S1E09 Hesitant Loosen Up!/Plot

The Iwatobi High School Swim Club cheers as Haruka Nanase flies off the starting block and passes his opponents one by one. Thanks to everyone's efforts, Iwatobi manages to win the relay race, earning a place at regionals. The guys are overjoyed and laughing as they embrace in a group hug, while the silent Rin Matsuoka looks on from afar, reminiscing about his relay with them so many years ago.

In the locker room, Aiichiro Nitori praises Rin on his performance. Rin, however, is deep in thought, and Aiichiro notices that he looks downcast despite beating Haruka. Seijuro Mikoshiba comes in tells them to hurry up as they are leaving to pray at the Hachiman-sama festival.

Makoto Tachibana Makoto persuades Haruka Nanase to go the the festival, saying there is a shrine for the god of water. Nagisa Hazuki adds that Rei Ryugazaki is waiting for them and so the four of them must attend together or else it will be meaningless. Haruka agrees to go, surprising Nagisa and Makoto.

While deciding what food they want, Rei spots a melancholy Rin and Aiichiro and nudges Nagisa, bringing it to his attention. Nagisa successfully blocks Haruka from spotting Rei and says that he will go and buy burgers for everyone, wanting Haruka to wait at a rest area. Makoto gets the hint from Nagisa's winking and leads Haruka away. Nagisa tells Rei that he invited Haruka to the festival to get his mind off swimming, but adds that, now, it might have the opposite effect. As they speculate on the possibility that Haruka might not swim, Nagisa comes up with a plan, asking Rei to follow Rin and update him on his whereabouts so that Nagisa can lead the others away.

Haruka wants to buy drinks, but Nagisa volunteers instead, not wanting him to move about in case Rin is nearby. Makoto follows along, and finds out about Rin being at the festival.

Rei nearly gets spotted on his mission while following Aiichiro and Rin, who seems rather unenthusiastic about the whole ordeal, but he manages to hide behind a mask. He updates Nagisa and the team manages to prevent Haruka from meeting Rin when he says that he needs to use the rest room.

Rei follows Rin to Iwatobi Elementary School. Rin stops in front of the sakura tree that reminds him of his childhood and his former team. Memories of their past relay resurface and he grips the metal fence in frustration. Holding back his emotions, he runs way from the school. Rei, meanwhile, remains undetected and updates Nagisa. While mumbling his thoughts, Haruka overhears Naagisa and finds out the truth, reassuring him that it's fine.

Makoto and Haruka stand at the top of the shrine, staring at the sea, Makoto tells him his feelings about their recent relay, saying that he is really happy that he got to swim with the team. Haruka is surprised and reveals that he always believed he didn't need a reason to swim; feeling the water was enough. However, he isn't so sure any more because when he lost to Rin, everything went dark. However, when he saw his team swimming again, he decided to take part in the relay. In the process, he remembered how it felt to swim with everyone, to have people waiting for him at the finishing line. Haruka declares that it made him just as happy. Overhearing Haruka's feelings, Nagisa and Rei are glad. Haruka states that he wants to participate in the relay with everyone.

Before leaving the festival, Haruka gives Makoto a bag of goldfish.

At the train station, Rin is panting hard, and tells Seijuro that they need to talk.

At the pool, Gou Matsuoka announces that her brother is also swimming in the relay at the regional. Haru is seen staring into the distance.