--- Page 165
Vol. 19: I'm not afraid of no GT-R!!
I want a car!!
Takeuchi Itsuki, 18 years
163cm 55kg
Likes: Taiwanese bananas (?) and all cars popular among streetracers.
Dislikes: FF, automatic diesel cars.
Looks up to his good friend Takumi's technique and dreams of one day being known as the fastest eight-six combo on Akina.
Special technique: Hill road takeoff (lame)

--- Page 166
What did you say?
You're not going to do it?
Didn't Nakazato of the Night Kids come to challenge you personally?
So why not accept it...
Beat the crap outta that GT-R.
You should be able to.
...
What's it to you...
Why are you being so insistant?

--- Page 167
There are two reasons.
I hate GT-Rs!!
And I don't want to lose to you any more for sure.
Don't you get it? The subtleties of the streetracer psyche...
Of course I don't want anyone else to beat the opponent I couldn't defeat!
Nobody but the Takahashi Brothers of the Red Suns is gonna beat you!
Don't lose to some GT-R!!

--- Page 168
I told you I'm not doing it.
I don't have any reason to!!
Reason...? What's with that!
Does streetracers need a reason to battle!?
I'm no streetracer or anything...
Cut the crap! Are you trying to be sarcastic?
You must drive a lot to learn that great technique...
Why'd somebody who's not a streetracer race around? It's not something you'd do unless you really like it...

--- Page 169
I don't drive because I like it...!!
I'm just doing it to help the business!!
Stop lying!!
How could you learn those incredible skills driving against your will?
(That's not it.)
You don't get it...
Aren't you the one who doesn't get it!?
I don't think there's anything in the world as exciting as driving a car.
Could someone who doesn't like driving master drifting!? That's a skill only somebody who likes it could learn for sure!!

--- Page 170
You might not have realized it yourself, but...
But deep in your heart, I know you like driving!!
You better remembers this.
I'll tell you one thing.
If you like driving, that's enough to be a streetracer!!
And if you're a streetracer, take pride in the skills you've thaught yourself!!
Accepting a challene is a streetracer's pride!!
After coming here just to meet you, I'm disappointed.
I came to tell you about the weak spot of the GT-R bro told me about, but...
I'm not gonna waste breath on someone who's not gonna do it!

--- Page 171
!!

--- Page 172
...
I haven't realized it myself, but...
Deep in my heart, I like driving...!?
Now I'm getting mad...!!
Dammit...!! That might be so, but
Still...

--- Page 173
Why should I have to accept a battle just because I'm challenged...
I just don't like it!!
Where's Takumi?
He's on late shift today!
Iketani-sempai... I...
I'll go to Mt. Akina tonight and apologize to the Night Kids' GT-R...
Itsuki...
...
I'll prostrate myself or do whatever it takes to get him to understand...
Since I never had anything with the Speed Stars to do to begin with!

--- Page 174
Shouldn't we try once more persuade Takumi...
I don't think there's any use, sempai...
We've hung out since we were brats so I know his personality...
He just hates being ordered about and told what to do!
He may look docile, but once he sets his mind, he's stubborn as a mule...
The rule of streetracers that you accept a challenge no matter what...
Takumi doesn't get that, he's against it.
That's how he is.
I see...
That personality
is just like his father's...
(Maybe I should pitch in here.)

--- Page 176
Boss...
I've cleaned up outside.
Oh... Good work.
...
Well, I'm off now.
Ah, wait a minute, Takumi...
Say, I kinda overheard...
You're battling a GT-R tonight?
Uh.
You better don't do it!!
The opponent's just too bad!!

--- Page 177
Uh... No...
Actually, I...
Oh, I know, you don't have to say it!!
I know it all, you see..
I know it's not a battle you accepted because you wanted to.
I know most of it. Itsuki got excited and accepted it on his own, right?
He's trouble, that Itsuki...
But you're too nice, Takumi! Going that far just to save face for your friend!
Huuh.
(He doesn't really get it...)
(Well... whatever.)
I'll just tell you... Leave off the GT-R.
Since you don't know cars well, you don't really know what kinda car the GT-R is, right?
...

--- Page 178
Is the GT-R...
that great, boss?
Got him... He took the bait.
His eyes changed...
It's beyond great! It's so special!
Since its drive system combines the best points of FR and 4WD, it's almost like cheating!
It's very stable, so it's fast downhill too.
And the RB-26 twin turbo at its heart is a monster!
Since the plans can stand being raised to 500-600hp at the races, pushing out power is simple!
It'll get going if you push it just a little.

--- Page 179
If the cars were more evenly matched, I don't think anyone could beat you, but...
An eight-six against and GTR, that's just too wide a gap to accept...
The other guy's a pretty famous streetracer too, right... It's too much!
This isn't like what pop said...
He said it'd be a close battle...
So...
Hey, are you listeing, Takumi?
You made a name for yourself against the Akagi team, don't throw it away!
Smart guys don't race someone they have no chance against...

--- Page 180
Listen your elders!
Right?
...
I'm sorry, since you went to the trouble of warning me, but...
I don't care about getting a name for myself as a streetracer or anything...
So you're not going to quit...
no matter what I say? (I got him...)
I'm not quiting.
Having been told how great it is, I wanna see for myself!!

--- Page 181
I'm not afraid
of no GT-R, boss.

--- Page 182
Bye.
Just the same reaction as his father.
...
I didn't think it'd go this well.
(I got Bunta this way several times.)
Huuuh?
Temporarily closed. Fujiwara Tofu.
What's this, temporarily closed? I didn't hear of this!
We're poor, he should work harder!

--- Page 183
Damn, the car's not here!
If he's gone drinking, it's hopeless... that damn old man won't be back until morning...
It's no good without the car...
I should've told him this morning I needed the car!
Mt. Akina.

--- Page 184
The galleries are crowded.
Aren't there even more people than the exchange with Akagi the other week?
What have all these people come to see...
I don't think it's the GT-R...
It's the eight-six' drift I want to see!!
He slides from corner to corner, and incredibly fast too...
I wanna see it now!!
I can't wait!!
It's no good!
I've called all the bars I know, but he's not there...
This is getting desperate...
I might not be able to live up to the reader's expectations!
Vol. 19: I'm not afraid of no GT-R!! END