Only one team can proceed to the next round.

  Garner immediately looked at Nexi after the mash up was announced.

  Nexon vs Gridtech

  “Hehe. Hi, Nexi” Garner teased.

  “No hard feelings, Nex,” Jett said.

  Nexi said firmly, “Only one of us is making it to the next round, Jett, and I’m not gonna make this easy.”

  “Shame we didn’t get a mash up with Rinova right, Garner?” Yudo said.

  Garner chuckled.

  “This is just as fun. Now I can beat both Nexi and Rinova.”

  Garner had a genuine smile, and everyone felt uneasy because of it.

  “GRS safety regulation has tightened, so now turning off traction control or race ai is not allowed and will result in a DNF,” the GRS organiser announced.

  “And due to popular demand from the public, proximity chat will be activated this race for… umm safety.”

  “Yeah that safety excuse is not going to work anymore…”

  Even Sicilian Spark wasn’t convinced.

  “Isn’t this great, Spark?” Butter asked.

  “I love talking!” Jammy expressed her love of talking.

  Garner lost his genuine smile.

  “Tch– forcing me to race the way they want!”

  Nexi grabbed onto both of Mikey’s shoulders.

  “Okay, just drive like I taught you… Listen to Xogic’s instructions and you’ll be fine.”

  “Okay…”

  In the AutoNavy’s relay line up, Falner asked Reiji.

  “You think we can win this?”

  “Possibly. Spark is pretty fast though.”

  “That’s just one guy.”

  “He got a dangerous charisma.”

  Across the field, Falner and Reiji could see Spark smiling and talking to his teammates.

  “He can weaponize the people with his charm.”

  “You’re probably thinking too deep, Reiji.”

  Reiji shrugged.

  “Maybe. You’re pretty fast, Falner. I’ll count on you for this race.”

  “Same thing to you, Reiji, let’s win this.”

  The Forefront team was the first one to enter the relay pitstop.

  “Alright! Alright!”

  Hi-en was hyped to see the new Forefront race car with Neo-gen 1.1 and aerodynamic carbon flaps. The machine lay dormant– waiting for the first racer to step in it.

  Proxy pumped her fist.

  “Yes! I finally get to drive a Forefront race car!”

  “Congratulations. You have no excuse if you lose now,” Rinova said, sarcastically.

  Proxy tilted her head.

  “I don’t know… maybe my SM Dojo is actually better. If I win in this car then I’ll admit that this car performs better!”

  Rinova rolled his eyes.

  “Who’ll be the first racer? Should we start voting?” Hi-en asked.

  “Nah. That’s a stupid waste of time. I’ll go first, then whoever wanna go next can go after me,” Rinova said.

  Hi-en looked at Orion, waiting for his take.

  “I don’t see any problem with that.”

  Knox was still sleeping standing up, but he seemed to be signaling approval too.

  “Let’s get this over with.”

  Rinova cracked his fingers.

  A far less threatening race car compared to Forefront’s sat at the Underdogs’ pitstop.

  Zeeker used a stack of tires as a stage platform. He stood with hands behind his back. Sefix, Broome, and Traft were listening as if he was a political figure. Manju was trying to cool himself down in front of a fan, undermining Zeeker’s authority.

  “I assume that you are all familiar with Sovereign Mind’s race cars,” Zeeker said.

  “It’s shit.”

  “It’s complete dog water.”

  “I would rather drive anything else.”

  “Ok. We are all on the same page. Let’s decide who gets to go first.”

  “Yes, guys. Let’s vote.”

  Zeeker raised his voice a couple of decibels.

  “I vote for Manju. Thank you for your sacrifice, Manju!”

  Manju turned to Zeeker on his makeshift stage.

  “WHAT!”

  “Whoever votes for Manju this round will get free drinks on me after the race!”

  “This is so rigged!” Manju cried.

  Everyone on the Underdogs team raised their hands except for Manju. Zeeker saluted him.

  “Your sacrifice won’t be in vain.”

  At the start line Rinova mumbled to himself.

  “Right six followed by left four…”

  Manju opened the prox chat.

  “Test test!”

  Rinova didn’t respond and continued mumbling to himself.

