Chapter 25. Too Good a Day.
Chapter 25. Too Good a Day.
I should probably make some business cards of my own.
As I sat in the warehouse late into the night organizing all the business cards and phone numbers related to restoration work, that thought suddenly occurred to me.
And I should probably start preparing for the license too...
Tax filing for an automotive restoration business was not especially difficult at the small-business level.
On sites like TurboTax, you could handle everything from expense calculations to filing registration with a single click.
(Translator’s Note: TurboTax — A U.S. tax-preparation software product made by Intuit, widely used by individuals and small businesses for tax filing.)
The real administrative hassle, if anything, was the dealer license.
It was a required qualification not only for used-car dealers, but also for related lines of work like vehicle restoration and customization.
I already have a place of business, so that part’s covered. All I need now is the surety bond and the required training.
All told, between the registration fee, fingerprinting fee, insurance, and training costs, it would come to around fifteen hundred dollars. But aside from having to attend the offline training, the requirements themselves were not especially complicated or difficult.
America is really contradictory in funny ways like this.
Anything that involved dealing with people face-to-face administratively could be maddeningly slow, yet oddly enough, something like this was fairly rational.
Rather than feeling like a system designed to create barriers to keep people from trying to do something, it felt more like it was laying down the necessary bridges.
That pro-business attitude probably played a part in why bizarre new startups kept springing up every year without end.
I need to wrap up the Corvette restoration as quickly as possible too.
I wanted to take Donnelly out for that drive while he was still in as good condition as possible.
Over the past few days, Donnelly’s complexion had noticeably worsened.
He absolutely refused to show it on the surface, but he clearly seemed to be pushing himself too hard.
He could just give advice and let me do all the work...
Naturally, I had already suggested that several times, but there was no breaking the stubbornness of an old man who had lived through harsh times—it was like trying to cut through ox tendon.
At least the interior, including the leather, only had some dust and stains, so a thorough cleaning and wiping would be enough.
Donnelly had already ordered most of the underbody and other necessary parts in Correct grade, meaning factory-spec compliant.
The real problem was the engine and transmission.
“How am I supposed to bring this up so he’ll accept it...?”
I had already found the exact original engine and transmission for the Corvette C2 in the Coin Market.
[1963 Corvette C2 Sting Ray 340 HP Specification]
327 small-block, L76 engine = 1,800 (C)
Borg-Warner T-10 4-speed manual transmission = 900 (C)
(Translator’s Note: Borg-Warner T-10 — A well-known four-speed manual transmission used in many American performance cars from the late 1950s into the 1960s, often associated with period-correct restorations.)
[Would you like to purchase these two items?]
At the bottom, the [BUY] button was blinking.
Miguel said a perfectly rebuilt engine and transmission would run close to fifteen thousand dollars.
Judging from the first time I had bought that Ford engine from him, there was no way Miguel had deliberately inflated the price.
The even bigger problem was that even if you had the money, there was no telling when you would actually be able to find one.
No matter how I think about it, buying it here is the right call.
Ding!
[Your order has been completed. The items will be stored in Inventory.]
Coins deducted: -2,700 (C)
Remaining coins: 9,175 (C)
Twenty-seven hundred was a huge amount, considering that aside from the first reward of ten thousand coins, I had neither earned nor spent that many before.
And yet I did not feel like it was a waste at all.
The only thing that worried me was how Donnelly would react.
I walked up to the bed of the truck and used [Withdraw] from Inventory.
After a single blink, the engine and transmission were sitting on the truck bed.
They were in such perfect condition that anyone who saw them would think they had just come fresh from the factory.
“Whew. There’s no point worrying myself sick over it now. I’ll just have to face it tomorrow. Dusty, you get inside and lie down on your cushion too.”
Dusty looked like he wanted to play a little longer, but I pretended not to notice, shut the warehouse door, and lay down on the camp cot.
Since I had lost a whole day attending the event, I planned to go in even earlier than usual tomorrow.
“Jason, good morning. Or should I say good dawn.”
Donnelly appeared just before the morning sun rose, while a bluish tinge still lingered in the air.
