Second Stage - Act 2

Team Emperor on Akina (ランエボ軍団、秋名出撃!, Ran'ebo gundan, Akina shutsugeki!) is the second Act of Initial D: Second Stage.

This episode features the second half of the battle between Takeshi Nakazato and Seiji Iwaki.

It also features the beginning of the battle between Takumi Fujiwara and Seiji Iwaki.

Synopsis
Upgrades for the Takumi’s Eight-Six are considered to increase its power. Elsewhere, Team Emperor continues to sweep across Gunma, defeating everyone else with ease. Takumi and his Eight-Six is next on their list.

Plot
The race between Nakazato and Seiji continues and Nakazato vows not to lose to them Emperors. Seiji makes his move by overtaking Nakazato from the inside of a corner. Upon hearing the news, Shingo wonders if Emperors were too bold to do that move in front of Nakazato this early. Back at the Takahashi household, Keisuke heard of the race taking part in Myogi and wonders who will actually win. He hopes for Nakazato to win for a change and is in disgust with Seiji's method of taking team stickers each time he wins. Ryosuke states Takeshi's power lies in his boldness and offensive strategies which makes Keisuke dislike him. If he's on his game face he can be very fast but when he loses cool he gets under pressure and hopes he can recover from his defeat by Keisuke. If not, he will have a rough struggle in his battle. Back at the race, Takeshi attempts to make up an offense to catch upto Seiji, but ends up in understeering and crashing his R32 into a wall, knocking him out of the race in rage. Takeshi then hands his team sticker to Seiji and placed it on his spoiler. Seiji boasts on that they will conquer all of Gunma only for Shingo to hopelessly say it won't be easy for them. Seiji tells them to say all they want but if they see them around their turf they will move out of their way. In the morning at the gas station the gang were shocked of Nakazato's defeat. Itsuki felt remorseful for Takeshi. They will have to be prepared for Team Emperor's challenge. Knowing they will challenge Takumi he tells him its ok for him to not accept but his undefeatable record would be a good source of pride. However Takumi decides to race them much to Itsuki's delight but Kenji and Iketani are still doubtful of him winning. Yuichi suggests Bunta to make changes to the Eight-Six but much to his surprise he already found a suitable engine for the car knowing the engine is already passing it's time. Yuichi believes he is joking around with him so Bunta drives him to the garage to show he's telling the truth. Masashi Suzuki then shows Yuichi the engine in which Bunta found in his garage. Yuichi was blown away on seeing it, and Bunta had the chills too, but however he won't allow the engine to be installed right away unless Takumi accomplishes something. He is reluctant to tell them both on what Takumi has to do. Both promised neither will tell Takumi. He tells them he has to lose in order to know through failure to know there is much more than just winning and he has to be the one responsible to wreck the engine. Then he can install it to change Takumi's outlook as a driver. Back at a parking lot, Seiji wishes racing more worthy opponents. Sudo decides the following night Team Emperor will strike at Akina. Seiji is reluctant to race the Eight-Six but Kyoichi offers he would be willing to race him instead if he doesn't want to. He reminds them that Ryosuke is their main target but before him, they must defeat Akina's Eight-Six first. He said he can battle him himself as he had checked Akina and his car seemed more suitable. Seiji then tells him that the only car that can defeat his Evo IV is Kyoichi's Evo III, and with that Seiji takes up the challenge to his hands. Later in the morning, Takumi finds a letter in his locker by a anonymous sender informing him of Natsuki's secret dating with the Mercedes Benz driver much to his shock. Takumi hides the note from Itsuki and the two walk home together. Itsuki suggests Takumi to read about capabilities of the Lan Evo IV to come up with a strategy in the upcoming race but Takumi declines. Itsuki implores Takumi for upgrading his car with modifications but he has no thoughts about it yet. After reaching home, Takumi check's his car's engine, but had no clue about anything. It was at this time Iketani arrives at Takumi's house in his S13 to tell him that the Emperors are coming to Akina that night to challenge him. Later that night at Akina, the Emperors arrive. Itsuki recognizes them as the same people they met at the lake earlier. Kyoichi tells them they are here to battle Akina's Eight-Six, and he's ready to accept any stipulations of this race. But if they lose even one race, they'll have to hand over their team sticker, which the SpeedStars agrees with. When asked by Iketani who will race, Seiji tells them its him. Iketani accepts racing Kyoichi if Takumi were to lose and Kenji too volunteers. When Takumi arrives to race Seiji. Kyoichi orders Seiji to run the race using Simulation 3, which he finds a waste of time to do in an Eight-Six. Kyoichi senses energy on Takumi and is eager to see how he was able to beat Ryosuke. Kenji offered to start the countdown, but Kyoichi refuse to let the race a time trial but a normal race where the under-powered car leads first while the chaser follows to study their opponents, which he called as the 'Handicap Method'. Seiji remembers Takumi back in the lake and never would have expected him to be the driver of Akina's Eight-Six and thought Simulation 3 on an out of date Eight-Six is wasted talent. The race begins with Takumi starting off ahead, and Seiji soon following him, with him saying he won't show the how incredible his car is, but how incredible he is.

Airdates

 * Fuji TV: October 21, 1999

Characters (in order of appearance)

 * 1) Takeshi Nakazato
 * 2) Seiji Iwaki
 * 3) Shingo Shoji
 * 4) Kyoichi Sudo
 * 5) Keisuke Takahashi
 * 6) Ryosuke Takahashi
 * 7) Kenji
 * 8) Itsuki Takeuchi
 * 9) Koichiro Iketani
 * 10) Takumi Fujiwara
 * 11) Yuichi Tachibana
 * 12) Bunta Fujiwara
 * 13) Masashi Suzuki
 * 14) Natsuki Mogi (Imagined)

Cars

 * 1) Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (BNR32)
 * 2) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV RS (CN9A)
 * 3) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III GSR (CE9A)
 * 4) Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX (AE86)
 * 5) Nissan Silvia K's (S13)

Music

 * 1) Blazin' Beat - M.o.v.e
 * 2) 100 - Dave Rodgers
 * 3) キミがいる (Kimi Ga Iru) - Galla

Quotes
Iketani: Takumi listen up. Team Emperor will most likely target you next but don't have to do this. Your undefeated legend is a good source of pride on our team. We don't want that ruined by the Lan-Evo team. And you aren't officially a member of the Akina SpeedStars.

Kenji: And I want you to preserve your undefeated streak too. This Lan-Evo challenge is serious. Your pretty much going up against a car from the WRC. The body is very light equipped with a turbo. It has no weaknesses. No such car should be allowed in the mountain pass.

Takumi: Well I hate to back down. I want to race them as much as you. I'm ready for them.

Kyoichi: Listen up Seiji. I need you to approach this race with "Simulation 3".

Seiji: "Simulation 3" against an Eight-Six?Your kidding

Kyoichi: No I'm serious. (In his mind) I can tell. This kid's got energy. I sensed his aura from the moment we met at the lake. The Eight-Six is the real deal. There must be some sort of secret behind the wheel that allowed him to beat Ryosuke Takahashi. Until we know the secret, we can't let our guard down.

Notes & Trivia

 * The person who gave Takumi the note on Natsuki's illicit relationship was Shiraishi, the Mercedes guy's daughter. She was not shown in the anime.