  “Apex at the green garbage c–”

  “Is this thing on? Hello?”

  “Yes it’s on– god damn it!”

  “Good luck on the race, Rinova!”

  “Yeah… good luck.”

  I don’t need luck…

  “First race of the day. Forefront vs The Underdogs. Marshal Rinova vs Kimbi Manju,” the announcer said.

  The race countdown started

  3

  2

  1

  Rinova launched. The car let out a thunderous roar.

  “Green garbage can.”

  Rinova slammed on the brakes. The flaps went up and down as Rinova cornered.

  Rinova sighed.

  “This is messing up my braking points. Why did Dr. King add this unnecessary upgrade?”

  Manju was following behind while crying to himself. The car rattled as the lawnmover sounding engine was trying to make its way up the rpm range.

  “Whattt? Why is that thing so fast?”

  Inside of Rinova’s calm cockpit.

  I shouldn’t be pushing too hard. I need to learn the track.

  “Rinova! Wait for me!”

  The proximity chat cut out, Rinova was out of range.

  Ten corners in and Rinova’s race car has already disappeared from Manju’s view.

  “Ooo… the Underdogs is not doing too well… Marshal Rinova is ten seconds in front of Kimbi Manju… Rinova is almost at the finish line,” the announcer said.

  Manju was weeping on the team comms.

  “Waaa hahhh…”

  “Man, shut the hell up and finish the damn race!” Zeeker snapped.

  Rinova crossed the finish line.

  3:13.457

  Manju crossed the–

  Wait. He’s coming.

  A couple of seconds.

  There he is.

  Manju crossed the finish line a bit later.

  3:24.236

  “Forefront started the race off with a +11.221 time lead over the Underdogs. Will the Underdogs get an insane comeback in later stints?” the announcer said.

  At the Underdogs’ Pitstop.

  “I don’t know, I forgot.”

  Zeeker blinked.

  “What?”

  “I was too focused on Rinova. I didn’t remember any of the track layout.”

  “You idiot!”

  Manju stretched.

  “Welp, I tried my best.”

  “Guys we should decide who races next…” Traft said.

  Manju patted Zeeker in the back before stepping onto the stack of tires.

  “Whoever votes for Zeeker gets a free second drink from me!”

  Manju smirked at Zeeker.

  “NOOOOOO!”

  Rinova was explaining the track layout to his teammates at the Forefront’s pit stop.

  “Left three followed by a long straight. Stay on the left. Late apex at the antique shop. You can put your foot to the floor exiting, don’t shift to fourth. The next corner will come quic–”

  Proxy stopped Rinova.

  “Woah woah woah– that is way too much information!”

  “I’m following just fine,” Hi-en said.

  “How do you want me to describe the track to you, Proxy?” Rinova asked.

  “Like… What kind of track it is…”

  “It’s a technical track with 2 straights that go into chicanes. You can carry the speed through most corners, minimum braking,” Rinova explained.

  Hi-en got up from a stool.

  “Aight– I’m ready. I’m going next.”

  Hi-en walked past Rinova.

  “Who do you think the other team is picking?” Rinova asked.

  “Does it matter?”

  “Good point.”

  “I feel bad for those guys who have to use SMRI race cars…” Proxy said.

  At the AutoNavy pit stop, the racers stood in a loose circle. Heat shimmered off the asphalt. Engines from other teams rumbled in the distance.

  “Who should go first?” Reiji asked.

  “Who should get to pick who goes first?” Falner replied, arms crossed.

  Reiji looked at him.

  “We have a voting system already. Everyone can vote to decide.”

  Falner shook his head slightly.

  “Is that the best way though?”

  Reiji scanned the group.

  “Thoughts?”

  “Holloway should go first,” Kells said, leaning against the pit wall.

  “No, I think Falner should go first,” Litmus countered.

  “I think Kells going first is the best decision,” Holloway said, adjusting his gloves.

  Falner let out a breath.

  “No one seems to be agreeing on a single thing, Reiji. We can’t make a decision like this.”

  Reiji nodded slowly. “How about we let each person explain their decision?”

  A few of them murmured in agreement.

  “Sure. Yeah, Kells?”

  Kells pushed off the wall.

