Akio Asakura is the main protagonist, a high school student whose life becomes defined by his relationship with a legendary and dangerous machine. He is a calm and humble young man, but beneath that gentle exterior lies a relentless dedication to racing and mastering his car. His obsession with speed leads him to skip school frequently, causing him to repeat a grade. After being easily defeated on the Wangan by Tatsuya Shima, a skilled surgeon driving a black Porsche known as the BlackBird, Akio discovers a wrecked, midnight blue Nissan Fairlady Z S30 in a junkyard. This car is infamous as the Devil Z, a cursed vehicle with a history of violent accidents that killed its previous owner, who also happened to be named Akio Asakura. Despite warnings, Akio sells his red Nissan 300ZX to buy and restore the Devil Z. His primary motivation is to understand and control the car’s unpredictable power. He is not just a driver but also a dedicated mechanic, taking apart, repairing, and tuning the Devil Z himself. His key rival is Tatsuya Shima, who feels a personal connection to the car and its former owner. He also forms a connection with Reina Akikawa, a model who is drawn to his dedication. Throughout his journey, Akio experiences serious accidents, including one where the car catches fire, but his response is always to rebuild and continue. In a final race, he maneuvers the Devil Z to take an impact meant for a rival, sacrificing his car to save another driver, demonstrating that his motivations have grown beyond simply conquering the highway.