Suzuka 24

Kabitzin on December 22, 2005 · in Suzuka

Suzuka clears her high jump and now can start looking ahead to the Kantou tournament, but Yamato doesn’t fare as well. Just as Miyamoto suspected, Yamato is unable to master the new style of running; even though Yamato’s curve is looking good, he lacks the acceleration at the end to beat Arima. Although this style change should eventually help Yamato take the next step in the quest to be number one, for now it dooms him to a second-to-last finish and Yamato does not qualify for the Kantou tournament. Just to share the love, he also makes sure to get in a late start and drop the baton during the relay. I swear, Yamato’s connection to Honoka is the only thing that is preventing the rest of the team from lynching him at this point.

As can be expected, Yamato is feeling glum, and eventually Suzuka goes to cheer him up. She makes him some boiled eggs and tries to raise his spirits. Yamato is so happy that she’s trying to cheer him up, and as she leaves, he blurts out (but doesn’t yell!) that he was going to confess to her again if he won. As Yamato tells her that she doesn’t have to answer him now and that he will continue to train and try to become number one, flashbacks kick in and we see that this speech is actually stolen from Tsuda’s last confession! Suzuka is overcome with emotion and tells him to stop and then runs out. Two hours later, she’s still not back, and Yamato goes out to look for her. Unbeknownst to Yamato and Miki, Suzuka is crying at the shrine.

Wow, cliffhanger: Will Miki be in time to stop Honoka from assassinating Suzuka? Will Miho’s attempt to ask Megumi for homework help result in underage drinking and more flashing? Why didn’t any of the corporate sell-out funds make it to the animation budget? For that last one, notice that Suzuka drinks “Pocari Swat” and is able to come through in the clutch, but Yamato drinks “Soak Water” and ends up sucking for the rest of the day. It’s those damn electrolytes I tell you!

I enjoyed seeing Suzuka rock the horizontal stripes again, but I’m really starting to enjoy Yamato’s character now. Unlike in less realistic shows, Yamato doesn’t just power up overnight; in fact, for all his talk about pushing his body past the limit he ends up sucking out and crying on the floor after yet another rejection. But what is Suzuka’s problem? Doesn’t she realize what Yamato is? That is to say, Yamato is an upgraded version of Tsuda. Yamato is the Strike Tsuda, or perhaps the Tsuda Freedom (either title works). Sure the OS is underpowered, but this upgraded version is potentially faster and more honest. When you can’t find the body, you can be sure that that character’s coming back as a cyborg/genetically altered mutant/sprinter.