“Good morning, Donnelly. But why are you out this early again? I told you to sleep in and come later...”
“You wait until you get old. Then see if sleep comes easily. More importantly, what time did you come in? Good grief, you’ve already nearly finished the front underbody.”
“I couldn’t sleep either, so I just started a little earlier. But, um... Donnelly. About the Corvette’s engine and transmission...”
I carefully brought up the topic I had been working up to for days.
“Ah, that! I was just about to bring it up myself, actually, so don’t worry too much. I put the house up for sale this time. Once that sells and I switch to renting, we won’t have to worry about the cost of parts.”
As if he had been waiting for me to mention it, Donnelly fired off the words in rapid succession. It must have been weighing on his mind the whole time too.
“No, actually... I got the engine and transmission. I already brought them in the truck.”
“...What are you talking about? You got a Corvette C2 engine and transmission?”
Startled, Donnelly hurried over to the truck bed.
“This is an original Corvette small-block L76 engine and a T-10 transmission, isn’t it? When on earth did you...? No, more importantly, the condition is almost factory-preserved!”
After confirming the silver gleam of the engine and transmission, Donnelly could not close his mouth.
“I just... got lucky.”
That was not a lie. Everything about this had started from absurd good fortune in the first place.
“No matter how lucky you are... this must have cost a fortune. How much was it? Tell me right now. Once the house sells, I’ll make sure to pay you its proper value.”
Donnelly said that while stroking the engine block almost like he was petting a dog. He looked genuinely happy.
“I... can’t tell you that.”
“Hm? What do you mean, you can’t tell me?”
At my words, Donnelly’s head whipped toward me.
“I don’t actually know exactly how much it costs either.”
“No, what on earth does that...”
For an instant, Donnelly’s expression stiffened, then returned to normal.
“Jason.”
“Yes.”
“I already know you’re one of those rare good young men you hardly see anymore. Spending this time together has only made me think so more strongly. But this is too much. I’ll accept the kindness in your heart, and that alone. Though you may have to wait a little until the house sells, heh heh.”
Donnelly looked at me with a gentle smile. His sincerity felt vivid enough to touch.
“Donnelly. I know very well that money matters. But money isn’t the purpose of my life. I know there are things that money can never fill.”
My father, who left home when I was fifteen, used to come back at irregular intervals—sometimes after a month, sometimes after half a year.
And after staying about a week, he would leave again.
On the days he left, there was always a crumpled wad of cash on the dining table.
Sometimes it was too little. Sometimes it was far too much.
I lived off that money, slept under a roof because of it, bought clothes with it.
But not for a single moment did it ever fill the hole inside me.
“Besides, I’ve learned so much working with you, Donnelly. And I’m going to keep learning. Couldn’t you think of this engine and transmission as payment for that teaching...?”
I had an outrageous special ability that was practically cheating, but working with Donnelly this time had driven home just how far from all-powerful it really was.
There were many times when I tightened something to the specified torque exactly as the ability instructed, only to end up stretching the threads.
There were just as many cases where I followed the assembly order correctly without doing a dry fit first, only to find the hole alignment was off.
When we overhauled the differential, I completely ignored the special ability and worked solely according to Donnelly’s instructions.
Using the feel in my fingertips as much as possible.
“Whew... I’m not exactly a man who loses to anyone when it comes to stubbornness either...”
With a long sigh, Donnelly slowly shook his head.
“All right then. From now on, Jason, you are the official successor to me, Earl Donnelly. I’ll teach you hard, so you’d better be ready.”
“Thank you. That’s exactly what I wanted.”
“Heh heh heh, this kid...”
At my reply, Donnelly let out a helpless laugh. But his face looked far more at ease than before.
“No, your left hand isn’t just there to assist. You have to use it together at the same time. Right, like that—support it properly. Always get into the habit of using the feeling in your fingertips. You rely too much on your eyes.”
When Donnelly said he would teach me hard, it was not an empty threat.
When we had worked together more like partners, he had not said much. But now he relentlessly pointed out every bad habit and mistake I made.
