Final Stage - Act 4

Dream (ドリーム, Dorīmu) is the fourth and final Act of Initial D: Final Stage, as well as the eighty fifth and final Act of the series.

This episode features the fourth and final part of the battle between Takumi Fujiwara and Shinji Inui.

Synopsis
The intense downhill battle between the two drivers are reaching an end, as Takumi and Shinji race to their absolute limits. As this battle comes to a close, and the reign of Project D finally ends, the true meaning behind the "D" will be revealed. As the characters go on different paths, Takumi's passion to be "the fastest one out there" will never end.

Plot
As Takumi chases a now terrified Shinji who earlier thought nobody can keep up with him, he gets into a flashback some days ago in his house where he tells his mother on how Go Hojo complimented him for being fast and how others can't keep up with him. Mrs. Inui tells him to be modest as there are other drivers faster than him, but Shinji is sure that no one else can't keep up with him. In another flashback on a few days later, Shinji tells his mother while driving that a major street race was announced by Go, but he doesn't feel like participating in it as Go behaved more seriously. As the flashback ends, Shinji realized his mother was right on other drivers being faster than him as he proceeds to be tailed by Takumi. It was at this moment Takumi felt and realized he has a chance of overtaking. He suddenly uses the blind attack technique and then almost instantly comes next to Shinji's Eight-Six, reopening his headlights and catching the latter by surprise as he comes next to him in the upcoming corner. As they both corner, Takumi states how Shinji is the type of driver to be disappointed when they don't get to choose their racing line. As the corner ends Takumi pulls ahead of Shinji when suddenly he notices angelic wings sprouting out of Takumi's Eight-Six. Takumi plans to end the battle with no second round as his car is tuned specifically for the upcoming low speed corners. Eiji Kubo gets the news of Takumi passing Shinji and states that he had underestimated Takumi's skills on staying behind Shinji and now that he had even passed him. Go hearing this tells he is glad he had recruited Shinji for the battle as only Takumi can put so much pressure on him which gets him the realization on how much his passion for driving is. Meanwhile as Shinji now chases Takumi, he realizes to himself that he's been overconfident about the race and how he's just an ordinary kid who's got nothing special, but when it comes to racing in this course, there's no way he's going to lose this battle.

