Ch17 The Final Stretch

After a long tour around Europe they are back at their main base in Switzerland. Michele made a count of all sentient cars that they got so far

“1, 2, 3… Oh my there are 14 of them! Well this checks most of them in our database. This place looks more like a car museum now! 2 more to go…”

“So where are the other two exactly?” Mason then asked.

“We have a long way to go for those two, they are on the other side of the continent in Japan.” Michele explained

Margarita then said, “Ah yes the Japanese, they came just as our family left. I was one of the best back then but to be honest, if I kept going on I could only win one more at most. I was already considered old back then and they can definitely go as quick as me, or even better. My only weakness is reliability, but they seem to have solved it without any issue. I guess that’s the Japanese for you.”

Cossie then added, “Among all of us, only I have seen what they can truly do. Honestly, I was quite slow compared to them. But if I remember correctly, aren’t there supposed to be three of them instead of two?”

Everyone then looked at Cossie with suspicion. “I don’t know man, you are the only one young enough to remember.” Clara then said.

“Well I remember there is the white and green one, the red one, and a blue one.” Cossie then said. But just as Cossie said the word ‘blue’, Nekomi seems to have a sudden headache.

“Cutie are you OK?” Margarita said being worried about him.

Different flashes of memories suddenly rushed into Nekomi’s brain like a slideshow. But he is just unable to have a clear picture in any of them and neither can he point out the exact times. All he can hear is the sounds of what seems to be the same person.

“You must have been working hard enough these days, everyone needs to take a rest sometimes. Isn’t that right my little prince.” Josephine then said, “Just calm down and sit down, grab a cup of tea and slowly tell me what’s going on.”

Josephine slowly took Nekomi by the side as Margarita and Mason followed them.

Now the rest are all still wondering what they should do in Japan.

“Speaking of the Japanese,” Stratos then said, “They usually don’t do much, they always come near the end of the leaderboard. But except for one particular rally. The Safari.”

Alice then said, “Well I do remember some Japanese were being called the ‘Queen of Africa’ back in my day, I think she is called Cecilia or something. And I think she is red and white.”

“The queen of Africa huh? I have definitely heard of that somewhere.” Quattro then said.

Meanwhile on a sofa, Nekomi is trying to relax himself after the sudden headache.

“So tell me what did you see?” Margarita asked.

“Someone blue, something warm, something familiar. It's a warm feeling and it feels that is the exact thing that is missing from me.”

“Oh! So you started to have feelings for Angeline now?” Josephine then asked.

“No, nothing at all. I think it is the wrong shade of blue.” Nekomi answered.

“What about me then?”

“Too many colors.”

“Cossie or Clara?”

“Too white.”

“Now I just have no clue, but it probably has something to do with your past. Anyways, I think it is time to put that aside and enjoy the present.” Josephine then said.

Mason strongly disagrees and said, “Some say that ‘People who are lucky use their childhood to heal their life, and people who are unlucky use their life to heal their childhood.’ I have known him for years, almost since birth, he has had a really rough time growing up and I think the best way to do this is to solve this issue instead of forgetting, as he is literally unable to. He has been saying ‘blue this, blue that’ since we started rallying.”

Suddenly Nekomi then said, “I wanna go to Japan!”

“Wait what?” Margarita asked.

“I don't know exactly why, but I have a feeling that I will find her in Japan. Mark my words, I ain’t going to leave until we have hopped through every island and every mountain. I have a ton to ask her.”

“But shouldn’t you be taking a rest?” Josephine then said.

“No, Mason is right, I need to solve this mystery once and for all.” Nekomi then yelled, “Hey everyone! Start packing, I have a feeling that this is going to be good. Also don’t worry about me! I’m totally fine!”

Cossie then yelled back, “That’s the spirit! Now let's go!”

After a long flight to Tokyo, they have finally arrived at the airport. All being extremely exhausted and filled with jet lag.

Cossie then said, “Way before the flight, I searched through my old stuff and got a contact from someone in Japan. I called her and she said she would wait at the airport for all of us!”

“Are you sure that this is going to work?” Clara then asked.

“See? It worked!” Cossie then pointed to a young girl wearing a school uniform, holding a sign saying ‘Welcome Cossie-chan’.

“Wait, isn't she supposed to be in school right now?” Fulvia then asked.

“Oh I see now!” Camilia exclaimed, “No ma! It's her! The Queen of Africa!”

“Wow she looks so young!” Fulvia then said.

“Konichiwa Cossie-chan! Konichiwa Camilia-chan! Oh my god everyone is here!” the girl then said

“Oh I remember now! Celica! You cheaty bastard!” Cossie exclaimed.

“Cheaty bastard? What did she do?” Clara then asked.

Nekomi then said, “It's one of the most sophisticated technical cheating incidents in motorsports history, it's too long of a story to explain properly.”

“I haven’t seen you guys in so long, I am so glad that everyone I knew is here! We even got some new faces here! Konichiwa! Welcome to the land of the rising sun!” Celica then said.

All of a sudden Tommi decided to talk with her in fluent Japanese, and Celica was shocked.

“Wow, quite impressive for a foreigner! Where did you learn that?” Celica then asked.

“My dad’s Japanese and my mom’s Finnish. But I have only lived in Finland for my entire life.” Tommi then explained.

“Well welcome back then, you all must be hungry. How about I treat you all to lunch shall we?”

Later Celica introduces them to a ramen shop. “Now, this is where the best ramen in the world is being made. Try it!”

They all ordered some ramen and tried it, they slurped it up and all got hooked into it.

“Man, I love this country!” Seb said to himself and continued to eat some more.

“So, Celica. Is there 3 of you or 2? I can’t remember clearly.” Cossie then asked.

“There are three actually. Including me.” Celica then said.

“See I told you so!” Cossie then said to the rest of them. “If I wasn’t mistaken, it was you, a red one and a blue one correct?”

“Yes it is. But they are currently doing street racing now.”

After Celica mentioned that they are being street racers, she got the boys’ attention and got closer to hear more.

“Is it like the ones in Tokyo Drift? Or like the ones in Initial D? Tell me more! Tell me more!” Seb then said excitedly.

“Well it's both actually, the red one is a bit more open to the public eye. She likes to race in this busy city, so she can sometimes be seen in some parking lots at night. And her name is DQ. The blue one however likes mountain roads, and is a bit more mysterious, no one knows her true identity, other than me of course and people who are close to her. Well her name is Mountain Shogun.”

The boys were amazed by her stories and still wanted to hear more from her.

“Speaking of DQ, I still do keep a close contact with her, so this weekend. I could bring you guys to meet her if you wish. Until then, have a great rest and try to make yourself at home.”

“What about you Celica? Do you race in the streets as well?” Mason then asked.

“No, no. I am the oldest of all of us, so I prefer to live a rather simple life in this large city. Away from all the glory I had when I was younger.”

“Alright then, where should we meet up then?” Mason then asked.

“Same place, Saturday, 10PM.” Celica said, “But first, how about I take you guys around shall we?”