitable dismissal of King's own achievements.
King closed her eyes.
Please.
Not today.
She continued walking.
Her grip on the phone tightened slightly.
"Dont mention the race..."
She whispered it more to herself than to her mother.
Then she sighed.
"If you do..."
Her ears lowered slightly.
"...at least mention my win."
Silence.
Then her mother's voice came through the speaker again.
"Say..."
King's eyes opened.
"I saw the Japanese Oaks two weeks ago on television."
King stopped walking.
Completely.
Her heel remained planted against the floor.
Her posture stiffened.
Her ears slowly lowered.
Her eyes closed.
Her eyebrows furrowed.
And for several seconds, she said nothing.
She already knew where this was going.
She drew a slow breath through her nose.
Long.
Deep.
Controlled.
Her cheeks tightened.
Her lips pressed together.
Then, barely loud enough for the phone microphone to pick it up—
"Fuck..."
She pinched the bridge of her nose.
Of course.
Of all the things her mother could have talked about.
This.
Her mother continued.
"I have to hand it to Daring Tact. She managed her pace incredibly well to finish second place."
King's eye twitched.
She stared at the floor.
Her mother's voice continued.
"She was fairly close to losing third to Buena Vista, but she did great."
King's fingers tightened around the phone.
Her shoulders slowly dropped.
There it was.
Daring Tact.
Buena Vista.
Their performances.
Their strategies.
Their positioning.
Their accomplishments.
King listened.
Silently.
She had nothing against either of them.
Daring Tact had raced brilliantly.
Buena Vista had fought hard.
King respected both of them.
That wasn't the problem.
The problem was that her mother seemed to have watched the entire race and somehow found more to say about the runners behind her than the Umamusume who had won it.
The Umamusume who had crossed the finish line more than ten lengths ahead.
The Umamusume who had just broken the record for the largest winning margin in Japanese Oaks history.
Her.
King Halo.
Her mother had watched it.
She knew she had won.
And yet—
King still had to ask.
She lowered her head.
Her bangs partially obscured her eyes.
"And what do you think about me?"
Her voice was quieter now.
"What about my finish?"
She swallowed.
"Did you at least notice me?"
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then her mother's answer came.
"Sure."
King's ears twitched.
"You did alright."
King's head slowly rose.
Her expression changed.
Not dramatically.
Not immediately.
Just enough.
Her eyebrow tightened.
Her eye twitched.
Her lips parted.
"...Alright?"
She stared blankly ahead.
One word.
That was all.
Alright.
Her mother continued as though she had said nothing unusual.
"I mean, what else is there to say?"
King's expression became increasingly strained.
"You won."
A pause.
"Not a big deal."
King's entire body went still.
The hallway suddenly felt much quieter.
The sounds from the other rooms seemed to disappear.
The ventilation system.
The distant chatter.
The footsteps somewhere below.
Everything seemed to fade into the background.
Not a big deal.
King's eyes narrowed.
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
For two weeks, she had heard praise from practically everyone.
Her friends.
Her trainer.
Her classmates.
The spectators.
The commentators.
The racing analysts.
Even Umamusume who had barely spoken to her before the Japanese Oaks had congratulated her.
She had broken a record.
She had won the second crown.
She had put herself one race away from completing the Triple Tiara.
And her mother had just reduced it to—
Not a big deal.
King's ears slowly folded backward.
She reached the door to her dorm room.
Her hand hovered over the doorknob.
She didn't turn it.
Instead, she simply stood there.
Silent.
Her mother was still talking.
King wasn't really listening anymore.
Her gaze drifted toward the floor.
She could feel something building inside her chest.
Not sadness.
Not exactly.
Anger.
Frustration.
Disappointment.
And something else she didn't want to name.
The same feeling she had carried for years.
The feeling that no matter what she did—
It was never enough.
She could win.
She could dominate.
She could break records.
She could stand on the podium with thousands of people cheering her name.
And somehow, whenever her mother spoke to her, all of it seemed to shrink.
King finally closed her eyes.
She inhaled.
Then exhaled.
"Alright..."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I've got to get going."
She forced a small smile.
Even though her mother couldn't see it.
"It was nice catching up with you."
"Take care, King-chan."
"Yeah."
King lowered the phone.
Beep.
The call ended.
She stared at the screen for several seconds.
Then locked it.
The display went black.
King slowly lowered her arm.
Her shoulders sagged.
She remained standing in front of her dorm room.
Silent.
Then—
Another sigh.
"I swear to God..."
Her voice barely carried down the empty hallway.
She rubbed her forehead with her free hand.
"One day..."
She stopped.
Her jaw tightened.
"...I'm going to snap."
Her eyes lowered.
Her ears remained folded back.
She stared at the floor as if expecting it to provide some kind of answer.
But there was nothing.
Only silence.
She knew her mother wasn't trying to hurt her.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
Perhaps that was what made it worse.
If her mother had been openly cruel, King could have simply dismissed her.
If her mother had insulted her directly, King could have argued back.
But this?
This casual indifference?
This effortless dismissal of everything King had accomplished?
That was harder to fight.
Because there was nothing tangible to fight against.
No opponent.
No obstacle.
No finish line.
Just a voice on a phone.
A voice that could make a record-breaking victory feel insignificant in less than thirty seconds.
King slowly raised her head.
Her reflection stared back at her from the darkened window beside the door.
She looked composed.
Elegant.
Confident.
The same King Halo everyone knew.
But her eyes told a different story.
For just a moment, the mask slipped.
She looked tired.
Not physically.
Mentally.
Tired of trying to prove herself.
Tired of hearing that she was "good enough."
Tired of wondering what she needed to do before her mother finally looked at her and said—
I'm proud of you.
King stared at her reflection.
Then she clenched her fist.
"No."
She shook her head.
"Not today."
She straightened her posture.
Her ears slowly rose again.
Her tail flicked once behind her.
She turned toward the door.
"I've got the Triple Tiara to finish."
Her hand finally wrapped around the doorknob.
"And I'm not going to let anyone ruin that."
She opened the door, twisting the knob and stepping inside.
The door clicked shut behind her.
For a moment, King Halo simply stood there.
Then she looked toward her roommate.
Haru Urara had just returned from the shower. Her pink hair was still slightly damp, with a few strands sticking loosely around her face. She had changed into casual clothes—a light white-and-pink polo shirt with suspenders over a pair of jeans.
The moment Urara noticed King, her face brightened.
"King!"
King's ears perked.
"Hm?"
Urara immediately turned toward the mirror.
"Any ideas for a hairstyle?"
King blinked.
"A hairstyle?"
Urara nodded enthusiastically.
"I was thinking of maybe wearing my hair down this time!"
She reached up and touched her ponytail.
"I always have it tied up like this. Every day!"
She looked at herself in the mirror, tilting her head from side to side.
"I think a change would be good!"
King stared at Urara's reflection for a moment.
Then the tension that had been sitting in her shoulders finally began to disappear.
A small smile formed.
"Sure thing."
She walked toward her desk and gently placed her phone down beside her car keys.
Then she picked up a black hairbrush.
"I'll help you brush it."
Urara's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Of course."
King walked over and knelt behind Urara.
Urara sat down in front of the mirror, turning slightly so King could reach her hair.
King carefully gathered the pink strands in one hand.
Then she began brushing.
Slowly.
Gently.
The brush traveled from the upper portion of Urara's hair down toward the ends.
Stroke.
Stroke.
Stroke.
Each pass gradually straightened the strands.
Urara closed her eyes and happily hummed a little tune.
King smiled.
"There. Don't move too much."
"Mhm!"
King continued brushing.
The room was quiet except for the soft sound of the brush moving through Urara's hair.
After a few moments, King leaned slightly to her right and looked at Urara's reflection.
"You've been following the hair treatment I recommended, right, Urara-chan?"
Urara immediately nodded.
"Yep, yep!"
She reached up and ran her fingers through the top of her hair.
