Get your tissues ready everyone, because this beautiful story about love and self expression will make you bawl.
After the fight with KEEL, the Wind Breaker anime has put a pause on the action. But that hasn’t made the story any less amazing. Instead of fights, we got to see some really emotional development in Sakura’s life, which made him a better character. In the most recent episode however, the story focused on Tsubaki and an older man named Ito-san. As we get to know Ito-san’s late wife and their effect on Tsubaki’s life, we can’t help but shed a few tears.
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Tsubaki opens up about their own tumultuous past
The anime episode opens with Tsubaki taking Sakura, Suo, and Nirei to an old man’s house. We learn that this man named Ito-san, recently lost his beloved wife. Both him and his wife were very fashionable, however, it seems after losing his partner, the old man isn’t interested in dressing up anymore. Although he appears cheerful as the boys help him with household chores, we can’t help but think that he’s hiding a deep heartache. After they leave, Tsubaki tells everyone how the couple became such an important part of their life.
Tsubaki’s description of their childhood was painful and frustrating. As a boy who liked girly things like jewelry, dresses, and makeup, they were forced to hide their true self from their peers. This changed when Tsubaki met Ito-san and his wife Yui-san one day while returning home. Both of them were incredibly fashionable, which Tsubaki loved. The older couple also inspired them to be what they wanted to be without prejudice and judgement. With their help, Tsubaki learned more about makeup and fashion, becoming more confident in their true self. The Tsubaki we see now, with long coloured hair, makeup, a skirt and high heels, is all due to the support of this older couple. That’s why Tsubaki wants to help Ito-san, who is feeling down about his wife’s passing.
Sakura, Suo, and Nirei all help cheer up Ito-san
The next day when the group visits again, things are a bit different. As Ito-san reminisces about the old days by looking at pictures, Tsubaki wants to see a photo of the two of them. Ito-san brings out a frame where we see the beautiful older couple standing side by side in front of a small plant. A flustered Sakura says in the picture Yui-san looks how Tsubaki looks around Umemiya, hinting towards her deep feelings for her husband. Ito-san surprises everyone by saying that he’s relieved. He reveals that he always loved his wife, and thus was happy with her. But due to her quiet and reserved nature, he never understood if Yui-san was as happy with him, especially because their marriage was arranged. But Suo intercepts, asking if the tree they’re standing behind in the photo was planted by Yui-san.
After Ito-san confirms it, we learn that he once spoke about his insecurity to his wife. Suo explains that the tree she planted is actually a symbol of eternal love, but it also means ‘how could you think I’m indifferent to you?’ This proves that not only did Yui-san deeply love her husband, but also felt upset that he could ever question her love. The tree is a reminder of how happy he made her till her last day. As Ito-san cries, the rest of the boys also tell him that his wife indeed loved him a lot and was content being with him. The emotional impact of this conversation is one I’ll carry with me for a long time. People have different ways of professing their feelings, but that doesn’t mean they’re not happy. On the other hand, Ito-san and Yui-san are really amazing people for loving and supporting a young Tsubaki as they did, helping them become the confident person they are now. The next episode of Wind Breaker will be released on 15 May, 2025.
Want a thorough break down of each episode? Check out our Wind Breaker Season 2 review compilation!
