The first leg of the race was a blur of neon colors and screeching tires. Shy Doge found his rhythm quickly. On the straightaways, he was a streak of shiba-gold against the asphalt. He didn't look at the other drivers; he focused on the apex of every turn. He noticed the crowd lining the barriers—a sea of flags and cheering faces—all gathered for the pride event.

The engine of the customized hatchback roared, a mechanical growl that felt much louder than Shy Doge’s own racing heart. He sat in the driver’s seat, paws gripped tight at ten and two, staring at the vibrant chaos of the Rainbow Road Rally starting line.

Doge tucked his tail slightly, still a bit overwhelmed by the attention, but he didn't look down. He looked at the horizon, at the community he had finally found his place in.

"Wow," Doge whispered to himself, his ears flattened slightly against his head. "So nerves." The flag dropped.

"Such speed," he muttered, a small, confident smile breaking through his shyness. "Many win."