Fandom #44: Run With The Wind

[trace_by_echo]

As a middle-schooler, I used to run (badly) in cross-country and track & field. This anime hits all of my nostalgia points, and makes me want to go running again. It's been a joy to watch, and I genuinely haven't been able to predict nearly any of the plot, which is a rarity for sports anime. Perhaps being set at a college with older characters has made it more accessible - there's very little traditional high school antics here. The characters have been endearing - by being so realistic and balanced, while also gradually falling into place as a team united by a single goal: the Hakone Ekiden. It's a real-life relay-style race for college students only. It takes place over two days, 5 legs per day, with each leg around 20km for a total of roughly 218km. Not only that, but they have to run up and back down one of the steepest mountains in Japan. It's not a course for rank beginners, but we can see through the two-cour anime just how our guys are going to make it there... and how much we want them to succeed.

Fanfic Recs:
~And we danced, we danced, by zantropy. Haiji finally goes clubbing with Yuki, and they get to know each other a little better. Small hints of Haiji/Kakeru, but focused on Haiji coming out.
~Enough, by jfiacre. Slight crossover with Haikyuu!!; Kageyama Tobio is Kakeru's stepbrother. During a trip to Paris with his brother and Prince, Kakeru realizes his feelings for Haiji. Haiji/Kakeru.
~Help! I Think My Roommate Is A Stalker, by bmouse. Sakaki's older roommate is deeply unimpressed with his twerpy & obnoxious ways, and his outsider view of Sakaki's downfall is *hilarious*. Suggested Haiji/Kakeru, Sakaki-->Kakeru implied. 
~It's Called Teamwork, by stifledlaughter. Haiji suggests a post-Ekiden team orgy, and one way or another, most of them are interested in participating. Haiji/Kakeru, Musa/Shindo, Nico-chan-senpai/Yuki, with enthusiastic (for different reasons) voyeurs Prince and King.
~Look This Way, by hana_pouter. Prince tests Kakeru by offering him a BL manga - he wants to know just how sincere this friendship is. He finds out quite a bit more. Kakeru/Prince.
~make him proud, by tryslora. Joji ponders his brother, his performance in the Ekiden, and his motivation for running, with a little help from Kakeru.
~The Ace, or Three Times Prince Learns Something New About Kurahara, by ria_green. Prince makes a few assumptions about Kakeru that turn out to be quite wrong. Background Haiji/Kakeru. 
--->now with hilarious sequel: 4 Times Haiji and Kakeru Acted Like A Couple and 1 Time They Actually Were. Bonus of long-suffering Prince.