Warning: this review contains spoilers up to the end of this episode.
Disclaimer: All images have been screen captured from Crunchyroll and belong to their respective owners. I am using them to promote this show and will delete them if/when I am asked to do so.
Prologue
Miyagi High School Track and Field Meet: it’s the boys 5000 meter finals where we see a younger Kurahara Kakeru in a green track uniform. The words “Sendai High School” are written on it.
The red headed young man we met in the previous episode (also younger here) asks him, “How’s your stomach?”
Kakeru, who is sweating and rubbing his stomach, replies that he’s hanging in there to which his teammate replies “Sorry, but I won’t hold back.”
- Here, we know that despite being on the same team, the red-head considers them rivals.
Kakeru doesn’t reply, but as soon as the race starts, he is able to easily take and maintain the lead. In the audience we see a bespectacled older man wearing the same green uniform (his coach, presumably) cheering him on proudly.
Later, we see that KK has won based on the medal hanging on his neck. He doesn’t look too pleased, however. He overhears people talking about how he finished in 13:54, even though he wasn’t feeling well and despite being just a second year.
- Perhaps the reason why Kakeru doesn’t seem happy is because the tone of the “praise” sounds more shocked than impressed.
To make matters worse, his coach reams into the rest of the team, telling them that their “average” numbers are as good as losses, before throwing Kakeru’s success into their faces. He then instructs them all to run 10,000 meters as soon as they get back to school. When KK moves to join them, the coach says he doesn’t have to, and praises his performance. Kurahara is left alone as the rest of his team leaves to fulfill their punishment.
- As a parent, this makes me livid. It is a terrible idea to compare people, let alone children, to each other. We are all born with different talents and abilities. Drawing comparisons belittles people’s individual efforts and is counterproductive. The damage this causes can last for years, perhaps even a person’s whole life. Here, we see Kurahara being isolated from his teammates. He is not happy, despite winning, and his team isn’t happy either, because they are being told they are no good, even if they worked as hard as he. The red-head’s gaze on KK a particularly envious. His words to KK before the race show that he is ambitious. He thought he might do better since KK’s condition wasn’t optimal. His disappointment, and the coach rubbing salt in his wounds, explains his resentment. It’s too bad since under other circumstances they might have been friends.
And if wasn’t clear before, isolation and loneliness have now been officially established as main themes of this show.
Act One
After the opening credits the episodes starts where it previously left off. A sweating Kurahara is catching his breath after a particularly tiring run when he is approached by his red-headed high school teammate.
He greets him with “It’s been a while,” and explains that he ran this course yesterday, and was surprised when he saw him. He then adds with a glare “I didn’t think you were still running.”
- Meaning, something must have happened to cause him to stop.
A disturbed Kurahara greets him simply by saying his name “Sakaki”.
Sakai then asks him, “Who were those guys you were with?”
Kakeru answers that it’s none of his business. His ex-mate replies, “Really, I guess it doesn’t matter,” with an unconcerned tone.
-If it didn’t matter, he wouldn’t have asked. So why is he interested?
Sakaki then comments, “Lucky you, you made some friends.” Kakeru, who barely made eye contact this whole time, keeps his head down, eyes averted, and looks quite upset.
The entire scene was a jumble of contradictions. We were just shown in the prologue that KK’s talent isolated him from his team. If we take everything at face value it’s just a meeting of old acquaintances. But Kakeru’s body language, rigid, closed, and Sakaki’s confident demeanor, his solemn and mostly neutral tone, make it very odd. It didn’t sit right with me. It took me a while to pinpoint it exactly, but I think Sakaki’s expression here is almost critical. Even his words and tone have a bit of an accusatory feeling to them. It’s like he’s saying Kakeru doesn’t deserve friends.
Episode title: Shadows that Don’t Fade
After the episode’s title the scene shifts to the university. We see the twins at a lecture with Jouta barely staking awake and Jouji already asleep. This gives us a timeline that it’s after Haiji’s morning practice. We then see KK, whom we assume should be attending his own lectures, but instead is sitting alone near what looks like a storeroom.
He looks at its door, and sees a past version of himself, complete with a sleeping bag, and sport bag holding his few things.
-So this is where he was staying before Haiji brough him to Aotake. He was literally sleeping in the open.
