Glory Line

It's day one of the Tochigi Inter-high. Hakone Academy's Doubashi takes the first result, and Hakone Academy's Minami beats Sohoku captain Teshima in the subsequent mountain stage to win the King of the Mountains title. The steadily advancing Hakone Academy sends their ace Ashikiba and his assist Kuroda ahead towards the finish line! Hakone Academy believed Sohoku would have a late start on "Black Cat" Kuroda and his exceptionally flexible legs, but two-year duo Imaizumi and Naruko chase after him. In the intense final phase of the race, the battle for the finish line finally begins!

Kuroda's pulling puts Hakone Academy in the lead as the competitors head towards the first day's finish line, but Sohoku's sprinter turned all-rounder Naruko Shoukichi shows off his strengths! By demonstrating a new special ability that allows him to go quickly even while racing uphill, he doesn't back down from the challenge. Told by Teshima to decide between themselves who will be the ace, Imaizumi and Naruko act more like rivals racing against each other than teammates working together, while Kuroda and Ashikiba demonstrate their battle-hardened coordination. Meanwhile, the shadow approaches from behind both teams...

Sohoku and Hakone Academy are locked in a fierce battle! Just when it looks like the first day's victory will go to one of two teams, Kyoto Fushimi's Midousuji and Kishigami suddenly make a sneak attack from behind!! And the one who responds is...?!

The dead heat between Midousuji and Naruko at the front of the race continues! Behind them Kuroda pulls as hard as he can, but the two in front of them remain out of sight. Saying "Hakone Academy has nothing left to lose," Ashikiba, who had only been pulled until now, switches places with Kuroda and begins his Metronome Dancing. They are rapidly closing the gap. Imaizumi also pedals as hard as he can so he can support Naruko. Midousuji, Naruko, Kuroda, Ashikiba, and Imaizumi... The time has come for these five men who have steeled their resolve to settle the score!

Midousuji, who has released his full power and metamorphosized, and Naruko, who shows off the pure full-power sprint he's honed for this day, approach the finish line. But Kuroda's extremely close cornering and desperate assistance propels Ashikiba forward to catch up to them! "I am strong!" With a push on the back from Kuroda, Ashikiba enters a three-way finish line sprint with Midousuji and Naruko! As they throw their bikes towards the finish line, they cross at nearly the same time. Who will win the first day of the Inter-high...?!

Hakone Academy's ace Ashikiba Takuto wins the three-way battle for the first day of the Inter-high! Naruko and Midousuji just narrowly tie for second. Having won all of the first day's number tags, Hakone Academy reclaims its throne. Naruko acts cheerful during the award ceremony, but his heart is trembling with frustration. Not only did Sohoku place second in all stages, but Kaburagi collapses from exhaustion, and a disquieting atmosphere settles on the team. Just as Sakamichi is looking anxious, former Sohoku captain Kinjou appears before him...

Sakamichi meets Kinjou, who tells him to become stronger. He learns that Makishima and Tadokoro have come to cheer on the team as well and tells the rest of the team shaken by the first day's loss. Team Sohoku resolves to approach the rest of the race with a new attitude. Meanwhile, the similarly defeated Midousuji of Kyoto Fushimi begins planning a new strategy for the second day's race... The morning of the second day dawns. Hakone Academy's Shinkai Yuto strikes up a conversation with Sakamichi. "Let's race at some point today."

Day two of the Inter-high has begun, and the riders leave the starting line in the order they finished on the first day. Sakamichi and Teshima pedal to catch up to Imaizumi and Naruko in the lead, but Kaburagi notices he's feeling strange. Meanwhile, Hakone Academy maintains a slow pace in order to meet up with their shot caller Kuroda. Not feeling well, Kaburagi is eventually separated from his team. When Sakamichi tries to go help him, Teshima stops him, fearing how Hakone Academy will respond. Then Aoyagi opens his mouth...

Aoyagi ignores Teshima's attempts to stop him and goes back to save Kaburagi, who has fallen behind. Meanwhile, with encouragement from Koga, Kaburagi begins to regain his form, but he's still not at full strength. That's when he sees... Aoyagi! Believing Aoyagi has also become exhausted and fallen behind, he moves up and begins racing ahead instead! They catch up to the pack in front of them. In order to get ahead of and out of the pack, Aoyagi hands Kaburagi a note from God so he'll increase his pace. On that note is written the lyrics to a certain song...!

