#how are there so many memes about people getting mean and snippy in the heat

[namira]

No genuinely what the hell are you people talking about when you say the heat makes you angry and cranky. Heat makes you want to sprawl out in the shade like a starfish and go to sleep.

[whitecometofakagi]

TOP 10 RYOSUKE MOMENTS BECAUSE WE MUST GO! EVEN FURTHER!! BEYOND!! AAAAAAAAAAA

So Anon originally sent me “top 5 Ryosuke scenes ;^))” but edited their ask to the above. Thank you, anon, for not only providing me with more gushing space, but making this challenge feasible. I truly struggled having to cut things from my top 10! Top five would have been near impossible. 

I am going to put this under the cut, since I want to take a moment to explain my choices. Please note that I have not watched Final Stage yet, so there may be something else in the last four episodes that I’d later wish to include in this list. 

Top 10 Ryosuke Moments: 

10. Ryosuke sends flowers to Takumi to challenge him to a battle. 

Without a doubt, this is one of the most iconic Ryosuke moments in Initial D. This scene, which skilfully combines a dramatic plot point in the story with a comedic element of surprise, is one of the most fun Ryosuke scenes, not least for the meme inspiration and shipping fodder it provides. However, the biggest reason this scene makes my top 10 list is for the wonderful glimpse into Ryosuke’s personality that it provides. 

Ryosuke is smart – but beyond his strategic abilities, his medical career path, and conventional high IQ, he understands people – how to deal with them, coach them, challenge them. Simply put, he understands what makes people tick. Like the confrontational Project D website he builds later in the series, Ryosuke is already beginning the challenge by playing mind games with his opponent: Why issue a challenge in this way? Why with something as intimate as roses? Is this a gift or a threat? A display of respect (red roses in both eastern and western culture symbolize love) or a subtle, almost backhanded slight (15 red roses in western flower language mean “I’m sorry,” after all, which – if Ryosuke knew this – could be interpreted as a preemptive apology for Takumi’s defeat.)

However, despite the fact that Ryosuke is upping the psychological warfare here, there’s one one thing that’s undeniable – Ryosuke has class. No matter the exact meaning of the roses, he spends money buying his challenger a stylish gift. Ryosuke is clearly a man who is dedicated to racing and approaches it with depth, sincerity, and tactics that extend beyond those on the course. It’s a wonderful early introduction to one of the – and in some ways the – series’ most important characters. 

9. Ryosuke admits that he bluffs his way through a lot of things.

This is a small scene, but one which left a definite impression on me. It’s not hard to see why the members of Project D, as well as many other characters, look up to Ryosuke. His command of the road, his unparalleled strategic ability, and even his general demeanor are awe-inspiring. Perhaps it’s no wonder, then, that Ryosuke can come across as completely cool, confident, and near-perfect. However, there is a gap between the confidence that Ryosuke projects and his true feelings. 

One of the reasons I feel in love with this scene is that it resonated with me on a personal level. I distinctly remember one occasion, when I was in college, when a friend who was struggling with future career decisions asked to have dinner. Over the course of the night, I related my friend’s struggles to my own, reassuring him that I had faced many of the same doubts about what I wanted to do for a career, how I felt about becoming an adult, etc. And suddenly, he says “Wait, you feel that way too, Jenny? I was so sure you had everything figured out!” 

Over the years I’ve had many such experiences. I have a tendency to make a certain impression on people – one that makes people say incomprehensible things, like declaring that I’m smart within five minutes of meeting me. This may sound pretty awesome, but the fact of the matter is that it can be quite isolating. It’s difficult to hear someone say “woah, Jenny got that answer wrong?” and feign a smile. And yet, at the same time, it’s equally difficult not to hide my fears behind a mask of competence and confidence. 

Ryosuke has many important roles to fill in his life – a team leader, a coach, an older brother, an heir to his father’s hospital, etc. It’s no wonder he’s often reluctant to open up about his own struggles and fears, whether it’s the hesitance he shows when Kaori asks him about his dream, or how secret he keeps deeply personal feelings about the situation with Kaori and Rin. But you can also sense from his tone and reaction in this scene that he doesn’t see himself as perfect and doesn’t wish for his friends to see him that way either. There’s a sadness and a humility in his reaction to Matsumoto that demonstrates that Ryosuke struggles just as much as anyone else. Furthermore, Ryosuke’s competence can be a challenge in and of itself – since it’s hard for others to understand, relate to, or even perceive his fears and struggles. 

8. Ryosuke and Keisuke communicate with almost no words.

Ryosuke has many incredible personality traits of his own. But one of my other favorite aspects of Ryosuke’s character is his relationship with his younger brother, Keisuke. Even in First Stage, it is clear that the Takahashis share a deep bond. Not only does Ryosuke closely advise Keisuke on the Red Suns, but Keisuke is nearly brought to tears when Ryosuke indicates that he might retire soon. 

Over the course of the series, we begin to understand how this deep bond was formed. Not only did Ryosuke and Keisuke race together, but Ryosuke used racing as a way to help Keisuke out of a bad situation and discover a purpose in his life. The two brothers support one another’s aspirations as best as they are able. And while Ryosuke can sometimes be a bit harsh on Keisuke, as he himself admits later, nothing can truly come between them. 