Meanwhile Ryosuke states to Project D members on how Shinji's cornering technique is unique in such a way that his entrance and exit speed remaining the same, resulting in his tyre wear being evened out as he doesn't brake on corners. Keisuke realizes this means Shinji has the advantage in tyre potential which is important for the final sections of the course. Meanwhile Takumi feels a dangerous aura behind him and realizes he must concentrate more so that he won't lose. Kenta gets the news of Takumi being in the lead and thinks its weird that they've been passed three times in this race so far as this course doesn't have much straightaways. Keisuke states those two don't fit the theories of the race and the only way they overtake is with their strong motivation, as he states "every corner is a passing point" for them. Shinji now sees openings available for him to retake the lead as Takumi struggles with his front tyres. As they both approach a corner, Shinji takes the inside, but lacks the speed and cornering and bumps into Takumi's side as they both return back to their positions, shocking some spectators seeing body contact being made. Ryosuke then states how Shinji's cornering technique is due to his exceptional course knowledge and even Takumi can't replicate him. So while Takumi is struggling with understeer from front tyres, his last trump card will be his car's "high revolution zone". As Shinji fails in another overtake attempt and results in another body contact, Takumi gets into a flashback with Ryosuke and Matsumoto a few days ago where they explain on how they have modified his 20V-4AG engine in such a that now it produces more torque in the higher range, which earlier was concealed upto 9000RPM. The Speedstars were waiting anxiously at the one of the final hairpin turns when suddenly Takumi and Shinji makes an appearance there, and to their shock Shinji overtakes Takumi with a body contact just in front of them at the hairpin as Takumi understeered. Iketani realized Takumi's cornering speed is lost for some reason and wonders if he has any more chance of turning this around, but Itsuki firmly believes Takumi can do it. Meanwhile as Takumi realized there's no way he can win in the second round, he remembers his earlier flashback with Ryosuke and Matsumoto where they explain how gears with wider RPM range means more wider range for the engine. So while the opponent shifts his car at his top RPM range, Takumi can almost catch with him if he keeps his foot down on an engine with more RPM range. However Ryosuke warns it can stress the engine so only use if he has to. Takumi at present realizing he has no other choice but to attack, he decides go for it. He once again uses blind attack and shuts off his headlights, surprising the spectators nearby. Takumi finds an opening as they reach a straight and comes next to Shinji, alerting him as he accidentally makes body contact with him. Shinji doesn't have any plans on giving up the way as they both battle side by side on the narrow road, making body contacts with each other and objects on the road. As the both approach the final corner with Takumi inching away from Shinji he decides to turn on his headlights back, only to realize that his engine's been crossing the RPM limit, suddenly blowing up his engine now for the second time and sending his Eight-Six in a spin as Shinji also follows the suit and spins out on reflex. Takumi then suddenly presses on the clutch as he rolls in reverse towards the finish line in front of a shocked Shinji who now recovered and stops at the finish line with a cheering spectators. Takumi now looking at his broken Eight-Six explains to Ryosuke and Matsumoto he had no choice and how his Eight-Six felt like sacrificing itself for the final win. Ryosuke states his experience decided on his win this dogfight. Meanwhile Speedstars and rest of the other team members Project D raced earlier congratulates him. Meanwhile Shinji expresses his disappointment in not winning and apologizes to the Sidewinders when Eiji and Go positively state he did amazing and no one's blaming him. His mother hugs him from happiness and Go states this loss can make Shinji stronger and faster. Mika suddenly wakes delightedly upon hearing Takumi's new text message in her phone, which she had been waiting for a while. At the Esso Gas Station the next day, while Takumi and Itsuki cleans the Eight-Six Yuichi Tachibana explains to Iketani and Kenji how Takumi's Eight-Six deserves to be put to rest after finishing its legendary status with Takumi. When Takumi insists Bunta on keeping the Eight-Six at home just for the sake of having it, he agrees much to the delight of both Takumi and Itsuki. Later on him and Mika are seen at a golf course where Mika tells him on how much he had improved in it. At Lake Akagi on an evening the rest of Project D members excluding Takumi has a farewell party where they discuss on Takumi's and Keisuke's futures as professional racing drivers from the offers they've been getting. A drunk Keisuke enthusiastically declares that he will be a pro racer and much to Kenta's disappointment, Keisuke swaps his beer he was about to drink with an ice-cream as he's the driver. They later tell their feelings that an "unforgettable summer is about to end". A few days later, Ryosuke visits Kaori's grave where he prays to her and tells her how his dream on training drivers from Gunma and making them into pros. That was his "dream", which was the meaning behind "D" in Project D. As he imagined Kaori saying goodbye to him, he farewells to her and leaves the cemetery. Later on in early morning, Takumi is seen at his house where Bunta is putting the tofu in his Subaru Impreza. Takumi looks at his beloved Eight-Six for one last time in the show, before he gets in the Impreza and drives away for the tofu delivery. In the end credits of the show, Takumi is seen spectating a DG1P event when Keiichi Tsuchiya makes a cameo appearance and talks to him. Itsuki and Iketani is seen working at the gas station whereas Kenji cleans his 180SX nearby. Mika is seen competing at a Ladies Golf Championship. Keisuke and Tomiguchi is seen at Twin Ring Motegi as a professional racer with his race-modified FD3S. Meanwhile Mako also as a professional racer at Tsubaka Circuit with her race-modified SilEighty and Sayuki with her fans cheering for her at the gallery. Ryosuke is spectating a battle between an EK9 Civic and a Eunos Roadster at a touge as a silent spectator. Shingo and Nakazato talks to each other casually when they realize people are walking nearby, and immediately decides to keep distance from each other. Bunta and Yuichi eats food at a restaurant somewhere at Shibukawa. As Takumi drives the Impreza downhill on Akina after the delivery, he suddenly encounters an orange Toyota GT86 pass him the other way. The number plate on the GT86 is written as "86-239", which is shown in the screen as when translated in Japanese, it means "hachiroku ni sankyu", or "Thank you, Eight-Six"; it was a final tribute to the Toyota AE86. The show ends with the following text displayed on the screen: "Even today, young drivers keep on racing. Wrestling to realize their dream."

