At the Finish Line [Haiji Kiyose] - Run With the Wind

fourteen - "persistent"

Having studied hard the rest of the week and completing more practice questions and essays, Chiyo is glad the weekend has arrived and she can take a few more breaks.

She glances down at her phone at the time --3:30 pm-- and she sends a text in response to Hisa, before shoving her phone back in her pocket.

Grabbing a few tote bags from the table, along with a list made by Haiji and a wad of notes and coins, Chiyo tucks everything inside her bag. She pulls her headphones over her head and presses shuffle on a playlist.

Chiyo tugs her shoes on, sliding the front door open and closing it behind herself with her bag on her shoulder. Nodding her head to the music, she grins at Nira, who runs over to her and jumps up excitedly.

"Hey, girl." Chiyo strokes her head, Nira's tail wagging.

Standing up from her crouched position, Chiyo sends the dog a wave goodbye, when she sees the land-lord wandering out of his house.

With his hands tucked behind his back and thick eyebrows covering his eyes, he whistles to Nira and she bounds over to him.

Chiyo pulls her headphones off from her ears and smiles at him. "Tazaki-Sensei, hi there!"

He looks up, nodding his head. "Ahh, Yoshida."

"Please, call me Chiyo," She tells him. "She's very sweet, Nira, I mean."

"Haiji tells me you'll be walking her sometimes," He motions to Nira. "Ever had a dog before?"

Chiyo shakes her head. "No, I always wanted one but my dad never allowed me to. It's lonely being an only child, except for my half-sister of course. But she's much older, so I spent a lot of time by myself as a child."

"Do you visit them in Saitama much?" He asks.

"Not as much as I'd like," She huffs a laugh. "I moved a lot when I was younger. I spent ten years in France until I was fourteen and went back and forth between there and Japan during the holidays. Hisa met Hayato in school, right? They make great parents."

Tazaki nods, glancing at the hedges. "The boys, they're running a University meet, aren't they?"

"Kikui University. I'm going to do the grocery run for Haiji while they're out. Do you need anything, Sensei?" She asks.

"He's persistent."

Chiyo raises her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"Haiji," He continues. "He waited for ten occupants in order to compete in the Hakone Ekiden. Being in his fourth year, it's his first and last chance to run it."

"Ahh, I see," Chiyo purses her lips. "We knew each other at school, we were good friends. But we, I, lost touch with him which was a shame. Anyway, he's the same now as he was then."

Tazaki shakes his head. "He's changed since I've met him. Since he managed to get them to run, he's been happier. I trust you know about his injury?"

Chiyo sighs. "It happened when we were in our second year of high school. Yeah, he's persistent, but he's strong too."

"I agree," Tazaki nods. "But the pressure from parents can take their toll, especially for the youth, isn't that right?"

She raises an eyebrow. "Um... Yeah, it's a struggle."

Sending her a gentle smile, he turns on his heel towards his door. "Things will work out, trust me."

Chiyo raises a hand, opening her mouth to answer when he glances over his shoulder.

"Parents only want what's best for their children, even if they don't know to show it. Just keep your nose to the grindstone."

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