Run With the Wind Episode Six Review: The Emperor’s New Clothes

Warning: this review contains spoilers up to the end of this episode.

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Prologue

We get a recap of the last episode where King tells everyone that he won’t just spend all his time running. There are varying looks of shock on everyone’s faces. Shindo especially looks affected while Haiji looks pensive.

Act One

The episode starts with King engaging in his favorite hobby: watching a quiz show. He gets all the questions right and comments that “entertainers suck at sports questions.” As usual, he’s borrowing the tv in Shindo’s room. The younger housemate calls out to him several times to get his attention, finally telling him that he’s about to go for his night jog. King tells him to go on ahead. Shindo then asks him if “he’s sure”. King thanks him for the use of his television, “It was a nice change of pace”, and apologizes for bothering him.

-King is intentionally misunderstanding Shindo, acting as if the younger housemate was hinting he wanted him to leave, to avoid discussing the scene he had made earlier.

Shindo clarifies that wasn’t his intent, then asks King if he’ll show up to practice the next morning. He parrots Kings words back at him with a sincere smile, telling him that it would be a nice change of pace. King doesn’t reply and shuts the door behind him.

After the episode title, the Emperor’s New Clothes we see that it is now the next day where the team, including King, have reached the river bank, having finished half of their round trip. The twins, Musa, and Shindo talk about going on another night time jog that evening.

Yuki calls them “Damn honor roll students,” before warning them “don’t blame me if you burn yourselves out and can’t run anymore.”

Jouta is glad that Yuki cares. Musa invites him to come along with them. He declines, as does Nico when they ask him, saying morning and afternoon jogs are enough for him. Yuki adds “Respect the elderly”, much to Nico’s dismay.

Jouji reminds him that if they don’t get good times they won’t be able to run at Hakone

“As if we’ll get to run in that, idiot. Hakone’s a distant dream.”

-This goes back to the dreams vs reality theme first brought up by Haiji in the previous episode.

-Yuki seems to be showing up to practice now without complaining much. As I mentioned in the previous review, he also doesn’t seem interested in using King’s anger to help him in his resistance against Haiji.

Hana stops on her way to school to greet them. up. King is pulling out grass listlessly. Haiji, trying to cheer him up, announces Haiji’s arrival to King. He doesn’t respond at all.

-I love Haiji, but he was off his game here. That was a bit too obvious. And desperate.

The twins, Shindo and Musa tell Hana about their night jogs and ask her to join them. She agrees to ride her bike with them. Here, King stands up and says he’ll go back first, saying that he doesn’t have time. Haiji says that they’ll return together but King takes off without waiting for them.

-King is obviously depressed over the job thing, but I think seeing how easily Hana gets along with the others didn’t help his mood either. His previous conversations with her seemed forced like he was trying too hard to impress her. I don’t think she realized it or even minded it, but now he might be too anxious to even try.

The scene switches to the university cafeteria where Yuki, Shindo the twins and Musa are having lunch together.

-Yuki is having a steak set, Shindo an Unagi-don, the twins are having ramen (or udon) while Musa looks like he’s eating curry. And now I’m hungry.

Yuki comments that King has completely closed himself off. The twins ask if it’s stress from his job search. Always the pragmatist Yuki replies: “Maybe it’s overall, but guys who can’t handle it aren’t going to do well.”

-Far from using King to quit the team, Yuki’s actually worried about him. Looks like after talking with Nico in the previous episode, Yuki is no loner resisting running.

Shindo is worried as well, but he says he’s also concerned about how their track club doesn’t have any money. They’re an official club, but aren’t even allowed to use the track field.

The scene switches over to the landowner’s Tazaki’s home. The first image we see is a statue of the money bringing cat, Maneki-neko.

This is symbolism.

Haiji is there, sitting in a respectful seiza as the old man cuts his toenails.

The contrast in their moods…

The coach tells Haiji that he doesn’t have money, or he would’ve fixed up Aotake from being the decrepit building it was.

Haiji respectfully says, “Of course,” then takes his leave when the old man stays him by saying “Since you said you’d do it, I’m allowing it…”

-He means aiming for Hakone. As suspected from the very first episode he must trust Haiji enough to give him free reign of things. 

He goes on to say “but this world isn’t just about who’s fast and who’s slow. Naturally you need money as well. And there is no guarantee your peers will acknowledge you. That’s also part of running.”

