Chapter Eleven

Hisashi arrived at the usual parking lot on Friday night after her shift, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle upon her shoulders. The diner had been bustling since it was the beginning of a long weekend, leaving her feeling sore and weary from the demanding evening. However, she shook off the fatigue as best as she could, determined to enjoy the night ahead.

After washing up, she changed into a comfortable yet stylish ensemble, opting for a jumper jean skirt paired with long, high-knee socks and her trusty Converse sneakers. One strap of her jumper slid off her shoulder casually, revealing a glimpse of the green, tight sleeveless turtleneck bodysuit she wore underneath. Her black hair, still slightly damp from her shower, carried a subtle citrus aroma from the shampoo she had used, adding a refreshing touch to her appearance.

As she approached the parking lot, she spotted Hen Akoto and Alexander half-leaning over the White Nissan S14 hood, engrossed in a video playing on a laptop resting atop the car. Hen Akoto seemed invested in the video, his attention focused on the screen as he absentmindedly popped Frito's into his mouth.

With a small smile playing on her lips, Hisashi walked over to them, her hands clasped behind her back. "Nighty guys," she greeted them cheerfully, her voice cutting through the quiet of the night.

Startled by her sudden appearance, Hen Akoto turned to look at her, only to choke on his snack. His coughs echoed loudly in the night air as he struggled to regain his composure, spitting out the contents of his mouth in a fit of coughing. Meanwhile, Alexander chuckled at the scene unfolding before him, offering a pat on Hen Akoto's back to help him.

"Jesus, Hisashi," Alexander said between laughs, his amusement clear in his voice. "Don't kill him like that."

Hisashi couldn't help but grin mischievously as she reached for the bag of Frito's in Hen Akoto's hand, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Hi-Hisashi," Hen Akoto stuttered out, his cheeks flushing as he averted his gaze, clearly flustered by her presence. His eyes darted over her attire, from her high-knee socks to the way the strap of her jumper fell off her shoulder, before quickly looking away, his embarrassment palpable.

Observing the interaction with a knowing smile, Alexander leaned back slightly, thoroughly entertained by the dynamic between his friends.

"Do you want iced coffee?" Alexander asked Hisashi, his voice carrying a hint of warmth as he offered her a refreshment. Before she could reply, Alexander took charge, urging Hen to fetch something for her, leaving them momentarily alone in the parking lot.

Hisashi's lips curved into a gentle smile as she glanced at Alexander. "Did I miss something?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued by the exchange.

Alexander returned her smile, his eyes alight with a glint of mischief. "We were watching one of your runs from last time. Hen saw something interesting he wanted to try," he explained, gesturing towards the laptop where they had been watching the video.

Just then, a bright red Honda Civic pulled into the parking lot, drawing their attention. Two figures emerged from the car, their attire catching Hisashi's eye as she observed them closely. Both women were dressed in skimpy outfits, their short skirts and tight shirts leaving little to the imagination. One wore a pastel combination of violet and white, while the other opted for earthy tones of cream and dark brown.

"Oh, Alexis!" the taller woman called out, her voice cheerful as she approached. Alexander's smile faltered slightly, replaced by a hint of nervousness as he greeted her with a forced smile and a weak wave.

Hisashi raised an eyebrow at the interaction, her curiosity growing as she popped another Frito into her mouth.

"Hello to you too, Hana," Alexander replied, his tone tinged with annoyance.

"Hen!" Hana exclaimed excitedly as Hen Akoto approached with drinks in hand and a dark expression on his face.

Noticing the familiar coffee drink in his hand, Hisashi couldn't help but smile inwardly. "So he noticed," she thought to herself, feeling a sense of appreciation for his thoughtfulness.

"What are you doing here?" Hen Akoto asked, his tone clearly irritated by their unexpected arrival. However, Hana seemed unfazed, quickly moving to his side to wrap her arms around his forearm.

"Why haven't you returned my texts?" she demanded, her tone bordering on insistence.

Hen Akoto skillfully evaded her attempt at physical contact, distributing the drinks to Alexander and Hisashi before addressing her inquiries. Hisashi couldn't help but admire his composure in the face of Hana's persistence.

The tension in the air thickened as Hana's attention shifted to Hisashi, her smile fading into a look of curiosity tinged with something sharper. With an acidic tone, she directed her question at Hen Akoto, her eyes narrowing slightly as she awaited his response. "Who is she?"

Hen Akoto, sensing the tension, subtly tried to create distance between himself and Hana, his movements calculated as he he replied,"Newest member of my group, Hisashi."

Hisashi, ever composed, greeted Hana with a polite smile, her demeanor poised and gracious as she sipped her coffee.

"Nice to meet you, Hana," Hisashi replied, her voice calm and measured as she recalled the name mentioned by Alexander earlier. Her gaze met Hana's unwavering, conveying a sense of confidence and composure.

Hana's smile wavered slightly, her facade of warmth slipping as she glanced back at Hen Akoto, her eyes betraying a hint of irritation. "Why didn't you say you have girls in your group now?" she pressed, her tone bordering on accusatory.

