Act: 2 Chapter: 4 | March's New Ride.

The following morning, the sun bathed Lyney's gas station in warm golden light, reflecting off the polished asphalt. The air carried the faint scent of gasoline and freshly brewed coffee, but all attention was fixed on what March was proudly leaning against.

A Blue Pearl Metallic Toyota Supra MK4.

Its sleek curves, aggressive stance, and unmistakable silhouette gleamed under the sunlight, as if the car itself was glowing with pride. The low, wide body hugged the ground, accentuating its aerodynamic shape, while the polished wheels shimmered in the daylight. March, practically bouncing on her heels, twirled the keys between her fingers with an ear-to-ear grin.

"So? What do you guys think, huh?"

Beidou, eyes wide with admiration, circled the car like a predator inspecting its next meal, her gaze following every curve of the Supra's body with awe.

"Damn, March! You actually went through with this!" Her voice carried equal parts surprise and excitement. "Did you finance it, or did you buy it outright?"

March spun the keys in her hand once more, the metal catching the sun's rays.

"I got a sweet deal with the dealer," she boasted, barely containing her pride. "So I used my savings for this bad boy!" She tapped the hood lightly, the solid thud of the Supra's body echoing slightly, a satisfying sound.

Collei hesitated at first but stepped forward, running her fingers along the Supra's fender. The surface was smooth like glass, its form mesmerizing, almost as if it were crafted by hand with painstaking detail. The iconic wide body, aggressive front, and smooth rear lines pulled her in, a car built for both speed and style.

"I gotta hand it to you, March," Collei admitted, taking a step back to admire the full picture. "I'm quite impressed."

March's grin stretched wider. She clapped her hands together, almost as if she couldn't contain the excitement bursting from within her.

"Wait a minute! Let me show you something!"

With practiced ease, she unlatched the roof and neatly tucked it away in the back seat. The transformation was immediate. With the top off, the Supra's curves looked even more striking—more open, more alive.

"This is the best part!" March beamed, her eyes gleaming as she gestured grandly to the newly opened cabin. "It's a Targa Top! Now, on a clear, sunny day, I can just pop the roof off and cruise around with the wind in my hair!"

Seele crouched slightly, studying the Supra in detail. She ran her fingers along the edge of the roof frame, noting the craftsmanship and the tight fit of the Targa top.

"That definitely is better than a regular hardtop! And it's still got the stock wheels… 90s tires, too." She tilted her head slightly, appreciating the purity of the setup. "But hey, March, is this the Turbocharged variant?"

March hesitated, rubbing the back of her head, a touch of hesitation crossing her features.

"Well…" She glanced down at the car, as if considering her words carefully. "It's not," she admitted, her voice dipping slightly. "They do have a Turbocharged variant with the Targa Top, but it's way beyond my budget..."

Beidou, ever the optimist, stepped forward and clapped a hand on March's shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile.

"That doesn't matter at all, March," she said with a confident smirk. "You can always add a turbo later. Besides, it's still got the legendary 2JZ motor!" She tapped the side of the engine bay lightly, as though the power within the heart of the Supra was already calling out to her.

March's earlier disappointment vanished in an instant, her eyes lighting up.

"That's true!" Her eyes gleamed with renewed excitement. "Maybe I'll start by remapping the ECU. Then, I could change the exhaust, get some new wheels, and maybe even lower it a bit!" She punched the air in front of her as if visualizing the future build.

Beidou gave her an approving nod, crossing her arms as she sized up the car. Her expression was both impressed and eager.

"That's a solid plan! You know, tomorrow, bring your Supra over to my mechanic. He knows a thing or two about Supra builds."

March practically vibrated with excitement.

"Sounds like a plan! Oh, this is so SWEET!!" She bounced on her feet, not able to stay still for even a moment longer.

Then, as if struck by inspiration, she turned to Collei, her eyes gleaming with the same intensity as the Supra's polished paint.

"Hey, Collei! How about we take her for a spin up Yougou? Want to come?"

Collei, always up for an adventure, crossed her arms and grinned. Her eyes sparkled with the same thrill that March radiated.

"Sure thing, March. We can head up to Yougou tonight."

March's excitement skyrocketed, her fists clenched in pure joy. "This is gonna be so awesome!"

The morning sun continued to rise, casting long shadows over the pavement as the Supra stood proudly in the light, its engine humming with anticipation. A new chapter was beginning—one filled with speed, excitement, and the unmistakable roar of a 2JZ engine.

