Suzuka Ep 08: Kyori (Distance)

Yamato joins the athletics team much to the surprise of Asahina, Miyamoto, Hattori and Honoka. However, Asahina does not think too highly of Yamato who is intending to take part in the 100m race.

Yamato is surprised at how tough the training is and Asahina scolds him for being a burden to the athletics team. Yamato meets Hashiba Miki who is also a sprinter and a friend of Asahina. When Yamato sees how good Asahina is, he feels more admiration for her.

Yamato is so tired that he can't even walk home. When he sees Asahina practising alone after the end of training, Miki tells Yamato about Asahina's strengths as an athlete. Yamato feels the distance between them the more he tries to get close to Asahina. Hattori and Honoka come to help Yamato home and all he could think of is how good Asahina is.

As time goes by, Yamato starts to get used to the tough training but Honoka feels sorry for him whenever she comes to see him after school. Hattori suggests that Honoka can try to join the athletics team if she wants to get close to Yamato. However, Honoka is not too good at sports and feels sad that she cannot be an athlete.

On her way home, Honoka meets Yuka who brings her to the public bath and accidentally blurts out that Yamato is in love with Asahina. Honoka is stunned but decides not to give up as she is serious about Yamato and wants to spend more time with him.

Honoka joins the athletics team as a manager in the hope of being near Yamato. At the sight of Honoka, Asahina gets irritated and ignores Yamato and Honoka. Contrary to Honoka's expectations, she has so much work to do and can't spend a lot of time with Yamato. Asahina tells Yamato to be more serious when she sees Miki trying to give Yamato a massage as he is suffering from muscle ache. Miki tells Asahina to be less harsh on Yamato as he is working hard.

This makes Yamato more determined to work hard and prove himself to Asahina who keeps convincing herself that his enthusiasm won't last. Asahina gets frustrated with him but starts to remember the happy times they have spent together...

The next episode shows Asahina and Yamato quarrelling again. Well, it's time Asahina snapped out of her irritated mood and stop treating Yamato like dirt. And it seems that we might find out who that guy in the photo is. Asahina would probably realise Yamato's importance only when he gets together with Honoka...Wouldn't that be too late? Honoka is more frank when it comes to getting what she wants as compared to Asahina and I find myself rooting for her instead as the anime progresses.