Wind Breaker episode 13: Anzai's troubles revealed as Sakura truly fulfills his Grade Captain role

While Wind Breaker episode 13 did sadly serve as the finale to the smash-hit Spring 2024 anime’s first season, it excitingly set up a major battle to begin the already confirmed second season. Officially released on Thursday, June 27, 2024, the installment focused primarily on Anzai, introducing a new enemy group named KEEL in the process.

Wind Breaker episode 13 also saw protagonist Haruka Sakura make leaps and bounds in terms of character development, both as a person and as a Grade Captain. By the installment’s end, the series feels like it has come full circle in a scant 12 weeks with respect to Sakura’s growth and what it means to be a member of the Bofurin.

Wind Breaker episode 13 introduces new rival gang KEEL as even more brutal than the Shishitoren

Brief episode recap

Wind Breaker episode 13 opens with a focus on Umemiya and the Four Kings of Furin (Image via CloverWorks)

Wind Breaker episode 13 began with a starstruck Akihiko Nirei explaining to Haruka Sakura who the Four Kings were. He introduced them as Jikoku Team head Tsubakino Tasuku, Komoku Team head Mizuki Saku, Zojo Team head, Momose Takumi, and of course the one fans know, Tamon Team head Toma Hiragi. Nirei said they make up the core of Bofurin, as Umemiya transitioned into his plants and the summer barbecue party.

Toma quickly corrected Umemiya’s behavior, leading to him bowing to the Grade Captains and saying he needed their help since he couldn’t do it all himself. Umemiya then told everyone to begin socializing, with the series resultantly introducing several new characters like Matsumoto Yodai and Yanigada Jien.

Wind Breaker episode 13 then saw Umemiya commend Sakura and his friends for stepping up to the Grade Captain role, saying he’s counting on them and that they could count on their seniors. Ren Kaji and Sakura then had a funny moment, with the focus then shifting to Sakura, Nirei, and Suo’s return to their classroom. They explained what they were called up for the rest of the class, who were jealous at their meeting of the Four Kings.

Suo, Sakura, and Nirei are specifically praised by Umemiya in Wind Breaker episode 13 (Image via CloverWorks)

Meanwhile, Sakura seemed concerned with the apparently still missing Anzai. However, after school, Sakura and his core group of friends ran into what appeared to be rival gang members dressed in white jackets with blue and black detailing, as well as dark pants. They exchanged words briefly, but the group turned and left shortly thereafter, revealing the symbols on their backs.

Wind Breaker episode 13 saw Hayato Suo identify it as a white jacket with a blue dragon skeleton, calling them members of KEEL. Suo said that while they were not a big team, they were definitely bad news. Sakura and co then realized they were looking for someone in Furin. At that moment, Sakura and co found Anzai beaten up and passed out in a nearby alley.

This started a brief flashback that teased Anzai as having an old connection to KEEL, but it ended before revealing anything significant, with him being woken up. He asserted to Sakura and the others that a massive dog was chasing him, but most of them didn’t buy it. Anzai claimed it was truly nothing before departing despite clearly still being injured. However, as he left, Suo asked him about KEEL outright, which hit the mark given Anzai’s reaction.

Suo once again proves how well he knows Sakura in Wind Breaker episode 13 (Image via CloverWorks)

However, Wind Breaker episode 13 saw him leave anyway, prompting Nirei to ask Sakura what they should do, asserting they have to save him. Sakura essentially said he didn’t ask for their help so they shouldn’t butt in. However, Nirei wasn’t satisfied with this, asserting that it was now their responsibility to do what they could. Umemiya’s words flashed in Sakura’s head as Nirei said this, prompting him to leave before discussing the situation further with everyone.

Kiryu and the others then discussed how Sakura was never honest before telling Nirei that it’d be alright. The focus then shifted to Anzai, who met with a girl in a park where they discussed someone named Nagato. Anzai said he failed to get him back before calling KEEL dangerous, expressing concern about Nagato crossing a line he shouldn’t. The girl suggested asking the Bofurin for help, but Anzai rejected this, saying it was a personal matter he couldn’t drag them into.