The night air was crisp and cool as March and Collei made their way up the winding roads of Yougou. March's Blue Pearl Metallic Supra purred under the moonlight, its NA 2JZ humming smoothly. She gripped the wheel with excitement, feeling every turn and curve beneath her tires.

Once they reached the summit, the two stepped out to take a breather. The sky above was painted with countless stars, stretching endlessly beyond the mountaintops. March stretched, inhaling deeply before exhaling with satisfaction.

"Yes! That felt fantastic!" she beamed, turning to Collei. "It might not have the raw power on the straightaways, but it takes the corners like a dream, doesn't it?"

Collei smiled, leaning against the Supra.

"It sure does."

March popped the hood, her pride evident as she admired the engine bay.

"This is the naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE engine," she explained. "Its turbocharged sibling is the 2JZ-GTE, but since the GE is so similar, converting this one to a GTE later is much cheaper. In the long run, it's a great financial decision for me!"

Before Collei could respond, the low, menacing growl of a turbocharged inline-six echoed from the direction of Lake Yougou. A Red Supra rolled up beside them, its polished body gleaming under the streetlights. The deep whoosh of a venting blow-off valve sent a shiver down March's spine.

A girl with dark blue and green hair stepped out, her presence confident, calculated. She took a moment to assess the two standing by the car before nodding at them.

"Nice to see another Supra owner up here," she said smoothly. "Name's Xianyun."

March, always one to radiate confidence, placed a hand behind her back and smirked.

"Heh, thanks, Ms. Xianyun."

But Xianyun's attention had already shifted. She spotted the open hood, her brows furrowing in mild curiosity.

"You've got the hood up—checking fluids or something?"

March waved a hand dismissively. "Nah, just admiring the—"

Xianyun leaned in slightly… then took a step back, her face twisting in absolute disbelief.

"Wait… Don't tell me this is the naturally aspirated version?" she scoffed.

March stiffened, taken aback by the sudden condescension.

"Well, yeah," she admitted, voice steady but defensive. "I didn't have the budget for the turbocharged one, but I'm planning to add a turbocharger in the future."

Collei clenched her fists at Xianyun's smug attitude but kept her mouth shut, her patience hanging by a thread.

Xianyun rolled her eyes. "Hah! If you really had the budget, you could've just gotten the turbocharged model from the start."

She turned back toward her car, a dismissive smirk playing on her lips. Just before she rolled her window down, she shot one last remark over her shoulder.

"Try not to eat my dust when I leave you in my rearview mirror."

With a sharp rev, Xianyun's Red Supra launched forward, tires screeching as it vanished down the mountain road.

March exhaled slowly, shaking her head.

"Man, what's her problem?"

She turned to Collei… only to see her seething.

"That's it!" Collei snapped. "Now she's gonna pay the price!"

Before March could react, Collei had already slipped into the driver's seat of her Supra.

"Collei—! Wait, what are you—?!"

"Get in!" Collei ordered.

March, caught off guard, slid into the passenger seat, barely clicking her seatbelt in place before Collei fired up the engine. The 2JZ-GE roared to life as she jammed the shifter into first gear.

"Collei, just let it go!" March pleaded. "It's not worth it!"

But Collei's emerald eyes burned with determination.

"I don't care! Nobody talks to my friends like that!"

With that, she floored the accelerator, launching the Supra into the night. The tires screeched, struggling for grip, before finally hooking up as the car shot down the mountain road.

March gripped the door handle, heart hammering.

"Really, Collei?! Just let it slide! Besides, my car doesn't even have a limited-slip differential, and these tires are from the nineties!"

Collei, eyes locked onto the road ahead, barely spared her a glance.

"I'll warn you now—I might be a little rough with your ride, but trust me, it won't be anything she can't handle." She smirked. "You trust me?"

March swallowed hard. After a moment's hesitation… she gave a slow, nervous nod.

Collei grinned.

"Good. Then hold on."

With a swift downshift, the Supra surged forward, the wind whipping through March's hair as they closed in on the taillights of Xianyun's Red Supra.

Up ahead, Xianyun noticed the approaching headlights in her rearview mirror.

"They just can't leave it alone…" she muttered, gripping the wheel. "Time to teach them a lesson."

As the first hairpin loomed, Xianyun expertly initiated a drift, the rear of her Supra sliding perfectly into the corner. But to her shock, March's Supra was still gaining on her.

