As I predicted might be the case, I simply couldn’t motivate myself to write about another dreary Teshima-Ashikaba episode.  Thus, I skipped last week, though in fact there were a few minutes at the end of the episode after Teshima (implausibly) won the mountain checkpoint.  That was a setup for this week, and I admit I was a little worried whether Yowapeda would be able to rouse itself out of so extended and so deep a slumber as the past few weeks have been.

As it turns out I needn’t have been.  It was as if a switch had been flipped – but that’s always been the case when Yowamushi Pedal has drifted down one of its creative cul-de-sacs.  Everything that was wrong was suddenly right, most obviously the Sohoku trio being back in the spotlight (and now the last three standing).  The characters that matter were back, the racing actually meant something, and like a breath of fetid but somehow fresh air Midousuji and Kyoto Fushimi inevitably got back into the picture.  Reunited, and it feels so good…

The cat-and-mouse between HakoGaku and Sohoku (still blissfully unaware of KyoFushi’s imminent arrival) can begin in earnest with the trivialities out of the way.  Yuuto is the first to make a move, with the blessing of his (acting) captain.  Naruko seamlessly slots in next to him, in full Naruko form.  He banters with the enemy, exhorts the crowd to make more noise, and crows about his inestimable prowess.  When it comes to head games a grommet like Shinkai-minor is a hundred years too early to face down the likes of Naruko.

As it turns out this is a case of Sohoku outsmarting Hakone, because Naruko’s aggression was really just a ruse to lure Yuuto out in front of his teammates and isolate him, making it easier for Imaizumi and Onoda-kun to make a real breakaway.  It’s a big ask for such a tactic to work 10 KM from the finish, but it puts Hakone on the defensive – especially with Naruko striving to keep Yuuto from keeping pace with the break.  Kuroda urges Manami-kun to chase their rivals down, but Manami is the one keeping a cool head.  He knows these are just the opening stanzas, with the real symphony still to come.

At this point you’d have to say Chimera-kun’s strategy looks pretty good.  HakoGaku and Sohoku have been trading punches all day, and I’m inclined to agree with him that it was pointless for Ashikiba to engage Teshima in a battle for an intermediate checkpoint.  Teshima’s absence doesn’t hurt Sohoku but Ashikiba could have been really useful for Hakone in the final skirmishes.  As it is, he doesn’t even have enough strength left to slow down Midousuji and Kishigami – and Kishigami is singularly unimpressed with the state of Ashikiba’s meat.

You have to give Kishigami credit – it takes a special person to make Akira-kun the second-creepiest member of the squad.  He’s determined to feel up Manami once he catches that pair up, but Kuroda intervenes and Kishigami is devastated.  Still, I suppose he’ll roust himself with his target climbing away from him.  I think the dynamics of this situation really favor KyoFushi now.  Midousuji has lost Mizuta-kun but I don’t think he was counting on him, and his arrival has definitely shaken up the other teams.  No question, he’s extended himself less than his opponents too – again, his strategy looks spot-on.  Yuuto seems set to try and slow him down so Kuroda and Manami can go after Sakamichi and Imaizumi, but that seems like a real mismatch to me.  All in all, it’s great to have Yowapeda back art last.