Five days had passed since Team Speed Stars tore through Chirai Pass with unrelenting ferocity, leaving their rivals and their doubts buried in the mountain's winding trails. Now, they were deep in the gauntlet of Autake Pass—the final proving ground. The asphalt here was sharper, meaner, with snaking turns and brutal inclines that punished hesitation and devoured overconfidence. And the racers? They were different now—honed, hardened. Every member of the team had pushed past their old limits, but none more so than the two aces: Collei and Clorinde.
Two battles remained—one uphill, one downhill. Then, the final war: Ace versus Ace. The AE86 versus the Lancia Rally 037. Everything would be decided there. The outcome wouldn't just define a team or a season—it would carve names into legend.
The sun slipped toward the horizon over Mount Yougou, bleeding orange fire into the sky. It lit the landscape in molten gold, casting long shadows that seemed to whisper the weight of the moment. Below, nestled along a quiet roadside strip, the Speed Suns regulars had taken refuge in their usual haunt—a tucked-away café with cracked pavement, rusted signage, and a view of the pass that stretched endlessly into the hills.
Beidou leaned back in her chair like a warhorse enjoying a brief reprieve, her coffee mug thunking onto the wooden table with a weight that matched her tone. She grinned, a slow, lazy curl of the lips, and let out a dry chuckle. "Can you believe tomorrow's their last day out there?" she asked, voice pitched somewhere between disbelief and reverence. "Feels like this whole ride just started yesterday."
Seele sat across from her, fingers drumming idly against her ceramic mug, eyes drifting to the fiery horizon. "Time flies when it's tied to a set of wheels," she said, half to herself. "One moment they're unknowns, just another couple of punks in the local scene—and now?" She shook her head with a wistful exhale. "Now they're the fucking vanguard."
March 7th leaned forward with both elbows on the table, chin resting in her palms, her voice laced with fond exasperation. "Just last summer, Collei was a wide-eyed high school grad slinging tofu for her 'dad' like it was some boring part-time gig. She didn't even know she was behind the wheel of an AE86. She thought it was just an old rustbucket with a grumpy carburetor and a death wish."
Beidou burst into a laugh, low and guttural. "Hell, I still remember that night she ran against Keqing for the first time. That girl didn't know jack shit about tire compounds or cornering lines. She just... drove. Like the devil was whispering in her ear."
March raised a hand and waggled her fingers. "Hold up, let's not forget the time she tied with Clorinde—hell of a match. Or when she nuked her engine mid-run. That was brutal."
Amber, leaning in with both hands cupping her drink, smiled with a fire in her gaze that mirrored the golden sky outside. "That tie wasn't a weakness—it was a statement. They saw each other, like mirrors. And the blown engine? That was in an exhibition run, not an official battle. No one lost. If anything, she came out of it stronger."
Seele nodded slowly, her violet eyes narrowing in contemplation. "It's wild, isn't it? She's gone from raw potential to full-blown phenomenon. She doesn't just drive the Eight-Six anymore. She becomes it. They're fused. One heartbeat."
Pela, who had been quietly nursing her tea, suddenly snapped her fingers. "We should be up there with them. First light, before the crowds choke up the route. They'll need all the support they can get."
Beidou's smirk returned, slow and feral. "I like that. Let's roll up together—make some noise. Bring out our rides and show these mountain roads what loyalty looks like. Speed Suns in formation."
The table buzzed with renewed energy. Heads nodded, smiles spread, fists bumped.
"Alright, then," Beidou said, rising from her chair with a satisfied grunt and cracking her neck. "3:30 a.m. sharp. No excuses, no hangovers. Full tanks, fresh tires. We roll as one."
"Deal," Seele said, standing to match her energy.
"I'll bring the snacks," March chimed in, already mentally packing a cooler.
Amber grinned. "And I'll make sure my Sileighty is spotless. Gotta show off a little."
Pela gave a rare smile. "It's going to be one hell of a sendoff."
