HS2C06: Splash

Synopsis: The first-years adjust to the routine of the Iwatobi Junior High School Swim Club.

Haruka Nanase is beginning to understand why things are done the way that they are at swim club. It's all about communication and teamwork. His swim time is actually short, but he's learning other skills, so it's okay.

First-years are responsible for chores before and after practice, and he arrives early to find Ikuya Kirishima and Asahi Shiina arguing over a communal shelf for their belongings. Nobody has a locker and Haruka thinks it is foolish. Makoto Tachibana plays peacemaker, but not before Shouta Yazaki, a second-year, enters the room and overhears Asahi saying he does not swim freestyle.

Shouta challenges Asahi, who immediately backs down. It's not enough and the second-year persists. Asahi defends himself, saying that if Nanase can only swim freestyle, he can decide to not swim freestyle as counter-balance. Shouta is having none of it and demands a "pecking," that is a simultaneous race between four swimmers. Asahi will have to now swim freestyle against Shouta and two other second-years. Asahi has no choice, but to comply.

In the pool, attention is given to the four swimmers who line up at the pool's edge. Shouta kicks off and the other second-years, as well. Asahi merely dolphin kicks for awhile, then flounders. The others thnk he's fooling around and demand that he take the race seriously. Asahi apologizes again and again, but he can not move ahead, but simply makes great splashes in the water while staying in place.

In a quiet voice, Shouta tells him to stop and to leave the pool; he's getting in the way of practice. Everyone watches in silence as Asahi crawls out of the pool and walks into the changing room. Nao Serizawa follows Asahi. Haruka and the others follow Nao.

Inside the changing room, they find Asahi sitting on the floor, facing the corner, his goggles and cap still on, his head hung low. No one knows what to say. Finally, Nao breaks the silence and asks why Asahi doesn't say something. Asahi tries to explain that he knew how to swim freestyle before, but he's forgotten. It happens. Then, in a rush, he blames Haruka, then catches himself, and stops. Haruka calls his name and Asahi turns his head to face him, blaming him again. Then, he falls silent.

The next day Asahi acts like his usual self which is to say, confusing and contrary to himself. Haruka thinks Asahi is a strange creature. As the two boys, along with Makoto, enter the changing room, they find Ikuya and Shouta arguing. Ikuya says the club's activities are still half-hearted so Shouta challenges Ikuya to a "pecking." Asahi cringes, but there's no escaping it. Ikuya must face the challenge.

The crowd today is even larger than yesterday's, but Ikuya is not nervous. In fact, he outpaces Shouta easily. Perhaps it's because Asahi has lowered their expectations, but perhaps not. Ikuya nearly bumps into a second-year as he returns and stops swimming in anger, slapping the water. Natsuya immediately intervenes with a harsh shout and Ikuya cools down.

All is silent until the crowd begins to shouts encouraging words to Ikuya. He has become their focus and their champion. Buoyed by their support, Ikuya finishes and is pulled from the pool, shaking, by Makoto's strong hand. Satomi Nii and Aki Yazaki rush over to see if he is okay. Aki apologizes on behalf of her brother, explaining that Shouta is likely afraid he will be replaced as a varsity swimmer. Haruka is uninterested since it has nothing to do with him. He would leave, too, but for Makoto holding him in place.

Nao announces that Haruka and Shouta will then swim "one-to-one," a match race. Haruka calmly asks if he can swim not biaxial and Nao agrees, but he must swim for real. Stepping up on the block, Haruka takes up starting posture and finds his center of gravity. He listens with his entire body, as Nao has taught him to do.

Whistle...

He enters the water with his fingertips and slides the rest of his body into a streamline. Haruka feels the energy emanating from his body and the water accepting him easily. It's different than before, more natural than ever. Could the biaxial training be the difference? Perhaps, but it's more organic than technique. Swimming doesn't heal him or release him from his responsibilities any more. It's something else, but what? He passes Shouta and remembers that it is a race. Shouta gives off no energy and Haruka thinks this odd as he touches the goal. Shouta shakes his hand and they exchange a mechanical handshake.

At the sidelines, the swim club members simply stare at the spectacle they have just observed.