HS2C11: Believe

Synopsis: Character and beliefs are evidenced by behavior.

After lunch at school, Kisumi Shigino questions Haruka Nanase about the swim team's new land training program. Since the noon training doesn't involve swimming, Haruka isn't interested. They then discuss the weekly book reports Haruka writes for the Library Committee which, despite their brevity or because of it, turn classics into books in high student demand. They see Natsuya Kirishima running outdoors in the midday heat with other members of the training group. They notice Asahi Shiina among them and think he is an idiot, an annoying idiot. As Haruka leaves the classroom, Satomi Nii calls to him and they proceed to the library together, discussing the different books they're each reading. Satomi turns the conversation to Ikuya Kirishima, telling Haruka that she's no longer worried about him because he seems happier since joining the school swim club. Haruka isn't sure why she thinks Ikuya is his friend. As they pass the Home Economics room, Haruka sees Tomo Yuzuki on a stepladder reaching for an item on a high shelf. Noticing that the ladder is unlocked, he enters the room to help. Too late. The ladder opens up and Tomo is falling. Satomi screams, along with Tomo, while Haruka throws himself beneath Tomo to cushion her fall. When they stand, Haruka feels pain in his right ankle. The girls bring him to the nurse's office. Later, at swim practice, Makoto Tachibana and the others are worried about Haruka. They are surprised to hear Nao Serizawa's voice telling Haruka to go to the hospital to have the ankle checked out. Haruka is reluctant because he wants to swim; he hasn't mastered the biaxial yet. Nao insists, recalling how his own injury worsened because he failed to get an early medical diagnosis. Haruka's ankle injury is labeled a contusion at the hospital, but he is allowed to return to swimming the following day where Ikuya holds a hand out to help him from the pool. Ikuya is strong and balanced. Haruka dismisses Ikuya's concerns and looks over to where Nao is coaching Asahi in the butterfly stroke and doing a good job despite Nao only becoming a swimmer two years prior. Afterwards, Nao watches Natsuya swim with a strong freestyle stroke. Natsuya climbs out of the pool and heads over to where his friend is resting beneath a tree. He asks about Nao's surgery. Nao corrects him and says it was a "treatment" to prevent further deterioration. Natsuya is curious about Nao's interaction with Haruka of the prior day, but is side-tracked into talking about swimming. Nao admits that the limits of his swimming knowledge might be close at hand. He adds that Asahi is improving and his temperament will make him a good captain, one day. Nanase, he says, is a prodigy but doesn't realize it yet. No comment is made about Makoto or Ikuya, though Natsuya tells Nao to look out for his younger brother. ~*~*~

Asahi's father, Souhei Shiina, is driving his pickup truck on a road he hasn't driven on since the last tournament, just before Rin Matsuoka left for Australia. At that time, Asahi failed to swim properly, sinking in the pool as Haruka sped past, leaving Souhei surprised that his son stuck with the sport. the two boys are now in the same school and swim team. Souhei thinks it's certain that Rin would also be affected by Haruka's ability. He pulls up to the house of Kyou Matsuoka, a retired pearl diver who still wears the traditional white clothing of pearl divers. She invites Souhei into her home for tea. Inside, he sees a shrine set up for her son, Toraichi Matsuoka; her husband and her parents. Gou Matsuoka serves the tea. Souhei mentions that Haruka and Asahi are now teammates and Kyou nods, knowing the disparity between their abilities. Souhei asks Kyou if she will go to the meet with him to represent Rin. They fondly recall when Rin and Asahi were in kindergarten, so enthusiastic about swimming that they learned to do so in a day. ~*~*~ At swim practice, Natsuya announces the participants in the events of the upcoming meet, winding up with Haruka, Makoto, Asahi and Ikuya being the first-year medley relay team. Everyone is excited by this arrangement except Haruka, who quietly leaves the group behind only to have Nao call to him. Nao tells him that the other three appealed to him the day before about the team's roster in order to accommodate Haruka's "conviction." Haruka is confused as he doesn't see himself as having a conviction about anything in particular. The boys approach, each one interacting with Haruka in their unique way. Makoto tells him to rely on them more, Asahi proclaims they are unified and Ikuya shyly asks Haruka if they are friends. Haruka realizes that they consider his choice to only swim freestyle to be his so-called conviction. He finds the entire affair meddlesome and troubling, all the while showing a faint smile.