The team went to listen to the manager as Ghazali rallied them up. The manager began delivering a team talk for tomorrow's race.

  "Alright crew, tomorrow's the big day and we have a huge advantage over our competition since we occupied pole position and 4th position." The manager said.

  Everyone there clapped their hands and cheered. As it settles down, the manager continues his speech.

  "There would be 20 laps of the Akinabalu circuit and it would be an enduring race for us. There's a mandatory pit stop before the 10th lap so I want the pit crew to maintain total focus and be prepared once the drivers pit." The manager told the pit crew.

  "For our drivers, it would especially be more enduring for you two so get well rested for tomorrow. I also want to see both of you after this alright?" The manager told them.

  Alice and Sugimoto nodded their heads. The manager continued for a bit more, thanking everyone for working hard today until he wrapped up his speech.

  "Alright, that's all from me, go home and be prepared for tomorrow. Drivers, please follow me." The manager said to them.

  Sugimoto and Alice follow the Manager into his office where he pulls out his whiteboard and begins drawing some scribbles.

  "Alright drivers. This is some of the strategy for tomorrow's race." The manager said as he finished scribbling.

  The whiteboard consists of a few strategies such as drafting, pitting strategy, and fuel consumption strategy.

  "I was expecting we would be in the top 10 in the qualifiers but you both did better than I expected so I had to resort to some minor changes. Alice, I want you to try to maintain your position behind Richard's car until you both go for the mandatory pit stop." The manager told her.

  "Stay behind Richard? But I want to pass him!" Alice said with confidence.

  "No, that would just be a waste of fuel. I've talked to Ghazali and he said we should use a low-fuel strategy so the car would be less heavy. I want you to stay behind him and maximize the use of his slipstream until pitting for a mandatory pit stop. Follow this and I am certain victory is in our hands." The manager told her.

  Alice reluctantly nods after hearing she couldn't pass Richard.

  "So what's after that chief?" Sugimoto asked the manager.

  "After you both pit 2 laps early in the race, we have to wait at least 4 minutes so I want Alice to follow you as soon as you exit the pit lane." The manager explained.

  The two of them nod agreeing to the pit strategy.

  "Now for drafting. Alice, I want you to stick as closely to Sugimoto and use his slipstream and draft so you guys can catch up to the leaders after the early pit. Got it?" The manager asked.

  "Yes sir, I'll try to stick to it as close as I can." Alice said and nodded.

  "Good. If everything went according to plan, we would most likely get first and second place if nothing went wrong, " the manager told them.

  "You're quite optimistic huh chief?" Sugimoto teased him.

  "Don't ruin this moment Sugimoto, it's been a long time since I felt like this." The manager said and chuckled.

  "Alright, that's all for tonight, go get some rest and prepare mentally and physically for tomorrow's race alright?" The manager told them.

  Sugimoto and Alice nods and exits his office. They went to the break room, gathered their stuff, and walked toward the exit.

  "S-Senpai?" Alice said as she tucks his shirt.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Yeah, what's up?" Sugimoto asked.

  "I-If it isn't a burden, can you drive me home tonight, I forgot the bus leaves early on Sundays." Alice told him.

  Sugimoto smiles and gives her a head pat.

  "Sure thing kid." Sugimoto told her.

  "Oi, no head pats!" Alice pushes his hand off her.

  They exited the building and entered Sugimoto's car and they drove off. While they were at the stop light, Alice had been meaning to ask Sugimoto something.

  "S-Senpai, I got something to ask you about." She said shyly.

  "Sure, go ahead." Sugimoto replied.

  "How are you so good at driving?" Alice asked curiously.

  "What do you mean, I'm not that good at racing." He said and chuckled.

  "Don't act like you literally didn't just get pole position tonight Senpai." She said as she got annoyed by his casual response.

  "If you want to know, I used to drive with a great driver when I was young. Sure the academy taught me the basics of skillful driving but he was the one who truly taught me how to push my boundaries." Sugimoto told her.

  "I see, so that person is probably a good driver like you huh?" Alice told him.

  "N0, that person was the greatest." Sugimoto revealed to her.

  Alice appears content with the answer, but now she wonders who this great mentor is and decides to ask about them.

