i don’t know anything about job hunting yet, but isn’t work kind of the same? i didn’t even like running, but haiji-san forced me to join. but once i started running, i realized something. rather than being forced to run, it’s a lot more fun to run out of your own will.
run with the wind ep. vi
» the emperor’s new clothes
→ Shindou/Musa
→ Canon setting, character study, self discovery
To Shindou, there was something about watching the stars with a friend that felt so… so open. Not vulnerable, per se, but close to it. As if he and Musa could ask each other any question—‘Do you have any heroes?’, ‘Do you believe in life after death?’, ‘What is a fond childhood memory that you’ve never told anyone else?’—and the other wouldn’t hesitate to answer, to open up to the person closest to them.
“Shindou-san… How have you been feeling? About… About your ex, I mean.”
Well. Almost any question, anyway.
“I hope you’ll forgive me for being intrusive, but...” Musa continued, his gaze no longer cast to the stars but instead to Shindou, the concern in his eyes so achingly earnest. “You’re my best friend. I would like to know how you’re doing.”
Shindou combed his fingers through the damp blades of grass under his palm, his mind spinning a hundred different answers he could give—and not a single one of them honest. They’d have to walk back soon, it wouldn’t be so difficult to steer the conversation that way. Or to compliment Musa on his boldness for asking, he did quite enjoy the rare moments where Musa spoke his mind and stood his ground. (And he enjoyed complimenting Musa, too. Every chance he got. And every time, Musa would get flustered as if it was the first time.)
It… It wasn’t that he didn’t like to talk about her, specifically. (Well, not like he did anyway, even when she was in the picture. How many of the guys knew about her? Had he ever even introduced her to any of them? To anyone?)
And if he was to share his thoughts with anyone, it would be Musa. Of course, of course it would be Musa. Well, maybe he’d share with one of his senpai, but that’s because they were somehow more evasive than he was. More subtle about it, too.
He just… It was just that…
“It’s complicated,” he confessed instead.
Musa was right, after all. They were best friends. He liked when Musa was honest about his feelings, so it was only fair to try and give him the same.
And he wanted to keep sitting here with Musa under the stars. Just a little longer.
In my opinion this is the moment that captures the spirit of Kazetsuyo. A very ill Shindo running with all he’s got because his team-mates depend on him and Haiji witnessing the ordeal on a big screen not knowing that he will have it worse. I love each and everyone of these characters, seriously. This anime deserves so much more recognition.
The mountains of Hakone are the steepest in the world!