Welcome to the feel good relaxation week of Kaze Fui! This time the Twins confront Haiji, they see the track and Sakaki continues to be a dick. Lets jump in!
Starting off, this episode was a very subdued one. Similar to Mob, Kaze Fui slowed down this week. Giving the characters room to breathe again and building up for its final arc. Once again, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A good series knows when to slow down, to perform a falling action, and let the audience relax. If a series is 100% go from the beginning, not only do the narrative climaxes feel dull, but the audience gets apathetic. If everything is important, nothing is. So while I was not enraptured with this episode, it was necessary and I am glad it exists. For instance, Kaze Fui spent a lot of time with the twins this week. They have, before this point, gotten even less focus than Musa. So they really needed it. As for what their story is specifically? Well, lets chat about that.
The twins are now hitting the same hangup Kurahara had earlier in the series. My problem with it though is this does more for Kurahara than it does the twins. They don’t have the same history, the same attitude towards winning, that Kurahara does. They have been very happy go lucky up until now after all. With the closest relationship they have to this topic being Haiji’s promise to them. Aside from that, it just doesn’t feel as genuine an arc for them. It’s like it exists for Kurahara’s story more than their own. Kaze Fui has earned enough faith from me up to this point that I am willing to see this through. To give it the benefit of the doubt before I cast judgement. But right now, the twin’s feel lackluster compared to everyone else. Especially when an arc about their differences is staring me in the face.
That said though, the Kurahara part of this arc is very interesting. Effectively, he has to be for the twins what Haiji was to him… and he fails. For the most part at least. Kurahara, for all his growth, cannot help the twins for he has yet to find his own answer. I think that is a very important line for Kurahara, because as a Freshmen and based on Sakaki’s comments, he will have to carry the club. He is the running clubs future, the Haiji for future generations. Kurahara even has Haiji’s insistent kidnapping/blackmail going early, as he runs the twins down. While I don’t like the continuation of Haiji’s blackmailing habits, it was a very funny scene. We got to see him smile again, and the whole “He’s nationally ranked!” as they try to run was fantastic. A clever bit of humor for a running show.
Heading back to the twins, while I think the ending spiel was a bit questionable, the drive was clever. Showing them the track, so they can see what they are running and the scale of it all, was great setup. It lets us, the viewer, figure out the race way before we ever get to it, so the episodes can focus on the running itself. Musa also raised a fantastic point, that seeing the sections drove home for him. How there is a part that only he can do. No team, no one to help him, just everyone depending on him and no one else can do it. If nothing else, that alone would give me a sense of purpose in this race.
The other aspect of the argument I agreed with was those that couldn’t make it. All of the teams that worked hard for the position they have in the Ekiden. Even if our boys don’t win, they took the spot from someone who wanted to win, and so to do anything less than their all would be insulting. To me, that is the strongest argument made this episode. Not Haiji’s “don’t worry about the future, focus on the now” argument. Its not that it’s a terrible one. They are young, worrying to much about their future will detract from their college experiences. However I think it is a supporting point, never really answering the Twins question. Its a dodge, basically. What makes this more acceptable is that, by the end, the twin’s don’t seem to have fully accepted the answer though and are just willing to give it a shot.
Finally, I have mentioned him once before in this post, let’s talk Sakaki. Boy, am I conflicted on him. On one hand, I loved his portrayal earlier on. His story, the arc of a ruined high school running career and his anger, were all fantastic. But now, he is just acting like a dick. Not even restricting it to Kurahara, but taking it out on his entire team. It’s as if Kaze Fui is driving him more and more to the villain role, instead of an antagonistic victim. If I am being honest, I am a little disappointed. Like I said earlier though, Kaze Fui and Shiwon Miura have earned my trust. I am willing to believe that Sakaki has more coming for him and won’t end the series as an unrepentant asshole. Suppose we will have to wait and see though.
So all in all, how do I feel about this episode of Kaze Fui. Personally, I am lukewarm on it. It’s not a bad episode by any means. I enjoyed it, and Kaze Fui needed some down time to reestablish the team before the big event. However nothing about it “wowed” me. The twins seemed to get over their issues without much growth, while Haiji’s knee has been used as a cliffhanger over and over until now. The closest it came to pulling me in was the drive through the Ekiden course, because I thought it was a great bonding moment for the team. Still, I will say once more, Shiwon has earned my trust. I have faith Kaze Fui will pull it all together for a fantastic finish.
P.S, a few things worth mentioning that didn’t warrant a full section. Nico being mistaken for the coach and them denying all new members was hilarious. Kurahara setting aside his pride and being willing to run any section was great. I also enjoyed the twins seeing how much this race meant to their teammates, and that helping them to their answer. Lastly, Fujioka returns! Hype!
See you next week!
