The Wind Breaker anime is ending, but Akihiko Nirei is just starting to get stronger in his own way. Nirei has always been a punching bag in the series, but many are rooting for him to become stronger so that he may fight alongside Sakura and the others someday.
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for the Wind Breaker manga, so proceed with caution.
How Strong Is Akihiko Nirei in Wind Breaker? Strength Explained
Akihiko Nirei, unlike the other students in Bofurin, such as Sakura Haruka, Kyotaro Sugishita, and Hayato Suo, lacks the strength to join them in a one-on-one brawl, despite his desire to stand beside them.
Some even compare Nirei to Takemichi of Tokyo Revengers because of how easily he gets beat up by his opponents whenever he gets into trouble.
He couldn’t properly throw punches or defend himself from the thugs, resulting in his face getting mangled and bruised over and over again.
Nonetheless, Nirei's strength resides in his intelligence and ability to collect critical information about Wind Breaker's most powerful fighters.
He keeps a notebook in which he jots down all of the fighters' strengths and weaknesses, regardless of whether they are rivals or allies, for his own and Bofurin's benefit.
Fans couldn’t help but imagine Nirei as Death Note’s Light Yagami due to his notebook and how he can easily memorize the full names of the characters in the series.
Will Akihiko Nirei Get Stronger in Wind Breaker? Current Level of Strength Explored
Nirei has grown stronger since his first appearance in the series, although he is still not at the same level as the other characters.
He may have grown stronger, but he still cannot compete with the other characters, so don't expect him to beat anyone down without some assistance anytime soon.
Thanks to Hayato Suo, Nirei gradually learns how to fight and avoid being beaten up by random gang members. Hayato secretly trains Nirei to help him, from learning how to duck to throwing a proper punch.
Nirei has always been determined to show Sakura that he isn't the weakest link in the gang and that no one has to look after him during battles.
He also wants Sakura to see his strength when the time comes. After all, Nirei is Sakura's second-in-command, alongside Hayato, which is why he refuses to sit in the corner while his friends get into trouble.
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