Chapter 3
57.
The star rises once more and the second day of the group's adventure in Zenshin begins. Even though it was already morning, the group could not even tell because of the window blinds. They need to pull those blinders first before they can see the morning city view from the 8th floor of the condo.
Since the group was still sleeping, Raven walked in and pulled the window blinds. "Rise and shine," she said.
The group slowly opened their eyes as they stood up and walked toward the window. As they all peeked, a view that they had never witnessed before flashed in their eyes. Busy, futuristic, and cinematic in a way they did not expect.
"This is amazing, it feels like we truly are in a different world," Hana said.
"It's like the view on top of the Tree Tribe. Except, less trees… Definitely no trees at all…" Kita added.
"Chop chop, we have a long day ahead of us. Let's keep moving." Raven instructed.
"Days here are longer? I guess this is a different place after all." Lulu responded, completely misunderstanding the phrase. Raven remained silent on this one, preventing a long tiring explanation.
The group prepared themselves immediately. They thought that today was going to be their first day in Motor Racing practice, but it looks like Raven has a different plan. Riding in a car provided by Hideo, Raven drives to their destination. As they reached the premises, the group saw a 4-story-high facility. It's way different than the condo because it's wider and has fewer windows. The inside has tiles, while the atmosphere is bright and busy. The place is called a mall, where they can buy pretty much anything.
"Anoo… I don't see any motors here?" Yuna mentioned.
"Oh, nyu thought we were going to the race track? Nah, we can do that later. For now, nyu should blend in with the crowd first." Raven replied.
"And what does that mean?" Kita asked.
"It means, we are going to shop for your new outfits," Raven answered.
"It sounds good but we are still testing the waters. We can only spend leisurely if we have a stable income or something." Yuna argued.
"Don't worry, I got this. We'll drain Hideo's NYA-Coins!" Raven responded.
"Nyatta!" They all reacted.
Since there are no budget restrictions, the group goes straight to the clothing section of the mall. Lots of styles to choose from, and it's way different compared to the dresses in Kemitopia. The clothes in Zenshin are stylish and fresh, dresses are almost non-existent in this place. It's time for them to have a new outfit, Zenshin style.
"There are a lot of varieties, it's hard to choose," Hana said.
"Most of these are Yuna's style," Lulu mentioned.
"Hai! I actually want to buy all of it! Especially those cool hoodies." Yuna happily said, she finally found a place that matches her style.
"I want this!" Kita said as she showed a brown leather jacket with spikes on the shoulder.
"No…" Everyone else quickly reacted.
"How about this one?" Kita grabbed another weird-looking piece of clothing. This time it's a long sleeve with a snake pattern print.
"Ah… ano… Let me help nyu choose." Raven said as she put the clothing back.
A few more hours passed and finally, they all had new outfits that fit the crowd, and of course their character. Afterward, they proceed to different stalls where Raven let them try different foods; Burger was the highlight for Kita, Lulu loved the potato fries, Hana enjoyed the ice cream, and Yuna was a big fan of steamed Siomai. After the food trip, they head to the arcade wherein lots of virtual games can be played in multiplayer. From virtual shooting games to other sports, the group is surely having fun at the moment.
As they got tired from the arcade, they all sat down on a bench near the karaoke rooms.
"That was so much fun!" Kita said.
"Thanks for treating us. If nyu don't mind, I just want to ask about these sudden activities. Why are we doing this?" Hana curiously asked.
"Hmmm… It just feels right. I mean when I knew that last night was your first pizza, I realized that nyu haven't tried a lot of things here in our place. It's also a different phase for me. I'll be back with the perfect image once I step on the racing track again." Raven answered as she drank a can of soda.
Later that moment, 2 Catgirl Kemis pass by. One has long white hair with a light skin complexion, the other one has long brown hair in a ponytail with a tanned skin color.
"Rubi, we are here in the Southern region to investigate." Said by the brown hair Catgirl.
"Oh come on, just a couple of songs! I know nyu love karaoke as well, it will be fun!" The white hair Catgirl responded.
"Fine, just a few songs okay?" The brown hair Catgirl said as they proceeded to the karaoke rooms.
