Run with the Wind Episode Seven Review: Bear Your Fangs at The Summit

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

It is predawn at the Aotake. An open notebook on the kitchen table with the date and the words “Tokyo Sport University Meet” written on it alerts us that the day has come for the team’s first race. We see Kakeru sitting up in his room, already dressed, with a contemplative expression on his face.

I’d commented in the previous episode review that he might actually be nervous. This scene seems to support that.

Act One

The apartment tenants are all waiting in the yard of the building. All, except Haiji. Yuki tells us “He’s late isn’t he?”

A large van speeds into area, terrifying the members with the driver’s recklessness. Haiji has come to pick up them up and plans on driving them to the meet. Yuki barks at the others, asking if any of them have a license. Everyone shakes their heads no. He yells that they should all get one, to which Nico mutters “You too.” Hadji pushes him into the van and cheerfully tells him “I’ve got mine.”

Only Prince, busy reading, is unbothered…yet.

At the TSU parking lot the Aotake members try to regain their bearings after Haiji’s terrible driving. Prince in particular is suffering immensely from motion sickness and is vomiting continuously.

Why is a miserable Prince so hilarious? And how can I love the guy so much and yet enjoy watching him suffer?

The group immediately gets the attention of Sakaki who seems to be preparing items for the event.

He makes a big show of introducing Kakeru, or rather pointing him out, to his teammates: “That’s the guy I told you about.”

Previously we’ve seen him flaunt his big shot sports University in KK’s face. Now he’s showing off his posse and basically letting Kakeru know that he’s been badmouthing him.

Sakaki also wastes no time in making fun of the Kansei University team and assuming one of them is already dropping out due to nerves (i.e. Prince).

When he tells them they’ll just embarrass themselves Kakeru approaches him threateningly, much to Sakaki’s delight. It’s like the red-head is intentionally trying to rile him up, maybe to get him into trouble. But before Kakeru can do anything Haiji’s teleportation powers are once again activated; he suddenly comes between the ex-teammates.

Protective Haiji.

Just as he starts to speak a tall man in a white uniform calls out to him.Twice.

“Kiyose!”

The first time was an affirmation that it really is Haiji. The second, was said in unveiled delight.

Haiji answers “Fujioka” with a smile of his own.

Despite the fact that they call each other by their last names, we quickly learn that they are old acquaintances. First “Fujioka” asks if Haiji is running. When Haiji confirms this, Fujioka then asks, in a low voice, if Haiji’s better now, to which Haiji replies with “Finally.”

Here, Fujioka’s low tenor makes me think he’s being considerate, in case Haiji doesn’t want anyone to overhear them and find out about his injury.

We also quickly realize that this guy is a big shot based on how Sakaki and his friends immediately recognize him and are completely in awe of him and his team. After Fujioka leaves, his teammates bow respectfully to Haiji in tandem, prompting Yuki to ask “What army are they a part of?”

Deference to their friend’s friend.

Like the TSU team, not only do they all have the same track suits, they even have matching shoes. Their team probably gets a lot of funding. It’s a stark contrast to Haiji’s team in their mismatched jerseys. But despite the so called different “levels” of their teams, the way Haiji and Fujioka conversed was as old friends who are equals. Their reunion is completely different from Kakeru’s with Sakaki.

Haiji tells Kakeru that Fujioka Kazuma is a fourth year from Rikudo University, and that he should remember his name.

Haiji then addresses Sakaki: “Sorry, but we’ve got to get ready. You must be busy too, with your chores.”

Haiji’s referring to how the Tokyo Sport Uni first years are all holding various equipment and therefore won’t be participating in the race. He’s being a bit petty here but I can’t say I hate it. He wasn’t overtly rude, but by putting Sakaki and in his friends in their place (as first years who probably are currently used for grunt work) he keeps them from harassing his team.

The Kansei members heads off. As they pass Sakaki and his friends King glares at them while the twins make faces at them. Meanwhile Nico and Musa support the still afflicted Prince. The rest simply ignore them. It’s interesting to see how King and the twins seem to be on the same wavelength (i.e. childish).