-Haiji concurs but nonetheless looks troubled. I’m guessing he was hoping to get advice on how to obtain necessary funds. And because the team hasn’t proven themselves yet no one will recognize them; either to give them time on the university track field or to help them financially.

Meanwhile Kakeru is in Nico-chan’s room.

The oldest resident types rapidly on his computer and asks Kakeru not to tell Haiji that he’s working, “He’ll get mad at me. I’m supposed to be older than him though”

-Nico here mentions the reversed senpai/kouhai relationship dynamic he and Haiji have. What makes it even more noteworthy is that it’s not a cliched reversal where the older person is hopeless and irresponsible. Nico’s pretty mature and the fact that he failed a few times is probably because it he works for a living, unlike the others who are most likely all supported by their families. Haiji probably worries about Nico’s finishing his graduation requirements; we’ve seen him reprimand Nico for working even before Haiji forbade all members from doing so to concentrate on Hakone.

Nico then asks KK what he needs from him. Kakeru asks him about Haji, “What kind of person is he? You’ve been living together since his first year, right?”

More symbolism. Kakeru is trying to see through an unclear window.

-This is continuity on KK trying to figure Haiji out, ever since he asked him if “only the chosen once are allowed to run.”

Nico answers, “What he’s like? Exactly what the way he looks.”

-Furtive as always. I think Nico knows Haiji a lot more than he’s letting on but wants to protect his privacy.

Kakeru then asks “How about as a runner?”

-It’s a valid question, and one we viewers still do not know the answer to.

Nico pauses a bit to look at KK shrewdly.

It’s like he’s gauging the intent behind those questions, to decide if he should answer. He then says: “I think Haiji was a good runner. I’ve never seen him run all-out, though. Apparently, he was told to stop for a while. He must’ve wanted to run even though he couldn’t. His first year, when I told him I ran track in high school, his eyes were glittering. It was a pain. I’d completely quit running.”

As Nico says this, Kakeru remembers a conversation he previously had with Haiji: we are show images of when he saw Haiji’s scar in the park, and hears explanation for it.

Nico continues, “It’s been four years since then, and his eyes are still glittering. Surprising, isn’t it? It’s only gotten worse since you showed up.”

-Haiji just started his fourth year so wouldn’t that normally mean he spent three years in Aotake? Does this mean that Haiji moved into Aotake even before university began?

-Nico’s word choice here seems intentional, like he’s indirectly encouraging KK to live up to Haiji’s expectations. We saw in the second episode that he feels sympathy towards Haiji.

Kakeru response is not enthusiastic: “Even with me on the team, we can’t win.”

Nico’s replies matter of factly: “I know. I feel bad for Haiji, but I don’t think we can make it to Hakone, either.” He adds it’ll become clear enough once they run in the scheduled track meet.

-This matches what Nico told Yuki, that he’s not taking Haiji seriously, and is taking this opportunity to become healthier.

-At this admission, KK seems a bit sad too. Maybe he’s starting to sympathize with Haiji as well.

– It should be noted that it took Kakeru much less time than it did Yuki to get information out of Nico. This is because, unlike Yuki, Kakeru, from the start was asking sincerely. We’ve seen now for the second time that when asked something straightforwardly, Nico tends to answer. It’s a good life lesson. If you want direct answers ask direct questions. This actually makes me wonder why Yuki, who has known Nico much longer than Kakeru, doesn’t follow this strategy. Maybe it’s a personality thing. Some people click much faster than others.

At afternoon practice, to half of the team’s dismay, Shindo is handing out t-shirts he and Musa made for the team. They are plain white, but on the back have the following written:

We’re trying to make it to the Hakone Ekiden. The Kansei University Track and Field Team Fan Club is now recruiting!!

Shindo explains that they want to form a fan-club that will support them so that they can focus on training. He adds “we appreciate your cooperation” with a sweet encouraging smile.

-My eldest (who’s the same age as the first years) got second hand embarrassment watching this. It was hilarious.

Yuki and Kakeru must have felt the same. Kakeru’s face is dark in mortification when optimistic Musa innocently attacks him with his shirt. Yuki’s reaction is much louder. He calls the proactive Shindo and Musa “Damn honor-roll students” then yells out, like he can’t help it: “God, these are lame! These are so lame!”

