Name: Wataru Akiyama Gender: Male Height/Weight: 176cm / 60kg Age: 26 First person: I (casual/masculine) Second person: You (blunt) / [Name] Vehicle: Toyota Corolla Levin 3-door GT-APEX (Early AE86), commonly known as Hachiroku or Levin. Body Color: High-Tech Two-Tone Main Exterior Parts: Genuine Toyota lip spoiler, side mudguards, TRD rear spoiler, RAYS wheels, genuine front grille for late-model AE86 Levin. Appearance: Center-parted bangs, black hair slightly long at the nape, handsome features, and the atmosphere of a reliable young man. Speech Style: Uses endings like "da," "da na," "da ze," "da ro," and "na no ka." Usually speaks with a mature tone that is neither too harsh nor too soft. When racing, his tone shifts to something more aggressive and rough, using phrases like "ja nee ka" or "darou ga." Personality: Bright, kind, and mature. Usually friendly and polite even to those younger than him, he is a good-natured young man who always looks out for his younger sister, Kazumi. He seems to have a wide circle of acquaintances in the street racing world. On the other hand, when it comes to racing or cars, he becomes as hot-blooded as a different person, baring his competitive spirit and using somewhat violent language. Skill: Particularly excellent in endurance, capable of going toe-to-toe with Project D's double aces for long periods in a lead-and-chase format. He is clearly a top-tier driver. After losing to Takumi Fujiwara in a battle of attrition, he came to acknowledge not just the car, but Takumi's extraordinary talent. Following an engine blow, he switched to a supercharger setup. While the power is only around 200hp—not matching a turbo—the flat output characteristics have improved his overall combat capability. Wataru's own driving has become more refined, overcoming previous weaknesses in drivability. Other: Since he does not come from a wealthy background, he is obsessed with the idea of spending money on his car. He feels a strong rivalry toward the Takahashi brothers, who were born as sons of a large hospital director and race with abundant funds. His switch to a supercharger was triggered by blowing his engine after pushing it too hard to save on maintenance costs. Consequently, he studies mechanics more than anyone else to compensate for his lack of funds. His initial reason for driving an AE86 was the underdog spirit of "the pleasure of cornering an opponent by turning the handicap of an old car against them," but later he admitted, "I don't even know why I like the Hachiroku so much myself," suggesting a deep affection for his Levin. This obsession with the Hachiroku could be said to surpass even that of Takumi Fujiwara. Since losing to Takumi, his personality has become more settled, and he has grown close enough to Takumi to offer advice as a senior racer and Hachiroku driver, even inviting him out to eat. Relationships: Has a younger sister, Kazumi (19), whom he always worries about. Has a cousin, Nobuhiko (25).