S2E05 Head-Up of Decision!/Plot

Nagisa Hazuki gives Makoto Tachibana a scare when he goes to pull Haruka Nanase out of his bathtub, as usual. Later, during lunchtime at school, the rest of the group learns that Nagisa had arrived at Haruka's the previous evening, while Haruka is cooking. Hearing a strange noise, he ventures outside and discovers Nagisa setting up a tent and saying he's there to watch the Leonids. Haruka invites him inside. Back in the present, Rei Ryugazaki pipes up that the Leonids happen in autumn. Nagisa suggests that the Iwatobi High School Swim Club follow an even tougher training regimen. After training, everyone is tired, but when Rei points this out, Nagisa snaps at him before apologizing and running off. Makoto comments that this seems familiar; Haruka agrees.

Late that evening, Nagisa turns up at Haruka's house, wanting to hang out. As they about their future careers. Haruka questions Nagisa came so late. Haruka sees through the Leonids excuse that Nagisa gives due to their earlier discussion. Nagisa beats a hasty retreat and proceeds to Makoto's house instead, surprising him due to the lateness. Haruka shows up behind him. Nagisa reveals that he has run away from home, without saying why, and begs them to let him stay with them. Makoto refuses, Haruka makes a call, and Rei arrives shortly. They each try talking to Nagisa, but all of them fail to find out the reason for his actions. Nagisa finally reveals that he might be forced to quit the swim club due to his recent bad grades, which is why he ran away from home. Nagisa tells them that his parents will not listen to anything he or they may have to say. Nagisa then gets a text that says his mother is coming to pick him up. Everyone panics as they have not yet come up with a solution.

And so, they head to Iwatobi SC Returns, wanting to hide from Nagisa's mom and to brainstorm for a solution. Nagisa shares with them that he hates studying because his parents chose a difficult junior high school for him, and he spent every day studying. There wasn't anything fun in his life, and he soon lost motivation for studying at all. His parents relented and allowed him to go to Iwatobi High School. When Haruka asks why Nagisa chose Iwatobi, as he could swim anywhere, he replies that it is because he wanted to swim with Haruka and Makoto. He even met Rei in the process. When Rei asks if Nagisa's parents know his feelings, he replies in the negative, saying that even if he tried to tell them, he does not think that they will listen.

A car stops in front of the place. Believing it to be Nagisa's parents, they head to the locker room before ending up at the pool. Rei suggests to Nagisa that since he has not even tried to talk to his parents, does it not mean that he has given up before trying? Rei calls him to step forward and to tell his parents his true feelings. Nagisa shouts that Rei will never understand. Rei shares with Nagisa his own feelings and says that he believes Nagisa is not a person who will give up since he got Rei to join the swimming club due to his persistence. There is a noise just outside, and everyone tries to shield Nagisa from sight. However, Nagisa thinks to himself that he will not run away again and pushes past them, shouting out his feelings. Upon pulling back the screen separating them and the intruder, they discover that it is actually their teacher, Miho Amakata. She tells Nagisa that his parents are very worried and urges him to go home. Miho arrived because Haruka called her earlier, requesting that she let the club take care of Nagisa, surprising everyone. The team then accompanies Nagisa back home.

The next day, Gou Matsuoka finds out about Nagisa. Nagisa has gotten his parents' approval to remain in the club on the condition that he studies harder. The team then aims for the nationals.