Chapter 043

Tak at the Crossroads of Destiny (拓海発進運命の瞬間(とき)!!, Takumi Hasshin Unmei no Toki!!, "The beginning of Takumi's destiny") is the forty-third chapter of Initial D.

Plot
At the top of Akina, the SpeedStars wait for Takumi to arrive.

The Takahashi brothers arrive on the mountain, and Keisuke comments on the tuning Ryosuke had done to his FC, noting that he is gaining speed in the corners.

Sayuki and Mako bicker about their intentions for attending the race, with Mako exclusively focusing on the racing, and Sayuki intent on checking them out. Another spectator recognises them as the fastest racers on Usui.

At the start line, Ryosuke tells Keisuke that if he loses he's going to stop racing, retiring into a support role in the RedSuns. He tells Keisuke that he has no intention of losing this battle, but that he will someday have to step up and lead the team. Ryosuke tells him that he can only think of two racers who will eventually beat him, naming Keisuke but trailing off before mentioning the second racing. He agrees with Keisuke, there's no way he's going to lose.

Takumi arrives on Akina.

Japan

 * June 3rd 1996 (Weekly Young Magazine, 1996 Volume 24)
 * August 6th 1996 (Tankōbon, Volume 04)

Chinese

 * April 1st 1998 (Tankōbon, Volume 04, Sharp Point Press)

English

 * October 22nd 2002 (Tankōbon, Volume 04, Tokyopop)
 * April 17th 2019 (Digital re-release, Volume 04, Kodansha USA)

French

 * August 27th 2009 (Tankōbon, Volume 04, Kazé)

Italian

 * March 28th 2023 (Tankōbon 2-in-1, Volume 02, J-Pop)

Polish

 * April 2023 (Tankōbon 2-in-1, Volume 02, J. P. Fantastica)

Characters (in order of appearance)

 * Takumi Fujiwara (cover only)
 * Kenji
 * Koichiro Iketani
 * Itsuki Takeuchi
 * Keisuke Takahashi
 * Sayuki
 * Mako Sato
 * Ryosuke Takahashi

Cars (in order of appearance)

 * Mazda SAVANNA RX-7 Infini III (FC3S)
 * Mazda ɛ̃fini RX-7 Type R (FD3S)
 * Nissan SilEighty (RPS13)
 * Toyota Sprinter Trueno 3door GT-APEX (AE86)

Tokyopop/Kodansha USA version

 * In the Kodansha USA release, several sound effect text bubbles have placeholder text.
 * Challenged is misspelled as "challeneged"