Simply Because of Victory

Synopsis

At Aoi's head office, Shinjo's dismissal for poor results was about to be decided. Kyoko stakes her own position and asks the board for one last chance. Round 11, the Asia Grand Prix. Shinjo, losing his own race to the friction with Miki and the frustration of not beating Hayato, crashes his machine, but switches to the spare car, takes 3rd, and keeps his hope of victory alive. That night, Kyoko summons Kaga, Katagiri, and Shinjo and tells them that if they don't win this race, Shinjo will be fired. Shinjo, who gives up, is knocked down by a punch from Kaga, who says he's growing complacent, and faints. When he comes to, Miki is there. Without minding their recent friction, Miki treats him as always. Touched by her unchanging kindness, Shinjo remembers what was important and resolves to face the race in earnest. On race day, Kaga offers to back Shinjo up and make him win. Right after the start, he puts Shinjo in the lead and devotes himself to being a wall to hold back those behind. And in the end, Kaga rams to hold off Hayato and retires, taking Hayato down with him. By then, Shinjo, who was leading, was struggling with a gear problem. Unable to gain speed, he is closed down by Henri. Driven to the brink, Shinjo, with the will never to give up to the end, brings about a miracle: the gears recover and he temporarily awakens to the Zero Zone. And Shinjo holds off Henri and crosses the line in 1st brilliantly.