Stage 4, Episode 5
Short summary
The Toudou School gets a visit from a former student and professional racer, Tomoyuki Tachi, who had heard about Daiki and Sakai's losses to Project D. Tomoyuki feels that he has come across a wall, a wall that he can't overcome, and Chief Toudou suggests that he take part in a street race. News of the challenge gets around, and Ryosuke gets a surprise call from Kyouichi who warns Ryosuke of Tomoyuki. He feels that Project D only has a chance if Ryosuke races. However, Ryosuke tells his team that he will decide on a racer after reaching the course. After learning that their new opponent is a professional racer, Keisuke gets pumped up and tries to convince Ryosuke that he, himself, should be the one racing. Ryosuke doesn't budge on his decision. While Takumi and Keisuke are taking practice runs, Hiroshi suspects that there is something weird and different about this challenge, even noticing that Ryosuke drove to the course beforehand and even brought his FC along. At the night of the battle, Ryosuke informs the team of his decision. He has decided that Takumi will race. Keisuke becomes upset at this, and demands an explanation. Ryosuke holds off the explanation and tells Takumi to get in his car. He drives through the course with Takumi in the passenger seat, lecturing him along the way. When they return, it's time for the race to begin.
Longer summary
At the gas station, Takumi makes a visit on his day off to see Iketani and Itsuki. Itsuki runs up to tell him the news of the addition of a turbo to his Hachi Go. The three then begin discussing Takumi's most recent race, and Iketani is amazed at how both Takumi and Keisuke were able to beat the Toudou School.
Later at night, the Toudou School gets a visit from a former student and professional racer, Tomoyuki Tachi, who shows up after hearing about Daiki's and Sakai's losses. As he and Chief Director Toudou talk, Toudou comments on how the losses are good for Daiki and Sakai. As you race, you come up against many different walls. Overcoming a wall will allow a racer to progress, but if a racer cannot overcome a wall, he is at his limit. For Tomoyuki, his wall is something his skill may not be able to help. When he loses ground on the straightaways, he pushes himself too hard and makes stupid mistakes, lowering the morale of his teammates. He needs funding but can't get any sponsers due to the recession. Tomoyuki feels stuck, but Toudou thinks otherwise and suggests taking part in a street race. He will find his answer there.
While at Takumi's house, Bunta gives the Hachi Roku a test drive with it's new modifications. He's impressed with how well the car has been tuned and mentions how Takumi's races must be much easier with these settings. Takumi disagrees, saying that his opponents have been getting better. He doesn't believe he can keep winning, but being on a team, he can't afford to lose. However, Bunta suggests losing once in a while; many things can be learned from a loss. While looking at the Hachi Roku, Bunta realizes that it's not really his anymore, but mainly Takumi's. He decides he will get a new car.
The next day, over at the Takahashi's house, Keisuke hears news that the Toudou School requested a rematch, and enters Ryosuke's room, wondering if they will accept. Later that night, Ryosuke gets a surprise call from Kyouichi, who has also heard the news. Kyouichi warns Ryosuke of Tomoyuki since he believes Project D will not win this race. He suggests that, if Project D must accept this challenge, it should be Ryosuke that races.
Meanwhile, Tomoyuki is practicing, using the Toudou School's demo car. He tells Toudou that he has no complaints except for a few settings to fit his preferences. However, this is only a street race, and he wonders if those changes are even necessary. Toudou convinces him to treat it like a real race, and to show the best of his abilities. With that said, Tomoyuki requests having the rear swing out more when he's entering a corner.
Over at Project D, Hiroshi notices that the Hachi Roku now has a black bonnet. Matsumoto has been taking Ryosuke's advice on making the car lighter and has been making changes to it, little by little. The meeting then starts as the team members gather around Ryosuke. He informs them that the course is a mixture of both uphills and downhills and will decide on who will race after going to the course. He also tells them that their opponent is again the Toudou School, but this time, it's a professional racer. This surprises the group and even excites Keisuke, who tells Ryosuke that it should be him that races. Since it's both up and downhill, his FD has the advantage. Ryosuke doesn't give in, saying, again, that he will decide when they reach the course.
Daiki approaches Tomoyuki the next day to tell him that Project D will be practicing tonight, tuning their cars to fit the course. Tomoyuki looks down on them, saying they're pretending to be professionals. He is just racing because Toudou suggested it to him, but expects nothing out of this. He believes there is a large gap between professional and amateur.
At the course, Keisuke and Takumi are taking practice runs. Keisuke is more pumped up than usual, thinking that this will be a great chance to see how he is against a professional. While driving the course, he realizes why Ryosuke says the course is difficult. There are a wide variety of corners, plus steep up and downhills. During this, Hiroshi feels like there is something weird about this challenge since he noticed that Ryosuke drove out to the course beforehand and even brought his FC this time. Ryosuke assures him it's nothing, and then tells him to take his place for tonight. Due to a paper he had to write on clinical medicine, Ryosuke hasn't slept in the past 3 days and goes into one of the vans to rest.
Over breakfast, Hiroshi talks with Matsumoto. He still feels there is something weird about this challenge. Is it because Ryosuke can't think of a winning situation...?
It's the night of the challenge and the Toudou School shows up at the course. Ryosuke talks to both Takumi and Keisuke. He decided that Takumi will drive tonight. Keisuke is upset on hearing this since he pulled better times on the practices, but Ryosuke is saving his explanation for later since there is something he needs to do now. With Takumi in his passenger seat, Ryosuke drives through the course, lecturing him as they go. Meanwhile, Tomoyuki changes into his professional driving uniform; he will be treating this like a professional race.
When Takumi and Ryosuke returns, and it's time for the race. Since the road is wide enough, this will be a side by side race. The Toudou School is surprised to see the Hachi Roku pull up to race, especially since they were expecting and had prepared for a race against the FD. The race starts and the two cars head into the first corner side by side.
