Act: 1 Chapter: 7 | Everything Unravels.

The Seaside Lunch

The sun hung low over Ritou, its golden rays casting a soft, almost ethereal glow across the gentle waves. The salty breeze swirled through the open windows of the seaside restaurant, carrying with it the irresistible scents of fresh ramen and grilled seafood. The atmosphere was cozy, a perfect blend of relaxation and anticipation, as the sounds of the ocean mixed with the hum of conversation from the large table near the window.

Collei, Seele, Beidou, Pela, and March were all gathered around, their chatter light and easy as they waited for their food to arrive. Despite the tranquility of the setting, it wasn't long before March's curiosity stirred the air.

"Hey, Collei, is it true you've been driving on Yougou for the past five years?" she asked, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief and genuine curiosity.

Collei rested her chin on her hand, her lips curling into a slight, almost amused smirk.

"Yeah, sounds about right. Give or take," she replied, nonchalantly.

March leaned in, her playful grin widening as she probed further.

"But why all the secrecy? I thought we were, y'know, close friends!"

Collei's expression faltered for a split second—just enough for March to catch the brief flicker of hesitation in her eyes. She exhaled, her voice a little softer.

"If I talked about it, my father would've gotten into trouble. You know how things were."

March nodded, her gaze softening with understanding. The memory of their junior high days was still fresh—those were years filled with constant trouble, always on the edge of something dangerous, yet somehow always managing to pull through.

"Yeah… five years ago, we were just starting junior high. Back then, it always felt like trouble had a way of finding us, no matter what we did," March mused, her voice reflecting the weight of those memories.

Beidou let out a chuckle from across the table, crossing her arms with a knowing smirk.

"But since then, you've been driving every day. Rain, snow—didn't matter. What mattered was that you drove."

Collei's lips curved into a half-smile, a trace of pride mixed with nostalgia in her eyes.

"Yeah. Before dawn, when no one was on the road. No big deal."

Beidou scoffed in disbelief.

"No big deal? Collei, we're talking about Yougou here. The corners alone scare off most drivers! You weren't nervous?"

Collei tapped her chin thoughtfully, as if pondering the question for a moment before giving her response.

"At first? Sure. But after a while, the fear just… vanished. I got used to it. Early on, I noticed the tires slipped in ways I couldn't explain. But I adapted. It took me about six months to really control it."

Seele, who had been quietly observing, suddenly snapped her fingers, a look of realization crossing her face.

"So in a year, you had the downhill mastered?"

Collei chuckled softly at the idea, her eyes flickering with a sense of pride.

"I guess you could say that. The route got boring after a while, so I started making challenges for myself—like seeing how close I could get to the guardrail without touching it."

March gasped, her eyes wide with shock and admiration.

"That's insane! What if you miscalculated?"

Collei shrugged nonchalantly, her demeanor relaxed, as if the risks were nothing more than another part of the journey.

"I never wrecked. At my best, I could get within a centimeter of the guardrail."

A stunned silence followed her words, each of them processing the level of skill and precision that took.

Even Seele, usually unflappable, seemed momentarily taken aback. Pela adjusted her glasses, her voice tinged with surprise.

"That's… a level of precision I didn't expect."

But Beidou wasn't finished. She leaned forward, her tone shifting to a more analytical question.

"There's still one thing I don't get. You were delivering tofu, right? So how did you go that fast without ruining your haul? If you push too hard, the tofu's gonna slosh around and fall apart."

Collei gave a sly grin, leaning back in her chair as if the answer were the simplest thing in the world.

"Simple. On the uphill, I didn't go fast. My dad used to put a cup of water in the cupholder. If I could drive up Yougou without spilling a drop, I knew I was doing it right."

The table fell silent, each person letting the gravity of her words settle in. The level of care, the attention to detail—it was beyond impressive.

Seele let out a low whistle, the sound barely audible but full of awe.

"Damn. That's next level."

Beidou, with a wide grin, nodded approvingly.

"No wonder you kept up with Keqing last night."

Collei just smiled, the quiet confidence in her expression saying more than words ever could. Her gaze drifted out the window, toward the shimmering expanse of the ocean, and for a moment, she lost herself in the view.

"…And I'm only getting started," she thought to herself, a quiet resolve settling over her.

As their food finally arrived, steaming bowls of ramen and platters of grilled seafood, the conversation shifted, but Collei's mind lingered on the road ahead. The Eight-Six, the curves of Yougou, and the rush that only she truly understood. The thrill, the challenge—it was calling her once again.