One of my favorite parts of this relationship; however, is that it is not explored through backstory alone. The brother’s love for and understanding of one another isn’t static over the course of the show, but evolves as the characters mature and grow. While Keisuke questions many of Ryosuke’s decisions in the beginning (especially his decision to have Takumi race against Tomoyuki), they eventually reach a point where they can strategize without a clear word being spoken between them. 

It is such a lovely moment, which demonstrates both the way that Project D has changed the characters for the better, and the strong bond which has existed between Ryosuke and Keisuke from the beginning. 

7. Ryosuke schools Sudo Kyoichi with his style and sick burns.

Ryosuke can often seem quiet, as he spends much of his time studying, analyzing races, and driving. Yet, few people can deliver a quick and slick burn like Takahashi Ryosuke. And he does so while appearing as a cool and suave…fashion icon…of sorts…

You’ve got to dig these 90s sunglasses!

There’s no character who quite gets on Ryosuke’s nerves like Sudo Kyoichi. He has Ryosuke’s analytical mind, generally calm demeanor, and controlled competitive fire, but holds a surprisingly contrasting set of values. As Ryosuke states: “Rationality is Kyoichi’s bible.” He focuses on the most technically perfect cars and sees street racing as a mere child’s game compared to a circuit. Rysouke, meanwhile, dedicates his time to writing a theory of street racing which focuses on the variability and human aspect of racing, and even declares at one point in Fifth Stage that the ultimate street racer is the one who has been bestowed a “special something” by God. It’s no wonder, then, that these two always seem to be trying to one-up one another. But Ryosuke makes it clear, off the bat, in this scene that he has the upper hand. 

I love Ryosuke’s lines in this scene in part because they demonstrate his quick wit. I aspire to respond this well to my rivals some day.

But I also love how he’s able to get an upper hand on all his arguments with Kyoichi -- (here and in other scenes) -- by delivering his lines with such prideful calm

while Kyoichi is provoked to further and further frustration.

 There’s no better way to gain control over your rival than that!

(Side note: Considering some of the witty, snippy lines Rin has when talking with Ikeda in Fifth Stage, I do have to wonder if maybe Ryosuke picked a bit of this skill up from him...)  

6. “You suck at turning right.” 

My favorite scene involving Ryosuke and Kyoichi. Not only does it occur in the midst of a heated race between the two (Station to Station, play with emotion!), but the way Ryosuke delivers this line made me laugh out loud. 

Initial D has no shortage of awesome overtakes, but this will always be one of my favorite, due to the fact that Ryosuke so clearly exploits Kyoichi’s misconception of street racing as “circuit racing lite” to both defeat him and win their intellectual argument. 

And could this line be delivered in a more beautifully Ryosuke way? Up until this point, Ryosuke has been analyzing the race in the calm, elegant, language we know and love. As the eurobeat comes in and the decisive moment comes, it seems we are in for another well-crafted lesson in driving, as Ryosuke begins: “Kyoichi, your weakness lies in your unconquered fear of turning right.” 

And then he cuts it all off with:  “Frankly, you suck at turning right!” 

Incredible. 

5. Ryosuke argues with Hojo Rin about the importance of moving on. 

This is one of Ryosuke’s most quotable moments in all of Initial D. The bottom half of this list, you’ll soon see, is dominated by scenes from the shinigami race, which, in my opinion, is the most emotional, compelling, and exciting of the series. I found this to be a particularly moving moment, in which Rin – through their racing dialogue – accuses Ryosuke of not caring enough about Kaori, since he is no longer dwelling on her death. The response Ryosuke gives is, for me, one of the most important and moving pieces of advice in the series. Truly, I think the words speak for themselves without needing further comment: 

4. Ryosuke talks to Rin after their battle. 

Another of my favorite scenes from these series of episodes is the discussion between Ryosuke and Rin immediately following their race. In order to get a really good sense of Ryosuke’s attitude in this scene, let’s recap where things stand for a moment: 

Rin – who was not only Ryosuke’s senior, but his mentor and friend – spent the entirety of the last few minutes attempting to kill Ryosuke. Furthermore, although Rin’s behavior is partially the result of regret and untreated depression, his original animosity towards Ryosuke stemmed from a chauvinistic, entitled attitude, that made him feel like he had a right to Ryosuke’s girlfriend. I think that the overwhelming majority of people in this situation would say: “get lost, asshole.” Not Ryosuke, of course, who instead risks his life in the hopes of saving this man from himself. But the real kicker is that it doesn’t end there. 

When the race is over, Ryosuke doesn’t lecture Rin, the way he tells Kyoichi how he was able to defeat him after their battle. In Rin’s own words, he seemingly won’t even acknowledge what’s happened. Instead, he talks with awe about the fact that he suspects Kaori miraculously played a role in saving their lives, expresses absolute joy over being able to race his senpai and show him the extent of his abilities, and tops it off with: 

I love how absolutely floored by it all Rin is, bringing up the fact that he nearly murdered Ryosuke, but Ryosuke calmly responds that if Rin had really wanted him dead, he’d be dead – and as is often the case, he’s not wrong. 