"The roughness is going away!"
She gathered a section between her fingers.
"It's so soft and silky smooth now!"
King's smile grew.
"Good."
She brushed another section.
"That's what I wanted to hear."
Urara smiled brightly at herself in the mirror.
"I've been taking really good care of it!"
"I can tell."
King gave another gentle stroke with the brush.
"You've done a good job."
Urara giggled.
"Thanks, King-san!"
King's smile remained.
For a few seconds.
Then...
It slowly faded.
Her eyes lowered.
The brush paused for half a second.
A quiet whisper escaped her lips.
"Mom..."
The sight of Urara's hair in the mirror had stirred something deep inside her.
A memory.
Years ago.
A much younger King Halo had been sitting in front of a mirror.
Her mother, Goodbye Halo, stood behind her.
A brush moved gently through the young girl's hair.
Stroke.
Stroke.
Stroke.
Goodbye Halo chuckled softly.
"Like mother, like daughter."
Young King Halo tilted her head.
Their reflections stared back at one another.
"My hair is soft like yours, Mom?"
Goodbye Halo smiled.
"Very much so."
Young King beamed.
"Like Mom, like daughter!"
Goodbye Halo laughed.
"Indeed, Young King-chan."
She continued brushing.
"You have such a bright future ahead of you."
Young King stared at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes sparkled.
"I want to run just like you!"
Goodbye Halo's expression softened.
"And you will."
She placed a hand gently on young King's shoulder.
"You'll become a successful racer, just like your mother was in her time."
Young King nodded rapidly.
"I will!"
"I'll become the best!"
Goodbye Halo smiled.
"I know you will."
The words echoed.
A bright future.
A successful racer.
Words that had once sounded like a promise.
Words that King had carried with her for years.
And yet...
Now they felt almost painfully distant.
The memory disappeared.
King returned to the present.
The brush was still in her hand.
Urara was still sitting in front of her.
King stared at their reflections.
She quietly exhaled.
Then forced a smile back onto her face.
"There you go."
She slowly pulled the brush away.
"Good as you'd like it."
Urara opened her eyes.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Her mouth fell open.
Her eyes practically sparkled.
"Whoaaaaaa..."
She slowly turned her head from side to side.
"I love it!"
She looked over her shoulder at King.
"King-san, I really love it!"
King's expression softened again.
"I'm glad you like it."
Urara stood up from the chair and turned around.
But her smile gradually faded.
Something had caught her attention.
King's expression.
It was subtle.
Almost imperceptible.
But Urara had lived with King long enough to recognize it.
The smile was there.
But it wasn't quite reaching her eyes.
Urara stepped closer.
Then gently took both of King's hands.
King blinked.
"Urara-chan?"
Urara looked up at her.
"King-san..."
There was unusual seriousness in her voice.
"Please ignore what your mom says."
King's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
Urara tightened her grip slightly.
"I know you have to call her sometimes."
"And I know she's your mom."
"But don't let her words get to you."
King remained silent.
Urara continued.
"You might be on your race break right now, but that doesn't mean your mind gets a break."
"You still have to stay in a good mental state."
Her expression became more determined.
"Especially after everything you've accomplished."
She squeezed King's hands.
"Please, King-san."
"For your Double Slam's sake."
For a moment, King simply stared at her.
Then...
Her expression softened.
A genuine smile finally appeared.
She chuckled quietly.
"Of course, Urara-chan."
King crouched down until she was closer to Urara's height.
She rested one arm over her knee.
"And I'll always appreciate your support."
Her smile grew.
"Yours."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"And everyone else's."
"I really do."
Urara nodded.
King continued.
"I may act all high and mighty outside this room."
She gave a small laugh.
"Sometimes more than I probably should."
Urara giggled.
"Sometimes?"
King raised an eyebrow.
"Hey."
Urara laughed.
"Okay, okay!"
King smiled.
She then placed a hand gently on Urara's shoulder.
"But underneath all of that..."
Her expression became softer.
"There is someone else."
Urara blinked.
King lightly tapped Urara's chest with one finger.
"Because I..."
She smiled.
"King Halo..."
She then tapped her own chest.
"...have a very big heart."
Urara stared at her.
King clenched one hand against her chest.
"And deep inside me..."
Her voice softened.
"I care about everyone."
Urara smiled.
"So you don't mind when people talk about your attitude being all high and mighty?"
King chuckled.
She shook her head.
"Not really."
"I understand why they're confused."
She slowly stood back up.
"My attitude isn't exactly subtle."
Urara giggled.
"That's one way of putting it."
King gave her an amused look.
"But that's who I am."
She turned toward the mirror.
"I can be confident."
"I can be proud."
"I can be loud."
She placed a hand against her hip.
"And perhaps a little dramatic."
Urara nodded enthusiastically.
"A lot dramatic."
"Urara-chan."
"Sorry!"
King laughed.
"But confidence isn't the same thing as not caring."
She looked at Urara through the mirror.
"I want to win."
"I want to prove myself."
"And yes..."
Her smile became slightly more determined.
"I want to prove my mother wrong."
"But none of that means I don't care about the people around me."
Urara nodded.
"That's what makes you King-san."
King blinked.
Urara smiled.
"You know, you're already an inspiration to so many freshmen here."
King's ears perked.
"So I've heard."
She chuckled.
"And I appreciate all of their support."
Urara smiled.
"I think what's even more impressive is that you're on Orfevre-san's good side."
She raised one finger.
"That alone is a rare achievement."
King laughed softly.
"I suppose it is."
"Very few people can say that."
"And even fewer survive the experience."
Urara giggled.
The tension in the room had completely disappeared.
King turned toward her desk.
She picked up her keys.
The metallic jingling of the keyring echoed through the room.
She glanced down at them.
The key to her Gemballa Mirage GT.
Her expression brightened.
"I'll grab my keys and head out."
Urara tilted her head.
"Where are you going?"
"Sirius is arriving today."
Urara's eyes widened.
"Oooh!"
She immediately became excited.
"Is everyone going?"
King nodded.
"Quite a few of us."
She counted on her fingers.
"Yanko."
"Kaichou."
"Maruzen."
"Maybe even Teio."
She paused.
"Even Mayano wants to come along."
Urara's eyes widened further.
"That's a lot of people!"
King chuckled.
"Apparently Sirius returning from America is enough to get half the school moving."
She picked up the Mirage GT keys and slipped them into her pocket.
Then she reached for the door.
Her hand wrapped around the knob.
Before turning it, she looked back at Urara.
"Oh."
Urara looked up.
"Your favorite breakfast is on the buffet today."
Urara's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really?!"
King nodded.
"Yes."
Then she narrowed her eyes playfully.
"But you better get your share before Oguri eats everything."
Urara froze.
Her expression became serious.
"That's..."
She slowly looked toward the door.
"...a very serious threat."
King laughed.
"You'd better hurry."
Urara raised a hand.
"I'll go as soon as you're gone!"
She glanced at her bed.
"I just need to fix my bed first!"
King shook her head, smiling.
"Alright, Urara-chan."
She opened the door.
"I'll see you later."
"See you later, King-san!"
King stepped into the hallway.
The door closed softly behind her.
Click.
And suddenly, the dormitory hallway felt strangely quiet.
King stood there for a moment.
The noise from inside the room faded away.
No laughter.
No chatter.
No footsteps.
Just the distant hum of the dormitory.
She began walking.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Her heels echoed against the polished floor.
She passed several doors.
Some were slightly open.
Others completely shut.
From behind one, faint conversation could be heard.
From another came the sound of music.
A few students were still asleep.
Others were preparing to head out.
But King kept walking.
Her hand briefly slipped into her pocket.
Her fingers touched the Mirage GT keys.
She smiled faintly.
Today wasn't about racing.
There was no starting gate.
No finish line.
No stopwatch.
No trainer shouting instructions from the sidelines.
No pressure from a stadium full of spectators.