Past Kakeru, whom we know by the same black jacket he was wearing in the first episode, takes out all that’s left of his cash and wastes it in a mah-johg parlor. He then goes to a convenience store, where he eyes a piece of bread, and with shaking hands reaches out for it.
Present Kakeru berates him. First, he questions him: “What are you doing?” Then adds, “Is that all you can do? Is it?”
Just before past KK steals the bread, a voice recalls him into the present: “Kurahara?”
It is Prince. Concerned, he asks him “What’s wrong? You’re spacing out?”
We see that KK had been walking aimlessly on campus, lost in his memories. Prince, who is accompanied by three other dudes, introduces him: “He’s an underclassman at my dorm.” They all greet each other with nods.
Next, we see the four at the cafeteria where judging from their empty, or near empty plates, they just had lunch. Prince’s friends argue over a manga they’re reading. Kurahara watches with mild interest. Prince tells him that they are always passionate like this. “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say everything important we’ve learned about life has come from comics. Friendship hard work, and everything else. It’s an enriching experience.”
– I think it’s the first time I’ve seen something close to a smile on Prince’s usually unexpressive face. He’s practically sparkling in excitement. His even raises his voice as he speaks.
He then leans over the table to get into KK’s personal space, and excitedly says “Why don’t you begin your new college life with us!” trying to recruit KK into his manga club.
– Prince here is the perfect representation of geek culture. Anyone who has ever been passionate about anything can relate perfectly to him. Myself included.
The ambushed Kakeru starts to say that he doesn’t read manga, when he is saved by a group of athletes. Their intimidating presence pressures the group to vacate their seats.
Yuki and Musa, who are also in the cafeteria, see them leave. Yuki wonders if KK has joined the manga club, before saying “whatever” and turns back to Musa and asks him “So, is Shindo serious about continuing practice?”
-This is continuity to the fact that Shindo and Musa and friends, and that everyone knows it. Previously, Nico asked Shindo what his friend’s opinion was on running. And now Yuki’s asking Musa the same.
Musa tells him that he’s not sure but that his expression seemed “earnest”. Yuki tsks in annoyance.
Musa also tells him that he overheard Shindo and Haiji talking about club dues on the way back from morning practice, and that when he looked it up, he discovered it meant money. He’s extremely troubled by the possibility that they might request money from him. Meanwhile Yuki is impressed that Musa knows the word “request”.
-This is a nice reminder that Musa isn’t actually a native speaker. The fact that each character has his unique individual voice is part of what makes this show so good, and a study of characterization for writers. It’s a pity that much of this is lost in translation, however. It’s one of the reasons I try to include the individual nuances in the different speech patterns in these reviews, although, realistically speaking, I’m just a beginner myself.
Yuki states that when it was just Haiji getting excited on his own, they could ignore him, but it would be difficult if others join him. Musa then points out that the twins have already been sold on the idea. If he convinces two other’s they’ll become the majority.
At this Yuki pushes up his glasses in determination.
I don’t know why or how, but this mannerism never gets old, no matter how overused it is.
Kakeru and Prince part ways, with the older housemate telling him he’ll see him back at Aotake. As soon as Prince leaves, Sakaki’s words start haunting Kakeru: “Who were they? Those guys you were with?” He remembers answering “None of your business,” and the subsequent reply of “Lucky you. You made some friends.”
Upset, Kakeru takes off running. The cloudy skies turn black and gray and the street he’s running on is lined on the right and left with infinite images of his high school coach.
-I absolutely loved this sequence. No matter how far he runs Kakeru can’t escape from the shadow created by this failure of a coach. He’s literally everywhere in KK’s mind.
Nor can he run from Sakaki, who easily creeps up behind him.
– It’s been established that Kakeru is faster but here he’s the one gasping for air.
Kakeru finally speaks, though what he says is just a desperate “shut up”, like a small child who doesn’t know how to argue.
The convenience store employee from the first episode has joined Sakaki in chasing Kakeru down. “Wait! Thief!” Meanwhile Sakaki once again asks “Who were those guy’s you were with?”
As he runs, Kakeru asks himself “Why? Why couldn’t I say anything?”
