The Speed Of The Stars

Two days after Feixiao and Ningguang's intense race, Beidou, March, Seele, and Pela are waiting at a breakfast diner for Collei and Amber to arrive. The conversation at the table turns to a rumor that has been circulating around Yougou, catching everyone's attention.

Beidou leans in toward Pela's side, her voice low with suspicion. "Are you sure about this? It might be some other car just replicating Collei's Eight-Six."

Pela shakes her head, her gaze intense. "No. I saw the license plate myself. It's the same one on Collei's Eight-Six."

Right on cue, the unmistakable sound of a roaring engine cuts through the morning air as a blue Sileighty parks neatly between Seele's Devil Z and March's Supra.

March glances out the window, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Look who just arrived."

Collei and Amber step out of the Sileighty, their silhouettes framed by the diner's doorway before they stroll over to the table. They sit down, and for a moment, everything feels calm, but there's an underlying tension in the air.

Beidou leans forward, her eyes soft with concern. "How are you feeling, Collei?"

Collei sighs, her shoulders slumping as she exhales slowly. "A little better. Still... uneasy, though."

March offers a reassuring pat on Collei's shoulder, a smile playing on her lips. "You'll pull through. We know you will."

A few moments pass, and their orders arrive. The group digs into their food, the clatter of utensils and the hum of background chatter filling the space around them. As the meal continues, Pela can't help but bring up the earlier conversation again.

Pela leans in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "So, Collei... two nights ago, I saw your Eight-Six tearing up Yougou's uphill and downhill runs. Same thing last night. I passed by the summit after its uphill run, and I saw your dad standing by it. Almost like he was inspecting something under the hood."

Collei's eyes widen with surprise, her fork frozen mid-air. "Are you sure it was my dad... and the Eight-Six?"

She shakes her head as if trying to dismiss the thought. "No... no, that can't be. If it were true, she would've told me. She always does."

Pela shakes her head, insistent. "It can't be a coincidence. It had the same license plate as your Eight-Six. Same wheels, same color... same everything."

Beidou's gaze hardens, but she nods. "Yeah, that's not something you forget. Your Eight-Six is the most well-known car around Yougou. Any idea where it is these days?"

Collei's expression darkens as she stares down at her plate. "No. After the incident, we had it towed back to Yougou. My dad dropped me off at the street entrance and took the Eight-Six with him. Who knows where it ended up."

March looks at her, eyebrows raised. "Then what are you driving around in Yougou for your morning runs?"

Collei lets out a small sigh, her fingers gripping the edge of her plate. "An old Toyota pickup truck. It's... garbage."

Seele's voice cracks with worry. "Maybe it's being picked apart for parts or scrap?"

Collei shakes her head firmly. "No. Last I heard, the Eight-Six is getting a new engine. And my dad... he's not going to scrap it. Not after everything he put into that car."

Amber nudges Collei's shoulder, a teasing smile on her face. "Don't tell me your dad's putting another stock 4AGE engine in it?"

Collei takes a bite of her food, her gaze drifting toward the diner's window, her thoughts far away. "I don't know, Amber... I really don't."

That night in Yougou, the peace of the empty course is shattered by the roar of a high-revving engine. The unmistakable sound of an Eight-Six drifts through the cool night air, tires screeching as it drifts flawlessly through the final hairpin before barreling toward the finish line. The car comes to a smooth stop in the rest area, and Lyney and Lynette approach the vehicle, their footsteps soft on the gravel.

As they reach the driver's side, the window rolls down to reveal Arlecchino, a satisfied grin spread across her face.

Lynette leans in, her eyes curious. "So, Arlecchino... what do you think?"

Arlecchino's grin widens. "It's almost there. This engine is incredible. Even the setup couldn't keep up with us on the past runs we did. Just a little more tweaking, and it'll be perfect."

Lyney, leaning closer, can't hide his skepticism. "Is it really that good of an engine?"

Arlecchino nods, her eyes gleaming with pride. "I have to say, I'm really loving this new engine."

Lyney scoffs, a playful glint in his eye. "Really? Why don't I ride with you and see how good it is myself?"

Arlecchino's expression falters, a small chuckle escaping her lips as she shakes her head. "I don't know, Lyney... she's... scary."

Lyney steps back, confusion flickering in his eyes. "Scary? What do you mean?"

Arlecchino sighs and steps out of the car, rolling up her pants leg to reveal a massive bruise on her right shin, stretching down to the edge of her boot. The bruise is dark and angry, already spreading beneath her skin.

Lyney's eyes widen as he points at it. "What the hell happened to you?"

