Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-24.23.3.218-20130811062647/@comment-188.222.173.126-20130825200040

No he doesn't. Haru cares about all his friends. However, if you think that Haru would ever choose Rin or anyone over Makoto, I think you have a serious case of "shippers goggle". Makoto is the single most important person in Haru's life. Has been since the age of 4!

Now let's be clear here, I am not saying Haru is IN LOVE with Makoto or anything like that but they are best friends of 13+ years. By contrast Rin is a swimming rival who Haru didn't even get to know very well until his final year of elementary school when Rin transferred to Haru's school for the last 2 months of school. Rin then went away and except for that one race, Rin didn't exactly stay in contact and came back a virtual stranger.

Haru clearly harbours some guilt over winning against Rin without even trying. He clearly still cares for Rin as a person and probably does want to become friends again and yes, Rin does motivate Haru to swim and swim at his best. But its totally different to what Haru has with Makoto. Put Makoto on a scale against Rin or anyone and Makoto will win every single time.