Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru (Run with the Wind)

Hakone

Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race

The time is 7:59.

The Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race will begin shortly.

Hakone Ekiden

Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race

Which university will write a new page in history?

Kansei University

Twenty-one runners wearing sashes will wrap themselves in a gust of wind

as they run down Hakoneji Road.

Will that wind be a headwind or a tailwind?

Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race

Who will be the first to return to Otemachi?

They are starting now towards honor and glory!

Run with the Wind

Section 1

The Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race

allows no room for carelessness once again this year.

The runners have maintained a slow pace since the start of the race.

They're averaging 3:07 per kilometer over the first three kilometers.

Broadcast Car

Broadcast Car

For the past few years, we'd been seeing high-paced starts under three minutes.

What do you think of this?

New Year Sports Special Hakone Ekiden

Everyone's looking for their opportunity.

They rival each other in ability.

Section 1

More than speed, they must be emphasizing strategy.

Come on.

Run where we can see you, Prince.

Wait! He might be doing it on purpose.

A windbreak?

That's right.

Each section of the Hakone Ekiden is long.

The situation changes moment to moment.

To ensure you don't fall behind during the second half,

conserve your stamina during the first.

Use everything you can.

Conserve my stamina, huh?

I hope I'm allowed to do that.

You will. I'm sure you will.

What is he? A prophet?

How is he doing?

He's doing well.

He's coming up on ten kilometers.

It's a truly dry affair.

This is no different than going for a drive.

Got it.

If you see any change in Prince,

Yamanote

could you offer him words of encouragement?

Tell him...

The Moment of Release

Kashiwazaki!

This kilometer's exactly three minutes!

Keep your pace!

Rokugo Bridge

The runners have made it 17 kilometers now.

The incline of Rokugo Bridge lies in their path.

If they exhaust themselves here, they'll pay for it later.

They'll have to stand firm.

They're moving! The runners are on the move!

The quiet journey so far is being disrupted by major change!

Yokohama, Eurasia, Teito, and other universities are increasing their paces!

But I don't like inclines.

Even if the runners around you begin to move, don't panic.

Just keeping up with them until Rokugo Bridge earns full marks from me.

You'll be able to pass the sash to Musa without much of a difference in time.

I see. The real race is Section 2 and onward.

Are you unhappy with that?

Not at all. I'm only an amateur.

I'll finish the race quickly, so I can get back to my comics sooner.

That's all.

Things might have gotten a little easier.

Prince.

Sorry for forcing you to do this.

If I give up, the race is over.

All those who succeed have worked hard.

I am strong!

Tsurumi Relay Station

The air at Tsurumi Relay Station is heating up

as the sashes will be arriving soon.

This year's Section 2 will be a fierce race

featuring athletes running 10,000 meters in 28 minutes.

And we can't discuss Section 2 without mentioning this man:

Iwanki of Kofu Academy.

We're all very excited to see how he'll run in his fourth Hakone Ekiden.

We'll also be watching Kansei University's exchange student, Musa.

Musa is a truly unique runner.

He's a government-sponsored engineering student,

who had no running experience until last spring.

Thank you.

Kansei University is taking on the Hakone Ekiden with only ten runners,

and each runner is exceptionally unique.

I enjoyed the qualifier.

I'm disappointed we won't get to race again.

Don't worry.

He won't let you take it easy.

Not our ace.

Hey, Musa.

I just saw you on TV.

I was surprised.

Did I look weird?

Not at all.

Musa, once this is over, let's go see the snow.

Snow?

Yeah. It really snows in my hometown.

The world becomes white as far as the eye can see.

You've never seen that, have you?

I haven't.

I'll imagine us having a snowball fight while I run.

Sounds nice.

Talk to you later.

Later.

You can't afford to be worrying about the others.

Section 1 20km Point

Prince!

Message for you from Haiji!

“There's something I never got to tell you!”

“Come to Tsurumi even if you have to crawl!” That's all!

That's not what I want to hear.

Joe and Hanamichi, Ippo and Sakamichi.

Sango Jugo, Hinata, and Yawara.

Sena, Goro, Tsubasa, Ryoma.

It's no use. There's no end to them.

I like protagonists, but I also like the people who lead them.

They're all tough, but of course they are.

They don't want to be shown kindness.

An athlete wants to win.

Totai Uni is the 16th to pass their sash.

They're 40 seconds behind first place.

Kansei University!

Behind them are Nihonbashi Tech and Jonan Bunka.

Kansei University to the relay line!

I hate this.

I really hate running.

I got dragged into this

and suffered for it.

But if I hadn't run with them...

If I hadn't made it here...

I...

I would've hated myself more!

Prince!

Prince! I'm here!

Prince!

There's someone waiting for me there.

Just thinking about it makes me so... so...

I...

Prince!

I take back what I said.

Prince.

Thank you.

Non-participants, stay off the course!

I pass.

Yes!

Nice!

Yeah!

Section 2