The group clearly heard the two Catgirls with lab gowns on. They looked at each other and carefully thought if they should ask something regarding the investigation from those two. They signal Lulu to ask the question and pretend to be just genuinely curious from what she heard, but it looks like Lulu is not on the same page as everyone else.
"Karaoke? What's Karaoke?" Lulu asked. Kita, Hana, and Yuna did not see that coming.
"It's a room where Kemis sing along," Raven answered.
"Let's go there!" Kita immediately suggested, still trying to salvage their plan.
"But we don't know any songs from this place. We only have lullabies and such from our place." Yuna argued. She's trying to drop the subject and stop Kita.
"Hmm… I guess we have to listen to the music here first." Kita replied. She understood Yuna's signal this time.
"Not to mention, we actually don't have that much time left. We need to meet Hideo in a bit. Maybe some other time." Raven said.
"Haiii~" Everyone else responded.
Eventually, their leisure moment is over. The group went back to their car and proceeded to their next destination. But first, they went back to Raven's place to change into their new outfits and leave the excess items that they bought.
58.
While on their way, Pily is the one that checks the Runecrystal if it's blinking. This is to prove if the term "investigate" that they heard earlier is connected somehow to an Evil Mimi. The group eventually reached the racing track, where the other Racers under Hideo's contract practice. There are multiple tracks to try; straight roads for sprinting, wavy and bulky for a tricky course, and a rounded-rectangle race track for dry runs. The place is called the DustPit.
"Welcome to the DustPit," Raven said as the other motorcycles passed by.
"This is what I'm talking about," Yuna replied.
"It's noisy," Lulu commented.
"By the way, nyu 2 can stay here and watch or do something else, your call," Raven told Hana and Lulu. "And for the 2 of nyu, come with me," she added as she talked to Kita and Yuna.
The training begins as Hana and Lulu watch from a distance. Since Kita and Yuna already drove their first motorcycles, it's the same motorcycle that Raven requested. They don't need the basic tutorial because they already rode through the city. What they need to know is how to compete against other racers.
"Okay listen up, the race track is a battlefield. There are 2 racing events in this region; the first one is the Race Cup where we race in a big stadium, the field has combinations of these 3 courses here." Raven explained.
Kita and Yuna looked around, trying to grasp what it would look like.
"The other one is a City Race, wherein the organizers will decide the start and the finish line, but the routes depend on what the racer wants," Raven added.
"Which one of those are we going to participate in this coming weekend?" Yuna asked.
"Of course, the one that nyu already have experience with," Raven answered. She's referring to the City Race.
Minutes later, Hideo shows up. "Greetings, am I late?" He greeted Hana and Lulu.
"Not really, they haven't started yet," Hana answered.
"We drained your NYA-Coins earlier!" Lulu said.
Hideo chuckled and kiddingly replied, "Looks like I have to work more then."
On the other hand, Raven prepared a lot of drills for Kita and Yuna. These are to test their balance, reflexes, and snap decision-making. Raven is quite surprised that Kita and Yuna have a good body build, it is also needed for them to survive accidents. As of now, they don't have that much time since the event is only 3 days away.
After a couple more minutes, Hideo left the premises as the training continued. Hana and Lulu fell asleep on the bleachers, while Kita and Yuna cannot escape Raven's training. Both of them need to finish the wavy and bulky course without falling.
"I'M FIIIIINEEEE," Kita shouted while lying on the track, fresh from her fall. Moments later, Yuna followed.
"So, do nyu plan just lying around there?" Raven asked as she walked closer.
"Can I get 5 more minutes?" Kita replied, trying to bargain.
"Well it depends, other racers might roll nyu over," Raven answered.
To avoid further accidents, Yuna helped Kita to stand up and rest elsewhere.
"I'm starting to think that there's no way we can compete this weekend," Yuna mentioned.
"If this was the Race Cup, nyu might be right. But it's a City Race, I think nyu guys can manage." Raven said.
"Soooo… Besides racing, is there any other thing that nyu do?" Yuna casually asked while they were taking a break.
"Beats me. As if there are other things that we can do here in the Southern region." Raven answered.