Arlecchino winces, rubbing her leg. "Leaned too hard on my shin during one of the runs. Hurts like hell, but I had no choice. I always thought bucket seats were overrated for mountain pass racing. Now? I get it. Before we make another run, we're installing a bucket seat—otherwise, this bruise will spread even more."

She pulls the pant leg back down and stands tall, glancing at the Eight-Six. "I'm done for today. This new engine's a beast... just some minor adjustments left. It's almost there."

Three more days have passed, and it's an unusually chilly morning at Arlecchino's home.

Collei steps into the living room, already grumbling. "Jesus Christ, it's cold! Even with my sweater on, I'm freezing my ass off. Can we turn the heater up?"

Arlecchino, without looking up, scoffs. "You standing like a statue is what's making you cold."

Collei sighs, rubbing her arms to warm up. "You sound just like my former chemistry teacher, you know."

Before Arlecchino can respond, a loud engine hum breaks the moment. Collei turns her head, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What's that noise?"

She walks toward the door, scratching her head. Stepping outside, she stops in her tracks as her gaze lands on her Eight Six, now fully repaired and looking as good as new. For a long moment, she simply stands there, processing what she's seeing.

Arlecchino steps outside, her boots crunching lightly against the frost-covered ground. Collei's voice shakes with disbelief as she turns to her.

"No way... it's fixed? Did you clean up the mess or is it actually running?" she asks, her eyes wide.

Arlecchino's lips curve into a small, satisfied smile. "Of course it's running. Running even better than before, thanks to its new engine. You can start using it for deliveries again."

Collei approaches the driver's side door but is interrupted by Arlecchino, who calls her name.

"Collei, I have to say something else too…" Arlecchino begins, her tone shifting to something more serious.

Collei turns to face her, eyebrows raised. "What is it?"

"I had no choice but to use some of your hard-earned money for the installation, repairs, and tuning. So, from this day forward, the Eight Six is half yours, half mine."

Collei blinks in surprise, scratching the back of her head. "Are you sure? I… I mean, I was the one who blew the engine."

Arlecchino steps closer and places a reassuring hand on Collei's shoulder. "I'm sure. And I told you already. It wasn't your fault the engine blew."

Collei nods, feeling a little lighter. She turns back to the Eight Six, opening the door. As she settles into the new bucket seat, a strange sensation washes over her. The seat feels a bit unfamiliar.

"Something feels off about this seat, Dad," Collei says, trying to adjust her position.

Arlecchino walks up to the window, handing her a cup of water. "I installed a bucket seat to help with the G-forces during hairpin turns. But don't worry. The more you drive, the less you'll notice the change."

Collei takes the cup and places it in the cupholder. She buckles her seatbelt, her eyes moving to the steering wheel. She turns it twice, each time making a small, deliberate 90-degree motion.

Collei's eyes narrow in concentration. "The steering wheel feels heavier," she mutters.

She then presses the clutch, noticing the difference there as well. "Same thing with the clutch…"

She turns on the headlights. The iconic pop-up headlights rise with their characteristic click. Collei shifts the car into first gear and slowly pulls away. The Eight Six hums to life, the engine's purr echoing through the morning air. As she drives off, the car smoothly accelerates into the distance, leaving Arlecchino watching from behind, arms crossed.

"When you first start moving in a car that's reborn... that's the moment when you really know the car has truly changed," Arlecchino mutters to herself, her eyes following the car as it vanishes from view.

Hours pass, and daylight filters through the mist of autumn. Collei is back on the downhill stretch, but something's not right. Her hands are gripping the wheel a little too tightly. She's struggling to adjust to the car's new quirks. As she reaches the next hairpin, she attempts to initiate a drift, but the Eight Six doesn't respond as expected. The rear end slides outwards, as if the car is trying to straighten itself instead of holding the drift.

Collei's patience starts to wear thin. "Fuck! This car is really hard to control!"

The next hairpin brings the same result: the rear end fishtails dangerously. Despite its new engine, the Eight Six is still resisting her attempts to drive it the way she's used to.

That afternoon, at the gas station, Collei finishes refueling and gathers Amber, Seele, Beidou, Pela, and March to fill them in on the Eight Six's "rebirth."

All five of them speak at the same time, a chorus of surprised exclamations. "What!? It's fixed already!?"

Beidou leans forward, grinning. "Tell me then, Collei! What's it like? Is there more power?"

Meanwhile, Lyney, seated in his office nearby, overhears the conversation, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Once they find out this engine is top-tier, they'll flip their marbles…"

Collei scratches her head, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't know how to tell you this, but… but it seems like the engine is less powerful."

