#sorry my art keeps SUCKING this could still be way better but i can't overthink things

[bugeyedfreaks]

💥💪💔

[sunarintoes]

Synopsis: Yn Ln is an environmentalist - Miyagi University’s very own campus ‘Green Thumb.’ One day Hinata Shōyō who happens to be a close friend of Yn invites here to come to one of his races. The only problem is that this race of his, is illegal. Read the journey of Yn who has been sucked into the world of illegal street racing with the one goal: to create an eco-friendly race car.

WC: 1.6K

Masterlist

0.1 - The Block

It has been a full week since you first watched an illegal car race, a week since you became a part of that crew... a week since you joined the beginning of a revolution. Shōyō promised to pick you up once again at 10:00pm. This time you wore slightly different clothes, they were in your comfort zone and they worked in the racing scene.

A few curt knocks come from behind your door and once you open it you are met with a smiling Shōyō and Sugawara. ‘Ready for your first official night in the Karasuno crew?’ Asks Sugawara, you nod eagerly as you follow them out the door and towards the car.

‘This is my humble car, hope it’s not too underwhelming compared to all the race cars.’ Sugawara’s car is not humble in any way, shape or form. It is a dark as night Mazda RX7.

‘This is your car? Shōyō used it to pick me up last week.’

Shōyō let out a small giggle, ‘about that… I wanted to surprise you so picking you up in my GTR would kinda ruin it.’

‘Aren't these cars expensive? For crying out loud! How’d you get them from illegal street racing?’

‘Well for one, we get heaps of money doing it. People really like bidding and gambling. Two, what you saw last week was not exactly street racing, it was drag. The real competitions are done on the street.’

You don’t reply, instead opting to give a sound of understanding. The car ride is quiet and serene, no noise besides the hum of the car engine and the quiet beats of the low-fi music playing. It is now 11:00 pm and it looks as if the whole world were dead. Sugawara’s RX7 is the only thing that seemingly moves in the dimly lit streets of Miyagi. The moon is bright tonight, almost full. Sometimes all it takes is something small and insignificant to remind you of how magical and ethereal the world really is. You wonder why the boys are so quiet, last time Shōyō chatted your ear off. Maybe there is going to be some tough competition this time round, but it’s only a practice race, right? Maybe you are overthinking things. They probably are just appreciating the night sky or the empty roads which allowed Sugawara to speed ever so slightly.

✄.

As soon as you arrive you notice the venue has a lot more people than last time - racers and spectators alike. ‘Last Wednesday was Karasuno only for no particular reason. Seijoh, Dateko and Shiratorizawa all had a day each as well. It was kinda random. But this week we’re all here.’

‘Including the small fry who don’t really stand a chance, you’ll learn the rules soon enough,’ Sugawara smiles and gives a thumbs up, you reciprocate the action and then the three of you walk to the Karasuno garage.

To say it was lively was an understatement. ‘What’s all this fuss for?’

‘He’s back! The Grand King of Racing is back!’ Shouts a bald guy - one of the ones you have yet to meet. At the mention of this so-called ‘Grand King’, Shōyō visibly straightens up. Is he really that good?

‘Umm, sorry to interrupt but who is this Grand King figure?’

‘Oh! Yn you’re here, good. I’ve had Yachi create an info booklet on everything you need to know. You can read that while we’re prepping for tonight’s race,’ says Daichi.

‘Oh thank you! Good luck everyone, uh I’ll be cheering you on!’ Yachi hands you the booklet and a chorus of thank you’s follow as Sugawara and you were ushered out of the garage.

✄.

Once you and Sugawara take your seats - at the very front bleachers, you decide you would read up on the booklet another day. You instead want to use this time to become more acquainted with Sugawara. ‘So you’re pretty close with all of them at Karasuno, why aren’t you a racer? Or at least something to do with it?’

‘Well for starters Daichi and I grew up together, we’ve been best friends forever. I went to high school with Hinata, Kageyama, Asahi, Tanaka and Noya. Then there’s Yachi, Shimizu, Tsukkishima, Yamaguchi, Ennoshita, Kinnoshita and Narita. They came later on. They’re all great guys and girls. I have a lot of stories with all of them,’ he pauses and lets out a low hum. ‘I was never cut out for racing. I work to look after the Karasuno finances though.’

Just as you were about to reply, the screams of girls fill your eardrums. Why are they so loud? ‘Those are Oikawa’s fans. He might as well be a real celebrity.’ You let out a small laugh at the unamused tone his words held.

