English Dub Review: Wind Breaker “Fight to Win”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
It’s now time for the battle of those second-in-command: Sakura versus Togame — a fight that will set things on fire!

Our Take:
The tournament between Bofurin and Shishitoren started to heat things up for the better.  While Bofurin still has a commanding lead, that doesn’t mean the one-on-one fights haven’t gotten better.  Last week’s episode was no different, with Hiragi and Sako settling their differences through forgiveness and their fists, and yes, I enjoyed every minute of it.  Unsurprisingly, this week’s episode replicated that familiar energy with its latest match-up, which finally has Sakura entering the ring after sitting on the sidelines since the start of the competition.
However, his opponent to test his strength on is none other than Jo Togame himself, Choji’s second-in-command.  Of course, similar to Sako, Togame also relied on his speed to counter Sakura’s strength, eventually overpowering the transfer student.  Sakura then mocks Togame for mistaking his bullying for a drive for power, which causes the second-in-command to reflect on his early days as a Shishitoren member.  It’s revealed that Togame wasn’t as unhinged as he once was and that Shishitoren was once a supportive team led by the cheerful Choji, who believes true power equates to freedom.  Unfortunately, that all changes when Choji decides that for the team to get as strong as him, he’ll have to train them not to lose in a fight or face banishment.  This resulted in Togame promising that he’d do the punishing to allow Choji to continue smiling.
Like the previous episode, “Fight to Win” presents a gripping and intense battle between Bofurin and Shishitoren, complemented by its compelling character moments.  It displays Sakura’s strength being tested against a formidable foe, elevating the much-needed tension in the show’s tournament arc.  More importantly, it showcases that Shishitoren may not be as ruthless as we previously thought, which could be caused by Choji’s naive belief in power.  If that’s the case, then I’m hoping that Bofurin’s victory in the tournament will knock some sense into that bratty leader.  Let’s keep this fight going!