Hayato Shinkai

Shinkai generally has a very laid-back and placid personality. He shown to be very caring; when he ran over a rabbit with his bike, he deeply regretted his actions decided to raise the rabbit's baby, naming it Usakichi. This event also traumatized him badly, so he didn't want to participate in races anymore because he felt his obsession with winning was dangerous. Shinkai rejected the offer to participate in the Inter High as a second year, and only returned in his third year because of the support of his teammates. He enjoys food, as seen by the fact that he is often seen carrying power bars around.

He is now a freshman at Meisou University and a member of the Meisou University Bicycle Club with Juichi Fukutomi, his best friend and a former teammate, and Koutarou Ishikagi, a former member of Kyoto Fushimi / Kyoufushi.

His pose is called "bakyun", often romanized as "BQN!", it is modeled after that of the cyclist, Alberto Contador. He uses it to challenge his opponents by pointing at them, as if he were shooting at them.