Akihiro Hirata

Known by the nickname 'Niko,' Akihiro Hirata stands as the eldest and most experienced member of the Kansei University running squad. Once haunted by physical setbacks and self-doubt, he abandoned athletics and fell into a heavy smoking habit. It was the passionate encouragement of Haiji Kiyose that reignited his competitive spirit. Driven by the dream of conquering the Hakone Ekiden, he demonstrated extraordinary willpower—quitting smoking and shedding weight against all odds. Now the team's emotional backbone, he runs the seventh leg in official races and serves as a dependable big-brother figure for every teammate.