Fifth Stage - Act 8

White Devil (白い悪魔, Shiroi akuma) is the eighth Act of Initial D Fifth Stage.

This episode features the second part of the battle between Keisuke Takahashi and Ryuji Ikeda.

This episode also features the battle between Takumi Fujiwara and Hiroya Okuyama.

Synopsis
The downhill battle between Takumi and Hiroya "Zero 1" Okuyama's S15 starts, with Okuyama waiting to attack until the later section because of the fog. However, he hasn't considered the ability of Takumi's adaptability skills. Whilst this is on, another battle is in the midst: Ryosuke's inevitable battle with the driver known as the 'Grim Reaper', Rin Hojo.

Plot
As Ikeda and Keisuke race through the thick white void of fog, Keisuke suddenly comes next to Ikeda and accelerates thanks to the signal from Kenta. Realizing he doesn't have what it takes to maintain this much pace on battle with a near zero visibility condition, Ikeda eases up the accelerator, allowing Keisuke to overtake him. Soon they both clear the fog with Keisuke racing ahead to victory and Ikeda accepting his defeat while he praises Keisuke for his performance. After he arrives to Project D members, Keisuke is met by an anxiously happy Kenta who is thrilled by his victory. Ryosuke states the winning tactic was something which Keisuke came up on his own. Ryosuke tells him that his move on the high speed section was to praised as it had an S-curve. Keisuke responds that while his months of training had helped him, it was only due to Kenta's signal that he was able to make the move. Meanwhile Ikeda tells Junichi Sakamoto about how he is facing headache thanks to the intensity of the battle. He tells it was due to the difference in their fighting spirit that he lost. However Junichi finds the results unacceptable and requests for a rematch. But Ikeda declines it saying there's no proof that the results would have been different in a different weather condition. Also he is happy with the race as they both gave it their all, and tells moments like this only comes once. And since this was a street race, weather conditions are no excuse. He also realizes that he needs to improve his Zero Theory. Meanwhile Hiroya Okuyama arrives for the battle and tells his team members that his opponent's decision to take the lead position is unusual as it can be a heavy drawback in such fog conditions. Eiji Kubo and Go Hojo discusses about the battle, especially the upcoming downhill battle. Meanwhile as Takumi gets ready, Ryosuke gives him advice that he should go at 80% in the beginning, and once he picks up the rhythm he can increase it to 90% and can go all out once he feels like it. When asked by Takumi on how long should he wait to reach that timing, Ryosuke tells him to finish the battle off before they reach 1/3rd of the course. Soon the downhill race starts off, with both cars maintaining the pace in the fog. Eiji and Go realizes the race started, with Go calling Mrs. Inui somewhere just down the course. Near the S-curve Mrs. Inui receives the call from Go and informs Shinji about the 'yellow car' from earlier won the race and now the second race had begun. But Shinji was not feeling interested in watching the race at all. Then suddenly the AE86 and the S15 comes into view, and when the Eight-Six in lead slides into the S-curve, Shinji observes that car peculiarly. As both cars clear the corner, Shinji tells his mom that he saw 'wings' on the white car. When being told by his mom that the Eight-Six doesn't have any GT Wing, he tells that it was not those wings, but an angelic wings he visualized around the car. As Okuyama chases the Eight-Six ahead of him, he feels the lead driver isn't going at fast enough, as expected from the fog. He believes his decision to take the chase is the right choice. Meanwhile Fumihiro asks Ryosuke on what advice he gave Takumi. Ryosuke simply tells him that Takumi can already win due to the racing conditions. He just wanted the opponent to not gain too much data. Ryosuke tells him that he is already focusing on the next battle. When asked by Fumihiro that if he meant the final battle against the Sidewinders, Ryosuke discreetly states 'Yeah, you could say that'. Ryosuke thinks to himself of the battle which awaits him next. As the battle progressed, Takumi increased his pace as per instructions, which was noted by Okuyama as his driving sense. He hopes that Takumi makes a mistake on the second half of the course due to his pace in the fog. As the race progresses, Kenta doubts the chances of Takumi winning as Okuyama's Silvia was much better tuned than Takumi's. However Keisuke tells him that since they are not battling in an ideal conditions on a circuit, it all comes down to the driver. And when the conditions deteriorate, the 'Fujiwara Zone' of Takumi gets more refined. Even Keisuke's blind training set-up by Ryosuke was inspired from Takumi's zone. Meanwhile Okuyama realizes that Takumi has increased his pace way beyond his comfort for following and fears for the upcoming right-hand hairpin. But he assures himself that he can catch up with him after the corner. Suddenly as the hairpin approaches, Takumi goes all in, and for a moment when Okuyama thought Takumi couldn't make it, the latter suddenly clears the corner, disappearing from his view in the fog. Shocked, but still maintaining his calmness, Okuyama tries to catch up with him desperately, however much to his loss and surprise, he sees the Eight-Six clearing corners much faster than him, and loses sight of henceforth after the next corner. Okuyama realizes in total loss that he has been defeated. After the battle ends with a Project D victory over Team Spiral, Ikeda states to Sakamoto and the rest of his team that while he was aware that Okuyama would make it back safely, he purposefully didn't give him any advice as to make sure that he would lose, so that he can gain experience, which he wouldn't have gained otherwise, and help him grow. Eiji Kubo and Go Hojo discusses about the battles on the fact that neither Team Spiral, nor their own team could get any proper grasp on the information of the race thanks to the fog. Go is however happy, as now they can finally battle Project D next. As Shinji and his mom leaves the touge, Shinji briefly stops by to imagine the white Eight-Six with angelic wings. The next evening at Gunma Takumi meets the SpeedStars at the gas station. He then tells them about how he was lucky that they could battle in the fog, which he regards as the reason he could beat his opponent and his well tuned car, as he tends to concentrate better when conditions are severe. Itsuki proudly tells Iketani on how he was right about Takumi yesterday. Iketani then tells Takumi that they have applied for leave for witnessing Project D's final battle at Kanagawa Prefecture, and all of SpeedStars will be there for the support. Later that night, a heavily modified lone white Mazda FC3S RX-7 is seen driving down at full speeds on the corners of Akagi. The car soon approaches and stops at a parking lot, where Matsumoto meets up with Ryosuke, as he's seen exiting the car in a formal suit. He discusses with Matsumoto on the well tuned performance of this modification. Matsumoto asks Ryosuke if he really wanted to do this, as the opponent he will be facing is not any other person, and the final Project D is battle is next up. Ryosuke however stands by his decision, knowing its fate he can't avoid. Ryosuke promises to return back safely after the battle. Matsumoto then leaves him a condition if that's the case. The next day at Akagi, Kenta tells Keisuke about Ryosuke and his FC being spotted at their touge, this time with a huge GT Wing. This surprises Keisuke, but also started to make some sense as he rarely saw his brother's car at their garage in the recent times, which starts to worry him. Later that night at the Daikan Observatory at Hakone Turnpike, Rin Hojo stands alone with his grey R32 GT-R in the fog, reminiscing his time with his late fiancée, Kaori. He compares his loneliness and solitude with the fog of Hakone. Just as then, a white FC3S approaches the parking-lot and stops in front of him. Ryosuke Takahashi emerges from his car and approaches Rin, as both men decide to test out their fates.

