HS1C05: Stroke

'Synopsis: Rin Matsuoka and Haruka Nanase notice that Nagisa Hazuki's breaststroke is changing, improving. Makoto Tachibana refines his backstroke and learns what it means to "feel the water" by using a new arm pull. Construction of the flowerbed around the sakura tree near the pool at school begins with Haruka, Makoto and Rin using bricks made by their classmates to build the retaining walls. At swim club, Aki Yazaki and Makoto discuss Haruka's innate talent for swimming based on feelings that no one but Haruka understands. While practicing with Rin and Nagisa, Aki offers Nagisa a bit of advice, then wonders if she could follow the advice given and hates herself for being disingenuous.'

Rin watches Nagisa as he swims and notices that his stroke is slower than the one he used at the time trials. When he inquires, Nagisa disagrees, his earnestness evident. They discuss how feelings can affect performance, then race one another. At first, Nagisa lags behind but towards the finish, his arms stretch out and Rin finds himself pushing hard to win. Upon climbing out of the pool, he realizes that his push was due to a fear that Nagisa would beat him and that is unacceptable. Both swimmers are still finding their own form and rhythm: Nagisa focusing with all his might to build muscle memory while Rin focuses on refining his technique. Curious about Nagisa's changing ability, Rin challenges him to another race, each one seeking to improve.

Makoto is practicing with the backstroke group in preparation for the relay. He's swum backstroke before but, this time, instead of his usual straight arm pull, he moves his arms in an s-curve pull. It feels different in a good way. His usual fear of the water is less potent and though he still thinks of the water as an evil thing, he isn't straining. He can see the sky and, for the first time, he feels like a marine mammal in control of his environment. He exits the pool feeling exultant, though he tries to hide it.

Seeing Aki sitting on a bench, he joins her. They discuss the flowerbed their entire grade is building, with Makoto's class joining Aki's class to make bricks and construct the retaining walls. Makoto mentions that Haruka has laid a short brick walkway at his home so he should know what he's doing. Aki is still troubled and finally admits that she often wonders what Haruka is thinking when he swims freestyle because if she thought the same way, she might get faster at freestyle, too. Makoto tells Aki that Haruka doesn't like freestyle so much as he's a natural in the water and swimming freestyle is the most natural form. Aki is disappointed that this isn't something she can learn. Makoto adds that understanding Haruka's feelings about swimming aren't something anyone can understand. Aki's gaze turns to Haruka, her attention upon only him.

At school the following day, the flowerbed project begins. It's to surround the sakura tree that grows beside the swimming pool. Haruka is given the important task of spreading the cement before the bricks are set into place. It requires intense concentration to spread the cement in a way that will cause the bricks to form a straight line, so he pushes his objections to the overall project to the back of his mind.

Rin arrives and calls out to him, throwing Haruka's focus off just a bit, irritating him just a bit, too. Rin works close to Haruka and does the same job in a surprisingly delicate manner. Haruka hopes Rin doesn't start a conversation, but no such luck. Rin says they should begin timing themselves and when his voice trails off, Haruka agrees without expression. Rin then begins talking about Nagisa's changed stroke while Haruka wishes he'd just be quiet. Still, Rin is doing a good job despite talking Haruka's ear off.

Makoto arrives carrying a heavy bucket of cement by himself. Haruka realizes that Makoto has gotten stronger, as if wearing a suit of armor. His voice, however, is the same cheerful tone as always. Rin expresses his desire to start race-style practicing and timing, and Makoto converses with him, leaving Haruka to escape into his daydream of being in the water.

Haruka runs to swim practice by himself, the very thing he had planned to do before getting sucked into running with the group and joining the swim team. In a relay, he thinks, everyone simply swims their fastest. Teamwork isn't necessary. Then he decides that swimming a relay might teach him something new, so he'll deal with his teammates even though swimming in a relay means swimming with chains wrapped around you.

At swim club, Nagisa attaches himself to Haruka, who tries to act normal while doing things that aren't normal for him at all. He wonders about Nagisa's singular focus on the relay, worried that if teamwork means sharing the same goals and cooperating to meet them, swimming will lose its unique meaning for him. As he watches Nagisa swim, he remains disinterested as ever in the boy's form, but something is off in Nagisa's stroke. Then, just before the end, it seems as if Nagisa's arms grow longer and he gets faster without trying. His stroke becomes natural. Haruka dives over him, slipping through the opening in the water, as usual.

Serious practice for the relay begins as the flowerbed is filled with soil and seeds are planted. The first half of practice involves time trials for individual events while the second half is all about relay. Rin and Nagisa swim relay practice during both halves. Aki and a teammate join Rin's and Nagisa's practice. Aki is surprised at Nagisa's focus and lack of complaining, but worries that the team's expectations of him are too rigorous. When Nagisa has trouble climbing out of the pool, she extends her hand.

Nagisa tells her that he must get faster or they'll lose, or so says Rin. Aki thinks Rin is always in a hurry and wonders how this is affecting Nagisa. They begin discussing diving when Nagisa tells her that Rin won't help him improve. Aki thinks about her own technique and offers a half-hearted suggestion. Nagisa says he'll try it. Rin approaches and asks Aki what she told Nagisa. She responds, then asks why he won't coach him. Rin explains that Nagisa learns best by thinking about how he truly feels versus following a theory. Aki steps onto the starting block and wonders if she can swim based on honest feelings, like Nagisa. It makes her uncomfortable, so she pushes the thought away and dives in.