Every since Kenta was put out of commission by Flandre. The freight duties were spread among the engines. This made Hiroto upset, as now he would have to pull trucks.
"You undignified lot!" He'd yell whilst shunting the trucks.
One day, Hiroto was getting a consist of trucks ready when Akemi went up to him.
"Hah! I get to pull passengers and you get to pull a lot of dirty trucks." boasted Akemi.
Akemi went to fetch his coaches and went up Hiroto's Hill. Snow melt and leftover leaves from last fall covered the tracks on the gradient going up. Akemi surged forward, but felt his wheels slip as he moved up the hill.
"I can't...move...much farther." Akemi was struggling to get up the hill.
Meanwhile, back in the yard, Hiroto was summoned by the yardmaster.
"Your needed as a backing engine on that hill of yours." she said.
"I should have warned him." said Hiroto.
He went to the bottom of the hill where Akemi was waiting.
"Help me up the hill, please!" said Akemi.
"Get ready, I'm going to push you up the hill, its slippery so I'll push you especially hard." replied Hiroto.
"Alright, if you say so."
The two engines worked their way up the hill, the train slowed as they got to the middle of the hill. The extra traction helped as they progressed up the hill. The two engines were relieved when they saw the top of the hill.
News spread of what happened later that evening.
"Sir, can Hiroto pull the express again?" asked Ichihiro.
"Yes, I planned for express services to resume now that whatever's backed up is all sent out." said the Scarlet Controller.
Hiroto was delighted at the news.
"Thank you sir!" he said.
The engines all went to sleep.