-Kakeru’s tone here is frustrated. The fact that he’s still being chased by the convenience store employee means he still feels bad about stealing, as established in the earlier scene when he asks himself “Is that all you can do?” Here, he also berates himself for being unable to answer Sakaki’s questions: if he’s running again, and what exactly his relationship with his housemates is.
The twins join the fray of Kakeru’s disturbed mind. They, too, are keeping up with him easily despite being slower in reality. Running closely behind and on either side of Kakeru, they ask him “What are you afraid of?” Kakeru looks at Jouji, to tell him “I’m not scared!”
-His frantic and terrified voice begs to differ.
Jouta then adds “Who cares? Run with us?”
Kakeru retorts “I can’t!”
-Knowing the environment of his previous team, we now have an idea as to why it’s so hard for him to join Aotake’s group. He has really bad memories of it, maybe even PTSD. Sakaki’s presence seems to have triggered a full blown panic attack.
Finally, an image of Haiji shows up speeding on his bike alongside a running Kakeru, just like he did in the first episode. Everyone else disappears as soon as he shows up. “Hey! Do you like running?” Kakeru, like before, looks at him. Haiji, with the same open-faced grin asks one again “Do you like running?” The traumatized Kakeru replies in his mind: “Don’t ask me that!”
-Wow. So Kakeru doesn’t even know if he likes to run? Despite being so obviously addicted to it?
Kakeru is finally brought back to the real world when Hanako shows up suddenly right in front of him. She gasps in surprise and fear.
This montage was the Best Scene of the episode. Starting from the beginning, the memory that shows Kakeru before the first episode, before he met Haiji, and its continuation: the haunting nightmare-like sequence when Kakeru is running back to Aotake, being chased by his previous coach, ex-teammate, the twins, the convenience store employer, then finally Haiji. I said it the intro page to the series, that running is used as a metaphor, and we can see that clearly here. Kakeru’s trying to escape the ghosts of his old team. He’s also running from Haiji and the twins and the possibility of a new beginning. Who are the Aotake members to him? What is he afraid of? Does he even like running? He cannot answer these questions, and the restriction that places on him and powerlessness are clear when he asks himself “Why couldn’t I answer”? It is all consuming, and this is depicted masterfully by both the music and the editing. We experience Kakeru’s chaos, with him and are only brought back to the present, and out of his jumbled mind first, when Prince calls out to him, and afterwards, when he literally runs into Hanako. Prince and Hanako both have brightly colored hair and wear red (Prince’s shirt, the bow of Hanako’s uniform). Their vibrancy cuts through the black and grey of the scene and Kakeru’s turmoil.
We are taken to the Mid-episode break where the infinitely cheerful and cute Nira is a sight for sore eyes after such a heavy sequence.
Act Two
We see a girl’s slightly scraped knee put under a fountain. “It’s cold!” she gasps. We then see Hanako and Kakeru in the park where she is washing away the barely visible injury. Kakeru is bent over slightly, watching her in concern. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes. The high school girl is quick to assure him that she’s really fine. “If anything, I’m glad you’re not hurt.”
Kakeru is taken aback “Don’t”, he says in an extremely troubled voice.
-I like how the episode didn’t show the actual accident. It might’ve changed the tone of the scene into something that could’ve been interpreted as romantic and that definitely isn’t the point of this scene. That said, Hana might later be considered as a romantic interest. We’ll see.
Hanako then says “You’re an important athlete, after all,” then elaborates that Haiji said “God may exist after all. We’re no ordinary men. We’re destined for something great.” She goes on to say how Haiji wouldn’t’ stop talking about them running together.
-How desperate, and how glad was Haiji, when he found Kakeru? Hana’s words here prove there is something greater at risk for him here than just running at Hakone.
-Despite all the praise he’s being showered with, Kakeru doesn’t look the least bit happy. In fact, he looks utterly miserable, and guilty, despite how superficial the wound is.
When Hanako turns off the water and before she stands up he stretches his hand towards her as if wanting to help her, but it hovers ineffectually for a bit as she straightens up and dries her hands.
She tells him with a kind smile, “The only thing I understand is that you’re really, really fast.”
-So awkward was Kakeru that Hanako didn’t even see his attempt to help her up. Not that she needed it, but it would have been interesting to see her reaction. Meanwhile all her efforts to reassure him seem like they’re having the opposite effect.
