Haiji lleva tiempo reclutando habitantes para el condominio en el que vive y su objetivo es conseguir que sean diez personas. El décimo resulta ser un joven ladronzuelo al que encuentra huyendo por la calle, pero sus motivos para robar no le importan: le importa su carrera.

Aunque Haiji ahora tiene a los diez residentes juntos, nadie está particularmente ansioso por participar en Hakone Ekiden si la calificación es demasiado difícil. Pero Haiji conoce bien las debilidades de sus compañeros de habitación y utiliza este conocimiento adecuadamente para hacerlos dóciles.

Aunque Haiji todavía no ha convencido a todos para correr la maratón, comienzan los entrenamientos del grupo entre las quejas de algunos. Poco a poco la idea de correr va calando hondo en ellos y ya hay alguno dispuesto a intentarlo

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.

La idea de correr va asentándose entre los protagonistas, aunque alguno de ellos todavía sea reacio pese a que los cambios poco a poco van llenando sus vidas.

King sigue decidido a no participar más en los entrenamientos con el resto y centrarse así en buscar trabajo, pero la realidad no es tan piadosa como para concederle lo que desearía.

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.

La motivación se extiende entre los miembros del equipo, aunque todavía les queda mucho trabajo que hacer. Haiji prepara un nuevo programa, pero Kakeru comienza a perder la paciencia con los resultados.

Con Haiji con problemas de salud, el equipo tiene que practicar por su cuenta y darse cuenta de cuánto esfuerzo hacía su compañero por ellos. Kakeru y Príncipe además intentarán lidiar con su problema.

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.

Kansei University’s battle to achieve official records formally begins. Having already achieved their official records, Musa, Jota, and Joji watch the race with Hanako. Kakeru joins the lead pack and competes with exchange students from strong schools. Meanwhile, the stagnating Shindo and Yuki utilize their strengths to make a strong effort towards achieving an official time. During the final lap, Haiji’s words cut through Kakeru’s mind. "Do you like running?" In that moment, something inside him opens, and Kakeru bangs out an astonishing time. After the race, a lone reporter approaches Kakeru, and…

The Kansei University track team runs into Tokyo Sport University at Lake Shirakaba, where they’re holding their training camp. Sakaki insistently provokes Kakeru over his past actions. Pushes to his limit, Kakeru grabs ahold of him, but his friends come between them before anything can happen. Later they begin their grueling practice, but Kakeru can’t stop recalling heavy memories from his high school days: a cruel past that pushed a group of elite runners to their breaking point. Recalling how he chose his own destruction, Kakeru agonizes over his past. That night, the sky is full of stars. Haiji appears next to Kakeru as he’s hanging around by himself…

The Kansei University track team accepts Kakeru’s past and begins running once again. Their hellish training camp continues, and once they return to the city, they busily engage in recruiting for the fan club, fundraising, and job hunting. The last traces of their amateurism fade as every one of them swells with the strength of a true athlete. The ten of them sprint through a single fleeting summer. As Hanako watches over their brilliant progress, they begin to see a certain path leading towards their future. A single man’s dream passes from one man to another. Nico-chan and King draw ever closer to achieving official records. Only one man remains…

The entire team achieves offical records. Having earned the right to compete in the qualifier, Haiji reports their progress to Coach Tazaki. Though they still have many challenges to face before they make it through the qualifier, the expections of everyone around them continue to rise. They even receive an interview request from a TV station. While the others are excited, Yuki alone seems unhappy.

A runner from another school trips and falls right in front of Haiji. Fortunately, he’s able to avoid crashing into him, but he puts all his weight on his right leg. The fall causes a commotion at the water station. The cold rain mercilessly pounds down on the runners and the fans watching over them. Eventually the races moves into the city streets, and the runners’ race for survival accelerates.

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…

Hanako cheers for him on the sidelines. Pieces of memories run through his head. Finally realizing his romantic feelings, Jota accelerates and climbs in the standings. As the older twin passes the sash to his younger brother, Joji is informed about Hanako’s feelings and becomes distracted. The sudden Hanako panic leaves the other members of the team disconcerted as well. In order to get the race back on track, Kakeru asks Tazaki to deliver a message. Meanwhile, Haiji calls Shindo, who has arrived at the relay station. Their time feels simultaneously too long and too short. A tragic resolve spreads through Shindo’s burning, feverish body…

His teammates faced death to pass the sash along. Bearing that weight in his mind, Yuki prepares for the race. Shindo approaches him. Turning his overflowing anxiety and regrets into strength, Yuki waits for the race to start. Meanwhile, in Yokohama, Kakeru and Haiji wait for Sections 9 and 10 to start. However, when Haiji is nowhere to be found, Kakeru grows uneasy. As though confirming his concerns, a sports doctor exits Haiji’s room. Kakeru interrogates Haiji, but Haiji remains the same calm Haiji he’s always been. It’s 8AM. The second half begins!

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…!

Kakeru is bewildered by this new experience. His speed overwhelms the other competitors. Meanwhile, reigning champion Rikudo’s ace Fujioka breaks the section record as promised and pushes his team into first place. Fujioka finds Haiji. What answers wait for them at the ends of their roads? They reassure one another as they exchange words. Prince’s smile pushes Haiji’s quiet resolve forward. Kakeru eventually appears at the relay station, running at shocking speeds. Their dream lies before them. Kakeru passes to Haiji. Their sash unites them and their entire team. At what peak will the Kansei University track and field team arrive?