Of all the drivers in MFG,
I'm pretty sure I've studied Kanata the most.
I've rewatched his videos enough to seem crazy.
And because of that, I know...
Kanata's killer move has gotta be sliding it around the outside.
So my goal is to prevent it.
Aiba is in the crosshairs now!
But can the 9 escape?
When will Katagiri Kanata launch the next stage of his ongoing assault?
MFG is proving to be a strange category.
The races seem set up to make drivers do outdated, idealized guff like "play fair."
But I don't race with some archaic notion of chivalry in my head.
When I witness a high-level performance, I feel the competitive urge to top it.
I guess racing gives you pride and a craving for the spotlight.
I'm not sure why, but I feel like I'm about to get a signal from Mr. Beckenbauer.
Does he want to swap positions?
Be my guest. No objections here.
They're approaching the Jumping Spot!
And if something's about to happen, this is a pretty likely venue for it!
Kanata's pulling to the outside.
But I saw that coming, and I won't let it happen.
Aw, are you kidding me, Kanata?
Forgive me, Senpai. I'll apologize in person later.
They didn't wait for the Jumping Spot. They pounced right before it.
What just happened, Sudo-san? Because I'm struggling to believe my eyes.
The Lead Group Splits
While Aiba-kun in the 9 was busy watching for a pass around the outside,
the 12 car jumped up the inside of the 86.
The strongest train swapped around in an instant.
But, Sudo-san, that seems, uh, kind of impossible to me.
I mean, there's no way for the 86 and the 12 to communicate, right?
Even making eye contact would be out of the question.
You're right about all of that.
But even so, I think they must have been on the same page.
Because otherwise, that position change couldn't possibly have gone so smoothly.
The timing of that dive was flawless.
You could call it a sort of sixth sense,
born from both sharing a heightened state of mind while in the zone.
I apologize to the listeners if that explanation seems flimsy,
but it's the best one I can provide at this time.
There's one other thing that strikes me as odd.
And that is Katagiri Kanata surrendering a position so easily.
In terms of race management, isn't that a critical mistake?
Considering who's involved,
isn't there a risk that he won't be able to re-pass him later?
It's hard to imagine for most people,
but I believe these two share a unique intent.
They likely consider their return to the head of the pack
and their inevitable confrontation to be totally separate issues.
Katagiri Kanata is confident.
And the same applies to Beckenbauer.
The mindsets of these two prodigies,
who have total confidence in themselves despite acknowledging their rivals' skills,
are likely to make this race wholly unpredictable as it goes on.
A shared sensibility between a pair of geniuses?
That sums it up so well, you can't help but laugh.
But he seems more active than usual.
It's like Kanata's enjoying this race more than all the others.
That goes for him and Beckenbauer.
Hurry up and ask me, Uehara-san.
And now, a question for Marie-san.
Do you, uh, think you'll be able to get married? You know, considering?
O-Of course I can!
Ask me the same question as everyone else!
And could you stop being so rude? This is sexual harassment!
I hope you weren't expecting me to marry you, Uehara-san.
Because I don't like you.
Where'd that come from?
Sawatari.
You placed below me in the rankings last season.
I used to empathize with your lack of motivation, man.
It's just a bubble, right?
Man, it's so gross, getting that fired up.
Sorry, Oishi. Being this far down the field just doesn't satisfy me anymore.
It's so gross how he stands out so much, with his slick driving and his good looks.
But the thing I hate most of all...
is how I get nowhere when I go all out, then become discouraged.
That's the grossest part of all.
Seeing a nudge like that is enough to start throwing around the term "expert."
MFG's backstreet brawler is making some noise!
I don't think I can reach the head of the pack, no matter how hard I go.
I've already punished my tires.
But if that's how it is, I'll raise hell in the midfield.
I want Sana, who knows nothing about racing, to tell me how cool I am.
Like she does when we're in bed sometimes.
Look at that dazzling Italian red! All eyes on the Prancing Horse!
The strongest train is hot on the trail of Akaba Kaito in the 2 car!
Beckenbauer? So you crawled up out of hell, did you?
The last thing I need is him clinging all over me.
The pressure and stress would be enough to wear me out.
It's fascinating how the strongest train, despite their differences,
work in sync so effectively.
You have one driver who's so precise, he gets compared to a machine.
A "cyborg" with shrewd race management, and physical and mental resilience.
That really suits Beckenbauer, the epitome of rationality.
Meanwhile, Katagiri Kanata is full of surprises, and never boring to watch.
You could say he has a kind of creativity that defies normal logic.
He does things that seem irrational at times,
but in his hands, they become effective weapons.
He's a genuine one-of-a-kind.
I think describing him as an artist instead of an athlete sums it up.
You're not wrong.
The boy's parents were both artists to their core.
And that influence is clear on Kana-chan, right down to his DNA.
I really would prefer if he didn't race at all.
So now, we're speaking to Big Sis Kyoko.
What kind of person would you like to marry?
Good question.
Well, keeping it simple, a guy who makes decent money and has a decent libido.
