Act: 10 Chapter: 5 | Farewell. Team Speed Stars.

Days had passed, and everyone had returned to the Narukami Prefecture that afternoon. The air was thick with a mix of nostalgia and determination as the tow truck carefully delivered Collei's Eight-Six to the gas station. Its once-pristine form was now scarred from years of racing, a warrior's badge of honor. Collei and Amber had been working tirelessly to clean it up, wiping away layers of grime, oil streaks, and shattered memories. As they scrubbed the fenders, the rest of the crew—Lyney, Arlecchino, Lynette, Seele, Pela, March, Beidou, and Clorinde—stood nearby, watching in silence as if paying respect to a legend.

March broke the silence first. Her soft voice carried a weight of concern. "Will the car be scrapped, Miss Arlecchino?"

Arlecchino shrugged, her sharp eyes glinting with pragmatism. "That's up to Collei to decide. But knowing her, she won't scrap it."

From where she crouched, wiping stubborn oil streaks off the fenders, Collei yelled, "Damn right I won't scrap it!" Her voice was firm, carrying the resolve of someone who had poured her heart and soul into this car.

Arlecchino sighed and crossed her arms. "If you ask me, though, its chassis has probably reached its limit."

Lynette tilted her head, her expression calm and thoughtful. "Now, now, who said it can't be repaired? I know someone who runs a body shop. They could fix the chassis and even strengthen it beyond what it used to be."

Lyney smiled, his voice filled with admiration. "This car is already legendary, though. Collei is still unbeaten. No losses to her name. This Eight-Six is practically an extension of her arms and legs. But maybe it's time for it to retire gracefully. It could serve as her daily commuter, quietly living on without the strain of racing."

Collei wiped the sweat from her brow, her green eyes alight with determination as she walked over to Lynette. "Is it okay if I keep it at your shop, Lynette? I've got an inflatable car bubble cover that'll help preserve it. Over time, I'll repair it with the money I earn."

Lynette nodded without hesitation. "Of course. And I'll even get the chassis repaired for free."

Collei's face lit up, and she pumped her fist in the air. "Yes! Thank you, Lynette."

Arlecchino stepped closer, her tone softer now. "But if you're planning on putting a new engine in it for now, it can't be raced."

"I know," Collei said with a nod. "I won't use it for racing until the chassis is sorted."

A rare smile crossed Arlecchino's lips. "Good. Your safety matters, Collei."

The group stood together as the tow truck arrived once more, this time to take the Eight-Six to Lynette's garage. The moment felt ceremonial, a bittersweet farewell as the legendary car was driven off for preservation and repair.

As the truck pulled away, Clorinde waved her arm high. "Alright, everyone, I'll see you. And Collei! See you at the disbanding party at five! Lake Araumi, don't forget!"

Collei waved back. "Will do, Clorinde!"

With that, Clorinde climbed into her Lancia Rally 037. Its distinct twin-cam, supercharged roar echoed through the narrow streets as she drove off toward Yougou Pass, the seaside route that led to her home near Lake Yougou.

Amber turned to Collei, her eyes warm with an unspoken invitation. "Why don't we take a ride to Lake Yougou? Have a heart-to-heart?"

Collei glanced at Amber's Sileighty, then back at her. "Sure thing."

The two hopped into the car, its engine purring as they pulled onto the road. Time passed like the scenery outside the window, and soon they were standing at a familiar location by the lake. The gentle ripples of the water mirrored the calm in the air, though the memory of the place carried a storm of emotions. Exactly one year ago, Collei had come here with Amber after her first engine blew.

Amber broke the silence. "How are you feeling, Collei?"

Collei exhaled deeply, gazing at the water. "Honestly? I feel okay. But I know the outcome could've been different."

Amber raised an eyebrow. "So… you're not devastated that the engine blew?"

Collei shook her head, her green hair catching the sunlight. "A little, yeah. But I knew what I was doing, and I admit—it's my fault for revving the engine too high."

"How high?" Amber asked, her curiosity piqued.

Collei's lips twitched in a rueful smile. "Based on the telemetry? 14,500. Three and a half thousand RPMs beyond its limit."

Amber's eyes widened in shock. "Fourteen-five hundred? Are you serious?"

Collei nodded. "Yep. They'd remapped the engine's power band to be more effective at lower RPMs, and it was making peak power at eleven thousand. The problem? With no tachometer, I couldn't see how high it was revving. But I pushed it because it was a tactic. If I avoided shifting, the car wouldn't lose speed, so I pushed the redline to keep the acceleration going."

Amber stared at her in disbelief, then slowly nodded as understanding dawned. "So you sacrificed the engine to gain an edge?"

"Exactly," Collei said simply.

Amber wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they walked along the lakeshore, the quiet hum of insects filling the air. Collei leaned into the embrace, her tension easing with each step.

"I'm so proud of you, Collei," Amber said softly. "So damn proud."

Collei stopped and turned to face her. "Thank you, Amber. That means everything to me."

Amber smiled warmly. "Of course, Collei. I'll always be there for you, no matter what. Wherever you go, whatever you decide in your career—I'm with you."

Suddenly, Collei snapped her fingers, her eyes lighting up. "Almost forgot!" She fished her phone from her pocket and opened a photo—a contract displayed on the screen.

