Chapter 057

"Tak'll Win," Quoth Bunta (文太の予言 拓海は負けねえ!!, Bunta no Yogen Takumi ha Make Nē!!, "Bunta's prophecy: Takumi will not lose!") is the fifty-seventh chapter of Initial D.

Plot
Takumi tells the SpeedStars that he's excited to race, and that he sees no reason to back down. Kenji tells him that he doesnt stand a chance against Mako, which Takumi agrees with. He explains that he doesn't mind whether he wins or loses, and he doesn't care about his reputation if its exclusive to Akina.

Back on the expressway, Kenji apologises for being harsh to Iketani.

In the Eight-Six, Itsuki suggests Takumi get ahead of Mako during the race and block her, but Takumi thinks that would cheat him out of a good race. Itsuki says he wishes he was smart like Ryosuke Takahashi, which gives Takumi an idea.

At Usui, Sayuki finishes making adjustments to the SilEighty. She reminds Mako that they aren't going up against their usual type of opponent. Mako is thrilled to be facing the Eight-Six. Takumi and the SpeedStars arrive, and Mako and Sayuki are shocked about how young Takumi is. Sayuki explains that because the course is so narrow they'll race using cat and mouse rules, with one driver in front of the other. She gives Takumi the choice of position, and the SpeedStars pull him aside to discuss. They tell Takumi he should take the lead on the first run, allowing him to get a feel for the course before following on the second run. Takumi turns down their advice, and chooses to follow. At the start line, Iketani apologises to Takumi, saying he believes that Takumi's going to lose only so that he can look good for Mako. Takumi tells him not to worry, because he'll win.

At the Fujiwara Tofu Store, Bunta receives a call from Yuichi, who fills him in about the race on Usui. Yuichi tries to make a conversation, but Bunta tells him that Takumi will win, before hanging up.

Takumi tells Iketani that he's following behind because he has a plan, an idea he got after racing Ryosuke, and that he should just wait and watch.

Japan

 * September 23rd 1996 (Weekly Young Magazine, 1996 Volume 40)
 * February 4th 1997 (Tankōbon, Volume 06)

Chinese

 * June 1st 1998 (Tankōbon, Volume 06, Sharp Point Press)

English

 * June 17th 2003 (Tankōbon, Volume 06, Tokyopop)
 * April 17th 2019 (Digital re-release, Volume 06, Kodansha USA)

French

 * December 10th 2009 (Tankōbon, Volume 06, Kazé)

Italian

 * June 27th 2023 (Tankōbon 2-in-1, Volume 03, J-Pop)

Polish

 * July 2023 (Tankōbon 2-in-1, Volume 03, J. P. Fantastica)

Characters (in order of appearance)

 * Takumi Fujiwara
 * Itsuki Takeuchi
 * Koichiro Iketani
 * Kenji
 * Sayuki
 * Mako Sato
 * Bunta Fujiwara
 * Yuichi Tachibana

Cars (in order of appearance)

 * Nissan Silvia K's (S13)
 * Toyota Sprinter Trueno 3door GT-APEX (AE86)
 * Nissan SilEighty (RPS13)

Tokyopop/Kodansha USA version

 * Sayuki calls Mako "Simone", her own nickname, instead of "Maya".