U-Uh...
Okay, same question to Number Seven.
Well, I've never given any serious thought to marriage,
so I don't have a full answer.
But I do have some thoughts on the subject.
I don't just want someone who will make me happy.
I want to go through life with a desire to make the other person happy.
And I think if I can accomplish that, it'll make me happy, too.
Oh, sorry. That probably sounds contradictory.
It's just something I've thought about before.
When did my little Ren start sounding so grown-up?
She used to flit from one thing to another, like the only child she is.
I've been seriously worried about her more than once.
But she's always been sweet and honest.
Besides, she has a big brother now.
Maybe that's changed her only child way of thinking.
You know, that might be it.
Kanata-kun's been a big influence on her.
He certainly has.
Maybe this is just my personal bias, but they seem like a good couple to me.
I used to think I'd sooner die than let my only daughter go off with god-knows-who.
But Kanata-kun... I wonder if he'd be willing to take her.
Wow. I can see that red car three places behind me.
The Silent Artist finally appears.
I was tired of waiting, darling.
These other guys are nothing next to you.
Come here and embrace me already.
Shit. It's sooner than I wanted, but I'll pull in front of the Aston,
and use that cutie as a buffer to keep Beckenbauer off my tail.
Don't take it personally, baby.
That's a terrible idea against Emma.
I went to bump her...
and she evaded me?
Did the two of them get caught up?
If you want to act stupid, prepare to be punished.
And that's some ruthless payback by Emma Greene!
The 2 car is sent skidding!
And it gives the curb more than just a little tap!
It loses speed as a result!
And along comes the strongest train to overtake him!
None of our classmates at the academy dared to try to rough up Emma.
They knew if they did, she'd pay them back tenfold.
It earned her a nickname: the Witch.
My life just flashed before my eyes.
She looks as sweet as an angel, but she drives like a demon.
And that's two places lost for Akaba Kaito!
Talk about a close one.
It seems the incident hasn't been flagged up by the stewards.
Not sure I agree with that call.
Maybe they viewed it as the 2 car having started it?
Even so, I would've flagged it up, even if only to give a warning.
But the beautiful woman gets a pass.
Considering the stewards are all aging men...
Our feed turns to the leader, the 885.
Waiting at the bottom of this steep slope is the final corner.
Then, it's on to the seafront of Sector 1,
taking us into the fourth lap with the second half of the race still to come!
MF Ghost.
Let's take this chance to go over who's where.
Leading the way is Moroboshi in the 885.
In second, it's Greene in the 624.
Then, shockingly, it's Beckenbauer in the 12.
He's in third, and on for a podium place.
Katagiri in the 86 is now in fourth!
Is it fair to say they've rejoined the battle for first at this point?
I'd say so. Especially considering the gap.
In fifth, it's Akaba in the 2, and to me, he seems a bit disheartened now.
In sixth place, it's Aiba in the 9. Seventh is Yanagida in the 6.
In eighth, it's Ishigami in the 1 car.
Ninth-placed Kitahara in the 18 is looking for a chance to pass the 1,
but so far, she's been rebuffed each time.
That said, Kitahara Nozomi seems pretty up for it today.
In tenth, it's Maezono in the 13.
And right behind him is the 4.
Sawatari Koki's pace seems to have slowed some.
I'm not so sure. The 4 doesn't have a power advantage...
and given how spread out the field is,
even as the current lap record holder,
catching up to the car in front will take time.
In 12th. it's Oishi in the 3 car.
In 13th, it's Sakamoto in the 5.
In 14th, it's Taylor in the 8 car.
And in 15th, it's Yashio in the 16.
It's a long race, and the leaders are now entering the second half of it.
I intended to take the 2 down myself,
but he fell out of contention. What an anticlimax.
I'd say this is far enough. Go on, Katagiri.
You sure?
I'm paying you back.
And once this is done, expect no mercy.
Whoa! The 86 is pulling in front of the 12 car?
It almost looked like Beckenbauer gave way.
I believe they just made eye contact. That was their way of declaring war.
Battle has recommenced from here on out.
It looks like the gentleman's agreement behind the strongest train has ended.
Was that returning the favor for swapping positions just before the Jumping Spot?
I'm surprised to see such sportsmanship from the cyborg, AKA the absolute king.
They were caught up in an unlucky accident and fell through the field.
The 86 and the 12 have made a miraculous comeback.
But at the end of the day, Beckenbauer has been mostly providing assistance,
while Katagiri Kanata has been going on the attack,
creating opportunities for them to move up.
Beckenbauer understands that.
Call that move resetting their stance towards each other.
What an incredible insight.
I have to say, I feel a bit more positive towards Beckenbauer now.
Can't say I agree with you there.
Here comes Katagiri Kanata.
Damn, he's amazing.
With my darling joining us, I'm afraid I have no further use for you.
You've done well up to now, 885 boy.
But this is goodbye.
Say what?
That wasn't my fault.
Blame your own tunnel vision.
