Yukinari Kuroda served as vice-captain of Hakone Academy’s Bicycle Racing Club in his third year, his trajectory marked by transformative growth. Once brash from dominating multiple sports, defeat by climber Sangaku Manami and Yasutomo Arakita’s scathing critiques shattered his arrogance. Forged through humility, he emerged as a strategic leader, balancing tactical precision with unflappable composure, his silver hair and dark blue eyes often framed by sweat-wicking athletic wear. Renowned for reinventing his cycling approach, he shifted from a climbing specialist to a versatile all-rounder, prioritizing adaptability over raw power. His signature cornering technique—hugging advertisement boards with daring proximity—carried risks, sometimes scraping skin but always unsettling rivals. Collaborative prowess defined his races: he orchestrated multi-wave assaults with Takuto Ashikiba, their synergy likened to a comedy duo’s rhythm, while meticulously pacing teammates through grueling mountain stages. Childhood ties bound him to Touichirou Izumida, whose eventual cycling superiority reshaped their camaraderie into a rivalry tinged with mutual respect. Arakita, once an antagonist, became an unwitting mentor whose bluntness spurred Kuroda’s maturation. Beyond the track, he gravitated toward shooting games and shogi strategy, avoided RPGs, and nursed a playful grudge against hot springs ping-pong losses. Private moments saw him savoring snowfall or discreetly scratching his arms to sharpen race focus. His legacy included podium finishes at the 42nd Summer Inter High and an unnamed second-year victory, testaments to resilience honed on Hakone’s slopes.