Act: 2 Chapter: 1 The Blackbird Turbo.

Days Had Passed

The days had blurred together since Beidou's unforgettable ride with Collei. Lyney's gas station sat in a rare lull—its usual hum of activity now only a faint whisper in the air. The sun hung low, casting long shadows over the lot as Lyney stepped out of the office, eyes scanning the quiet grounds. The soft clink of the door shutting behind him punctuated the stillness, his gaze flicking to Collei and March by the pumps.

"Where's Beidou?" he asked casually, his voice drifting on the cool breeze.

Collei didn't even bother looking up. She was preoccupied with something on her phone, the tips of her fingers swiping absentmindedly. "Out on a delivery. Took the pickup," she answered, her voice calm, almost too casual.

Lyney nodded, as if he'd expected as much. His eyes fell to the set of keys now resting in his hand, and he passed them to Collei along with an envelope. "If she's busy, maybe you can help me out. Just drop these papers off at the Yamada shop. You can take my Century."

Collei paused, glancing at the pristine Toyota Century parked nearby. She took the keys without hesitation, her fingers brushing against the smooth metal. With a simple nod, she turned and headed toward the car. The growl of the V12 engine roared to life, sending a faint shiver down March's spine as the car pulled away, the sound of its engine echoing down the empty street.

March watched them go, arms crossed over her chest, her lips pressed into a frown. The moment they were out of earshot, she straightened up, ready to make her point.

"Hey, Lyney, question," March called out, her voice sharp with a touch of annoyance.

Lyney paused mid-step, his eyes flicking back toward her, a slight quirk at the corner of his mouth. "What's up?"

March pointed to herself dramatically. "You do know I have a driver's license, right? Why is it always Beidou or Collei running your errands when you've got me?"

A smirk crept up on Lyney's face as he glanced down at her with a teasing glint in his eyes. "Put your hand on your chest."

March blinked in confusion but did as he asked, her brow furrowing slightly as she followed the strange request. "Okay… now what?"

Lyney's expression was all mock-seriousness. "What do you feel?"

She blinked, her voice almost unsure. "…My heartbeat?"

Lyney sighed dramatically, the corners of his lips twitching upward as he shook his head. "Exactly. And now you get it."

March frowned, her hands falling away from her chest as she looked up at him in confusion. "No, I don't—"

Lyney chuckled, turning to head back toward the office, his voice trailing over his shoulder. "Simply put, I trust Beidou and Collei to bring my car back in one piece. You? There'd be a dent in the side the size of your caved-in chest."

March gasped, taking an exaggerated step back as if struck. "HOW DARE YOU?!"

Lyney waved dismissively, his steps nonchalant as he disappeared inside. "That's the long and short of it."

March stood there, fists clenched, her teeth grinding. "One day, Lyney. One day, when I have my own car..." She muttered darkly under her breath, but the thought was cut short by the sound of something much louder—the unmistakable roar of a turbocharged engine.

Her head snapped up just in time to see it—a sleek black Porsche 930 Turbo, gleaming under the afternoon sun, rolling into the station with all the finesse of a predator stalking its prey. March's irritation vanished in an instant, replaced by a sense of awe. She'd seen fast cars, but the Porsche—this car? It was on another level.

"Whoa," she murmured, eyes wide. "Porsche Turbo. You don't see these every day."

The car came to a smooth stop, the engine quieting to a low hum. The driver—a striking woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense attitude—stepped out of the vehicle, her silhouette cutting through the light as she slid her sunglasses off with a fluid motion. "Hey, kid," she greeted, her voice low and confident. "Name's Yelan. A buddy of mine from Inazuma City told me to stop by." She leaned against the car, her eyes scanning the lot with a practiced gaze. "I'm looking for a member of the Yougou Speedsuns. Drives an Eight-Six. Heard she works here."

March's chest swelled with pride as she puffed herself up. This is it. My moment to shine. "Oh, Collei? Yeah, I know her! We're like sisters, really."

Yelan raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "That so?"

March nodded, her grin almost smug. "That's right. Me and her? Fastest racers in Yougou."

Before Yelan could respond, a low growl of an engine filled the air—deep, throaty, and unmistakable. March turned, her smug expression falling as her eyes landed on the source.

The Blackbird.

Her breath caught in her throat. She'd only heard whispers about it. Stories of its power, its dominance, the legend of the machine that could tear through the mountain like nothing else. And now, here it was, in front of her.

Yelan's smirk deepened, and she stepped back toward her car, ready to leave. "Pass along a message for me," she called out. "Saturday. 10 PM. Summit of Yougou." She revved the engine lightly, the sound cutting through the air with a challenging growl. "Tell her to look for the Blackbird."

March stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as she processed what had just happened. The car roared to life, and Yelan shot off down the road with a flash of speed that left March standing there, mouth slightly open.