-It makes sense that Yuki, with his piercing and medallion, and who seems to always want to project a cool demeanor, wouldn’t want to wear these. I also just answered my own question from the previous scene: maybe the reason why Yuki beats around the bush with Nico, instead of being forthright, is because he always wants to appear aloof. Nico probably knows this and doesn’t want to cut him any slack. It’s probably his way of wanting to teach future lawyer to be more honest, at least with his friends.

Speaking of Nico, his concern with the shirts is more practical “These won’t run when we sweat, will they?”

The twins happily tell him it’s oil-based ink so it should be fine.

The difference in their moods 😂

Haii is happy with this initiative. Makes sense. We know he and Shindo have previously discussed the club’s finances, and seeing as how the landlord/coach didn’t come up with anything, he would be happy with Shindo’s plan.

King shows up Jouji cheerfully greets him with “Did you find a job?”

For his lack of discretion, he gets a kick in the behind from Yuki and falls face first on the floor. Nico then saves King from having to answer by saying it’s too early for anyone to reply.

-I love how merciless Yuki is here. Poor Jouji never knew what hit him. Also, it looks like he started writing something on the dirt, probably the first character of an apology.

King asks about the shirts, Haiji tells him “Surprisingly they’re not bad,” he and the others then all turn around to show off the message written on the back, everyone except KK who only puts his on after realizing everyone else already has.

Jouji teases him.

Jouji: “You’re slow at everything except running.”

-Nice bit of continuity there. It takes awkward Kakeru a bit longer to comprehend what’s going on around him.

King tells them good luck and makes to go inside, with no apparent desire to join them. Shindo and Musa invite him to afternoon practice, to which he replies, “I told you, I’ve got my own shit to do. I’m real busy right now.”

Haji easily replies that he should forget it and run.

-Yuki tries to intervene here, as if he knows Haji’s going to rile King up.

King asks if he’s telling him to run from reality, Haiji replies:

“Tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that…What you need to do won’t ever change. Reality will always be there in front of you. So instead of running from it, why not try running with reality?”

Best quote of the episode, and possibly the entire show.

King doesn’t respond to these pearls of wisdom. Instead he asks Haiji

“Will running help me get a job?”

-Here he’s referring to how Haiji convinced him to run in the first place.

This time Haiji answers sincerely, “I don’t know. But standing still will make you anxious. I was like that once.”

-Another wise phrase. King has already applied for jobs. Why just sit and worry while he waits for an answer?

-Based on the reaction of the others, they seem to realize the gravity of the information Haiji had just given about himself.

Haiji: “I was like that once.”

King however, is too upset to comprehend it. He calls Haiji a dreamer. Then asks him “Why am I here.”

-Wow. It’s like King’s job search has him questioning all sorts of things, including his very own existence. I wouldn’t want to be in Haiji’s shoes.

But said Haiji is completely unfazed. He instantly replies: “For us,” to King’s shock, and even goes as far to ask “What’s wrong with that?”

King angrily snaps back, “It’s my life!”

Yuki intervenes by resting his arm on Haiji’s shoulder and saying, “I know this guy says some crazy things, but you shouldn’t freak out so much. Yuki goes on to tell King what I’ve been wondering all along “It’s only April. The battle’s just begun.” Meaning, he still has a lot of time (almost a year, I assume).

-Haiji seems shocked at Yuki’s strong show of support here; both physical (the arm on the shoulder) and verbal.

His mouth literally drops open.

It’s no wonder. This is the same guy who, when Haiji recruited him, told him “I don’t exist for your purposes!”

The twins seem skeptical, too. They say that coming from Yuki, the words sound sarcastic.

Nico then hands King his t-shirt and tells him: “At least wear this. We’ll all suffer the punishment together. You can decide for yourself.” He then walks away and tells everyone to start running.

-Nico here is trying to make King feel included, despite himself. Him ending the topic was a wise decision as there wasn’t anything that would be said that would have taken the discussion any further.

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Everyone leaves, except Haiji, who apparently still has something to say. He tells King: “Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not just you. I’m here for you guys, too.”

King angrily says “That’s just lip service,” before throwing the shirt on the floor and disappears into Aotake.

Haiji is as impassive as ever, while Shindo who had stuck around, looks saddened.

I don’t know what it is about Haiji that King finds insincere, here. Maybe he feels that he’s just being used. But this emotion only came about after his job search started. Yuki, as a lawyer, seems to feel his future is set. The others still have time before graduation, while Haiji only cares about running. Maybe King feels that no one can emphasize with him at this point.