The sun dipped lower on the horizon, painting the seaside restaurant in shades of amber and gold. The gentle murmur of the ocean blended with the laughter and chatter inside, creating a perfect ending to a relaxing day. Yet, despite the tranquil setting, Collei couldn't escape the pull of the asphalt that awaited her, the winding roads of Yougou etched into her mind like a memory too sweet to ignore.

The others around her continued eating, but they were talking less. Some of them were still chowing down on the hearty dishes in front of them, others just savoring the moment. March had already downed half her ramen, a mess of noodles spilling out from her chopsticks as she leaned over the table. She was always full of energy, never one to keep her thoughts to herself. That's why when she suddenly raised her hand lazily, resting her elbow on the table, it caught everyone's attention.

"About that water cup…" she began, her voice dripping with curiosity, "How do you not spill it when you're driving uphill at speed?"

Collei blinked and paused mid-bite, her mind momentarily snapping back to the present. She wasn't surprised by the question—it was one she'd gotten before. But as she looked at March's eager face, she realized how much they wanted to know. How much they all wanted to understand this thing she did so effortlessly, this art of control, this mastery that she never took for granted.

Collei leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table, hands curling into the air as if holding an invisible cup. "Oh, I did spill it—plenty of times at first. Even the tiniest rough input, and boom—water everywhere. But my dad had this weird way of teaching me. He always said, 'Roll the water around the cup.'"

March squinted, tilting her head as if trying to piece it together. "Roll the water…? What does that even mean?"

Collei smirked, a quiet chuckle escaping her lips. She let the memory of her father's voice replay in her head, that odd mix of patience and unrelenting focus that he had when it came to teaching her. "It took me a while to figure it out too. You know, water's got surface tension, right? It only stretches so far before it spills. The trick is to guide the water instead of letting it slosh around randomly."

Her hands moved as if she were handling the cup itself, one hand mimicking the circular motion while the other stayed steady. She could almost feel the imaginary cup between her fingers as she demonstrated. "The key is controlling the weight transfer of the car. If you do it right, you can move the water in a controlled way, so it rolls along the inner edge of the cup instead of splashing everywhere."

She leaned back in her seat and relaxed her posture a bit. The idea of weight transfer wasn't something that could be explained easily. It was a feeling, a sensation that came with practice—months of practice. "When you drive, you have to think about more than just the throttle or the brakes. You control the car's balance, where the weight shifts. If you do it right, you'll feel everything working together—smooth, fluid. Eventually, I got it down. Now, I can even drift without spilling it."

The table fell silent. The clink of utensils and the soft murmur of other patrons faded into the background as everyone turned to look at Collei, processing what she'd just said.

Seele's eyes widened, her usual stoic expression replaced by a slight sense of disbelief. Pela, ever the quiet observer, adjusted her glasses, her gaze narrowing slightly as she took in the gravity of the statement. Beidou, ever the skeptic, leaned back in her seat, her grin slowly widening as she raised an eyebrow.

March, on the other hand, was the first to break the silence. "No way." She lunged forward with a sudden intensity, grabbing Collei's collar with both hands. Her eyes locked onto Collei's in that fiery, playful way she always had. "You better not be lying to us, Collei! You hear me?!"

Collei blinked, the sudden jolt of March's hands catching her off guard. For a second, her breath caught in her chest. But she didn't panic. Instead, she let out a small laugh, a soft chuckle that made the tension break.

Seele, used to March's antics, tapped her on the shoulder with the gentle reminder, "Settle down. People are looking."

March froze mid-lunge, her hands still on Collei's collar as she glanced around. A few curious patrons had turned their heads, some even smiling at the sight of the table's chaotic energy. Realizing the attention they were attracting, March's face turned bright red. With a sheepish expression, she quickly let go of Collei's collar, clearing her throat and trying to regain her composure.

"Uh, sorry about that," March mumbled, scratching the back of her head. "But seriously, if you can drift without spilling water, I gotta see this for myself."

Pela, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "The primary control point of any car is its center of balance," she said, her voice calm and analytical. "That's the foundation of everything. Most drivers struggle for years just to understand it, let alone master it." She adjusted her glasses, eyes gleaming with newfound respect. "If Collei can drive without spilling water, it means she's already mastered the Eight-Six's weight transfer."

She paused for a beat, eyes flicking to Collei, who was still leaning back, relaxed but alert. "Forget drifting—that's another level entirely. It's not about whether you can make the car slide around corners; it's about making every ounce of motion deliberate, controlled."

