Your profile looking up towards the blue sky
The stopped spiral of time
I'm always stubborn and hiding my feelings
I ache for you so much (I pine for you so much) that it hurts
I'm not actually that strong
In truth, I become afraid about the distance between us two
I want you to touch my heart
If I can still reach the goal taking the long way around
Start line
A story that unravels the heart
I'll say goodbye to tears and walk towards the future
Because I can go with the kindness I found clasped to my heart
Please, just for now, stay the way you are
"Suzuka"
I can't believe that the Inter-high meet will be held in Hiroshima.
I feel like I'm returning home.
Hey!
I'll retire after this competition.
That's why I want you to do your best!
Yeah... well... I'll try...
Only trying is not enough!
Because you have to compete in Inter-high next year!
Okay? It's all in your gut!
First of all, you'll get a special training program
when we get to the site...
Hey, you!
Let me go get some juice!
Wait, Akitsuki!
I won't last if I stay with him.
Ah, Asahina!
I'm going to get some juice. You want something to drink, too?
No thanks.
Well, are you hungry?
I can get something from the dining car...
Sorry... but please don't talk to me now.
I want to concentrate.
O-Okay...
"Lips"
Since that happened, Asahina has been cold...
Akitsuki...
What's wrong?
You're staring at Yamato...
N-No...
But why are you here anyway?
You don't even belong to the track and field club...
Because I want to cheer on the Inter-high athletes.
If you want to go, you just notify the school.
I don't have anything to do during summer break, anyway.
I see...
By the way...
If you like Yamato, why don't you tell him how you feel?
You're irritating me.
Hey! Don't say that in such a loud voice...
After all, Akitsuki didn't seem to hear what I said to Asahina about my liking him.
I can't say it again and again, especially something like that.
It's none of my business, so I don't much care,
but while you dally someone might just steal him away.
Someone?
I don't really care for him...
That Yamato!
Yamato!
That's what Asahina said...
But...
"Okita Hotel"
Man! Are you kidding?!
We're staying in a run-down hotel like this?
Those who will be competing should rest up and stay in good condition!
Okay?
- All right! - All right! - All right!
It's not the right time to ask her to go for a walk.
Akitsuki seems to be a little bit down.
What happened to him?
Hey, Yamato!
How about we go pick up some girls?
Show me around Hiroshima!
Sorry, I'm not familiar with the downtown area.
H-Hey, Yamato!
Let's go... pick up some girls!
I'm just part of the cheering group anyway.
So he thinks I have nothing to do.
Hey, hurry up!
Huh?
Why do you move so slowly?!
I'm sorry!
That guy is... Arima...
H-Hi...
Are you staying around here, too?
Do you know him, Arima sempai?
No, I don't.
Inter-high athletes...
Sorry... please don't talk to me now.
I want to concentrate.
Maybe the difference between Arima and myself is...
just like the difference between Asahina and myself...
What's wrong with you?
Daydreaming like that.
Hashiba!
Hey, after dinner, let's do some fireworks with everybody!
I bet you don't have anything to do, right?
No... I'll skip it.
The captain told me to practice.
Ah... Hey!
Akitsuki...
"Okita Hotel"
You're talking about Yamato?
Yeah... I don't know why, but he seems depressed.
He's been so subdued since we got here.
He hasn't improved on his time recently, either.
I guess he's fretting over Inter-high.
Fretting...
He can't improve his time after just one or two months of practice.
So, why don't you tell him so?
I'm sure he'll be happy to hear that from you.
Huh? Why me?
Because you guys are close friends.
N-Not really.
Okay, okay!
I heard that he's going to practice alone after dinner.
So you go to the track, too.
Okay?
Nope.
It doesn't matter to me.
Suzuka...
Darn it!
My time hasn't improved at all!
Time for a break!
I'm so tired!
I'm doing all this and I'm not even competing tomorrow.
Ah... Akitsuki...
Honoka...
What's wrong?
Umm... I was just wondering if you were practicing hard.
Actually I was working hard just a few minutes ago.
He seems depressed.
He's been subdued since we got here...
Oh, well, I guess I should go...
Can I sit down next to you?
Yeah...
Akitsuki really seems to be down...
Dinner was good, wasn't it?
Huh?
I had two bowls of miso soup.
I hope it won't make me fat...
You'll be fine.
What's wrong with you, Akitsuki?
Huh?
You seem to be down all the time...
Did something happen to you?
I feel like I'm losing my confidence.
Confidence?
When I started track and field,
everyone fussed about how fast I could run.
But I lost big time at the regional competition
and was humiliated so bad.
Although I'm not on the Inter-high team, I tagged along.
I feel like saying, "What am I doing here?"
D-Don't say that.
Captain seems to have big expectations for me,
but I feel like Inter-high athletes are at a different level...
I don't think I'll ever reach that level.
That's not true.
Akitsuki, you have the talent, too.
Huh?
From what I see, you run unbelievably fast.
And you managed the training that the captain dished out, too.
I think you're really cool.
You'll definitely be number one at Inter-high next year.
Thanks. I feel better now!
I'm glad...
This is enough to make me happy for now.
The two of us sitting together like this...
Huh? What's wrong?
No!
Don't turn around...
Only look at me...
For a moment... I didn't know what happened to me.
The only thing I remember is that Honoka's lips were very soft.
I...
...will always be by your side.
Ah! Honoka!
Honoka...
W-Why did Honoka do something like that all of a sudden?
I don't get it.
I really don't get it...
But...
I actually did it... with Honoka...
