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

fourty - At the Finish Line

Eyebrows raised, heart skipping a beat and a lump in his throat, he blinks away the tears. He no longer feels worried or confused, but instead, he feels relieved.

"I love you, Haiji,"

These four words are music to his ears and for a moment or so, he forgets about the thumping of his head and the dull ache of his right knee.

He forgets about the pain and he thinks about her --about the girl he's desperately and hopelessly in love with. The girl he loves waking up to, the girl he loves stroking his hair, the girl he loves to see smile.

And the pain subsides as his stomach feels empty and his body numbs, almost as if he's floating.

It's then that his vision blurs and he shakes his head, eyes glossing over from the wind and his head thumps once again.

Rounding the corner, Haiji holds his head up, when a large gust of wind pushes against him and he gains his speed again, forging ahead.

He reaches the last long stretch of road, the last corner before the finish line, where Kakeru hurries past crowds to stand and wait for him, nervously tapping his foot.

Haiji, please be okay.

The finish line in sight, Haiji's mouth turns up into a smile as he spots Kakeru waving at him, his mouth moving but his voice not heard over the cheers of the crowds.

It's as he gains more speed for the last stretch of the race that a sharp pain shoots through his right knee, sending a shock wave through his body. It takes everything in his power to not howl in pain as he grits his teeth.

Kakeru's smile falters and his arm lowers.

Haiji, you are what it means to run. Your strength is more than I could ever hope to have. So please, please be okay.

Tears brimming in his eyes and a hand around his mouth, Kakeru calls out desperately for Haiji as he nears the finish line.

Haiji's head fuzzy and his body aching, he grins through the pain, spotting the rest of the Kansei team cheering from the sidelines.

A voice in the back of his head is reminding him of his injury and the limitations he faced four years ago that have haunted him since. But another voice is that of Chiyo, Kakeru, Nico and the rest of the team, believing that he is so much more than the pain he felt and still feels.

Once his foot has stepped over the finish line and he runs through the tape, he raises his fists high in triumph, cheering in his victory.

Kakeru does the same, tears spilling over his eyes as Haiji looks at him, only for his knees to buckle. Rushing over, Kakeru catches him as he falls, his arms tight around him.

"Haiji! You did it! Haiji! Haiji?"

He looks down to see his legs trembling and his breathing is shallow.

"You're okay, Haiji, you did so well."

A weak smile on his face, Haiji looks up at him, nodding.

From the sidelines, the rest of Kansei grab onto one another, tears in full flow as they hug each other tightly and celebrate Haiji's running.

In the backseat of the van, Chiyo shakes as tears stream down her cheeks and her hands clutch the front seats.

"He did it, Sensei!"

Tazaki wipes his eyes with his sleeve, trying to hide his face away from the rest of them. The driver smiles, holding out a tissue for him to take.