#we all do eventually

The shift between pre-Project D stuff and Project D arc is one of my big gripes about ID’s narrative, because it doesn’t fully commit to this divide, and to Ryosuke being the main character for the Project D arc. Idk how many out there might share this opinion, but I think a full commitment would have landed better. I think the shift to Ryosuke’s perspective and journey should have been clear from the start of that summer, and delved into his would have made more sense given his eventual climactic battle. Instead we got a bit of a grab bag of various perspectives in the 2nd half, and while fun, it also made the emotional investment more diffuse in comparison to the more focused POV we had with Takumi in the first half.

But TBH I think Ryosuke’s story should have been structured more like Takumi’s in this second leg, but unfortunately the narrative - for whatever reason - could get away from Takumi being anything less than front and center, so Ryosuke remained in this weird state of being both supporting and main character, and kind of sucking at both as a result.

This divide also makes sense to me when I realize that Takumi and Ryosuke are really the only two characters who achieve significant cathartic release at what are (I think) the main emotional peaks of the story. The first being Takumi’s decision to Natsuki about how he wants to get out in the world and race (this is where the story divides, imo). The second being Ryosuke returning to Kaori’s grave after having achieved the Dream to honor her. Keisuke should have had a moment like this, too, but goddamn it.  That’s all I have to say.  Goddamn it.