Realizing Kyoto Fushimi is ahead of the pack, Aoyagi hands Kaburagi a note from God so they can escape the pack. Written on the note are the lyrics to the anime song his senior Tadokoro claims saved him during the Inter-high, "Love Hime Pancake!" The two of them suddenly accelerate while singing together. Ahead of them, Hakone Academy catches up to Teshima and Sakamichi, and first-year climber Shinkai Yuto bares his teeth! After passing Teshima, Yuto issues a challenge to Sakamichi. And in order to protect Imaizumi and Naruko in the front, Sakamichi accepts his challenge!

Sakamichi and Yuto's battle has begun. Yuto is excited to compete against Sakamichi, who has come to be called the Mountain King, and challenges him to a race to reach their teammates riding at the front. Yuto finds Sakamichi's willingness to "ride for the team" strange and races ahead. However, Imaizumi and Naruko realize Sakamichi is coming, and the race ends in a draw. However, Kuroda and the rest of Hakone Academy catch up, and they take control of the race. Will they go after them or wait for Teshima... Imaizumi is forced to make a decision...

The now whole Hakone Academy team accelerates, and Naruko ignores Imaizumi's orders and goes after them alone! Later, Teshima joins up with Imaizumi and Sakamichi, but he can't increase his pace. Kishigami Komari appears with the rest of Kyoto Fushimi in tow, passing Sohoku! Frustrated by his lapse in judgment, Imaizumi speaks harshly to Teshima, while the sound of something breaking can be heard in his heart... Meanwhile, Hakone Academy and Kyoto Fushimi head into the sprint. It looks to be a race between Izumida and Midousuji... but instead a surprising man approaches...!

The battle for the sprint result has begun. Hakone Academy sends its captain and sprinter Izumida against Kyoto Fushimi's Kishigami Komari, the man obsessed with Izumida's "ultimate muscles!" Izumida recalls how Ashikiba and Kuroda encouraged him when he lost the previous year's Inter-high and felt conflicted about whether or not he was worthy of captaining the team. Carrying all his guilt and resolve on his back, Izumida sprints ahead! But Kishigami's obsession with the "ultimate muscles" drives him to keep up!

The sprint battle becomes heated! Kishigami rides with all his desires unleashed. He has been interested in muscles since he was a child, but he hid his interest due to his prestigious family's teachings. However, after meeting Midousuji in middle school and being told "if you want the truth, you have to offer up your entire self," his desires were awakened. The result line approaches, and Izumida and Kishigami's battle grows even more intense. Izumida rides as the captain of Hakone Academy. "I won't hide it anymore!" Kishigami announces, now completely unrestrained. How will the race end--?!

Izumida and Kishigami's all out sprint is in its final stage when a fan's water bottle falls onto the course. Andy and Frank signal Izumida to slow down and avoid the obstacle. However, Izumida recalls his race against Tadokoro and Naruko at last year's Inter-high and charges ahead! And the winner is... Izumida! As the captain of Hakone Academy and the team's ace sprinter, he has fulfilled his heavy responsibility. Though Kishigami fails to satisfy his desire for muscles, he accepts his defeat.

Excited by Izumida taking the sprint result, Hakone Academy pushes to the front. Meanwhile, Sohoku's team is scattered, and their terrible situation continues. Naruko expends energy as he clings to the lead pack and waits for the rest of his team to catch up. Teshima, Sakamichi, and Imaizumi are passed by Kumamoto Daiichi, and they fall deeper into despair. However, Sakamichi cheerfully asserts Aoyagi and Kaburagi will catch up and continues pedaling. When Teshima looks behind him, he sees a pair of yellow jerseys come into view--!

Kaburagi and Aoyagi, who had fallen behind, catch up to their team, and Sohoku is finally reunited. With five of their members together, the team begins to see hope. Sakamichi thinks of his promise to race against Manami once again as he rides. Meanwhile, the lead pack has already left the flats and entered the mountain stage! In anticipation of the mountain result and the finish line that lies beyond it, the lead pack starts to pick up momentum. Hakone Academy's Manami is also thinking of Sakamichi, but Kuroda is cautious about Kyoto Fushimi's movements. And when Midousuji and his team attack, a back-and-forth battle begins!

