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Synopsis

In Tokyo, the center for elite 'horse girls' and emerging running talent, rookie trainer Jou Kitahara arrives from the city and finds more than he anticipated in the rural town of Kasamatsu. There he encounters an ash-gray-haired girl whose unconventional, freeform running catches his attention. As a child she endured knee problems that made standing and movement painful; through persistent effort she transformed that hardship into a source of liberation and now runs for the simple pleasure of motion, not for accolades. Nearby, Fujimasa March stands out as a disciplined, talented regional contender who treats running as an expression of pride and a route to recognition. A school race pairs March with the unrefined runner from Kasamatsu, and the contrast between March’s practiced technique and the other girl’s raw style unsettles March’s composure. The race also leaves an impression on the ash-gray-haired runner: for the first time she feels an ember of competitive desire, a wish to pursue victory that may carry her beyond her quiet hometown toward larger stages and new horizons.