Rinkai!, Episode 4: Keep Your Rivals Close

Cyclists search for recognition and rivals at the Keirin Cyclist Academy. Ai focuses on Nana, who only has eyes for Izumi.

Episode 4 — “Let’s Fight it Out”

Hmm.

A regular plot device in sports anime shows a character injuring herself by training too much and not resting. Kids, you need to hear this: Your muscle strength and stamina increase during recovery, not through exertion. You lock in your gains after you’ve rested. Otherwise, you only collect fatigue and possible injury. Ai Kumamoto is Rinkai!’s cautionary tale in this episode. We should pay attention to this possible element of Ai’s character development.

The issue of rivalry as friendship or enmity will be Rinkai!’s more apparent theme going forward. It’s now a contentious issue for Ai, makes Remi act and laugh like a villainous ojousama, and causes the first moment of sadness for Izumi. Nana’s reticent nature plus foreign background will make her an easily misunderstood character. Izumi is outgoing and talkative, so the pair’s complementary traits will prove the usual rule of opposites attracting and becoming best friends in anime. I’m waiting for how Nana and Izumi reconcile after Nana’s seemingly mean statement after the race.

Rinkai! Makes Me Go Heh.

Izumi keeps improving and now ranks third in results for the L14 class. Ai gives her congratulatory headpats. Nana stands above the class, though. Ai could be in danger from over-training as she tries to catch up to Nana’s results. Ai’s need for Remu’s recognition is Rinkai!’s next source of drama. Nana has become Ai’s rival without personally participating. But forget all that. Izumi is Nana’s roommate! What is she like? Aw. They don’t even talk to each other. Nana only spoke to her once, telling her not to wear underwear underneath her cycling shorts. Izumi never knew that!

Uh oh. Nana has a target on her back. Remi Hiroshima also fixates on Nana. The French girl is popular because Nana has two self-proclaimed rivals. Hahaha! Koume calls that talk “Remi’s manga dialogue.” But who does Nana consider her rival?

Ah. Rinkai! finally provided details on what type of track world champions Remu and Tsutsuji are. Tsutsuji is the Individual Sprint Champion, and Remu is the Individual Pursuit Champion. The sprint has the cyclists line up on the same start line on the track, but the pursuit has them line up on the “bank’s” opposite sides. The pursuit event is more of a race against the clock, while the sprint is a direct race against an opponent. Who’s faster vs. who’s first? The sprint race is even weirder when you see how slowly the cyclists start, trying to force, feint, and fool the other rider when the maximum effort starts. Nana wants a friendship like they have. Uh. Izumi shares your room!

Racing Bikes in Rinkai!

Aw. Ai wonders if Izumi regrets pursuing a cycling career because the recreational mountain biker hasn’t ridden a bike all day. It was Ai’s idea for the Tackle Channel girls to try, and Izumi appeared reluctant. But in Ai’s mind, Izumi’s dedication to cycling motivated and inspired their friends to persevere. Ai wants the five of them to be friends and rivals like Remu and Tsutsuji. Izumi is so modest, though. When does Nana join the group? She was at the race that the Tackle Channel friends met up in real life, too. Is it fate?

With all that dramatic build-up, Rinkai! needs a plot point for a cathartic release. How about qualifying times for a place on the Japanese women’s track cycling reserve team? This is Izumi’s first competitive race. Ai starts out fast, but that is not the correct tactic. Ai thinks she can outlast the muddled group behind her before Nana makes her final sprint. But Nana knows how to use the bank to gain positions and accelerate. She easily beats Ai in the final straight. And Izumi finished third! Harsh. Why did Nana say she may not like Izumi very much? I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding and a language barrier. But until that clears up, Izumi mopes.

Rinkai! has been too earnest so far, so I’m glad we have characters set up for comic relief. Maebashi and her father were funny in the last episode. But Remi and her shoujo manga dialogue will carry the humor forward. Do you want to see more jokes from the track-racing girls? Let us know in the comments below.

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