Original subtitles

The story is a work of fiction, resemblances to all names and events depicted in this is purely coincidental. Please obey all regulations and practice safe driving. Translated by MadHatterRyu & Subtitled by Venny503 for IDForums.net

Eh?

What? Why?

Great... this is perfect.

Hojo?

That kid told me he wanted to be a hero.

He's no hero if he loses.

It's not that he doesn't understand the rules.

No doubt he's looking to win.

It's just that he's confident of getting ahead once more.

the one they call the fastest downhill driver in North Kanto,

has never been embarassed to this extreme before.

Still, what a mess.

No idea what's going to happen.

What's going on?

This is a battle, right?

You, what's on your mind?

This is out of our hands now.

But... this is desirable for Project D's most critical phase.

The actors are ready, no need for silly props.

The finest drama now commences.

ACT.3 "Dangerous Scent"

Am I supposed to keep racing just like that?

I can't concentrate like this.

Then again, while battling, you don't let opportunities slide, do you?

Fujiwara probably feels bad about this, but

now we can win.

Fumihiro...

You don't get it, don't you?

Giving someone the lead...

Indicates the ability to reclaim lead.

Reclaim?

But that's impossible...

The course is mostly narrow.

And reclaiming the lead...

This is a top class battle with a paper thin victory margin!

Fujiwara's our downhill ace, you know.

Whether it's North Kanto or Kanagawa, he's never lost.

I have no idea. This is isn't bookish theory.

This is just my intuition from having driven here, but

Anything can happen.

My thoughts are the same as Keisuke's.

At this rate, Fujiwara may lose his will to keep racing.

Hey, not you too, Ryousuke...

Omit everything you have considered 'till now as "common sense", Fumihiro.

This is what makes this opponent the ultimate challenge for Fujiwara.

Still, I could’ve never predicted this.

Guess I have to try extending lead.

The real battle begins in the curve section before the goal.

I also need to preserve the tires 'till that point.

Even when compared to the hillclimb guys, the descending the 86's seem faster in the straights.

Because they're fast in the corners right?

The 86 is an odd car.

From an ordinary gallery, this battle would seem heated because of the speed reporters.

I guess.

But, our vantage point is yet to stir.

Something like "calm before the storm"

I suppose...

But it's a strange feeling...

Suffocation from anticipation.

I know the feeling.

It’s an intense 86 battle.

No, something has definitely happened.

I can smell the reek of crisis.

There's a storm brewing in this battle.

I can't see them. I can't those wings today.

I wonder why.

It's a little disappointing.

If I can't see them, there's no point in trailing.

It's hard racing with Shinji behind.

Anybody's rhythm can collapse.

It's his keeping up with extraordinary speed and naturally obtained rhythm.

Even a skilled driver's rhythm could collapse.

As if trapped in a trance you start to make even the most elementary mistakes.

Usually, the one driving behind is the one who's pressured the most.

Try too hard to keep up, and you can end up spinning out

Precisely why you have to try to stay ahead.

I have no idea what that kid's thinking.

Well, I can't argue with that, Kubo.

For him to change positions out of nowhere...

Along with driving in a similar car, Takumi Fujiwara must feel lost.

This is good.

This is the first time Shinji's been interested in someone else's driving.

That boy could never see past his own driving.

If tonight's battle was only about winning,

You could drive without feeling or knowing.

But for Shinji to overcome the emptiness and grow,

he'll need learn to strive and struggle a little.

His lack of experience is both his strength as well as his weakness.

To break this emptiness,

is another prodigy from Gunma.

I still don't get it, why did Shinji forfeit?

Running away from battle like that could be a disaster for Sidewinder.

I wonder if that was part of the plan.

A tactical retreat.

Still...

The more you wonder, the weirder it gets.

Besides, at such a young age,

Can he really become Kanagawa prefecture’s best?

No idea. But if you put it that way, a year ago,

Takumi was still a high schooler when we battled at Usui.

I guess.

If there was more than one miracle boy with impossible potential,

it would no longer feel strange.

They're here!

Impossible...

He got ahead!

What the heck's with that 86 sedan?

This place is normally not the best.

Unbelievable... I'm shivering... By someone from Kanagawa,

the demonly fast Takumi Fujiwara was...

Overtaken?!

Overtaken...

That 86 from Gunma was...

Ta-Ta-Ta-Takumi got overtaken!

It... can’t... be...

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!

What now...

Is there really a place to regain the lead after this?

I can't believe it... what do you think Mako?

I can't believe it either. Seriously...

This hairpin is an S and therefore, there is only one best line to pick.

To go side by side here is something nobody would've attempted.

Jumping in so carelessly like that,

with the opponent being Takumi.

This is just my intuition but... you mind?

Maybe Shinji just wanted you to see the overtaking.

To show you that he could have overtaken him anywhere without bothering about lines or ways out.

It can't be...

He bumped me?

So that's the kind of person you are.

If that's how you're going to play...

It's become exactly as Hojo-han predicted.

God dammit, that's scary.

So it happened at Miharashi hairpin.

Not the most ideal place to do it.

That place, huh?

Yeah, when Shinji's concentration enters the zone,

what's normally a naive face turns vicious.

He wouldn't even care about what happens to his body.

I believe that's a very rare type of person.