And for once...
That was enough.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
A notification appeared.
A message from Rudolf.
Kaichou: We're Sirius is arriving soon. Don't tell me you're going to make us wait.
King smirked.
She quickly typed a reply.
King: First-rate Umamusume's don't make people wait.
A response came almost immediately.
Kaichou: You were late to training.
King stopped.
Her eyebrow twitched.
King: That was one time.
Another message.
Kaichou: Ten minutes.
King stared at the screen.
Then sighed.
"She really had to bring that up..."
King shook her head to herself as she continued down the stairs.
The brief conversation with Rudolf still lingered in her mind.
Ten minutes late.
One time.
And apparently, Rudolf had decided it would become part of King's permanent record.
"Honestly..."
She descended the final few steps and reached the first-floor lobby.
The moment she pushed open the doors leading outside, the atmosphere changed completely.
The clear summer heat hit her.
Warm air immediately brushed against her face.
King raised one arm over her head, using it to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight.
She squinted with one eye closed.
"Ugh..."
She slowly lowered her arm.
"So hot."
The summer sun was already high overhead.
The pavement shimmered faintly in the heat, while the trees around the dormitory grounds swayed gently in the warm breeze.
King took another step forward.
Then stopped.
Someone was sitting near the sidewalk.
Forever Young was leaning casually against the low wall bordering the flowerbeds, her legs stretched comfortably in front of her.
She had her usual relaxed expression, with her glasses sitting slightly down the bridge of her nose.
The moment she noticed King, she raised one finger.
She pointed directly at her.
Then pushed her glasses down slightly.
A grin appeared.
"Hey! King!"
King smiled.
She immediately recognized that expression.
"Hey, Ebayan-san."
Forever Young chuckled and pushed herself upright.
She slipped both hands into the pockets of her polo shirt.
"So."
She tilted her head.
"Ready to head out and check Sirius' landing?"
King nodded.
"Sure am."
Forever Young looked down.
More specifically, toward King's pockets.
She could already tell what was inside.
The familiar shape of the Mirage GT's key fob was slightly visible through the fabric.
King had practically been living behind the wheel of the Mirage GT whenever she wasn't driving her R32.
Forever Young smirked.
"You're taking the Mirage, aren't you?"
King glanced down.
"Well..."
Before she could finish, Forever Young reached into her own pocket.
She pulled out the key fob for her dark cherry-red GR GT.
King's eyes immediately narrowed.
"Yanko?"
Forever Young tossed it toward her.
"Here."
King's eyes widened.
"Wait—"
"Catch."
The key fob flew through the air.
King instinctively pulled her hand out of her pocket.
Her eyes followed the keys.
She stepped back once.
Then swung her hand forward.
Catch.
The key fob landed neatly in her palm.
King stared at it.
Then slowly looked back at Forever Young.
"...What?"
Forever Young grinned.
"You drive my car today."
King lowered her palm.
The GR GT key fob rested in the center of it.
She stared at it for another moment.
"You sure, Yanko?"
Forever Young nodded.
"Positive."
She turned around and started walking toward her car.
King remained standing there for a moment.
"Wait..."
Forever Young waved a hand behind her.
"Come on!"
King sighed.
"You're surprisingly casual about lending someone your car."
"You're not just someone."
Forever Young looked back over her shoulder.
"You're King."
She smiled.
"And I trust you."
King's expression softened.
"Thanks."
Forever Young continued toward the GR GT.
The car sat quietly in the parking area.
Its dark cherry-red paint reflected the morning sunlight, while its modern bodywork contrasted sharply with the older machines King usually drove.
Forever Young reached the driver's side.
She placed her hand against the flush door handle.
A gentle push.
The handle extended.
She pulled the door open.
King blinked.
She looked down at the key fob in her hand.
Then at the GR GT.
Then back at Forever Young.
"Still can't believe you're actually doing this."
Forever Young laughed.
"Just drive."
King shook her head.
"Alright."
She walked toward the GR GT, moving around the front of the car.
The closer she got, the more different it felt from everything she was accustomed to.
Her Mirage GT was dramatic.
Her R32 was mechanical and aggressive.
Both demanded attention.
The GR GT, by comparison, looked almost effortless.
King reached the driver's door.
She pushed the flush handle inward.
The handle clicked outward.
She pulled the door open.
Then slid into the driver's seat.
The seat immediately felt different.
Softer.
More supportive.
Less focused on keeping her planted during hard cornering.
King looked around the cabin.
The modern dashboard.
The electronic displays.
The clean center console.
The automatic transmission selector.
Everything felt almost alien compared to her usual cars.
She ran one hand lightly across the steering wheel.
"So different from my cars."
Forever Young laughed from the passenger side.
"You gotta take it easy on yourself, King!"
King looked over.
Forever Young settled into the passenger seat.
"You've been spending so much time in that Mirage GT and your R32 that you probably forgot what a normal road car feels like."
King raised an eyebrow.
"Normal?"
Forever Young shrugged.
"You know what I mean."
She gestured toward the suspension.
"Soft."
"Comfortable."
"Easy."
She leaned back.
"Driving something with nice, soft suspension is good once in a while."
King smiled.
"I know."
She adjusted herself in the seat.
Her hands settled naturally around the steering wheel.
There was no clutch pedal.
No manual gear lever.
No harness to tighten.
Just a brake pedal and accelerator.
For someone like King, it felt almost strangely simple.
She pressed the brake pedal.
Her foot settled against it.
Then her right hand reached toward the start-stop button.
She pressed it.
The car's instrumentation immediately came alive.
The dashboard illuminated.
Digital displays flickered into operation.
A series of electronic systems performed their startup checks.
Then—
Whirr.
The starter engaged.
A moment later, the twin-turbocharged V8 came alive.
The engine settled into a smooth, restrained idle.
King's ears perked.
She listened carefully.
There was still plenty of power underneath the hood.
But the engine didn't sound like it was begging to be unleashed.
It sounded civilized.
King smiled.
"Very quiet."
Forever Young laughed.
"That's the point."
King reached for the seatbelt.
She pulled it across her body.
The belt slid smoothly from the pillar.
Click.
She secured it into the buckle.
Then adjusted the belt across her shoulder.
She looked around once more.
"It's definitely different."
Forever Young leaned back.
"I know."
King rested both hands on the steering wheel.
"Honestly..."
She glanced toward the center console.
"Driving the Mirage GT more often has started to make it feel like the comfort car."
Forever Young immediately laughed.
"The Mirage GT?"
King nodded.
"It's considerably softer than my R32."
She thought about it.
"And although it's a manual. Driving an automatic is nice to drive at times."
Forever Young nodded.
"Exactly."
"Two pedals."
"Less work."
"Less stress."
King gave a small smile.
"If you're going to try and convince me to buy a third car, you're doing a horrible job at it."
Forever Young burst out laughing.
"I'm not trying to convince you to buy another car!"
She shook her head.
"I'm just telling you to take it easy today."
King's expression softened.
"I appreciate it, Yanko."
Forever Young nodded.
"Good."
She then pointed toward the road ahead.
"Now let's go before everyone starts wondering where we disappeared to."
King nodded.
"Alright."
Her right hand moved toward the gear selector.
She wrapped her fingers around it.
With the brake pedal still depressed, she pulled the selector down.
Click.
The transmission engaged Drive.
King felt the slight change in the car as the drivetrain engaged.
She released the parking brake.
Then slowly eased off the brake pedal.
The GR GT began to creep forward under its own power.
King gently pressed the accelerator.
The V8 responded immediately.
Smooth.
Quiet.
Controlled.
The car rolled toward the parking area's exit.
King's hands made tiny corrections on the steering wheel.
No clutch.
No gear change.
No sudden engagement.
Just smooth acceleration.
She reached the exit and stopped.
The road outside was clear.
King glanced left.
Then right.
She looked toward Forever Young.
"So."
"Hm?"
"Where are we heading, anyway?"
