Ryuji Ikeda vs Rin Hojo (Impromptu)

"I only know one man who'd be so reckless. It has to be him. That dark silver R32 is... the Grim Reaper's GT-R!"

- Ryuji Ikeda

The impromptu battle between Ryuji Ikeda and Rin Hojo is the forty-fifth battle of Initial D.

Prior to the Battle
Following the battle of Hideo Minagawa and Keisuke Takahashi, Project D is given time off before an official battle between Team Spiral. During this time, Hiroya Okuyama and Ryuji Ikeda discuss the previous battle at the Daikanzan Observation Deck building at the Hakone Turnpike. with Ryuji leaving afterwards. An unknown vehicle, though later revealed as Rin Hojo's Nissan Skyline GT-R BNR32, pulls up behind him while he is driving. Ryuji sees this as a challenge and immediately begins to speed up, with Rin following closely behind.

During the Battle
Ryuji notes that the driver of the GT-R must not be a local since normally locals don't pick a fight with him, but still he proceeds to speed up to battle him. Shortly after Ryuji begins to accept the challenge, the two pass a white Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, with the two passengers noting the presence of Ryuji and the R32, though the driver of the R32 is still not revealed at this point, they did begin to realize it was that one person they knew who would drive an R32 at this pass. Ryuji begins to feel pressured as he realized the GT-R driver was indeed a local, as he knew the exact braking points of the course. As he brakes to enter into a high-speed corner, he was suddenly shunted by the GT-R from behind. Ryuji is barely able to regain control of his car before he almost smashes into the guardrail. By that time he realized who the driver was as only he would drive this dangerously in the course. Ikeda continues on, still attempting to get away. Go Hojo and Eiji Kubo discuss the reappearance of the "Grim Reaper GT-R", with Hojo stating that regardless of what Rin does, his true target is Ryosuke Takahashi, and also starts to bring up Kaori during his explanation.

By this time Ikeda enters another high speed corner and slides into it as he braked more late and Rin shunts Ikeda's Z33 once again, sending him into an even harder situation. Ryuji still gains control and drives forward, before inevitably pulling over at a layby after realizing that he might damage his car further before his battle against Keisuke Takahashi if he continues. Rin passes him and keeps speeding down the road as Ikeda vows to take revenge on him later on.

After the Battle
Following the battle, there is a short scene with the Akina SpeedStars discussing Project D's third round against Team Spiral, as well as the idea of sending members of the SpeedStars to support Project D. It quickly cuts to Project D and Team Spiral meeting in Nagao for their battle, with both teams introducing their team leaders and drivers. It is noted by Junichi Sakamoto, a non-participating driver of Team Spiral, that Hiroya Okuyama hadn't arrived to greet Project D, as he normally doesn't. Project D takes practice runs at Nagao.

Battle Stage 3

 * Back To The Rising Sun - Powerful T.

Trivia

 * This is the only battle in Fifth Stage to not use any Eurobeat.