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

thirty-five - "asking for luck"

Turning the corner, having just finished in the public bathhouse together, the guys walk up the path of Aotake, towels and bags in hand.

"We're not running tomorrow morning, are we, Haiji?" Nico asks.

Haiji huffs a laugh. "As much as I want to say yes, it's the last day of the year tomorrow and we shouldn't push ourselves before the race."

The twins cheer in response, the others breathing a sigh of relief.

Haiji reaches into his pocket for the house keys, raising them to the lock, when he realises the door is unlocked. He slides the door open, turning to look at the group.

"I locked this when I left, didn't I?"

King shrugs. "Maybe you forgot."

Kakeru shakes his head. "I saw you lock it, Haiji."

"Where's Nira?" Shindo asks.

They all turn to look around the front yard with no sign of the dog.

"Tazaki-sensei probably took her in," Yuki shrugs.

Haiji agrees, stepping inside and taking his shoes off. They all follow his lead, placing their shoes in their cubby holes.

"Do you need help preparing dinner, Haiji?" Kakeru asks.

Walking over to the kitchen, Haiji raises the curtain, opening his mouth to answer Kakeru, when he stops in his tracks, eyebrows raised.

"Haiji?"

They all follow after him into the kitchen, gasping together.

Standing up from the seat at the table, Chiyo purses her lips, tilting her head to the side.

"Um... hi, guys."

"Chiyo!"

She scratches the back of her neck. "I'm... I'm sorry."

Rushing over to her, Haiji wraps his arms around her, hugging her tightly in the middle of the kitchen. Her lips turn up into a smile and she hugs him back.

"What are you doing here?" Yuki asks.

She laughs softly. "Do you guys not want to see me?"

Haiji pulls away from the hug. "Not at all, we're happy to see you. But you've only been gone a week."

"You're not supposed to be back at Kansei until the 7th," Jota says.

"What happened with your family?" Musa asks.

They all look at her and she sighs. "It's embarrassing what you guys saw of my dad and me. Every time I think I'll try and work it out with him, he says something that pushes my buttons and I snap. So, I'm sorry you had to see that, Yuki, Nico, Shindo..."

Nico shakes his head. "We're sorry you had to go through it."

She sends them a smile. "But I was in Yasugi and I realised... that I didn't want to spend the New Year in the wrong place with the wrong people. I also don't want to miss this race because not only have you all worked so hard to prepare for it, I've become pretty invested in the whole thing. So, I got a train back and here I am. And, you know, I didn't want to miss out on the final episode by not watching the race."

"Final episode?" Kakeru raises his eyebrows.

"I think she's referring to the fact that whenever Haiji gives us a pep talk, it's like we're in the final arc of a tv show," Prince mutters.

Chiyo laughs. "Exactly, thank you, Prince."

"Well, I know we're all happy to have you back for the New Year," Haiji grins, planting a kiss on her forehead. "And just in time for your birthday as well."