Imaizumi challenges Sakamichi to a race up the school's steep rear gate slope. To spice up the competition, Imaizumi agrees to join the anime club if he loses. Sakamichi gives it his all, hoping to reform the club.

The race between Sakamichi and Imaizumi continues. Imaizumi has passed Sakamichi, but thanks to a seat adjustment from Miki, Sakamichi has more power than ever before.

With the rear gate slope race over, Sakamichi returns to Akiba to buy some more anime goods. There, he runs into Naruko Shoukichi, a boy with a Kansai accent who's riding a bike.

Onoda Sakamichi, a diehard anime fan, bikes 90 kilometers to and from Akiba to buy anime goods. Enrolled at Chiba Sohoku Public High School, he plans to join the anime club, hoping to make friends.

Sakamichi returns to high school where he runs into Naruko at the school's store. Naruko encourages Sakamichi to join the cycling club with him, but Sakamichi doesn't want to give up on the anime club.

The welcoming race begins. Sakamichi is excited to, once again, race against Imaizumi and Naruko.

With his new road racer, Sakamichi quickly moves up from sixth to fourth place and makes up a five minute deficit. The captain sees Sakamichi's determination and decides to test his skills.

Sakamichi finally catches up to Imaizumi and Naruko, stoking their competitive natures.

Determined to become the King of the Mountain in Minegayama, Sakamichi raises his RPMs to catch up to Imaizumi.

With the welcoming race over, each of the first years is given special training by other members of the team.

One day has passed since special training. The freshmen are in class when they learn that the Inter-High Preliminaries have started.

The Sohoku High bicycle racing club holds a training camp to prepare for the Inter-High. As a carsick Sakamichi makes his way to camp, he encounters cyclist Manami Sangaku.

The first day of training is over. Imaizumi, Naruko, and Sugimoto have all managed to complete 200km while Onoda has only completed 165km.

The third day of camp. While riding alone in the early morning, Sakamichi runs into Manami, the boy he met on the first day of camp.

After his meeting with Manami, Sakamichi is more excited than ever to take part in the Inter-High. In order to participate, Sakamichi realizes he must first ride 1,000 kilometers and begins matching paces and laps with Imaizumi and Naruko.

Second years Teshima and Aoyagi stand between the first years and their goal to finish 1,000 kilometers. In order to protect their lead, the second years challenge the first years.

After Sakamichi breaks through Teshima's impregnable guard, Teshima loses his will to fight. Aoyagi's insistence that they go to the Inter-High together, however, gives Teshima the strength to carry on.

After falling to last place, Sakamichi catches up to Imaizumi, Naruko, Teshima, and Aoyagi. Admist their emotions, the five boys clash in an all out sprint to the finish line!

Having completed the difficult training camp, Sakamichi has grown, but lacks the experience and strength of the other members. Disillusioned, he begins to give up on his dream of going to the Inter-High.

As Sohoku's team eagerly awaits the upcoming Inter-High, the Hakone club holds individual elimination races and fills all but one remaining spot.

The first years learn about the previous year's Inter-High and the rivalry between Kinjou and Fukutomi.

Sakamichi and team arrive at Enoshima, the starting point for the Inter-High. Nervous at first, Sakamichi's anxiety fades as his teammates cheer him on.

The first day of the Inter-High begins. Sakamichi hopes to finish with Imaizumi and Naruko by his side. As they enter the flats, the sprinter's get to shine.

All sprinters race toward the first checkpoint. Leaders Tadokoro and Naruko are pursued by Hakone's Izumida, a formidable opponent who's trained just for this day.

With only 700 meters until the first check point, Tadokoro, Naruko and Izumida are neck-and-neck.