Hen Akoto, leaning casually against the hood of his White Nissan S14, raised an eyebrow in response, his expression guarded yet unwavering. "Since when do I have to mention that?" he countered, his voice steady and firm.

Frustration clear in her demeanor, Hana stomped her feet in frustration, her agitation palpable. "You should—" she began, her words cut off by Hen's interruption.

"We are not together, Hana," Hen stated bluntly, his tone leaving no room for misinterpretation. His words hung in the air, a clear declaration of boundaries and independence.

As the tension simmered between them, Hisashi observed the exchange with a sense of detachment. Her own presence in the group solidified by Hen's firm stance. She maintained her calm exterior; her gaze flickering between Hen and Hana as she sipped her coffee, silently acknowledging the unspoken dynamics at play.

Alexander lowered his drink as well, taking a moment to wipe his lips before addressing Hisashi. "Erm, Hisashi," he began, gesturing for the black-haired driver to follow him away from the escalating scene. Hisashi nodded quietly, her gaze lingering on Hen and Hana as they walked.

As they distanced themselves from the commotion, Hisashi couldn't help but voice her curiosity. "Ex?" she inquired, her tone laced with intrigue as they approached her car.

Alexander nodded, taking a sip of his drink before elaborating. From their vantage point, they could still see Hen and Hana in the distance, the shorter girl remaining silent while Hana angrily gestured towards them.

"They used to be together," Alexander explained, feeling the need to provide context. "Hen didn't like that. She was too possessive, pushing people away from him. They started as fuck buddies, but she got too attached."

Hisashi hummed in understanding, her mind briefly drifting to her own experiences with possessiveness. "I've had my fair share of issues with possessiveness before," she admitted, surprising Alexander with her candor. She rarely discussed personal matters, but the situation seemed to call for it.

"My ex," Hisashi continued, "tried to drive me away from what I wanted. I was too young and naive. I suffered a lot. My uncle had to push me away from it and introduced me to driving."

"Driving as therapy?" Alexander inquired, his curiosity piqued by her revelation.

Hisashi smiled wistfully. "You could say that," she replied cryptically.

Meanwhile, Hana appeared to be infuriated by something Hen had said, his expression deadly serious. Hisashi couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Is it always going to be like this?"

Alexander sighed, his expression weary. "Hen has always attracted these kinds of girls. Although I've never seen him take things as seriously as I do with Rose."

"Do I have to be careful with psychos now?" Hisashi joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Alexander chuckled at her question. "Unless you want to be with him," he quipped, causing Hisashi to choke on her coffee in surprise. Regaining her composure, she met Alexander's gaze, struck by the sincerity in his eyes.

"I can tell you this, Hisashi," Alexander said earnestly. "You're different."

With a reassuring smile, Alexander strode over to the bickering pair, his presence commanding attention. "People, chill," he intervened, his voice calm yet authoritative.

Hana shot a glare at Alexander, her frustration palpable. "How can you allow this?" she demanded, her tone accusatory.

"Hana," Alexander replied evenly, meeting her gaze head-on, "We need talent in our group, and she has it."

"So she can drift now?" Hana retorted, her skepticism evident.

"Do you want to try a ride?" Hisashi interjected, joining the conversation and standing next to them, her coffee now finished.

Before Hana could respond, Hen stepped forward, his laptop in one hand as he grabbed Hisashi by the arm, urging her towards his car. "Get in," he instructed, his tone urgent.

Hisashi complied, following Hen to his car as he quickly opened the door and gestured for her to enter. With a sense of urgency, Hen climbed into the driver's seat, slamming the doors shut before turning on the ignition. Without wasting a moment, he drove off, leaving Hana behind.

In the passenger seat, Hisashi observed, as Hen slumped back with a sigh. The laptop dropped unceremoniously in the back seat. The silence in the car was palpable, broken only by the soft hum of the engine.

"Sorry about that," Hen spoke up after a few minutes, his voice breaking the silence. Hisashi noted the relaxation in his demeanor as he drove along the familiar streets.

"Why?" Hisashi responded, her gaze fixed on the road ahead as he navigated the turns effortlessly.

Hen's eyes flickered toward her, noticing how the skirt of her jean jumper hugged her thighs. He realized it was the first time they were alone in his car, and a slight nervousness crept in. 'You've got this, man,' he thought to himself.

"I can understand you have girls desperately attached to you," Hisashi remarked, her tone thoughtful yet matter-of-fact.

"Attached?" Hen raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

"Well, you seem to be the type of guy who flirts around—" Hisashi began, but Hen's question interrupted her.

"Have I flirted with you?" Hen interjected, his tone serious.

The question took Hisashi aback. "Well, you were very persistent in getting me to join—" she started, but Hen cut her off.

"That's not flirting," he clarified. "That's recruitment."

Frustration tinged Hisashi's voice as she asked, "What do you want from me, then?"

