I Am Gil

I Am Gil is episode six of the Appare-Ranman! anime series.

Plot
At the finish line of the pre-race in Lancaster, TJ, Dylan, and Al are neck to neck in the race. The other races maintain their positions as Appare manages to get into 5th place. Back to the top three in the race, Al stops for an incoming train, but TJ and Dylan out speed the train making it a race between the two. After some internal calculations, Appare manages to pass through the back of the train. This tactic, however, doesn't give them a lead for long as a driver in a red car cuts them off. In the end, Dylan wins the pre-race.

A minor confrontation between Al and Dylan occurs where Al proclaims he'll win next time, but Dylan claims if they'll be one. In the pit stop, Kosame meets with the driver of the red car that cut in front of them during the race. The racer introduces himself as Richard and formally apologizes for his actions. He also takes a liking to Hototo and then goes on his way. While waiting in line for food and water, Hototo runs into men picking up supplies for Gil. Hototo recalls what he heard from Dylan about Gil's men as he notices the men in front of him have the cobra tattoos.

Giving orders to his men, Al is met by his servant Sophia. The two talk about the dangers of the race and how Sophia should wait at the final Finish Line in New York City. However, Sophia is insistent that she be with Al whenever possible. They then meet up with Kosame, who practices his swordsmanship. Intrigued by Kosame's practice, Al asks if the two could have a practice match offering to pay as well and Kosame agrees. During the match, Al goes on the offensive and outmaneuvers Kosame, though Al wins, he notes that he can't gauge Kosame's strength as he'll holding himself back.

That night in a bar, Appare's group along with Jing discuss what route they'll take for the next race. The route through Death Valley is the shortest, but most dangerous option. As their conversation goes on, two men associated with Gil demand beer for their leader. When Appare and Hototo leave the bar, Hototo follows Gil's men and eavesdrops on a ploy by Chase to take out the other racers. Soon though, he's caught by Gil's group, and eventually, Kosame goes to look for him. Getting a tip from Richard, Kosame heads to Gil's camp. There, Kosame confronts the outlaws claiming he's looking for Hototo, they act ignorant. A loud noise from a wooden box could be heard and Kosame demands to see the contents inside. Upon opening it, all that's inside is a prairie dog and Kosame takes it claiming it's "Hototo" and goes on his way.

Returning to the pit stop just before the race begins, Kosame is sad that he couldn't find Hototo, but apathetic Appare wants to continue the race. However, due to Kosame's guilty pleas, he stays in town to perform last-minute changes to his car to have it evolve. Meanwhile, the racers are unable to progress due to a roadblock into the valley.

Elsewhere, Hototo escapes from his boxed confine, finding himself by a cow farm. Eventually, Hototo is found by Kosame and they regroup with Appare who finishes up the final touches on the car and prepares to set off once again.

Characters by Appearances

 * TJ
 * Dylan G. Ordene
 * Al Leon
 * Tristan the Bad
 * Chase the Bad
 * Jing Xialian
 * Appare Sorano
 * Kosame Isshiki
 * Hototo
 * Richard Riesman
 * Sophia Taylor