A proud racer would be stung if the body even grazes.

That boy doesn't really have a feel for driving with care.

To begin with, the car wasn't in the best condition when he started driving.

He'd graze bushes and guardrails and never really mind it.

Still, it's strange how he always prevented it from escalating to anything major.

The experienced master of martial arts can dodge even a god's attack.

Seems I was right in planning to have the body tinkered clean.

Or the opponent would’ve seen through this.

Quite the passing point to pick.

Nobody understands what that kid's thinking.

But, was that attack a little too early?

We can only hope it goes well from here.

Fearless is a good word to describe him.

Shinji, Takumi Fujiwara is a lot more dangerous than you're giving him credit for.

At the Tenbodai hairpin? You're kidding me. There?

I can't even imagine overtaking there.

He's insulting our ace, dammit!

More than us, Fujiwara's probably even more shocked. He might even lose resolve.

I know he won't. He's not just racing for himself right now.

Yeah. Everyone he's battled at North Kanto are here watching.

He's racing with that heavy burden on his back.

Whatever happens, there's no way he'll lose resolve.

The fight starts here! It's bad losing your lead, but

if we take it back...

Y-yeah, you're right!

One thing's for certain, Fujiwara wouldn't be as shaken as people are supposing.

I get the picture.

If he were trying to pull ahead with his top speed, that would've been a huge shock, but,

he was most likely saving his tires and cruising at high speed.

Obviously not expecting an attack and with his guard down.

If his opponent butted in abruptly and overdid the attack,

it'd be a desirable scenario.

This isn't bad.

When cornered, he'll show another awakening.

Takumi Fujiwara is

the type who only goes flatout only when needed.

A prodigy.

That settles it.

If the position has switched, there's no more need to worry.

I wouldn't be foolish enough to get comfortable either but...

This battle is almost settled, isn't it?

The more confident a driver is with his speed,

the worse off he'd feel getting left behind.

Nobody else can do what Shinji just did.

All that's left is to wait for the end.

Just as expected of his home turf...

We know thanks to driving on Usui everyday.

Feeling every detail in the bone.

Come rain, come wind, you can still feel it.

A pursuit like that gives you the ability to challenge a course even without sight.

That's a huge handicap! Isn't Takumi racing here for the first time?

Huh?

I can't get away.

He's keeping up with my speed.

He's gotten a little faster than before.

Hey Sayuki, remember when we battled Takumi at Usui touge?

I can't forget that. Takumi raced on Usui for the first time.

To him, a difficult battle furthers his limits.

We lost to him despite being specialists at our home turf.

He kept up with you and copied your cornering lines and speeds.

That must have needed unbelievable concentration.

He might pull off the same thing again.

No matter how well Shinji knows the course, nor how fast he drives,

if Takumi earnestly pays attention to them all,

the same thing from earlier might awaken in Takumi again.

From a "nobody" downhiller to be able to

conquer Usui touge's trickiest corner, C=121 in the very first attempt.

I'll never forget that.

I admit. You're amazing, incredibly fast.

But, you're also driving an 86. Therefore...

There's no reason why the speeds you use can't be used by me!

Even I admit that this curve is the hardest part of this course.

The exit is narrower than the entry.

Nobody's kept up with this pace before.

What is this guy?

No way... Nobody's done this before.

This is hard but, I think I can keep at it.

What?... Why?...

I can't pull away.

Despite giving it all I've got, I just can't pull away!

Ah well... Just got a report from the third hairpin.

As you know, it’s among the trickiest parts of this course,

The entry isn’t all that wide but it dangerously narrows towards the exit.

That’s because the guardrails there are horribly dented.

Shinji’s the only one who dares take that hairpin at full speed.

Many drivers miss the exit and collide with the guardrails.

But Takumi Fujiwara seems to be keeping up with no dilemma.

This should be Shinji's biggest test.

Based on the timers, Shinji seems to be going at full speed.

This is a blessing.

There now exists someone who can do in an instant what took him 13 years to master.

Takumi Fujiwara's stubborn.

Do pardon my noticing but,

you've changed a bit, Hojo.

A good change though. Up until yesterday you refused to see past victory.

But now you're different. You're beginning to perceive the bigger picture.

Beyond our victory or defeat, you're thinking of ways to help Shinji grow.

I guess you're right.

By result, I may have lost my battle, but I've learnt something from it.

It's not as simple as winning or losing.

Everyone participating in this event might be for Project D.

But Shinji's ascension onto the finest stage makes him incredibly fortunate.

I have no idea if he can win this battle or not, but

I was surprised that he returned after running away.

Based on his expression this morning, I was sure he'd run away.

When he's not behind the steering wheel, he's a scared and frail little boy.

But when he's racing, he relies on nobody.

Nor does he make excuses. A driver’s loneliness.

This guy's fast... I don't think I can do it, mom...

That boy probably realises his helplessness now and is probably fighting with a death wish.

He'll definitely grow with this.

No more... I want to run away!

Are you calling Shinji weak?

He's got piled up experience from time, accumulated technique.

Even if he momentarily loses confidence, a driver that fast is by no means weak.

In a showdown, one can rely only on their own spine and win with their own sweat.

Shinji is strong. He has them both!

Mom... I'm scared...