Act Two

After the mid-episode break and the adorable dog Nira, we see that the “busy” King is wiling away his time in a Mah-jong parlour, and losing.

-What is it with gambling and depressed people in this show? Kakeru wasted his entire apartment deposit there as well.

-I said in the previous episode review that King is taking out his frustration at Haiji and the others. But seeing him gamble reminded me that when people feel out of control of their lives, they try to exert control whenever they can. King refusing to run with Haiji and the others, even gambling here, is just him turning towards behaviors that make him feel in control. It’s understandable, but unwise. He can just as easily turn towards something that will not ruin his relationship with the others, nor deplete his funds. Like running.

On his way home he sees Musa and Shindo on their nighttime jog while wearing their “Please join our fan-club” t-shirts. Unbeknownst to the two, a couple of high school girls laugh at their attire and wonder if they are being forced to wear them. On the other hand, Haiji’s bath-house acquaintance sees them and says he’ll be the first to join. Likewise, Musa’s kind employer (er, ex-employer) sees them and says she’ll join as well. The twins then join them with Hanako and say they manged to get more members, too, and that Hana’s presence makes it easy for people to approach them.

King sees and hears all this while hiding in what seems to be an alley to stay out of their sight. Upset, he goes home alone.

Back at Aotake everyone is gathered in the kitchen. Everyone, minus King. At Shindo’s query, KK replies that he hadn’t seen him since they returned. Haiji is explaining his new training menu for the boys. He tells everyone that he found the perfect place two kilometers away for cross-country runs.Yuki asks him when he had the time to do that.

-It’s true. Haiji is so busy training the others, we haven’t even seen him run himself. Hmm. Maybe he’s running on that cross-country place. Though I don’t know when that would’ve happened. He seems to be at Aotake all the time.

The boys start panicking when they realize that they’ll all be running 6 laps of 2.6 km (!) but are stunned into silence when they realize that Kakeru will be running 8 laps of the same distance. Everyone looks at him.

Awkward Kakeru: “Sorry, I think.”

Jouji points out “No, you’re the one who has to run it,” enlightening Kakeru that he has nothing to apologize for.

-I think Kakeru’s reaction here is a result of him always being the envy of others (i.e. Sakaki in his previous team). Haiji giving him more training is due to him being more capable and experienced than the others. But unlike in his old team, the boys here are all amateurs, and therefore have neither the ability or desire to compete with him.

Yuki laments how Aotake has completely turned into the track and field team and adds “I feel so small.”

Yuki, admitting his defeat, has joined the team.

Haiji good naturedly tells him that he’s keeping up with the others. Yuki then accuses him of going easy on him.

-I loved this exchange especially after Yuki’s earlier show of solidarity with Haiji. It’s like he’s officially announcing that he’s decided to seriously join them.

The others joke around but Shindo feels bad that King isn’t with them. He goes to King to tell him that he recorded a game show for him. King turns him down and at Shindo’s disheartened demeanor tells him not to worry about him, it just makes him feel awkward. Nonetheless, when Shindo bids him goodnight, King calls him back to ask him why he’s running with Haiji, when he’s never been to the Ekiden before.

Shindo admits that he’s not sure. When King asks him if he considered not doing it, Shindo admits he hadn’t. King then points out that he doesn’t have to run if he doesn’t even understand why he’s doing it.

Shindo answers that he thought he’ll come to understand once he starts.

-In the previous episode, when Yuki asked Nico his reason for running, he had sarcastically warned Nico, “don’t tell me I’ll understand once I start”, meaning he had wanted a more concrete reason. We know he never got it, as Nico’s “I feel clean when I run” wasn’t something Yuki could understand. But I think the fact that Nico shared this information with Yuki in and of itself became part of his reason to run. Like he owes it to Nico, after getting him to share something he felt was so obviously private. Or maybe it really was peer pressure.

-But here Shindo is trying to find his reason to run from the act itself, a method which Yuki had scorned. It shows that running is highly personal, as personal as peoples’ motivations. And, genius that he is, Shindo manages to present this in a way that King can relate to:

Shindo admits that he doesn’t know what it’s like to search for a job, since he hasn’t started yet, then asks King why he wants to work, if he loves it so much that he’s desperate to find a job. King naturally negates this, saying he’s just doing it because he has to. Shindo points out that this is common ground. He says that he first ran because he was forced to by Haiji, but he then thought it would be more fun if he chose to run instead, that he might even start enjoying it.