Kakeru pulls back his hand and in a depressed voice tells her “That’s it. I can’t do anything but run.”
- His voice actor was perfect here. It wasn’t overly dramatic or anything. The statement was said like it was fact. The tone nonetheless depicts all the pain he is going through and how useless, impotent he feels. It weighs heavily on both his mind and heart. To him, hurting Hanako was just the last straw.
Hanako, who has no idea what he’s going through, looks at him in confusion until Haiji calls out to them from the street.
Based on the grocery bag on his shoulder, he’s on his way back from buying dinner ingredients. As usual, he’s accompanied by Nira.
The next scene sees Haiji and Kakeru going home together under a cloudy sky. Haiji looks at the silent Kakeru who’s walking behind him out of the corner of his eye. He then asks if KK wants to race him and Nira back to Aotake.
-Haiji here has picked up on KK’s depression and is trying to cheer him up, even though he seems unsure what the reason for it is.
Without waiting for a reply, Haiji takes a starting position but before he takes off KK suddenly asks him: “Why? Why won’t you leave me alone? If you want to run, you can run by yourself. Isn’t that what it means to run?”
As he asks this, Kakeru remembers the race he won in high school, when he was running alone at the head of the pack as a second year, and how his success isolated him from his teammates.
-The poor boy here looks so sad and lost.
He goes on to say, “I’m sorry, but you should give up on me. I-”
Haiji interrupts him. “Kurahara, even if you’re running alone, you’re not actually alone.” He then stands up from his racing position to turn and smile at Kakeru. “You’re always running with someone.”
Kakeru’s incomprehension is obvious. He tells Haiji, “I don’t understand.”
Haiji gently replies, “I see.” then tells Nira, “let’s go.” They take off at Haiji’s command, and he can be heard to tell Nira “you’re fast,” laughing.
Left alone, Kakeru repeats Haiji’s words to himself “with someone.”
-This was one of my favorite scenes in the episode. Haiji quietly watching out for Kakeru on their way home, the cloudy weather, the two walking silently at the beginning, then the moody track starting when Kakeru starts to talk…it was just such a lovely interlude. Haiji giving him a chance to share his thoughts, trying to guide him and knowing when to quit when his attempt doesn’t work is everything to me. So often when trying to help people we go overboard and give too much information all at once. Parents are guilty of this all the time. But Haiji restrained himself when Kakeru couldn’t understand his point. He didn’t delve deeper into the matter not because it wasn’t important, but because it is too important. It’s something Kakeru has to figure out on his own, or it would be meaningless. Of course, this method isn’t one that applies to everyone and everything, but especially for young adults, giving them a map and having them find their way is more effective in the long run than driving them to their destination. They learn to follow instructions, to ride a car, maybe get lost and ask directions, they also gain confidence along the way…but I digress.
The next scene starts the next day, pre-dawn. As Musa puts on his footwear in the foyer, he notices that Shindo has gotten new running shoes. His friend explains that “specialized shoes are better, apparently.”
-Musa looks worried by Shindo’s deepening investment in their running activities, as evidenced by the sweat drop that forms on his forehead and his furrowed brows. Even though Shindo doesn’t seem to be pressuring his friend into running.
In the yard, as Nico and Yuki stretch, the bespeckled future lawyer tells his senpai “Your attendance has been perfect.” Nico asks “So what? To which Yuki replies, turning away, “Nothing.”
-Their exchange is a nice foil to the other duo. While Shindo is being clear about his desire to run, Nico has been reticent from the start. Similarly, while the younger pair of friends have a strong and obvious regard for each other, these older two have a more ambiguous relationship. At first glance it seems like they barely tolerate each other but their frequent interactions and the words between their lines say otherwise:
Yuki: Your attendance has been perfect = you’re enjoying this aren’t you?
Nico’s “So, what?” is him being intentionally obtuse. I think Yuki understands this and seems to be biding his time rather than wanting to confront Nico directly on the running matter. Which is why he answers, “Nothing “.
Haiji joins the rest of the team in the yard, carrying Prince out from the back of his shirt like a caught cat.
He tells them that today Hana will be waiting for them at the river. At the mention of her name Kakeru stops from his usual habit of taking off before the others.
