Un viejo conocido de Kakeru aparece para atormentarle con su pasado, pero el vínculo entre los diez corredores se ha ido fortaleciendo con el tiempo.

Llega el encuentro de Atletismo en la Universidad Deportiva de Tokio, donde los protagonistas darán lo mejor de sí mismos y descubrirán que Haiji tiene más contactos de lo que parecía.

El equipo va uniéndose cada vez más y mentalizándose con su objetivo, pero nunca se habían parado a pensar en todo lo que es capaz de hacer Shindo y sus grandes esfuerzos por hacer todo lo que debe hacer.

The Kansei University track team miraculously makes it through the qualifier. The team is inundated by club applicants and interview requests. Despite them, Haiji calmly focuses on preparing for the race. However, Jota and Joji suddenly begin to oppose him. "Haiji’s fooling us, isn’t he?" What misgivings weigh heavily on their minds?

While walking home with Musa, Kakeru runs into reigning champion Rikudo’s Fujioka Kazuma. When Kakeru can’t let go of the inconsiderate remarks made by some passers-by, Fujioka methodically and without faltering shows him the answer. Then Fujioka tells them about his shared history with Haiji. The burden Haiji has borne alone. The response he gave to Fujioka. In Fujioka’s words, Kakeru begins to sense the meaning of the "strength" Haiji once described to him. Meanwhile, Haiji is at a consultation with his doctor. His eyes are glued to the harsh reality they see…

The Tokyo-Hakone Round-Trip College Ekiden Race finally begins. Haiji was right, and Section 1 moves at a slow pace while the teams try to feel each other out. Prince, who bears the heavy responsibility of starting the race, takes up his position behind the other runners and conserves his strength. It’s all part of Haiji’s plan to take the top. Haiji also sends a message to Prince through Tazaki in the coach’s vehicle and heads to the Tsurumi Relay Station where Musa waits. The group raises its pace. Prince desperately hangs on. And in the back of his mind, he recalls a conversation he once had with Haiji…

Sakaki’s fighting spirit verges on tragic. As though dragged along by it, King loses his pace. He thinks back on a conversation he had once with Haiji. The words he can’t say, the reality he can’t escape. Will Haiji’s words free him from the doubts that cling to him? King’s thoughts eventually arrive at the day he arrived at the Chikusei-so. It was the beginning of a lonely but also dream-like time. That small disappointment, that small pride. Carry all of it with you as you run. The men continue to fight to find themselves…!