OVA
Description
Yūsuke Makishima begins as a Sohoku High School student and advances to Toal Wesson University, distinguished by elite climbing prowess in competitive cycling. Raised affluently in a large mansion, he has an older brother in fashion design and a younger sister. He initiated road racing in elementary school and joined Sohoku's Bicycle Racing Club as a first-year. Early club experiences involved severe criticism from seniors who mocked his sluggish flat-terrain speed and unconventional climbing style, dubbing him a "turtle." This drove him to covert nighttime training, recording progress beneath a club-room poster. When a senior discovered the marks, he excised that wall section to hide his efforts, leaving a concealed hole for years.
Physically, Makishima possesses a lanky frame with "abnormally long" limbs, a long face, narrow chin, and a perpetually gloomy expression emphasized by downturned eyebrows and hooded eyelids. His long green hair features red highlights (dyed in high school; natural light brown) and two moles—one under his left eye, another near his lower lip. He favors eccentric fashion, often mixing clashing patterns and mismatched sleeve colors, baffling peers. He is left-handed.
Personality-wise, Makishima is introverted and socially awkward, frequently perceived as unsettling due to his quiet presence, peculiar expressions, and verbal tic ending sentences with "sho" (ショ). He admits struggling socially and leverages his intimidating aura tactically, like threatening peers to guard secrets. Despite a blunt, cynical exterior, he exhibits profound kindness, especially toward teammates. He mentors climber Sakamichi Onoda, offering technical guidance and encouragement, yet flusters visibly when Onoda praises his cycling. During races, his level-headedness allows him to dissect variables like weather, road conditions, and team fatigue to craft winning strategies.
As a cyclist, Makishima specializes in uphill climbing, earning the moniker "Peak Spider" for his signature "dancing" technique—violent side-to-side swaying that maximizes his long limbs by tilting the bike beyond conventional angles. Initially ridiculed, he honed this style into a formidable asset despite remaining exceptionally slow on flats. His skills include calculating optimal pacing via cadence, gear ratios, and fatigue. He holds the course record for the Minegayama Hill Climb since its 20th edition. His rivalry with Hakone Academy’s Jinpachi Tōdō defines his growth; their 15-race history ended 8–7 in Makishima’s favor. Tōdō affectionately calls him "Maki-chan," and their dynamic merges fierce competition with mutual respect, often cheering each other mid-race despite opposing schools.
Key arcs trace his evolution: At a Sohoku training camp, he defied orders by revealing to Onoda that his tires were sabotaged, urging perseverance. As Sohoku’s ace climber during the Inter High, he prioritized strategy over camaraderie but yielded to Onoda’s plea to aid a fallen teammate. Post-race, he received ten identical Kumotaro keyrings from Onoda. Later, he visited Tōdō’s family inn with Onoda, competing in hot springs and ping-pong. Graduating early to study architecture and interior design in London, he entrusted Sohoku’s future to Onoda during a final Minegayama ride. In England, he continued cycling—stunning peers with his style—and won the Kumamoto Fire Country Mountain Range Race for Sohoku as a late entrant. He returned briefly for the second Inter High but arrived late due to flight delays.
Trivia includes his dog Josephine, hatred of grapes, fear of ghosts, and academic excellence in English and mathematics. He dries his hair by twisting it into a turban. His brother suspects his fashion sense might gain acceptance in Europe. Birthdays prompt one-sided messages from Tōdō, which Makishima rarely answers. He stands 176 cm tall.
Physically, Makishima possesses a lanky frame with "abnormally long" limbs, a long face, narrow chin, and a perpetually gloomy expression emphasized by downturned eyebrows and hooded eyelids. His long green hair features red highlights (dyed in high school; natural light brown) and two moles—one under his left eye, another near his lower lip. He favors eccentric fashion, often mixing clashing patterns and mismatched sleeve colors, baffling peers. He is left-handed.
Personality-wise, Makishima is introverted and socially awkward, frequently perceived as unsettling due to his quiet presence, peculiar expressions, and verbal tic ending sentences with "sho" (ショ). He admits struggling socially and leverages his intimidating aura tactically, like threatening peers to guard secrets. Despite a blunt, cynical exterior, he exhibits profound kindness, especially toward teammates. He mentors climber Sakamichi Onoda, offering technical guidance and encouragement, yet flusters visibly when Onoda praises his cycling. During races, his level-headedness allows him to dissect variables like weather, road conditions, and team fatigue to craft winning strategies.
As a cyclist, Makishima specializes in uphill climbing, earning the moniker "Peak Spider" for his signature "dancing" technique—violent side-to-side swaying that maximizes his long limbs by tilting the bike beyond conventional angles. Initially ridiculed, he honed this style into a formidable asset despite remaining exceptionally slow on flats. His skills include calculating optimal pacing via cadence, gear ratios, and fatigue. He holds the course record for the Minegayama Hill Climb since its 20th edition. His rivalry with Hakone Academy’s Jinpachi Tōdō defines his growth; their 15-race history ended 8–7 in Makishima’s favor. Tōdō affectionately calls him "Maki-chan," and their dynamic merges fierce competition with mutual respect, often cheering each other mid-race despite opposing schools.
Key arcs trace his evolution: At a Sohoku training camp, he defied orders by revealing to Onoda that his tires were sabotaged, urging perseverance. As Sohoku’s ace climber during the Inter High, he prioritized strategy over camaraderie but yielded to Onoda’s plea to aid a fallen teammate. Post-race, he received ten identical Kumotaro keyrings from Onoda. Later, he visited Tōdō’s family inn with Onoda, competing in hot springs and ping-pong. Graduating early to study architecture and interior design in London, he entrusted Sohoku’s future to Onoda during a final Minegayama ride. In England, he continued cycling—stunning peers with his style—and won the Kumamoto Fire Country Mountain Range Race for Sohoku as a late entrant. He returned briefly for the second Inter High but arrived late due to flight delays.
Trivia includes his dog Josephine, hatred of grapes, fear of ghosts, and academic excellence in English and mathematics. He dries his hair by twisting it into a turban. His brother suspects his fashion sense might gain acceptance in Europe. Birthdays prompt one-sided messages from Tōdō, which Makishima rarely answers. He stands 176 cm tall.