Nirei has started training under Suo to become stronger.
After a few episodes of plot development, the Wind Breaker anime finally brought back the action in the latest issue. We see Sakura, Suo, and Nirei head to an address given to them by Tsubaki, but it turns out to be an entertainment district. Stuck in an uncomfortable environment, Sakura and Suo are forced to fight when a wounded girl is attacked by some thugs. But the brawl earns them some unexpected allies.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
Nirei’s character development was really necessary and well-timed
Despite being one of the first characters introduced in Season 1, Nirei has remained relatively weak until now. His inability to fight alongside Sakura, Suo, and the others has been a major source of insecurity for the young boy. In the latest episode, we see Nirei end up in the entertainment district—or the red-light area of town—while following an address given to them by Tsubaki.
Nirei believes it’s a mistake and wants to turn back, but a girl suddenly lands on top of Sakura from one of the buildings, cutting that plan short. We learn that the girl is fleeing from some thugs who appear to be trying to kidnap her. As a group of men surround them, Sakura prepares to fight. To everyone’s surprise, Nirei declares that he will protect the girl and urges Suo to assist Sakura.
We learn that after their fight against KEEL, where Nirei lost consciousness after being hit on the head, he had been doing a lot of introspection. He asked Suo to train him, as he wants to stand beside Sakura proudly while making his way to the top. We see a short training montage where Suo shows him how to curl into a ball and trip someone when they’re trying to punch him.
In the present, Nirei does the same, injuring one of the thugs who tries to attack the girl. We can’t help but be proud of how much he has grown, and we feel hopeful about his future development. On the other hand, Sakura and Suo were as impressive as ever. Sakura was overwhelming with his quick moves and immense strength, while Suo was clean, stylish, and smooth as he wiped the floor with his opponents. After a few episodes of emotional development, it was refreshing to see the anime return to its action-heavy roots.
The Roppo Ichiza are here!
After saving the girl from the group of ruffians, Sakura is suddenly attacked by a man in a black suit. His quick reflexes allow him to avoid a kick to the face, but Sakura realises how powerful the man is from that one hit. We learn that, unlike the men before, this guy doesn’t want to hurt the girl but to save her instead. He mistakenly assumes that Sakura’s group are the ones who attacked her.
After the misunderstanding is cleared up, the man asks for their forgiveness and thanks them for helping the girl. He introduces himself as Kanji Nakamura and the girl as Shizuka Narita. She is a singer at a bar, while he seems to be a bouncer. When one of the thugs wakes up and attacks Kanji, some guys run in to save him.
We learn that Kanji is the leader of a group named Roppo Ichiza. Not only do they protect Shizuka, but they also shield the good people of the entertainment district from bad influences. Nirei remembers that Bofurin had clashed with Roppo Ichiza a few times before, but it seems that’s all in the past now. After learning they’re from Bofurin, the guys take them to a bar, where we see Tsubaki pole dancing on stage. The boys are mesmerised by their moves, and we understand that Tsubaki already knows these people.
From the looks of it, Shizuka’s current predicament is going to be the main plot point of this arc. The boys will likely have to face more fierce enemies who are trying to kidnap the girl. Not only will we get to see Tsubaki fight, but we’ll also learn how strong the Roppo Ichiza really are. It seems that Wind Breaker is back in action again! The next episode of the anime will be released on 22 May 2025.
