Sakura and Furin

"**Sakura and Furin**" (サクラとフウリン, *Sakura to Fuurin*?) is the first chapter of the first volume and the first chapter overall of the *WIND BREAKER* manga series, written and illustrated by Nii Satoru.

## Overview

Haruka Sakura goes to Makochi's Tonpu Market Street for the first time in anticipation of his first day at Furin High School, but he gets involved in a gang fight with local delinquents who endanger the townspeople. Sakura becomes conflicted as he reluctantly saves them.

## Summary

A narrator introduces a sign that had been erected at the entrance of the town of Makochi with the Bofurin logo etched below.

At the town’s Tonpu Market Street, Haruka Sakura punishes a group of delinquents who attempt to corner a woman. His reason for his actions is out of spite for weak people, but he is stopped by the woman, who insists on returning the favor. At Café Pothos, Sakura is served a free omelette meal, and the woman introduces herself as Kotoha Tachibana. Learning that Sakura is not from town, Kotoha reassures him that she was not born there either. She comments on Sakura's unique appearance, pointing out his split-dyed hair and red eyes, and realizes that he attends Furin High School, encouraging Sakura to reveal that he plans to take over and become the new top dog.

Known for its students' poor grades and delinquency, Sakura believes that Furin High School is the perfect place for him. Kotoha is tepid by his reasoning and decides to tease him for wearing the school uniform early, a day before the school year starts. Sakura is ashamed, prompting him to get back on Kotoha before she helps an old man out of the café. Before the man leaves, Sakura notices that he left a paper bag and returns it to him.

Kotoha tells Sakura that the old man thanked him for his actions, and Sakura becomes flustered. He is unsure why the civilians treat him nicely despite wearing Furin's uniform, adding that people would normally look at him indifferently. Kotoha assures him that it was right for him to choose Furin, but he could never be at the top of the school because he is alone. Sakura is displeased to hear this and leaves.

Out on the street, Sakura meets the group of delinquents from earlier, who ridicule him for his unusual appearance. He is reminded of his past, when he was ridiculed in a similar way, which fueled his desire to prove himself worthy by appearing stronger than others. Remembering Kotoha's words back at the café about being alone, Sakura is pushed to his limits and begins a fight against the crowd, bloodthirsty for victory and still believing that being alone on his way to the top has nothing to do with that journey.

When Kotoha notices the commotion, she exits the café, but she gets captured by one of the delinquents with a knife. Sakura rescues her by knocking the man out and criticizing his usage of weapons in a fistfight. As the delinquents charge at him one by one, Sakura wonders why he should bother protecting Kotoha, knowing that it will not benefit him in the end, but continues to protect her nonetheless. He puts up a tough fight against his attackers, but he gets sidetracked when he is nearly hit with a bat. Moments before Sakura is hit, Toma Hiragi and fellow Furin High students Ren Kaji, Yodai Matsumoto, and Jien Yanagida arrive, easily defeating the delinquents, while Sakura wonders why Furin students are helping the townspeople.

Sakura tries to fight the delinquents on his own, but Hiragi scolds him for involving himself any further in the fight, claiming that he will not be able to protect him if he were to interfere. As the fight progresses, the townspeople cheer for Furin High, cueing Kotoha to explain to a confused Sakura that the students of Furin are the town's protectors; having established a sign at the entrance to Makochi two years ago, the townspeople soon gave them the name Bofurin, which is representative of the chime of a windbreaker that protects the town from harm.

Learning that Furin's delinquents are loved and seen as heroes by the town, Sakura feels conflicted. When an elderly woman tries to tend to his foot injury, he flinches in response until Kotoha treats him herself. She explains that he is not alone by choice and that the town needs him, but he refuses to agree directly and decides to show his admiration for Bofurin by lashing out on the delinquents' leaders, knocking him out completely.

## Characters in order of appearance

1. Haruka Sakura
2. Kotoha Tachibana
3. Unnamed delinquents
4. Elderly man
5. Yodai Matsumoto
6. Toma Hiragi
7. Ren Kaji
8. Jien Yanagida
9. Townspeople

## References

1. ↑ "【第一話】サクラとフウリン". *Magazine Pocket*. Retrieved on April 8, 2022.
2. ↑ "WIND BREAKER, Volume 1". *Kodansha USA*. Retrieved on April 7, 2022.