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"Get out of here, or you're fired!" Yuichi shouted.
The harsh command finally spurred Iketani into action. After a bit of stumbling, he dashed to his car and shot out of the gas station in a flurry of tire and exhaust smoke. He tore through the streets of Shibukawa, charging toward the highway like nothing else mattered.
And truly, nothing else did matter. The only thing on Iketani's mind right now was seeing Mako's face one more time.
I'm a frickin' moron! he thought to himself. A girl like Mako…I'm never going to find another woman like her again! If there's a God out there, I'm begging you now…just give me one chance! Don't take my angel away!
On the road ahead of him, he saw a pair of amber lights blinking rhythmically. No…make that several pairs.
"No!" Iketani cried, feeling his chest start to cave. "No no no, a traffic jam?! Now?! God, please don't do this to me!"
He shut his eyes, trying to deny what was happening. When he opened them, he saw something that filled him with hope. An opening, barely big enough to fit his car, in front of the exit. He jerked his wheel to the left, ignoring the angry horns that shouted at him. He slipped through the gap between the cars and blew through the exit.
Just hold on for a few more minutes my angel…I'm on my way. "Come on Syl, dont let me down now!"
Meanwhile, under the Kamameshi Billboard
I'm never…wearing heels again… Mako thought, tears leaking from her eyes. She did a few donuts in the parking lot, her engine and tires screaming her distressed rage, before driving off into the night.
Moments later, an S13 rocketed out of a corner further down the block. Iketani could see the tail lights of the Sil80 in the distance getting further away.
"No! Come back my angel!" he cried, shifting his gear up and slamming the accelerator.
Mako drove towards Mount Usui, her emotions urging her to let off steam on the pass, with Iketani pursuing relentlessly She didn't realize someone was following her until they were at the foot of the mountain.
Whoever you are, I'm getting sick of your headlights in my mirror! she thought, the dial one speedometer rising at the same rate as her irritation. "After this corner you'll be nothing more than an afterthought!
Mako punched the throttle, powersliding through the first bend with a surgeon's precision. She glanced at her rearview mirror and saw her pursuer's headlights shrink, scoffing and muttering a jeer. Putting her attention back on the road, she drove her mystery challenger out of her mind.
That is, until she saw a gleam reappear in the corner of her vision. Mako's widening of the gap gave Iketani the motivation to push his limits further. He charged down the straight without any care for his safety, only wanting to stay close to Mako. She, in turn, tried to put as much distance between her and the phantom chaser.
Corner after corner, this back-and-forth exchange repeated itself. Mako attacked each curve with vengeance, but Iketani refused to let himself fall behind. Whenever Mako would pull away, Iketani would start driving faster. The closer he got to her, the stronger her emotions would get, and the further she got from him, the more desperate he would become.
For the first time in his life, Iketani was able to produce a visible aura. It burned with a mad intensity, brighter than the stars above. Mako could see it--could feel it--blazing behind her. For the second time that week, she felt like she was running from a monster uncaged.
The auras of the two drivers burned alongside eachother, the heat of one fueling the other. They mixed and danced together, creating a vibrant chemical reaction.
At this point, both drivers had forgotten their original purpose, and were sucked into the other's essence. They were entranced by their opponent as they battled eachother for superiority. The world around them faded away, and they could only see the other driver.
Course record would have been set that night, had anyone been around to record them. The two racers had attacked the pass with inhuman vigor.
Mako was so caught up in the battle that she almost didn't realize she'd made it to the top of the mountain. She slowed her vehicle, and let the other car pass by her. She watched the minty S13 surge ahead, and her heart skipped a beat.
Iketani? she thought upon realization. There's no way…it can't be…
Iketani had been just as mentally invested in the race as Mako had, and almost drove away before realizing he'd passed her. He pulled his handbrake to spin his car in a 180, and slid to a stop a few meters away from the Sil80. Both drivers stepped out of their cars and stood in front of them, framed by the headlights. They stared at eachother for a few moments, neither saying a word.
Iketani was the first to break the silence. "Mako, i'm so sorry, i'm such an idiot. I thought I was worthless, and I wasn't going to come, but then-"
"Iketani…" Mako interrupted, "You…chased me all the way across Usui…just to meet me?"
"Yes…yes, of course I did! I'd fly to the moon and back just to see you! You're the most amazing woman i'll ever meet, and I realize that now."
Mako felt heat rise to her cheeks, soon cooled by tears that ran down them. "I…thought you weren't going to come…I thought you didn't want me after all…I guess I should've had more faith in you."
"No, i'm the one who didn't have faith. But I promise i'll never make that mistake again, if you give me another chance."
Iketani and Mako's relationship was saved that night. Iketani would never again drive as fast as he did that night, but he was able to improve. He and Mako spent a lot of time in eachother's cars, watching and critiquing their technique. They were finally able to find the partner they were looking for together, and they stayed a happy couple for many, many years.