Lyney's eyes widen in disbelief as he rushes outside, his footsteps quick and determined. "Hey, Collei! I just overheard what you said. You said the new engine lacks power?"

Collei is caught off guard but nods, feeling a little defeated. "Yeah. It's almost like it wants to straighten out when I try to drift it."

Lyney shakes his head in disbelief. "That's impossible. Your dad told me that this engine is premium—best in its class."

Collei crosses her arms, her brows furrowed in frustration. "I don't believe it's premium. It's too sloppy to drive."

The group looks at Lyney for answers, but it's Seele who speaks up, her tone cautious. "Did you hear anything from Collei's father?"

Lyney hesitates, shaking his head. "All I was told was that the engine was its best in its class… A premium one, she said."

The following morning, Collei finishes her usual delivery runs and heads back to the downhill course. This time, she tries to change up her driving style, but still, the car doesn't behave as expected. As she enters a fast right-hander, she attempts to initiate a four-wheel drift, but the rear end starts fishtailing and refuses to stay in the drift. It almost seems like the car is fighting her every move.

At the final hairpin, Ningguang and Keqing are waiting by the roadside, watching the Eight Six's approach.

Keqing shivers, pulling her jacket tighter around her. "When will it show up? I'm freezing my ass off here!"

Ningguang remains calm, her eyes scanning the road. "Patience, Keqing. She'll show…"

Right on cue, the sound of the Eight Six's individual throttle bodies roars in the distance. The car finally appears, but it's obvious that Collei is still struggling to control it. The rear end sways dangerously, trying to straighten out despite her best efforts.

Ningguang watches closely, her eyes narrowing. "Looks like Collei isn't accustomed to its new beating heart…"

Back at Arlecchino's home, she finishes preparing breakfast just as Collei pulls in with the Eight Six. The car comes to a slow stop in its usual spot, and Collei steps out, looking weary but determined. She walks inside, clearly still frustrated.

Collei glances at Arlecchino as she enters. "Hey, Father."

Arlecchino gives her a knowing wink. "Hey there, kid. Anything new?"

Collei removes her shoes, a deep sigh escaping her. "No. It's getting really frustrating. I had no choice but to change up my driving style, hoping it will make a difference. Hopefully, a few more runs, and it'll sort itself out…"

Collei enters the dining room and begins eating her breakfast in silence, her thoughts heavy.

Arlecchino watches her for a moment, a small smirk curling at her lips. "That's the spirit, kid. Rather than messing about with the suspension setup, you're adapting your driving style. Keep it up…" she thinks to herself, a faint glimmer of hope in her heart.

T

That night in Araumi, the warm glow of streetlights illuminated the quiet racing hub. Keqing leaned in on the sleek curves of her RX7 FD, her fingers tracing the contours of the hood as she squinted, her brow furrowing in thought.

"Something's off," she muttered to herself, almost as if speaking to the car itself. "It's like that engine is tuned and modified by a real professional."

Ganyu, who had been casually leaning against her S2000 nearby, tilted her head, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Go on, Keqing. What do you mean?"

Keqing let out a soft sigh, eyes narrowing as she studied the RX7's engine with a knowing glance. "Well, for starters, the intake sounds different. Almost like it's running on individual throttle bodies. And then there's the exhaust note—it's smooth, almost like a race car. Not that harsh, raspy growl, but something refined and powerful. Whoever did the tuning knows exactly what they're doing."

As if on cue, a pristine white AE86 Levin rolled into the parking spot next to Keqing's RX7, the hum of its engine cutting through the evening air. The driver stepped out, his face hidden by the low brim of his cap.

"Hey there," the young driver called, stepping out of the car. "Don't mind if I park here, do you?"

Keqing waved her hand dismissively, offering a friendly smile. "No, no. You're good. Go ahead."

The young girl, stepping confidently toward Keqing, extended a hand in greeting. "By the way, I'm Kamisato Ayaka. I'm from another prefecture," she said with a friendly smile.

Keqing shook her hand firmly. "Nice to meet you, Ayaka. I'm Keqing, and this is Ganyu," she gestured toward her friend. "What brings you to Narukami Prefecture?"

Ayaka smiled, waving at Ganyu before turning back to Keqing. "Oh, you know, just exploring. Wanted to see the racing scene here for myself."

Keqing nodded thoughtfully, her eyes glancing over the AE86 with appreciation. "I see…," she said, trailing off as her gaze settled on the iconic car. "Your Eight-Six is spec'd out nicely. Running anything special under the hood?"