Beidou exhaled slowly, shaking her head in disbelief before flashing Collei a grin. "Alright, I gotta see this for myself. Collei, do me a favor—let me ride with you on the Yougou downhill before we head home. I wanna see how you handle that challenge."

Collei blinked, a brief moment of surprise crossing her face. "I… uh… sure, I guess?"

Beidou grinned wider, fist-pumping the air. "YES! You have no idea how much this means to me!" Her voice was full of enthusiasm, like a kid who'd just been given a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

The group finished their meals, some of them talking animatedly about the upcoming drive, while others seemed lost in thought. The restaurant's warm glow now contrasted against the deepening blue of the sky outside, casting long shadows across the group as they stepped out into the cool evening air.

As they walked toward the cars, March suddenly broke away from the group, dashing toward the counter with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She returned moments later, smirking like a cat who'd just caught the mouse, and slipped a cup of water into the Eight-Six's cupholder.

Collei's eyes narrowed instantly. Her brow twitched as she spotted the cup. "…Seriously, March?"

March put her hands on her hips, feigning innocence. "What? I just wanna see if you really don't spill it. I mean, it's a pretty bold claim, right?"

Collei sighed deeply, rubbing her temple. She could feel the headache coming on. This was not going to be easy. "Fine. Just don't scream if it doesn't move."

March grinned widely, already buckling herself into the passenger seat. Pela slid into the back, adjusting her glasses and settling in as she took the opportunity to observe. Outside, Beidou and Seele climbed into the S30Z, the engine rumbling to life as they revved the engine, ready to follow closely behind.

The Eight-Six's engine growled to life, low and throaty at first, then rising as it warmed. The headlights cut through the dimming twilight, the faint outline of the mountain road already calling to Collei. As she gently pressed on the throttle, the wheels rolled forward, and the excitement in the air was almost palpable. The soft vibrations of the engine under her hands felt like a second heartbeat, syncing with the adrenaline already pumping through her veins.

With the road ahead of her, the test was on. This was the moment. The real test was about to begin.

The Midnight Descent

Mt. Yougou – Summit

The night air was crisp, the mountain roads barely illuminated by the faint glow of the city below. A chill hung in the air, stinging their skin as the wind picked up, rustling the leaves on the trees that lined the sharp cliffs. The summit was cold, the high altitude separating them from the warm embrace of the lowland lights far below. At the summit, the Eight-Six sat idling, its headlights cutting through the darkness like a blade, its engine purring softly beneath the hood—waiting.

Beidou, fully geared up, was practically vibrating with excitement, her fingers drumming on the sides of the seat. She adjusted her seatbelt once again, unable to sit still, the adrenaline already surging through her veins. Her eyes were glued to the wheel in front of Collei, her heart racing in anticipation for what was coming. She could practically feel the rush of the mountain road beneath her tires. This was going to be a ride she wouldn't forget.

From outside the passenger-side window, Seele leaned in, a teasing smirk on her lips. "Look at you, all nervous and sweating," she quipped, enjoying the way Beidou fidgeted in her seat.

March bounced in place beside her, her heels tapping an impatient rhythm against the asphalt. "You're so lucky, Beidou! This is gonna be amazing!" Her voice was full of excitement, her eyes wide with anticipation. She was practically glowing with energy, barely able to contain herself.

Beidou shot them a confident thumbs-up, her grin widening. "I know, right? This is gonna be epic! You all better hold on!" she shouted, her voice carrying through the crisp air.

Collei chuckled softly from the driver's seat, her grip light on the wheel, almost relaxed. She was calm, her breathing steady as she surveyed the winding road ahead, her mind already in sync with the mountain. "Guys, it's just a downhill run. We're not launching into orbit," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she kept her focus on the road.

Beidou turned to her, grinning even wider. "Right on! Let's go!" she said, throwing her hands in the air as she braced herself for the thrill. Her confidence was sky-high, ready to dive into the descent.

With a cocky grin, Beidou shot one last glance at the others. She raised an arm and tossed out a final jab. "Back off, you losers!" she shouted, laughing at the end of the line, challenging them to keep up.

And with that—

The Eight-Six launched.

The tires screeched as the car rocketed forward, the engine's roar reverberating through the mountain range. The powerful, high-strung sound of the AE86's engine echoed across the road, filling the silence of the night with a symphony of raw power. The car's rear end dipped as the clutch bit, and Collei shot the car down the mountain pass, the wheels spinning, the world blurring in the rearview mirror. It was only the beginning.

