THis can be shown by a bit less concrete estimates that in @Deld's answer. <b>[EDIT]</b> Initially I thought $(b_i)$ starts with $b_1$, but it actually starts with $b_0$. Here is a proof for the actual case; the previous answer is left below. We show by induction on $n$ that $$ 4n+2\leq a_n\leq 4n+3; \qquad(*) $$ while proving that, we show the required equality as well, together with $b_{3n}=4n+1$. The base cases $n=0,1$ are trivial. Assuming $(*)$ for $n=0,1,2,\dots,k$, we first show $$ \frac{4t+5}3\geq t+\left\lceil\frac{t}3\right\rceil+1\geq b_t\geq t+\left\lfloor\frac{t+1}3\right\rfloor+1\geq \frac{4t+2}3 \qquad(**) $$ for $2\leq t\leq 3k$. Set $s=\left\lceil\frac t3\right\rceil\in[0,k]$; then $a_s\geq 4s+2$, so there are at least $3s+1$ values of $b$ in $[1,4s+1]$, and hence $b_{3s}\leq 4s+1<a_s$. This yields that there are at most $s$ values of $a$ in $[1,b_{3s}]$; so, since $t\leq 3s$, we get $b_t\leq (t+1)+s$, as desired. Similarly, setting $p=\bigl\lfloor\frac{t+1}3\bigr\rfloor\in[1,k]$, we have $a_{p-1}\leq 4p-1$, so $[1,4p]$ contains at most $3p$ values of $b$, and $b_{3p-1}\geq 4p>a_{p-1}$. Hence $[1,b_{3p-1}]$ contains at least $p$ values of $a$; so, as $t\geq 3p-1$, we get $b_t\geq (t+1)+p$. Thus $(**)$ is proved. Moreover, we have shown that $b_{3p-1}=4p$ for all $1\leq p\leq k$, as the estimates in $(**)$ agree for $t=3p-1$. That is, we have showed the initially requested equality. Similarly, for $t=3p$ we get $b_{3p}=4p+1$. It remains to finish the step of induction, proving $(*)$ for $n=k+1$. Indeed, by $(**)$ we have $$ 4(k+1)+\frac{10}3=\frac{4(k+1)+5}3+\frac{4(2k+2)+5}3\geq b_{k+1}+b_{2k+2}=a_{k+1}\geq \frac{4(k+1)+2}3+\frac{4(2k+2)+2}3=4(k+1)+\frac43, $$ which yields the required result, as $a_{k+1}$ is integer. (Here we used that $k+1\geq 2$ and $2k+2\leq 3k$, i.e., that $k\geq 2$.) **Remark.** The same method works equally well (or even better) for similar relations, e.g., $a_n=b_n+b_{2n}+b_{3n}$ etc. The linear term is found by asymptotical reasons; then the constants are found from the system of inequalities. In this case, even more residues in indices act good. ** * <b>[OLD ANSWER]</b> Here we assume that the first term in $(b_i)$ is $b_1$. We show by induction on $n$ that $$ 4n-2\leq a_n\leq 4n; \qquad(*) $$ while proving that, we show the required equality as well. The base cases $n=1,2$ are trivial. Assuming $(*)$ for $n=1,2,\dots,k$, we get $$ \frac{4t+1}3\geq t+\left\lceil\frac{t-1}3\right\rceil\geq b_t\geq t+\left\lfloor\frac{t-1}3\right\rfloor\geq \frac{4t}3-1 \qquad(**) $$ for $t\leq 3k$. Indeed, if $s=\left\lceil\frac{t-1}3\right\rceil\leq k-1$, then $a_{s+1}\geq 4s+2$, so there are at least $3s+1$ values of $b$ in $[1,4s+1]$. This yields that there are at most $s$ values of $a$ in $[1,b_{3s+1}]$; so, since $t\leq 3s+1$, we get $b_t\leq t+s$, as desired. Similarly, setting $p=\left\lfloor\frac{t-1}3\right\rfloor\leq k-1$, we have $a_p\leq 4p$, so $[1,4p+1]$ contains at most $3p+1$ values of $b$. Hence $[1,b_{3p+1}]$ contains at least $p$ values of $a$; so, as $t\geq 3p+1$, we get $b_t\geq t+p$. Thus $(**)$ is proved. Moreover, we have shown that $b_{3p+1}=(3p+1)+p$ for all $p\leq k-1$, as the estimates in $(**)$ agree for $t=3p+1$. That is, we have showed the initially requested equality. It remains to finish the step of induction, proving $(*)$ for $n=k+1$. Indeed, by $(**)$ we have $$ 4(k+1)+\frac23=\frac{4(k+1)+1}3+\frac{4(2k+2)+1}3\geq b_{k+1}+b_{2k+2}=a_{k+1}\geq \frac{4(k+1)}3+\frac{4(2k+2)}3-2=4(k+1)-2, $$ which yields the required result, as $a_{k+1}$ is integer. (Here we used that $2k+2\leq 3k$, i.e., that $k\geq 2$.)