This story is fiction. The names of people, places and groups are imaginary. Obey traffic rules and drive safely.
Initial
Raise up your hands takaku
(Everybody now te wo agero saa)
Tsukame brand new tomorrow
(You don't stop)
Kaze no naka de jibun wo shiru
Zutto zekkei no dream darou
(Let's go)
Oh
Oh (Let's go)
Oh, raise up your hands now.
Ikiteru dake de marumouke nara ganbarouze marugoto ittennbari
Onaji mission, onaji isshou
Dondake yume atsuika ga shobu darou
Escalator nashi no eien
Ashi koshi kitae reruze yeah, yeah
Douse noboru kaidan
Kokoro kocchi ni customize shichaeba ii
Kezurarete sugiru mainichi
Kezurarete sugiru mainichi (But you know ?)
Semegai no aru game to warai tobashite
Let's see how fast you can do it.
Raise up your hands zutto
(Everybody now te wo agero saa)
Hashire sleepless challenger
(You don't stop)
Ima ni ikiru riyuu sagasu
Yume tsukinai quest
(Let's go)
Oh
Oh (Let's go)
Oh, raise up your hands now.
I see. No wonder the left rear felt light.
I couldn't maintain grip in the left corner, and massively over-steered.
Omiya...
It can't be helped.
Luck is a part of the game, and I couldn't have been more motivated today.
I've come to realize that the root of my driving lies in the mountain passes.
You can't experience the sensation of your head going blank on the circuit.
I'm happy that I could fight a real battle, because it doesn't happen very often in life.
Man, I didn't expect Omiya to lose to that Eight-Six kid.
He's quite mysterious.
Too bad he didn't go for a time trial.
By learning his actual time, we could have analyzed his car's fighting potential...
...and figured out the kid's driving skills.
Our opponent isn't stupid. Don't underestimate Takahashi Ryosuke.
Contact the guys scattered along the course. We're heading home.
Did you hear who won, Kogashiwa ?
Of course I did.
We should be happy, because we get our chance.
I guess you can say that.
I have to pay back Fujiwara Takumi of Project D.
In Kanagawa, I'll get revenge for my humiliation on the Iroha Slopes.
Fated Revenge Battle
We've been waiting for you !
Here comes the Ace !
Well...ummm...
Well then, let me, reporter Itsuki, interview Project D's Fujiwara Takumi, who won his first battle in Kanagawa.
Hey, I don't like that kind of thing.
Well, Mr. Fujiwara, tell us what's on your mind.
A full tank of high octane gas for cash.
You moron ! So boring !
How can you keep your tension so low all the time ?
But I just came here for gas. It can't be helped.
Geez, are you ready for the next battle ?
Takumi, when is the second match in Kanagawa ?
The week after next.
We've decided to have an interval before each race.
That means you can relax a bit next weekend.
More or less.
It's a little far, but we've got to see Project D...
...I mean Takumi race at least once.
Good idea. If we can, I want to stay overnight so we can watch their practice the day before the race.
We can visit Hakone's tourist spots and go to a hot spring during the day time.
Hot spring, you said, Iketani ?! Bathing in a unisex hot spring ?!
Not all hot springs are unisex.
That's every man's dream. Just a dream.
Ummm...
If you're coming, the sooner the better. If we lose, there'll be no other chance.
Hey, don't jinx yourself.
Make sure you keep winning.
Geez...
Hello, this is Matsumoto.
What's the matter, Ryosuke ?
Actually, I have a favor to ask of you.
I'll do anything. Do you want a super charger in the Eight-Six ?
No, that's not it.
What, the FC ?
Yeah.
But why your car ?
I can't tell you yet, but something is bothering me.
I see.
This is a separate matter from Project D, so keep this between us for now.
I'm counting on you.
Okay.
He will eventually show up, so long as Hojo Gou is with the Sidewinder team...
I'm sure of it. It's an unavoidable fate.
I can't run away from it...
...not because I'm the leader of Project D, but because I'm a street racer, Takahashi Ryosuke.
