Chapter 11: Master, I'm Feeling It

The glow from the computer screen cast flickering light on the walls.

Scattered around were a few unopened cup noodles and a racing suit. A girl with a graceful silhouette was sprawled on the bed, engrossed in a manga.

The young man in front of the screen yawned, his eyes growing even more drowsy.

"Comet, the racers and mecha girls in Jiangcheng are a pile of crap. You don't disagree, right?"

The girl didn't even glance up, just turned another page of her manga.

"Master, I've told you before—there's no need to come to Jiangcheng just to crush amateurs. It's boring. We'd be better off spending the time on actual training."

"Comet, don't be so cold~" The young man swiveled his chair, resting his chin on his hands as he stared at the girl's delicate profile. "In a way, crushing them is training. It's just that the practice tracks here in Jiangcheng are a bit too simple."

The young man was Caio Yang, the chief racer of the VVC (Velocity Vision Club).

For the past few days, he and his mecha-girl, Comet, had been challenging training races all over Jiangcheng City.

He'd hoped to find some decent competition, but his expectations had only led to greater disappointment. Coming from the neighboring racing metropolis, Tianyuan City, the racers and mecha girls of Jiangcheng seemed far too green.

Ding!

A notification from the phone nearby caught Comet's attention.

She picked it up and glanced at it, her beautiful eyes widening slightly.

It was a message from the local racing club community feed.

[Triumph Club Training Race Shocked by 'Silver Phantom' with Average Cornering Speed of 300 km/h!]

Below was a photo, clearly taken from a sneaky angle. It showed a petite mecha girl hugging two stacks of cash with a look of pure joy, like a little miser. Beside her stood a scruffy but handsome man, whose beach shorts looked utterly out of place at the entrance of a club filled with racers and mecha girls.

"That's her?"

"What, you know this mecha girl?" Caio Yang leaned over Comet's shoulder to look at the phone, his eyes immediately lighting up. "Not bad! Average cornering at three hundred? That's on par with you! Who knew Jiangcheng actually had a hidden master!"

"She's XC-99," Comet's voice was icy. "A piece of junk. The 99th mecha girl of our XC Family line, but with steering ability practically at zero."

"Practically zero?" Caio Yang was stunned. "Then how did she pull off 300 km/h in the corners?"

"Don't know. But Triumph Club's track is simple—three major bends, none under ninety degrees. Maybe her driver is just very skilled."

"Master, when's the next training race?" Comet suddenly sat up, looking at Caio Yang.

"Day after tomorrow. The Banag Valley Training Race. Why?"

"I'm entering."

"Huh? I thought you said it was pointless?"

"I think I might run into XC-99 again. I need to tell her that a Mecha Girl like her has no right to be on a track. She shouldn't disgrace the XC Family name." A chill seeped into Comet's tone. Was it his imagination, or did Caio Yang even see a flicker of anger in her eyes?

"Is there some bad blood between you two?" Caio Yang's expression turned serious.

If this mecha girl had issues with Comet, he'd make sure to settle the score for his partner.

"No bad blood. I just can't stand the sight of her."

Comet recalled last month, when she'd accidentally come across the footage of XC-99's debut race.

That abysmal steering—she'd basically crashed her way along the guardrails to the finish line.

A terrible mecha girl like that, still carrying the XC Family name. Comet had assumed she'd voluntarily head for the Recycling Yard after that debut, but the stubborn thing hadn't given up. Instead, she'd contracted a racer—who knew what kind of spell she'd cast on him—making him risk his life for her.

If XC-99 caused her driver's death in a crash or rollover during some race, the XC Family would be tainted by her failure. That was something Comet could never accept.

"Alright then, I'll sign us up now."

Caio Yang sighed in resignation. He couldn't figure out why Comet despised XC-99 so much.

But since it was Comet's wish, as her driver, he'd do his best to fulfill it.

Too bad for that driver and his mecha girl.

...

The first thing Derek Su did upon returning home was tell Mr. Liang about winning the training race.

