Natsuki Mogi

Natsuki Mogi (茂木 なつき Mogi Natsuki, known as Natalie in the Tokyopop version) is Takumi Fujiwara's initial love interest, and one of the few characters who does not get scared when riding in a car being driven by Takumi.

Past
Mogi was the manager of the soccer club at her school. She was friends with Takumi Fujiwara, however, after an incident where Takumi punched her at the time boyfriend Miki, she stopped talking to him. She would later learn that Takumi had done so because Miki had been bragging about getting his way with her.

At some point she started seeing a salaryman, who would pay her for her company and for sex. Unbeknownst to her, this man is the father of her friend Shiraishi.

The White Ghost of Akina
At school one day, Mogi approaches Takumi and his friend Itsuki Takeuchi on the balcony at school, overhearing their conversation about work. She's shocked to hear that they can work full time and make such a small amount of money. She wishes the two luck with their job, suggesting they hang out after finals, before leaving. Later, Mogi meets with the salaryman, who tells her she looks good in her swimsuit. She asks him if he's really ok paying her so much for spending time for him, as she's heard how little people her age make. He tells her that she's worth it, but she doesn't understand.

The next day, Mogi calls Takumi's house, and invites him to come and meet her in Ikaho Onsen. She had intended to patch things up between them, but Takumi says they don't have any problems between them, much to her delight. She remembers that he was talking about cars, and suggests they drive to the beach.

At school, Natsuki bumps into Takumi, and the two go to the roof to talk. She tells him that she bought a new swimsuit, much to his embarrassment. She says he'll have to wait for the beach to see her in it, and that he can imagine her in it until then. The two agree to go to the beach on Sunday. Later, she walks with her friend Shiraishi. She bumps into Takumi, and tries to call him by a cute nickname. Shiraishi is surprised they are friends. She thinks he's weird, as he's cute enough to have lots of girls, but he's always on his own.

On Saturday, Natsuki spends time with the salaryman. He notices she seems a lot happier than usual, and she tells him that she's going to the beach with a friend. On Sunday, Takumi drives the two of them to a beach in Kashiwazaki, Niigata. Natsuki tells him that she normally gets car sick, but that his driving was smooth enough that she didn't feel sick at all. She notices Takumi keeps zoning out, and pulls him out of it by asking if he has a crush on anyone. He tells her that he does have someone he thinks about a lot, and when he asks her the same thing she mimics his answer. Back in Shibukawa, Takumi drops Mogi off at her house, and she tells him that she likes his car. She hopes that the two of them go out again soon, because she had a good time.

A week later, her and Takumi head to Lake Akina. She asks him if it bums him out that he spends all of his last summer vacation working, but he says he would just sit around all day otherwise. She wonders what he'll do with the money, and he says he's saving for a car. She says that until then he has the Trueno, reiterating that she thinks it's cute. He tells her he likes the car too, but that it isn't his car, that he wants his own. Some time later, the two again go to Lake Akina. Natsuki notices Takumi keeps zoning out, and says that she'll go home unless he tells he what he's thinking about. He tells her that he's been challenged to a race, much to her surprise, as she didn't know he raced cars. He tells her that he's been feeling the pressure since he was challenged, and that he cant get it out of his head. The two head back to the Eight-Six, and Natsuki asks if they can talk for a bit before they leave. She lets him know that she knows why he punched Miki the year before. She apologises for spending the whole year angry at him because of it. She leans over, and the two of them share their first kiss.

A few days later, Natsuki and Takumi go to Ikaho Onsen. She asks him why he likes cars, and he says he likes the ability to go everywhere, and growing his skills. Natsuki joking calls him a pervert, because of how passionate he talks about it. She asks him not to get into an accident at his race, that he can lose, but she doesn't want him to get into an accident.

Several weeks after the battle, Natsuki asks Takumi to hang out with her that afternoon, but he has work. She asks how much he needs for a car, around one million yen. Natsuki teases him, asking what he'd do if she gave him the money, but Takumi refuses to play along.