"What's with the other regions?" Yuna added.
"The Central region is all about surpassing what we have. The Northern region is more like seeking new materials and such. Southern is basically their fundraiser since investors and the audience spend a lot of NYA-Coins on entertainment." Raven explained.
"Don't nyu want to do something different?" Yuna asked once more.
"Hmmm… That would be nice. I guess only when someone else dethrones me." Raven said.
"How about this, when I beat nyu in this weekend's race, nyu will quit racing!" Kita suddenly challenged Raven.
Raven laughs and says "What a cute one. If nyu lose, nyu will sign a one-year racing contract."
"Deal!" Kita answered. Afterwards, they shake each other's hands as a sign of agreement.
"Are nyu sure about this? Nyu know we can't stay here for long." Yuna questioned Kita's decision.
"Pfftt… No problem, all I have to do is win, right?" Kita replied.
"Well, that's easier said than done. Raven does not have the word losing in her dictionary, she hasn't lost a race remember?" Yuna argued.
"I thought nyu are a Catgirl," Kita responded.
"I am a Catgirl." Yuna said.
"Then don't be a chicken. I got this~" Kita said as she smirked.
"What am I going to do with nyu…" Yuna muttered.
The fiery conversation gave Kita a boost to do more. Because of how loud they were, Hana and Lulu were able to listen to them the whole time. The situation escalated quickly right in front of their eyes, and they couldn't do anything about it.
The training continues into the next few days. Each of those times, Yuna and Kita are effectively adapting, getting the hang of the competition. Everything was going well until the last day before the event. Something unexpected flipped the entire situation.
As they all woke up from their slumber, Kita was nowhere to be found. She left a note on the table saying "Don't try to find me, I'll be right back." Everyone is currently confused, even Hana failed to notice Kita's escape this time. There are cameras in the condo but the group decided to respect Kita's choice. It's the first time she has done such a thing, maybe there's a good reason behind it.
"I hope nothing bad happened to Kita." Lulu worriedly said.
"Kita is a tough Kemi, I'm sure she'll be fine," Yuna replied.
"She… She'll be back! And she… she better has a good reason for it." Hana said while stuttering. This is the first time that Kita left her side, as much as she wants to find her, she must patiently wait for Kita's return.
Meanwhile, Pily is not talking at all. Looks like he is completely speechless since last night.
For the time being, the group put faith in Kita, hoping she will return to the racing event tomorrow.
59.
The day seems to be way too quiet when Kita is not around. No one knows where Kita is right now, her motorcycle is missing as well. Raven is not aware of it, meaning Hideo is the only suspect that helped Kita escape. When confronted by Raven, Hideo never gave her any useful information. The group must proceed to their day without Kita.
As it all continues, each one of them has a plan; Yuna heads to practice with Raven, there's nothing else for her to do. Lulu stayed inside the unit with Pily, she wants to wait for Kita in the room in case Kita comes back. And Hana is doing something else. For her, the situation does not add up. Hana wants to confirm her suspicions.
Everyone goes with their plan and that's the setup for the rest of the day. Eventually, as it all ended, Kita still did not show up. Looks like she will stay true and firm to her words. They ate dinner and remained silent throughout that night.
The next morning rises and the group heads to the event, hoping Kita will be there as well. They are all patiently waiting, scanning each Kemi that passes by, but it looks like Kita is nowhere to be found.
Moments later, the City Race is about to start. Raven and Yuna made their way to the race track while Hana and Lulu sat on the bleachers. As the live camera pans out, a blonde Kemi wearing a gold outfit on her motorcycle was caught.
"THAT'S HER! Kita is on the race track!" Hana mentioned.
"Nyu are right, that's Kita!" Lulu gladly said.
"Go, Kita!" Hana shouted wholeheartedly.
"She is not smiling. I hope she is not sad." Lulu worriedly said.
"If she was, then we'll be there for her, right?" Hana responded.
"Hai!" Lulu replied as she smiled.
Eventually, Raven and Yuna noticed Kita as well. "I guess it's about to go down," Raven said as she rode her motorcycle.
"I'll try to keep up. But I don't want to compete this time." Yuna replied as she chuckled.