As the group dispersed, the last rays of sunlight kissed the mountain ridge, casting silhouettes of racers past and present over the twisting course of Autake. The final act was nearly upon them. Two races to set the stage. One to settle the score.
Tomorrow, history would be written in tire marks and taillights.
As Night Falls on Autake Pass
The Autake mountains trembled under the echo of engines, their roars bouncing off the cliffs like war drums in the dark. Twilight had long since bled into a pitch-black canopy, leaving only the faint silver glint of stars and the occasional glare of headlights cutting through the mist.
Two machines carved through the winding passes with clinical aggression. A metallic silver Honda NSX NA1 led the charge, its mid-mounted V6 singing through the rev range in a razor-sharp crescendo. Close behind, a dark gray Toyota GR Supra matched it beat for beat, its turbocharged inline-six snarling like a wolf on the hunt. Brake rotors glowed red with each hairpin, tires screeched against the tarmac, and every downshift spat fire from the tailpipes as the two cars danced along the edge of control.
By the time they reached the overlook near the Autake Sky Lounge, both drivers were riding the high of mechanical harmony. The cars idled in tandem before coming to a halt, their exhausts ticking with heat as they cooled under the night air.
Lumine stepped out first, golden hair catching the moonlight like strands of starlight. She stretched, arms over her head, the hiss of her engine winding down beneath her boots.
"That's it for us," she said, breath visible in the chill mountain air. "We're clear now. The pass belongs to Team Speed Stars for the rest of the night."
Stelle slid out of the Supra with a smooth, practiced ease, brushing stray silver strands from her forehead. She leaned against her door, arms folded. "Tomorrow's turnout's gonna be ridiculous. Every gearhead on Narukami Island's coming to see this."
And then—movement. Two figures emerged from the shadows near the trailhead, silhouettes illuminated by the soft glow of the vending machines nearby. Lumine raised her hand in greeting.
"Hey, brother! Hey, Caelus!"
Stelle echoed her with a smirk. "Yo, Aether. What's the word?"
Aether and Caelus approached with deliberate strides, their boots crunching gravel. Aether's golden gaze swept the lot before landing on the two cars, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly.
"That wraps our last run," Aether confirmed. "How's the feel?"
"Responsive," Lumine replied, arms crossed, confidence steady in her voice. "Weight transfer's sharp. Dampers are just right."
"Powerband's smooth, no turbo lag," Stelle added. "It's all dialed. We're race-day ready."
Aether nodded once. "Good. Tomorrow's not just another race—it's the race. If we're off by even half a second, it's over."
Caelus chuckled, tossing a glance toward the road behind them. "Well... looks like the night shift's here."
A low rumble crept up the mountain before the headlights broke over the crest. First came a deep, guttural growl—a Group B snarl from another era—as Clorinde's Lancia Rally 037 led the convoy, its unmistakable silhouette gliding like a phantom through the trees. Hot on its tail was Collei's AE86, that high-pitched, metallic rasp of a tuned 4A-GE 20V punching through the silence like a defiant scream. Behind them, four matte-black support vans followed, each carrying gear, tires, tools, and personnel.
The vans pulled in first, engines still warm, doors flying open as techs poured out with practiced rhythm. Jacks, torque wrenches, diagnostic tablets—all moving like clockwork.
Collei and Clorinde pulled in side by side, front bumpers aligned like dueling blades. Both engines fell silent in near-perfect unison. The doors opened, and the two aces stepped out—not as friends, not yet rivals, but as warriors before the final war.
Albedo approached Collei immediately, clipboard in hand and tire pressure stats flickering on his handheld scanner. "Rear suspension holding up?"
"Feels good," Collei said, wiping sweat from her brow, strands of damp hair stuck to her cheek. "But I want a little more rotation on throttle exit. Let's tighten up the rear a click. I need that rear to bite harder."
"Got it." Albedo didn't hesitate. He turned and barked out to the pit crew. "Adjust rear dampers. One turn tighter. Now."