Emperor
A while later, Natsuki talks to Takumi about video games while they walk home from school. A man calls out to the two of them from a car, and Natsuki recognises him as Tsukamoto, who used to be chairman of the soccer club when she was a freshman. He offers to take the three of them out for coffee. Tsukamoto asks the two of them if they're dating, but Takumi says that they are just friends, which Natsuki pinches him for. Tsukamoto lets it slip that he's a street racer on Akagi, and Natsuki says that he should race with Takumi. He brushes it off though, doubting someone who just got their license could be so good. At a café, Takumi and Tsukamoto talk about street racing, and Tsukamoto offers to take them up to Akagi that evening. During the drive up, Natsuki is silent due to her motion sickness. She tells the guys when they reach the top of the mountain, and stays behind at the car while they go off to see the racers. She decides to take a short walk to catch her breath, but becomes lightheaded, and bumps her watch against a parked car. The girlfriend of the car owner notices and gets angry with her, accusing her of damaging the paint. The owner of the car is unable to find a scratch, and tells Natsuki to be more careful, before walking off. The incident leaves Natsuki feeling bummed. When Takumi comes back, she asks him to drive them home instead of Tsukamoto, as his driving is terrible for her motion sickness. The two of them successfully stroke Tsukamoto's ego, and he lets Takumi drive. As they leave, they are passed by the couple that had confronted Natsuki earlier. She begs Takumi to race them, saying that she'll never feel good about herself if they don't beat them. Takumi speeds up to catch them, much to Tsukamoto's displeasure. Takumi easily beats the couple and Natsuki thanks him, comparing the experience to being on a rollercoaster.

The next day, Takumi and Natsuki talk at school. She suggests they go racing again, and teases him by reminding him of the love hotels at the foot of Mount Akagi, joking that they could end up in one. Later, she shows up at the gas station Takumi works at, just to see him on her way home, although she lives nowhere near. Natsuki meets with the salaryman, and after, she tells him that she doesn't want to meet anymore. On the drive back she explains that she's in love, and that she doesn't just want sex out of a relationship. She says that others would see her as a call girl, and that she originally believed she wasnt, but that she wants to end it. The salaryman drops her off, but begs to meet with her one last time, just to talk, just so he can see her one last time, for closure. She agrees to it. She meets with the salaryman one final time. Unbeknownst to her, Takumi had been informed that she would be there, and had seen her as she had left in the salaryman's Mercedes.

The next week, Natsuki tries to talk to Takumi at school, but he walks straight past her. She tries to get him to stop, but he tells her that he doesn't want to talk with her, much to her shock.

The New Eight-Six
A few days later, Natsuki asks Takumi what's wrong, as he hasn't been talking to her at all. He insists everything is fine, but she doesn't understand. He asks her why she follows her around as if she's his girlfriend, and she pleads with him to tell her why he's so angry with her. He tells her to go home, or to go and see her man in the Mercedes, and asks her to leave him alone. He walks off, leaving her completely shocked, confused as to how he could know.

At 5AM the next day, Natsuki sits on her floor, unable to sleep. She keeps playing what he had said over and over in her head.

Several weeks later, Natsuki sees Takumi at school. She thinks to herself that its been so long since they last spoke, and that its just like how they were before. She feels terrible about it all.

A couple days later, Mogi heads home from school. A couple of her classmates call down to her, asking if she isn't going to help with the culture festival

At school, several days later, Natsuki talks with Shiraishi about her plans after graduating. She says she intends to move to Tokyo for university. Shiraishi tells her that her parents are against her doing the same thing, and Natsuki says she's glad her parents aren't so overbearing.

