Run With the Wind

Kurahara Kakeru runs through the city streets at night. A single man chases after him on a bicycle. That man's name is Kiyose Haiji. When Haiji catches up to Kakeru, he asks him a question: "Hey, do you like running?" Led by Haiji, Kakeru arrives at the Chikusei-so student dorm. He meets the strange residents living there. Haiji behaves in a peremptory manner. Kakeru is bewildered by the sudd...

"The residents of the Chikusei-so will run in the Hakone Ekiden together." Kakeru responds strongly to Haiji's rash suggestion. All the residents are amateurs when it comes to long distance running. Nobody takes Haiji's words seriously. The residents attempt to carry on with their college lives, but Haiji's shadow approaches. Threatened by Haiji's mysterious pressure, several tragically fall ...

When their hot water contest ends in a tie, Kakeru participates in the dorm's morning jogs while continuing to rebel against Haiji. His plan is to make the other residents give up. The next morning, several of the residents decide to boycott the jogging. A young girl wearing a school uniform runs up to Kakeru and his cool attitude.

"It's been a while..." Sakaki smirks fearlessly. He and Kakeru are old acquaintances. Kakeru is unable to hide how shaken he is by their unexpected reunion. Swirling inside Kakeru was the loneliness he experienced as a high school student due to his talents. Kakeru runs as though fleeing from shadows, when before him appears "the other Kakeru." It is the desperate man he used to be before he ...

After being challenged by Tokyo Sport University's Sakaki, Kakeru and the other residents of Chikusei-so have grown closer. As they celebrate the renewal of their resolve, King comes home wearing a suit for a change. Meanwhile, Kakeru voices his objections to participating in a track meet so soon. What point is there in forcing the amateurish residents to face reality? In response to Kakeru, ...

King rebels against Haiji's escalating demands. His job search continues to go poorly, causing him to close himself off to even Shindo, who is concerned for him. Eventually King begins acting independently. The other residents are also unable to hide their befuddlement at being told they can't work. Meanwhile, Kakeru goes to Nico-chan in order to dispel his doubts about Haiji, but he's unable...