Maybe it's time to put an end to...
Kaori...
What ? You're off next weekend ?
Yeah, sort of.
Really ? For sure ?
Then let's go to the beach, the beach !
But no overnight stay, not even coming home late.
That's fine. We just have to leave early in the morning.
You're so right. So we can go to the beach for real then ?
The beach...I haven't been to one for a long time.
I bet there are tons of hot gals there.
I want to see gals in bathing suits.
Nobody says "gal" any more.
I've been bothered by something for a long time.
Like there was a time when it was perfectly okay for school girls to walk around the city...
...wearing a uniform with a mini-skirt that kept flashing their panties.
Yes, there was. Actually, some still do even today.
If you think about it, that's really abnormal.
Even if they're ugly or have thick legs, their skirts are way too revealing.
On top of that, nobody thought it was strange.
It must be some sort of mass hysteria.
I guess you have a point.
The same thing happens at the pool or on the beach in summer.
Personally, girls in bathing suits are erotic and sexy.
Oh, really...
Besides that, how come these creatures called women aren't embarrassed by such a look in broad daylight ?
Well, maybe because everyone else does the same ?
They're only supposed to appear like that to a special someone in a dark private room !
I feel the same way, Iketani !
You do understand, huh ?
In short, they're just jealous.
Maybe I should become a priest. I hate this erotic world.
You're right.
I'm sorry.
I always ask you to come to Saitama.
You don't have to worry about that.
This's incredible for us. Before, we only chatted at a family restaurant.
But we've been together since this morning and come all the way here.
Everything is a new record.
Right. This almost feels unreal.
Takumi looks pretty sharp these days.
Yeah, you're right. He looks more manly.
He used to wear a poker face, or more like an emotionless kid.
I think it's because of his confidence.
He's fulfilling his duty as an ace of Project D.
He meets Takahashi Ryosuke's expectations and gets results.
He did grow up. There's no way we can do the same.
It must be tough, but also very happy...
About what ?
To be a member of Project D.
I'm envious because he can maintain the tension of aiming for one goal...
...by acting as part of a team and joining forces with others.
It's not something everyone can do.
He shines so brightly to those who spend their days aimlessly.
That brat took my Imp because the A/C works better.
Thank you, Takumi. I still have plenty of time before my curfew.
Good thing we didn't get caught in a traffic jam.
Well then...
Be careful on the way home, Takumi.
You too, Mika-chan.
Oh, Takumi, wait.
Umm, you see...
Can you just call me "Mika," instead of "Mika-chan" ?
Go ahead.
Mika.
Nice.
Call me that from now on. Bye.
The balance is better than expected.
Takahashi Ryosuke is quite a guy.
I don't have the ability to refine the suspension settings like this in such a short period of time.
It can go really further with this...
...but probably not until the final step.
It can't be helped. I guess I have to be prepared.
That'll be the last thing I can do for Takumi.
Man, this is awesome.
So it was a roll cage when you said something about safety stuff.
The mood is totally different.
I feel strange. It's like sitting inside a solid box.
The pace of modification seems faster lately.
I can tell that the Project D factory is devoted to the races in Kanagawa.
Finally, the second race in Kanagawa.
So where is it going to be held, Takumi ?
Oh, I heard it's going to be Hakone.
Better ?
Right on. Your adjustment perfectly matches this course.
I can't lose to amateurs.
That said, Racing Team Katagiri's main battlefield is the circuit, not the public roads.
Don't worry. It's impossible to find a reason for me to lose.
I'll put an end to the glory of Fujiwara Takumi, I mean...
...of Akina's Eight-Six.
Their strength lies more or less in their immaturity.
Immaturity, huh ?
Yes. If you drive on the circuit, you get used to safety, and grow fearful of mountain passes.
It's natural because there are no escape zones, and you don't know what's beyond the blind corner.
It's not a game for rational adults to play.
That's exactly what I want to tell you, Kogashiwa.
Even though you know that, you're still going to fight this ridiculous battle.