“Always keep your ears and nose open. When there’s something wrong with a car, it always tells you with sound and smell first. Don’t wait until it’s already broken to fix it. Catching the warning signs in advance is a skill too.”
But I did not dislike his nagging at all. If anything, I wanted to record every word and listen to them again later.
Because I knew every single thing that came out of his mouth was sincerely meant for my sake.
“Whew, then how about we do the rest after lunch?”
Maybe it was because we had started earlier than usual, and because he had thrown himself into working while teaching me as well, but for once Donnelly was the first to suggest taking a break.
“Yes. If you don’t mind, how about somewhere different for lunch today? There’s a place I’m a regular at.”
We usually got lunch from the taco trucks nearby during work.
They were tasty and cheap, but after going through the whole menu about twice, even that had started to get repetitive.
And besides, I wanted to introduce Donnelly to my regular place.
“Sounds good. You drive.”
With Donnelly in the passenger seat, I drove the rattling truck toward my longtime regular spot, Little Anthony’s Diner.
Neon lights cut through the burning city.
(Neon lights cut through the burning city.)
Grease on my hands, I drove my dream machine.
(With grease on my hands, I drove my dream machine.)
An old-time song was playing on the radio.
(An old-time song was playing on the radio.)
They said I was crazy, but I wasn’t wrong.
(They said I was crazy, but I wasn’t wrong.)
The moment we stepped through the diner doors, an ’80s rock-and-roll song was already playing from the speakers, just as expected.
“Hey, Jason. You came?”
“Mike, it’s been way too long, hasn’t it?”
Recognizing me immediately, Mike slung the towel in his hand over his shoulder and greeted me lightly.
“Yeah, show your face more often. But who’s this with you?”
“This is Donnelly, my mentor. And this is Mike, the owner.”
“Heh heh, pleased to meet you. The atmosphere in this place is really wonderful.”
Donnelly looked around the diner and offered a handshake.
“Thank you kindly. Though—did you say mentor?”
“Oh, right. I actually do car restoration work now. Donnelly’s a veteran with fifty years of experience, so I’m learning a lot from him.”
Mike’s confused expression brightened in an instant.
“Wow! Fifty years? I’ve only got twenty under my belt. But Jason, does that mean you’ve really decided to settle down for good?”
“Yes. Somehow, that’s how things turned out. So I’ll be coming by more often from now on.”
“Hahahaha, you little punk...! To think I’d hear words like that from you. Go sit down. To celebrate, today’s on the house.”
Mike looked at me with slightly surprised eyes, then thumped me on the shoulder.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that... In that case, I’ll have the Anthony Burger combo. Double.”
“Hmm, then I’ll have the same. But make mine a single patty instead of a double, and just the burger.”
“One double combo, one single. You don’t need anything else? When it’s free, you’re supposed to order big. Don’t hold back.”
Even though he was the one paying, Mike looked especially excited. He kept grinning and flashing those white teeth.
“No, that’s more than enough. Thanks. Like always.”
“Like always, my foot... Anyway, wait just a minute.”
While we waited for the food, I looked out the window and spoke.
“Donnelly. The truth is, I don’t have parents. Haven’t for a long time. Ever since I was a kid, I always sat right in this spot and ate Anthony Burgers.”
“...I see. You must’ve had it rough.”
Maybe it was because this place brought back old memories, but I ended up revealing a small fragment of my painful past to Donnelly.
He did not offer me any long words of comfort. It was nothing like the barrage of nagging he had been giving me while we worked earlier.
But that one short sentence felt more than enough for me.
The Anthony Burger still tasted just as good as ever.
Donnelly liked both the burger and the atmosphere of the diner very much. He especially said the music was his kind of thing.
When we finished eating, I quietly left the cost of the meal on the table without letting Mike notice.
That afternoon, we worked at a more relaxed pace.
All that remained now was restoring the body shell, the paint and polishing work that would be outsourced, and installing the engine and transmission. Even at the longest, it was work that could be finished in a week or two.
It really was too good a day.
And then, at dawn the next day.
A call came from an unknown number.
“Jason, Earl collapsed.”