  “Holloway is the least useful here for winning us time. So, I think he should race first. He can learn the track layout for us, then he’ll actually be helpful to the team.”

  “Hey!”

  Reiji lifted a hand to calm him.

  “What about you, Holloway?”

  Holloway rolled his shoulders.

  “Kells should go. He pisses me off, but I know he’s fast.”

  Litmus stepped forward slightly.

  “But is he the fastest though? I think that’s Falner. That’s why I picked him.”

  “Shouldn’t Falner be our ace card then? Save him for the last stint,” Litmus said.

  Reiji considered it.

  “I agree with Litmus. Falner should go first. He’s consistent. He’ll give us a good start.”

  Falner didn’t hesitate.

  “I’ll go first then.”

  He turned and walked toward the race car.

  “But this voting thing might not work in later stints… I still think we should have only one person decide. It’s more efficient,” Falner said

  Reiji looked back at the group. “Who should get to decide?”

  Falner shrugged. “How about– the person who wins or gets the fastest lap time gets the leader position?”

  Litmus nodded. “That works.”

  Reiji tilted his head. “Hmm…”

  “Best racer gets best voice,” Falner said.

  Falner climbed into the cockpit and pulled the door shut. The race car’s hydraulics hissed as the system pressurized.

  At Boomboom team’s pit stop.

  “I’m going to win the first stint for all of you!” Spark said.

  “Yayyyy!” Jammy cheered.

  “Go get 'em, Spark!” Butter said.

  “I’ll learn the track layout for you guys! I’ll tell you about the track real time on team comms! Each of you just remember a portion of the track!” Spark explained.

  “That’s a great idea, Boomboom!” Comet said.

  Hawaiian sprung up and clapped loudly.

  “Boomboom, you are a genius! Rejoice everyone!”

  Everyone in the Boomboom team cheered.

  “Thanks guys! If we work together we’ll win this! Because we are the Boomboom team!” Spark said.

  “We are the Boomboom team! We are the Boomboom team!”

  At the Gridtech team’s pitstop, Garner was listening closely to the announcement.

  “Off they go! Sicilian Spark and Nile Falner!” the announcer.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “How much time do we have?” Garner asked.

  “Using Rinova lap time as a baseline. We have a bit more than three minutes to decide,” Jett said.

  Garner used a helmet to knock on a barrel to get everyone’s attention.

  “Alright, I’ll make this easy. I will decide, and you will all listen to me.”

  “Why would we listen to you, Garner?” Xavier asked

  “Because I have the most experience here.”

  Potter crossed his arm, leaning on the wall. He chuckled.

  “We have to listen to you because you are the oldest, unc?” Potter said.

  “You little shi–”

  Garner walked toward Potter.

  “Calm down, guys. Potter, I think he meant that he has been in GRS for a long time,” Jett said.

  “Hah… funny hearing advice from two guys who crashed.”

  “This kid–”

  Potter looked at Garner and smirked.

  “Garner, the so-called experienced racer… I myself personally haven’t crashed. Doesn’t this make me better than Caleb Garner?”

  Garner held his helmet up, ready to throw it at Potter’s face

  Jett held Garner’s wrist.

  “I’ll go first. We don’t have to vote,” Jett said.

  “Then what, Coop?” Yudo asked.

  “I’ll make voting irrelevant.”

  At Nexon’s pit stop, the team stood close to the pit wall, helmets tucked under their arms. The track thundered in front of them.

  “Unbelievable! A risky overtake from Sicilian Spark!” the announcer boomed across the Race-zone speakers.

  Gridtech was already lining up.

  Nexi stepped forward. “Mikey’s adaptability is best kept as our ace card. We shouldn’t send him out first.”

  Queens tilted her head. “Noo… if he’s adaptable, he should go first~”

  Karena crossed her arms. “First time I agree with her.”

  Mariton looked at Nexi. “You saw something in him, didn’t you? Trust that. Let him handle it.”

  Karena faced the race car. “Xogic. Start the vote.”

  “Voting initiated,” Xogic replied. “Select the racer for the first stint.”

  “Mikey~,” Queens said immediately.

  “Mariton,” Nexi answered.

  “Mikey Hale,” Karena said.

  “Mikey,” Mariton followed.

