10 Second Anime - Yowamushi Pedal - Glory Line - Episode 16

Another team passes Sohoku as they fall further behind the front, but a kept promise brings them new hope.

Line.16 - "Sohoku Falls Behind"

Hmm.

Look, man. When THE NATIONAL CHAMPION OF JAPAN starts smiling and tells you what's going to happen, it's just going to happen!

We've waited a long time for this reunion and I'm glad it happened this way with Onoda paying attention to small details to deliver that sliver of hope to audience. He saw on the time board that there were two chasers ahead of the peloton and he felt the false flat descent on the course. And, no matter what Special K thinks about his all-rounder skills, when sprinters smell a descent, they go fast. Real fast. Two climbers and an all-rounder will not stay ahead of a sprint train, and Onoda knew that, and there went that big smile!

My only small complaint is that Imaizumi's lack of team spirit got rescued by events outside of his control. It's easy to smile and feel good about the team when a huge surprise in two more guys showing up helps you out of a jam. But Imaizumi didn't come out of his moment of adversity and blaming Teshima for being tired on his own. He still needs a moment of personal reckoning. Considering that Sohoku has reunited, they'll catch Naruko at the front, and the climbers will have their own arc, I don't see Imaizumi getting his resolution until the play for the finish line happens. That could be resolved before the end of this season, or be left as a cliffhanger while we wait six months or so before the next season starts up to finish up this race.

Heh.

Naruko is still hanging with the front guys and he's still waiting for Sohoku to catch up.

That Kyoto guy is mean, not letting Naruko have his wheel. At least Naruko recognizes it may be one of Midousuji's "phases."

Imaizumi is still sulking. You can tell because they put no eyes on him. He needs to pull himself together.

Whoa. 5 minutes behind the front. On a long slight descent, that's not surprising if they don't have sprinters and rolleurs leading the pace instead of two climbers protecting their ace.

Ah. These Kumamoto guys are back. Onoda recognizes them. No mention of their other strong guy from the movie.

Yeah, Kumamoto learned their lesson about helping another team like Hiroshima. I complained about this more than enough during last year's race, but these high school kids don't seem to know anything about group dynamics in the peloton. Short version, stuff wouldn't happen like that.

Oh, So now Imaizumi gets eyes when he thinks Teshima has a chance at negotiating an alliance. Still not getting out of his funk on his own. Too bad his hopes get dashed because this Ise guy says no deal.

But! Onoda is smiling! And glowing yellow! He's getting hopped on nakama power! Why now?

Ah! He knows it! He knows Aoyagi is going to bring back Special K! The time board said so.

Oh, just listen to him already Teshima. We know you don't want to get your hopes up, but THE NATIONAL CHAMPION OF JAPAN said it was so. It's so.

Teshima just gave Onoda an order to catch up to the front, and he's smiling even bigger! He didn't say, "yes!" in a determined way. He said it like it was a foregone conclusion. Oho. It's because they're on a slight descent and there are two sprinters behind them. They're going to catch up no matter how hard they pedal. It's happening!

Har. Special K still thinks he's an all-rounder. All-rounders can't go as fast as sprinters on a descent like this, you know. Baka.

Calm down, fujoshi. They're just sharing a little "assured victory" in bed. I think I made it worse... This is fine, though. Teshima needs to have his little bro-down with Aoyagi. They've been through so much together already.

Look how happy Onoda is to have everyone back together. That big smile is going to be even bigger when they catch Naruko.

Holy moly. I'm actually surprised Kaburagi only needed Onoda to explain things to him one time before he got it, instead of the delusional response he gave Aoyagi no matter how many times he repeated himself, that he went back to return him to the front. He's still a good kid. Aoyagi's little nods were comedy gold.

Sohoku's back together, so now it's time for Manami to have his own little reunion. Here come the ikemen sparkles!

Haha! The omake is Special K not letting Onoda know they sang Love Hime. He'll find out eventually.

Ashikiba takes his turn for the end card.

Cycling Porn.

Not much happened in the way of tactics, and they even got the feed zone right this time without all that extra running, so we can just admire the bike brands. Naruko is on his Pinarello, Ashikiba rides his Wilier Triestina ahead of Kuroda's Kuota, Cervelo is in Kumamoto's pace line, Onoda is on his BMC, Aoyagi rides by on his Corratec, and Sohoku shows off Cannondale, Scott, and Felt.

Next time, the mountain men start their arc. I'm hoping to see a ton of Toudou pointing and laughing along with Manami's fan girls cheering.