High☆Speed！

High☆Speed！ (ハイ☆スピード！ Hai☆Supīdo！) is a light novel written by Kouji Ohji and is the original concept of the anime Free!, which obtained an "Honorable Mention" at the second Kyoto Animation Awards of 2011. High☆Speed！was published on July 8, 2013 with High☆Speed！2 published on July 2, 2014.

Origin
The novel participated in the Kyoto Animation Awards of 2011, where it received second place in the light novel category, receiving an "Honorable Mention." Both Free! and Free!-Eternal Summer- were developed off the concept of the novel with the first film of the franchise, High☆Speed！－Free! Starting Days－, rounding out the early influence of the book.

Official Announcement
High☆Speed！ was published on July 8, 2013 at the KA Esuma Library. The book is illustrated by Futoshi Nishiya, who is also responsible for the character design of the anime.

Synopsis
The story centers on Haruka Nanase, Rin Matsuoka, Makoto Tachibana and Nagisa Hazuki's swimming team during their elementary school years. High☆Speed！2 continues the story about Haruka and Makoto as they enter junior high and are joined by Asahi Shiina and Ikuya Kirishima swimming together in their junior high school swimming club.

Navigation
High☆Speed! High☆Speed!