What makes Haiji’s jab even more satisfying (to viewers) is when an upperclassman at Tokyo Uni berates Sakaki and his friends for standing around.

When our protagonists see the track they are excited (twins) astonished (Yuki, Shindo, King, Musa) and happy (Nico, who actually breathes in the meet’s air contentedly).

Prince is still mostly passed out while Kakeru looks like he’s in a bad mood. He probably hasn’t yet recovered from his run in with Sakaki.

Musa sees a group of fellow exchange students and feels lacking, since, unlike him, they are all in Japan on athletic scholarships. Yuki encourages him saying that he’s just as good.

Musa: “Their hunger is different.”

Haiji gives the team their team uniforms which only adds to their excitement.

While the twins happily take pictures, Kakeru looks at them disapprovingly, as if their happy go-lucky attitudes are grating on him. He then finds Prince in a corner indulging in his favorite past time.

“I’m surprised you can read manga now,”

Prince replies : “It’s to lift my spirits.” But even this answer doesn’t pacify Kakeru. Shindo then shows the others a picture of Fujioka he found online, and tells them that he is both the Captain and the winner of the second section of the Hakone Ekiden the previous year and that he’s the “pinnacle of college racing”. King wonders how Haiji knows him. Kakeru seems interested in Fujioka as well, but he’s still mostly annoyed, especially when Shindo asks King what section of Hakone he wants to run. He probably thinks it premature when they haven’t even run their first race.

He angrily calls out to the team and is about to say something when Haiji shows up with their numbers, effectively stopping KK.

Haiji’s other superpower: perfect timing to stop KK from wreaking havoc.

Kakeru is obviously upset the others aren’t taking the meet more seriously, but honestly, what does he expect? They are completely new at this so a little excitement is not only understandable, it’s probably even desirable. It’s better than to have them all be nervous.

As they warm up Kakeru eyes Haiji’s knee, perhaps wondering how well he can run. When he accidentally crowds Fujioka, he stares at him as well remembering Shindo’s summary of his achievements. Fujioka senses this, but when he looks at KK expectantly, Kakeru says it’s nothing and runs ahead.

Before the race, Haiji gathers the members and tells them that while they need to achieve good times, its more important for them to actually experience their first race. He tells them to have fun, and tries to pump them up with his catch phrase: “The Mountains of Hakone….” but at everyones’ blank stares he has to finish it alone: “the steepest in the world” then yells out “Let’s go!” and heads off without waiting for the others. For the first time, everyone is just as slow as Kakeru.

Yuki tells the others, “Someone answer him.”

Yuki, I’ll tell you the same thing Nico said when you demanded the others get their licenses: “You too.”

Joking aside I think he genuinely felt bad for Haiji. It was quite the awkward moment and shows just how disjointed the team still is.

Kakeru catches up to Haiji. “Have fun? Aren’t you being naive?” He then tells him “Sorry but today I’ll be seeing how everyone runs.”

It’s like he’s testing the team, and by default Haiji, to see if they actually have the potential to make it to Hakone.

Haiji doesn’t respond. Before, we had seen him stretch his injured knee out while taking a deep breath. This is probably Haiji’s first race in a long time, ever since his injury, so he might be a bit nervous.

At the start line, we see him looking down, possibly at his injury. Meanwhile KK is looking at Fujioka.

Both Haiji and Kakeru are preoccupied.

We know Kakeru was fastest in his hometown so maybe he wants to test himself against this big shot runner.

Meanwhile, one of the exchange students takes his place next to Musa. When the Aotake member greets him politely, he glares at him. We later learn he’s Manas, from Boso University.

Manas proving what poor Musa already knew: the difference in their motivation.

Act Two

The race starts, with the exchange students and Fujioka leading the pack. Kakeru recalls what Haiji had told him before, “Reality is harsher than that” and that he also needs to prepare for the race. He glances back at Haiji then takes off to join the runners in the lead.

