Ep. 9: Eikichi Challenges Team to Relay While Revealing Secret Alliance with Midosuji

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Machimiya Eikichi issues a two-flag relay distance challenge to Manami, Arakita, and Onoda, establishing rules where the leading team advances fully while the trailing team waits. During this maneuver, Eikichi discloses a secret alliance with Midosuji aimed at defeating Hakone. Meanwhile, three cyclists from Hiroshima Kureminami Technical High School break away from their group, revealing themselves as world-class sprinters. Despite their speed, Arakita manages to match them consistently throughout the race. By the end of the day, Arakita begins to laugh, telling Eikichi that he is exactly like Arakita was in the past.