-This completely fits Shindo’s earnest personality. Basically he’s saying since he’s going to be doing something, he might as well give it his all. I swear to Allah I’ve been saying this to my kids for years now. I remember telling my eldest when she started the first grade that school was a “fact of life” and since she was going to go no matter what, she might as well learn to enjoy it. Not saying Haiji forcing everyone to run here is the same, but people who make the most of, and indeed, learn to enjoy situations they otherwise cannot avoid, are truly smart. I have no doubt Shindo is going to become very successful in his life. He’s a fantastic character.

King’s reaction to Shindo’s words is telling. He eyes the t-shirt that he had previously thrown; Shindo had brought it with him, and eventually interrupts Shindo’s incredibly polite and delicately given advice to gripe, “why am I being given advice by an underclassman?” before getting the flustered Shindo in a headlock to cover up his own embarrassment.

-King here seemed incredibly insecure. He holds on to the label of “Senpai” (upperclassman) that Japanese society automatically bestows him, possibly because it gives him a sense of security; like with it, he knows where he stands in the world. I think Shindo sort of senses this which is why he was quick to apologize when King complains. He seems a bit immature, especially when you compare him with Nico. Earlier in this same episode Nico brought up his and Haiji’s reversal of the Senpai/Kouhai relationship to Kakeru, and he didn’t seem to care. Nico’s maturity is due to his acknowledging both his and Haiji’s strengths and weaknesses. He also doesn’t mind when Haiji berates him from working because he knows he’s just looking out for him. He isn’t hung up on labels because he doesn’t need them to feel comfortable. Unlike King.

The next morning, King shows up to practice wearing the fan club advertisement t-shirt, to everyone’s shock and pleasure. Nico tells him he’s late, nobody’s wearing theirs today, Shindo (who unlike Kakeru is very quick on the uptake) immediately put’s his on. He encourages King with his kind smile. The embarrassed man then goes on to make excuses, saying that since he’d already promised to run he had to go through with it. Everyone gives him wide, knowing grins (except Prince, who’s as always expressionless and KK whose face is conspicuously absent from this montage).

We get it later after they finish practice. Hana is telling everyone how their times have improved, even Prince’s. (33:13:13). Everyone is in high spirits and the twins suddenly notice that Kakeru is smiling.

Twins: “Did you just smile?”

When he notices their stares, he takes off, and they follow him, teasing him mercilessly when he denies smiling.

-I think it’s the first time since the series began. It only took KK six episodes. Better late than never, I guess.

Back at Aotake, Kakeru is helping Haiji clean up after dinner. Haiji asks him if he wouldn’t rather go jogging with the others: “You finally found friends to run with.”

-i don’t know how Haiji came to this conclusion. He probably figured, based on Sakaki’s cold interaction with Kakeru, that he wasn’t popular in his old team.

Kakeru explains that the difference in their paces makes it difficult for him to run with the others. He then takes the opportunity to ask Haiji the question he couldn’t in the previous episode:

“Why did it have to be these guys? Remember what you asked me. You asked me if only the chosen are allowed to run. You’re right that anyone can just run. They can run all they want.”

-At his words we get a montage of Nico (working), Yuki (listening to music), Prince (reading), and King (watching a quiz show). These four are probably the slowest amongst the Aotake members so it makes sense to have their images shown as KK speaks about “chosen ones” seeing as they are probably the opposite of that.

Kakeru then goes on to say, “But is that the kind of running you’re talking about? Not everyone can run in the Hakone Ekiden. I don’t understand. What kind of running are you talking about?”

Haiji answer’s “That’s it. I want to know, too. What is running? What does it mean to run?”

Kakeru is astonished, “You mean you don’t know?”

“Not yet. I don’t have an answer yet,” he then adds happily, “we just finally started running.”

Kakeru is now visibly upset.

“I’m amazed you were willing to get us involved.”

– He means that Haiji would dare to have them all set their sights on Hakone when he doesn’t even have a clear understanding of what running is.

Kakeru then adds, “You finally got them all together. If we just keep having a good time training together, they don’t have to get hurt.”