March leaned toward the window, her eyes locked onto the fading taillights of the Eight-Six. The red glow seemed to flicker in and out of sight, the darkness swallowing them up, only to spit them back out as they soared down the curves. "She's gonna have the time of her life," March murmured, the flicker of awe creeping into her voice, though it was hard to tell if it was excitement for Collei or a bit of jealousy at her raw skill.

Inside the Eight-Six

Beidou could barely contain her grin as she watched Collei work the wheel with fluidity. The way her hands danced over the controls was hypnotic—every flick, every turn, every shift in gear was done with an unshakable confidence. Beidou leaned in closer, narrowing her eyes with fierce determination. I'm gonna figure out her technique and steal it for myself, she thought, the challenge of it thrilling her beyond belief.

But as the first turn approached—that confident, invincible feeling inside her slowly began to waver.

The tight turn loomed ahead, and the mountain's curves twisted in unexpected directions. Beidou's heart rate spiked as they continued picking up speed. The Eight-Six was eating up the pavement beneath them, no fear, no hesitation.

"Wait—aren't we going too fast?!" Beidou's grip tightened on the door handle, her knuckles turning white as the mountain loomed closer in the headlights. Her breath caught in her throat, the adrenaline hitting her all at once. "Collei! Brake!"

Before she could finish the sentence, Collei's hands shifted. The wheel snapped in her grip, and the rear of the Eight-Six swung out violently—way too close to the guardrail. Beidou's stomach dropped as the world seemed to slow down for a split second.

But Collei didn't panic. Her eyes never strayed from the road as she fought the car's sudden angle, snapping the wheel back with surgical precision. The car swerved, the rear end almost touching the rail—but it was as if the car had a mind of its own, already responding to Collei's instinct. The Eight-Six snapped back in perfect control. The tires screamed as they gripped the asphalt with a hunger that matched Collei's. They blasted forward into the next stretch of the road, the wind roaring past them as they rocketed downhill.

Beidou's heart slammed against her chest, her mind still struggling to catch up with what had just happened.

"Holy shit—she's serious," Beidou thought, her wide-eyed expression reflecting the terror and awe she felt.

Turn 2 came fast—a sharp right-hand hairpin that cut through the mountain like a knife. As they neared the corner, an unmistakable sound filled the cabin—the harsh, high-pitched whine of the speed chime.

Beidou's breath hitched, and her pulse spiked as the chime sounded louder, reverberating in her ears. "The speed chime! We're over 100 kilometers per hour!" she shouted, her voice a mix of excitement and disbelief. She looked ahead, her vision narrowing on the sharp turn closing in. "And we're headed straight for it—!"

Collei didn't hesitate. She didn't even flinch.

Without losing a beat, she snapped down from fourth to second gear, her foot slamming the brakes with pinpoint precision. The Eight-Six lurched forward, its weight shifting suddenly, throwing Beidou against the seat as Collei executed the perfect braking drift. The tires screamed, the smell of burning rubber briefly filling the air, as the car's rear kicked out.

The G-forces pressed Beidou into her seat like a vice. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest as the car whipped around the corner, the force of the turn trying to tear her from the inside out.

The guardrail rushed toward them with blinding speed, so close it felt like they would crash into it. Time seemed to stretch as they powered through the turn.

At the last possible second—just inches away from disaster—Collei nudged the tail of the Eight-Six against the guardrail. The metal scraped against the rail in a high-pitched hiss, the sound of metal on metal filling the cabin, but it was only a whisper. A mere brush. Barely enough to even be considered a touch.

Beidou's breath hitched. She did that on purpose. Every part of her screamed in shock as she realized what had just happened.

She turned to look at Collei, her heart still racing in her chest, her hands shaking. The girl wasn't even breaking a sweat. Her hands moved effortlessly, fluidly, as if she were guiding the car through the air, not just on the road. She wasn't just driving. She was conducting the car's every movement—every drift, every shift in weight, every controlled slide around those corners.

"This isn't just skill," Beidou realized. Her voice caught in her throat. "This is something else. She's not just a driver… she's an artist."

They rocketed toward the next turn. The G-forces intensified, slamming into Beidou with every twist of the wheel. Her body screamed for mercy as the world blurred, the road folding into itself like a tunnel, the lights and shadows colliding in a dizzying dance of motion.

Beidou's vision began to swim. Her pulse was deafening in her ears. Her stomach turned over and over. Her senses spun out of control.

She was losing it. Everything was falling away.

And then—

The world went black.

Return to the Summit

Mt. Yougou – Summit

The mountain air was crisp, the biting cold wrapping itself around the summit like a shroud. Tension thickened the silence as the trio—March, Seele, and Pela—stood near the edge of the road, their breath visible in the frigid night air. The quiet was almost unsettling, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded.