Yelan's parting words echoed in her mind. It's a race to the bottom.

March swallowed hard. "Uh… and then what?"

Yelan's smirk widened as the Blackbird disappeared into the distance. "See you Saturday."

March stared after the car, her mind racing. The realization hit her like a freight train.

"Oh no. What have I done?"

She had just accepted a race on Collei's behalf.

Her panic only deepened as the sound of a familiar car reached her ears. Collei pulled up in Lyney's Century, parking it with a precision that could only come from years of practice.

Collei rolled down the window, her brow furrowing as she looked at March's pale face. "March, why do you look like you just committed a crime?"

March forced a stiff grin, trying to keep her composure. "Uh. No reason! Hey, wanna, uh, practice some downhill runs? Just for fun?"

Collei's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You never ask to practice. What did you do?"

Before March could answer, Lyney appeared, coffee cup in hand, a casual sip taken as he joined the conversation. "Hey, Collei! Fresh brew. You want some?"

Collei sighed, rolling her eyes. "Sure."

March watched in horror as Collei stepped out, completely oblivious to the impending chaos about to unfold. Her stomach churned. I am so dead.

The next day at Lyney's gas station, the usual slow pace settled in. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue across the lot. Beidou, Collei, and March were wiping down the gas pumps, the rhythmic swish of the cloths against the metal their only company, the occasional hum of a car passing by barely breaking the silence.

March, still reeling from yesterday's blunder, had been fidgeting nonstop. She kept stealing glances at Collei, hoping she could keep her cool, but it wasn't working. March cleared her throat, trying to force a casual tone, the unease in her voice obvious. "B—Beautiful day today, huh?"

Collei didn't look up from her task, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "Uh-huh. Why are you acting so weird?"

March chuckled nervously, wiping her hands on her apron in exaggerated motions. "W-Weird? Me? Pfft. No way."

Before Collei could press further, the distant roar of an engine broke through the quiet morning. A deep, rumbling growl that grew louder, faster, like a beast on the hunt. Tires screamed as they screeched, and within seconds, the car came sliding sideways into the station, the rear end kicking out just enough before it came to a perfect stop at the pump.

Seele's Nissan S30Z.

The air was thick with the smell of burnt rubber as the door flew open, and Seele practically jumped out of the car, her expression murderous. She looked beyond pissed. There was fire in her eyes.

"BEIDOU!" she barked, stalking toward her like an angry wolf. "What the hell?! Since when did you accept a challenge from the Blackbird?!"

Beidou blinked slowly, utterly confused. She glanced around, trying to process what was going on. "Uh… What?"

Seele wasn't having any of it. "Don't play dumb! The whole town's buzzing about it! The Porsche Turbo—the Blackbird—racing against the Eight-Six this Saturday! And you're just standing here acting like you didn't know?!"

March froze, her stomach sinking. Beidou's blank expression only deepened her anxiety. "Wait—hold up. What are you talking about?"

Seele threw her hands up in exasperation, shaking her head. "Yelan. The driver of the Blackbird. She came by yesterday and issued the challenge. The entire street scene knows. And you're telling me you didn't get the memo? Who did she talk to, then? The phantom Speedsun?!"

Beidou slowly turned to Collei, who looked just as lost. She gave a quick shrug, muttering under her breath, "This is news to me."

Seele's frustration hit a boiling point, her hands clenched at her sides. "So, am I the only one who knows about this?!" she growled. "What the hell is going on here?!"

The weight of the moment crashed down on March's chest. Her face flushed with guilt, her mind racing, heart pounding in her ears. It felt like everything was closing in on her. She couldn't take it anymore. The guilt was suffocating her.

With a deep breath, she dropped to her knees, her hands pressed to the ground, voice cracking as she blurted out, "I… I'M SORRY!"

The entire station fell deathly silent. Not a sound except for the wind rustling through the trees nearby. Beidou, Seele, and Collei all turned to her, their eyes wide with shock. The world around them seemed to freeze.

"March… what did you do?" Beidou's voice was dangerously low, almost like a warning.

March clenched her fists, trembling slightly. Her gaze was fixed to the ground, head bowed in shame. "I—I accepted the challenge… for you."

The air grew thick with tension. Like a heavy fog descending over everything.

Seele's jaw dropped, her mouth hanging open as she processed what March had just said. Collei ran a hand down her face, her expression a mix of disbelief and frustration. Beidou's eye twitched. Her lips parted, but no words came out immediately. The silence stretched on like an eternity.

"I—I didn't know what to do!" March stammered, her voice rising in panic. "Yelan showed up, and I—I kinda got caught up in the moment! She said the Blackbird was here, and before I knew it, I just… said yes! I didn't think… I didn't know she meant this—I didn't mean to—"

Beidou's patience snapped like a twig. Her voice rose, sharp as a blade. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING SOONER, YOU DUMBASS?!"

