The dockside circuit loomed ahead, outlined by flickering streetlights and the eerie glow of neon underglow reflecting off cracked pavement. The air smelled of gasoline, ocean salt, and the faint bite of burning rubber.
Kai sat in the driver's seat of his C5, exhaling slowly, trying to calm his pulse.
His first opponent, Noa, sat in the S15 Silvia beside him, his hands drumming against the steering wheel, completely at ease.
Kai, on the other hand, could feel the weight of every Apex Serpent's gaze locked onto him.
He wasn't just racing.
He was fighting for a home.
And if he lost even one race,
It was over.
A figure stood between them, raising an arm.
Kai's breath steadied.
Noa grinned. "Two laps. Hope you don't choke, rookie."
Kai smirked. "Worry about yourself."
The hand dropped.
Engines roared.
Go.
The instant the race started, Kai felt the weight difference.
The Silvia launched perfectly, its rear wheels gripping the pavement like it was glued to the road. The C5, on the other hand, was still fighting for traction, the rear end kicking out for a split second before biting in.
Noa was already ahead.
The first corner approached—a tight left-hander.
Noa took the inside line, cutting through the apex with perfect rotation.
Kai forced the C5 into the turn, but his heavier chassis fought him.
Tires screeched, the rear twitched slightly, forcing him to make a quick correction.
Noa was already pulling away.
Kai gritted his teeth.
"He's faster in the corners. I need to find a way around that."
The next section was a long straight.
Kai floored the throttle.
The V8 roared, pulling him forward, eating up the gap between them.
Noa glanced in his mirror, saw Kai gaining.
But the next turn was coming.
A sharp chicane—left-right-left.
Noa had the better positioning.
Kai had the power.
Kai went for it.
He braked later than he should have, trying to force his way inside.
But Noa was waiting for it.
He cut in just ahead, forcing Kai to slam his brakes harder than he wanted.
The C5 twitched again, tires fighting for grip.
Kai had to pull out, letting Noa keep the lead.
Damn.
Lap 1 belonged to Noa.
Kai was keeping up, but he wasn't winning.
He clenched the wheel, breathing hard as they blasted past the starting point again.
One more lap.
He had to figure something out.
Kai took a deep breath.
"Stay calm. Find another way."
Noa was running a perfect line.
He wasn't messing up.
That meant Kai needed to do something different.
As they entered the first left turn again, Kai didn't try to out-brake Noa this time.
Instead, he took a slightly wider line.
Letting his car carry more speed through the exit.
Noa pulled ahead—but not as much this time.
Kai's grip tightened.
"Keep closing the gap. Corner by corner."
The next section was coming—a sweeping right turn before the straight.
Kai made another adjustment.
Instead of braking hard and rotating the car like Noa did, he let off the gas slightly, rolling into the turn.
The C5 stayed more balanced.
More controlled.
When they hit the straight—
Kai was right on Noa's bumper.
Noa saw it.
He punched the throttle.
But Kai was already there.
The C5's V8 screamed, pulling alongside the Silvia.
Side-by-side, they approached the final chicane.
This was it.
Kai knew he couldn't follow Noa's line.
He had to take a risk.
As Noa braked for the turn, Kai did something insane.
He stayed on the gas for a half-second longer—
And took the outside line.
It shouldn't have worked.
It was the longer path.
It was more dangerous.
But—
Kai timed it perfectly.
Instead of losing speed fighting for an inside position, he let the C5 flow naturally through the curve, carrying momentum into the final straight.
Noa's eyes widened in the mirror.
He floored it—
But it was too late.
Kai shifted.
The C5 lunged forward.
They crossed the line—
Half a car length ahead.
Kai won.
Kai slammed his brakes, heart pounding.
The world felt far away.
For a moment, he just breathed.
Then, as he pulled up to the lot—he heard it.
Whispers.
Shock.
Respect.
Kai stepped out, rolling his shoulders.
Noa was already out of his Silvia, rubbing the back of his neck, shaking his head.
"Shit," Noa muttered. "Didn't expect that."
Kai smirked. "Neither did I."
Noa exhaled before giving a small grin. "Not bad, rookie. You actually drive like you give a damn."
Taryn, still leaning against her NSX, finally pushed off the hood, her gaze locked on Kai.
Her expression hadn't changed.
Still cold. Still unreadable.
But now?
She was actually watching.
Measuring him.
Still not impressed.
But no longer ignoring him.
She nodded toward the next racer.
A man with short, cropped hair, wearing a black racing jacket.
Kazu.
His Evo IX sat behind him, matte gray, its aggressive stance low and mean.
Kazu rolled his shoulders. "Alright, rookie."
His voice was deeper, calmer than Noa's. Less cocky. More focused.
"You got one win. Let's see if you can back it up."
Kai's breath was still heavy.
His hands ached from gripping the wheel too tight.
But he wasn't done.
He looked at Ami.
She was still tense, arms crossed.
But this time, she didn't try to stop him.
She just muttered, "Don't do anything reckless."
Kai smirked.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
He climbed back into his C5.
One more race.
And then?
Taryn Wolfe was waiting.