Ayaka's expression brightened. "Yeah, actually. It's got a turbocharger."

Keqing raised an eyebrow in surprise, her eyes widening. "A turbocharged Eight-Six? That's a first."

Ayaka chuckled softly, a hint of pride in her voice. "Yeah. Instead of going with a more traditional mechanical tune, I had a turbo installed. Figured it'd be more fun."

Keqing nodded in approval, a glint of admiration in her eyes. "That makes sense. Pair it with the Eight-Six's lightweight body, and you've got a pretty impressive combo."

The following morning, Ayaka was on her way to Yougou. As she cruised down the road, her eyes flicked to the fuel gauge. "Looks like I need to fill up," she muttered to herself. "Hopefully, there's a gas station nearby..."

Her luck was with her. Just ahead, she spotted a gas station. As she pulled in, she was unaware that it was the very same station where Beidou, Collei, and the rest of their group often hung out. Ayaka parked at a pump and lowered her window, ready to fill up.

Before she could even step out, Collei approached, flashing a welcoming smile. "Welcome! How can I help you today?"

Ayaka leaned out the window, glancing up at the sign for the high-octane fuel. "Full tank of high-octane, please."

Moments later, Collei was refueling Ayaka's AE86, the distinctive hum of the pump filling the silence. As the nozzle clicked, Ayaka struck up a conversation.

"You must be the driver of Yougou's Eight-Six, right?" Ayaka asked, her curiosity piqued as she leaned slightly out of the car.

Collei nodded, her expression calm. "That's right."

A smile spread across Ayaka's face. "Sweet. I actually wanted to ask you something—if you're free."

Collei paused, setting the nozzle back in place. "Sure. What's up?"

Ayaka's eyes narrowed slightly, a playful yet serious tone in her voice. "Why don't we meet up at my home course, Nazuchi? We could talk about our Eight-Sixes, maybe even do some practice runs or a race."

Collei glanced around the station, noting that the usual crowd was absent. Beidou and March were in the garage, working on a customer's car, and Amber, Seele, and Pela were nowhere to be found. After a moment's thought, Collei gave a small nod. "Sounds good. Saturday night, then?"

Ayaka grinned. "Great! How does 10:00 PM sound?"

Collei slid the gas pump back into place, sealing the fuel door. "Perfect."

With that, Ayaka paid for the fuel, hopped back into her AE86, and sped off toward the expressway. Collei, after watching her go, made her way back toward the garage. Just as she approached, she overheard Lyney talking on the phone, his voice low but clearly audible.

"Sis, tell me—what are the engine specs? Arlecchino won't tell me anything, and I'm starting to get suspicious," Lyney said.

Lynette's voice crackled over the line, muffled but still clear. "I don't know for sure. All I heard from Arlecchino is that it's a high-revving unit."

Collei's eyes narrowed, her mind working through the implications of this new information. A high-revving unit? She didn't recall that detail being part of her own setup.

"I better call Seele," Collei murmured under her breath. "She's the expert when it comes to engines."

Without wasting another moment, Collei stepped off to the side, pulling out her phone and dialing Seele's number. It rang only once before Seele answered.

"Hey, Collei. What's up?" came Seele's cheerful voice through the crackling speakerphone.

Collei glanced around the quiet gas station, making sure no one was eavesdropping. "Hey, Seele. Can we meet tonight at Yougou's summit? I need to ask you something about my Eight-Six's engine."

The phone crackled as Seele responded. "Sure thing. I'll make arrangements."

Collei ended the call, slipping the phone back into her pocket, her mind already racing with possibilities. She walked toward the garage with a carefully neutral expression, her thoughts focused on the upcoming meeting.

That night in Yougou, Collei and Seele stood at the summit, the cool mountain air swirling around them. They were talking, their voices quiet against the stillness of the night.

Collei leaned casually against her Eight-Six, her gaze drifting toward the dark horizon. "I overheard Lyney saying that the engine under my Eight-Six's hood is a high-revving unit."

Seele, always perceptive, rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Well, there's only one way to find out. Let's go for a downhill run. Drive like you usually do, and we'll figure it out along the way."

Without another word, the two slid into the Eight-Six, strapping themselves into the racing seats. The engine hummed to life, a familiar sound that always made Collei feel right at home. She pushed the clutch in and eased the car into motion.

The first few turns were standard fare, but almost immediately, Seele's sharp eyes began to notice something out of place. She sat forward in her seat, studying the road and the way the car was responding to Collei's handling. Something felt off.

Meanwhile, at a local diner in Yougou, Arlecchino and Lynette were seated in a booth, talking quietly. There was a stack of car parts on the table, pieces that hadn't been installed in Collei's Eight-Six yet.