Forever Young pulled out her phone.
She tapped the screen a few times.
A moment later, the GR GT's infotainment display changed.
The map appeared.
A route was plotted across the screen.
Forever Young pointed toward it.
"Follow the display."
King leaned forward slightly.
She read the destination.
Then her eyebrows rose.
"Narita Airport?"
Forever Young nodded.
"That's where we're heading."
King looked at the map.
Then at Forever Young.
"That's quite a drive."
"Yep."
King smiled.
"Alright."
She returned her attention to the road.
Her foot eased off the brake.
The GR GT rolled out of the dormitory entrance.
King turned right.
The tires rolled smoothly over the pavement as they entered the streets of Fuchu.
She kept the speed modest.
For once, there was no reason to rush.
No race.
No time trial.
No rival waiting around the next corner.
Just a drive across Tokyo and toward Narita.
Forever Young leaned back in the passenger seat.
She glanced over at King.
King looked completely different behind the wheel of the GR GT.
Relaxed.
Focused.
And, surprisingly, comfortable.
The V8 hummed quietly beneath the hood.
Traffic gradually became heavier as they moved farther away from the dormitory.
The streets of Fuchu gave way to wider roads.
Buildings became denser.
Traffic lights appeared one after another.
King patiently followed the flow of traffic.
She didn't complain.
She didn't push.
She simply drove.
Eventually, signs pointing toward the expressway began appearing.
King followed them.
The entrance ramp came into view.
She merged smoothly.
The GR GT accelerated with effortless force as the road opened ahead.
King glanced at the infotainment screen.
The route continued east.
Toward Tokyo.
Toward the Shuto Expressway.
And eventually...
Toward Narita.
Forever Young looked out the window.
"You know..."
King glanced over.
"What?"
Forever Young smiled.
"You're actually enjoying this."
King raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I am."
She looked ahead again.
"This is exactly what I needed."
The GR GT continued forward.
The city gradually unfolded around them.
And for King Halo, the afternoon had only just begun.
There was no finish line waiting at the end of this drive.
No trophy.
No record.
No expectation.
Just a road.
A fairly comfortable car.
A good friend beside her.
And a friend waiting to come home.
The time seemed to fly by.
Like the wind carrying fallen leaves across an empty road, the minutes disappeared almost without either of them noticing.
The dense cityscape of Tokyo had gradually faded behind them.
The towering buildings and endless rows of concrete had given way to wider roads, scattered houses, stretches of greenery, utility poles, and quieter countryside scenery.
The further they traveled, the more peaceful the surroundings became.
The GR GT continued to cruise effortlessly with the flow of traffic.
Its suspension absorbed the imperfections of the road with ease, barely transmitting the occasional bump through the cabin.
Inside, the cabin remained quiet and comfortable.
The engine was little more than a distant hum.
King Halo kept both eyes on the road ahead, maintaining a relaxed but attentive grip on the steering wheel.
Beside her, Forever Young was doing the exact opposite.
She was doomscrolling.
Her thumb lazily dragged across the screen of her phone.
Every few seconds, her expression changed.
A raised eyebrow.
A small frown.
A quiet snort.
Then another swipe.
King glanced sideways at her for a brief moment.
Then returned her attention to the road.
"Hey, Yanko."
Forever Young blinked.
She lifted her eyes from her phone.
"Hm?"
King kept her gaze forward.
"Are the others still coming along, or are they already there?"
Forever Young shrugged.
"Rudolf and Maruzen are already at the airport."
King nodded once.
"Kaichou and Maruzen beat us there?"
"Yep."
King's fingers lightly tapped the steering wheel.
"And Teio?"
Forever Young shook her head.
"Not coming along today."
King glanced at her.
"Really?"
"She took her RX-7 in for service."
Forever Young paused, then added:
"Apparently she wants to make sure everything is sorted before she starts driving it regularly again."
King gave a small nod.
That made sense.
After all, the RX-7 was still relatively new to Teio, especially after everything that had happened with her previous car.
"And Mayano?"
"She said she'll follow us."
Forever Young slipped her phone into her pocket.
"She had to pick up some stuff first, though. So she'll probably arrive later."
King nodded.
"Fair enough."
For another few moments, the two simply watched the road.
The scenery continued to roll past.
King eventually broke the silence again.
"Still interesting that Sirius decided to land at Narita instead of Haneda."
Forever Young nodded.
"Yeah. It's quite a distance from where we are."
She leaned back into the seat.
"But apparently Sirius did her homework."
King raised an eyebrow.
"How so?"
"From what she told me, Haneda's General Aviation ramp has a pretty short parking allowance. Something like five days before she has to move the aircraft."
King nodded slowly.
"Five days?"
"Yep."
Forever Young held up one hand.
"Narita gives her a much longer window. Around thirty days before she starts running into additional parking penalties."
King pressed her lips together thoughtfully.
"I see."
Her eyes remained fixed on the road.
"So she chose Narita because she doesn't have to worry about moving the aircraft again immediately."
"Pretty much."
King thought about it for a moment.
Then another question came to mind.
"But what about Chofu?"
Forever Young immediately shook her head.
"Too short."
"For the Starship?"
"For the Starship."
King frowned slightly.
"Really?"
Forever Young nodded.
"Chofu's runway just isn't long enough for something that big to operate comfortably."
She paused.
"Landing isn't the problem."
King looked over briefly.
"Taking off?"
"Exactly."
Forever Young grinned.
"She can put the Beech Starship down there without too much trouble."
"But trying to get it back into the air?"
She gave a small laugh.
"Might as well plan on giving the trees a haircut."
King burst into a laugh.
"That's reassuring."
"I know, right?"
Forever Young chuckled.
"But apparently there's talk about extending the runway to accommodate somewhat larger general aviation aircraft."
King's expression brightened slightly.
She glanced at Forever Young before returning her attention to the road.
"Honestly?"
"Hm?"
"That would be the best thing that could happen for Sirius."
Forever Young nodded.
"Exactly."
"She did mention that she has another parking slot available there."
King tilted her head.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Big enough for the Starship?"
"Apparently."
Forever Young sighed.
"But there's not much point in having a slot for it if the runway can't properly support the aircraft's operations."
King nodded in agreement.
"So essentially..."
She thought for a moment.
"She has somewhere to park it."
"Just nowhere practical to take off from."
"Exactly."
Forever Young smiled.
King shook her head.
"That's Sirius for you."
The two laughed quietly.
The conversation settled again.
The GR GT continued along the highway.
Traffic remained steady but light enough that there was no need to constantly brake and accelerate.
King's posture had gradually become more relaxed.
She had begun to understand why Forever Young liked this car so much.
It was different from everything she normally drove.
Her R32 was raw.
Mechanical.
Loud.
Direct.
The Mirage GT was powerful and exotic, but still carried the character of a supercar.
The GR GT was something else entirely.
It was fast without demanding that she drive fast.
Comfortable without feeling dull.
Refined without feeling sterile.
And most importantly, it didn't constantly demand her attention.
King's eyes briefly wandered around the dashboard.
The modern instrumentation.
The clean layout.
The comfortable seating position.
The quiet cabin.
Everything felt remarkably composed.
She smiled.
"And I have to say, Yanko..."
Forever Young looked over.
"Yes?"
King glanced down at the dashboard for a moment.
Then back toward the road.
"This might very well be the best modern car I've driven."
Forever Young froze.
Her eyes widened.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
"R-Really?"
King nodded.
"Absolutely."
Forever Young stared at her.
King continued.
"Sure, it's no LFA with that V10."
Forever Young nodded slowly.
"But for a modern gasoline-electric hybrid?"
King gave a small approving smile.
"I'll gladly take this over an electric car."
Forever Young laughed.
"I had a feeling you'd say that."
King ignored the comment and continued examining the car's behavior.
"The suspension is surprisingly good."
She lightly shifted her posture in the seat.
"Soft and comfortable when it needs to be."
