I’ve never been a big fan of sports manga-anime’s tendency to jump into flashback mode right at a crucial moment, and Yowapeda is no stranger to the tactic.  As if this is a series where 500 meter sprints can take two episodes, so padding really isn’t what it wonts for.  A really good flashback sequence can add a lot to a sports series, no question.  But I’m not actually that crazy for either Ashikiba or Yuto, so the first part of this episode was kind of a whiff for me.

I guess I’m a minimalist when it comes to Yowamushi Pedal.  I like the series to focus on the likes of Sakamichi, Naruko and Manami – and I’ll add Midousuji to that group too, as he’s consistently entertaining and rather interesting.  Too much of Glory Line has been focused on peripheral characters for my taste, and the show has not been the better for it.  In fact it’s really only Chimera-kun’s integral role in this final Day Two shootout that’s redeemed it for me – though I suspect he doesn’t stand much of a chance.

I was more or less expecting Yuto to be the one to try and salvage HakoGaku’s chances after Ashikiba shot his wad taking the King of the Mountains tag.  That’s exactly what happens, though Ashikiba does a good enough job faking Imaizumi and Midousuji into believing he was planning to sprint for the line and didn’t have the legs that they’re surprised when Yuto goes for it.  I guess genetics do have their say in all this – climber or no, Yuto does have Shinkai sprinter DNA in his veins.  In fact he’s the one doing all the attacking at first – a feint made to look like an attack, and an attack which, on failing, he makes look like a feint.

It’s Imaizumi who commands the moment, though, taking advantage of Chimera-kun and Yuto’s obsession with psyching each other out to launch a sneak attack of his own at the 250 meter mark.  I said in the comments last week that my money was on Hotshot to take the day’s finish line, and it still is – it just feels like this is being set up to be his moment.  I do give Imaizumi credit for seeming to realize that he’s mostly been riding on the backs of his teammates to get to this point – but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s been doing so.  “Limiter” or no, I just don’t find him someone I can rally behind emotionally – and that’s going to be a real problem if he’s carrying the Sohoku banner when the series gets around to the race that really matters.

Omake: