When Yuto first joined the team, he felt isolated from the other members due to his older brother Hayato. After seeing Yuto clash with his seniors, Ashikiba challenges him to a race. It ends with a crushing victory for Ashikiba, and Yuto learns to respect him and his strength. During the finish line sprint on the second day of the Inter-high, Ashikiba entrusts Yuto with the responsibility of being the team's ace. He overturns his own assumptions that he's a climber with a fierce sprint, catching up to Imaizumi and Midousuji! But as Midousuji and Yuto race against each other, Imaizumi thinks of his teammates and removes his own "limiter!"
I told you, first-year Shinkai Yuto...
Sagte ich es dir nicht,
Shinkai Yūto?
Te lo dije, Yuto Shinkai…
Ya te lo dije, Yuto Shinkai,
Je t’ai prévenu, Yûto Shinkai…
Je vais t’écraser.
Te l'avevo detto, matricola Yuto Shinkai...
Como eu te falei, Yuto 
Shinkai do primeiro ano...
Я уже говорил, первогодка Юто Синкай...