Now his thumb was starting to ache. The dashboard flickered through its self-test: all warning lights on, needles sweeping. Still holding.

Leo just smiled. “Nah. Just needed a reminder who’s boss.”

He grabbed a coffee, settled into the driver’s seat, and closed the door. The key was in his hand.

At zero, the service message blinked twice, then vanished like a ghost. The odometer returned. The amber light was gone.

The internet forums were full of conflicting advice. One user named PuntoKing2009 swore you needed a €200 diagnostic computer. Another, FixItAgainTony_, claimed you just had to disconnect the battery and touch the terminals together. Leo wisely ignored that one, picturing his airbag control module frying.

Wait. Don’t breathe.

“Old car giving you trouble?”

He grinned, leaned back in the worn fabric seat, and took a long sip of cold coffee.

Start the engine.

He turned the key. The 1.4-liter engine caught immediately, smooth and quiet. The dash was clean. No chimes. No warnings. Just the crisp digital readout of his trip mileage.

Press and hold the odometer reset button—the little rubber stick on the right side of the instrument cluster.

After what felt like an eternity—exactly ten seconds—a tiny countdown appeared where the odometer usually was. A little digital clock icon next to the word "SERVICE" began ticking backward: 10… 9… 8…