  "So who were they-" Alice said but didn't finish her sentence.

  Alice notices him wiping his tears away as he grips the steering wheel a bit hard. Alice decided not to push further.

  "Ah sorry kid, I didn't mean for you to see this mess." He said as he wiped his tears and chuckled.

  "N-no worries, it's fine. I guess he was a great mentor for you." Alice replied to him.

  Sugimoto dropped her off at home, said goodbye, and drove away. She entered the house and noticed her grandpa standing by the door, waiting for her to return.

  "G-Grandpa what are you doing up this late?" Alice asked.

  "So how did your qualifiers go, sweetie?" Her grandpa asked her.

  "It went well, I got 4th position for tomorrow's race!" She exclaimed excitedly.

  "Ah, that's good news! I'm glad I didn't sleep early today." He told her.

  "Yep, but you should get some rest gramps, it's important that you don't die on me just yet." Alice said as she teased him.

  "Rude coming from a youngster, but I guess it can't be helped huh?" He said as he reluctantly accepted it.

  "Just kidding Grandpa." She said and kissed her grandpa's forehead.

  "You should also get some sleep for tomorrow. I'll contact your school tomorrow so you can get the day off, alright?" Her grandpa told her.

  "You would? Thanks, Grandpa!" She told him and smiled

  She took a shower and changed into her pajamas, she went to lie on the bed and began blankly staring at the ceiling and feeling mesmerized by today's qualifiers.

  "I really did great too huh?" She thought to herself.

  She began overthinking about tomorrow's race and all the possible outcomes that could lead to getting an early retirement from racing.

  "What if I fail to meet the manager's expectations? What if I didn't meet the team's expectations? What if I get kicked out from the team?" She thought to herself.

  "Damn it, I should not be thinking about this! Time to actually sleep." She said to herself and hit her head.

  She soon went to sleep peacefully that night. The next morning, she caught the early bus and went to the circuit. She then began her early morning jog around the parking lot. There, she noticed the manager who had just arrived and was about to enter the main building until Alice went to greet him.

  "Morning manager!" Alice said as she approached him.

  "Morning Alice, quite an early jog today huh?" The manager said to her.

  "Yep, gotta get ready for tonight's race right?" She said with a confident tone.

  "Good to hear that, it's not common for teenagers these days to work out this early in the day." He told Alice.

  Alice nodded and then suddenly got an idea.

  "Hey Manager, why don't you join me for a jog?" She asked the manager.

  "I'll pass on that offer, I'm not like what I used to be." He kindly refused her offer.

  "Come on manager, I heard jogging is good for old people." Alice told him.

  "O-Old?" The manager muttered to himself.

  Alice accidentally struck a nerve and the manager ran inside and quickly came back out. He changed into his sports attire consisting of a headband, sunglasses, a singlet, shorts, running shoes, and MP3 earphones.

  "I'M NOT OLD!" He screamed into the air.

  The manager began running around the parking lot and accidentally left Alice behind.

  "M-Manager wait up!" Alice tried to call him but he couldn't hear her.

  "What's up with the chief?" Sugimoto asked while standing right beside her.

  Alice squeals from Sugimoto suddenly appearing out of nowhere.

  "What is wrong with you Senpai!?" She scolds him.

  "Didn't mean to haha." He said and chucked

  "So what's up with him?" Sugimoto asked curiously.

  "I asked him if he wanted to go jogging, I didn't think he would go to this extent." She told him.

  "I see, I guess he's really going at it then." Sugimoto told her.

  They both watched as the manager exited the gate from the Akinbalu circuit and onto the sidewalk where he continued his jog. As they watched the manager walk into the distance, an idea sprung from Alice.

  "Hey Senpai, since you're here, might as well-" She spoke until she opened her eyes.

  Alice noticed that Sugimoto had vanished into thin air, She looked around and saw Sugimoto running towards the door, disappearing as he entered.

  "Jeez, what's wrong with this team." Alice said feeling a bit disappointed.

  Alice continued her jog and finished 30 minutes later, she later met up with the team and entered the break room. The manager continues jogging, proving to himself that he's not that old. He later came back to the circuit 3 hours later.