Airdates

 * Animax: February 8, 2013

Characters (in order of appearance)

 * 1) Keisuke Takahashi
 * 2) Ryuji Ikeda
 * 3) Kenta Nakamura
 * 4) Tomiguchi
 * 5) Fumihiro
 * 6) Ryosuke Takahashi
 * 7) Junichi Sakamoto
 * 8) Hiroya Okuyama
 * 9) Eiji Kubo
 * 10) Go Hojo
 * 11) Shuichi Matsumoto
 * 12) Takumi Fujiwara
 * 13) Mrs. Inui
 * 14) Shinji Inui
 * 15) Koichiro Iketani
 * 16) Itsuki Takeuchi
 * 17) Rin Hojo

Cars

 * 1) Nissan Fairlady Z Version S (Z33)
 * 2) Mazda ɛ̃fini RX-7 Type R (FD3S)
 * 3) Nissan Silvia Spec R Aero (S15)
 * 4) Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX (AE86)
 * 5) Mazda SAVANNA RX-7 ∞ III (FC3S)
 * 6) Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (BNR32)

Music

 * 1) Raise Up - M.o.v.e
 * 2) I Won't Fall Apart - Jager
 * 3) 夕愁想花 - M.o.v.e

Quotes
Ryuji Ikeda: But I'm satisfied with the race's quality, which can't be shown by just the time. We used everything we had at unimaginable speed in the fog. I can't repeat such a miracle battle even if I'm asked to. Such moments only come once. That's why I'm satisfied. As long as we race on public streets, the weather can't be an excuse.

Shinji Inui: I saw wings.

Mrs. Inui: Huh ? Wings ?

Shinji Inui: On the white one in the lead.

Mrs. Inui: On the Eight-Six ? It didn't have a wing.

Shinji Inui: No, I didn't mean that. saw (imagines)...white wings like on birds.

Keisuke Takahashi: I keep telling you the same thing over and over, Kenta. The most fearsome mountain pass driver is...(showing Takumi),...him.

Rin Hojo: Hakone's fog is nice. It hides the dirty side of reality. When I stand still like this, there's nothing other than absolute silence...and overwhelming loneliness. This is the state of nirvana, right, Kaori? Ever since I lost you, I feel like I've been standing in the fog. I'm going to have a race against Ryosuke where we both bet our lives. I'll send one of us to your side. So make a choice. This time, follow your heart, Kaori.

Differences from the Manga

 * Some conversation between random spectators on the downhill battle was not adapted for the anime.
 * Keisuke is seen smoking cigarette when talking to Kenta about Takumi. In the anime he doesn't smoke.
 * Takumi's meeting with the SpeedStars after the race seems to be during night-time in the manga, while its in the evening in the anime.
 * Some bystanders witness Ryosuke's FC going to Hakone through the toll booth and discusses about it, which was removed.
 * Kenta's interaction with Keisuke about Ryosuke's FC being spotted with a wing took place at the same night Ryosuke battles with Rin Hojo. However in the anime, its seen taking place at daylight.
 * However, in both the manga and the anime, they are seen discussing with Fumihiro (and Takumi in a date with Mika) at the same night. Hence it's come to a conclusion that the daytime scene must have been an error in direction.

Notes & Trivia

 * Kenta's Nissan Silvia is mentioned for the final time in the show, after it's seen in a flashback in Fourth Stage and properly seen in Second Stage.