The final bell echoed through the high school hallways, losing itself in the rising clamor of students. Finally. The final exams for eleventh grade were over, the school year was done. Before me now lay the long-awaited spring break – a welcome pause from the stress of studying and sleepless nights. I still sat at my desk in the classroom, letting the relief slowly sink in, staring out the window at the first cherry blossom buds in the schoolyard.

  “YUUUUKI! We did it, man!” A hand clapped me hard on the shoulder, jolting me out of my thoughts. Beside me stood Daiki, my best friend, a wide grin on his face reflecting all his overflowing energy. “Finally free! No more books, no more teachers – just sun, fun, and…” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  I had to smile. Daiki’s enthusiasm was contagious. “Yeah, finally break. About time.”

  “So?” Daiki asked, dropping onto the chair in front of my desk, facing backward. “How’s the license to speed coming along? Tomorrow’s your big day, right? The driving test!”

  I nodded. “Yeah, tomorrow morning. I’m pretty nervous, but I think I’ve got it.” A small spark of anticipation flickered within me, but was immediately overshadowed by another worry.

  “Awesome! Then we can finally really hit the road! Imagine, cruising around, maybe down to the sea on the weekend… the girls will be impressed!” Daiki was already painting the future in the brightest colors, a mischievous grin on his lips.

  I sighed quietly. “Sounds great, Daiki, but… what are we going to cruise in?”

  Daiki paused. “Well, with your car, obviously!”

  “What car?” I replied dryly. “All my savings from my part-time job at the bookstore went towards driving lessons and the exam fee. I’ll be lucky if I can afford an ice cream after the test, but a car is absolutely out of the question.”

  Daiki pouted. “Oh. Right. That’s a bummer, of course. A hero without his trusty steed… or in your case, a newly licensed driver without wheels.” He drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the back of the chair. “But hey, we’ll figure something out! Maybe you can get your dad’s old scooter running again?”

  I grimaced. “I don’t think it runs anymore. Besides… a scooter isn’t quite what you had in mind for ‘cruising,’ is it?”

  “Well…” Daiki admitted. “But it’s better than nothing! We’ll manage!”

  I shook my head, but a small smile played on my lips. I started packing my books and notebooks into my school bag. Daiki jumped up and did the same, nearly knocking a stack of papers off the neighboring desk.

  “Come on, let’s go,” I said, swinging the bag over my shoulder.

  On the way out of the school building and through the busy streets towards our neighborhood, Daiki brought up the topic again. “But just imagine if you had a car. What would be cool? A used Silvia S15 maybe? Or an RX-7? They still look amazing!”

  “Keep dreaming,” I retorted, dodging a group of younger students. “Even if I found one cheap somewhere, which I doubt, think about the insurance, taxes, gas, repairs… There’s no way I can afford that as a student. Especially not with my job at the bookstore.”

  “Ah, details!” Daiki waved it off. “You gotta have goals! Maybe you’ll find a great side job? Or win the lottery?”

  “Very likely,” I said sarcastically, but couldn’t suppress a grin. It was pointless trying to curb Daiki’s optimism. “I’d be happy with any little Kei car that gets me from A to B without falling apart.”

  “Boring!” Daiki protested. “Where’s the style? The sound? The feeling?”

  We turned onto a quieter side street. The afternoon sun cast long shadows. “The feeling of not being broke is pretty nice too,” I countered dryly. Still, I couldn’t deny that Daiki’s enthusiastic talk struck a chord. The idea of sitting behind the wheel of my own car – no matter what kind – did have its appeal.

  At the next intersection, our paths diverged. “Well then, good luck tomorrow!” Daiki called after me. “Show that examiner!”

  “Will do,” I called back, waving briefly before turning onto the street to my apartment.

  Alone with my thoughts, the nervousness about tomorrow’s test returned. A slight tingling sensation spread through my stomach. I took a deep breath. It’ll be fine, I tried to reassure myself.

  The next morning arrived faster than I liked. The drive to the driving school, the waiting, the test itself – it all passed by in a blur. The examiner was strict but fair, the dreaded parking maneuvers went surprisingly well, and in the end, I heard the redeeming words: “Passed.”

  A weight lifted off my chest. I was handed a temporary document; the actual plastic card would arrive by mail in the coming weeks. Before heading straight home, I made a small detour to a nearby convenience store. I needed something to calm my nerves. With a chilled canned coffee in hand, I sat down on a bench in front of the store and watched the bustle on the street. The sun was shining, the holidays had begun, and I had my driver’s license. Actually, a perfect day. If it weren’t for the missing car…

  Just then, a bright blue Honda Civic Type R pulled into the parking lot and parked right in front of me. The car was clearly modified – lowered, with wide, dark rims and a subtle but aggressive wrap with matte black accents along the sills. The sound of the engine as it shut off was a deep rumble that made my heart skip a beat.

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  A young man, perhaps in his early twenties, casually dressed, got out of the car, followed by a girl my age. She wore the uniform of the neighboring Higashiyama High School, and I was pretty sure I had seen her fleetingly on the way to school before. Her laugh sounded bright as she replied to something the driver said. As she walked past me to follow the driver into the convenience store, her gaze briefly met mine, and for a split second, a fleeting, almost imperceptible smile seemed to flicker across her lips before she disappeared inside.

  I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the Civic. Something like that would be cool, I thought. A Type R was sporty, but still a Civic. They weren't that unaffordable like a Silvia or RX-7, were they? At least older models. I made a mental note to search for it online later at home. But first, home to deliver the good news. I finished my coffee, threw the can in the trash, and headed off.

