HS2C03: Promise

'Synopsis: Haruka Nanase begins to understand why people gather together. His relationship with Makoto Tachibana is analyzed by Asahi Shiina and both Makoto and Haruka end up somehow joining the Iwatobi Junior High School Swim Club.'

Another day in P.E. class and they are playing basketball once more. Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana are on one team and Kisumi Shigino, Asahi Shiina and Ikuya Kirishima are their opponents. Haruka makes a basket, as before.

As they walk to their next class, Kisumi notes that Haruka and Makoto are like brothers, then recants saying, "You understand each other on a much deeper level, or rather it's like your hearts are connected." Haruka replies that they are just friends, thinking that he does not understand Makoto at all. Makoto attracts people to himself and would be fine in basketball, or swimming, or whatever else he decides to do, even without Haruka being there. Then he thinks about the spiraea plant he sees nearby and wonders if he and the others are just like the flowers of that plant: many small ones clustering together for support, banishing one another's loneliness.

He enters the Iwatobi Swimming Club and, as always, Nagisa Hazuki finds him. He asks about Haruka and Makoto competing in the next tournament. Haruka tells him that Makoto probably will not and that he is too busy taking care of Makkou. Then he adds, "I'll cheer for you." That brightens Nagisa's day and he heads back to the elementary group.

Haruka dives into the pool, he and the water understanding each other, but nothing assuages his sudden sadness. He wonders what Nagisa thinks about when he swims, or Rin Matsuoka. Each of them is alone in the water, but at least Rin has a clear goal. Haruka is envious of that surety.

The following day, Haruka visits the school's swimming pool to check on Makoto's progress. Natsuya Kirishima approaches him and asks if he is a swim club applicant. No, is the answer. Natsuya remembers Haruka from tournaments and says as much. Haruka agrees, but adds that he is not taking part in the next tournament. Natsuya suggests that he join the school's swim club. Like Makoto? Did he join? It's confusing.

Suddenly, he thinks of Nagisa and then, of Rin. He realizes that if he swims without Makoto, he will be lonely again and envious of Rin. He does not like either idea at all. He wants to be strong and to be himself completely. "I only swim free," he tells Natsuya who replies that he will only enter him in the free events. Haruka agrees without grasping the full meaning but, afterwards, he feels something boiling deep in his chest. He has just joined the Iwatobi Junior High Swim Club.

The next morning, Makoto is not waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs and Haruka wonders why. He heads to the school's pool where an intensive cleaning project is underway. Natsuya sees him and smiles, then gathers everyone around. Haruka sees Aki Yazaki and other girls from elementary school, but not Makoto. Natsuya asks Haruka to introduce himself. Haruka does so and, once again, asserts that he only swims freestyle, putting a damper on things.

Nao Serizawa arrives, his face smiling just as Haruka remembers it from the library assistants' meeting. He introduces himself as the team manager and first year boys' trainer. Nao hands Haruka a deck brush and explains how to clean the pool, something Haruka has never done before. It is a lot of work. He then asks if Haruka brought lunch. No, but Makoto will bring it. The two third-years are curious. Makoto Tachibana? Yes. But he has not joined the club. Haruka is befuddled. Just then, Asahi Shiina appears in full swim regalia and starts to introduce himself, but Natsuya and Nao ignore him in their rush to have Haruka call Makoto.

When Makoto arrives, he chastises Haruka for failing to tell him that that he was joining the Swim Club, after all. Makoto is nervous, but Aki waves to him and he waves back. Satomi Nii is there too, which stymies Haruka because she supposedly is Ikuya's friend, the boy who thinks school clubs are a waste of time. Why would she be here instead of supporting his choice?

Haruka asks Makoto about the Basketball Club, but Makoto says that he is not an official member, yet and now, he is going to swim. He says it lightly, which bothers Haruka who wonders if Kisumi will be hurt by Makoto's change of heart. They approach Asahi, who sulks about Haruka being a new member. He also asks about the ISC tournament, only to be told by Makoto that neither of them are in it because they have decided to give attention to the school's club.

That is when Haruka is hit with a spray of water from the hose handled by the girls. All the first years end up playing with the water. When they are scolded by Nao, Haruka thinks it is a good thing Asahi wore his swim trunks.