Not far off, Navia stood with arms crossed, eyes fixed on the Lancia's brutal frame and exposed rear cooling ducts. Her gaze locked onto Clorinde.
"Ditching the S4 twin-charger setup from your old man's Delta? Bold move," she said, nodding at the exposed supercharger hardware nestled above the intake.
Clorinde rolled her neck and exhaled slowly. "It was too much. 600 horsepower on these roads? Overkill. I'm not here to prove I can handle power—I'm here to win clean. 350's more than enough... especially against someone like Collei."
Navia's smirk deepened. "Heh. So you do want this to be fair."
Clorinde met her gaze without flinching. "I want it to be real. No excuses. No mechanical advantages. Just me and her. Driver versus driver."
Then Ningguang's voice cut through the night, sharp and resonant. "Everyone, gather up."
The crew responded instantly, forming a tight half-circle in the lot. The mountain air was heavy with burnt rubber, spent fuel, and something else—anticipation. Ningguang stood tall at the center, her fur-lined coat fluttering slightly in the breeze, moonlight catching the edge of her jewelry.
"This is it," she began, her voice calm but commanding. "The final expedition. Two more battles, then the Ace race. This team has fought through every storm and challenge, every rival, every breakdown. And through it all, we kept climbing."
Her eyes swept the crowd—techs, drivers, strategists, friends.
"I've never been more proud to stand beside all of you. And I know that tomorrow, no matter what happens, we'll finish this the way we started—together."
Applause thundered through the stillness, brief but powerful. The sound of camaraderie forged on tarmac and trust.
Ningguang clapped her hands once. "Let's get back to it. One last night of practice. Show the mountain what the Speed Stars are made of."
Without a word, Collei and Clorinde shared a brief glance—a silent pact. Then they turned and slid back into their respective cockpits. The night erupted once more in a symphony of engine roar and turbo whine. The AE86 launched forward with sharp throttle blips, its rear tires biting at the pavement. The Lancia answered with a scream of supercharged fury, following into the darkness.
The others watched until the taillights vanished into the trees.
And then—silence.
The mountain held its breath once again.
Tomorrow, the gods of Autake would wake. And they would demand everything.
The sun rose steadily over the Sky Lounge at the summit of Autake Pass, casting long amber streaks over the ridgelines and bathing the vast mountains in a warm, golden glow. The air was crisp—biting, almost—as if nature itself was holding its breath. A rare hush had settled over the landscape, broken only by the faint whirring of cicadas and the crunch of gravel underfoot.
Beidou, Seele, Amber, Pela, and March had just arrived, their boots scraping against the path as they made their way to the viewing deck. The early light caught on the steel rails and glass panels, glinting like the edges of unsheathed blades.
The group paused at the overlook, momentarily spellbound. Below them, Mt. Kanna rose like a titan carved from stone, wrapped in drifting wisps of fog that caught the orange and pink hues of the morning sky. The scene felt impossibly still, like the prelude to an explosion.
March broke the silence first, planting her hands on her hips and throwing her arms out in a dramatic flourish.
"Finally! For I, March 7th, have stepped foot on Autake Pass!" she announced, her voice echoing off the distant peaks. "And I will tackle this pass like the back of my hand!"
Beidou snorted, grinning as she gave March a playful shove from behind.
"Quit yapping, March. We're here as tourists, not challengers."
Amber laughed softly, brushing wind-tossed strands from her face.
"Come on, guys. Take it easy on each other. We're here to support the crew, not start another rumble."
March crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out.
"Yeah, yeah, I know!" Her eyes drifted back to the horizon, her voice lowering. "Still... it's hard to believe this is the last day of racing for Team Speed Stars."
Seele leaned against the railing, her hair ruffling in the wind. Her voice was lower now, almost reverent.
"It feels surreal, doesn't it? After today's uphill and downhill with the locals... it all comes down to the main event."
Pela nodded, the faintest smile tugging at her lips.
