- "The driver. That's the missing variable. I can't dissect him. The monster isn't the car... It's the kid behind the wheel!"
- ―Ryosuke Takahashi
The battle between Takumi Fujiwara and Keisuke Takahashi is the second battle of Initial D. It is also Takumi Fujiwara's first official battle, as well as the first appearance of the gutter run.
Prior to the Battle[]
During one of his tofu runs, Takumi Fujiwara participates in an impromptu race with Keisuke Takahashi of the Akagi RedSuns. Takumi demonstrates his skill by performing an Inertia Drift and overtaking Keisuke. This event leaves Keisuke wanting revenge.
Knowing that the members of his team aren't skilled enough to beat the RedSuns, Koichiro Iketani of the Akina SpeedStars asks for the help of Bunta Fujiwara, the fastest downhill racer on Akina and Takumi's father. Begging him to teach him to be faster, even it if only shaves a tenth of a second during time runs, in which Bunta states only being possible through years of practice. Consoling Iketani who's left distraught hearing the statement, Bunta offers his participation. However he may or may not be certain that he would appear on race site in time.
With thorough consideration, Bunta eventually sends Takumi up to Mt. Akina to beat Keisuke, with the offer that if he wins he gets to use the 86 with a full tank of gas. Kenji is lined up to race against Keisuke, when the 86 is spotted heading up the mountain through the radio communication of RedSuns members. After speaking with Iketani and the rest of the SpeedStars, Takumi reveals that he has already beaten Keisuke once before.
During the Battle[]
Keisuke begins the race in the lead and intends to use the straightaways, however Takumi demonstrates his skill and knowledge of the course by catching up by attacking the corners at a high speed.
Takumi drifting a corner.
Takumi uses a gutter run to overtake.
The cars are inches away from each other as they enter the five hairpin turns. On the third hairpin Takumi initiates a gutter run, allowing him to overtake Keisuke and win.
After the Battle[]
Takumi drives home as the Akina SpeedStars celebrate their victory, whilst the Takahashi Brothers figure out how Takumi was able to overtake. Takumi informs his father of his win and goes on his date with Natsuki Mogi.
Ryosuke Takahashi hears from Keisuke that there was a weird noise when the 86 overtook him. He figures out that Takumi performed a gutter run. Meanwhile, Takeshi Nakazato also knew that Takumi had used the gutters and challenged him to a battle.
Trivia[]
- In the Final Stage outro, Keisuke's FD is incorrectly shown with a black front lip, instead of a body-coloured one.
- This is especially strange considering the fact that in the opening for Fifth Stage, the FD is shown with the correct yellow front lip, so it would not be a case of SynergySP (the animation company for Fifth and Final Stages) not having the correct front bumper model of the Spec I FD.
Songs[]
First Stage[]
Battle Stage[]
Ryosuke Takahashi's Fastest Typing-theory[]
Special Stage[]
Arcade Stage 8 Infinity[]
Legend 1: Awakening[]
- Galvanize - the valves
- Evolution Theory - Gekko Green
- Candle Flames - Backdraft Smiths
New Initial D the Movie Battle Digest[]
Arcade Stage 8 RivalSide Info[]
- Story arc: Fujiwara Tofu Shop
- Driver: Takumi Fujiwara
- Car: Toyota Trueno GT-APEX (AE86)
- Opponent: Keisuke Takahashi
- Team: Akagi RedSuns
- Car: Mazda RX-7 Type R (FD3S)
- Mission: Use the Gutter Run
- 1-ryu Condition: Perform 2 Gutter Runs
- Cho 1-ryu Condition: Perform 5 Gutter Runs
- Course: Akina
- Rule: Downhill
- Start: Standing
- Weather: Clear
- Time of day: Night