Saturday, November 13th.

The sky was overcast.

This year's Hakone Ekiden qualifiers are a little later than in previous years.

But that didn't stop the public from following the event.

"Let's do it!"

"Meiji University!

"Come on, Kanagawa!"

The game has not yet started, and all kinds of cheers have come and gone.

When you come to this scene, you can feel the atmosphere of the Japanese people at a simple glance.

It can really be said that the colorful flags are fluttering, and the crowds are crowded.

That's right, the Japanese are very fond of flying all kinds of flags, and if they don't play the flags, they won't have momentum.

A total of 36 universities participated in the qualifiers, with more than 400 students.

Because, many schools will shoot 12 players, and according to the rules, the results of the best 10 of them are recorded.

In other words, it doesn't matter if some players are not in good shape.

Higashino Qiang followed the race walking department on the East Continent, and he was already on the scene in advance and was stretching.

And this place, he really felt a little emotional.

The qualifiers began on an airstrip near Showa Kinen Park in Ikawa, Tokyo.

This memorial park itself is quite special, in fact, this is the original US military base.

In other words, this airstrip is what the US military used to be, and, let alone now, even in the future, although this runway seems to be abandoned, it can't do anything to change.

Maybe I'll be back on a plane one day.

But the Japanese are indeed a little clever, this memorial park follows many of the buildings of the US military base, and the greenery is very good, and many citizens do come here to visit.

The history of humiliation, the indelible scars, have been diluted in this way.

Forget it, these things don't have much to do with you.

The key now is to qualify for Hakone Ekidden, that is, to run in the top 10 in the qualifiers.

The so-called top 10, the results of the 10 players are added, and generally speaking, within 10 hours and 20 minutes, then it should be okay.

It's about 20 kilometers away, with an 11.2 kilometers turnaround in the middle, and then you run back, and the target is not the airport, but the citizen green space.

In other words, everyone's score should be about 1 hour.

Higashino's recent training has been mainly 20km long distances, and the rational distribution of physical fitness is the key to him.

"Everyone, are you ready?"

“OK！”

"The tactics have been formulated, I don't need to talk about it, just work hard!"

“OK！”

Sho Asano is the coach and captain of this team, and he is responsible for all the training and tactics.

There are only 10 people in the whole staff of Tokyo University, and perhaps for a monk school that is famous for its academic ability, such a lineup is already very rare.

However, the departure of this game is not as simple as imagined.

Higashino couldn't help but recall what happened the other day.

"We are the University of Tokyo, why do we have to participate in such a monotonous and boring sport?"

"Hakone Ekiden, just leave it to those who have developed limbs and simple minds. ”

"That's right, otherwise, we would even get involved in this kind of field, and others would say that we, the elites of Dongda, would not give them a way to live. ”

After qualifying for the competition, Higashino Qiang also made a big splash, and many media reported it, and this situation caused a lot of turmoil in Tokyo.

This turmoil is reversed, and many students at Tokyo University have nothing good to say about the land race walking department and Higashino Qiang.

It's weird, but if you think about it, you can understand their feelings.

Envy, jealousy, and hatred, in addition, I'm afraid it's the superiority of Todai.

Yes, Higashino Qiang didn't care, he thought very clearly early on.

However, several other seniors have some ideas.

Hanoi Kazuma was so angry that he almost got into a fight with others.

"We've been working hard and it's okay if we can't win the championship, but why do you treat us like this?"

That's right, everyone thinks very clearly about not winning the championship.

But it's really hard to figure out when people are pointing at people like this and saying bad things behind their backs.

Umehara Takafumi even had the idea of giving up.

Fortunately, Senior Sho Asano persuaded him.

However, he didn't say much.

Interestingly, Hosokawa Taisenpai.

"Higashino-san, can you say something?"

This senior actually thought of Higashino Qiang.

Being treated like this by one's own people is indeed not good.

So, what can Higashino say?

"Run. ”

Higashino's words were simple, and his face was smiling.

He has the answer, but if you have to tell the answer yourself, the effect will be worse.

Fortunately, after all, they are all seniors, and I am afraid that there has been no shortage of this experience before.

Almost all the members of Tokyo University are top students, and there must be a lot of cases where people speak ill of people behind their backs when they were in high school.

So, everyone regained their strength and came to the runway of this airport.

The starting point of the qualifiers.

So, how much support can our team have?

The banner of the University of Tokyo has been hung out, but fortunately, the school has given enough support, after all, from the perspective of money, the University of Tokyo is definitely not bad for money.

The costume for the competition, tank top and shorts, is yellow.

It seems that the emblem of the University of Tokyo is yellow, then, of course, the other is...