"Clorinde and her Lancia Rally 037 versus Collei and her AE86. The Ace versus the Ace."
Beidou narrowed her eyes, glancing sideways.
"Hey... is that—?" She pointed to a pair of women standing further down the deck. One with sleek silver hair and holographic frames, the other with a long coat and hair like flowing obsidian.
"Silverwolf! Yelan!" Beidou called, waving them over.
The two turned. Yelan lifted a hand in greeting, her eyes gleaming in the golden light.
"Oh, hey, Beidou!" she called back with a smirk.
Silverwolf gave a curt nod.
"Didn't expect to see you here. I take it you're all here to support Team Speed Stars?"
The group strolled over, the sound of their boots muffled by the deck's aged planks. The cold air tasted like pine and ozone.
"Of course we're here," Beidou said with a grin. "Everyone is. Team Speed Stars isn't just a team—they're the soul of Narukami's street racing."
Silverwolf arched an eyebrow, lips curling faintly.
"And not just Narukami. I bet racers came from every corner of the nation just to see today's match."
As if on cue, the snarl of a high-performance engine split the quiet. A sleek silver Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX rolled into the lot, its polished body catching the sun like chrome. A woman with sharp fox ears and stark white hair stepped out, waving.
"Hey, fellas!" she shouted.
Amber's eyes widened.
"Feixiao's here too, huh?"
Seconds later, another car pulled up—lower, wider, more aggressive. The throaty rasp of a tuned flat-four echoed across the lot as a cyan Rocket Bunny GT86 came to a halt. The door popped open, and Eula stepped out, graceful even in streetwear, her gaze scanning the group until it landed on Amber.
"Hey, Amber," she said, extending a hand for a high-five.
Amber beamed and slapped her palm against Eula's.
"Right back at you. Glad you made it!"
Then the flood began.
One by one, familiar machines rolled in: the growl of a Subaru Legacy Group A, the distinctive thrum of a Celica GT-Four, and the unmistakable warble of a Subaru Impreza. From their cockpits emerged Heizou, Thoma, Kuki Shinobu, and Xingqiu—all from Feiyun Racing School, once fierce rivals, now spectators to something far larger.
Thoma stretched, letting out a long breath.
"Ah, fresh mountain air. Doesn't get better than this."
Xingqiu smirked.
"Sure, but after that sunrise run, I'm betting you're more interested in breakfast than fresh air."
Amber chuckled, leaning against the railing. Her eyes swept across the growing crowd.
"What do you know… Even Speed Stars' old rivals came to watch the final show."
She wasn't wrong. The parking lot was slowly transforming into a shrine to street racing.
Serval Landau's midnight blue R34 rumbled in, low and menacing. Topaz followed soon after in her classic red NA1 Miata, the pop-up headlights already raised. Moments later, the Kamisato siblings made their arrival—Ayaka stepped out of her supercharged AE86 Levin with quiet grace, while Ayato shut off the ignition on his pristine Lotus Elise S2 and joined her.
Kazuha and Firefly weren't far behind, their Toyota Altezza and FD RX-7 rolling in with quiet poise.
Seele nudged her chin toward Ayaka.
"Even the Kamisatos showed up."
Beidou whistled.
"And look at those two. Altezza and FD. You know they're not just here to watch—they're sizing up the future."
Finally, a quartet of iconic machines thundered up the road.
Jean's brutish Group B Audi Quattro arrived first, gravel crunching under rally tires as Diluc climbed out of the passenger seat. Kafka followed in her bone-white R34, then Chiori's sleek Silvia S13, and finally Yoimiya's bright yellow Ford Sierra Cosworth, its exhaust crackling on overrun.
The Sky Lounge had turned electric. All around, drivers mingled—swapping stories, recalling battles, comparing mods. Engines idled in the background, a symphony of mechanical heartbeats. The past, present, and future of street racing had converged on this mountaintop.
Seele leaned forward over the railing, eyes scanning the packed lot.