That means I'm still immature to a certain extent.
This is my graduation ceremony.
I'll probably be scared of mountain passes in a year or so.
But I can still engage in a reckless battle because my sense of mountain pass driving hasn't gone numb.
I want to get revenge on that guy, and graduate from the mountain pass.
Driving skills aren't important.
What matters is how immature you can become.
I didn't notice this in the dark at night, but Mt. Fuji looks so huge.
Is it bigger than Akagi ?
Are you stupid ? Fuji is the biggest mountain in Japan.
That's right. Anyway, it makes me realize that we are indeed in Hakone.
Hey guys, we didn't come here for a school trip.
Eat breakfast now.
Okay !
Hey, Fumihiro, you sound like a teacher on a field trip.
There they are. That's Project D.
Hello, this is Fujiwara Tofu...
It's me.
Kogashiwa...
You always call me out of the blue.
I'm ready, so let's get started.
Well then, could you pick your position for the first run ?
That's how we've been doing things.
It doesn't matter to me. How about letting a coin decide ?
Heads is for the local, which is me, to be the lead, and tails is for you.
Sure. That's fine.
Good.
Tails...
It's decided. I'll be the chaser.
Alright, let's begin !
A race against your son again ?
Right. This time around, he will definitely win.
He's getting better than me...
...as he made his own decision to leave the public road behind and entered the world of motor sports.
It's not something anyone can do.
His efforts brought him the chance.
Sounds wonderful.
What about your son ? Can he surpass you ?
I'm starting the countdown !
Five...
I'll get revenge for my loss on the Iroha Slopes.
Four...
Three...
Two...
One...
Go !
Alright, they're off !
Go, Kogashiwa !
Do you remember that MR-S driver, Kogashiwa ?
Of course. The guy who got pumped up against the Emperor's Sudo, right ?
He drives a mid-ship car very well, thanks to his go-kart skills.
Who'd have thought he'd show up in a place like this ?
Looks like this's going to be another tough battle.
Keisuke's opponent is also an active racer, a real athlete.
Right. Race car drivers have a different sense of time.
They know how to shave it off very well.
If we were on a circuit, our chances would be very slim...
...but the public roads are our stage, so there's no need to flinch at our opponent's title.
We'll be able to win if each of us carries out our job perfectly.
I didn't come here to lose a battle.
The car's improved.
No wonder it kept winning in the northern Kanto area.
But it's no longer mysterious to me.
The turning ability is simply a matter of tire capacity and load balance...
...and acceleration is a balance between power and weight.
You may be able to fool others, but not me.
If I don't make any mistakes, I can win.
I'll watch your progress in this first run, and finish you off in the second.
You divide this course into three sections to build an overall strategy.
The upper section is wider for faster speed.
The middle part is a super slow section with continuous tight corners.
And the lower part is a middle-speed section where you can step on the gas even though the road is somewhat narrow.
Although circuit racers would consider the entire course very slow...
The range of speed is too low in mountain passes.
If the average speed was faster, I could have gained a clear advantage.
But I won't use that as an excuse.
The last section is the decisive point.
If I were Fujiwara, I'd make my move there.
Can he do that against a pro ?
He has to. This is when he has to show his true potential.
I have this eerie feeling.
We might end up seeing it on this course.
See it, you mean...
Oh no, I'm not really good with those things.
You idiot. I never said you'd see a ghost.
Inner wheel lift ? He's good.
But I doubt such artistic control actually contributes to his speed.
Race car drivers don't play around.
Faster or not, that's all that matters.
My brother calls it the Fujiwara Zone...
...but it's not exactly the same as the ones used by top athletes.
It's a phenomenon that only occurs between Fujiwara and his Eight-Six.
What kind of phenomenon is it ?
It's difficult to explain, except for my brother.
I'm not so sure either.
But when I drive behind Fujiwara during practice, there are moments that catch me off guard.
He pulls away for some reason that I can't explain.
I thought it was like a mirage.
You never know when you'll get to see it.