March flinched like she'd been slapped. Her whole body shook, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She could barely breathe.

Seele stepped forward, her hand on Beidou's shoulder, holding her back physically. "Easy, Beidou," she muttered, but the fury in her eyes mirrored Beidou's own.

"I panicked, okay?!" March wailed, her voice cracking under the pressure. She turned to Collei, her hands clasped together in a desperate prayer. "Look, Collei, I MESSED UP. PLEASE FORGIVE ME! I promise it won't happen again! I swear to you!"

Collei exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples as if trying to ward off a headache. She stared at March for a long moment, silence hanging between them like a tightrope. March's heart raced, waiting for the verdict.

Finally, Collei sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. She met March's gaze, her expression a mixture of frustration and reluctant understanding. "…It better not."

Then, after a long breath, Collei shrugged nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened. "But Archon's almighty, man," she muttered under her breath.

The weight of her words was heavy, but there was an unmistakable edge of humor in her voice that broke through the tension like a crack of light in the darkness. March, still on her knees, let out a deep, shaky breath, her entire body sagging with relief. The storm wasn't over, but at least the worst of it had passed.

Seele, her arms crossed, shook her head but couldn't suppress a smirk. "You're lucky Collei's got a heart of gold, March. If it were anyone else, you'd be outta luck."

Beidou glared at March for a few more moments before she let out a long, exasperated sigh. "You're lucky I'm not running you over with my car. I should be the one racing the Blackbird, not you."

March's mouth went dry. "I—I'll do whatever it takes to fix this!" she promised, her tone pleading, desperate.

"You better," Beidou growled. "And next time, don't you dare sign me up for something like that without asking first. I swear to the Archons, March, if you get me into more trouble—"

"I won't! I won't!" March interrupted quickly, shaking her head frantically.

Collei shook her head again, but this time, her expression softened. "Just… next time, ask, okay? No more stunts like this. We're all in this together. But damn, you sure know how to get us into trouble."

March nodded vigorously, her face a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. "I swear, no more stunts, no more surprises. I'll make this right. You guys won't regret it."

"Better not," Beidou muttered under her breath, turning to walk away. "If you do, I'll teach you how to drive my way."

March barely heard her, still processing the aftermath of her screw-up, but at least the storm had passed, and she had a second chance to make things right.

This time, she wouldn't screw it up.

That night, Beidou and Seele sat in the warm glow of a quiet café, the city outside buzzing with the sounds of traffic and distant chatter. Beidou leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, eyes fixed on her friend.

"So, Seele… who exactly are we meeting?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity, carefully studying her friend's unshakeable confidence.

Seele smirked, her fingers tapping against her coffee mug rhythmically. "You'll see. Let's just say, before she left, we kept in touch. Just in case." She paused, her smirk widening. "Trust me, you're going to like this."

Before Beidou could press further, the low, throaty growl of a rotary engine cut through the conversation, pulling their attention to the window. A pristine white Mazda RX-7 FC slid into the parking lot, its engine echoing in the night like a predator stalking its prey. The car glided to a stop beside Seele's midnight blue S30Z, the two vehicles exuding a quiet, almost reverential presence. Two figures stepped out.

Beidou raised an eyebrow as recognition clicked in. "Oh? You kept in contact with Ningguang?" she asked, her voice a little more incredulous than she meant to sound.

Seele's smirk widened, an unmistakable gleam in her eyes. "That's right. Ningguang and Keqing know more about cars than we could ever hope to. If anyone knows something about the Blackbird, it's them."

A few moments later, Ningguang and Keqing entered the café, their presence commanding the room despite their casual attire. Ningguang carried a sleek tablet in one hand, the usual businesslike air softened only by the slight smile playing on her lips. Keqing, ever the pragmatist, was next to her, her eyes scanning the room with practiced caution, an ever-watchful presence.

"Beidou, Seele. It's been a while," Ningguang greeted, her voice smooth as silk as she extended a hand, her smile professional yet warm.

"Likewise," Seele replied, shaking her hand firmly. Her smirk never left, a private joke dancing behind her eyes.

"Good to see you both," Beidou added, her voice steady, as she followed suit, shaking Ningguang's hand with a firm grip. But her sharp eyes never strayed far from the tablet Ningguang held. There was something about the situation that felt off, like the calm before a storm.

The four settled into their seats, the tension in the air palpable as Ningguang didn't waste any time. She activated her tablet with a swift swipe of her finger, the screen lighting up with documents, race footage, and technical readouts. A sleek image of a black Porsche 930 Turbo filled the screen.