Airdates

 * Animax: June 22, 2014

Characters (in order of appearance)

 * 1) Shinji Inui
 * 2) Takumi Fujiwara
 * 3) Mrs. Inui
 * 4) Go Hojo
 * 5) Eiji Kubo
 * 6) Mako Sato
 * 7) Shuichi Matsumoto
 * 8) Fumihiro
 * 9) Tomiguchi
 * 10) Ryosuke Takahashi
 * 11) Keisuke Takahashi
 * 12) Kenta Nakamura
 * 13) Itsuki Takeuchi
 * 14) Kenji
 * 15) Koichiro Iketani
 * 16) Wataru Akiyama
 * 17) Shingo Shoji
 * 18) Takeshi Nakazato
 * 19) Kyoichi Sudo
 * 20) Seiji Iwaki
 * 21) Sayuki
 * 22) Smiley Sakai
 * 23) Daiki Ninomiya
 * 24) Kai Kogashiwa
 * 25) Tomoyuki Tachi
 * 26) Hideo Minagawa
 * 27) Kobayakawa
 * 28) Ryuji Ikeda
 * 29) Hiroya Okuyama
 * 30) Junichi Sakamoto
 * 31) Mika Uehara
 * 32) Yuichi Tachibana
 * 33) Bunta Fujiwara
 * 34) Kaori (Imagined)
 * 35) Keiichi Tsuchiya

Cars

 * 1) Toyota Sprinter Trueno 2door GT-APEX (AE86)
 * 2) Toyota Sprinter Trueno 3door GT-APEX (AE86)
 * 3) Mazda efini RX-7 Type R (FD3S)
 * 4) Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (BNR32)
 * 5) Honda Civic SiR-II (EG6)
 * 6) Mazda SAVANNA RX-7 ∞ III (FC3S)
 * 7) Subaru Impreza WRX STi Coupe Type R Version V (GC8D)
 * 8) Nissan 180SX Type II (RPS13)
 * 9) Nissan SilEighty (RPS13)
 * 10) Eunos Roadster SR-Limited (NA8C)
 * 11) Honda Civic Type R (EK9)
 * 12) Toyota 86 GT (ZN6)

Music

 * 1) Outsoar The Rainbow - M.o.v.e
 * 2) Crazy Little Love - Nuage
 * 3) Wild Boy Bad Love - Joe Banana
 * 4) Adrenaline - Ace
 * 5) Days - M.o.v.e
 * 6) Rage Your Dream – M.o.v.e

Quotes
Yuichi Tachibana: Its sad but I think it's the ultimate farewell. This car's been Takumi's arms and legs, writing a number of legendary episodes. It probably deserves to be put to rest quietly with no losses.

Fumihiro: I don't know what this sadness is about. An unforgettable summer is about to end.

Ryosuke Takahashi: I want to train Gunma drivers who can compete around the world. I want to keep finding diamonds in the rough, who can fly out from here, train them, and send them off. That's my dream. After all, the D in Project D stands for "dream."

Notes & Trivia

 * Ryosuke breaks the fourth wall momentarily by explaining the Project D's Initial is Dream, hence the D in Initial D itself means 'Dreams'.
 * In the manga, Takumi decided to scrap his Eight-Six where as in the conclusion of the anime Takumi decided to leave it in the garage for him to fix over time but not to race with it.
 * During the party for the dissolution of Project D, they pour cans of beer called Akagi, a parody of Asahi.
 * Mako Sato and Koichiro Iketani both attend this battle, however don't see each other.
 * This slightly contradicts Extra Stage 2 saying the two of them never met again, as it would be difficult for Iketani to not see Mako at the front of the crowd congratulating Takumi, as he was stood right next to him.
 * Takumi only attends the Project D conclusion party in the manga.
 * As Takumi was present in the party in the manga, a drunk Keisuke proposed a rematch between the two of them (which Keisuke had been wanting ever since First Stage). They even had a small argument when Takumi mentioned it would be an unfair battle as he would have to use his father's Impreza, an AWD car, annoying Keisuke due to his perfect record against AWD cars.
 * This is the second episode that Keiichi Tsuchiya appears physically in the series (although his face is not shown).
 * In addition, the "Dridespoon" brand seen from his racing suit from behind is a fusion of the Bride, Bridgestone and Spoon sports brands.
 * Takumi goes to see a race of the D1 Grand Prix in Odaiba, Tokyo. This represents Tokyo's second appearance in Initial D.
 * An S15 and a Supra also appeared having a drift battle with each other in the event
 * This episode marks the reappearance of Yuichi Tachibana, who was absent from Fifth stage.
 * Keisuke, during the credits at the end of the episode, wears a Sparco LH RACING racing suit, a French racing team.
 * The circuits where Keisuke and Mako perform are the Twin Ring Motegi (Keisuke) and Tsukuba Circuit (Mako). They are two of the three circuits that appear in the series, the other being the Fuji Speedway.
 * This is the last episodic production of Initial D before the release of Battle Stage 3, which was released 7 years after the broadcast of this episode.