Sakamichi Onoda attends Sohoku High School as a member of its bicycle racing club. He initially enrolled hoping to join the anime club to pursue his otaku interests, particularly his passion for the anime series Love Hime. Discovering the anime club disbanded due to low membership, he resolved to recruit participants and revive it. His weekly 90-kilometer round trips to Akihabara on a heavy "mamachari" city bicycle to buy anime merchandise unintentionally cultivated exceptional leg strength and climbing stamina over years. This routine began in elementary school when he received the bicycle in fourth grade. During middle school, his mother replaced its gear with a smaller one without his knowledge, forcing more intense pedaling. The unadjusted seat height as he grew further refined his unique pedaling efficiency and high-cadence capabilities. Onoda has straight black hair and blue eyes in the anime, though the manga depicts brown eyes. He stands at average height with a slender build and prominent leg muscles. A fellow cyclist initially rated his appearance "less than a three" but later complimented his eyes. By his second year, some girls called him "cute," surprising him and teammates. Shy and hesitant to assert himself—especially about anime interests or receiving compliments—Onoda distrusted athletes before joining the cycling club, partly due to middle school loneliness without friends sharing his passions. He typically lacks confidence but shows fierce determination when motivated. His demeanor shifts dramatically upon meeting anime fans, engaging them enthusiastically regardless of their initial response. He follows team orders with literal precision and upholds moral principles, such as defending teammates against criticism. His commitment to supporting others stems from an early Inter-High training lesson where the club captain emphasized mutual reliance as Sohoku’s foundation. Specializing in climbing, Onoda sustains extraordinary cadences—exceeding 150 rpm uphill briefly and nearing 210 rpm on flats. He maintains rhythm by singing the Love Hime theme, defining his climbing style. Initially embarrassed to sing aloud, he gradually embraced it publicly for motivation but avoided it in his second year until a critical race moment triggered the song’s recall. Years on his heavy, ill-fitted bicycle honed his aptitude for steep ascents, especially the daily climb to his hillside home. After joining Sohoku’s club, correcting his seat height and switching to a road racer amplified his performance, nearly defeating a seasoned teammate uphill. As a domestique, Onoda efficiently handles support roles like retrieving teammates from the peloton. However, his slim physique limits windbreaking for others, and he lacks tactical acumen versus teammates. He excels under direct orders or when fixated on a specific rider—a "catching and never letting go" trait exploiting the target’s slipstream. He rapidly masters new techniques like the pendulum sway or roller balancing, outpacing peers despite general clumsiness. Frequent falls built resilience, often calming him post-accident. Onoda evolves from novice to pivotal member. His first year contributed to Sohoku’s Inter-High victory by overcoming crashes and drafting teammates across long distances. By his second year, he openly requested team orders involving rival climber Sangaku Manami, reflecting growing assertiveness despite his non-competitive nature. He defended senior riders like Junta Teshima against critiques undervaluing effort versus innate talent. After Sohoku’s championship win, he became third-year captain, guiding the team’s pursuit of consecutive titles against rivals like Hakone Academy and Kyoto Fushimi’s Akira Midousuji.