  There was a brief pause.

  “Mikey,” Mikey said.

  Xogic beeped.

  “Voting ended. Mikey Hale will race first.”

  The noise of the track rushed back in.

  Nexi looked at him. Her brows lifted slightly. “Mikey…”

  “It’s majority vote, Nexi,” he said. “We have to respect their decision.”

  “They don’t understand how important you are to the team structure…”

  Mikey rolled his shoulders and cracked his fingers, eyes already drifting toward the car.

  “Guess we’ll find out.”

  Falner sat low in the cockpit, hands steady on the wheel. Spark’s car filled his mirrors, glued to his rear bumper.

  Spark’s voice burst through prox chat.

  “At the end of the red building straight there’s a chicane!”

  They entered the chicane together.

  “…anddd you can floor it! No need to slow down!”

  Falner frowned. “Why is this guy talking on prox chat?…”

  NaviCom replied calmly, “No idea, Mr. Falner. I recommend asking him directly.”

  Falner switched to prox chat. “Hey! Spark! What are you talking about?”

  “Oops— my bad! I didn’t know my prox chat was on!”

  Spark’s car drifted wide to the outside.

  “You act so unserious, Spark,” Falner said, eyes forward, “but you are quite something on the race track.”

  “Haha! Thanks, Falner!”

  They ran bumper to bumper down the second straight.

  “I’m curious,” Spark continued, “who will you guys pick for the second stint?”

  “If I get a good time and win this, I’ll decide.”

  “What if you didn’t win, Falner?”

  “Then I’ll let them vote among themselves. I don’t deserve to choose.”

  “Tell me who you’ll pick then.”

  “You will get an advantage then, Spark…”

  “I’ll pick Jammy!”

  Falner exhaled. “Guess it doesn’t matter— I’ll pick Kells.”

  “Ooo… but I want Jammy to fight Reiji next.”

  “Huh? Why Reiji?”

  “He’s fun.”

  Falner stared at the mirror, wondering if Spark was messing with him.

  “It doesn’t matter, Spark. I want Kells on.”

  “Aww man… I can’t let you win then…”

  “Huh?”

  The prox chat cut out.

  The end of the straight rushed toward them. Falner slammed the brakes.

  Spark didn’t.

  “What?” Falner muttered.

  The ABS lights came on.

  He can’t–

  That was already the grip limit.

  Spark threw the car into the corner.

  The rear stepped out violently.

  …

  He caught it, corrected, and powered through.

  “Woooo hooo!”

  “Unbelievable! A risky overtake from Sicilian Spark!” the GRS announcer roared.

  Falner stared ahead, speechless, as Spark pulled in front.

  Spark’s voice crackled back through prox chat.

  “I wanna see Reiji on the wheel! ’Cause he’s the best chance you got!”

  At the starting line, Mikey and Jett waited side by side.

  Jett adjusted his racing gloves.

  “Sup, Gadget.”

  Gadget didn’t respond.

  “Not answering?”

  “I am merely here to assist in driving. Not assist in conversation.”

  “Jeez— that’s an awful way to say ‘hi.’”

  Jett glanced to his side. Mikey sat stiff in his seat.

  “First race ever, Mikey Hale?”

  “Officially… yes.”

  “I’ll go easy this time.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Mr. Cooper. I know who you are— I watched you. It’s against your philosophy.”

  Jett laughed softly. “Haaa… are you sure you don’t want me to help save face?”

  “We are racers after all.”

  Jett smiled.

  The countdown began.

  3

  2

  1

  Inside Mikey’s cockpit, the car launched. It jerked forward violently, shaking before settling. The force pressed him into the seat.

  He gripped the steering wheel tightly. His heart pounded.

  Jett’s car rumbled beside him as they entered the first corner side by side.

  Inside Jett’s cockpit—

  “It’s so weird not having Neo-gen yapping into my ears. Gadget, are you sure you are assisting?”

  “Yes.”

  Jett chuckled.

  “Yep. I knew this already. I felt that power cut the previous corner. You’re not gonna complain about it?”

  “No. Continue.”

  Jett laughed again. “Alright, alright, Gadget.”