Amber's jaw dropped. "No way! You signed it?!"

Collei grinned, the excitement bubbling in her voice. "Six months. We're heading out!"

Before Amber could say another word, Collei closed the gap between them and kissed her. Amber froze for a moment, caught off guard, but soon melted into it, returning the kiss with equal warmth. When Collei pulled away, she hugged Amber tightly.

"Thank you for being part of my journey," Collei murmured against her shoulder.

Amber smiled, her voice soft as she returned the embrace. "Anything for my partner."

Hand in hand, they walked back to Amber's Sileighty. The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the lake as they prepared to head back.

"Come on," Amber said, opening the car door. "Let me drop you off so you can get ready for the party."

Collei nodded, a new determination in her eyes. "Will do."

Hours later, as the sun began to set over Araumi Lake, the skies painted in shades of orange and crimson, Collei arrived in Arlecchino's R34 Skyline. The car's signature inline-six growled softly as she pulled into the makeshift parking area near the gathering. She parked beside Clorinde's iconic Lancia Rally 037, the twin-cam supercharged beast standing proud like a relic of a bygone era. Stepping out of the R34, Collei waved to the group already gathered by the lake.

Albedo, wearing an apron and holding a pair of grill tongs, waved back. "Hey, Collei! Glad you could make it!"

Clorinde smirked as she leaned casually against her Lancia. "You're late!"

Collei chuckled, running a hand through her hair. "Come on, Clorinde. I had some errands to run."

Keqing walked over, her sharp eyes glinting in the fading sunlight. "Pretty unusual to see you in an R34, Collei."

Collei shrugged. "It's my dad's. She let me borrow it for now."

Keqing raised a brow. "And your Eight-Six?"

Collei smiled, a glimmer of hope shining in her expression. "It's staying preserved at a friend's garage until I get a new engine. The chassis is going to be inspected and straightened too."

Keqing nodded approvingly. "Good. Well, we've got a table set up. Come, join us!"

"Will do, Keqing," Collei giggled as she followed the group toward the tables.

The scent of grilled meat and roasted vegetables filled the air as platters of food were passed around. Collei eagerly picked up a skewer, biting into the perfectly seasoned and charred meat. Her eyes lit up immediately.

"I-I've never tasted meat this good in my entire life!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of awe and delight.

Ganyu, seated beside her with a small plate of her own, nodded enthusiastically. "M-Me too! It's incredible!"

The group burst into laughter, the warmth of camaraderie filling the space as the sun dipped closer to the horizon.

At another table, Albedo sat with Keqing, Navia, and Ningguang, their conversation quieter but no less spirited. Bottles of beer clinked as they shared drinks, their voices low but buzzing with excitement.

Keqing leaned in slightly, her glass of beer poised near her lips. "If you weren't aware already, a handful of professional racing teams have reached out to us. They want Collei and Clorinde to go pro."

Navia leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "Really? Spill the details!"

Keqing nodded. "It's not just any teams, either. They want them in the WRC—a works contract with Toyota."

Albedo nearly dropped his bottle in surprise. "R-Really?"

Keqing smiled slyly. "Yep. I've already talked to Clorinde about it."

Navia's eyes narrowed. "And what did she say?"

Keqing sighed, setting her drink down. "She declined."

Navia blinked. "What? Why?"

Keqing leaned back, crossing her arms. "Clorinde doesn't want to be in the spotlight like her father. She's made it clear she doesn't want to join the WRC. Just like him, she's more interested in staying local—maybe competing in the National Inazuma Rally Championship."

Albedo nodded slowly. "That sounds like her. And Collei?"

Keqing's lips curved into a grin. "That's the best part. She agreed. In six months, she's joining Toyota's WRC works team. In fact, she's the reason they reached out to us. They were impressed by her performances and want her on their team."

Navia clapped her hands together. "That's huge news! When did you tell her?"

"Last night," Keqing said, her tone brimming with pride. "She was beyond excited."

Ningguang, who had been quietly sipping her drink, finally spoke. "She's going to do great. With the level of talent and skill she has, she can dominate any surface—dirt, snow, or tarmac."

As the sky shifted to deeper hues of purple and blue, Ningguang stood from her seat. She raised her glass high, commanding the attention of everyone present. The group fell silent, their gazes turning to her.

"To what a journey we've been on," she began, her voice clear and strong. "To the future—and to Team Speed Stars!"

"Cheers!" the group shouted, clinking their glasses together in celebration. Laughter and cheers rang out across the lake as the sun disappeared below the horizon, the water reflecting the golden glow of lanterns that had been lit around the tables.

The celebration continued late into the evening, but for Collei, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. Her time with Team Speed Stars had shaped her into the racer she was, but the road ahead was vast and full of possibilities. In six months, she would step onto the world stage, representing Toyota in the WRC—a dream that had once felt so far away now within reach.

For those in Narukami Prefecture, the memories of Collei's AE86 with its Group A engine and Clorinde's Lancia Rally 037 roaring through the mountain passes would linger. Their legacies, intertwined with the echoes of engines and the spirit of competition, would remain etched into the heart of the prefecture for years to come.

For Team Speed Stars, it wasn't an end—it was simply the start of a new race.