Right up until the very end, I thought the winner of the second day of Inter-high wasn’t going to be revealed until the next volume. Thank goodness it wasn’t, as I kind of am over this second day. There’s still a whole nother day of racing to get to, and I’m sure Watanabe is going to make those last few kilometers even crazier than the second day’s mad dash to the finish line.
So, when Yowamushi Pedal last left off, Midousuji of Kyoto-Fushimi thought he had the race in the bag, but Hakone Academy (led by Fukutomi) has caught up. But he’s even more shocked when Kinjou and the rest of Sohoku arrives on the scene despite being all scattered to the wind earlier. Eventually, the day comes down to the three aces scrambling for victory.
I have to give Watanabe credit: he does a good job of showing the incredible physical effort the teams put into winning. Every drop of sweat, bulging muscle, gritting of teeth, and shouts of support are reflected as the bikers pedal their way to the day’s checkpoint. I felt exhausted just following along! These scenes are his specialty, and it’s so much better than when Watanabe (or maybe one of his assistants) draw side characters just hanging around, talking. (Seriously, one guy looks like he was sketched in at the last minute. Greek tragedy masks have more detail than this poor dude’s face.) The cover matches the intensity of this volume perfectly: desperate, panicked, and passionate.
The stakes are also personal for Midousuji, Kinjou, and Fukutomi. If you’ve been following along with Yowamushi Pedal, you know what happened last year between the two third-years, and they may not get another chance for a rematch. Meanwhile, Midousuji — whom I’ve nicknamed Snake Boy — continues with his reptilian expressions and body bending that would make even the best gymnasts envious. I hate snakes, and I’ve been hating on Snake Boy.
We then get a flashback to show why he’s so obsessed with winning. I couldn’t help but think that maybe some antagonists should just be antagonists. Villains don’t always need sob stories, but I’m sure a lot of people will have sympathy for him now. Personally, Midousuji will continue being Snake Boy for me. If readers do become more understanding of his cruel, selfish behavior, I wonder if the manga will lose some of its edge without Imaizumi — and Sohoku as a whole — having someone who serves as an opposing force, someone who doesn’t believe in teamwork.
Regardless, that’s an issue for the next volume. Here, it’s all about the last six kilometers and the hopes and dreams the teams have placed in their aces. After all that dragging and the unlikely, miraculous comeback that Sohoku has managed, Yowamushi Pedal Volume 9 felt like a solid pay-off for the day’s trials and tribulations.