MF GHOST (MFゴースト)

No.

All the cars that passed me...

I need to pass them again...

before this race ends.

Over.

My sweet little Kanata's gone all bad boy on me.

MF Ghost

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Fireball

Here at the start-finish line, the leaders are completing another lap.

It's Beckenbauer in the 12 and Sawatari in the 4.

They start their fourth lap.

And alone in third is Akaba in the 2 car.

Am I the only one who thinks the music made by the Ferrari is getting louder over time?

The rest of the top-placed cars now enter their fourth lap.

In fourth, it's Ishigami in the 1 car. In fifth, it's Moroboshi in the 885.

This is a fierce clash between a former champ and an up-and-comer.

Behind them, it's Oishi in sixth, Yanagida in seventh,

Maezono in eight, and—Whoa!

A red car has appeared behind the 13 car! It's the 86!

What's this?

The gap separating these two was previously at seven seconds.

But in the transition from the peninsula to the inland roads, the 86 suddenly closed up!

Kanata.

There's something visceral about the smell of burning rubber.

I'm not sure I've ever been stationed so close to the course before.

He's taking those curves at incredible speeds in spite of how narrow the roads are.

MFG drivers really are amazing, Kanata.

What was it Kyoko-san said during the opener?

Romance isn't just about fun. There's plenty of hurt involved, too.

She was so right about that. I never knew how pitiful jealousy could make you feel.

But you can't develop as a person if you're afraid of getting hurt.

But if I avoid things because they're hard, I won't develop as a person.

And I've been avoiding something really important.

I'm an MFG Angel, but I haven't told Kanata.

I'll tell him. When this race is over, I need to tell him.

Is the 86 car going on the attack?

It's clear he's going too fast, but his tires are holding their grip as he turns.

Is the asphalt you're driving on different somehow?

How the hell are you doing that when the laws of physics are supposed to be universal?

He moves up!

The 86 regains some of the ground it lost!

Watch out, Takuya! The 86 is coming for you!

What? I thought he had transmission trouble.

I don't know the details, so I can't explain it,

but he's hurtling through like a fireball.

Don't do anything crazy, but keep him behind. Over.

Keep him behind? Are you serious?

Around the outside again?

Are all the rookies this year insane?

You've gotta be kidding me. If his tires are sliding like that,

shouldn't he have zero grip by now?

And he takes off!

After passing the 13 car, he overhauls the 6 in mere seconds!

A stunning display of power.

The 86 moves up another place!

That's gotta be rough.

It's none of my business, but I hope this won't traumatize you, Yanagida-kun.

He's absolutely off the leash! A regular red bullet!

Is he in the "zone" or something?

I don't think we've ever seen this kind of fighting spirit from Katagiri Kanata before!

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

Katagiri Kanata

I'm glad Katagiri-kun's doing better again.

And now for a chat with Mami-chan. What are your plans for the summer break?

Nothing at the moment, but...

I don't have a lot of money, and everywhere's so expensive.

So I'll probably just take it easy at a local café.

That's so boring. Plus, it feels like a waste of your trademark dynamite body.

What can I say? Even if I buy a cute swimsuit, I have no one to show it off to right now.

Sorry if that's boring.

We now go to the group battling for 11th in the Black and White section.

In the 16, it's Yashio.

In the 18, it's Kitahara.

And in the 9, we have Aiba.

This next right is where you make your move, Shun.

Ease up as you go in,

then as you take the tighter line, go full throttle before the other two can!

Let's do it.

Looking good, Shun!

You'll make good time down this straightway.

Don't view it as passing individual cars. You've got to pull in front of both. Over.

Right.

Bro, this doesn't look good. The 9's really picking up speed.

I know. Get in close, Nozomi. Don't let him sneak in between us.

Damn. That GTR really is fast.

Good work, Shun!

Keep it up in Eau Rouge! Test your mettle with a battle on the brakes!

With the stability it has even at high speed, the GTR should be able to stand up to any car.

That Alfa and Lotus are no match for it!

Don't forget, Shun! Your car is the best in the world: the Nissan GTR!

And through goes the 9!

He jumped up two positions in an instant!

The Kamikaze Outlaw is finally getting all fired up!

Aiba Shun

That's the way.

Looking good out there, Aiba Shun.

And now, a question for Big Sis Kyoko.

What are your plans for the summer break?

I'm not doing anything special over summer. I usually just go out for drinks.

And that's all?

That's right. Every day.

Aw, come on, Big Sis.

You're the leader of the Angels. You've gotta go with something more glamorous than that.

But it's unbearably hot, no matter where you go.

Well, of course. It's summer.

Guess they're pretty normal in their private time, huh?

We go back to the 86 car, which has just negotiated the hairpin.

He's rapidly gaining speed with no signs of slowing down!

Without doubt, he now has the use of second gear when shifting up.

But this brings into question why he was lagging behind earlier in the race.

How should we interpret this change, Akiyama-san?

I'm not sure.

I can't even give you a theory at the moment.

It'd be better to ask him directly once the race is over.

You doing okay, Kanata?

No problem.

Your arm isn't hurting? Over.

I feel no pain at all.

What the hell is going on?

I think I've seen something like this on TV before.

Maybe that's what this is? His brain releasing endorphins or whatever?

I've heard of that kind of thing before.

But this feels like something else.

Endorphins can't completely override pain that strong.

If they could blank it out entirely in spite of the damage done to the body,

something like that could potentially lead to taking fatal risks.

So I don't think that's what this is.

And here's the battle for fourth!

The 1 and the 885 are in an intense tussle for dominance.

Ishigami, the beleaguered top dog, refuses to give way to the rookie, Moroboshi.

Ishigami-kun can be pretty calculating in these situations.

You might describe him as a particularly tall hurdle.

He has some awesome traction.

I always figured the Matsumoto Concept Supra was the best,

but I'm one step behind in every phase.

It has awesome braking, too. I don't see a single gap in his armor.

I won't get anywhere with my regular driving style.

I'll find a way past in the peninsula section.

And the 2 car makes its move!

Akaba Kaito is turning up the wick!

Up in the lead, Beckenbauer is maintaining a conservative pace.

I get the feeling he may have some issue with pushing to the limit.

And because he's taking it so steady, the 2's taking advantage and homing in!

Akaba's joining us?

Good. I can use this.

The last piece I needed for my puzzle has just fallen into place.

Behind them is the group in fourth.

The rampaging rookie seems to be finding the 1 car difficult to pass.

The peninsula section is very stop-and-go.

He likely can't find a way past the GT3 due to its powerful traction and braking.

In spite of that, both are zipping along at a blazing pace.

It's clear to see things are starting to move up and down the field.

And as the race heats up, let's check in on the car at the heart of it all: