Takumi Fujiwara vs Tomoyuki Tachi

The battle between Takumi Fujiwara and Tomoyuki Tachi is the twenty-ninth battle of Initial D. It also marks the first appearance of the Blind Attack.

Prior to the Battle
Both Keisuke and Takumi run the course with a time attack. Despite Keisuke being faster on the time attack, Ryosuke summons Takumi to race Tachi to take a gamble, relying on him to test him to come up with ways to overcome barriers he will have to experience and to have Tachi underestimate Takumi (whom he hoped to race the FD). Keisuke was angry with his decision but Ryosuke will soon make him realise why he chose Takumi to race him despite faster timing than him.

During the Battle
As the race begins, Tachi is surprised with the power the Eight-Six's engine has and decides not to hold back. Takumi secretly struggles as Tachi implied. During the progress of the race, Keisuke soon realised why Ryosuke chose Takumi while he excels on the uphill, he wouldn't keep up with him if they switch position on the downhill as his instincts aren't on the same league as Takumi's is which he realised is part of Ryosuke's strategy to test him. On the 4 snake hairpins, Tachi catches Takumi off guard overtaking him on his blind spot similar to how Takumi overtook Nakazato in Akina. Kyoichi confirms to Seiji the technique used is called the "vanishing line" in which circuit racers are adept to. Takumi puts his heart on his Eight-Six. Both drivers approach the traffic cones switching the position to the uphill. Takumi came up with the strategy to catch him off guard in the tunnel.

He turns off the headlights as he exits the tunnel. Tachi gets caught off guard and Takumi overtakes after turning on the headlights again reversing the situation. Tachi is impressed of being overtaken by an opponent on his turf. He regains the lead by slightly tapping Takumi during a drift.

Takumi turns the headlights off again. Tachi is confused how he would be able to do such thing. Takumi then tries to ignore the vision of his opponent out of his head focussing on finding an opening to overtake. Tachi acknowledges Takumi as his best opponent. However as he claims victory, a black cat startled him causing him to give an opening for Takumi to pass him and wins the battle by a small notch.

After the Battle
Takumi believed Tachi swerved out of his way on purpose. Tachi told him he instinctively dodged the cat after being startled believing it was bad luck on his part. Tachi declared Takumi the winner despite that.

Fourth Stage

 * Don't Go Baby - Maiko
 * All Around - Lia
 * Secret Love - Nutty
 * Forever Young - Symbol

Battle Stage 2

 * Switch - Melissa White & Ace
 * Let It Burn - Go 2

Special Stage

 * Crazy Night - Boys Band
 * Express Love - Mega NRG Man

Arcade Stage 8 Infinity

 * Nonsense Sensation - Paul Harris

Arcade Stage 8 RivalSide Info
Story arc: Todo Juku

Driver: Tomoyuki Tachi

Car: Honda Civic Type R (EK9)

Opponent: Takumi Fujiwara

Team: Project D

Car: Toyota Trueno GT-APEX (AE86)

Mission: Do not get overtaken by Rival

1-ryu Condition: Do not get overtaken 4 times

Cho 1-ryu Condition: Do not get overtaken 2 times

Course: Happogahara

Rule: Inbound

Start: Standing

Weather: Clear

Time of day: Night