Kakeru eyeing the leading runners like a sniper.

Seeing Kakeru speed ahead, Haiji’s competitive streak is sparked but before he can up his pace another runner bumps into his injured knee, and he is forced to keep his modest pace.

Meanwhile, Kakeru easily catches up to the leading runners. He sparks the interest of the onlookers and puts himself and his university, Kansei, on their radar.

Sakaki isn’t exactly pleased by that.

Prince does as well, but in an entirely different way. He’s lapped by all the others even though it’s only the beginning of the race. Onlookers comment: “He’s from Kansei too. They’ve got a crazy line-up.”

Can’t argue with that. His zombie-like run is also, as usual, a sight to behold. A member of the Tokyo Uni team approaches him with water, thinking that he’s dehydrated, only to be told “This is how I always run.”

Nice to see not all TSU students are jerks.

The Tokyo student’s reaction is priceless. He stops to look at Prince running while waving his hands, as if he’s wading in an invisible pool.

The rest of the team is also struggling. Nico has a hard time breathing. When he sees Kakeru at the front of the pack he’s impressed.

Nico: “He’s on another level.”

Haiji seems to be breathing fine and yet he hasn’t been able to increase his speed. A shot of his knee hints at it being the cause.

Kakeru remains in the lead with Manas, the exchange student, until the last two laps.

Just as he thinks he can win, Manas quickens his pace. Kakeru tries putting forth his own burst of speed but before he knows it, Fujioka overtakes him.

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Fujioka and Manas race for first place while Kakeru who has been left behind desperately tries to catch up.

He can’t.

Fujioko wins, with Manas close behind. Kakeru is in third place, but a fair distance behind them both.

Their fatigue levels show the difference in their abilities. Fujioka’s breathing is normal. Manas gasps for air. Kakeru seems to be having a hard time breathing.

Unlike at the start of the race, he’s now looking down.

His knees and legs are shaking as well and he’s visibly shocked and disturbed by his loss. Fujioka glances at him in interest, then looks at Haiji who has yet to complete the race.

Later, Fujioka is being interviewed. When KK overhears him say that he won’t participate in any more meets, and will stick to the intercollegiate races instead, Kakeru becomes very upset. Undoubtedly, he wanted a second chance to compete with him.

Kakeru is washing up at the outdoor faucets when Fujioka joins him. He says he recognizes his name as a strong runner from a high school in Sendai.

Fujioka then says: “It’s an interesting team that Kiyose put together.”

Fujioka: “Watch out for him.”

He adds that at his best, Haiji can run better than he did that day. They look at Haiji as he cheers on the last runners of his team. Kakeru’s gaze is contemplative. It’s like he’s wondering if Haiji can even get better.

Fujioka then adds: “Lead the team with him.”

Kakeru questions his meaning, Rikudo’s captain clarifies, “Aren’t you going for Hakone?”

Kakeru reacts strongly to this statement. His eyes first widen, then he bites his lips, and lowers his head.

This reaction initially bemuses Fujioka, but after a second he smiles inwardly in understanding, then leaves.

For some reason, it took me forever to understand this scene. In a nutshell, Fujioka mentioned Hakone as if it were a given Haiji’s team would get there. But Kakeru has no such confidence, which is why he got so upset. I think Fujioka then realized this and that he’d accidentally hit a sore spot. That’s why he didn’t say anything afterwards. It’s not like he can change Kakeru’s mind. And he probably thought encouraging words coming from him, with his powerful team, might not be taken well. So he refrained from saying anything more.

Fujioka comes across as a thoroughly decent and wise young man. He not only looks older than his peers but seems older due to his mature attitude. He also obviously holds Haiji in very high regard, which really piques our curiosity about their history.

Later, after everyone has changed, Haji happily congratulates them on finishing their first race.

Everyone is too drained to reply.

He proudly says Musa and the twins finished in around 17 minutes, while Shindo and Yuki managed to do so in around 18 minutes.

Truly, these are remarkable numbers for first timers.

