"Let''s go, Juniper." Kurt grabbed two helmets, his usualid-back demeanor reced by a look of intense focus. He had to train seriously, to break into the top five. Otherwise...


    Kurt nced back at Ghoul''s empty shell of a body and shook his head. If he lost the race, the guy might actually lose his mind.


    "Alright." Juniper gave a slight smile, took the helmet, and settled into the passenger seat. "Follow what I taught you yesterday. Onep."


    "Yes, ma''am.” Kurt straightened his back. As he was about to start the car, he caught sight of the man inne one out of the corner of his eye. “Juniper, it''s Melvin!"


    Kurt''s heart hammered against his ribs, his palms slick with sweat. Damn it. That was the three-time champion! Besides J, Melvin was the racer he admired most. Training alongside him was nerve-wracking.


    It was a shame, though. The guy had Orient Country blood but chose to help those dogs bully them...


    "So what about him?” Juniper fastened her seatbelt, her voice cool andnguid. "Get ready. Weunch in three seconds."


    To her, he was just some irrelevant stray.


    "Right." Kurt wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and added cautiously, "Juniper, Melvin''s driving style is pretty aggressive. We should probably keep our distance."


    Juniper shot him a disdainful look.


    Three secondster, Kurt focused and mmed on the gas. The sports car shot out from the starting line like a bullet. Melvinunched at the exact same moment. Initially, their speeds were matched, but Kurt knew this was just Melvin''s strategy. The second half of the race was where he truly dominated.


    “More gas," Junipermanded from the passenger seat, arms crossed as she stared ahead. "Stay right. Keep it steady."


    Kurt gripped the steering wheel, his nerves shot. He was terrified of making yesterday''s mistakes and getting his head bashed in by Juniper.


    "Nice," Juniper remarked as they perfectly navigated the first turn.A hint of a smile touched her lips, but her tone remained strict. "elerate, brake, elerate agam then cut the Corner."


    "But..." Kurt''s back was drenched in cold sweat, his voice hoarse. "Melvin''s on our left. We could collide."


    "We won''t,” Juniper said, ncing at the other car in the rearview mirror. Tsk. A three-time champion, and his technique was just so-so.


    "When I say cut, you cut," Juniper''s voice turned sharp and cold. “You''re afraid to die, but so is he."


    Racing wasn''t just about skill; it was a mental game. This corner was particrly dangerous. The slightest Mation would let the car behind you overtake. A few seconds could create a fatal gap.


    "Yes, ma''am."


    Kurt had never driven like this before, but he trusted Juniper''smand and mmed the car into the turn.


    "SCREECH!"


    The tires screamed against the asphalt, kicking up a thick cloud of dust that enveloped the track.


    Watching the car beside him, Melvin''s eyes narrowed in surprise. Kurt actually dared to elerate, brake, and elerate again at this point? He wasn''t afraid of flipping the car?


    If he remembered correctly, Kurt had never driven like this before. Who taught him? This was a technique that not just anyone could control.


    Melvin sped up, pulling parallel to the other car, and got a clear look at who was in the passenger seat. The girl was holding a half-eaten apple in her lefthand, while her right hand was helping Kürt control the steering wheel, instructing him on racing


    techniques.


    Melvin froze. It was the sharp-tongued girl!