Initial D has it's examples of these moments too...
WARNING: This page has unmarked spoilers.
First Stage
- After deciding to ride shotgun in the AE86 whilst Takumi does a practice downhill run to better understand and emulate him, this is Iketani's reaction towards the end of the very first straight, as Takumi speeds up far more than he expected. He's reduced to a screaming mess as soon the rear tires slip and the car enters the first corner via drift, and he's passed out upon the third turn.
- As part of his Batman Gambit to get Takumi to face him, Shingo decides to seek out the various members of the Speed Stars and attack them whilst they're on Mount Akina. His unlucky victim ends up being Itsuki, who immediately panics upon getting bumped by Shingo and realizing who is behind the wheel.
- Takumi ends up facing Shingo in a "Duct Tape Death Match", with his right hand taped to the steering wheel. Takumi, being Takumi, massively underestimates how this can impact his racing and immediately pulls away from Shingo, diving into the first corner as he usually does... only to immediately realize he can't turn the wheel as much as he usually does, whilst understeering into the guardrail. The look on his face says it all. He ultimately manages to recover, but almost strains his wrist in the process.
- In the second half of their race, after having bumped into him from behind, Shingo reacts this way as soon as he sees Takumi's AE86 getting dangerously close to him, thinking he's about to be bumped back. This causes him to open up the racing line, causing Takumi, who had no intention of doing so, to easily pass him.
- Finally, at the very end of their race, Shingo realizes there's not enough distance left to the finish line to try and pass Takumi again. To avoid the humiliation of defeat, he decides to end the race in a double crash, swerving his EG6 to the left towards the AE86... right as both were entering a right-hand turn. Cue this reaction, as Shingo realizes he's diving towards the guardrail and attempts to steer his car back on the road a split second before impact to no avail.
- Yuichi pulls this twice in the span of a couple of minutes when Bunta convinces him to come along for a ride in the AE86: the first time is when Bunta tells him he's about to speed up, leading to a Spit Take and Yuichi grabbing on just about anywhere inside the cockpit to hold on for dear life, whilst the second one comes when he realizes Bunta let go of the steering wheel to light a cigarette mid-drift.
Fourth Stage
- After Project D has defeated the Northern Saitama Alliance, Kazumi ultimately ends all of Itsuki's hopes of getting back together by leaping into the arms of her other ex-boyfriend. Unbestknown to him, however, Kenji and Iketani were hiding nearby, having witnessed the entire ordeal. The two were about to make their silent leave... only for an heartbroken, weeping Itsuki to run towards their hiding spot. Cue this reaction from all parties involved.
- Following their defeat, the Tsuchisaka Lancer Evolution Team called upon a Bōsōzoku gang to beat up the members of Project D. Turns out, however, the gang's leader used to be a subordinate to Keisuke back in his days as a bosozoku. Not only does the gang allow Project D safe passage, they immediately turn on the Tsuchisaka team. Cue reaction.
Fifth Stage
- Ikeda reacts this way repeatedly whenever dealing with the Shinigami. The first of such reactions is when he almost ends up an unwilling victim of his, getting repeatedly bumped by the R32 and almost crashing off of the mountain pass.
- Once again, Ikeda is always on the verge of panic during the battle between Ryosuke and the Shinigami, be it in the opening exchanges when Rin first bumps into Ryosuke, the midway point where he side-presses the FC into the side of an hill, or towards the end when both almost lose control when Ryosuke pulls out of another dangerous side press.
- Lastly, Ikeda reacts this way twice at the very end of the battle between Ryosuke and Rin: first, when he realizes the R32's rear lights are flashing but the car isn't slowing down, realizing that Rin's wore the brakes down to uselessness; and second, when Rin ultimately refuses to use the emergency exit, deciding he'd rather kill himself than live with his regrets.
- The ending of the battle between Shinji and Takumi features a rare one from the latter, right after he turns his lights back on following a successful blind attack... and immediately realizes he accidentally over-revved his engine for far too long. Cue the AE86's engine blowing up and everyone spectating at the finish line to react this way as well.