A big T.

But what about the cheers?

"Higashino Sama!"

Higashino Qiang's private fan, it seems to be okay.

"Come on, everyone!"

"Higashino!

"Higashino-senpai!

The support club is coming.

Asano Xuan, Xu Xiaoxiao, the nose hair boss, etc., and Genos.

Higashino Qiang originally told Genos that he wouldn't come over, because Genos also had to take the college entrance examination, so he should devote all his energy to preparing for the exam.

This is also why, Higashino Qiang has been in almost no trouble with Genos recently.

However, Genos Hijikata really couldn't help it this time.

In his words.

"Master, you are so strong! Not only your mind, but also your body! It's great to be able to follow Master!"

Genos even said that if he had the opportunity, he would also participate in Hakone Ekiden.

No way, he'll come.

So, is that all there is to it?

Looking at the support of Ma Ma Duo from other schools, I listened to all kinds of screams.

It's really lonely here.

Interestingly, the special attention of Higashino Qiang.

"Nishimura and Omatsu, haven't they appeared yet?"

"Higashino-san, how can you be sure that the two of them will come?"

"Haha...... It's a gut feeling. ”

Nishimura and Omatsu, will they come?

"Teams of schools participating in the pre-selection, please be prepared, it will start soon. ”

Still, let's focus on the game.

Time, 8:30 a.m.

A starting gun rang out.

More than 400 runners ran on the wide airport runway.

“yikei！”

"Come on!"

The gunfire was followed by the cheering of the jet fighter plane.

It's just qualifying, but the number of people watching it, it's in the thousands.

Moreover, there is also live TV.

The Yomiuri Shimbun is one of the initiators of this event, and Nippon Television, which is owned by the Yomiuri Shimbun, certainly will not miss the opportunity.

Da Da Da ......

The footsteps were extremely thin, and at the front were several black students.

"They're so fast!"

"Wow, it's black, almost made for running. ”

"It's not fair!"

Most of the well-known Hakone Ekiden traditional schools have black students, but in fact, these people are internationally renowned players.

For the sake of competition, it is simply unscrupulous.

It can't be helped, the whole of Japan takes this event too seriously.

"Group 1, about 2 minutes and 50 seconds!"

Sho Asano began to gesturing to his teammates behind him.

Just over a kilometer, the team split into a third group.

10 people, divided into three groups, are naturally the three speeds within 10 people.

However, the most surprising thing is that the first group, that is, the University of Tokyo, is two people who follow the current second group.

Sho Asano, Qiang Higashino!

"Higashino-san, OK?"

"No problem at all. ”

"Follow me!"

"Understood!"

That's right, this is the so-called tactic, Higashino Qiang will follow behind Sho Asano, and this senior will help him block the wind.

The second group, the speed per kilometer is currently there.

2 minutes 56 seconds.

......

Fumibo Omatsu has never been like this, and he feels like an idiot.

As a student at the University of Tokyo, I am an elite myself.

But somehow, I came to the scene of this qualifier.

No, it's nothing, I just want to know one result.

Omatsu chose to be near the end of the line, that is, the Civic Green Space.

I didn't expect it.

"Nishimura?"

"Omatsu ......"

I actually met Nishimura.

The two men looked at each other, and their faces were a little red.

It's like thinking of each other.

This is the end point, and naturally it is also the place with the most people, and watching the final results here, it should not be discovered by the previous teammates.

......

"Husband, look, look! it's our son!"

"Haha...... This kid is usually very good at running, so it turned out to be for Hakone. ”

"How is it possible, our son said it before, it is for good health. ”

"Really, you're running so fast just for your health?"

Mr. and Mrs. Higashino, who are in Okinawa, got up early in the morning and sat down by the TV.

I really didn't expect that my son was admitted to the University of Tokyo, and the result was like this.

Hakone Ekiden, who used to be able to watch other people's games on TV, now his son also plays.

In the eyes of my parents, the qualifiers are no different from the main competition.

"Husband, look, it's so good, this TV station is too good at filming, and it gave our son a lot of shots. ”

"Huo, there's a close-up, that's good. ”

Although the couple is not so professional, it can be seen that Japanese TV seems to take good care of their son.

In fact, they didn't know that the Yomiuri Shimbun had already made a decision early on.

Be sure to take more shots of Higashino's strongest shots!

......

Higashino is the strongest, such a popular figure, of course, he has to give more shots in the broadcast.

Moreover, he is really angry, and he has been in the second group with his seniors, and he has not been left behind.

In this way, the two of them were even happier.

"Yikei!Yikei!Sai-chan!Come on!" Masami can't go back to Tokyo now, so she has to take a special half-day off and watch the broadcast this morning.