Haiji adds that once everyone gets used to races they’ll eventually reach the required 16:30 time. Yuki then asks, “What about this guy?” Meaning, Prince, who is now being carried by the twins back to the bus. We learn that he’s the only person who finished the race in 30 minutes, and that he did so badly he was almost forced to stop.

30 minutes is still better than Prince’s previous time. Just saying

The twins then point out that Kakeru and Haiji were the only two who managed to get official records. Meaning, even though he wasn’t in good condition, Haji still managed to get the required time.

Prince gasps out that the Tokyo Uni guy (Sakaki, I assume) called them stupid. He complains, “Where’s their sportsmanship?”

Nico in his usual mild tone responds “Well, this is reality.”

Kakeru finally chimes in, angrily, that they already knew all this. The twins asks what he’s upset about, since he got the required time.

Kakeru: “It doesn’t matter how good my time is! How times do I have to say it?!”

Once again, he’s fisting his hands. The episode ends with him running off alone, not stopping or even bothering to answer when Haiji calls out to him. He probably never even heard him.

Episode themes: Dreams vs. Reality, Isolation, Loneliness, friendship, disappointment, frustration.

Icings in the Cake:

– I love how aware Musa is of the difference between himself and his fellow exchange students. He’s such a humble and great character. I also loved how beautifully drawn the African characters were. Wonderfully realistic, as are most of the other characters in this show. They actually look like real people.

– Seeing how the members were all looking out for each other was lovely. Yuki encouraging Musa, Shindo staying with the hurling Prince, King and Musa, then the twins supporting Prince without a single complaint. Even King and the twins teasing Sakaki. It was all just so wholesome. I wish KK can learn to appreciate this. Haiji, of course, is what my eldest calls “best boy” material. I said it before, and I’m sure I’ll keep saying it: he’d be such a great parent.

Ogre who? He’s so sweet to these guys.

Best Lines

Haiji: I was nervous since it’d been a while. I think changing lanes had my heart pounding harder than the meet.”

Musa: “One of us needs to get a license before we train anymore.” Ok I will concede he drives like a demon.

Prince: “The stories I write are perfect. In my mind, anyway.” Nice insight to his character. As a lit student, he’s both confident in his writing, and self aware that his opinion might be biased.

Prince: “I’m not a hamster. Why do I keep running around, and around, and around and around…”

Conclusion:

Let’s remember what Kakeru told Haiji before the race, that he’ll be looking to see how well everyone runs. It’s obvious that he isn’t impressed. Worse still, he wants to race against Fujioka again, but won’t be able to unless he makes it to Hakone. And he doesn’t think he can, with this team. That’s why he’s so angry.

I think the others understand this, based on the expressions on their faces. I do think KK’s being a bit too negative. For a bunch of amateurs most of them did very well. Haiji said that even King and Nico would be able to make it. As to Prince….well…they can cross that bridge when they get to it. Suffice to say that he completed the race and didn’t drop out even when he could have. There really is plenty to celebrate. What I’m interested in the most is what Haiji thinks. We know he is happy for his friends’ achievements. But how does he feel about his own?

When he and Kakeru met, he had told him he’ll be able to match his speed in six months. I think it’s only been one month since then. How does he feel about his own performance? Elated that he could finally run? Happy he achieved the required time? Jealous that he couldn’t keep up with Kakeru? In the end he might be satisfied with his friends and disappointed in himself. We won’t know if he’s too busy worrying about Kakeru’s tantrum. Considering what Kakeru told Haiji before the race, he might think that, just as disappointed as KK is in everyone else’s times, he might also be disappointed in Haiji’s.

It is also frustrating that we don’t know if he could have gotten a better time if one of the runners hadn’t bumped into him at the beginning of the race.

Finally, like the title of the episode stated, Kakeru did bare his fangs. But he’s the only one who seems to have been bitten. Also, the title might have a double meaning: bearing his fangs could mean they are too heavy for Kakeru. Otherwise its just an error in translation.

Grade: 9/10 Only because the art at times wasn’t as perfect as could be.

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