Haiji explains that she will be taking their arrival times “You too, Kurahara.” As further incentive, he adds that they have to finish no matter what, otherwise she’ll be left waiting forever.
-KK doesn’t look too happy. Maybe he’s still worried about what happened the afternoon before.
The excited twins tell KK, “We’ll show you what we can do!”
-Considering all that happened in this episode, their words here are a nice reminder that the last conversation they had, KK had angrily told them Hakone was an impossible feat, and that he wouldn’t run with them because he didn’t work well with others. He also skipped practicing with them the next morning, leading them to think he was “still mad”. So I think this is their way of normalizing their interactions again. I really like these two.
-Another possibility is that they were actually miffed by his adamant refusal to believe they could make it to Hakone, especially in contrast to Haiji’s optimism, and so they want to prove their abilities to him.
Kakeru seems a bit taken aback at their vigor. But he’s saved from replying by Shindo who tells them that if they’re serious they should buy running shoes, adding “I’ll take you someplace special sometimes.”
The two go crazy at his words as somehow, to their ears, they sounded indecent.
-I wonder if Shindo did this purposely, knowing how girl crazy these two are. But let’s not be swayed by their teenage minds, there wasn’t actually anything wrong with what he said.
Meanwhile Musa whispers to Yuki, “See? He’s trying to win them over.” To which Yuki replies that the twins were already on his side.
Haiji counts down to have everyone start at exactly 6:30.
When Kakeru quickly overtakes the other runners, the older twin grouses “What’s with that speed” while Jouji snaps, “It’s infuriating!”
-I guess this supports the argument that they’re actually a bit pissed off at how he talked down on their abilities. Must be especially annoying considering his.
Behind them, Haiji, who as usual is running alongside Prince, tells them to not get thrown off by Kakeru’s pace, and that “this applies to races as well.”
Haiji then tells the zombie-like prince that he’s “incredibly moved” because his pace increased a lot in just one week. “You have that much aptitude!”
At his praise, Prince’s usual grimace relaxes a bit. And, as if to prove Haiji’s point, a butterfly flutters in front of Prince, but, for once, he outruns it.
Faster than the speed of a butterfly! Progress indeed 😊 Prince is distracted by it until Haiji tells him “Do it, and you’ll understand. Never do it, and you’ll never understand.” At these words, Prince’s head’s snaps back as they are a quote from one of his manga The Burning Pen.
–I wonder to which real life manga this alludes to.
Haiji then tells Prince: “Manga taught you everything that matters, right?”
Ok, was Haiji stalking Prince that day in the cafeteria when he said that to Kakeru? Nah, they’ve been living together for at least a year so he’s probably heard Prince pitch his manga club using these same words.
-Prince is extremely moved. From his perspective, there’s actually a ray of light shining on Haiji. It’s like Haji suddenly became a hero in his eyes.
Meanwhile, KK has arrived first at the river. As he races down the incline to where Hana-chan is waiting, she cries out in excitement at how fast he is. An elderly man walking his dog comments “Ah, to be young,” obviously misreading the situation. Kakeru blushes, looks back at the old man and gasps in embarrassment.
- Since Hana appeared we’ve seen more of a variety of KK’s facial expressions, usually dopey ones. It’s been a nice change from his usual emo look.
Hana reads out his time: 5000 meters in 14:53. She expresses her admiration when Sakaki walks up to the two, asking Kurahara if he’s holding back. He points out that this time would have been “unthinkable” for his former team mate in high school.
-I wonder why Sakaki came back. Is he stalking Kakeru? To what end?
Hana asks who he is, and he’s quick to introduce himself. “I’m Tokyo Sport University first-year Sakaki Kosuke.”
-It’s got the word “sport” in its name so I’m guessing this a big shot athletic school. Sakaki’s probably showing off here.
“Who are you? The manager?” He then asks Hana. She blushes and giggles shyly at being given such a title.
-Hana is adorable. That laugh was charming. Her voice actress is perfect.
Kakeru is annoyed and tells him that she’s timing them, and that they’re busy.
-Translation: take a hint and go away.