But there's a Fujiwara Zone for sure.
He shows it when a certain set of conditions are met.
What's important is the unique rhythm of the course.
What was that ? My mistake ?
I can't let my guard down.
Remember, I lost to him once before.
Again ? He pulled away at the exit.
Was it my mistake ? My strategy was not to make any.
What bothers me most is that I'm upset.
I might have gotten carried away by his pace.
A point where his rhythm changes ?
Yes. From a rhythmic repetition of stepping on the gas, then releasing it right away...
...to a rhythm of delaying the release a bit.
The two cars are right at that point.
That's where something might happen.
Something ? What is it ?
The peak of the Fujiwara Zone.
I've always wanted to ask you. What exactly is it ?
He didn't just start showing it recently, he did it a long time ago.
When I raced against him on Akina, I caught a glimpse of it.
I feel like it was refined after he raced against Purple Shadow.
Simply put, it's his level of training in the Eight-Six.
When it comes to Fujiwara, his level is beyond our normal imagination.
It must be the result of his abnormal practice environment.
You said he heard the voice of the Eight-Six during the previous battle.
In the auto industry, they often use the phrase, "The driver and the car as one"...
...but in reality, no one can handle one-ton of metal as if it were their limbs.
But something like that happens between Fujiwara and his Eight-Six.
He can use the best part of the tires just when they begin to skid whenever he wants.
He can also freely switch between the side for turning and the slide for acceleration.
As a result, what happens is that the Eight-Six accelerates like a 4WD.
No way, that's not possible.
Of course it's not.
The Eight-Six is still a rear-wheel drive car.
What I mean is that the Eight-Six maneuvers so sharply that it creates such an illusion.
It's a huge shock to see it from behind, especially to those who know what I mean.
Even if you enter a corner the same way, he points his car to the exit a moment quicker...
...then he steps on the gas with zero steering angle to accelerate earlier.
There is a moment when his driving style perfectly matches the peaky characteristics of the car.
I can't completely explain it.
You have things you can't explain ?
There are.
Especially things like the performance of Fujiwara and his Eight-Six...
...can't be explained by any theory.
Fujiwara Takumi: Takahashi Ryosuke: Takahashi Keisuke: Uehara Mika: Takeuchi Itsuki: Iketani Koichiro: Kenji:
Miki Shinichiro Koyasu Takehito Seki Tomokazu Hayami Saori Iwata Mitsuo Yao Kazuki Takagi Wataru
Kogashiwa Kai: Kogashiwa Ken: Omiya Satoshi Minagawa Hideo: Kubo Eiji: Hojo Gou: Fumihiro: Matsumoto: Kenta: 246A:
Kanna Nobutoshi Arimoto Kinryu Tochi Hiroki Konishi Hiroyuki Kase Yasuyuki Kiuchi Hidenobu Hosoi Hajime Nisho Ryotaro Okano Kosuke Maeda Hiroki
Fujiwara Bunta:
Ishizuka Unsho
Following the brake light of the front car.
Kurai michi no saki ni bonyari nijimu akari
It's the silence like a silent film.
A Central Anime Production Translation: Hiro-kun Timing: Todd Perkins Editing: Barbara Todd Perkins Brain Dave Mouse
Tayori ni naru mono wa sore shika mienakatta
Kono namiki michi wo nukete ikeba kitto
Tsukameru youna ki ga shita
Get up! I just can't understand.
Sokoniwa mada sagashimono wa nani mo nakute
Yeah, it starts at this moment.
Kono basho kara
Please turn over the flyleaf.
I lost my way.
Shiroku kumotta mado to
Mato hazure na navigation
Akaku kawatta shingou de
Side mirror ni utsuru shikai wo saegiru light
Tsumetai kaze ga hairikomanai youni
Mado wo sotto shimetanda
Get up! I just can't understand.
Soko ni hirogaru michi wo erande susumu bokuwa
Yeah, it starts at this moment.
Kimi ga iru nana
Please turn over the flyleaf.