A few days after, Natsuki finds herself hiding when Takumi and Itsuki pass by her. She decides to try and be friends with him again, admitting that she doesn't have much to lose, as he doesn't like her much right now anyway. After school, Natsuki ambushes Takumi at the lockers, and asks for them to meet after school. Takumi is initially blunt with her, but is surprised when she asks if they are still friends. If they weren't going out then they must still be friends. She repeats her request. They meet later on, and drive to Lake Akina. Natsuki wanted to let him know that she had broken it off with the salaryman. Takumi tells her that he doesn't care, but she doesn't believe him, if he didn't care he wouldn't have gone out of his way to ignore her. She says that he must be like her, unable to forget what had happened between them, but he feels betrayed. She apologises, and repeats that she had ended it with the salaryman, and that she just wants to concentrate on him. At the Lake, Takumi asks how she doesn't see what was wrong with what she was doing, she tries to rationalise it, comparing it to receiving money as a birthday present, but Takumi remains cold towards her. She pushes past it, and tells him that she refuses to spend the rest of high school with him hating her. As she says it, it begins to snow. The two drive back down the mountain, and Natsuki asks if he has plans for Christmas Eve. He tells her that his family haven't celebrated it since he was a kid. Takumi drops Natsuki off, and asks her why she's doing all of this, if she can have any guy, why bother with him. She says she doesn't really know how to answer that, she just loves him, she doesn't need a reason to. She starts to cry, and walks away. The next day, Natsuki calls in to the gas station, and asks for a part time role. When she turns up to the station, Takumi assumes she's there to see him, but she walks right by him and talks with Yuichi Tachibana, the gas station owner. She's hired, and Koichiro Iketani is set to mentor her, and so starts to show her around. Natsuki is immediately popular with the gas stations male customers.

The next day, Natsuki talks with Takumi at school about work. He questions if she's going to keep the job, as he doesn't think she's suited to it. She tells him she's not going to give up on it, and that if he thinks she will then he clearly doesn't know her. At work, she talks with Itsuki and Iketani about studded tires. At school, she talks with Shiraishi about her new job. Shiraishi is shocked by her choice of job, as well as the fact that she's talking with Takumi again. At work, Kenji shows up and invites everyone out to eat, but Natsuki declines. She chooses instead to go shopping, and eventually makes her way to Takumi's house. She talks with his dad, Bunta, who tells her that Takumi hasn't come home yet. She goes to leave, but Bunta invites her inside out of the cold. Bunta makes some tea, while Natsuki reveals that she bought a little Christmas tree, Natsuki asks if the two of them can talk, and Bunta realises that she was the girl who had been calling all summer. He asks why she stopped calling, and Natsuki says that Takumi stopped liking her. Bunta tells her that he doesn't think Takumi hates her as much as she thinks. She goes to protest, but Bunta offers her more tea. She remembers that she bought cake and Champagne, and says they should celebrate Christmas in style. Takumi returns home and Natsuki and Bunta surprise him with party poppers. She pours him a drink, and tells him that she'd been planning this ever since he told her he didn't celebrate Christmas. She gets out the cake she bought and turns off the lights, but Takumi and Bunta say it reminds them of when they were so poor that their power got cut off, so she turns the lights back on. They eat and drink until midnight, and Takumi gives Natsuki a ride home. As they drive, they talk about their futures. Takumi says he's staying in Shibukawa, becoming a parcel carrier. Natsuki says that as she's going to Tokyo, they probably wont see each other much.

