S2E09 Forming of Disruption!/Plot

At Samezuka Academy, Aiichiro Nitori’s timing has improved and has broken Toru Iwashimizu’s record. Rin Matsuoka comments that “someone's coaching was pretty effective” and Sosuke Yamazaki asks him to shut up. Momotaro Mikoshiba bugs Sosuke to coach him, too, while Rin tells Aiichiro not to lose focus as it is not confirmed that he will be replacing Toru.

At Iwatobi High School, the Iwatobi High School Swim Club is still practicing their relay exchanges as the regional is the following week. Makoto Tachibana and Nagisa Hazuki explain to Miho Amakata that the ideal situation is that there will be zero seconds before the touch and dive. The Principal arrives with the Educational Guidance Teacher and tells Haruka that he is the pride of Iwatobi and to give his best during the regional trials. Haruka simply says, "Yes." Gou Matsuoka informs the Iwatobi team that Aiichiro might be on Rin's team. Makoto tries to ask Gou about Sosuke without revealing anything.

Iwatobi and Samezuka are staying in the same hotel for the regional trials. On the streets, the team runs into Seijuro Mikoshiba with his university's chief scout. The scout has heard of Haruka Nanase and tells him that he has infinite potential, adding that everyone has high expectations of him tomorrow.

At the hotel, Rin is announcing the members involved in the events the following day. Much to his relief, Aiichiro has made the relay team. Rin tells Sosuke to swim so that they will have no regrets.

Haruka goes out alone, running into Sosuke in the elevator. Due to the staff spilling the towels, Haruka finds out that Sosuke's shoulder has not healed and asks him about it. Sosuke is irritated that Kisumi Shigino told him and demands that Haruka not tell Rin.

Rin arrives at Haruka's room, only to find out from Makoto that he is not there. Rin wants to know if Haruka has made a decision about his future and says that he is running away, as usual. Makoto defends Haruka, saying that he's probably thinking about it in his own way. Rin is surprised and comments that he would not know if Haruka does not say anything. He then asks Makoto about his own future, saying that his potential should have caught the eyes of a few scouts, too. Before Makoto can reply, they are interrupted by Nagisa and Rei Ryugazaki.

Haruka is jogging while the words of his principal and the scout are echoing in his mind. He is plagued by distorted images of his own teammates, as well as members from Samezuka's team telling him about his potential, his timing and scouting. Haruka stands on a starting block before turning around to see a scout shouting for him to show them his freestyle. Haru steps backwards and falls, waking up from his nightmare.

While waiting for the event to start, Makoto notices something wrong with Haruka who is spacing out as he overhears people discussing multiple college scouts being at the event. When asked by Makoto again, he insists that it is nothing.

On the way to submit the relay order sheet, Momotaro runs into his brother, Seijuro, who looks at it and comments that it is Rin's ultimate team. Momotaro goes back to his team all fired up. He tells them that he has just heard about what happened at last year's tournament and is inspired. Then, while warming up, Sosuke falters. When Rin questions him, he tells him that he simply wavered in his timing before leaving to get a beverage.

Makoto does not make it to the finals in his 100m backstroke. Rin places first in his event. Haruka is up next, but appears troubled and is the last to get ready. While swimming, he struggles, visualizing his movements as restrained by the water instead of accepted, as in the past. He comes to a stop in the middle of the race, shocking everyone.

In the locker room, Rin confronts him about his actions. Haruka replies that it does not concern him, but Rin says that there were a lot of scouts watching. Haruka, however, does not care about scouts and timing, stating that he only swims for himself and his friends. Rin wants him to take it seriously, saying that his actions are going to affect his future and dreams. Haruka then bangs the locker in anger and retorts that Rin is the one that fails to understand. Rin is the one who cares about all that while he doesn't have a dream or a future. He turns to leave and sees his teammates at the door. He reassures them and declares that he is going to swim the relay as it why he has come this far.

In the showers, Sosuke is in pain.