"The Blackbird is a legend of Inazuma City's Shuto Expressways—also known as the Wangan," Ningguang began, her fingers dancing across the tablet's surface, bringing up various images of the legendary car. "It's driven by a woman named Natasha. A well-respected doctor by day… and a street racing monster by night."

Beidou leaned back slightly in her chair, folding her arms across her chest, her brow furrowing in thought. "That's nice and all, but what's under the hood?" she asked bluntly, clearly eager for something more substantial.

Ningguang swiped again, revealing engine specs and performance data. The numbers were enough to make any seasoned gearhead sit up and take notice.

"It's powered by a 3.6-liter flat-six engine with twin turbos. Estimated 700 horsepower."

Beidou nearly choked on her drink, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Seven hundred horsepower?! Are you kidding me? Tell me it has some kind of weakness," she demanded, slamming her drink down on the table, her voice sharp with both awe and concern.

Keqing leaned back in her chair, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "It does. Something called snap oversteer," she said, her voice laden with the quiet confidence of someone who knew their stuff.

Seele tilted her head, brow furrowing in confusion. "Snap oversteer?"

Ningguang nodded, her voice calm and precise as she explained. "It happens when you abruptly lift off the throttle, especially at high speed. The weight shifts forward, making the rear end light and unstable. If the driver overcorrects or doesn't react fast enough… the car can snap into a spin." Her fingers hovered over the screen as she brought up a detailed diagram showing the car's handling dynamics.

Beidou snapped her fingers, her eyes lighting up with a sudden, cunning realization. "That's it! If Collei can pressure Yelan into braking hard in the corners, she might force her into a mistake."

Keqing nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Exactly. Collei has the advantage in tight corners, especially the hairpins. If she can stay close enough and get Natasha to lose her focus, she might be able to exploit the instability."

The conversation picked up pace as they hashed out strategies, each of them speaking with growing excitement, plotting every turn, every potential move. But as they spoke, Seele's attention drifted. Her eyes were drawn to her own car parked outside, the midnight blue paint gleaming under the streetlights. Something in the back of her mind nagged at her. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't adding up.

Her sudden silence didn't go unnoticed.

Seele suddenly spoke up, her voice tight with an edge of urgency. "Ningguang, you mentioned Natasha had a rival, right? Do you know what car they drove? And—what color was it?"

Ningguang hesitated for a moment, clearly sensing the shift in the air. Then, she answered. "A Midnight Blue Nissan Fairlady Z. S30Z."

Seele's fingers tightened around her coffee cup, her pulse quickening, a cold chill creeping up her spine. "And the license plate?" she asked, almost afraid of the answer.

Ningguang frowned slightly. "I'm not sure why that's relevant, but… Inazuma 33. 53-68."

Seele's breath hitched. Her gaze snapped to her own Midnight Blue S30Z parked outside.

"…No way," she muttered under her breath.

The room fell into an uneasy silence as Beidou and Keqing turned their attention to Seele, the realization slowly dawning on them.

"Seele? What's wrong?" Beidou asked, her voice full of concern.

But Seele didn't answer. Instead, she stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor as she pushed it back. "Guys… you might want to come outside," she said, her voice hoarse with disbelief.

The group followed her, stepping out into the cool night air. The streetlights cast long shadows on the ground as they gathered around Seele's S30Z. Ningguang's sharp eyes immediately scanned the car, noting the color, the bodywork, the license plate.

"…It can't be," Ningguang whispered, her voice barely audible.

Keqing stepped forward, her expression hardening with suspicion. "We need to check under the hood."

Seele hesitated for a moment, the reality of the situation crashing down on her. But with a grimace, she popped the hood latch, the metal clinking as it released. As the hood lifted, the iconic shape of an L28 engine came into view—twin carbureted turbochargers gleaming under the streetlights.

Ningguang's breath caught in her throat. "No way…"

Keqing muttered under her breath. "This is it, isn't it?"

Ningguang nodded slowly, her expression grave. "There's no doubt. This is the Devil Z."

Seele staggered back, her heart pounding in her chest. Shock and awe were written all over her face as the weight of the revelation hit her. "You're serious? This… this is it?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Ningguang's gaze softened, the weight of the moment settling over her. "Seele… the person you bought this car from. I believe it was Asta."

Seele's blood ran cold. "…Asta?"

"Yes," Ningguang confirmed, her voice heavy. "Asta and Natasha were more than just rivals. They were... close. Partners in the street racing world. The Devil Z was her weapon, and Asta was the one who taught her how to truly drive."

A long silence stretched between them. Keqing's voice broke it. "…So, how do we tell Collei about all this?"

Beidou smirked, crossing her arms confidently. "Easy. We catch her during a delivery run."

Ningguang raised an eyebrow. "Do we even know when that is?"

Beidou's smirk widened into a grin. "Oh, I know the time. We'll make sure she gets the message."