Chapter 12: Winner?

Author Note: Due to real life issues I'll be taking a one week break. Please understand.

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The sounds of tools and equipment being used paired with the occasional revving of an engine rang out in the shop. The two groups have been hard at work but it seemed like one of them had finished.

"We're done!" Ren announced tiredly. His clothes were covered in oil and dirt, even his face face wasn't spared. Yelena walked out from behind him, looking no better than him.

A total of four hours have passed since the two groups started their contest and it seemed that Ren's group finished first.

"You might as well just end the contest here. We've already won." Ren said loud enough for everyone, Sora and Renji included, to hear. To his disappointment, neither Sora nor his assistant replied.

"We'll have to wait till they finish to see who the winner is. For now, join us and watch the show." The boss said, not taking his eyes off the duo who were still working.

Ren's eyes twitched at that. Yelena, noticing that, put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

"There's nothing to worry about. That thing hasn't worked for over four years, there's no way he can fix it. That's why I didn't let you pick it." She said quiet enough for only him to hear.

They joined the others to watch, convinced in their heart that they had won. Sora was currently on the floor with his upper body under the car that was held up by a jack lift.

Renji knelt beside beside him, ready to follow instructions at any moment. Gone was the nervous Renji, this one was at full alert and ready to work.

"Pull me out." Sora said. Renji immediately pulled him out from underneath the car. He then proceeded to lower the car back to its normal height.

"We're done." Sora announced with a confident smirk on his face. His face and body was littered with oil and dirt from the car itself.

"Ho?" The boss couldn't help but react as he saw the confidence in him. For some reason, Ren and Yelena felt a chill go down their spine as they saw that smirk.

"Now that that's finished, let's take them for a drive shall we." The boss announced with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The boss now sat in a gray car as the employees stood some distance away to see the performance of the car. The car that Sora worked on was black while the gray one the boss was sitting in was Ren's work.

Ren had a confident look as the boss started up the engine. It needed about two tries to start up but it started up. He spent the next five minutes driving the car around the empty parking lot behind the shop.

Rena and Yelena were all smiles at the smooth running of the vehicle. Even a few employees congratulated him, as if sure that he would get the job.

When the boss was satisfied with its job, he moved to the other car. His face was impassive throughout these actions, making it hard to guess what he was thinking.

Upon getting into the car, he noted something particular. The acceleration and brake pedal looked different from what was there before.

Without wasting anymore time, he started up the car. To his surprise, the engine started with only one smooth try. The older and more experienced employees had their eyes wide as they heard the revving of the engine.

They had tried fixing it numerous times but it didn't seem possible no matter how much they tried. Even Yelena had her jaws drop at that.

"What's wrong? I thought you said the car wasn't going to work." Ren asked Yelena, confused at her reaction. She was unable to respond for a moment as her eyes locked in on Sora's predatory smirk by the side.

'What the hell!? Even I've tried to fix it and it couldn't even start up! How the hell did he do it!?' She raged internally as the car now drove leisurely around the parking lot.

Sora let out a low chuckle as he saw the woman's shocked face.

'Did you really think you had a chance? While you may have taken years to get to where you are, I surpassed that in less than quarter of that time.' He thought.

While the vehicle was a bit challenging to work on at first, as time went on, the panel showed its power.

[Template Name: Sasuke Uchiha]

[Template Progress: 9.4%]

[Skills]:[Engineering Mastery Lvl 36]

He had gotten five levels while fixing it, making it easier with each level he reached. That also made him consider the power of the skill.

'If level 36 made this a piece of cake, what would I be able to do when I max it out?' He thought as he watched the car move around.

The boss inside the car could be seen driving it with a nostalgic smile on his face. He spent an extra five minutes taking the car around. After a total of ten minutes, he came down from the car with a big smile on his face.

Before he came close to the crowd of employees, they seemed to know the result already. That was except Yelena who was still in denial and Ren who was simply dense.

"After testing them both, I've made my decision. But before that, I'd like to say a few things." The boss said as his facial expression turned serious.

He then turned to Ren who looked a bit intimidated but covered it with a smile.

"Ren, what exactly was the problem with the car you fixed?" He asked, causing the young man to freeze.

"T-the problem?" He stammered out in confusion only for the man to nod.

"Yes, the problem. You're the one that fixed it after all so you should know the answer to that. Just think of this as a final test to get the job." The man spoke serously.

Yelena who stood beside Ren also froze in place. They didn't think this far. They thought that he only had to fix the car to get the job, there was nothing said about a test.

"Could it be that you fixed it without knowing the problem? Or maybe it was your girlfriend who did the job." The boss stated, seeing that Ren couldn't speak.

Ren's shock became even more apparent on his face as it twisted in shock. Before he could even say anything, Yelena burst out from the side.

"Are you accusing us of cheating!?" She yelled in rage but slight fear.

"Yes." The man replied without missing a beat.

"You're always talking about your boyfriend who you dreamed of working together with. He fits your description perfectly. I also saw that he spent most of the time admiring you while you fixed the car." He continued to their continuously increasing shock.

'That explains it.' Sora thought, realizing just why she was so against him getting the job. That only made his coming victory even sweeter.

"If he can tell me what the problem is, he can have the job." The boss said, looking at Ren who bit his lips trying to formulate an answer.

After a few moments, it was apparent that he couldn't come up with the answer. He then turned to Sora, ignoring the fuming Yelena and devastated Ren.

Just as Sora was about to state the problems the vehicle he repaired had, the man held a hand up, stopping him.

"I watched you fix it with your own hands. Renji is part of the cleaning staff and has only been here for about a week. Do you really think he could fix a car like this?" The boss asked rhetorically.

"When you put it like that, I guess not." Sora answered, further aggravating Yelena at the 'injustice' that was happening in front of her.

"If he's going to work here then I'm not sure I want to continue working here." She announced with a smug look on her face as she turned her face to the side.

'That's right. He has no choice but to reject the kid. He wouldn't pick a newbie like that over m-'

"Then you can leave right now." The boss said, interrupting her thoughts. She stood there in shock as the man turned to Sora.

"Step into my office so we can discuss your working arrangements." He said as he lead the way to said office.

"Of course." Sora replied as they passed the frozen Yelena on the way to the office.