  Back in Mikey’s cockpit—

  He followed Xogic’s instructions precisely. His hands trembled slightly. Sweat slipped into his eyes.

  Jett edged ahead.

  On Nexon team comms, Nexi’s voice came through. “Just remember the track, Mikey. No need to stress about Cooper.”

  Mikey exhaled.

  He approached a tight corner. He tried remembering the track, but he was too captivated by it.

  Ah, apex at the green garbage can… but what if I brake late here?

  He braked late and turned hard.

  He exited fast, closing the gap.

  Jett glanced at his mirror and smiled.

  He’s just like me huh, Joanna?

  Xogic beeped.

  “Traction loss detected. Smoother steering inputs incentivised.”

  “Alright…”

  Mikey steadied his steering wheel.

  “Recommended entry speed: 110 kilometers per hour.”

  “I can easily do 130 here!”

  Xogic didn’t respond.

  “How will I carry momentum to overtake Jett otherwise?”

  Silence.

  Mikey eased off throttle, entering at 110.

  Jett checked the mirrors again, to see that he was still the same distance ahead of Mikey.

  “Okay! Nice, Mikey!” Nexi said over comms. “Keep driving those clean lines. You just have to keep listening to Xogic’s suggestions.”

  “Got it.”

  On prox chat, Jett’s voice cut in.

  “How are you doing, Mikey? I wanna see how you race.”

  “I’m racing as you can see.”

  “Are you?”

  “Yeah…”

  “I’m bored trying to remember the track. Let’s dance, Mikey.”

  Jett increased his pace.

  He braked late, staying dangerously close to the barrier. His tires clipped the edges of the road, lifting the inner wheels and tightening his line.

  He checked his rear-view mirror.

  Mikey stayed on clean lines, exactly as Xogic instructed.

  Jett’s expression hardened.

  “Why did Joanna pick you, Mikey?”

  Mikey said nothing.

  “She gotta have seen something in you, man.”

  Mikey's shoulders drooped and his hands slid down the steering wheel.

  “Usefulness… I want to be helpful to the team.”

  “Is that what she saw?”

  Mikey entered the next corner without a screech.

  “What happened to racing, Mikey?”

  Silence.

  “I am racing…”

  Jett shook his head and kept pushing.

  Mikey's eyes were glued to Jett’s red tail lights.

  He was not chasing him.

  Only following him–

  That was the best thing he could do.

  Yup.

  That’s how we can win.

  Jett crossed the finish line 2.320 seconds ahead of Mikey.

  At the AutoNavy pit stop, Falner climbed out of the car and pulled off his gloves. The engine ticked as it cooled.

  “Good work,” Kells said.

  “Not a bad start,” Reiji added. “Falner, are you the team lead now?”

  “+1.438,” Falner replied.

  “That’s pretty good. We can easily come back,” Litmus said.

  “Behind Spark.”

  Kells shrugged. “We all know Spark is pretty fast.”

  “But that’s not what I planned for,” Falner said quietly.

  “I predicted the race wrong. I should not be the one making the decision.”

  Kells nodded once. “Hmmm… alright.”

  “Guess we are voting like normal then…” Litmus said.

  Holloway looked around the group. “Who’s the least likely to lose the next race?”

  “How would we even know?” Kells muttered.

  Falner spoke up. “Their next racer will be Jammy. Spark told me.”

  “She’s an emotional driver,” Kells said.

  “We need someone who can exploit that,” Holloway replied.

  “Reiji can,” Litmus said. “Reiji can read racers’ minds. That’s how he survived the endurance rally race. He’ll know how to beat Jammy.”

  Falner’s eyes widened.

  “HA– haha… You think Reiji should fight Jammy?” he asked, a little too quickly.

  “Yeah. Definitely,” Litmus said.

  “I think it’s a pretty good idea,” Holloway agreed.

  “Why…” Falner asked.

  “What do you mean ‘why’?” Kells frowned. “Reiji can definitely exploit how emotional she is…”

  Falner hesitated. “Why did Spark…”

  “I’ll vote for Reiji,” Kells said.

  “Me too,” Holloway added.

  “Me three,” Litmus said.

  Falner stayed silent.

  Reiji stepped forward. “I can beat Jammy.”