"Those parts you ordered when we installed the engine... When do you plan on installing them?" Lynette asked, her tone curious.

Arlecchino nodded, her expression composed. "When Collei finally realizes that the engine revs higher than the stock tachometer can handle. What I want her to do is to try compensating for the change in power by adjusting her technique, rather than just relying on a simple fix like that high-rev tachometer I asked you to keep."

Lynette leaned back, considering the implications. "So you want her to figure it out on her own. You're teaching her through experience, not just giving her the answer."

Arlecchino snapped her fingers, pointing at Lynette. "Exactly! You understand perfectly."

Back on the mountain, the Eight-Six carved its way through the tight hairpins of the winding road. Collei pushed the car harder, trying to get a feel for the engine's limits. But Seele had been observing closely, her eyes narrowing as she mentally took notes.

"There's a lack of power in the lower and mid-RPM ranges," Seele muttered to herself, her fingers tapping lightly on the door. "But the moment she hits the higher RPMs... that's when the power kicks in. Is this engine defective? Or is it tuned improperly?"

As Collei approached another hairpin, she attempted to initiate a drift. The car slid sideways, but something felt off. It fishtailed, and the rear tires lost their grip more than usual. Collei struggled to keep it under control, but with a quick adjustment, she managed to save it. The engine roared as the tachometer needle rose steadily from 5000 to 7000 RPMs, and as it hit 8000, the car jolted forward with unexpected force. Collei shifted, the tach needle dropped, and once again, the car lacked power, settling into a sluggish pace.

Seele's mind raced. She had seen enough. Her eyes widened as the realization hit her. Turning to Collei, she spoke urgently, "I've seen enough. We can head back now."

Collei, still focused on the road, nodded, her fingers still tight on the wheel. She made a smooth U-turn and guided the Eight-Six back toward the summit.

At the summit, Collei parked the car and turned to Seele, her curiosity piqued. "What's the verdict, Seele?"

Seele pointed toward the tachometer. "It's your tachometer."

Collei looked down at the dial, her brow furrowing. "Tachometer?"

Seele nodded. "That's right. The tachometer tells you how many revolutions your engine is making per minute. With your old engine, it was fine. But with this one, it's not enough. I noticed that in the lower RPM range, your engine doesn't have much power. But as soon as you hit 8000 RPMs, there's a sudden surge of power. This means one thing..." Seele paused for emphasis, her gaze meeting Collei's. "Your engine is a professional, racing-built engine. It's capable of revving much higher than what your tachometer can show."

Collei blinked, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Huh?"

Seele smiled, her eyes glinting with the thrill of discovery. "Let me show you."

The two of them stepped outside the car. Seele popped the hood of the Eight-Six, and Collei leaned over to take a closer look.

Seele's voice took on an instructive tone. "The Eight-Six's stock engine was a 1.6L 4AGE with 16 valves, a solid performer for its time. But this engine..." She pointed to the components beneath the hood, "This is a later model 4AGE, the 20-valve Silvertop engine. And the intake system's different too. Instead of a single throttle body, you've got individual throttle bodies, which improves throttle response."

Collei watched, intrigued, as Seele continued her explanation. "These 20-valve engines were common in later Corolla models of its generation, the AE101 series. They came with a Variable Valve Timing system... though yours is missing it, which tells me one thing." Seele turned to Collei with a knowing look. "This engine was built for racing. Closed-circuit racing. And it's a super high-revving engine."

Collei's eyes grew wide as the realization hit her. "So... you're telling me... this engine's true limit was sealed?"

Seele nodded, a hint of admiration in her voice. "Yes. My guess is, your dad sealed off the remaining RPM range. If I had to estimate, the engine could easily hit 10,000 RPMs or more. That's why you've been struggling with the drifts. At those mid-range RPMs, the engine lacks the power you need to hold the drift, and the car straightens out. That's why you're having trouble."

Collei's mind raced, trying to process everything. "So, all this time... I've been driving with a limiter that's holding me back?"

Seele closed the hood with a decisive motion. "That's right. And while you're at it, you should get a tachometer that reads up to at least 13,000 RPMs, maybe more. And don't forget the other gauges: oil pressure, oil temperature, water temperature, and water pressure. Those gauges will help you keep track of your engine's health."

Collei crouched down, her fingers brushing the side of her Eight-Six. She whispered to herself, her voice barely audible, "You've been holding out on me this entire time?"

The Eight-Six seemed to whisper back, its engine still warm under the hood, as if ready to show her what it could really do.