Last night, Yuna and Hana had a conversation secretly. There's a place that they have to check, Yuna will use the City Race as an opportunity to go somewhere else.
The crowd erupts as the City Race is about to start. The rules are simple, every route is acceptable and the first one to reach the end point wins. "Start your engines. On your paws. Ready, set, RACE!" The programmed voice announced.
With that said, the race has begun. 50 racers, a mix of professionals, and new faces participated in the event. With glory on the line, everyone has a reason to fight for themselves.
Loud engines sprinted across the streets. Everyone can watch the live broadcast on public television, as well as online streams. There's a cameraman Kemi on a chopper, live-streaming the event. It clearly shows who is currently in first place, none other than, the Racing Queen herself, Raven.
"And there she goes! The Racing Queen is leading! Oh wait, looks like another Kemi is on a hot pursuit. A Golden Racer is trailing the queen! Hold on, let me check our data." The announcer said. "Her name is Kita, a new face. Hoho, youngbloods nowadays are aggressive!" He added.
As they all reach the next street where a tough turn is needed, a lot of racers slow down to make the turn but Raven does not. When she reached the corner street, Raven hit her front brakes, making the lower part of her motor rise. She then used this opportunity to turn and proceed to the track without losing her momentum. Lack of practice will send anyone flying with their motorcycles, they must remain in balance without entirely backflipping. But because of Raven's expertise, she created a huge margin between her and the other racers. Only the Racing Queen can pull off such a trick.
"STUNNING! THE QUEEN JUST SHOWCASED HER EXTREME TALENT!" The announcer praised Raven as the crowd lost their minds.
Kita on the other hand just went straight to the alley, definitely off the road.
The race continues as the cameras are glued to Raven, there are no other racers near her, to begin with. A few moments later, the Soc-Med (social media) explodes as the river is rumored to be iced, and someone is riding a motorcycle across it.
"Hold on folks, we got the news that a racer is driving through an iced river! It's quite near here, Let's head there immediately!" The announcer said.
As the chopper reaches the rumored place, the Golden Racer is caught in the act. "THE GOLDEN RACER! SHE'S RACING THROUGH THE ICE!" The announcer said.
"That's Kita!" Hana said.
"She's so cool!" Lulu replied.
"That's the result of it! I have never seen such beauty!" Pily added.
"What do nyu mean?" Hana questioned.
"It's Kita! She fused with Rue the other night!" Pily said.
"WHAT!?" Hana and Lulu reacted.
"That's my reaction as well! I saw it with my own eyes, it was beautiful! They are both shining that night!" Pily added.
"So that's why nyu were speechless this whole time…" Lulu replied.
"WHY DID NYU NOT TELL US!?" Hana madly reacted.
"Wait, I did not say anything? I'm sorry, I was stunned by it." Pily apologized as he came back to his senses.
"I can't believe it, Kita finally has a talent. ICE!? Are nyu kidding me!?" Hana said as she lost her mind.
"Aa… Anoooo! Please Calm doooowwn." Lulu responded while panicking. Hana is making quite a scene and Lulu must stop her.
"I don't know when the lake got frozen but it's working for the Golden Racer! In this trajectory, she might overtake the Racing Queen!" The announcer said.
As the chopper goes back to Raven, Kita creates an ice ramp. She goes full speed towards it, making her fly above Raven, eclipsing the lead.
"THE GOLDEN RACER IS FLYING! WHAT A GENERATIONAL TALENT! THIS IS INSANE!" The announcer said.
Raven looked up and saw Kita coming down from the sky. She was entirely speechless, that was the first time Raven saw someone in front of her in a race. Kita successfully landed and from that point onward, it was a casual sprint to the finish line. For the first time ever, Raven tasted defeat.
"THE GOLDEN RACER WINS! FOLLOWED BY THE RACING QUEEN!" The announcer said. The crowd was stunned, no one can process what just happened. Even Hideo dropped his jaws.
"This cat is truly something else…" Raven muttered.
A few seconds later, the crowd erupted when Kita removed her helmet. "GOLDEN RACER," is the chant that can be heard miles away. A new champion dethroned the queen today.
End of Chapter 3