  Falner looked at him. “Why did Spark say… that Reiji is the best choice?”

  “He said that?” Reiji asked.

  Falner nodded.

  “Reiji… you’re right. Spark. He's quite something.”

  Reiji headed toward his race car.

  “You got his attention, Reiji,” Falner said.

  “I’m honoured.”

  Reiji climbed in and started the engine.

  A couple of years ago in District 0, Reiji and Kaito stood beside their cars. An AutoNavy recruiter, Fay, faced them.

  “I want you to reconsider the offer, Reiji, Kaito.”

  “I’m sorry, missus, but we are not leaving this place,” Kaito said.

  “GRS will make you realize how big this world really is, Kaito.”

  Kaito crossed his arms.

  “I want to join GRS,” Reiji said.

  Kaito turned to him, stunned. “What… Reiji, we agreed that we wouldn’t accept being forced out of our home.”

  “Thank you for reconsidering, Reiji. You will both receive an ID right after you arrive at the AutoNavy HQ in District 1. Please pack all of your important belongings for relocati–”

  “We won’t be doing that.”

  Fay stopped.

  “I’m the only one going to GRS. I’ll grab my clothes and toothbrush.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “I will race in GRS like you wanted. Kaito is going to stay here. Our home stays here. I will work with you as long as these conditions are met.”

  “Reiji, you didn’t have to do this…” Kaito said.

  “I do want an ID, Kaito. It’s necessary to exist here.”

  “Understood,” Fay replied. “Kaito may stay. You may return to District 0 after races. From now on, you are working with us, Yamada Reiji.”

  “Reiji, are you really okay with this?”

  “We are underground racers, Kaito. I want to show those GRS racers how good we really are.”

  “Go show them anyone can race,” Fay said.

  “Then I’ll beat them at their own game.”

  Later, Reiji stood outside the GRS Race-zone waiting area, about to enter.

  Inside, voices carried through the doorway.

  “Those two new wildcard racers should not be in GRS,” Yudo said.

  Reiji stopped and stayed behind the door.

  “They don’t belong here,” Potter replied.

  “When GRS starts being more ‘inclusive,’ that’s when I know they stopped respecting racing.”

  “Reiji the ID-less nobody and Jammy the loud idiot. She only races to get noticed.”

  Spark walked past and paused.

  “So what?” Spark asked.

  “Another loud idiot…” Potter muttered.

  “What do you want, Boomboom buddy?” Yudo asked.

  “Why did you say Jammy doesn’t belong?”

  “That girl only races to be seen.”

  “That’s not racing,” Potter added.

  “Who gets to decide what racing is?”

  Potter and Yudo looked at each other.

  “You can decide? Anyone can decide? Then I can decide. If that’s the case, you guys are not racers. Racers gotta have mutual respect in my playbook,” Spark said.

  Spark shoved his hands into his hoodie and walked away.

  “And you guys better start paying attention to that nobody. Reiji is exactly where he belongs.”

  He left the building.

  “Tch— why the hell is that guy talking?” Potter said.

  “Whatever… I’m leaving now,” Yudo replied.

  They walked off.

  Reiji stayed by the door, alone.

  He looked down at his GRS ID card and fidgeted with it.

  Jammy took the lead with a late apex. Reiji stayed tight on an early one. Reiji slipped past her on exit with ease, but Jammy launched out of the corner and latched onto his rear bumper.

  “We got an overtake super early in the lap!” the GRS announcer shouted.

  “I like chasing more,” Jammy said over prox chat.

  Reiji adjusted his rear-view mirror.

  “Reiji, you were real good at surviving.”

  He glanced at her reflection.

  “Not just the endurance race… that last-second cut-off was wild… but GRS in general!”

  Reiji kept the car planted. No feints. No risk. Jammy darted left, then right. Nothing opened.

  “When we both entered GRS, I thought we would be praised by other racers– not ‘any nobody can handle the wheel,’ you know? But guess I was dead wrong. You believe the same thing too, right?”

  “Let’s focus on driving, Jammy.”

  She chuckled.

  “I like you, Reiji. I like your resilience. Your quiet resilience.”

  Jammy drifted wide.

  Reiji cut to the apex, blocking her from slicing in.