Sakaki doesn’t and asks who she’s supposed to time, as there isn’t anyone else. In a sarcastic tone he then assumes that’s why KK’s time was lousy: “Even you lower your level when running with such low-level guys.” At this Kakeru grits his teeth in anger. Sakaki continues saying that he finally understands after contacting the “OB’s”. They said you’re attending Kansei University.
-Can someone please explain what an OB is? I’m guessing it’s a student affairs office or something.
Sakaki then asks if Kakeru’s university even has a track and field team or if he’s just a member of a “friendly jogging club.”
-Aha. So Sakaki mentioning his university wasn’t just him showing off to Hana. He was flexing on Kakeru as well.
It seems to be working, too. KK’s yells at Sakaki to just go.
-His body language here is telling. He has taken a step forward and is once again fisting his hands.
Sakaki’s mocking facial expression turns dark and he asks Kakeru if he’s going to hit him again.
Hana recoils at his words in fear. It is then that the twins arrive, yelling out happily. Distracted, Hana goes back to recording everyone’s times.
The next scene shows that everyone (except for Prince and Haiji) has reached the river. Shindo tells Musa in his usual gentle tone “You really should get new shoes. It’s way easier, Musa.”
-Shindo has already said specialized shoes are better. But now he’s actually encouraging Musa to get them. He’s being more vocal about wanting Musa to join them. Musa’s looks at him and while his reaction isn’t one of agreement, his facial expression shows he understands Shindo’s intent.
-Meanwhile, Yuki and Nico’s communication is as subtle as ever. Yuki tells Nico “Your time’s improving, Senpai.” To which Musa replies, again, “So, what?”
King’s new time must not be as good as his last, since he comments to Hana “It’s strange” and that “there must have been a headwind,” to which she replies that they’re all running under the same conditions.
Sakaki watches this exchange (or rather Hana-chan) with interest.
The twins ask Kakeru who he is, but he doesn’t reply. Meanwhile Haiji arrives with the staggering Prince. He is encouraging him, telling him. “Look, your friends are waiting for you! The heroes of Aotake! They’re waiting of the warrior named Prince to return!”
Yuki comments that Haiji’s words sound like something Prince would enjoy. Musa adds that “Haiji’s learning”
-I said it before and I’ll say it again. Haiji’s knowledge of his housemates and all that makes them tick makes him a wonderful parent, err, senpai.
Haiji continues encouraging Prince saying, “Today you’ll reach an unknown territory you’ve never reached before!”
He then pushes Prince over the finish line. Hana reads his time: “34: 59: 28”
At this number, he tells the passed-out Prince “Hear that? You broke the 35-minute wall. You did it.”
- Haiji’s would even make be a fantastic parent to special needs children. The optimism to respect all children’s abilities and celebrate even the smallest of wins is not a gift everyone has.
Sakaki puts a damper on things when he bursts out laughing and asks if this is a Senior citizens’ marathon. He then boasts that he can walk faster than that. When he turns to leave KK stands in his way. “What?” Sakaki asks, challenging him.
- Kakeru has a complicated expression on his face. Like he wants to say something. Or, maybe he wants to hit him. Judging from his clenched fist, and Sakaki’s words that he’s used them in the past, it’s not too farfetched.
Before he does anything, however, Haiji walks up to them and asks where Sakaki’s from.
Sakaki thinks he’s the coach and addresses him as such, when Haiji interrupts him.
“I’m not the coach. I’m a fourth year. An athlete.”
-Sakaki’s assumption here is natural considering the guidance and support Haiji was giving Prince. But I think it’s also continuity on Haiji’s charisma, confidence, and natural air of authority.
Sakaki apologizes for his mistake, and says that he knows Kurahara.
Haiji ignores Sakaki obvious sarcasm and asks if Sakaki is in the track and field team. Sakaki affirms this and mentions the name of his school. Haiji’s answers:
“Tokyo Sport University? Then we’ll see you at the track meet.”
At Sakaki’s confusion, Haiji explains that they will all participate in the track meet that is going to be held at Sakaki’s school the end of that month.
It’s news to everyone else.
Kakeru starts sweating. Nico comments quietly, “Isn’t that enough?” While Yuki’s eyes widen in a panic.
Meanwhile Sakaki is still unsure of what it is he is hearing. He asks again if they’ll be running at his school’s meet.
“Of course. We can’t qualify without official records.”