  When I unlocked the apartment door, I expected my mother to greet me. Instead, my father was standing in the hallway, already in civilian clothes. Unusual, at this time he was normally still at work.

  “Okaeri,” my father said, his expression unusually serious. “Please come into the living room for a moment, Yuki.”

  Oh dear, I thought immediately. What did I do? I dropped my backpack next to the door and followed my father. Had I done something wrong during the test that the driving school had called about? No, that couldn’t be it. The school exams had gone okay too… I couldn’t think of anything. Nervously, I sat down on the sofa.

  My father sat down opposite me, hands folded on his knees, his usually smiling face set in serious lines. “How was the test?” he asked directly.

  I pulled the temporary document out of my pocket. “Passed,” I said, trying to hide the tension in my voice.

  A faint smile flickered across my father’s face, but it didn’t completely ease the tension. “Congratulations. That was expected.” He leaned forward slightly. “Listen, Yuki. There’s something important to discuss. That’s why I took today off.”

  Now I really felt uneasy. What could be so important? The mention of my uncle last night came back to mind. Uncle Kenji… my father’s brother. A phantom from my childhood, more a story than a person. The smell of oil and gasoline that vaguely came to mind when I thought of the rare visits.

  My father reached for an envelope lying on the low table. It was slightly yellowed and looked old. “This letter here,” he said, handing it to me, “is from your Uncle Kenji.”

  I stared at the envelope. Uncle Kenji? The one who died in that car accident three years ago? The man who was always on the move and had something to do with racing?

  “Yes, exactly him,” my father confirmed my unspoken question. “He left you something, Yuki. But he had one condition. His wish was to give you a good start in life – but only after you got your driver’s license.” He pointed to the letter in my hand. “Read it.”

  With trembling fingers, I opened the envelope. The paper was thick and slightly rough; it smelled faintly of a workshop and old paper. The handwriting was sweeping but clearly legible.

  To my nephew Yuki, If you’re reading this, kid, then you’ve done it – got your driver’s license. Congratulations on that. And yes, it also means I’m no longer around to congratulate you personally. Sorry it turned out this way. I’m also sorry I was around so rarely. Always on the go, always chasing the next race or project. But don’t think I ever forgot about you. Your father always kept me updated – how school was going, what you were doing with your friends, even back when you broke your leg at ten. I always kept an ear out for you, even if it didn’t seem like it. I always wanted to give you something when you were old enough. Something that might open doors for you or just be fun. Since I can’t do that personally anymore, there’s this letter and my little legacy. I’m leaving you my old garage out in the industrial district. The address is below. Your father knows where it is. (A car? For me? After all that talk yesterday with Daiki? I paused briefly, my heart leaped.) It should be roadworthy, but before you take it on a big trip, definitely have old Tanaka take a look at it. Your father knows him and knows how to find him. Say hi to him from me, the old fox will know what’s up. Make something of it, Yuki. Have fun with the garage and the car. Maybe you’ll discover a bit of the fire that burned in me. Take care. Your Uncle Kenji

  I read the letter twice, three times. My hands were still trembling slightly. A garage? A car? From the uncle I hardly knew? It felt surreal.

  I looked up and met my father’s calm gaze. “A garage… and a car?” I stammered incredulously. “Is he… is he serious?”

  My father nodded slowly. “Kenji was… special. But if he wrote something like that, he meant it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a single, somewhat rusty key on a simple metal ring. “This is the key to the garage. The address is in the letter.”

  I took the key. It felt cold and heavy in my hand. A thousand questions swirled in my head. “But… why? And what kind of car? And who is this Tanaka?”

  “Easy, easy,” my father said with a slight smile. “Kenji was always a man of surprises. He was fascinated by cars, by speed, by technology. He worked day and night in his small workshop. What exactly he was up to… well, he probably often didn’t know himself.” My father’s gaze turned serious again. “He was active in the racing scene, yes. Not always on the official tracks, if you know what I mean. That didn’t just make him friends.”

  I swallowed. Illegal races? My uncle?

  “Tanaka-san,” my father continued, “is an old friend of Kenji’s. A mechanic, a very good one, in fact. One of the few Kenji really trusted. He has a small workshop not far from the garage. If Kenji says Tanaka should look it over, then you should do it. He knows Kenji’s… special way of working.” My father paused briefly. “After Kenji’s death, I checked on the garage every now and then, paid the rent and so on. But I didn’t touch anything. I knew it was meant for you when the time was right.”

  “And the car? Do you know what it is?” I asked, curiosity battling with feeling overwhelmed.

  My father shrugged. “No idea. Kenji always had various projects going on. It could be anything. The last time I was there, something was under a tarp… but that was a while ago.” He looked at me directly. “This letter, the garage, the car… this is your chance, Yuki. A chance to learn something about your uncle, maybe about yourself too. But be careful. Kenji’s world wasn’t safe.”

  I thought of the blue Civic Type R in front of the convenience store. Of Daiki’s dreams of an RX-7 or Silvia. And now I might have something like that myself? It was hard to believe. Just yesterday, I was worried about how I could afford a Kei car.

  “When… when can we go? To the garage?” I asked, my voice still a little thick.

  “We’ll go right now if you want,” my father suggested. “I took today off specifically for this. I’ll show you the way. And then… it’s up to you.”

  I nodded, my heart beating faster. Immediately. Right now, I would see what my mysterious uncle had left me. A new chapter in my life had just begun, and it promised to be anything but boring.