Capeta 4

CAPETA Volume 2 by Masahito Soda
translated by barbapapa

p000_2

Shigeo Taira (pops)

- did he used to be a really bad guy?
(are those scars on his face from fighting?)
- good with his hands
- due to his surprising vitality, he'd be reliable on uninhabited islands and such
(despite his itchy crotch)

p002
Shigeo Taira
Monami Suzuki
Nobu Ando
Kappeita Taira

p003
Kid, that kart's dangerous.

p004
You'd better get out.

Those tires… When that bended frame starts floating, it's a ticking time-bomb. There's nothing to be done right now.

I'll help you find a cheap second hand frame, next time.

But man, you sure got far for just an amateur.

I'm impressed!

p005
See? This kart won't be able to drive straight, it's dangerous.

Okay? Since you want to drive no matter what, we'll lend you a rental kart.

Just now, you couldn't cut through that left corner, so you went out of course. Right?

This kart's right front wheel is floating.

You understand? That's why you can't drive straight.

p006
You understand you can't drive in that condition, right?

What's he doing.

Bring it back in already.

Capeta! It's fine, come back!

p007
p008
Got it, kid? If you stay here, it's dangerous. So get out, okay?

Got it.

Thank you.

p009
Hey, if you get it… what are you-

I told you, we've got rental karts too.

I get that you don't want to get out of the kart your dad built.

p010
…I

am

driving this.

p011
p012
Cacchan!

Hey, why'd he continue driving!?

Well… He kept refusing to come out…

Trying to drive that kart-

p013
The right front wheel is floating.

…He's right.

So that's what it was.

p014
What can I do-

p015
What can I do to properly drive this!?!

The handle keeps moving.

The tires don't touch the ground only on one side.

Shit--

p016-017
Capeta!

It's fine! Just stop!

It's dangerous--!!

What!?

p018
Right now, just a little

it felt right!

p019
Right here!

I can stop it if I hold it at this angle!

The handle doesn't move!

p020
At this angle, the handle becomes steady!

If I fully accelerate now,

I'm sure-

p021
I'll be able to drive at the same speeds!!

p022
Waaaaaaah!

This is hard-!

If the car goes diagonally, I can't step on the accelerator!

p023
p024
I…

I want to drive at those speeds too.

LET'S DRIVE!!

p025
p026-027

p028
He's going a lot faster than before!!

How did he do it!?

That sound…

Full throttle…

Even though he's not driving straight…

No way…!

p029
Straight…

Turning the handle, could I keep going!?

p030
!!
Despite that floating front, he's going into the corner at that speed along with everyone else!

Hey you!

p031
Don't cut in yet--!

(squeeze)

p032-033
Watch out--!

p034-035
He did it.

p036
Again, that sound!

But how? He suddenly stepped on it!!

Though earlier, it looked like he was stepping on his accelerator when he turned his handle…

No way, that's just not possible.

He couldn't have been.

He would have gotten blown off to the side in no time!!

p037
Amazing Cacchan! You nailed that corner again!

At that speed even!!

That kart ain't so bad after all!!

Right…

p038
Then, wasn't that frame as distorted as I thought?

Capeta!!

Yeah. But it's fine.

p040
Yeah. But it's fine.

…

That kid…

(girr girr)

p041
Yeah. But it's fine.

…

Capeta… Is it because I am here?

Are you

p041
Being brave again…?

Wow!?

p042
W-

Waaah--!

p043
(clench clench)

I won't lose to you!!!

Hmph!!

p044-045
Amazing--!!
He made another turn!!

Hey, mister manager.

I haven't seen that kid before.

Who is he?

I thought I saw a dangerous kart out there, before, but…

Hmmmm.

p046
He sure is a smart kid.

p047
His driving is pretty interesting.

Miss Minamoto.

Oh, how scary-- Even while driving diagonally, he's still going at it full throttle.

Even so, risky or not-

At those speeds, his right front wheel can't put any weight on the ground when he steps on his brake.

p048
Wow--

What a beautiful lady--
Is she a driver too?

p049
M…

Monami?
(what!?)

What were you looking at.
(old perv)

Is that your friend?

T… That's right.

Oh, he's good isn't he.

Pretty amazing, even.

Huh?

When I was driving at the nationals, and my front just wasn't doing its job, I also used that technique.

p050
Huh?

Technique?

Capeta…?

When penetrating a corner,

he puts his knees around the tank, like you'd do on a bike.

p051
With all your might…

Clenching tiiiiight, like this.

Normal driving.
(both legs turned outwards, lower gravity center)

Clenching the tank with both knees, at full strength.
(you're pulling the center of gravity up)

In reality this is bad for the foundation of a race kart.

Your knees are located 30cm above the ground.

(squeeze)

If you put unnatural force on that spot, you'll pull the machine's center of gravity up. And it'll start to behave unstable.

p052
On the other hand, it might become unstable, but

If you just do it a little, and properly use your body weight… You'll have a chance of making those corners with a front that has poor grip.

(squeeze) x3

p053
On top of that. This kid is able to drive fast, using all his might to stay on the ground.

Don't be mistaken.

A good for nothing frame, can still make turns if you're smart.

p054-055
Dammit-!

(huff) x

I'm slowly getting better at driving, but

I'm still not able to overtake--

Despite all I've put into it, all my work…

More, more!

Are all my efforts in vain--!?

p056
Amazing…

I didn't know karts could do this…

It's not just making the kart do the driving…

Using your head…

p057
No way,

Could Capeta be…

Doesn't matter who,

I just want to overtake one kart--

To win---!!!

p058
Huh…?

Huuuuh?

p059
He just overtook me, but

This kart…

He's not that fast…

…

If I do my best

p060
I… I wonder if I could pass him?

What's this?

p061
…

I wonder if our boy feels motivated?