Natsuya Kirishima

Natsuya Kirishima (桐嶋 夏也 Kirishima Natsuya) is a junior high student who debuted in the second volume of the light novel High☆Speed！ written by Kouji Ohji. He is a supporting character in High☆Speed！－Free! Starting Days－, Free!-Take Your Marks- and Free!-Dive to the Future-. He is the older brother of Ikuya Kirishima.

Appearance
Natsuya is a relatively tall and muscular young man with short, unruly brown hair and amber eyes.

Personality
Natsuya is a boisterous, keen, and upbeat character although according to his best friend, Nao Serizawa, he is somewhat socially awkward. On the surface, he doesn't seem deterred by much, but shows a vulnerable side to Nao. He is the Captain of the Iwatobi Junior High School Swim Club and is kind and firm, aspects shown often around his team. He is also highly competitive as seen when first-year team member, Haruka Nanase, claims that he only swims freestyle and the team captain challenges him to a race to determine if this will be so. Their race ends in a tie with Natsuya respecting Haruka's ability, but continuing to monitor and challenge him. Natsuya cares deeply for his younger brother, Ikuya. They are close until Natsuya decides that he must push Ikuya to be less dependent on him. This, while Ikuya is only in elementary school. He distances himself from his sibling without explanation, a move that distresses Ikuya and damages their relationship for several years. Natsuya is an excellent swimmer, capable of earning a living via free-lance racing which he does following high school. He is also shown to have a low alcohol tolerance.

History
Natsuya is the captain of the Iwatobi Junior High School Swim Club. His younger brother, Ikuya Kirishima, is also a member of the team. His best friend, Nao Serizawa, is the team manager. Natsuya recruits Haruka Nanase, Makoto Tachibana, Asahi Shiina and his younger brother for the team shortly after they begin their first year of junior high school. Both the light novel and movie titled, High☆Speed！－Free! Starting Days－, depict his tenure as swim club team captain while Season 3 of the anime titled, Free!-Dive to the Future-, depicts Natsuya as a free-lance competitive swimmer.

Relationships
Natsuya has a solid relationship with Nao. The tension that exists between Ikuya and himself is shown to ease up towards the end of the light novel and is completely resolved by the end of Season 3 of the anime.

Trivia

 * Natsuya's least favorite subject is Math.
 * His motif animal is a tiger shark.
 * He hates shiitake mushrooms but will eat them when he is with Ikuya to set a good example
 * His favorite quote is said by Mikhail Makarovich Nitori which is, “Victory only comes to those who believe in themselves,” which he interprets as the results depend on you.