Initial D: The Next Stage

Chapter 3

I felt proud. To beat my uncle who'd been street racing for a long time on my very first race was something to be proud of. I had to tell my friends about this tomorrow.

I drove into the gas station in my R34. Itsuki's Eight-Five and Iketani's S13 were both parked out back. I wasn't working today, but I might as well go see what they think of my new car.

Itsuki and Iketani were talking with Yuichi outside the employee building. I pulled in with my R34, and they all stopped to look.

I pulled beside a gas pump and waited as Itsuki ran up to the car.

"I'll be right there!"

He came beside the car and I rolled down my window. I gave a small smile and simply said, "High octane, please."

Itsuki studdered his words out and screamed. "K-kudo?! Y-you own a GT-R?!"

"No, I own a 25GT-T Turbo." I laughed, nodding. "Yeah, my uncle gave me it yesterday. I beat him on the Akina downhill in this."

Iketani walked over. "But isn't your uncle God Foot? The God Foot?"

"I guess his skills are getting a little rusty."

Another car pulled into the station. A blue Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII FQ-400, which surprised me because last I checked, the FQ-400 was only sold in Great Britian.

Iketani watched the Evo. "Is that an FQ-400?"

"Yeah..." I said, watching the car myself. "I thought that trim was only available in the UK?"

"It is." Iketani said, walking over to it. "It must've been shipped over from an auction."

Itsuki looked back at me. "You beat God Foot?"

"Yeah. Are you gonna fill up my car or what?"

"Oh, right, right!"

The driver of the Evo got out of his car and walked over to mine. He knocked on my window.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

"Yeah, do you know a guy named Takumi Fujiwara?"

I stopped for a minute. "Fujiwara? Yeah, I know him. He's out of the country, though."

"Hm. That's a shame." He stopped and grinned at me. "Say, you race down touges, right?"

"Um..."

"I'm looking for some racers to start a team that goes down Akagi Panoramic, it'd be my Evo, your R, and this girl's FD."

"That sounds fun but-"

"Great! First practice is tonight at 9!" He ran off back to his car as Iketani finished filling it and drove off. Itsuki squealed and bounced in the air.

"That's so cool! You just got drafted into a team!"

"Yeah, against my will." I added with a scoff. "Last night's race was fun, but I don't think I can keep it up like that."

"Just try it! I'm sure you'll love it!" He said as he finished up. I paid and drove off.

Maybe Itsuki's right... I thought, driving back to my uncle's house. I guess I could try it out, see if I'd really like it...

I got back to my uncle's house and walked over to his room. "Hey, uncle?"

He must've been napping, because he snorted and groaned. "Yes...?"

"A team in Akagi just asked me to join their team... the first meeting is tonight at 9."

"I thought you didn't like street racing."

"Yeah, well, last night's race got me a bit more into it."

My uncle smiled. "Good to hear."

"So can I go?"

"Why are you asking me? You've got a car."

I nodded. "Thanks." I started to leave and stopped for a minute. "Do you think I'll have a shot?"

"A shot at what?"

"Being among the best in Gunma."

My uncle smiled. "Kid, you'll be the best in all of Japan."

That night, I rolled into the parking lot near Akagi's downhill. I could see the guy's Evo, and another girl's white FD.

That must be them... I thought, pulling into the lot.

The Evo driver looked over at my R and smiled, walking over as I got out.

"You made it."

"Yeah, but don't expect the car to win a whole lot. It's still stock." I said, closing the door.

"Don't worry about it. Kubo over here owns a tuning shop, she'll fix us up with some good parts."

The girl who I assumed was Kubo walked up to the two of us. "I don't know. That Evo of yours already makes 401 horsepower, anymore and you'd fly off a cliff."

"Hey, I saw a guy drift a 700 horsepower Evo 8."

"That guy was from America and was fucking nuts." I added.

"Okay, are we going to introduce each other?" The girl said, tapping her foot impatiently.

I nodded and raised my hand. "Kubo Naoya."

The Evo driver nodded. "Kano Kenzan."

The girl looked at us both. "Kubo Miki."

We all looked at each other and nodded.

"Shall we start a practice run?" Kano said, getting out his keys.

"I mean, if you want." Kubo said, looking at her FD. It was white and had a large spoiler on the back, looking somewhat similar to Keisuke's FD but she still had the pop-up lights and was missing all the aero parts. "I'd say that me and Kano have a shot at it, hey Kudo?"

"Yeah?"

"Try to keep up."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You want to make this a three way?" Kano asked.

"Sure, why not?" Kubo said, walking back to her car. "You both should try to keep up."

Kano and Kubo got in their cars and lined up at the line. I followed behind them.

There was no official countdown, just the revving of our engines and Kano sticking his hand out of his window to do a countdown.

I watched his hand carefully.

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

Go!

The race began, and to my surprise, I wasn't left in the dust...