At this point the team realizes that Haiji is about to commit them to more than just a track meet. Both Musa and Yuki beg him to stop talking but he ignores them.
“To participate in the Hakone Ekiden qualifier, we need official records. So, we’ll run at the meet. All of us. Those ten guys are the Kansei University Hakone Ekiden team.”
His unwavering tone is a stark contrast to the doomed expressions on most of his “team’s” faces.
Meanwhile Kakeru’s anger seems to have evaporated and has been replaced with discomfiture. At Haiji’s words, he turns his head away from Sakaki.
Sakaki’s incomprehension turns to disbelief. He looks at Kakeru searchingly, and asks him if Haiji is serious.
KK doesn’t answer. Sakaki then asks in quiet anger “Are you making light of track and field?”
Behind him, Haiji answers he isn’t. Sakaki finally blows up in anger.
– Because they were on the same team, Sakaki knows Kakeru’s talent. More importantly, he knows that KK understands what it takes to be a serious athlete. This explains his disbelief here. He doesn’t know what Haiji’s background is. Nor do we, for that matter. And seeing how slow and out of shape the other would-be athletes are, it’s not strange for him to be shocked at Haiji’s declaration. In fact, his reaction isn’t that different from Kakeru’s in the first episode. Or the second. Or even in third. Kakeru has basically been saying the same thing from the very beginning. That Hakone is impossible for the members of Aotake.
At the escalating situation, the twins jump up and tell Hana to not be afraid, they’re ready for anything that might happen. She blushes at this display of chivalry.
Sakaki then makes it personal when he asks Kakeru “Aren’t you embarrassed to be running at their level?!”
- Hmm. That’s actually an interesting question. Is he? And if that were the case, why would he be? Earlier, Sakaki was doing all he can to make him feel embarrassed, but I don’t know if it worked. More like, KK got pissed because Sakaki being a jerk. Also, we know KK thought the idea was completely far-fetched and shouldn’t even be attempted. But Haiji’s claims Sakaki’s seem to have provoked Sakaki more than he was able to anger Kurahara.
The others, who as of yet still have varying degrees of willingness to participate, are nonetheless all insulted by Sakaki’s words. Even leader of the anti running league Yuki repeats “Our level?” with a raised eyebrow.
The only one unaffected is Nico who replies with a smile and matter of fact tone: “I actually find it invigorating.”
-Having being in track, he must know how unprepared they are for Hakone, but that this doesn’t really bother him. I’m guessing because it actually means there is less pressure. I also think he said this to try to diffuse the situation a bit.
Kakeru, still sweating and with fisted hands, opens and closes his mouth a few times but seems like he’s having trouble finding the right words to say.
At this point Prince comes back from land of the dead to say the following in his raspy, shaking, strangled voice, his exhausted body shaking and barely managing to put out the words:
“That’s why I hate them. It’s always about levels, winning and losing..”
-by “them” I assume he means athletes in general.
“…they can only describe things on that level…”
-interesting use of “level” here, to describe the lack of loquaciousness of athletes, when it was previously used by Sakaki to describe the lack of athletic ability in Haiji’s team. This reminds us that Prince is a literature student. It’s a battle between the jock and the geek.
“…I really hate running. But more than that I hate people who criticize others for what they do!”
Everyone hangs on Prince as if he’s uttering his last words.
At this, Yuki, hilariously says “Oi,” as if insulted.
Prince goes on to say, “But at the very least they recognize me, my ideas, and my worth. Among them, there is no high or low level. The only thing that matters is who we are!”
– Prince’s speech here is in character. We’ve seen him as a loner who only cares about reading manga. But when forced to participate, either in the residents’ parties, or running by Haiji, he’s accepted into the fold without question. As was Kakeru, from day one.
Speaking of Kakeru, he looks like he is completely entranced here. It’s as if Prince’s words are laying to rest all the fears he had at the beginning of the episode.
Prince then passes out, having over-exerted himself. Haiji takes a moment to respect his efforts before snapping back at Sakaki with a cheerful “you heard him.”
Yuki hilariously comments that Haiji’s recovery was too quick.
Haiji then puts a hand on KK’s shoulder and tells Sakaki:
“Kakeru will get faster. Even faster than when you knew him.”
