OverDrive – 01

OP Theme: Winder ~Boku wa Koko ni iru~ by Shounen Kamikaze

Since bicycles used to be the main source of transportation, it had become a nation-wide race, captivating and broadcasting in many countries. Mikoto Shinozaki has just entered high school. He’s slow and clumsy and not at all popular. Most of the time, he avoids making contact with others and remains quiet in class, being “invisible”. Since he’s very shy, he’s often seen blushing a lot in front of his friends, and especially in front of his crush, Fukazawa, who doesn’t even know she sits right next to him in class. One day Mikoto is riding on a scooter to deliver food he brought for his friends. In class he watches Fukazawa fix her hair. When school finishes he takes out an artbook and begins drawing her. She comes into the classroom afterwards even though school has ended. She figures he’s interested in her and asks if he would like to join the Bicycle Club. He refuses at first and before she leaves, he asks if he can draw a portrait of her. She accepts it gladly, thinking that it will be fun since she’s never done it before.

While wondering when she’s supposed to go to karaoke with her friends, Mikoto gets caught up in the moment and starts sketching like crazy. She notices his passion and notes that he looks just like Yousuke, who is her brother and also the one in charge of the Bicycle Club. Once Mikoto is done drawing, she looks at the picture to see herself dressed in bathers. The two are walking out to the courtyard and Mikoto thinks Fukazawa is mad at him, but she isn’t. She goes into a shed and brings out a bicycle. Mikoto tells her that he’s not athletic, nor is he fast when it comes to running. Fukazawa explains that real strength comes from the heart, and she believes that he has a unique one. Hesitant, Mikoto confesses that he doesn’t know how to ride a bicycle and runs off, embarrassed. That night, Mikoto nearly drowns while taking a bath since he’s thinking too much. He has a dream about riding on a bike with Fukazawa with him, who is wearing bathers. He wakes up with a start and decieds to go to school even though it’s still nighttime. Entering the courtyard, he sees a red bicycle that seems to be glowing. When he touches it, the glowing ceases.

ED Theme: Saihate no Parade by Merry

Thoughts: Mikoto is very very adorable! He’s so clumsy and stupid, lol! I love sport-related anime and the first episode of OverDrive was a tad bit dull, but since Mikoto’s in it, I think I will continue watching it. He’s such a loser that I find it very hilarious. This episode didn’t have any action in it, since it was just about introducing two characters. Fukazawa is obviously the one to save Mikoto during those “emo” moments he may experience later. I dunnoes, I get the feeling. I know I’m a lil’ late, since this anime is already 25 episodes ahead of me, but I just one day decided to give it a go. My friend also told me that he loves this anime too, so yeah. The artwork was very nice, I thought. There’s a lot of nice close-ups of the characters’ faces so it was good to see. Fukazawa sure is one pretty chick, but I just love Mikoto.