Stage 1, Episode 6
Short summary
Ryosuke and Takeshi are both seen driving Mt. Akina at night, and both are confident in beating the Hachi Roku. Takeshi's style is grip driving which is a change from drifting when he used to drive a S13. He now drives a 32. Hiroshi, from the RedSuns, does not like the idea of Takeshi challenging the Hachi Roku before Ryosuke, but Ryosuke and Keisuke do not seem worried. At the gas station, Takumi explains to Itsuki, Iketani, and Yuichi about how he learned to drift. It took him only a year to master Akina's downhill, and it was all from boredom from his tofu delivering job to help his father's shop. On the way up, he can't drive as fast because of the tofu in his trunk. That is why his father gives him a cup of water to place in the cup holder. By rotating the water in every turn he makes, he keeps it from spilling and also keeps the tofu from breaking. Iketani is very impressed and asks Takumi to let him ride in his Hachi Roku while he drives hard down Akina. Takumi agrees, and later that night, Takumi gives Iketani a ride. Iketani really just wants to steal Takumi's technique but is frightened at Takumi's speed at each corner. Seeing Iketani's reaction, Takumi decides to have a little fun and taps the Hachi Roku's bumper into the guardrail, causing Iketani to pass out on the 3rd corner. Itsuki's view of Takumi has changed now that he has become the local street racing hero. Takumi admits that he also felt different while racing against Keisuke and giving Iketani a ride, even though he was driving as he always did. It seems driving is getting more interesting to Takumi.
Longer summary
Driving at Akina at night, Ryosuke notices a car with a good straightaway speed following him. He slows down a bit to wait for it. When it gets closer, he realizes it's a GTR and decides to test it.
From the back, Takeshi is keeping up with Ryosuke. Their driving styles are different from each other. As Ryosuke drifts at each corner, Takeshi is not and is using a grip style. Ryosuke then flashes his blinkers and both drivers pull over and get out. They each introduce each other, Ryosuke of the RedSuns and Takeshi of the NightKids, but they have already heard of each other. However, Ryosuke recalls that the Takeshi he had heard of was driving a S13. Both are also at Akina for the same reason, because of the Hachi Roku. Ryosuke does not think that Takeshi's 32 can defeat the Hachi Roku on the downhill though, and Takeshi thinks he is only saying that because his brother was defeated. They each have confidence that they can defeat it.
As Takeshi leaves, he remembers when he used to drive a S13. He had lost against a 32 and changed cars right after. He believes that no matter how good a driver is, a car has its own limits. This is why he believes he can defeat the Hachi Roku.
The next day at the gas station, Itsuki, Iketani, and Yuichi question Takumi about his driving. Itsuki asks whether he had really been delivering tofu for the past 5 years. Takumi says he has but if he had told anybody, he would have gotten in trouble. At that time, it was illegal for him to drive. However, it was early in the morning so no one saw him. He was afraid of the corners at first, but after 6 months, the fear went away and he learned to skid his tires. It took another 6 months to control them as he liked, mastering the downhill in just 1 year. The job is boring so as something to do, he would try to get as close to the guardrails as possible, even as close as 1cm, something he never thought as dangerous. Takumi never thought of improving his driving, he just wanted to get home as soon as possible and would drive as fast as he could.
On the way up, he cannot drive as fast because of the tofu in his trunk. So, his father fills a paper cup with water which Takumi puts in his cup holder. As long as the water doesn't spill, the tofu won't break. To do this, he has to rotate the water in the cup with every turn he makes. It's not easy, and it took him a while to do this while drifting. He had to learn extremely delicate weight shifting to not spill the water. Both Yuichi and Iketani are very impressed and Iketani asks Takumi to let him ride in his Hachi Roku while he drives hard down Akina.
That night, Takumi gives Iketani a ride down Akina. The first corner comes up and although Iketani had planned on stealing Takumi's technique, he was too frightened of Takumi's speed towards the corner. He is just as scared in the next corner. Takumi, seeing Iketani's reaction, decides to have a little fun. He taps the Hachi Roku against the guardrail, causing Iketani to pass out. Back at the top, Itsuki and Kenji are surprised that they have returned so soon and are shocked to see Iketani passed out in the passenger seat, and only after 3 corners!
Meanwhile, Ryosuke, Keisuke, and Hiroshi discuss Takeshi. Keisuke has a dislike for the 32 and believes that only the car is fast, questioning the skill of 32 drivers. Hiroshi thinks it's a bad idea for Takeshi to challenge the Hachi Roku before them, thinking that if he beats him, people will think the NightKids are better than the RedSuns. Keisuke is not worried though, believing that only his brother can defeat the Hachi Roku. Ryosuke brings up the point that having too much power can be a disadvantage. It's great for straightaways but is worse for controlling the car as it exits a corner. With a course like Akina with its short straightaways, an underpowered car can run at its full potential. The course was a disadvantage for Keisuke's FR since it's powered by its back wheels only, but what about a 4WD (4 wheel drive) car like the 32?
After work the next day, Itsuki mentions how his view of Takumi has changed, now that he's the street racing hero of Akina. Takumi feels the same, thinking that driving is becoming more interesting. Although he drove the same, he felt different when racing Keisuke and when giving Iketani a ride.
Later that night, the black 32 is seen driving Akina again...