Sakamichi turns his pedals in order to fulfill his promise to battle Manami at the Inter-high. He and his team catch up to Hakone Academy, but it's not the lead pack. Ashikiba and Midousuji have gone on ahead. Due to the change in circumstances, Manami tells Sakamichi that they can't battle. Teshima orders Sakamichi to go after the lead pack. Steeling his resolve, Sakamichi and Imaizumi race their pace. Meanwhile, at the lead pack, in contrast with Hakone Academy, Kyoto Fushimi, and Kumamoto Daiichi, Naruko battles alone, believing his teammates will catch up!

Believing Sakamichi and Imaizumi will catch up, Naruko withstands Midousuji's attacks and battles against Ashikiba and Yuto alone in the lead pack. Just when it looks like Naruko is finally about to fall, Sakamichi and Imaizumi appear behind him! Inspired by Naruko, together they charge ahead towards the mountain result and finish line! Now at a disadvantage, Midousuji tricks Mizuta into pulling for him by tempting him with the mountain result. Meanwhile, Sakamichi overwhelms the others with his awesome riding. Even Yuto is shocked when he sees the Mountain King demonstrate his true strength...

The badly disadvantaged Midousuji sends Mizuta after the King of the Mountains title to bait a reaction from Ashikiba and his pride in the champions Hakone Academy. The mountain title goes to Ashikiba, but he expends precious stamina. Seizing his opportunity, Midousuji accelerates. Imaizumi also races for the finish line with Sakamichi and his team's hopes on his back. Yuto finds himself unable to understand the actions of Ashikiba, who was supposed to compete for the finish line as the team's ace. However, Ashikiba tells him he hasn't given up on the finish line yet. Yuto thinks back on when he first joined the bicycle team and how he clashed with upperclassmen who only saw him as the younger brother of Hayato...

When Yuto first joined the team, he felt isolated from the other members due to his older brother Hayato. After seeing Yuto clash with his seniors, Ashikiba challenges him to a race. It ends with a crushing victory for Ashikiba, and Yuto learns to respect him and his strength. During the finish line sprint on the second day of the Inter-high, Ashikiba entrusts Yuto with the responsibility of being the team's ace. He overturns his own assumptions that he's a climber with a fierce sprint, catching up to Imaizumi and Midousuji! But as Midousuji and Yuto race against each other, Imaizumi thinks of his teammates and removes his own "lim

The finish line of the Inter-High's second day is close. Imaizumi, Yuto, and Midousuji's race to the finish line heats up! Having removed his limited, Imaizumi rides ahead of the others. Meanwhile, Midousuji thinks back on visiting his mother in the hospital to more clearly imagine himself grasping victory. Finally, Yuto recalls a time when he simply enjoyed riding his bike with his older brother Hayato. "Have you heard the demon that appears on Hakone's straight roads has a younger brother?" Yuto becomes a sprinting demon like his brother! Who will win the battle just before the finish line?

The Inter-High's second day's finish line is approaching! There are 20 meters remaining in the three way sprint between Imaizumi, Yuto, and Midousuji! Imaizumi rides for his teammates who helped him get this far. Yuto overcomes his complex relating to his distinguished brother and rides for the champions Hakone Academy. Midousuji rides simply for his own victory. With their hopes riding on their pedals, they charge across the finish line! Who will finish first...?! That night, while riding to shake off his anxiety towards the third day, Sakamichi encounters a man while riding in the mountains...!

It's the night of the second day of the Inter-High. Sakamichi encounters Hakone Academy alum Toudou Jinpachi on a mountain road, who says he's riding because he received a call from someone. That man is... Makishima Yuusuke! As Sakamichi experiences a mix of surprise and joy, Makishima and Toudou begin to race! They tie again and again as they race a second, then a third time... Sakamichi's emotions rise as he watches them. After their race, Makishima tells Onoda to stay true to himself, and Onoda's resolve is renewed. Meanwhile, Manami's competitive spirit also swells upon hearing Toudou's words.

The morning of the final day of the Inter-High has arrived. By working together, all six members of Sohoku have made it to this point. Hakone Academy has ridden with the sole intention of reclaiming their throne. Kyoto Fushimi has eliminated all excess and focuses only on victory. Along with the other schools, they stand at their respective starting lines with their eyes on the summit!