In the new year, everyone greets Yuichi at the gas station. Natsuki overhears Itsuki talking about working at the station full time, and she tells him that she admires him and Takumi for jumping straight into work after graduating. At school, she talks with Shiraishi about work, with Shiraishi saying that she's envious of her because of how much fun she seems to be having. Natsuki walks home after school, but a man calls out to her. She realises it's Miki, and he offers to give her a lift. He tells her she's changed, commenting on her body. He asks if she has a boyfriend, and when she tells him its none of his business he suggests they get back together. She tells him to stop the car, as they've reached where she works. She asks for him to leave what they had in the past, as she's interested in someone else. During her shift, she gets a call from Miki. He picks her up after work, and asks her if Takumi was who she was interested in, as he'd seen him at her work. He becomes angry, and denies her request to let her out. He says he's going to take her up the mountain, so that they can get some privacy. Natsuki realises her phone is in her pocket, and realises she can call Takumi for help. At Lake Akina, Miki tries to make sexual advances towards Natsuki, but she tells him that she's changed, that she doesn't to be with someone unless she's in love with them. Miki slaps her, and threatens to assault her and then brag to Takumi about it, but Natsuki says he'd just deck him again. She runs out of the car, and calls Takumi on her phone, managing to tell him that she's on the lake. Miki calls her stupid, as he doesn't think he has a car, but Natsuki tells him that he does. Miki gets her into the car, and they drive down the mountain. Miki is shocked when Takumi passes them going the other way, as he doesn't believe anyone could get up the mountain so fast. Miki is confident he'll get away, due to driving a 4WD, but Natsuki is sure Takumi will beat him. Miki loses control of his car after Takumi catches up, colliding with a guardrail. Natsuki runs out of the car to Takumi, and they leave. Natsuki tells him it was Miki, and Takumi asks why she would even get in his car. She tells him she didn't think he'd be like that, but Takumi is still mad with her. She asks him to stop the car. She tells him that the time she spent with the man in the Mercedes was the worst mistake she's ever made, that she was dishonest not only with him but with herself. She felt like she was losing part of herself by selling her body like that, and that she thought by working a normal job she could get it back. She thought he'd understand that, but she doesn't think he does. She starts crying, and apologises. Takumi drives her home, and asks her how long she's going to spend at the gas station. She tells him that she wasnt to work until she goes to Tokyo, and Takumi says that's his time frame too, that they should spend as much time with each other as possible before she has to leave. He admits that he isn't going to enjoy not seeing her anymore, and confesses that he does like her. He drives off home, leaving Natsuki in shock.

On Valentine's Day, Natsuki hands out chocolate to everyone at the gas station. She teases Takumi by not giving him any chocolate, but gives him an extra special bigger one. As Itsuki isn't at the gas station, she gives his away. In March, everyone graduates. Natsuki and Takumi agree to meet up afterwards, and head to Lake Akina. She tells him that she doesn't feel like leaving, that she doesn't want to leave him. She doesn't believe he's ok with it, and asks him to come to Tokyo with her. He tells her that he can't that, at least for now, he needs to stay in Gunma. He says he'll show her why, but that they need to wait until dark. That evening, they head to the top of Akina. He tells her that he's been thinking since fall, and realised that he wants to become a professional driver, the best the world has ever seen. He wants to take her on a downhill run, the first time he's ever completely let loose with a passenger before, and tells her that if she gets scared she can just say and he'll stop. They thunder down the hill, and Natsuki finally understands, things he could never express with words are finally clear to her. That was Takumi's fastest ever run on Akina. At the bottom of the mountain, she tells him that she wasn't scared, much to his surprise. He tells her that he's going to join a team. She suggests she stay with him in Gunma, give up on Tokyo, but Takumi wont let her, that he doesn't want her to regret her decision. They sit for a bit, and Mogi leans over a whispers in his ear. The two of them drive off into the night, neither getting back home until much later.

The day before she leaves for Tokyo, Yuichi gives Natsuki her final paycheck, and is sad to see her leave. She tells him that she really enjoyed working at the gas station. The next day, Takumi drives her to the train station. As she waits for the train, Takumi asks about her housing, and she says she's staying in freshman dorms, though she had wanted an apartment, but it would be too expensive. The train arrives, and Natsuki asks Takumi to wait a while before finding a girlfriend. He tells her that he doesn't have plans, and she teases him, saying she might snag a new guy in Tokyo. She gets on the train, and tells Takumi that he can always call her if he gets lonely. He asks if she'll be ok, and she says she will. She tells him to be good, and the train doors close. The train leaves, and Natsuki sits down, beginning to cry. She thinks to herself that she'll always treasure the time she spent with him, that without him all of her high school memories would be bad. She wishes him luck with his racing dreams, that he already has a fan cheering him on. She thinks to herself that they must not have been meant to be, but that she'll always have the memories of their time together.

