There are different ways to go about making a positive impression in anime, to be certain.  The one shows like Hinomaru Zumou choose certainly isn’t the flashiest, and as a result they tend to be undersold by most viewers.  Put one foot in front of the other, do things the right way, make sure every development is earned and every decision is in-character – it’s hardly revolutionary stuff, even in a genre as beholden to tradition as sports manga.  But the bottom line is this – if you’re good at it, it works.

If last episode was all about the team game, this was all about the individual.  It’s a good chance to assess where each of the Odachi Five are as competitors, both in the ring and in their heads.  In terms of their two top dogs, Ushio and Chihiro, there’s really no question in terms of their mental state – they’re always ready to do whatever it takes to win.  Yuuma is in desperate need of a win to boost his confidence level, but that goes triple for Kei, who’s painfully aware that he hasn’t done anything inside the circle to support the team so far.  The individual tournament offers both of them a chance to make that happen.

It’s Shinya whose psychology is the most complicated at this point, to be certain.  By temperament he’s a kind-hearted guy, a softie, but he wants to succeed in a sport where ruthless resolve is the bare minimum to get past the bouncer at the door.  And competing against his teammates – especially Ushio – brings out all of that conflict in Shinya.  He’s so preoccupied with it that he almost loses his opening match to a zaku.  He’s also wrestling (pun intended) with the reality that this is his last year of high school – whatever he doesn’t make happen now, he won’t get another chance.

Yuuma takes advantage of his chance – he wins his first bout, though apparently only that one.  Kei does not – he really only has one possible attack at this point, and now that it’s been exposed it has little chance of succeeding.  He’s in a bad place, and it’s on Kirihito to try and rescue something of Kei’s mental state.  Ushio and Chihiro progress with no problem – though Ushio does have a physical question looming over him, if not mental.  His elbow is in bad shape – bad enough that one might argue it’s unwise for him to risk it with nationals still to come.  But he insists that Kirihito keep that a secret from their team, so as to avoid giving them any reason to go easy on him in the ring.

Chihiro is interesting.  He’s a sumo “chef’s egg” at this point, and he breaks out all the techniques he’s watched others use like a kid playing with new toys on Christmas morning.  He’s a bit of a sumo savant and thus has scary potential, but for now his versions of these moves are like a good cover band – an impressive imitation but tangibly not the same as the original.  They’re good enough for the other zaku, but against Ushio they fall short.  Neither one of these boys go easy on the other, but the difference in experience is immense, and even one-armed Ushio is able to endure long enough to win.

It’s the Ushio vs. Shinya bout that’s the climax of this episode – and arc – and it doesn’t disappoint.  Unlike Chihiro Shinya is experienced in the ring, and he picks up quickly that Ushio’s right arm is nearly useless.  He does hesitate – that’s a part of his nature that won’t be so easily overcome.  But in the end Shinya does seemingly give it everything he has, though that’s still not enough to withstand everything even a hobbled Ushio has.  Once the bout is over Shinya returns to his old self – smiling and even shaking left-handed  with Ushio to spare his weak arm.  For him even a loss here is a win, considering where he was – and for Ushio the win is literal, as he takes the tournament.  The Odachi boys have come a long way – but because this is Hinomaru Zumou, it’s clear that they’ve earned every inch of progress.