In the same way, there is Yui.

"Ernie sauce! rush!"

Yui was also in front of the TV, and she kept praying.

It's awesome, it's really good.

Ernie Sauce is running too fast!

Just like in Okinawa before.

Everything is fine, and even the two girls are still communicating on the Internet.

After all, there are a lot of topics on the Internet about Higashino Qiang now.

This high school student, who is the No. 1 in Japan, is now challenging Hakone Ekiden as a student of Todai.

It's so strong!

"Come on! Higashino-kun!"

"Rush! Oni-chan!"

However, what Masami and Yui didn't expect was that at the same time, there were three more girls gathered together.

......

"Wow, is that amazing?"

"Higashino-kun is too strong. ”

"He can run so ......"

Haruka Ayase, Rika Toda, Yu Aoi, the three of them agreed today to watch this game.

I didn't answer any notices.

Higashino Qiang was given more shots, and that's it, the most surprising thing is that Higashino Qiang can follow the person in front.

Although it is the second group, the speed is amazing enough.

Looking at Higashino Qiang's running, as well as his sweat, the three girls were fascinated.

I said before that it was just a good look, well, a little reserved.

But now, there are constant voices of support.

And when there are five kilometers left in the race.

Even more surprising happened.

......

Whew!

It's been more than 15 kilometers now, and Higashino has been behind Sho Asano.

But at this time, Higashino Qiang had already heard some bad sounds.

"Senpai Asano. ”

"Don't talk!" Higashino ......"

The breathing became rapid, which meant that Asano had reached his limit.

Higashino didn't want to speak, but at this time, he really couldn't help it.

But I heard Senior Asano say, "You know the answer, right?"

These words made Higashino Qiang return to yesterday in an instant.

This tactic was developed yesterday ...

"Higashino-san, you must know that answer, right?"

"Hmm. ”

"Even if we don't win the championship, we still have to run, why?"

"Because running is life. ”

"Haha...... Yes, running is life. Our life, no matter what, will go on, and not everyone can get the first place in this race called life. And we all know that our lives are going to end, so what are we going to do in the face of this outcome? Do we run well, at a faster pace, at a better pace, or do we go with the flow and do nothing?"

"Sensara-sensa Asano, you're not from the Faculty of Agriculture, are you?

"Haha...... Thank you, Higashino-san, I am afraid that you have a better understanding of what running is. ”

This is a conversation between the two of them yesterday, and Higashino's strong words are still in his ears.

So, with today's tactic, Higashino Qiang has been following behind Senior Asano.

Right now.

"Let's go!

With five kilometers left, Higashino retains enough stamina and he's going to accelerate!

Not only do we want to win the Hakone Ekiden of Todai, but we also want others to see our light!

Higashino suddenly accelerated, took a big stride, and broke free from the shackles of the second group.

"Rush!" Asano roared, his breath disrupted, not to mention his footsteps.

But there are still five kilometers to go, and it should be possible to hold out.

Higashino stood out and rode into the dust.

Front, there were only five blacks.

This scene was transmitted by the TV signal.

Masami, Yui saw it.

Haruka Ayase, Erika Megumi, and Yu Aoi also saw it.

They shouted almost at the same time.

"Rush!"

I don't know why, but tears rolled down.

......

As the finish line approaches, the first group has also pulled up the gear.

Omatsu and Nishimura saw that the first person to hit the line was a black international student.

Time: 59 minutes and 32 seconds.

Well, normal.

2nd Place...... He was still a black student.

Their strength is indeed outstanding, and naturally they have won everyone's applause.

But until...

"Wow!"

"What a speed!"

"Is it him?"

appeared, it turned out to be Higashino Qiang!

He was very small from the third place, and the guy was also black.

Can you catch up?

Whether it is or not, at this time, Damatsu and Nishimura are the same, and they don't even go through the shouts of the brain.

"Yikei!"

Unexpectedly, it really sent out a support like this, and it was completely stimulated by this scene.

I couldn't stop it, and I kept shouting.

Like a madman.

Not only the two of them, but also Asano Xuan, Xu Xiaoxiao, Genos and others, they came to this point from the starting point.

"Rush!"

"Come on!"

Everyone burst into tears in an instant, not to mention the crying of Genos.

A lot of strangers, they all burst out in unison, even those who were originally the support teams of other universities, the same.

One step!

Higashino didn't have any reservations at this time, he simply finished the final distance with a sprint sprint.

Whether he can surpass his opponent or not, he didn't think about it at all.

He had an idea in his head.

Running is life.

Whether you are fast or slow, win or lose, there is only one way forward...