Chapter 015

Showdown at the Summit (頂上対決!!, Chōjō Taiketsu!!, "Summit Showdown!!") is the fifteenth chapter of Initial D.

Plot
During a run on Akina, Ryosuke notices an R32 approaching from behind. He decides to test the driver, revealed to be Takeshi Nakazato, and picks up speed.

In Shibukawa, Takumi drops Natsuki off at her house. She thanks him for the trip, and tells him his car is cute.

Nakazato is shocked that he can keep up with Ryosuke. The two racers park at the top of the mountain and greet each other. Nakazato tells Ryosuke that he's there to face the Eight-Six, and assumes that he's there for the same reason. Ryosuke tells him that he doesn't think the GT-R would stand a chance against the Eight-Six on the downhill, and that only he can beat it. This angers Nakazato, who vows to prove him wrong.

The next day at the gas station, Iketani and Itsuki invite Takumi to join the SpeedStars, to which he declines. Iketani asks how it felt to drive from such a young age. Takumi says that it was scary at first, but over time he was able to precisely control the car, and that in order to prevent himself getting bored he would get as close to the guardrail as he could without hitting it, which shocks the others. Yuichi asks how he learned to drive like that with the tofu, and Takumi says that Bunta placed a cup of water in the car, and that he just has to focus on not spilling any. Iketani asks Takumi if he can sit in the passenger seat of the Eight-Six while he performs a downhill run.

Japan

 * February 3rd 1996 (Tankōbon, Volume 02)

Chinese

 * February 1st 1998 (Tankōbon, Volume 02, Sharp Point Press)

English

 * July 16th 2002 (Tankōbon, Volume 02, Tokyopop)
 * April 17th 2019 (Digital re-release, Volume 02, Kodansha USA)

French

 * March 26th 2009 (Tankōbon, Volume 02, Kazé)

Italian

 * March 28th 2023 (Tankōbon 2-in-1, Volume 01, J-Pop)

Characters (in order of appearance)

 * Ryosuke Takahashi
 * Takeshi Nakazato
 * Takumi Fujiwara
 * Natsuki Mogi
 * Koichiro Iketani
 * Itsuki Takeuchi
 * Yuichi Tachibana

Cars (in order of appearance)

 * Mazda SAVANNA RX-7 Infini III (FC3S)
 * Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (BNR32)
 * Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX (AE86)
 * Nissan Silvia (S14)