Moé Moé Rabu

Wow, it’s been a while since this came out, in truth, I actually watched this when I saw the raws but just didn’t get around to blogging it. So continuing on from episode 2, Akio is racing Tatsuya with Eriko sitting next to him. She still believes that the Devil Z will betray him but Akio strongly disagrees, however he does end up crashing in the same construction area as last time. The two are alright, but Akio simply claims that his skills aren’t high enough.

Elsewhere, a model named Akigawa Reina leaves a photo shoot in her Nissan Skyline R32 GTR. While racing through Wangan, she catches a glimpse of the Devil Z and decides to race him. However the Devil Z pulls away with ease. The next day, whilst talking to her colleague, Reina learns of the legendary Devil Z and wants to race him again. So that night she goes out and finds the Devil Z, but is still easily beaten. While driving through a rest stop, she notices that the Devil Z is parked and the driver, Akio is standing by the vending machine.Akio notices Reina by the Devil Z, and Reina notices that Akio has left the keys in the ignition. So after she tricks Akio into buying a drink, she takes off in the Devil Z saying she want to drive it.

Driving down the Wangan, Reina is surprised by the Devil Z and can’t come to understand it. Akio is followig her in the GTR but then notices that a truck pulls in front of the Z, but luckily Reina was able to avoid crashing but she came to a halt on a nearby exit. Akio claims back his car, and there Reina says that her GTR will be faster than his Z. So over time, Reina modifies her GTR and that it should now produce 600 BHP. However she still feels that it’s different to the Z.

A few nights later, Reina is going through Wangan and eventually meets the Blackbird, and shortly after, the Devil Z. The three then go at it with a race with the GTR and Z at the front with the Blackbird following. As they enter a tunnel, the GTR and Z are neck and neck until the GTR finally gets ahead of the Z.

Impressions

So we’re finally introduced to the 3rd main character, Reina, and I have to say, she looks WAY better in the anime than in the manga. But going on ahead, Akio now has another rival who wishes to challenge him and I think Reina is someone who will evolve in the racing scene. With her GTR now pumping out 600 BHP, that’s some serious power for a car. But I don’t find it surprising that Reina can’t get the same feeling she did as the Devil Z as no cars are the same. But then this is the Devil Z we’re talking about here.

If there’s one thing I like about Wangan Midnight over Initial D is that in Wangan, they have three way battle, which I find to be even more exciting. Sure it doesn’t seem to be much, but when you’re going to excess speeds of 230km/h, it’s god damn scary, but also exhilarating (mind you I have never driven at those speeds, but have riden in a car close to that). Although right now it’s only still introducing characters and the basic storyline, well the very little storyline, I’m hoping to see some more racing scenes in the more intense areas of Wangan Expressway.