She paused.
"But it can still become fast and rowdy when you ask it to."
Forever Young grinned.
"That's basically the entire point."
King nodded.
"I can tell."
She looked at Forever Young.
"But I presume you bought this car mainly for its looks, style, and performance?"
Forever Young shrugged.
"Ehh..."
She looked out the passenger window.
"Not really."
King raised an eyebrow.
"Not really?"
"I initially bought it because I wanted a grand tourer."
She gestured toward the dashboard.
"Something quiet."
"Something comfortable."
"And something unique enough that I wouldn't see another one every five minutes."
King smiled.
"Fair."
Forever Young continued.
"At first, that's all it was."
"A really nice daily driver."
She paused.
"Then I took it racing once."
King glanced at her.
"With Nattie, McQueen, and Sirius?"
Forever Young nodded.
"Exactly."
"And that's when I found out how good this thing actually is."
She leaned back into the seat.
"Sure, it was designed to be a grand tourer."
"But once you actually push it..."
She smiled.
"There's a lot more hiding underneath."
King nodded.
"I can feel that."
Forever Young turned her head toward the window.
The scenery outside continued to move past in a blur of green.
"But that's not the only thing I discovered."
King glanced at her.
"What else?"
Forever Young's expression softened.
"Driving."
King blinked.
"Driving?"
"Yeah."
She looked back toward King.
"I found out how much it clears my head."
Her voice became quieter.
"All the pressure."
"The expectations."
"The stress."
"Everything just seems to disappear when I'm behind the wheel."
King listened quietly.
Forever Young continued.
"You focus on the road."
"Where you're going."
"How the car feels."
"What's around you."
"And suddenly, everything else doesn't seem quite as important."
King's smile slowly grew.
"Now you understand why I feel fine after all that Triple Tiara racing, huh?"
Forever Young nodded.
"Exactly."
She leaned her head against the seat.
"Driving doesn't have to be exciting."
"It doesn't have to be racing."
"Even a slow, relaxing drive through the countryside is enough."
King nodded.
"Agreed."
"Sure, Wangan racing is fun."
Forever Young's expression became more serious.
"But it gets your blood pumping."
"And it puts you and everyone else around you at greater risk."
She looked toward King.
"Especially during the day."
King nodded.
"The traffic."
"The visibility."
"The number of people on the road."
"Exactly."
Forever Young looked back toward the scenery.
"But a nice scenic drive?"
She smiled.
"That's different."
"Countryside roads."
"Mountain roads."
"Quiet backroads."
She raised one finger.
"Or better yet..."
Her smile widened.
"Seaside roads."
King laughed softly.
"Seaside roads?"
"Absolutely."
Forever Young leaned back, completely comfortable.
"Windows down."
"Fresh air."
"Ocean beside you."
"No pressure."
"No stopwatch."
"No finish line."
"Just you, the car, and the road."
She sighed contentedly.
"That's got to be one of the best stress relievers there is."
King smiled.
She understood now.
That was exactly what she had been doing with her own late-night drives.
The difference was that she had never really put it into words.
She simply knew that whenever she drove, the noise in her head became quieter.
The expectations surrounding the Triple Tiara.
The pressure of being watched.
The constant comparisons.
Her mother's words.
All of it seemed distant whenever she was behind the wheel.
King nodded.
"And I agree."
Forever Young smiled.
"See?"
King's hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel.
Her eyes shifted toward the traffic ahead.
The lane beside them had begun to open.
A gap appeared.
King gently pressed the accelerator farther down.
The GR GT responded immediately.
The engine note deepened.
The hybrid system assisted the combustion engine as the transmission automatically dropped a couple of gears.
The car surged forward with considerably more urgency than its quiet cruising demeanor had suggested.
King smoothly moved into the faster lane.
A minivan ahead was traveling slower.
She closed the distance.
Then moved around it cleanly.
Forever Young's eyes widened slightly as she felt the acceleration push her deeper into the seat.
The GR GT's twin-turbo V8 climbed through the rev range.
The engine's note became deeper and more aggressive.
King's expression remained calm.
She wasn't driving recklessly.
She was simply feeling the car.
Feeling the throttle response.
Feeling the transmission.
Feeling the way the chassis settled as it gathered speed.
Then she eased the accelerator slightly.
The GR GT settled back into its effortless cruise.
King smiled.
"Yanko."
Forever Young looked over.
"Hm?"
King kept her eyes forward.
"I think I'm starting to understand why you like this car so much."
Forever Young smiled.
"Finally."
King chuckled.
"Don't get too proud of yourself."
"Too late."
King shook her head, smiling.
The two returned their attention to the road.
Ahead of them, the highway stretched toward the horizon.
Somewhere beyond it was Narita.
And somewhere beyond Narita's runways, a familiar aircraft was making its way down.
Sirius Symboli was coming back.
And before long, the entire group would be together again.
The countryside gradually disappeared behind them.
The scenery became denser.
Buildings began appearing more frequently.
Traffic increased.
Road signs became more numerous.
And eventually, the unmistakable infrastructure of a major international airport came into view.
Narita International Airport.
One of Japan's busiest airports, and the country's primary hub for international passenger traffic.
After leaving the expressway, King And Forever Young followed the designated roads toward the northeastern side of the airport complex.
Their destination was the Seibichiku entrance.
King kept the GR GT steady as they approached the first intersection.
The road curved ahead.
Then she spotted them.
Two unmistakable supercars were waiting along the side of the road.
Rudolf's Symboli Green Ferrari F40.
And parked ahead of it was Maruzensky's Bianco Avus Ferrari Testarossa.
Both cars had their hazard lights flashing.
King smiled.
"There's our welcoming committee."
Forever Young looked up from her phone.
"Looks like they beat us here."
King switched on the GR GT's hazard lights.
She carefully moved toward the side of the road and pulled in behind Maruzensky's Testarossa.
The GR GT rolled to a smooth stop.
King placed the transmission into Park and kept the engine running.
A moment later, the driver's door of the Testarossa opened.
Maruzensky stepped out.
Her heels clicked against the pavement as she approached the GR GT.
She stopped beside the driver's door.
King pressed the window switch.
The glass descended smoothly.
Maruzensky immediately leaned forward, resting one arm over the roof.
She looked inside.
Then at King.
Then back at the car.
A mischievous smile appeared on her face.
"Did you steal this car, ma'am?"
King smirked.
She rested her arm casually over the door frame.
"Might have."
Forever Young leaned toward King from the passenger seat.
She looked up at Maruzensky.
"Tell you what, though, Miss."
She grinned.
"She's a great driver for a thief."
Maruzensky burst out laughing.
"That's what I like to hear."
She looked at King again.
"But seriously, it's weird seeing you drive this thing."
King chuckled and shrugged.
"You can put the blame on Yanko."
She pointed her thumb toward Forever Young.
"She was the one who told me to..."
King raised both fingers and made air quotes.
"'Drive something easy for once.'"
Forever Young nodded proudly.
"Definitely."
She gave King's shoulder a light pat.
"She's been doing a lot lately."
"Especially with her training."
"So I figured she could afford to drive an automatic for one day."
King gave her a sideways glance.
"One day?"
Forever Young smiled innocently.
"One day."
King narrowed her eyes.
"At first, I thought you didn't even know how to drive an automatic."
Forever Young laughed.
"I know how to drive an automatic."
King turned toward her.
"If you can drive a manual, you can definitely drive an automatic."
She paused.
Then raised an eyebrow.
"How about you, Yanko?"
"Do you know how to drive manual?"
Forever Young immediately nodded.
"I drove Rudolf's F40 last year, remember?"
King's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh."
She paused.
"Right."
Maruzensky laughed.
"You two really are something."
King shook her head.
"Anyway."
She looked past Maruzensky toward Rudolf's F40.
"Where's Kaichou?"
Maruzensky pointed toward the F40.
"She's getting our gate passes for the General Aviation Ramp."