And they make contact! The 885 looks shaky!
They hit the Hydro Trap side by side!
And there they go!
What a time to go on the attack!
The 885 and the 624 return to dry asphalt still side by side!
And the 86 is clinging right to the 624!
I'll make use of your tow, Emma.
Oh, my. By all means, enjoy.
That 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 engine is roaring!
The Aston Martin pulls off the overtake!
Hang in there, Supra.
Don't you dare lose out to the 86 in a contest of acceleration.
You're losing, damn it.
And it almost goes without saying that Beckenbauer follows on through!
The slipstream is so tightly packed, the 885 has nowhere to go!
It's a baptism of fire for him on the high-speed Double Lane course!
After running first for the first half of the race,
the 885 falls all the way back to fourth!
That's gotta be frustrating for the rookie, Moroboshi!
Okay. That's good timing. You can still do this.
This should revive Sena.
He'll show us what he's really made of now.
Sena to booth. Do you read me, Yukihira-san?
Do I look lame out here?
Good question. I'd have to say yes.
I figured.
Sena, where did you qualify?
In fourth.
That's what I thought. And what position are you in now?
Now? In fourth, I guess.
Well, there you go.
You're just back to where you started. That's no reason to start sulking.
If you are lame, that's why.
Where's the value in a position you didn't earn?
It only counts if you grab it yourself.
So look sharp, Sena. That Porsche is getting away.
Catch him and take him down.
Who's the true inheritor to the pride of Gunma?
Aw, hell. He said the magic words.
Roger. Sena to booth. I'm gonna go take down the Porsche.
Just you wait. Over.
Now, to the battle for tenth,
between Maezono in the 13 and Sawatari in the 4.
I didn't expect this battle to see who has the worst luck to actually happen.
Maezono-san, do you really wanna drive with that number?
In the west, nobody uses 13.
Is that right?
Well, I'm the rational type, so I don't go in for superstitions and all that stuff.
Besides, you're one to talk.
That's one unlucky number here in Japan.
Oh well. I don't worry about that stuff, either.
We might not be starting near each other,
but if we do meet up in a race,
why don't we have ourselves a battle of the unlucky numbers?
Love it. And I won't lose.
That NSX is one fast car.
It's taking all I've got just to get into his slipstream.
I need to attack when his speed starts to drop.
The trick will be to utilize the slipstream of the faster cars.
Tapping into wind power is how to win Double Lane.
The four cars vying for first will soon exit the seafront of Sector 1
as they steam into the 180-degree turn!
This spot is so much easier.
It beats the pressure of being up front with someone nipping at your heels.
It's easier to focus when you're doing the chasing.
And look who's in front of me. The driver everyone says is the best.
Talk about tasty. Time to steal some of that world-class driving technique.
I'd say the fact we're even having this battle
means you've had the worse luck today, Sawatari.
And while I pity you, we're racing, so don't expect me to go easy.
Show me evidence of your speed.
There's one spot where people lose the most speed.
And it's coming up.
Whoa! And the 4 makes its move!
It's a battle on the brakes at the entry to the 180-degree turn!
Overtake? Check!
With the sharpness of a razor, Sawatari Koki slices past!
That was incredible late braking.
He must've accounted for the drop in speed from going uphill.
What a brave choice.
I don't think these numbers matter.
Religion and superstitions are just fantasies cooked up by the human mind.
There are no gods. The unfairness of the world proves that.
Physics and science rule the universe.
What is this? His cornering is different.
The Japanese drivers I know slow down at the entry to a corner,
then speed up as they exit.
But Beckenbauer...
He doesn't do that. He maintains his speed and draws a wide arc.
I feel like I've seen this somewhere else before.
I know.
I sensed the same thing when I was behind Katagiri Kanata at the Peninsula.
Back then, the 86 had lost second gear,
and I thought this cornering style was him trying to mitigate it, but...
Is this just how European drivers do it?
Well, I'm game.
If the top two drivers are using this technique, so will I.
I'm impressed, Emma.
You've got an incredible grasp of this course.
Talented drivers never forgo basic preparations.
You're even more fearsome than I imagined.
We're now seeing the lead cars splitting into two groups.
How should we interpret this, Sudo-san?
From what I can see, Emma Greene has upped her game since taking the lead.
Ever since the 86 pulled in behind her, she's increased her pace.
Katagiri Kanata's known for his sprinting ability,
but he doesn't seem to be holding back.
Does that mean the cars in third and fourth are having trouble keeping up?
No, shockingly enough,
Moroboshi in fourth is putting pressure on Beckenbauer in third.
The absolute king is focused on what's behind him.
And by leaving a bigger gap to the cars in front,
he's probably given himself more freedom to maneuver.
I'm a bit shocked a rookie is displaying this much potential.
There's no telling how this race might end now.
Each of the contenders have what it takes to win.
And this battle is likely to continue all the way to the final lap.
Darling.
We're looking at a four-way contest for first,
which would be yet another first for MFG.
I wouldn't risk missing this climax, folks!