Wind Breaker episode 13 saw the girl, now on the verge of tears, say she’d go with Anzai next time, but he rejected this and told her he’d make it work while putting on a brave face. He then left her in the park, where she expressed doubt about both his chances of success and being fine while crying. Sakura then approached her, introduced himself, and demanded the details of her conversation with Anzai, which she did after realizing he was with the Bofurin.

Wind Breaker episode 13 sees Sakura get the scoop on Anzai from his childhood friend, Tsuchiya (Image via CloverWorks)

The girl then explained that Nagato was a boy who played with them at this park when they were younger, and how he was different from them. She then explained they all went their ways in high school, but upon seeing Anzai one night she learned that Nagato had joined KEEL and become a purse-snatching delinquent. She then explained that Anzai was supposed to bring Nagato today, but instead clearly got beaten up by KEEL when he tried to take Nagato with him.

Wind Breaker episode 13 saw the girl begin to cry, which made Sakura uncomfortable to the point of hilariously asking her why she was crying. She said her powerlessness was frustrating her, prompting Sakura to say he’d bring Nagato and to leave it to him. The girl laughed at how sheepishly he said this before thanking him and going home.

In school the next day, Sakura was questioning what to do as he sat next to Suo and co. Suo and the others then hilariously read Sakura like a book, when at that moment Anzai was given a letter by another student, who got it from KEEL. The envelope’s contents weren’t seen, but they caused Anzai to race out of the room, prompting Sakura to give chase.

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In Wind Breaker episode 13, Sakura eventually cut him off, revealing he knew the full story from the girl in the park, revealed to be named Tsuchiya. Sakura then took and opened the envelope, revealing a picture of a beaten-up Nagato held hostage by KEEL. Anzai told him it had nothing to do with him, but Sakura asked Anzai for the details nonetheless.

This finally broke Anzai, who explained the full purse-snatching story from two days ago. After realizing it was Nagato, he punched Anzai, threw away the bag and ran. Anzai then returned to the same place the next day, finding Nagato being beaten up by the other KEEL members for his failure. Anzai ran in and began fighting the other KEEL members before asking for Nagato’s hand, but he slapped it away and asked Anzai what he was doing.

Wind Breaker episode 13 saw Nagato say, with tears in his eyes, that he decided KEEL is where he wants to be, telling Anzai to butt out while grabbing a weapon. Sakura then asked why Nagato was staying with KEEL despite clearly not wanting to, but Anzai didn’t know. Sakura then said they should go, explaining that he was doing this because he promised Tsuchiya that he’d help, saying it was now his issue.

It was then revealed that the entirety of Sakura’s class had been listening and intended to help as well. They all said that they were simply there to help a friend out, not as members of Furin but as Anzai’s classmates. The episode ended with Ren Kaji and his secondaries noticing Sakura and co leaving school grounds, setting up season 2 to focus on Sakura and co’s fight with KEEL.

In review

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One of Wind Breaker episode 13’s greatest strengths is how demonstrative it is of Sakua’s aforementioned character development and growth, both as a person and Grade Captain. His conversations with Tsuchiya and Anzai respectively highlight these growths, showing him as finally taking both Hajime Umemiya and Kotoha Tachibana’s words to heart.

The installment also does a great job of emphasizing that while all of the students at Furin High are a part of the Bofurin, they seem to have the ability to act on their own as a group nonetheless. It’s a detail that opens up a realm of possibilities for the future, and is also likely indicative of how most of the series’ story arcs will be set up in the future.

In summation

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With Wind Breaker episode 13 serving as the season 1 finale, it arguably ends on a perfect note all things considered. There are little to no loose threads left over from the first season in terms of both story and character arcs, yet time was still found in the 13th episode to set up season 2’s events. Although fans will be without Sakura and co for quite some time, their comeback will undoubtedly be just as, if not more impressive than their premiere showing.