‘You’re not a fan huh?’

‘No, I can’t stand that guy! He’s amazing! But we have great players too y’know?’

Oikawa’s car is beautiful, a shining white Chevy Corvette with pale turquoise leaf art. Although it is slightly obnoxious. After all, who races illegally with a white car let alone one with a paint job that glows in the headlights of other cars? In your eyes only an idiot would. Still, you couldn’t help but wonder what this Oikawa looks like. He’s supposed to be God-like right? Otherwise why else would he have so many admirers?

The siren that declares that ‘all cars must get into position’ breaks you out of your thoughts. There are nine cars, two you can recognise from Karasuno.

‘In tonight’s line up we have Captain Daichi and Tanaka from Karasuno! Captain Oikawa and Iwaizumi from Seijoh! Captain Futakuchi and Aone from Dateko! Hayato from Tokonami! Captain Yoshiki from Ohgiminami! And Kazuki from Tsubakihara!’ The area that was dead silent through the announcement suddenly erupted in cheers from spectators. They all moulded together into loud screams, all but one that is. The only clear word - or should you say name - that came over the top of everything else was none other than Oikawa. Everything else was lost in a sea of screams

Tonight’s flag girl walks to the middle of the track and the crowd’s rowdiness only increases. She waves her flag on the way to the lookout and after climbing up she grabs a hold of the megaphone and shouts ‘On your marks… get set.. go!!’ And down went her flag. Without missing a beat all cars zoomed away.

Sure enough, Oikawa is better than the rest. Easily taking the lead and being able to maintain a good speed. The other driver from Seijoh - Iwaizumi you think his name is, is close behind Oikawa. Now you understand why the top four were called the top four. They are exactly that. The other three drivers stand no chance in a race against them. It is cruel, really.

After coming back from dreamland you see Tanaka stuck behind Aone. It looks as if he purposefully moved in front of Tanaka, blocking him from being able to accelerate past and get in the lead. Futakuchi on the other hand was beginning to close in on Iwaizumi with Daichi close behind him.

‘Dateko specialise in blocking, their strategies typically consist of a blocker and a runner. A blocker is what Aone is doing, keeping a steady pace still in the front lines but preventing the opposition from getting in front. For Tanaka to have to deal with that means he’ll be under a lot of pressure and potential guilt. A runner is basically a driver going as fast as they can to the finish line and not having to deal with as many opponents because their teammate, the blocker, has them all held up.’

‘Is Dateko the only team that uses this technique?’

‘No, but they're the only ones to have mastered it. The technique itself is called the Block and Run. A runner has to be a pro at quick turns and have incredibly fast reflexes. They’re like a cheetah in a sense. A blocker has to be strong and tactical, think of them like some sort of gorilla maybe? Put the two together and you get an unlikely but strong team.’

‘I’m sorry I still don't really understand, how does one get stuck behind a block?’

‘Well part of the runner’s job is to lure the competition, often riling them up before or in game so that they’re getting chased or competed with. This means that the opponents eyes and mind are more focused on the runner than anything else, allowing the blocker to overtake and begin blocking. Once the driver realises they are being blocked, they panic a little and don’t notice the runner speeding off into the distance.’

You silently stare in awe. The race is almost over but you can’t help but respect the drivers. A tactic like that would have taken months, if not - years to perfect. You look over to Sugawara, ‘Why is Oikawa the Grand King?’

‘Because he’s good at what he does. An all rounder, he acts as both a mechanic and a driver. It’s hard to believe he's no genius, just a regular, hard worker.’

‘Is that why everyone was freaking out over Oikawa coming back?’

‘No. He hasn’t raced in about a month - well not that I know of. Good to see he’s as good as ever… I guess.’ You chuckle at Sugawara’s deflated tone.

‘And we have a winner! Captain Oikawa, the Grand King!’ The crowd goes wild as he celebrates in a victory lap.

After all the cars finish, they line up once more at the start line and step out of their vehicles. That is when you see him and you can't say you blame him for being as popular as he is. Oikawa is beautiful, ethereal even. His presence holds such poise and elegance even as he is covered in sweat and clad in racer gear, helmet resting under his arm. Seeing this, seeing him, you could only imagine how wonderful his personality could be. Did he like reading? Did he like tea or coffee? How did he like his eggs in the morning?

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