AN: Aaaaaand...this is it. This is the end. This is the last chapter. Thank you so much, everyone, for sticking with me through this story and thank you so much, everyone, for your kind and encouraging reviews. They were what kept me motivated to develop and continue the story until the very end. I love you all!
Kyosuke's heart was pounding and he took deep breaths, calming himself from the runner's high that was pumping through his veins. His teammates were crying with joy; they had finally won the End of Summer.
Heath gathered the team and they gathered on the stage. They lined up on stage and the runners from Kakyoin High School lined up as well; they bowed to each other and congratulated each other for running a good race. The crowd was cheering and Kyosuke could see runners from other high schools cheering them on. Kakyoin stepped down from the stage and Tomoe was the last to step down since he was congratulating the team.
The team was congratulated and gold medals were hung around the team's necks. Heath gathered the team into a big hug and there was another round of happy crying before the team was ushered to the red carpet to have their pictures taken.
Kyosuke was convinced that the flashes from the cameras were causing him to hallucinate. He saw Haruka in the crowd but he shook his head, reminding himself that she was still in France. He blinked again and rubbed his eyes.
He wasn't hallucinating.
She was there.
She smiled at him and made her way through the crowd, stopping when she reached the gate. Kyosuke stepped away from the red carpet and slowly stepped towards her; he pinched himself to make sure that he wasn't dreaming.
"Haruka?"
She smiled and Kyosuke's heart skipped a beat. She was more beautiful than he remembered.
"Bonjour, mon amour."
"I don't know what that means."
"It means, I'm happy to see you...I missed you, Kyosuke."
She opened her arms and, without missing a beat, Kyosuke embraced her, carrying her over the railing and kissing her passionately.
The world faded away and all of a sudden, it was just the two of them. It had been too long, Kyosuke thought to himself. Haruka broke the kiss and she caressed Kyosuke's cheek, smiling gently at him.
"You've changed a lot, Kyosuke; in a good way, I mean. You're not so wild anymore."
"You've changed, too. You became...sexier?"
Haruka blushed and she tapped his shoulder, breaking away when they remembered that they were in public with hundreds of cameras flashing.
"Hi everyone, congratulations on winning."
Haruka smiled sheepishly and waved to the members, who came to greet her. Dan-sensei called the team and they went to him but Kyosuke hung back, his fingers tangling with Haruka's.
"Don't you have to go?" Haruka asked.
Kyosuke pouted slightly,
"I'm never letting you go ever again."
Haruka laughed and she pulled him in for a kiss,
"I'm not going anywhere, Kyosuke. I'm back for good, I promise," she gently squeezed his hands, "Where the wind goes, I go. You are my wind, Kyosuke."
Kyosuke's face lit up and he was satisfied with Haruka's answer.
"I love you, Haru."
"I love you, too, Kyo."
And Haruka watched Kyosuke walk towards his team, standing tall and proud and wild like the wind.