King nodded.
"Ah."
She looked around.
"And Maya-chan?"
Maruzensky smiled.
"Don't worry."
"Rudolf didn't forget about her either."
Almost as if summoned by the mention of her name, the distant sound of an old-school V8 began echoing between the airport buildings.
Maruzensky's ears perked up.
Mayano's De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S appeared around the corner.
The red car rolled steadily down the access road, its exhaust note echoing against the surrounding structures.
Even at low speed, the sound was unmistakable.
The Pantera approached the group and stopped behind the GR GT.
The American V8 rumbled for another moment.
Then the engine shut down.
Silence followed.
The driver's door opened.
Mayano stepped out.
She closed the door and walked toward the GR GT.
She leaned toward the open window.
"Oh! King-san!"
She looked inside and immediately smiled.
"Weird seeing you driving Ebayan's car!"
King laughed.
"Ebayan wanted me to take it easy."
She gestured toward the interior.
"So I did."
She looked around the cabin.
"And honestly?"
King smiled.
"It's comfortable."
"Easy to drive."
"And surprisingly quick."
She tapped the steering wheel lightly.
"Definitely a grand tourer."
Mayano nodded enthusiastically.
"I mean, you gotta take it easy on yourself from time to time too, King-san!"
She rested one hand against the roof.
"These Triple Tiara races are no joke!"
King's expression softened.
"It is indeed no joke."
Her smile faded slightly.
"The physical training is difficult enough."
"But the mental pressure..."
She exhaled slowly.
"That's the part people don't always see."
Mayano nodded.
King looked ahead through the windshield.
"But driving is one way of getting rid of it."
She smiled faintly.
"Once I'm behind the wheel, I don't have to think about anything else."
Mayano smiled.
"It sure is."
Another voice came from behind them.
"It certainly is."
Mayano and Maruzensky turned.
Rudolf was walking back from the F40.
A visitor's identification tag was pinned neatly to the left side of her shirt.
She carried several more in her hand.
Rudolf approached the group.
"Here."
She handed one visitor tag to Maruzensky.
Then another to Mayano.
She walked toward the GR GT and leaned toward the open driver's window.
"King."
She handed two more tags through the window.
"One for you."
Then another.
"And one for Forever Young."
Forever Young accepted hers.
"Thanks, Kaichou."
King took hers and examined it.
Rudolf pointed toward the tag.
"Wear those at all times."
"Do not remove them."
"We'll surrender them to the security guard at the exit when we leave."
Maruzensky clipped hers onto her clothing.
Mayano did the same.
King followed suit, attaching the visitor tag securely to her chest pocket.
Rudolf continued.
"Sirius has landed."
King's ears immediately perked up.
"Already?"
Rudolf nodded.
"She just finished going through immigration."
She glanced toward the airport complex.
"We can enter now."
King smiled.
Finally.
Sirius was home.
After traveling such an enormous distance, she was finally back in Japan.
Rudolf turned around and began walking toward her F40.
She took several steps.
Then stopped.
She looked over her shoulder.
"Oh."
The others looked at her.
"One more thing."
Rudolf's expression became noticeably more serious.
"Maintain the speed limit."
She pointed toward the road.
"And do not cross the road markings."
Maruzensky nodded.
"Understood."
Mayano gave a quick salute.
"Aye, copy, Cap!"
Rudolf narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I mean it."
Maruzensky chuckled.
"Don't worry, Rudolf."
Mayano nodded rapidly.
"We'll behave!"
Rudolf sighed.
"I certainly hope so."
She returned to her F40.
Maruzensky headed back toward her Testarossa.
Mayano turned and walked back toward the Pantera.
King pressed the window switch.
The glass smoothly rose until it sealed the cabin.
She looked down at her visitor tag once more.
Then adjusted it slightly.
Forever Young clipped hers securely to her shirt.
"Ready?"
King nodded.
"Ready."
Up ahead, Rudolf's F40 started first.
The flat-plane V8 came alive with a sharp mechanical bark before settling into a deep, metallic idle.
Rudolf eased the F40 forward.
The green Ferrari slowly rolled away.
Maruzensky followed.
The Testarossa's flat-twelve came to life with a distinctive mechanical rumble before settling into a smooth, powerful hum.
King released the GR GT's brake.
The car began creeping forward under its own power.
She gently pressed the accelerator.
The GR GT followed the two Ferraris.
Behind them, Mayano's Pantera came roaring back to life.
Its V8 thundered through the airport access road.
Mayano quickly pulled away from her parking position and settled into the formation behind King.
The group turned right.
Ahead was the entrance gate leading toward the restricted airport area.
Security personnel stood beside the road.
One guard raised a hand.
The entire group slowed.
Rudolf came to a complete stop.
Maruzensky followed.
King gently pressed the brake pedal and brought the GR GT to a halt.
Mayano stopped behind her.
The security guards approached the vehicles one by one.
One leaned toward Rudolf's window.
Another checked Maruzensky's Testarossa.
Then they approached King.
King lowered her window again.
The guard briefly checked the visitor tags and looked inside the vehicle.
King remained perfectly composed.
Forever Young sat quietly beside her.
Then another security guard approached carrying a K9.
The dog began walking around the cars.
It sniffed along the exterior.
Around the front bumper.
Along the doors.
Near the rear.
Then it moved to the next vehicle.
King watched quietly.
Maruzensky remained completely unfazed.
Forever Young was equally calm.
Mayano, however...
Was sweating.
Not because she had anything to hide.
Far from it.
She simply had one thought running through her mind.
Please don't let anything go wrong.
The dog walked around the Pantera.
Mayano swallowed.
The K9 stopped briefly near the rear quarter.
Mayano's eyes widened.
Then the dog continued.
Around the other side.
Nothing.
It moved away.
Mayano slowly exhaled.
One of the security guards gave the group a thumbs-up.
The tension disappeared immediately.
King smiled.
Mayano slumped slightly behind the wheel.
Maruzensky laughed softly from ahead.
The security personnel stepped aside.
The gate began opening.
Slowly.
The barriers moved out of the way.
Rudolf started forward.
Maruzensky followed.
King released the brake.
The GR GT began moving again.
Mayano followed behind.
The four cars entered the restricted airport access road in formation.
Rudolf's F40 led the way.
Maruzensky's Testarossa followed.
King's GR GT stayed behind them.
Mayano's Pantera brought up the rear.
For once, there was no racing.
No Wangan run.
No mountain pass.
No stopwatch.
Just four cars following the airport's marked route.
King kept her eyes ahead.
The road markings passed beneath the GR GT.
She followed them carefully, maintaining the required speed.
Beyond the buildings and service roads was the General Aviation area.
And somewhere beyond that was the aircraft they had come all this way to see.
Sirius was finally home.
King smiled.
"Almost there."
Forever Young nodded.
"Almost."
And with that, the small convoy continued deeper into Narita's restricted airside area, following Rudolf toward the place where their long-distance traveler was waiting.
The cars moved at a careful, deliberate pace.
No unnecessary acceleration.
No sudden lane changes.
No wandering across the painted markings.
Inside the restricted area, the atmosphere was completely different from the public side of the airport. There were no crowds, no rows of taxis, no passengers dragging suitcases toward terminals.
Instead, there was open pavement.
Service roads.
Hangars.
Aircraft parked behind designated barriers.
And the occasional airport vehicle moving through the distance.
Rudolf's F40 led the way, its Symboli Green bodywork standing out against the otherwise industrial surroundings.
Behind her came Maruzensky's Testarossa.
Then King's GR GT.
And finally, Mayano's red De Tomaso Pantera.
Even at low speed, the convoy looked absurdly exotic.
Four cars that would have attracted enormous attention anywhere else were now simply moving quietly through an airport service area.
King kept both hands on the steering wheel.
Her eyes moved between the road ahead, the markings and Rudolf's F40.
Forever Young continued sitting comfortably in the passenger seat.