Tochigi
Takumi and Natsuki stay in touch for a while after.

Saitama and Ibaraki
When Project D takes a break, Takumi finds himself thinking about Natsuki.

Takumi Fujiwara
He is her classmate as well as his love interest. Ever since she shared a kiss with Takumi at the beach in Summer break, she's been wanting to break off the relationship with the Mercedes driver (papa). But she was soon found out by the time she stopped leaving Takumi to disown her after he received letters of the details in his locker. Natsuki became guilt ridden upon being discovered. In redemption, she gets a part time job hoping to win back his trust before graduation. When her ex-boyfriend Miki attempted sexual advances against her, she called Takumi to save her. After her rescue, she tearfully admitted she needed money in which she hated doing. Takumi finally understands and confessed his feelings. Both parted ways months later as she leaves him to go to college in Tokyo while Takumi stays in Gunma to join Project D.

Papa
Before meeting Takumi, she was involved with compensated dating with him. He is the Mercedes driver Natsuki often rides with. After falling in love with Takumi, she wishes to quit the job in which her papa accepts.

Miki
Originally her first love. He did horrible sexual advances towards her as mention in the locker room resulting to Takumi to punch him upon hearing what he did. Natsuki broke up with him as a result of that and other mistreatments. Miki tried to take her back to their previous relationship after picking her up from work but his plans were foiled by Takumi when his car crashed in a corner in snowy weather.

Itsuki Takeuchi
Also a classmate in high school as well as a friend. Itsuki often flirts with her good looks. At the same time envious as she is in love with Takumi whereas he is still single.

Saori
Exclusive to the anime, she is a classmate in high school. She hooked him up with Itsuki during a double date. Their relationship was short lived as Itsuki was knocked by Shingo resulting to both having an accident. Natsuki did not tell the truth of Saori breaking up with Itsuki during his recovery although Itsuki already knew she would eventually break up after the accident.

Shiraishi
She was Natsuki's classmate and friend. She was also the biological daughter of Papa. She also had a crush on Takumi, so on seeing Natsuki dating Takumi, she decided to blackmail her by revealing the truth about her relations.

Bunta Fujiwara
Bunta met her once when she wanted to surprise Takumi visiting their household in the Christmas holidays. She told him everything that went on ever since he shut her off. Bunta assured her Takumi still has a heart despite a slight temper he inherited from him as he chooses whom or whom not to trust depending on what the person did to him. He tells her to give Takumi a chance to decide.

Etymology

 * The name Natsuki is written in hiragana (なつき), which has no special meaning. However, when written in kanji (菜月 or 夏希), it could possibly mean:
 * 菜月 - "vegetables, greens" (菜) (na) and "moon" (月) (tsuki).
 * 夏希 - "summer" (夏) (natsu) and "hope" (希) (ki).
 * Natsuki's surname Mogi means "lush, luxuriant" (茂) (mo) and "tree, wood" (木) (ki/gi).

Trivia

 * In First Stage, Natsuki witnesses Takumi's battle against Ryosuke as he crosses the finish line.
 * Takumi Fujiwara witnesses Natsuki and Papa coming out of a Love Hotel in the manga. In the anime, it was toned down to a Family Restaurant.
 * Natsuki briefly works at the gas station for a time, however in the anime she works at a fast food place called "Fast Hamburger".
 * Natsuki owns a PlayStation, during Chapter 94 she tells Takumi about a game she spent all night playing (Ganbare Morikawakun 2Gou), telling him that he should get one.