The body language and the fact Haiji addresses Kakeru by his first name, for the first time, and in Sakaki’s presence, is intentional.
But his words go even further. Saying that Kakeru will become even faster address Sakaki’s implication that KK, being at a “low level team” will bring him down as well.
With his hand still on KK’s shoulder, Haiji leads him away, no doubt to end the argument. Sakaki, miffed at this display of camaraderie, turns to leave. But before he does, Kakeru turns around to calls out to him, to both the red-head’s and Haiji’s surprise.
Kakeru thinks a bit, before he earnestly tells Sakaki “We’ll meet again”.
Sakaki facial expression changes drastically, from shock to resentment at this declaration, much to KK’s confusion. When he leaves silently, Nico asks him, “What was that? A declaration of war?”
Kakeru is aghast “What?”
King adds “Didn’t you mean he’ll pay for this?”
“No!” Kakeru replies honestly, horrified that he’s been misunderstood.
-Based on KK’s body language, and facial expression, he was actually trying to make peace with Sakaki, and that he actually meant to say he’d see him around, in a friendly way. I also think that, despite misunderstanding his statement at first, Sakaki realized his true intention.
But Kakeru probably doesn’t realize this. Musa’s declaration that his challenge was “cool” does nothing to relieve him.
Yuki also teases him, “You’re the type to provoke people subconsciously.”
Meanwhile Shindo states that they now have a goal. The twins scream excitedly that they’ll run at the track meet, regardless of what their level is.
Haiji tells Kakeru: “Prince is right. You’re you. Do what you want. So, will I. That’s why I’ll run with you and the rest of the guys.”
Haiji tells them it’s time to go back, that breakfast is waiting. With high spirits, they all leave. Kakeru watches the sun reflecting off their figures, then takes a step towards them.
Best Lines
I mentioned many above, but earlier in the episode, in the cafeteria, Prince said: “No king rules forever. What you really need is intellect and sensibility.”
This line felt a bit off at the time but I think it served as foreshadowing to his verbal show-down with Sakaki and might for future events as well.
Trivia
Incidentally, Sakaki’s voice actor is Kawanishi Kengo (Kiriyama Rei in 3-Gatsu no Lion). He did a fantastic job and I look forward to seeing this character again. Despite everything, his presence served to bring the rest of the team together.
Grade: 10/10
Conclusion:
This whole episode was fantastic start to finish. The last scene of the episode, is also probably one of the most iconic ones.
The music was phenomenal. It started with the same track as “Shout” when Haiji, Kakeru and Sakaki were talking. It sets up the tension perfectly with the team being anxious about Haiji committing them in front of someone else to Hakone, Sakaki’s subsequent disbelief, anger, and mockery, followed by Prince’s soliloquy.
I knew to expect great things from this character because Irino Miyu was chosen to be his voice actor and I wasn’t wrong. Prince’s words uttered by anyone else could have been painfully awkward to hear. He delivers them with spirit, through a strangled voice, and the fact that he’s utterly the worst runner on the team gives them more weight.
Even so, it might have all been cheesy if we weren’t seeing how Prince’s words were literally blowing away all of Kakeru’s doubts. When he admitted that he didn’t know if he and the housemates were friends, it was like Kakeru was being told, even if he didn’t have the answers to the questions plaguing him, it didn’t matter.
This is further reinforced by Haiji telling him “Do what you want”. I think Haiji knew all along that KK loves running but that something was holding him back. He models his words when he tells Kakeru “So will I. That’s why I’m running with you guys.”
Having the clouds disperse just then is a continuation of the theme of Haiji’s light (see episode one review) versus Kakeru’s darkness. Then the uplifting track of “We Must Go” just brings it all together so beautifully.
Maybe Kakeru can’t forget his high school team. Sakaki certainly doesn’t seem like he’s willing to let him do so anytime soon. I mean, think about it. He saw him two days prior with the team, came back to ask him who he was with the next day, and it still wasn’t enough.
It really doesn’t matter to him. And yet he had to come back then next day to see for himself who Kakeru was hanging out with. Only to get the shock of his life. Youok just know he’ll be back.
But Prince’s words, the team’s and Haiji’s support, seem to have at least dispersed part of the episode’s titular shadows. He’s starting to move forward.
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