This episode on Overtake! the anime is diving into the consequences of what happens previously. Koya has his reputation bite him in the back. Satsuki is now hospitalized after his accident. And, now suddenly, Mikazuki is pulling back their sponsorship for Komaki Motors!

The previous episode on Overtake! reveals how Koya finally gets his bearing back. In the opening of episode 6 he is finally back on the game, and takes pictures of a model. However, things goes to south when he witnessed Satsuki’s accident on the last race.

As a motorsport fan, Satsuki’s T-bone crash is a scene I wish never to happen in real racing. F4 safety measures aren’t that tight compared to the higher leagues. For starters, their cars don’t even have the safety halo. One thing that would’ve saved a lot of drivers in real life, including Felipe Massa who suffered a terror-inducing head injury back in 2009.

I am starting to root for Satsuki, his character started off as the typical overly extroverted, golden retriever personality, playboy rival. However, as the anime goes on, he proved to be rather likeable, as he is a man of the sport and would always look out for others.

Seeing what unfolds in this week episode is rather heart wrenching. When everything seemed to go well and promised a bright future, that imagination is now clouded behind turmoil in every corner. The 7th episode of Overtake! catches up to the story and development of each main characters, albeit it can be mushed into one word, “sad”.

Koya And His Ruined Reputation

Let’s first discuss the main dish of this episode. Koya, as we know, has a PTSD from his past career. As a photographer, it is his job to take photos of the event he is reporting. However, this can backfire when his profession clashes with how people see what’s humane and inhumane.

Last episode revealed what kind of picture that he took to the point he is unanimously hated by the marketing industry and people in general. It was a horrible photo, admittedly. A photo of a little girl, holding her bunny doll. Unfortunately, it is assumed that she met her end not long after Koya took her picture.

In turn, Koya quickly got backlash for the general masses. In today’s term, he is effectively cancelled. However, he began to discover a new-found passion in photography and F4 racing. The beginning of this anime explicitly explain how Haruka inspired him to, once again, do his best.

Sadly, no one can have their cake and eat it too. Same thing with Koya, he can’t have a redemption in professional photography while also finding his spark for F4 racing. Why the world must be so cruel?

The Fallen Sponsorship And Koya’s Guilt

The Mikazuki beverages, the company that sponsors Komaki Motors, suddenly announced their withdrawal from the team’s funding. Koya first thought they were disappointed that Haruka decided to retire from the last race. However, their actual reason was none other Koya himself.

They discovered that Koya previously worked under a different name. The same name attached to the controversial girl picture in the earthquake/tsunami disaster.

Koya is stunned and unable to say a word. The people in suits decided to stop sponsoring the team he wholeheartedly supports just because his past controversy might harm the company. Imagine the guilt that Koya has to bear at this point.

Is Haruka A Tsun Tsun Tsun Tsun Tsun Tsundere?

On the other side of the story, Haruka is trying to contact Koya. He is still oblivious to what Koya is facing right now. But hey! Haruka is messaging Koya to apologize about his stubbornness back before the race in episode 6.

Although, Haruka’s message is far from genuine by the usual social standard. Thankfully, he has Kotaro to call it out. What would Haruka do socially without him, seriously.

Then, when Koya’s ex-wife arrives to Komaki Motors HQ, she explains that the sponsor might withdraw their support because of her ex-husband past. Thankfully, all of Komaki Motors have a big heart and accept it despite losing a sponsor definitely isn’t a sign of fortune.

Once again, Haruka and his tsundere mind put himself to blame. He thinks if he knew about Koya’s past a bit earlier, then he can better understand Koya as a person. But, again, Kotaro being the best wing man here calls out Haruka’s overthinking.

But, honestly, give this boy a bit of blush on his cheeks and a sprinkle of “be.. betsuni..” and bam you basically get every tsundere to ever exist. It’s good that we have Kotaro as the sensible head here. If you think about it, Komaki Motors is somewhat held together almost solely by Kotaro’s good sense.

Is Kotaro An Overlooked Supporting Character?

We have Mr. Komaki who is the supportive owner and hold the team together, but he can get too carefree at times. Then, of course, there is the tsundere driver, Haruka. The troubled sponsor-seeking photographer. And, Kotaro. As far as a supporting character goes, he hasn’t done much but surely has never strayed from common sense.

Kotaro has been making solid observation of other characters too. Earlier in the episode, he was seen with Aris Mitsuzawa. She is a staff from Belsorisso team and harbors a crush towards Satsuki Harunaga. As a childhood friend of hers, he actually gave solid advice about how she should show her feelings for Satsuki.

If this is a Japanese comedy, his character must be the tsukkomi. Although, the anime so far only utilized his sensibleness as the butt of the joke once, which is in the marathon part. His character could’ve had more role, especially in the less racing action part. After all, this anime also tackles the slice of life part of a racing team.

Satsuki Harunaga Is A Dimming Star

Finally, this part is the one I have a bit of dilemma on. Satsuki Harunaga came off a little bit obnoxious and overly confident to me at first. Especially, how he is always unnecessarily surrounded by female fans. Is the anime calling me single in every frame Satsuki is in? “Maybe” is all I can say.

However, after knowing has genuine love for racing, and his dream of being the next James Hunt, I can say that my opinion of him has changed. He is not a super handsome guy who incidentally loves racing. He is a race loving motorhead who is incidentally super handsome.

So far, Satsuki also has been a solid teammate for Toshiki, despite he is the first driver, or was. It is kind of sad seeing Belsorisso so quick to replace him. Granted, the doctors said he needs to recover for several weeks before going back to racing.

But, the way Satsuki keeps up his smiling facades over his obviously aching heart is just unsettling.

“There will be no problem without me from the start?”

“It seems my luck has run out. Just kidding.”

Satsuki Harunaga at the hospital seeing Toshiki taking his place as the first driver.

Well, it is important to recognize a pain when we feel one. Brushing it off like Satsuki does in this episode rarely ends up well on the other end. I hope the anime doesn’t take him into a typical revenge route, which is a shallow approach compared to the mature themes this anime has been bringing up so far.

Where Did Koya Go?

The episode ends with Haruka finally goes to Koya’s place. He expresses his apology with more sincere fashion, despite Koya is not opening the door for him. But, after not even a single response, Haruka decides to open the door himself.

It is rather surprising to see Koya’s place is empty, unlocked, and without any sign of him leaving a message for anyone. He just disappeared. Looking back at his response when his trauma is triggered, it is rather worrisome.

Koya apparently is notorious for not talking out his problems, according to his ex-wife. His disappearance is probably an attempt to give himself a breathing room away from everyone else.

It would be a nice character development for Haruka if he ends up being the one who brings Koya back. After all, it was Koya who supported him and bringing in the sponsor, albeit eventually it also fails. Maybe, it is time for him to return the favor.