"The entire parking lot's alive. This... this is something else."
March grinned, hands planted on her hips.
"No kidding. Looks like Team Speed Stars left one hell of an impression."
The group stood in silence for a long moment, watching racers reunite, rivals laugh together, old grudges forgotten in the face of mutual respect. It wasn't just the end of a racing season. It was a celebration of everything they'd built—every corner taken, every gearshift felt, every bond forged in fire and rubber.
And the day was just getting started.
By afternoon, golden light poured across the pass as the Team Speed Stars convoy pulled into a scenic overlook nestled along the mountainside. Mount Kanna loomed in the distance, its massive peak slicing the sky in half. Wisps of white clouds curled around it like smoke rising from a sleeping beast.
The convoy came to a halt, brakes hissing, engines cutting one by one. Doors opened with metallic clunks and clicks, and the team stepped out into the silence. They stretched, taking in the view. Even for seasoned racers, this was something else.
Ningguang clapped her hands once, her commanding voice cutting through the breeze.
"Alright, everyone! Gather up!"
She stood tall, wind tugging gently at her white coat. Her golden eyes sparkled with something rarely seen—emotion.
"We're taking the official team photo here. This spot... this moment—it's ours. Our proof."
The group murmured in agreement, excitement threading through the air like electricity before a storm.
Ningguang raised her voice slightly, pointing to the edges of the lot.
"Here's the layout. Support vans in a wide semi-circle behind us. The AE86 and Lancia parked nose to nose—but angled slightly. Visual symmetry. I want clean lines, drama, power."
Ganyu, Albedo, Keqing, and Navia moved into action, each taking the wheel of one of the support vans. Engines rumbled back to life and tires crunched gravel as the vans were positioned just so, forming a wide arc around the center point.
Collei and Clorinde shared a wordless glance before climbing into their machines. The AE86's new Group A heart purred to life, the Lancia's supercharged growl rising in reply. They moved slowly, carefully, aligning their hoods close—but not touching—angled outward like fighters bowing before the duel.
Ningguang paced backward, checking alignment from every angle. She gave a sharp nod.
"Perfect."
She set up the camera on a tripod, adjusting the lens meticulously. The viewfinder framed it all: Mount Kanna towering behind, the cars, the team. A legend captured in pixels.
"Okay!" she called, raising her voice. "Drivers, by your hoods. Be yourselves. Everyone else, fill the space behind them. I want layers. Depth."
Collei hopped onto her AE86's hood, one leg propped casually, her smile cocky but warm. Clorinde mirrored her, perching with perfect poise, her long coat trailing like a banner.
The others found their places: Ganyu serene beside Albedo's quiet composure, Navia flashing a sharp grin, Keqing standing firm, arms crossed, jaw set with fire in her eyes.
Ningguang joined last, standing tall beside Keqing, the two women flanking the team like pillars.
"Everyone ready?" she asked, holding up the remote.
"Three... two... one... Smile."
Click-click-click-click.
Four pristine shots.
"Now loosen up!" Ningguang shouted. "Go crazy!"
The team exploded into laughter. Keqing and Albedo grabbed Navia and lifted her clean off the ground. She squawked in protest, kicking the air as they grinned like idiots. Collei and Clorinde leaned together, locking arms, fingers raised in matching number one gestures.
Ningguang dramatically dropped to the ground in front, lounging on one elbow like a model, throwing the camera a wicked wink.
"Alright—one more!" she cried.
"Cheese!"
Click.
It was done. The air buzzed with energy as they crowded around the camera, reviewing the shots, laughter echoing across the mountain.
It wasn't just a photo. It was the photo.
A time capsule. A promise.
"This is it," Ningguang murmured, her voice softer than usual. She turned to the team, eyes shimmering just slightly.
"The memory we'll carry when the engines go quiet. Let's make the rest of today count."
And with that, the team loaded back into their vehicles—refreshed, refocused.
Ready for the final race.