The only sound was the soft rustling of the trees, their bare branches creaking in the wind. They waited, watching the road, anticipating Beidou's return. It was the calm before the storm, a brief moment of stillness before the excitement would come crashing back.

Then—

A low growl rumbled in the distance, the unmistakable sound of an engine revving, its growl growing louder with each passing second.

Pela's ears perked up as she turned toward the sound, a sharp edge of anticipation in her voice. "Whoa, I hear something."

March's brow furrowed, her sharp instincts kicking in. "That's too soon," she muttered, her gaze snapping to the road, narrowing with concern. The headlights piercing the darkness were coming too quickly—way too quickly. Her gut twisted, a sinking feeling creeping up her spine. "No way… it's too early. Something must've happened."

Her thoughts raced as the growl of the engine grew louder, the sound coming closer with each second. Was Beidou okay? Did she go too hard? Had Collei pushed her too far?

The Eight-Six roared into view, the car's headlights cutting through the darkness like twin beams of light. The tires kicked up gravel as it pulled into view, its approach smooth, effortless, as if it was gliding down the mountain rather than fighting against the treacherous curves. The car's engine hummed like a well-oiled machine, not a single sign of damage or hesitation—just pure, raw power and precision.

Beidou was nowhere to be seen in the front seat, and the tension thickened as the Eight-Six came to a halt, the unmistakable sound of the engine winding down, and the hazards flicking on with a faint "click-click" in the quiet of the night.

The trio sprang into action, their feet moving faster than their thoughts as they rushed toward the car, confusion and concern etched on their faces. March reached the driver's side first, yanking the door open with a sharp tug. But then she froze, her wide eyes taking in the sight before her.

Beidou.

Slumped in the passenger seat, completely knocked out.

Her head lolled slightly to one side, her face relaxed in a dreamy, almost blissful expression. A faint, almost ridiculous smile graced her lips, as though she'd just had the best dream of her life. A small stream of drool had formed at the corner of her mouth, and her breathing was slow, steady.

The silence between the three of them stretched on for several long moments.

Then—

"What the hell?!" March gasped, her voice higher than usual, her tone laced with disbelief. She stepped back, shaking her head in a daze as if her eyes were playing tricks on her. "She… passed out? After all that…? Seriously?!"

She turned to Collei, who was still seated behind the wheel, her expression calm and collected as though this was the most normal thing in the world. March's eyes widened. "What turn did she pass out on?" she demanded, her voice incredulous.

Collei didn't answer right away. Instead, she held up three fingers, a serene look on her face as if she'd expected this outcome from the very beginning.

"Three?" March nearly choked on her words, her hands flying up in disbelief. "Turn THREE?! She didn't even last halfway down?!"

Seele and Pela leaned in to peer inside the car, their gazes scanning the scene. As they took in the sight of Beidou completely unconscious, something caught their attention.

The cup of water in the holder.

Untouched. Not a single drop had been spilled, the glass perfectly still as if it had never been disturbed.

Pela's eyes narrowed slightly, her lips parting as she whispered, more to herself than anyone else, "This is... absurd." She shook her head, trying to process the ridiculousness of the situation. "What kind of superhuman is Collei?"

Collei sighed, her voice soft and calm, almost like she had been through this a hundred times before. "So… what now?" she asked, her tone nonchalant as if the whole scene didn't faze her in the slightest. She glanced over at the others, waiting for them to figure out what to do next.

Seele snapped her fingers with a sly grin, her eyes glinting with mischief as an idea began to form in her mind. "I got it," she declared, her voice filled with confidence. "Collei, follow me. Beidou can crash at my place for the night. Pela, you take the back seat." She winked at Collei, already picturing how this would all play out.

Collei gave a small nod, stepping out of the car to allow Pela to slide into the back seat. But as she shut the door, a sudden realization hit her—how were they going to get Beidou out of the car?

She paused, looking back at the others, her eyebrows furrowing. "Wait. How are we even getting her out of the car?" she asked, the question hanging in the air.

Seele shrugged with a grin that was pure mischief. "No clue. We'll figure it out," she said with a careless shrug. "She's Beidou. She's tough. I'm sure she'll be fine."

The cars pulled away from the summit, disappearing into the winding streets of Yougou. The wind howled softly through the trees, whispering secrets through the night, the cold night air sweeping through the mountain passes, carrying the promise of more adventures to come.

But this?

This wasn't the end.

This was only the beginning.

The legend of the Downhill Ace of Yougou had just begun.