-Once again, I like how Kakeru’s reasons for wanting to stop Haiji have shifted, from thinking the attempt is ridiculous, to wanting to spare the others the hurt of realizing it can’t be done.

Haiji then tells him “We can’t expect to stay unscathed if we’re going to run at Hakone.”

Considering Haiji’s scar, he might mean this both physically, as well as emotionally. It could also serve as foreshadowing.

At his unconcerned tone, Kakeru tells him that reality is hard, and that if Haiji insists on having the guys run at a track meet when they are woefully unprepared, it could be the end of the team. Haiji answers, “I believe they can overcome it.”

-Throughout this conversation, Kakeru’s words were delivered in an unchanging crystal-clear voice, matching the rigidness of his ideas. On the other hand Haiji’s tenor is more throaty, full of conviction, mirthful at times, deceptively low, and even languid at others. But then he asks Kakeru if he doesn’t need to prepare, adding, “Reality is harsher than that, right?”

It almost sounded like a challenge. Kakeru certainly takes it as such, based on the subsequent determined expression on his face.

Best Lines:

Shindo adorably asks “How is this a punishment?!” When Nico tells King that they’ll suffer wearing the shirts together. I love how he, Musa and the twins are completely unaware of how self-conscious everyone (minus Haiji) seems to be over wearing them. Only Prince seemed to not care either way.   

Yuki: Why am I running first thing in the morning?

Prince: Should we flee together, Yuki?

Yuki: They’d catch us. You’re too slow.

Prince: You’re right.

This was probably the funniest scene of the episode. Prince was once again tied to Nira. Now that he’s come around to running, Yuki’s complaining here was good natured.

Prince: Your attire doesn’t matter.

Haiji: You can’t wear denim.

Seriously, I get that Prince probably doesn’t want to spend his precious money on running wear when he can spend it on manga, but how the hell can he run in jeans?!

Best Scenes

I love intimate conversations and there were so many in this episode: Haiji with the landowner, Nico and Kakeru, Shindo and King , then finally Haiji and Kakeru. The tracks were all fantastic as well (numbers 13, 4, and 11 in the first CD). But I think my favorite moment was when Kakeru was caught smiling by the twins. It’s like, for the first time, we get to see him acting and being treated like the teen he is.

Icings on the Cake

I already mentioned several instances but there’s one major piece of symbolism that needs to be discussed: when Shindo is talking to King, he sits just outside his room, with the door being open. Afterwards, when he eyes the t-shirt Shindo brought, King headlocks him and they both end up inside the room. Earlier in the episode, Yuki had commented how King had closed himself off completely. And in the previous episode, we saw King looking at the floor of the twins’ room, at the magazine covered hole with what could be a wistful expression. So we’ve seen him be completely isolated, with a number of barriers (of varying sizes) between him and the others. The theme of loneliness and isolation that had been prevalent with regards to King in this mini-arc is finally resolved when he puts on the shirt Shindo gave him, hence the title of the episode; “the Emperors’ New Clothes”. It’s also ironic that by putting on the t-shirt, he actually removed the wall he had set between himself and others.

Shindo is what my eldest calls a Cinnamon roll. Apparently, that’s Gen-Z speak for “sweet and precious”. He’s also wise beyond his years, clever, and proactive.

Yuki is quickly becoming a favorite character. Which is funny, because I love every single character in this show. Yes, even Sakaki (I’ll explain, eventually). But him supporting Haiji here really earned my respect. Especially since he could have used King’s dilemma to cause more friction and therefore avoid running. The fact that he didn’t shows that he’s a decent person who values the greater good over his own comfort.

Grade: 8/10 The art quality dipped a bit in this episode, especially in the scene in King’s room. It’s a shame especially considering the gorgeous track that was playing in the background. Otherwise, the episode was perfect.

Conclusion:

It could be that this whole time Kakeru has been projecting his own concerns on the others. It might be that he’s feeling worried about facing Sakaki, since the track meet will be at Sakaki’s University. The red-head has already made fun of the team once, when he saw them train. Maybe Kakeru asking Haiji to delay having a meet was just so that he can avoid the meet at Sakaki’s school. It might also be that Haiji realizes this, and is calling Kakeru out on it.

I don’t know. It’s most likely that KK knows the team isn’t ready, and wants them to avoid confronting reality. Haiji’s last line was just a reminder that he should worry about himself, since he’ll also be running at the meet.

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