March's eyes widened in terror.

"Collei, please slow down!"

But Collei was in the zone. With precise heel-toe braking, she threw the Supra into a perfect braking drift, seamlessly following Xianyun's line.

"Collei! HIT THE DAMN BRAKES!" March screamed.

Collei ignored her. With a quick flick of the wheel, she snapped the car into the next corner, executing a textbook Scandinavian Flick. The Supra's tires screeched in protest, barely clinging to the tarmac as it glided mere inches from the guardrail.

March, gripping her seatbelt for dear life, gasped.

"Is this really my so-called 'crappy' Supra?!"

Xianyun, watching in disbelief through her mirror, gritted her teeth.

"Impossible! How is that naturally aspirated junker keeping up?!"

Collei, however, noticed something.

"When I step on the gas, it's not accelerating like it should," she muttered. "And these tires… they aren't bald, but they aren't gripping either."

The next set of hairpins approached. Collei tightened her grip on the wheel.

"This isn't over."

Xianyun pressed harder, thinking she'd pulled away—only to suddenly realize…

Collei was faking it.

On the final hairpin before the straightaway, Collei executed her signature move—

The Gutter Run. With lightning reflexes, she dipped the left wheels into the gutter, hooking the car into the inside line at insane speed.

Xianyun's eyes widened in horror.

"WHAT?!"

Before she could react, March's Supra shot past her, overtaking her cleanly just before the straightaway.

Xianyun floored the gas, desperate to catch up, but… it was too late.

March's Supra disappeared into the next turn, its taillights fading into the darkness.

Xianyun's grip on the wheel tightened, frustration bubbling up before… she let out a long sigh.

"I should've kept my mouth shut," she muttered. "I should've encouraged her… not angered her."

Her gaze lingered on the road ahead, a smirk forming at the corner of her lips.

"Those kids have skill. I'll give them that."

The echoes of battle faded into the night as the Blue Supra vanished beyond the mountains—its victory sealed in the shadows of Yougou.

The night stretched on in peaceful silence, the hum of distant cars and the occasional rustle of leaves the only sounds accompanying their conversation. Collei stood by the edge of the mountain, the chilly air cool against her skin as she thought about March's words.

March's smile was soft as she stood there, hands resting on the hood of her Supra. There was something unspoken between them now, something more than just a casual friendship formed on the road. Racing had brought them closer, but it was their shared experience—pushing boundaries, taking risks—that truly bonded them.

"You know," Collei started, her voice barely above a whisper, "I never really thought much about what I could do in a race until now."

March raised an eyebrow, glancing at her with genuine curiosity.

"Really? How come?"

Collei shifted her weight, still holding the warm coffee can loosely in her hand.

"It's not that I didn't enjoy it," she explained, "But I think a part of me never really let myself feel the thrill. Like… I kept telling myself it wasn't my thing, or maybe I was just worried about disappointing someone. Especially you."

March's expression softened as she walked over to Collei, offering her an understanding smile.

"Disappoint me? I think the only one who's been impressed tonight is me," she teased gently. "You've got a natural instinct for this, Collei. I was so focused on my car, and you—well, you made it all look effortless. It's like you know the road. The car. The moment."

Collei's cheeks flushed slightly, but she held March's gaze.

"I guess... maybe I do," she admitted. "But it's more than just the car. It's about pushing myself, you know? I didn't realize how much I was holding back until tonight."

March took a deep breath, watching as a few clouds drifted lazily across the sky. The night seemed to stretch in front of them, full of endless possibilities.

"I get that," March said softly. "I think I've been holding back too. I'm not just talking about the car or racing, Collei. There's something freeing about really giving it your all, whether it's in a race or in life. You've got the chance to decide who you want to be out there, in the driver's seat of your own life."

The two stood together in quiet understanding, the mountain air swirling around them as the weight of the night's revelations sank in.

"You know," Collei said, breaking the silence, "Maybe racing is just one way of discovering who we are. I mean, it's not all about winning, is it?"

March glanced at her, a slow grin creeping across her face.

"Winning is great, but the real victory is finding what you're made of. And trust me, Collei—you're made of something special."

The stars above shimmered brighter in that moment, as if echoing the quiet yet profound change in both of them. They were no longer just two drivers on a mountain road; they were two people discovering their true potential, embracing the challenge that lay ahead.

And maybe, just maybe, this was only the beginning.