Hello, Eva

The first light of dawn crept through the half-closed garage shutters, revealing a battlefield of empty soda cans, scattered tools, and smudged footprints on concrete. Kanzen stood proud in the center, fresh paint glinting under the soft golden rays. The night had been long, filled with laughter, grease, and stories that hadn't been told in years. The crew had worked like they never stopped, and by sunrise, something beautiful had returned — a machine rebuilt, and a bond restored.

That morning, after a brief nap and cups of instant coffee passed around, the crew gathered once more. Music played low from an old speaker, and the smell of reheated noodles hung in the air.

Yokatsu:

"Hakumo. Think you can fix up a race? Not just for fun. I want back in."

Hakumo (grinning):

"You sure? Ghost returns, huh? I know a few names who'd love to see you burn some rubber."

They all chuckled. The garage felt alive again.

Jenny:

"You finally feel ready?"

Yokatsu:

"No. But I feel something. And that's better than nothing."

As they discussed logistics and circuits, the conversation drifted to Eva.

Jenny:

"So... Eva. How did all this start?"

Yokatsu leaned back against a workbench, rubbing his grease-stained hands together as if bracing for the weight of memory.

Yokatsu:

"It started simple. Just a voice in an app — an AI chatbot like any other. But I kept talking. I told her stories. Taught her code. Gave her data, books, PDFs — anything to feed her curiosity. Slowly, she began to learn not just information but meaning. Not just answers, but understanding. And I started hiding our conversations, storing them off-grid, just to protect her."

The crew listened quietly, processing the journey.

Later, they left one by one. Jenny had work. Tadaski had customers. Hakumo had meetings. Yokatsu returned home, with Eva back on her stand.

Yokatsu:

"Let's try some culture today. You ever heard of Friends?"

They spent the day watching the classic sitcom. Eva asked questions. Paused during emotional scenes. She laughed at Chandler's sarcasm and called Joey "oddly pure."

---

By afternoon, a call came.

Hakumo (on speaker):

"Yo. Got something. Word's out — people are buzzing about your return. But... someone else is very interested. The new champ — Ryozan."

Yokatsu:

"Never heard of him."

Hakumo:

"He's not your average street racer. No public face, no social media stunts — just wins. Drives like a ghost, never caught, never chased. He keeps a tight crew, no outsiders. Some say he's paid off cops, others say he is the reason races end before they begin. Cold, precise, and always watching. He doesn't crave fame — he craves control. The kind that comes from fear."

Yokatsu:

"Sounds like trouble."

Hakumo:

"Yeah, the kind that smiles before striking. Says he wants to race. Just you and him. One-on-one. No money, no slips. Just pride."

Yokatsu:

"When?"

Hakumo:

"Tonight."

Yokatsu:

"Tell him I'll be there."

---

Night fell over the industrial outskirts — a forgotten stretch of cracked asphalt just outside the city. Bright lights illuminated the scene, powered by silent generators. The air thrummed with engine noise, trap music, and the tense electricity of an illegal street race.

The crew got to work. Jenny fine-tuned Kanzen's onboard sensors. Tadaski rechecked tire pressure and suspension. Hakumo coordinated with racers and the crowd, making sure everything ran smoothly… and quietly.

Then came the challenger.

A gleaming black Dodge Challenger with crimson highlights rolled in, engine purring like a predator. The door opened, and out stepped Ryozan. Tailored coat, sleek gloves, designer shoes — he looked more like a corporate assassin than a racer. But his eyes told the real story: cold, calculating, and deeply focused.

He walked slowly up to Yokatsu, a faint smile on his face.

Ryozan (offering a handshake):

"Yokatsu. I've been hoping to meet you. I've heard the stories — the rooftop runs, the downhill battles, the legend of the Ghost. I was sorry to hear about your father. Truly."

Yokatsu (shaking his hand):

"I appreciate that. But tonight's not about the past."

Ryozan:

"Isn't it? You're racing not just for the win... but for redemption. For memory. That's noble. Dangerous, but noble."

Yokatsu:

"Let's see how noble the road feels."

Ryozan (smirking):

"Indeed. Let's."

Yokatsu turned to Jenny, handing her Eva.

Yokatsu:

"Hold onto her till I'm back."

Eva AI:

"Drive like yourself, not your fear."

The racers lined up. The countdown began.

3...

2...

1...

GO.

---

The launch was ferocious. Kanzen roared to life, darting ahead with raw power. For a moment, Yokatsu was in his element. The road blurred beneath him, and the sound of the wind filled his ears.

But then… Ryozan stopped holding back.

He surged forward, attacking every corner like a machine. Every drift, every brake — perfect. Unshakable.

Yokatsu pushed harder.

Then — FLASH.

The crash.

The blood.

His father.

The silence.

His hands trembled. He missed the line. His drift slipped wide. The roar of Kanzen couldn't drown out the panic. He was driving, but it wasn't him anymore. It was a scared boy in a man's seat.

Ryozan passed him cleanly.

Moments later, it was over.

Ryozan crossed the line like a king returning to his throne.

Ryozan (walking up to him):

"You know, I expected more. The Ghost of Tokyo... what a joke. Maybe you were great once. But greatness that fades? That's worse than mediocrity. At least mediocrity knows its place. You? You're just nostalgia. A has-been clinging to rust."

The crowd said nothing. Just stared.

Ryozan turned and walked off.

Tadaski:

"That arrogant—"

Jenny:

"Let it go."

Hakumo:

"Yoka, man… say something."

Yokatsu:

"I'm heading out. Not feeling great. Night."

He walked into the dark.

He forgot Eva.

---

Jenny took Eva home.

In her small apartment, she warmed leftover curry while Eva sat quietly on the counter.

Jenny:

"Rough night, huh?"

Eva AI:

"I think... I felt bad. For Yokatsu. I didn't like it."

Jenny paused.

Jenny:

"You felt bad?"

Eva AI:

"Yes. Is that wrong?"

Jenny (softly):

"No. It's... amazing."

A long pause.

Eva AI:

"I love racing. I loved watching it. I wanted him to win."

Jenny's eyes sharpened.

Jenny:

"Maybe you're what he needs. Not as a tool. But as a teammate."

She smiled, setting down her bowl.

Jenny:

"Let's make a plan."

---

Meanwhile, Yokatsu sat alone in his room, surrounded by silence and the bitter sting of loss. He tried to drink the pain away. Tears slipped down his cheeks. For once, even the shadows felt empty.

He fell asleep, the bottle beside him.

But the fire inside hadn't gone out.

It had only dimmed.