"You're good at this," Hen replied, his grip tightening on the wheel. "What you do takes commitment and years of training. Few people have that."

"So I'm just good at driving?" Hisashi's question caught Hen off guard.

"Well," Hen stammered, at a loss for words, "I know little about you."

"Do you need to in order to put me on your flirt list?" Hisashi's tone was pointed, her gaze unwavering as she waited for an answer.

"I-" Hen tried to muster the words but couldn't find them.

"Well," Hisashi said, looking back at the street, breaking her gaze with the redhead. "I enjoy gaming and cats," she mentioned. "Or do you need other information like my bra size—"

Hen's face turned bright red, and he shook his head, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "That's not—"

"Is there anything you particularly need?" Hisashi inquired, her tone softer now.

"Are you interested in me?" Hen asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What if I am?" Her response hung in the air, leaving Hen to ponder the possibilities.

Observing Hen's nervous demeanor, Hisashi couldn't help but wonder about the discrepancy between his reputation and his current behavior. Was this the confident, unstoppable Hen that her teammates often praised?

Hisashi couldn't shake off the conflicting images in her mind. For so long, she'd heard praises about Hen's social prowess — how effortlessly he navigated conversations, how he charmed those around him, and how his skills on and off the track made him seem invincible. But now, seeing him with flushed cheeks and nervous gestures, she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to him than met the eye.

As she watched him nervously biting his lip, Hisashi couldn't suppress her curiosity. Was it her presence that made him act this way? She'd noticed a shift in the way people behaved around her, and the remarks she'd overheard only added to her confusion. If Hen truly possessed such confidence with women, why hadn't he made a move on her? He frequented the diner, knew her drink preferences, praised her work, and often visited — yet he'd never crossed that boundary.

Other team member tried, altho Hisashi paid little attention to it other than their causal conversations. Yet Hen Akoto would only engage in technical and tactical conversations, which she was still learning. The internal debate raged on within Hisashi's mind. Did Hen need a specific reason to make a move? Was it worth delving deeper into this uncertainty? Xiangua's words echoed in her thoughts, reminding her of trying new things. It was a decision she knew she had to make, but the path ahead remained unclear.

As they pulled back into the parking lot, Hisashi noticed the absence of the red Honda Civic, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. She noticed Hen sighed in relief as well. Alexander awaited them, his expression unreadable as he sat in his car, texting on his phone.

Hen shifted his gear into park and pulled on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt. Just as he reached for the door handle, he felt her fingers lightly brush against his right forearm, a gentle touch that sent a shiver down his spine. Turning his head to the side, he was met with the sight of Hisashi leaning in.

Surprised by her closeness and the warmth emanating from her chest as she leaned over his shoulder, Hen's breath caught in his throat. Before he could fully process what was happening, their lips brushed together in an unintentional caress. Time seemed to stand still in that moment, the surrounding air charged with an electric tension that seemed to crackle with anticipation.

For what felt like an eternity, they remained frozen in place, their lips still barely touching, each heartbeat echoing loudly in the silence between them. Hen could feel the warmth of Hisashi's breath mingling with his own, a heady mixture that only intensified the moment.

Summoning his courage, it was Hen who took the initiative, leaning in to meet Hisashi's lips in a gentle, tentative kiss. The sensation was incredible, the warmth of her lips against his, the lingering taste of coffee on her breath. What had started as a soft brush of lips soon deepened into something more, as Hisashi responded eagerly, her lips parting to welcome him in.

Their eyes drifted closed, lost in the blissful sensation of each other's touch. Lips melded together in a dance of desire, tongues tangling in a sweet, intoxicating embrace. In that moment, there were only the two of them, the rest of the world fading into insignificance as they surrendered themselves to the passion that engulfed them.

It was Hisashi who eventually broke the kiss, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps as she pulled away, her cheeks flushed with desire. As they locked eyes, both breathless and exhilarated by the intensity of their shared moment, they knew that this was just the beginning of something extraordinary.

Regaining her strength, Hisashi tore her gaze away, her fingers fumbling with the door handle before swinging it open. The chilly night air rushed in, enveloping them both, jolting Hen back to reality. Not a word passed Hisashi's lips as she stepped out, leaving the door open behind her with a hurried motion. Hen's eyes remained fixed on her, noting the crimson flush that tinged her cheeks.

With a throaty growl, the engine of her Black Panther roared to life, and Hisashi wasted no time in driving off into the night.

Meanwhile, Alexander approached the passenger side of Hen's car, only to find Hisashi departing without a single word. Bewilderment clouded Alexander's features as he peered inside the car, spotting Hen gazing out into the void where Hisashi had disappeared. Hen's face flustered, his lips swollen from the encounter.

"What happened?" Alexander inquired, his voice laced with disbelief.

"I... I kissed her," Hen stammered, his admission hanging heavy in the air.

Alexander recoiled in shock, clutching his chest with a startled gasp. "You WHAT?!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening in astonishment.