She glanced out the window.
"Quite different from driving around Tokyo."
King nodded.
"Very."
She briefly looked toward the aircraft stands in the distance.
"It's almost peaceful."
Forever Young smiled.
"Almost."
King raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Forever Young pointed ahead.
"You're about to meet the most talkative person in our group."
King chuckled.
"Mayano?"
"Mayano."
King shook her head.
"That girl has enough energy for all of us."
"And you're surprised?"
King glanced at her.
"No."
She smiled.
"Not really."
The convoy continued.
They followed the road until they reached the first T-intersection.
Rudolf slowed.
Her brake lights illuminated.
The F40 turned left.
Maruzensky followed.
King gently pressed the brake pedal and turned the steering wheel after them.
The GR GT's tires rolled over the intersection with almost no sound.
Mayano's Pantera followed behind, its V8 producing a deep, subdued rumble as she kept the throttle barely open.
The gray asphalt soon transitioned into a lighter section of pavement.
The white road markings became less prominent.
King slowed even further.
The airport environment demanded patience.
Whatever performance these cars possessed was completely irrelevant here.
This wasn't a touge.
It wasn't the Wangan.
It wasn't a race track.
It was an active aviation facility.
And everyone knew it.
Rudolf maintained a steady pace.
The others followed.
Eventually, the General Aviation Building appeared ahead.
Rudolf continued alongside it before reaching the end.
She signaled.
Then turned right.
King followed.
And the moment the GR GT rounded the corner—
She saw it.
The aircraft was sitting ahead.
A distinctive, almost futuristic silhouette against the summer sky.
A Beechcraft Starship.
Serial NC-35.
King's eyes widened.
Even from a distance, the aircraft looked unlike anything else around it.
The forward canards.
The rear-mounted pusher propellers.
The enormous composite fuselage.
The high-mounted wings.
The unusual proportions.
It looked less like an aircraft from its era and more like something designed decades later.
Rudolf came to a stop.
Maruzensky stopped behind her.
King pulled the GR GT into position.
Mayano's Pantera rolled in behind them.
One by one, the engines were switched off.
The F40's flat-plane twin-turbo V8 fell silent.
The Testarossa's flat-twelve faded away.
The GR GT's twin-turbo V8 quietly shut down.
And finally, the Pantera's American V8 rumbled for another few seconds before Mayano turned the ignition off.
Silence returned.
Then—
Mayano's door flew open.
She practically jumped out.
Her eyes were already sparkling.
She stared at the aircraft.
"Look at that beauty!"
King stepped out of the GR GT and closed the door behind her.
Mayano was already walking toward the Starship.
"Such a rare and unique design!"
She turned around and pointed at the aircraft.
"You all know this is one of only five Starships still flying around the world?"
King's ears immediately perked up.
"Only five?"
Mayano nodded enthusiastically.
"Yep!"
She pointed toward the aircraft.
"The Starship was an incredibly ambitious aircraft for its time. Composite construction, a twin-pusher configuration, canards, advanced avionics..."
She walked backward as she continued talking.
"But commercially, it just never became the success Beechcraft hoped it would."
Mayano sighed.
"There were other aircraft available for similar money that could fly higher, faster, and farther. And the Starship's production numbers were tiny."
She shrugged.
"Eventually, Beech didn't want to continue supporting the fleet. A number of the aircraft were bought back and grounded."
She turned toward the Starship again.
"But that doesn't mean it was a bad aircraft."
Mayano raised a finger.
"It was ahead of its time."
She grinned.
"A twin-pusher canard business turboprop made extensively from composite materials."
She winked.
"Carbon fiber."
King laughed softly.
"I guess Maya-chan knows almost as much about civilian aviation as Sirius does."
Forever Young nodded.
"That's what I'm starting to realize."
Rudolf folded her arms.
"Mayano certainly has a talent for remembering technical details."
Maruzensky smiled.
"She gets excited."
"Very excited."
Mayano ignored them.
She was already walking toward the aircraft.
The others followed.
King looked over the Starship again.
The aircraft was even more impressive up close.
Its composite surfaces reflected the sunlight.
The propellers sat behind the engines, their blades motionless.
The canards extended forward from the fuselage, giving the aircraft its unmistakable appearance.
And then—
Movement.
The aircraft's main door opened.
Sirius Symboli appeared at the top of the stairs.
She looked down.
Then her eyes widened.
A huge smile spread across her face.
"Hey!"
She raised one hand.
"Man, I'm so glad to finally see you all!"
She descended the stairs and stepped onto the pavement.
The moment she reached the ground, she looked toward the Starship.
Then toward the group.
She spread both arms.
"Well?"
She grinned.
"What do you all think?"
Maruzensky smiled.
"Futuristic, Sirius."
Rudolf nodded.
"It looks even more interesting in person than it does in photographs."
Mayano practically bounced on her feet.
"This thing looks awesome, Sirius-san!"
She moved closer.
"You've gotta take me flying on it one day!"
Sirius laughed.
"One day, Mayano."
"Promise?"
"After you get your license."
Mayano puffed her cheeks.
"I know!"
Sirius shook her head, amused.
She turned toward the aircraft.
"I've still got some luggage inside."
She climbed the stairs again and retrieved one of her larger bags.
Then another.
She dragged them down carefully.
"Whoever has the biggest trunk, please put these in the car."
Forever Young immediately raised a hand.
"I'll handle it."
King reached into her pocket.
Then remembered.
She no longer had the GR GT's keys.
She pulled them out and handed them to Forever Young.
"Here, Yanko."
Forever Young nodded.
"Got it."
She took the keys and walked toward the GR GT.
Sirius watched her go.
Then Mayano stepped toward the stairs.
"Mind if we take a look inside, Sirius-san?"
Sirius smiled.
"Go right ahead."
Mayano didn't need to be told twice.
She climbed aboard.
King followed more slowly.
The interior was noticeably different from a modern business aircraft.
There was something distinctly old-school about it.
The cockpit especially.
Mayano immediately headed toward the flight deck.
Sirius followed.
She pointed toward the right-hand seat.
"You can sit there, Maya."
Mayano climbed inside and settled into the co-pilot's seat.
Her eyes widened as she looked across the cockpit.
Sirius then climbed into the captain's seat.
She rested a hand near the controls.
Mayano looked everywhere at once.
The instruments.
The controls.
The displays.
The yokes.
The pedals.
The switches.
The old-fashioned cockpit layout.
Sirius smiled.
"Most of these displays are CRTs."
Mayano leaned forward.
"The primary flight display?"
"CRT."
"Navigation?"
"CRT."
"Airspeed?"
"CRT."
"Altitude?"
"CRT."
Mayano nodded thoughtfully.
"Pretty sure those things get hot."
Sirius laughed.
"Very hot."
King leaned into the cockpit from behind.
"So how do you cool them?"
She looked around.
"Is there some kind of fan switch?"
Sirius nodded.
"Exactly."
She pointed toward the center console.
"There's an alternate avionics fan switch here. It's mainly used while we're on the ground."
She then pointed toward another part of the system.
"Once we're airborne, I can use bleed air from the aircraft's bleed-air system to help cool the avionics."
King nodded slowly.
"That's clever."
"Old aircraft have plenty of interesting solutions."
Forever Young eventually climbed inside.
She walked farther into the cabin and settled into one of the seats.
She leaned back comfortably.
Then looked toward Sirius.
"Say, Sirius."
"Hm?"
"How far can you actually fly in this thing?"
Sirius smirked.
"And you're asking whether it's faster than my Bonanza?"
Forever Young nodded.
Sirius scoffed.
"Obviously."
She folded her arms.
"It's faster, flies higher, and flies farther."
She glanced toward the cockpit instruments.
"Though it's still a turboprop business aircraft. It isn't going to compete with a modern business jet."
She paused.
"Think more along the lines of a King Air when it comes to the general category."
Rudolf raised a finger from behind them.
