Chapter 074

Kids at Play (不気味なエリア外新勢力!!, Bukimi na Eria Gai Shin Seiryoku!!, "Creepy new outside power!") is the seventy-fourth chapter of Initial D.

Plot
Kenta pleads with Keisuke to let him race, but Keisuke thinks it's a bad idea. However, Ryosuke agrees to let Kenta race, much to Keisuke's shock.

Iketani and Kenji talk about the race, and they wonder what they're going to do about the downhill.

Kenta challenges Takumi to a downhill race, but he is hesitant because he doesn't want to get in-between the NightKids and the RedSuns. Nakazato tells him that they've lost, and wont be competing on the downhill. Ryosuke tells Takumi that he doesn't have to treat the race as anything more than an exhibition match. Kenta goads Takumi by asking him if he's afraid of the rain, and Takumi accepts the challenge. Itsuki is surprised that Takumi would jump straight to the challenge. Kenta tells Takumi that they should be evenly matched, as they both drive naturally aspirated cars. Takumi tells Itsuki to come with him, as he doesn't want to have to drive back up the mountain to pick him up after the race.

A few spectators travel down the mountain to spread the news about the Eight-Six racing the S14.

Keisuke is disappointed that he doesn't get to face the Eight-Six, but Ryosuke tells him that he has reasons for why he doesn't want him to race. He tells him that they're going to put a video camera in the S14.

Somewhere on the mountain, two onlookers comment on the race, unimpressed with what they've seen. They decide to stick around to see the downhill, but agree that they've seen the best the area has to offer, and that they'll be able to beat all of Gunma before winter.

Japan

 * Feburary 10th 1997 (Weekly Young Magazine, 1997 Volume 8)
 * June 6th 1997 (Tankōbon, Volume 07)

Chinese

 * July 1st 1998 (Tankōbon, Volume 07, Sharp Point Press)

English

 * August 5th 2003 (Tankōbon, Volume 07, Tokyopop)
 * April 17th 2019 (Digital re-release, Volume 07, Kodansha USA)

French

 * February 25th 2010 (Tankōbon, Volume 07, Kazé)

Italian

 * August 29th 2023 (Tankōbon 2-in-1, Volume 04, J-Pop)

Characters (in order of appearance)

 * Kenta Nakamura
 * Keisuke Takahashi
 * Ryosuke Takahashi
 * Fumihiro
 * Koichiro Iketani
 * Kenji
 * Takumi Fujiwara
 * Itsuki Takeuchi
 * Takeshi Nakazato
 * Shingo Shoji
 * Kyoichi Sudo (Obscured)
 * Seiji Iwaki (Obscured)

Cars (in order of appearance)

 * Nissan Silvia Q's (S14)
 * Toyota Sprinter Trueno 3door GT-APEX (AE86)
 * Nissan 180SX (RPS13)
 * Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV RS (CN9A) (Obscured)