Initial D Fourth Stage

"This story is fiction.

All names of characters, places and

organizations in the story are fictional.

Follow the traffic rules and drive safely."

Blastin' off to the wicked show, splitting the air with that sputterin' noise

Let's go, ride that thing to the throwdown party

Determination that never backs down, the dogfight

I wanna feel the thrill of the screams in the phat red zone

A brief flash, like a comet

The brightness lasts a second, but I don't care

Someday, I wanna tell of that glimpse of precious scenery

Yes, right now it's a purely instinctual dogfight

If it's a thrilling dream you're after, it's right here

A wind that shatters the heat haze, backfire

C'mon, throw away yesterday, right now it's a rocket dance (Dogfight!)

If the wish you can't scream aloud hurts, then hurry and come here

You're big time gambler

Foolishness is a beautiful contour

Crazy game

Baby, this is your ecstasy

Ha ha! Tha loud sound is everywhere

Sideswipe, a 5G heavyweight

Runnin' right to the line, a hair's breadth between offense and defense

Ba-ba-baaam!

Yo, I can step on the gas for an easy victory, I still got it

"Back / Forward / Cancel"

This is it!

Project D!

Awesome! They won again!

--It's a course record! --Unbelievable, huh?

They keep winning races in enemy territory!

What's "Project D"?

You know Ryosuke Takahashi, right?

Oh! That super good-looking guy!

It's a special team he made to go outside their prefecture.

They scout out a bunch of challengers on the Internet

then post the results online.

They even write the names of all the challengers and streets!

"Hakuen Momiji Line

Touge Tea House"

Will they really come?

It looks like the real deal, Tohru.

Supposedly they even showed up at the Asagiri toll road the other day.

This'll be fun. I'll do the downhill.

I'll leave the uphill to your R34.

Yeah, that's what I'd planned on.

I don't know the caliber of guys they've got in the Gunma area...

"Souvenirs"

...but if they think they can look down on us,

then let's give 'em a lesson in pain!

"Act 1: Project D"

Huh? Tires again?

You just bought some the other day.

Those were just cheap ones. The grip's no good.

I've gotta have a set I can count on for timed races.

Come on, Naho.

It's like this!

When I get my summer bonus, I'll pay ya back in a flash.

You spend too much money on your car.

You should think about the future a little and save some money!

It's been six years since we started going out,

but at this rate, we'll never be able to get married!

Not this again.

I've heard this more times than I can count.

I keep telling you because you still don't get it, right?!

Fine. If you're going to say it like that, I'll lend it to you.

Really? Thanks!

But...

...on one condition.

Condition?

If you lose this next race, you have to give up racing!

Wh-What?!

I mean it this time.

If you don't keep your promise, I'll break up with you for real.

The feeling of new tires is the best!

I'm gonna win! Naho's important to me, but...

...there's no friggin' way I'm gonna quit racing!

Tohru! They're here!

So they came, eh? Project D!

An FD and...

What's that?

An Eight-Six?

These guys are awesome!

They might be the real deal.

Hey Ryosuke, get up. We're here.

Please get up, Ryosuke.

Ryosuke!

Ryosuke has such incredible concentration on anything he does.

He hasn't opened his eyes once since we left Takasaki.

Big brother knows what works most efficiently.

Sorry Matsumoto, but please get me a bottle of cold water.

Okay.

Let's begin.

Hello. We're Project D, and we've come from the Gunma area.

We're called Seven Star Leaf.

Our team mainly runs this course. You'll be going up against us.

It will be a pleasure. I believe you've already been informed,

but do you agree to let us have this course tonight for training,

with the actual race being tomorrow?

Yeah, I heard. That's fine.

Far as I can see, you've only got two cars, an FD and an Eight-Six.

Are those the only two you've got?

We're an expeditionary team.

We've cut down on the number of cars to eliminate waste.

The Eight-Six handles downhill races...

...and the FD handles uphills.

They are the twin aces of our team.

Very well, with your permission we'll now begin.

They're more polite than I expected.

It's sort of a letdown how friendly they are, huh?

Racing with just two cars is unexpected enough,

but what the heck are those three minivans? A support team?

The Eight-Six's underbody configuration will end up like this.

These guys aren't your normal team.

In a racing team, everyone races, right?

But having a support crew tag along for just two cars...

They may be a team, but they're more like traveling circuit racers.

I'm not gonna be fooled by appearances, Atsuro!

What can these guys possibly do in a single night?!

Our team's been active for two years. At even a moderate guess,

we've run this a thousand times!

Support team or not, it won't make a difference!

A race is between two drivers, right?!

In a battle between 1.6-liter cars, there's no way I'll lose!

It's local pride!

You think I'm gonna be beaten by some Eight-Six?

Understood. This is good.

Make it so that, as much as possible,

Fujiwara will voice his opinions and be made to think for himself.

All right.

I believe he can't say anything of importance yet,

but what is most crucial now is that he be made to think.

Understood.

Have you watched the video?

Yes, about 40 times.

Then you should have the course in your head.

Run the first five times at about 70% speed.

There will be a slight difference

between the course as envisioned and how it is when actually racing it.

Your first job will be to adjust for that discrepancy.

Okay.

Keisuke, you understand as well, yes?

We don't pick up the pace till this stage is completed.

Yeah, not to worry.

Very well. Go!

I'm headin' out, too. Once I do up the tires, I'm good to go!

It's probably like Tohru said.

What can they do in a single night... right?

That's how we've gotta think.

We can ponder all kinds of stuff,

but in the end, when racin' out on the course...

...all you can believe in are your own driving skills and your car!

"Fujiwara Tofu Shop"

I'll be back.

Thank you very much!

You're in a rather good mood, Itsuki.

That I am, Mr. Iketani! Because it's almost payday!

Oh, that's right.

It'll be your first paycheck since becoming a full-time employee.

Sure enough, it's a different feeling from working part-time!

It feels like I've become an adult!

And once you get your pay, what will you spend it on?

That should be obvious. I'm adding a turbo to my Eight-Five!

To your Eight-Five, huh?

As it is, my Eight-Five can already...

Vroom!

...pull ahead of that S13 of yours no problem!

I've already got an estimate on a loan!

Little by little, I'm getting closer to realizing my dream!

It won't be long now before Akina's Eight-Five

becomes known in rumor as the car of a legendary racer!

Listen to you!

I wanna be like Takumi, tearing up the mountain pass in style!

Speaking of, I wonder what Takumi's doing right now...