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

thirty-seven - day 1

"Don't move too much, or you'll be tired before you even start."

Folding down the hood of his coat, Prince looks at Haiji as he walks over to him.

"I'm only moving because I got too cold reading," Prince mutters.

Haiji laughs. "I'm surprised you stopped reading to do so."

The starting venue is fairly quiet with only the runners and coaches present while a few officials and drivers stand around waiting.

"What time is it?" Prince asks, Haiji looking down at his watch.

"7:25. 35 minutes until the start."

Prince nods slowly. "How's Chiyo?"

Haiji shrugs. "Tired. She's coming with Tazaki-sensei in a minute."

Sitting back down, book in hand, Prince leans against the wall, flicking to the next page. Haiji smiles to himself, deciding to leave him to it --for all he knows, this could be Prince's way of taking his mind off the race ahead.

A few minutes later, Tazaki-sensei --wearing a Kansei tracksuit jacket-- walks over, hands behind his back.

"Haiji-san,"

"Ah, Tazaki-sensei, is Chiyo with you?"

He raises his thick grey eyebrows. "She's getting authorised now, she won't be long."

As if on cue, a tired, lethargic and disorientated Chiyo walks up to the group, eyes blood-shot. "They said I'm alright to sit in with Tazaki-sensei." She mumbles, voice croaky.

Haiji brushes the hair from her face. "You'll be called in a minute anyway so you should try and get some sleep before the race."

"I don't want to miss Prince's start." She rubs her eyes.

Prince looks up from his manga. "You can sleep, I won't hold it against you."

Expecting a witty remark in return, they look at Chiyo as her eyes close and she sways, suddenly jerking awake. "Huh?"

Tazaki-sensei nods to Haiji. "They'll call us to the van in a minute but I'll ask them to make an exception so we can sit in early. I'll make an excuse about my knees or something."

"Thank you, Sensei," Haiji smiles, kissing Chiyo's forehead as she opens her eyes wide and staggers. "I'll be calling Tazaki regularly anyway but get some rest and cheer us on."

Nodding, she sends him a weak smile, walking off with Tazaki, who pats her back, and they follow the sign to the coaches area.

"She's even more tired than a normal day with her insomnia," Prince mutters, glancing up from the page.

"She'll be fine," Haiji tells him. "Do you want to stretch out?"

Placing his book to the side, Prince nods, sitting with his legs out long as Haiji sits behind him and pushes his back.

"Do you remember everything we spoke about the other day?" Haiji asks.

Prince nods. "Conserve stamina, watch out for any speed changes and keep at my own pace."

Haiji laughs under his breath. "I didn't doubt you."

Prince moves his position to laying on his back with one knee up as Haiji pushes his foot up.

"Most importantly, don't panic," Haiji tells him. "I know what you're like, but I thought I'd remind you anyway."

Changing legs, Haiji holds his knee in one hand and his foot in the other, stretching his leg. Once he finishes the stretch, Prince thanks him and sits back up.