"Twenty thousand! Look, twenty thousand real dollars~"

Derek Su waved a stack of bills in front of Mr. Liang's left eye, while Stella waved another stack by his right.

They were practically shoving the money in his face.

"Enough! Do you two have ants in your pants?!" Mr. Liang swatted Derek's hand away, exasperated. "It's just a Triumph Club training race. Placing in a simple race like that is perfectly normal, isn't it?"

"But that's not what you said before," Derek Su said, ruffling Stella's hair with a smile. "At least now it proves I really can handle Stella. Sure, the cornering's weak, but we can totally overcome that with skill and constant practice!"

Mr. Liang sighed and turned his back. "I can't be bothered with you. Get your driver's license first, then we'll talk."

Derek Su knew Mr. Liang had softened, which eased his own guilt a little.

"Don't worry, I'll have my license before the Knox Rally."

"Mr. Liang, Master and I will work super hard together!" Stella clenched her fists, her fighting spirit blazing.

"Off to train we go!" Before leaving, Derek remembered something and turned back to add:

"Mr. Liang, there's a Banag Valley training race the day after tomorrow. Stella and I are entering. You should come watch if you're free!"

"Hah, I'm not free!"

Mr. Liang's refusal was entirely expected. Derek didn't press it, just took Stella's hand and left.

"That rascal... can't even close the door properly."

Muttering helplessly, Mr. Liang got up to shut the door.

...

Derek Su took Stella to an empty lot near the Recycling Yard.

He'd already set up a practice cornering course there using traffic cones, specifically for Stella's training.

"Stella, you've been on a real track now. What did you learn from your run at the Triumph Club circuit, especially during the corners?"

Derek hadn't assigned Stella's MP points yet. He planned to do it later, when she hit a wall during practice.

Then, when she succeeded afterward, it would create a positive feedback loop, helping her build confidence more easily.

"Ooh, learnings!" Stella rubbed her chin, frowning in thought. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she raised her hand.

"I learned stuff! Master is really strong! Master's hands are super warm! Master's butt is pretty bouncy!"

Derek Su: "..."

"Not that kind of learning. I mean when you were cornering. Any feelings about grip, the right moment to turn in, things like that?"

Stella stared blankly at Derek Su, her head slowly tilting to one side as imaginary smoke began to puff from her ears.

Derek Su facepalmed. He really shouldn't have expected too much from Stella.

"Forget it. Let's just practice... Stella, right now I need you to try cornering without my direct control. I want you to focus on the physical sensation, to learn how to control yourself!"

"Whoa!" Stella rebooted instantly at this.

Technical terms were too much for her; she was all about hands-on action.

Derek pointed at the bend ahead, placed his hands on Stella's shoulders, and leaned in to speak by her ear:

"See that bend about two hundred meters ahead? Based on your gut feeling, can you sense roughly where the braking point should be?"

Stella put on a serious face and stared at the bend for a moment.

"Master, I feel it! I can totally take this bend!"

"Great!" Derek Su nodded with satisfaction. "Now, transform and take that bend based on your feeling."

"Got it!"

Stella gave a solemn nod.

Under Derek's encouraging gaze, she transformed with a roar and shot forward.

Just like Master did, preparing for the turn in advance...

Stella's face was set in concentration, but then... how exactly had Master done it again?

She tilted her head, her brain threatening to smoke once more.

"Remember the feeling of turning..."

Before Derek could finish, Stella's vehicle form had already overshot the bend, sending a row of traffic cones flying into the air.

"Whoa—brake! You're gonna hit the wall!"

"Waaaaah! Master! Waaaaah!"

His warning came too late. Derek could only listen to Stella's shrieks as he watched her vehicle go 

Crash! headfirst into the wall.

"..."

He took a deep breath.

My god, give me strength.

"Looks like I'm just giving her the MP points today. Let her rest tonight and we'll try again tomorrow..."

Derek thought to himself. If he couldn't improve Stella's stats through training in the short term, then they absolutely had to win the training race the day after tomorrow. There was no room for error.