Yowamushi Pedal: New Stage

Chapter 7

The sound of wind gently flowed through the grass, and the clouds passing over the edge of town. At an intersection, the raven-hair girl slowly stopped when a red light flickered. A few cars passed by. Kyoko looked at the mountain from a distance.

RING~~

She answered her phone.

"Hello? Oh, Miki....okay. I'll see you there." Kyoko sighed. When the light changed, she quickly stood up on her bike and pedaled off.

'I'm almost there.'

However, her brother on the other hand was hanging on a thin wire, as he watched in shock as the other two cycled ahead of him. He felt a drop of sweat fall down his face.

'Eh...? How? Why...'

"On gentle slopes like these," Sugimoto hollered, "it's not the inner or outer gears, it's the middle that shine."

'No...wait...'

"If you were on a road racer, we could've had a good race." Both Sakurai and Sugimoto rode off, leavign Sakamichi behind.

'Why...why can't I keep up...' He started pedaling harder.

BAM!

"Ah!!" His knee hit the side of the frame. That's when he heard something rattle.

"W-wait! My chain--!"

CLACK/CLATTER!!

"NGH!!" He fell off his bike as his helmet came off.

"!!" Kyoko's eyes widened. She looked up at the long road.

'Sakamichi...is that you I sense? But...' She clutched her handle bars.

'What's this uneasy feeling I feel?' Kyoko grit her teeth as she pedaled faster.

Sakamichi quickly regained himself and parked his bike. Anxiety ran through him, his fingers shaking as he tried to put the chain back in place.

'No...I'm not out of the race yet. I'm not racing with Imaizumi-kun and Naruko-kun yet.' A tear escaped his eye.

HONK~

Suddenly, he heard it. His watery eyes looked at the white vehicle behidn him. From the passenger seat, Kinjou leaned out from the window.

"Stop, Onoda," he hollered. However, Onoda went back on his bike and tried pedaling away. The van followed behind him.

"Stop! I'm telling you to stop."

"No! I can still--ah!!" He fell and tumbled again. The van went aroudn him and stopped. His bike's wheels kept turning as he laid there, feeling helpless. He was about to face the end, when a voice called him.

"Sorry for the wait, Onoda-kun." He blinked, and looked up to see Kanzaki. She was by the opened trunk, holding a road racer.

"It's road racer."

"...Huh...?" Onoda slowly got up.

"Every year," Kinjou implied, "Kanzaki's bike shop provides a recover and support vehicle for this race."

"It was supposed to get here before you started. It's old, but the Kuromori frame is good for beginners." Kinjou stood beside him.

"This is the pinnicle of bicycles...a road racer. You're not out of this race, yet." Onoda looked at the bike in astonishment.