...K- Kiss...
Hey, you hear me?
A-Asahina!
You can answer me at least!
Sitting there in a daze like that!
Did you finish your practice already?
Umm... yeah... a little while ago...
N-No, just now!
Why am I getting nervous?
Asahina is not my girlfriend or anything...
You know, fretting about your time won't help.
I-I'm not!
Then it's okay.
Y-Yeah...
Well then... Don't forget to cheer for me tomorrow.
I'm getting nervous about my first Inter-high competition.
Huh? What's tomorrow?
What are you talking about?
The Inter-high.
Ah, right...
But you came all the way here just to tell me that?
Huh? Umm... yeah...
Is there a problem?
N-Not really...
So, don't oversleep tomorrow, okay?
Good night, then.
A-Asahina!
W-What was that?
All she talked about was track and field...
I like Asahina.
I still have the same feeling, but...
But...
I think...
...that was my first kiss...
"National Inter-High School Track and Field Meet"
"Sponsored by the Japan Track and Field Association & Maiasa Newspaper"
I will always be on your side...
What does that mean?
I don't understand...
It's Asahina's turn...
God! What am I thinking?
Stupid! So stupid!
Asahina must be very nervous now.
So, I have to cheer her up!
Can I... sit next to you?
Honoka...
Ah... yeah... go ahead.
Thanks.
I kissed those lips last night.
Umm... well...
Sorry... about last night.
It was impulsive of me...
Well... umm...
Wow! Great!
W-What happened?
What are you talking about, idiot?
You weren't watching?
Asahina got third place!
Oh...
It was 173cm...
That's her new personal record!
Wow! There're many reporters around her...
That was your new personal record, right?
173cm...
That was her unofficial new record at the time the two of us practiced together.
But now it's official.
Asahina is a cute girl, so everybody will pay attention to her from now on.
She's moving in a new direction beyond my reach.
And I'll be all alone and never catch up to her...
Huh? A-Akitsuki...
"Okita Hotel"
- It's here. - Take this there.
How about this?
Boy, what a pain in the neck.
Why do I have to help you guys?
Because you're a freshman, that's why.
Stop being so lazy...
Can you hold it over there?!
Geez... Picking up girls completely failed, and Yamato is not around me either.
Nothing good's happened here.
Hey! You're not holding it right!
I asked you to hold it tightly!
"Seniors Farewell Party and Suzuka Asahina's 3rd-place Celebration Party!"
Here we go...
Hey, Sakurai!
Yes!
This snack, too!
Okay!
Honoka is a hard worker.
Until now, I thought we were just good friends.
Her lips were so soft.
What's wrong?
Your face is all flushed.
N-Nothing!
Go back to your work!
But I realized that my eyes always seek her out.
Not Asahina, but Honoka...
Everybody did really well today.
But we shouldn't be satisfied with this.
"Seniors Farewell Party" But we shouldn't be satisfied with this.
"Seniors Farewell Party" Well, to the future of the Aoba high school track and field club,
and Asahina's 3rd place finish at Inter-high...
- Cheers! - Cheers! - Cheers!
Come on, drink up, Suzuka.
You're the star tonight!
Okay.
You were on TV yesterday.
Did you know?
They said you're the new heroine in the high-jump field!
You'll start drawing some university scouts pretty soon!
And you'll get some sponsors, too!
Hey, Akitsuki!
Come here for a sec! Where are you?
Hashiba, Akitsuki isn't here?
Well, he was here just a while ago...
He's really a pain in the neck...
He has to work harder, starting next year.
Hashiba, could you go and bring him over?
I'm going to have a talk with him!
Okay!
What's going on with me?
I was so hooked on Asahina, yet now I'm thinking of Honoka all the time.
Why?
Just because we held hands?
Or... because we kissed...
Why am I thinking about Honoka so much?
What are you doing?
Honoka...
You suddenly disappeared.
So I got worried and came over to look for you.
Honoka...
Can I join you?
I see some carps there.
Yeah...
- I can't explain it too well, but... - Hey, look! They're so cute!
They're not scared of us.
We should bring some food for them.
You're right.
It's a different kind of happiness from being with Asahina.
But I can relax when I'm with her.
Ah! Cold...
B-Be careful.
It's dangerous.
Okay...
H-Honoka...
H-Hold on...
Ah...
Umm... well...
Sorry...
- I know... - Huh?
We're not like girlfriend and boyfriend, so...
At that moment, I just felt...
...she's so cute...
Huh?
Akitsuki!
Huh?
Whoa! Hey...
What are they doing?
I'll become the wind on the green field
Right now, I'll just...
Get a little "reckless" and "fired up" and speed up
Let's go
Run
Stop
Advance
Falter
Jump
Squat
Sing
Shout
Triumph
Fall short
I'll live, right here
Living recklessly like this isn't altogether bad, either
Something'll happen, I have this feeling
Day after day of getting covered in bruises
Some days, I feel my "limit", though...
I'll become the wind on the green field
I'll run right through the moment
The shapes of things change, it's just the way it is
You can't stop it...
A little "stubborn" and "mischievous"
"Competitive"
That spirit
Run
Stop
Advance
Falter
Jump
Squat
Sing
Shout
Triumph
Fall short
I'll live, right here
Well, is it true that you and Honoka are going out?
Yeah.
That's good.
I never thought that you'd have a girlfriend,
"Next episode: Blessing" I never thought that you'd have a girlfriend,
"Next episode: Blessing" so I'm a little bit surprised...
"Next episode: Blessing"