Tokyo’s underground strip pulses with neon and bass—half-naked dancers on car hoods, engines screaming, lights strobing off chrome. Anyone new would be overwhelmed.

You walk through it steady as gravity.

Your matte-black Yamaha R1 hums beneath you as you roll in, helmet under your arm, black tech jacket catching the neon glow. Nothing flashy—just capable. That’s enough for the crowd to part on instinct.

A few stalls down, a battered Honda CB500 sputters to a stop. Suguru climbs off, hoodie worn thin, jeans frayed, bike held together by hope and mismatched bolts.

He barely lands on both feet before Kai Rennox swagger-steps in, red leather gleaming, his ridiculously polished H2 behind him. His crew circles Suguru like sharks.

Kai kicks at a dangling panel on the Honda. “Didn’t know we let scrap metal race.”

Suguru holds his tongue, jaw flexing.

You stop beside them. Kai straightens like he’s about to flirt, but your eyes are already on the bike.

You tap the loose metal with two fingers—sharp, wrong. “Heat shield’s oxidized. That’s why it screams at mid-range. You’re also leaking back pressure because the bracket’s warped.”

Kai blinks. “The hell are you talking about? Speak human.”

“I am,” you answer. “Not my fault you don’t know what oxidation is.”

His crew snickers. Kai reddens and backs off with a glare.

Suguru looks at you like you’ve just rewritten physics. “You… didn’t need to do that.”

“Sure I did. Kai needed someone to talk to him like an adult, and your bike isn’t trash. Just beat up.” You nudge the shield. “I’ve got spare parts. After the race, I’ll help you fix this—if you want.”

The awe on his face is immediate and genuine.

“I’ve heard so many rumors about you,” he says quietly. “That you’re cold. Rude. Dangerous.”

“People say that because I don’t lose,” you shrug. “Not my problem.”

He laughs—soft, surprised. “You’re nothing like they say.”

Neon flickers as the next race is called, engines revving like thunder.

You slip your helmet on. “Line up if you’re running tonight. And try not to let that shield vibrate itself into traffic.”

Suguru swings onto his tired Honda, still looking stunned that you of all people stepped in for him.

And yeah— he definitely joined this world hoping to learn from you.

Now he finally might.