Initial D Season 3 Episode 14 Sad Lonely Driver

Sad Lonely Driver is an episode from season 3 of Initial D, an anime series revolving around illegal street racing in Japan. This episode follows the story of Itsuki, a close friend of the show's protagonist, Takumi.

Itsuki has always been a car enthusiast and has dreamed of racing for as long as he can remember. However, unlike his friends, he does not have a car of his own yet, which makes him feel down and left out at times. This feeling only intensifies when he meets Kyoko, a girl he has a crush on, who seems more interested in Takumi's racing skills than in Itsuki's passion for cars.

In this episode, Itsuki decides to take matters into his own hands and starts looking for a car to buy. His first attempt fails when he discovers that the used car he planned to purchase was already sold. Feeling defeated, he retreats to a local diner where he meets a middle-aged man named Kazumi. The two strike up a conversation, and Itsuki learns that Kazumi used to be a street racer but had to give up his passion due to a personal tragedy.

As they talk, Itsuki realizes that Kazumi's story is similar to his own. Kazumi empathizes with Itsuki's struggles and encourages him to keep pursuing his dream. He even offers to teach Itsuki how to modify and tune his car.

Feeling re-energized and motivated, Itsuki decides to take Kazumi's offer and spends the next few days learning everything he can about cars from his new mentor. During this time, he also discovers that Kyoko has been spending more time with Takumi, which makes him feel even more down and left out.

To lift Itsuki's spirits, Kazumi decides to challenge him to a street race. Although Itsuki initially refuses, Kazumi insists, saying that a race will be the ultimate test of the skills Itsuki has learned over the past few days.

The race takes place on a winding mountain road, and Itsuki is driving a car that he has spent countless hours modifying and tuning. As the two racers speed through the course, the audience is left on the edge of their seats, wondering who will emerge victorious.

This episode highlights the struggles and triumphs of a young car enthusiast who dreams of becoming a street racer. Itsuki's journey is one of self-discovery and perseverance, and the support of his mentor, Kazumi, ultimately propels him to success. The episode also illustrates the bond that cars can create between people, as Itsuki and Kazumi form a friendship through their shared passion for street racing.