"And what about spare parts?"
Sirius turned.
"I heard they're extremely difficult to obtain."
Sirius shook her head.
"Not something I'm particularly worried about."
She pointed toward the cockpit.
"There are companies and specialists supporting the remaining airworthy aircraft. Some have access to old technical documentation and are capable of producing limited replacement components."
Mayano nodded.
Sirius continued.
"And where original equipment isn't practical anymore, there are modern replacements."
She pointed at one of the displays.
"CRT displays can be replaced with LCD units."
Then toward the navigation equipment.
"And the original flight-management equipment is outdated. Modern Garmin equipment can be integrated as part of an avionics upgrade."
King looked around.
"So even though it's old, you can keep modernizing it."
"Exactly."
Sirius leaned back.
"That's one of the reasons these aircraft can keep flying."
Mayano looked toward the ceiling.
"So when do we go flying?"
Sirius laughed.
"After you get your pilot's license."
"I know!"
Mayano grinned.
"I know!"
She placed one hand on the yoke.
Then lightly rested her feet against the rudder pedals.
She pulled out her phone with her free hand.
Click.
A photograph.
She immediately looked at the screen.
"Perfect."
Sirius shook her head.
"You weren't even subtle."
Mayano laughed.
"I had to!"
King chuckled.
"You're going to show that to everyone when we get back."
"Of course!"
Sirius sighed.
"You're impossible."
Mayano smiled proudly.
"Thank you."
The group laughed.
For a few minutes, the cockpit became less like an aircraft cockpit and more like a classroom.
Mayano asked questions.
King listened.
Forever Young occasionally joined in.
Rudolf inspected the aircraft's exterior from the doorway.
Maruzensky admired the unusual design.
And Sirius answered everything with the patience of someone who had spent far too much time explaining her favorite aircraft to curious friends.
Eventually, Sirius looked at the time.
She yawned.
Covering her mouth.
"Man..."
She rubbed one eye.
"I really need to get back to campus and sleep."
Rudolf nodded.
"You've been traveling for quite some time."
"Yeah."
Sirius stretched.
"That trip was long."
She looked toward the group.
"Let's head back."
Everyone climbed out of the Starship.
Sirius descended last.
She reached the aircraft's door.
With both hands, she pulled it upward and secured it.
Then she reached for the locking mechanism.
Twist.
Click.
The handle was pressed flush against the aircraft's skin.
She gave the door a final check.
Then stepped back.
"All right."
She looked at everyone.
"The aircraft's secured."
She smiled.
"Let's go home."
The group started walking back toward the cars.
King walked beside Sirius.
For once, there was no discussion about racing.
No talk about lap times.
No discussion about training.
No pressure.
Just friends returning home after welcoming another friend back to Japan.
Sirius glanced at King.
Then smiled.
"By the way."
King looked toward her.
"Hm?"
"Congratulations."
King blinked.
"For what?"
Sirius gave her a knowing look.
"The Japanese Oaks."
King's expression softened.
She bowed her head slightly.
"I appreciate it, Sirius."
Sirius gave her a light pat on the back.
"Two crowns."
She grinned.
"You're halfway there."
King smiled.
"One race left."
"Exactly."
Sirius' expression became more serious.
"But don't let that become an obsession."
King looked at her.
Sirius continued.
"You've already proven that you can win."
She paused.
"Now you just have to finish what you started."
King nodded.
"I know."
Sirius smiled.
Then her expression changed.
She leaned slightly closer.
"And there's something else."
King raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Ignore what your mother says."
King's eyes widened slightly.
Sirius didn't stop.
"You are what you are."
She placed a hand against King's shoulder.
"You aren't your mother's expectations."
"You aren't the person she wants you to become."
"And you certainly don't need her approval to prove that you're great."
King remained silent.
Sirius continued.
"She doesn't get to control your life just because she's your mother."
King's ears lowered slightly.
The words hit somewhere deeper than she expected.
Sirius gave her a small smile.
"You've got your own career."
"Your own victories."
"Your own friends."
"And your own future."
King slowly looked down.
Then back at Sirius.
A small smile appeared.
Sirius' grin widened.
"So don't let someone else's bitterness become your burden."
A pause.
Then Sirius shrugged.
"Fuck her."
King stared at her.
For half a second, there was silence.
Then—
King burst out laughing.
A genuine laugh.
Not the polished laugh she used around reporters.
Not the confident laugh she used when pretending nothing bothered her.
A real one.
"Sirius..."
"What?"
"You really don't hold back, do you?"
Sirius shrugged.
"Someone has to say it."
King wiped the corner of one eye.
"Thanks."
She smiled.
"Really."
Sirius nodded.
"Anytime."
Ahead of them, Rudolf called out.
"Are we all ready?"
Maruzensky raised her hand.
"Ready!"
Mayano was already standing beside the Pantera.
"Yep!"
Forever Young opened the GR GT's trunk.
"I've got Sirius' luggage."
Sirius looked toward her.
"Thanks, Yanko."
Forever Young smiled.
"No problem."
King stopped for a moment.
She looked back toward the Starship.
NC-35 sat quietly beneath the summer sky.
After everything that had happened—the long journey, the exhausting races, the pressure, the arguments, the expectations—it felt strangely peaceful.
She had spent the last few weeks fighting for something.
Her reputation.
Her future.
Her place in history.
And now, standing beside the people who had chosen to support her, she realized something.
Winning wasn't the only thing keeping her going.
It was knowing that there were people waiting for her when she came home.
People who would celebrate with her.
People who would tell her when she was wrong.
People who would stand beside her when the pressure became unbearable.
People who didn't care whether she was King Halo, the Triple Tiara contender, or simply King.
They cared about her.
The realization brought another small smile to her face.
Sirius noticed.
"You okay?"
King nodded.
"Yeah."
She looked toward her friends.
"Actually..."
She took a slow breath.
"I'm more than okay."
Sirius smiled.
"Good."
King turned toward the GR GT.
"Come on."
She started walking.
"Let's get back before Oguri eats everything in the cafeteria."
Forever Young laughed.
"Too late."
Mayano gasped.
"Wait!"
She ran after them.
"Oguri is already eating?!"
Maruzensky laughed.
"That's what you're worried about?"
Mayano pointed toward the cars.
"That's extremely important!"
Rudolf shook her head with a smile.
The group gradually climbed into their respective cars.
Doors opened.
Doors closed.
Seatbelts clicked.
Engines came to life one after another.
The F40's flat-plane twin-turbo V8 awakened first.
Then came the Testarossa's flat-twelve.
King settled into the driver's seat of the GR GT.
She adjusted her seating position.
Placed her foot on the brake.
Pressed the start button.
The twin-turbo V8 hummed back to life.
She glanced toward Forever Young.
Forever Young smiled.
"Still like it?"
King smiled.
"Definitely."
Mayano's Pantera roared to life behind them.
King laughed.
"Though I think Maya-chan is trying to make sure we don't forget she's here."
Forever Young looked into the mirror.
"She always does."
Rudolf's F40 began moving.
The others followed.
King eased off the brake.
The GR GT rolled forward.
As they left the restricted area, King glanced once more through the windshield toward the distant Starship.
Sirius had finally come home.
And somehow, after everything King had endured, that simple thought made the world feel a little lighter.
The convoy disappeared down the airport service road.
Four cars.
Five friends.
One long road back to campus.
And somewhere ahead waited another day.
Another training session.
Another challenge.
And eventually—
The final crown.
The final race.
The final step toward the Triple Tiara.
But not today.
Today, King Halo simply drove.
No stopwatch.
No starting gate.
No crowd.
No expectations.
Just the steady hum of the GR GT's engine, the summer afternoon stretching beyond the windshield, and the familiar voices of her friends surrounding her.
For the first time in a long while, the road ahead didn't feel like something she had to conquer.
It simply felt like somewhere she wanted to go.
And for King Halo—
That was enough.