TV Animation Free! Novelize/Episode 02: Nagisa no Mermaid

''Synopsis: Nagisa tells the tale of how the Iwatobi High School Swim Club struggles to get new members to join them. Nagisa comes up with the idea of making a movie showcasing Haru's swimming and the end result is grand. Haru-chan, as Nagisa calls him, looks just like a mermaid, or so Nagisa thinks. Their posters at school announce a film displaying a mermaid and many boys come to the screening only to find the DVD misplaced with a Tachibana family DVD instead. The event is a rout, but Nagisa is sure that the film will re-emerge, one day in the future, somewhere amongst the Tachibana belongings.''

Nagisa remembers the first time he saw Haru-chan swimming back in elementary school. His immediate thought is that his swimming is so pretty that he looks like a mermaid. At home, he tells his older sister about his impression and is teased about calliing a boy a mermaid. She then looks up the word and learns that males are called mermen. Nagisa thinks mermaid suits Haru-chan better.

In present day, Nagisa and Haru are in the changing room adjacent to the school swimming pool waiting for Makoto to begin their club meeting. Haru is busy carving dozens of Iwatobi-chan figures to be given as enticement to potential members. Nagisa isn't sure if that will work but Haru is totally engrossed and totally silent, as usual. No matter to Nagisa who likes Haru-chan just as he is and always has.

Makoto arrives, looking more worried than usual. He asks for ideas, chiding Haru for not paying attention. Haru stops carving and states he's creating favors to lure in members and Makoto smiles and asks again. Haru complies. Nagisa is feeling like a true high-schooler so when Makoto turns to him for his thoughts, he makes a grand show of holding out. Haru guesses, "a giant Iwatobi-chan" and Makoto loses it. Nagisa laughs, thinking that Haru is the funny man and Makoto the straight man. Nagisa finally reveals that his idea is to create a movie of Haru swimming underwater. He has connections and Haru is up for it, eyes sparkling at the very thought of swimming. Makoto is still worried.

The following day, they travel to the studio, which is actually an old mansion with an indoor pool. Kagenuma-san, the cameraman, tells Haru where to change, but before he even finishes Haru has stripped down to his competition swim suit. Kagenuma-san nods and Haru dives in. Everyone is enchanted with Haru's swimming, but especially Kagenuma-san who begins filming. Haru acts as if he's alone with the water. Makoto watches all this with a continued worried look. After an hour, Makoto meets Haru poolside, holding out his hand just as Nagisa remembers while thinking he looks like a fairy tale prince pulling a mermaid princess out of the water.

The next day, the edited DVD is returned and, that night, everyone gathers in Makoto's room to watch. Haru's swimming is breathtaking and Nagisa is sure they'll get a flood of applications because he looks so beautiful in the water. Makoto looks conflicted but is soon busy playing family videos, including one from kindergarten with Haru and himself. Nagisa admits he's a bit jealous of their long-standing friendship.

At school, they set up a screening party and put up provocative posters announcing a showing of "Nagisa's mermaid. Enchanting figure!" Lots of boys fill the AV room to watch the video. Just as Makoto is announcing the beginning of the film, Ms. Amakata rushes in and tries to stop the showing, but it's too late; Makoto has pressed PLAY. Ms. A blocks the monitor with her body shouting, "Don't look!" until Nagisa calmly explains the movie's subject and she moves away only to reveal a smilling Makoto from kindergarten. The video is one of the Tachibana family movies. All the boys in the room "boo" and leave with nobody joining the swim club.

The trio search the Tachibana house for Haru's DVD without success. Makoto seems relieved. Haru doesn't care although he is disappointed that his Iwatobi-chans have been given away. Nagisa asks his sister if they can get another copy, but she says it's impossible because Kagenuma-san and she had a falling out and he's left Japan on a job.

The chapter closes with Nagisa daydreaming about Ren and Ran growing up, getting married, and having children. They get their families together at the Tachibana house to watch old movies and, lo and behold, the video ends up being Haru-chan swimming so beautifully that their children are inspired to start swimming. They go to a swim school and meet a kid like Haru-chan and they all swim in a relay together.

The fantasy makes Nagisa happy and excited.