It’s so seemingly naive, and, yet, it’s anything but – as Ryosuke knows exactly what he’s doing. As I have stated before, Ryosuke understands people, and he knows Rin will understand the message he is sending through his driving. 

Now, does this altruistic sort of attitude open Ryosuke up to emotional pain and even physical danger? Yes. And he would be stupid to think otherwise. But this is why Ryosuke is a street racer – to him the meaning of a race isn’t just the physics of cars competing to go faster. It’s an emotional dialogue. No matter how dangerous it is, he is able to entertain that sort of dialogue with a cherished, yet misguided and hurting friend through this race. His ability to see past the surface of things and cherish what he sees as the deeper meaning of them can be a weakness as well as a strength, but it’s part of what makes Ryosuke who he is. And it is that personality which gives him the motivation to be the racer and coach we all love. 

3. Ryosuke declines a professional contract. 

This may be the most unexpected of my top three Ryosuke scenes, but it absolutely belongs here, as it is the moment I first truly fell in love with his character. 

All of emotion and excitement of Ryosuke’s battle with Takumi, his intellectual debates with Kyoichi, and his determination to save Rin through racing turn on this moment right here – when Ryosuke informs Fumihiro, Kenta, and Keisuke (much to Keisuke’s distress) that he has no desire to pursue a professional racing contract. 

Now, I have to admit –  I was a bit bummed out at first. I absolutely love watching Ryosuke drive, and there is nothing I would love to watch more than Ryosuke dedicating his time to honing his own skills and racing that beautiful white FC3S. But Ryosuke’s reasons for not wanting to go pro struck me and made his character resonate with me in a very meaningful way. 

One of the common threads running through so many of my favorite Ryosuke scenes is Ryosuke’s view of racing. It’s sometimes said that some people live to work and others work to live, and Ryosuke is undoubtedly the latter. Racing to him is something far deeper than a profession, it’s a hobby whose meaning has seemingly ingrained itself in Ryosuke’s soul. 

While Project D’s opponents often speak of Ryosuke with awe, many of them assume his strength comes from his analytical ability alone. But this is almost to his discredit. Those who are able to understand the true passion and natural aptitude Ryosuke has for street racing (e.g. Ikeda) uncover so much more about what makes him both special and successful. This is the moment when I think the audience gets to see the inner truths of Ryosuke’s attitudes for the first time, and that is why I cherish it so.

2. “Is that all you’ve got, senpai?” 

Ryosuke’s race against Rin had me completely drawn in. My heart was beating fast. I felt completely connected to the excitement and emotion….And then Ryosuke said this line and I had to pause, screenshot it, and post it to twitter. 

This is the first moment in which Rin side presses Ryosuke, making a move to run him off the road. 

This picture is a great reminder why running off the road on the Hakone turnpike is…ill advised. 

Not only does Ryosuke recover expertly, using his innate sense to make a split-second life or death action to stabilize his car…

…and not only does he do this without panicking at all, demonstrating incredible nerves of steel...

He knows that isn’t the half of how hard Rin can push it! And so he challenges Rin to bring it on stronger! As I wrote on twitter at this point: 

“My goal is to be the kind of person who when someone tries to kill me just goes: “Is that all you’ve got” at them daaaaaaaaaang.” 

1. Ryosuke tries to stop Rin’s R32 with his FC. 

So here we are – my top Ryosuke moment. First of all, this is one of the most exciting scenes in the entire series. Hojo Rin’s brakes are completely shot. Ryosuke makes a last-ditch effort to save him by letting the R32 crash into his FC. It’s no use – the GT-R is too heavy. Ikeda steps in to save the day. Can they actually stop before they ram into the toll booth? And in the background, some awesome and incredible intense music from the Fifth Stage Soundtrack is playing. It’s a breathtaking moment, and even though I felt sure of the outcome, it still maintained a great amount of suspense and intensity. 

Beyond that, I don’t think any scene does a better job of capturing the essence of Ryosuke as a person. 

There is a small moment in this scene I love – when the two cars are failing to slow down, and Ryosuke says, in frustration, “I seriously miscalculated!” With everything we know about Ryosuke, it’s hard to believe he’d really judge an FC to be hefty enough to stop a GT-R. Rather “I seriously miscalculated”  seems to be Ryosuke’s personalized brand of “oh fuck!” – and funny enough, Rin uses the same phrase earlier in a similar way. (Like senpai like kohai?) But while that line is, in some ways, funny – and, I’m sure, not precisely translated – I think there’s an important truth there. It is a calculated move on Ryosuke’s part. But not a well-executed mathematically calculated move. It’s a desperate but necessary move which he makes out of determination, compassion, and love. If Ikeda hadn’t been there, Ryosuke would have almost assuredly died on account of this action. But Ryosuke goes for it without hesitation. 

In short, I feel no qualms about saying that I love Takahashi Ryosuke – and you should love him too.