  “You are annoyingly passive!”

  She stepped on the gas.

  “Let’s see how long you can survive like this!”

  They entered a long straight. Reiji held the inside. Jammy stayed outside.

  “I know the entire track, Reiji. Your defense will crumble. Right now you are on the wrong line!”

  Reiji hesitated for a split second and braked later.

  The wheels locked briefly.

  He edged over—just enough to take away her nose. Jammy had to lift.

  “How lucky…”

  “You good over there? Is Jammy giving you trouble?” Falner asked over comms.

  “Not yet. I got an idea of how I can keep the position.”

  “Reiji! Let me show you an SMRI party trick!”

  Jammy opened her team comms.

  “Spark, you watching?”

  “Always is!” Spark replied.

  Reiji watched her in the mirror.

  “SMRI, change the tread pattern!”

  “Changing tread pattern. Tread transition mid-corner not recommended.”

  Her tread pattern shifted mid-corner. The rear stepped out.

  “Change tread pattern!”

  It shifted again. Jammy held the car sideways with confidence. She repeated the command. The car refused to grip back up.

  At Nexon’s pit wall, Nexi narrowed her eyes. “She’s exploiting the system… so she can drive her way.”

  Mikey stared at the screen, fascinated.

  Back on track, they dove into a tight hairpin. Jammy’s extra rotation slung her alongside Reiji onto the straight.

  Reiji reclaimed the inside for the next corner, blocking again.

  “I can catch him, I can feel it!” Jammy muttered.

  “They are approaching the finish line! Only a couple of corners to go!” the announcer called.

  Jammy stayed glued to his bumper.

  “Why can’t I get around you? You’re not even pushing.”

  Reiji drifted slightly outward. An invitation. A trap.

  “Alright– Reiji.”

  Jammy dove in early, no brake.

  She cut across his nose.

  “Change tread pattern!”

  She swung the car and floored it. The rear wheels spun freely. The slip slowed her just enough to avoid the barrier. She rode the edge.

  “Jammy took her position back with a drift!” the announcer roared.

  Reiji tucked in behind her.

  “Yes! If I do this, I will get a faster exit speed.”

  Jammy giggled.

  “I learn from your overtake, Spark!”

  “With your own little spin– great job!” Spark replied.

  “Good racing, Reiji!”

  Reiji began pulling alongside.

  Jammy glanced over. Her breath caught.

  “Good racing, Jammy.”

  Reiji’s turbo spooled far louder than before, almost like the engine had been holding back until now.

  He surged ahead and cleared her.

  “What? Oh…”

  Jammy smiled.

  “Dang it. He got me.”

  Reiji crossed the finish line first. Jammy followed.

  “What a confrontational stint! Reiji took his place back from Jammy in the final moments!

  AutoNavy team now takes the lead!”

  At the Boomboom pit, Butter, Comet, and Hawaiian clung to each other, crying.

  “Urghh hurg hhh,” Comet sobbed.

  “We need to avenge her!” Hawaiian declared.

  Spark watched the screen, smiling.

  He turned to his team, still grinning. “Alright, guys. Let’s congratulate Jammy when she comes back. She did her best.”

  “sniff Yes… Spark,” Butter said.

  “Boomboom team wins from losses!” Comet declared.

  “Revenge can always come later!” Hawaiian added.

  At the AutoNavy pit, cheers erupted as Reiji climbed out.

  “Great job, man!” Kells said.

  “Knew I could trust you, dude,” Holloway added.

  “That was very entertaining,” Litmus said.

  “Thanks, guys.”

  Falner stepped forward.

  “How did you do it?”

  Reiji placed his hand on the back of his neck.

  “I was defending with half throttle in the later parts.”

  Falner raised his eyebrows.

  “Why would you do that?”

  “To make her confident enough to race her way.”

  Falner couldn’t hide his smile.

  “Awfully cheeky.”

  Falner placed a hand on Reiji’s shoulder.

  “You deserve to lead our team, Reiji.”

  “I agree,” Kells said.

  “Anyone oppose this?” Holloway asked.

  “Nope. Let Reiji decide who races,” Litmus replied.

  Reiji stayed quiet.

  Falner noticed.

  “What’s the next move, leader?”