Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru (Run with the Wind)

Open your eyes. You'll get in an accident.

Everyone's here.

Today, we'll try running to the river in Tamagawa.

I want to determine everyone's level,

so I can plan your practice schedules for the future.

Keep that in mind.

There won't be a future.

After all that, you're still participating.

Just for today.

You're some kind of freak, aren't you?

Nothing beats eating after a run.

Let's go.

Wait.

Wait!

Tamagawa? That Tamagawa?

Why

Yeah, that Tamagawa.

Isn't that five kilometers away?

Wow! You're really familiar with the local geography.

Let's go.

Wait, wait, wait!

That's five kilometers.

Five kilometers one way means ten kilometers round trip.

Ten kilometers first thing in the morning?!

If you can shout that much after waking up, you'll make it.

Come on.

What?

He's fast.

Start at your own pace.

Come on. Go.

Where is your dignity?

Where has your human dignity gone?

We're allowing ourselves to be forced to run without objection.

Can we really call ourselves people?

Go.

Run with the Wind

Yay. I won.

What? It was a tie.

I beat you by a hair.

I'm impressed.

This is the first time I've wanted to go back to my home country.

The theory will come later.

First, your body needs to experience firsthand how far five kilometers is.

Then, you'll surely...

B-Butterfly...

You'll surely be able to run it.

Okay, let's head back.

What's wrong? Breakfast is waiting.

I'm going back as a butterfly.

What are you talking about? You're not making any sense.

Hey, look.

Huh?

It's Kakeru.

Is he ever going to stop running?

Your body gets cold if you just wait.

Yeah.

Do you understand now just how stupid your idea is?

They just ran a mere five kilometers.

Every section of the Hakone Ekiden is at least 20 kilometers.

That's more than quadruple.

We'll have to race that distance against runners who have endured intense training.

We could practice for ten years and still be behind.

Just how insane is his body?

He's not wrong.

Don't worry. It won't take ten years.

After all, there's less than ten months until the race.

A Single Flower

At universities that participate in the Hakone Ekiden,

everyone runs 5,000 meters in less than about 14:30 minutes.

We'll consider that one of our goals.

I have no idea what that looks like.

The simple calculation is less than three minutes per kilometer.

What?!

One kilometer in the time it takes to prepare cup noodles?

That makes it harder to understand.

He means it's inhumanly fast.

I bet there are lots of guys like that where you're from, Musa.

More prejudice.

My high school's long distance race was only three kilometers.

Well, that's how it is.

Thanks for the food.

You're right that it's not an easy speed to achieve.

But if you don't know what your goals are, you can't aim for them.

Knowing's not enough.

If you do the required training, it's different.

We'll limit our focus to Hakone.

That dramatically improves our chances.

On what basis?

On what basis are you making those claims?

You don't want breakfast?

I don't want to owe any favors.

Day 2

They ran.

I'm going to wake them.

Yuki never came home.

Huh?

He went clubbing as usual.

Clubbing sounds nice.

I bet there are lots of cute girls.

We'll have to ask him to take us with him.

Give me a minute.

Huh? Hey!

Kurahara!

Whoa!

Huh?

Whoa...

Haven't done that since grade school.

Are you a Kansei Uni student?

Yeah.

On the Kansei Uni track and field team?

Uh...

Haiji.

Are you familiar with Kiyose Haiji?

Huh?

Hey!

Hey.

Haiji!

What about school?

After this.

I came first thing, but no one was here.

We're still slow.

Who is that?

I asked him if he was on the track and field team.

I didn't see anyone else who could be.

I was right.

I couldn't ignore her.

It's the Yaokatsu girl.

What?

Yaokatsu. She's the daughter of the vegetable vendor in the shopping center.

What? Are they dating?

I doubt it.

A high school girl's a little too young.

Sorry. Let's get back to it.

Guys.

Practice hard.

We will!

Oh, wow! Then your future is secure.

Really? I'll have to call you for help if I'm ever on trial.

I'd totally be down.

You might be on trial?

You never know.

Can I get your number, then?

It'd be hilarious if this were a scam.

Of course it isn't.

Then maybe I'll get your number, too.

Huh?

Are you crazy?!

What?!

Sorry. My ears.

It's amazing. I don't know how you can stay in there for so long.

You're wasting your time!

What?

You're wasting your time!

I don't have any reason to run or anything to gain from it!