HS1C06: Team

'Synopsis: Graduation day at Iwatobi Elementary School arrives and mixed feelings abound. Before the ceremony, Rin Matsuoka reveals to Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana that he plans on becoming an Olympic swimmer, so he'll be attending middle school in Australia. At swim practice, he's on stuck on the fact that no matter how hard he tries, Haruka is always faster. As he leaves swim club, he's met by Gou Matsuoka, his younger sister. Haruka, Makoto and Nagisa Hazuki catch up to them and Gou embarrasses Rin thoroughly. The following day Nagisa asks about graduation. Haruka mulls over the fact that he didn't cry, though Makoto didn't either, while Rin led the class in tears. Makoto tells himself that he didn't cry because the school year won't truly be over until after the meet. Nagisa is improving but still worries about being a team burden and Rin is stymied by Haruka's mediocre performance at practice. Aki Yazaki again attempts to learn more about Haruka.'

Makoto stands near the cherry tree that stands beside the school's outdoor pool. The seeds planted earlier in the year are beginning to bud and he overthinks how he would feel if he were a cherry tree, then wonders how the cherry tree is feeling. He laughs, realizing that trees don't have feelings. With Haruka and Rin there, he asks Haruka how he feels about the flowers, getting a typically aloof answer. Makoto asks Rin if he’d rather be graduating from Sano. Rin’s expression turns somber and Makoto apologizes for saying something rude. That's when Rin reveals that he'll be attending junior high school in Australia. Haruka and Makoto stare at Rin and wait for an explanation, Haruka hoping that Makoto will ask the questions to which they both want answers. Rin says that it was only just decided, but that the school has a great swimming program. Makoto is frozen in place and Haruka grinds his teeth in annoyance. Rin murmurs an apology for not saying something sooner, then speaks up, saying he wants to be an Olympic swimmer. When is he leaving? Right after the meet.

Haruka is now furious at being obligated to a team that will break up after their first race. He suddenly wants to be in the water, then pauses, grasping that he always runs towards water as an escape from his feelings. The thought startles him and he begins to doubt himself and his motivation to swim. Makoto told him he felt better after admitting that he, himself, runs away from water by swimming. Would Haruka freely admitting his water dependency make him feel better or is that a sign of weakness to be overcome?

In order to think of himself as strong, he determines to meet his obligations and agrees out loud to swim only in the relay. Rin gives him a smug expression. Haruka grinds his teeth once more, committed to his choices. Rin asks him about the relay, specifically, and Haruka snaps agreement at him and turns away. Rin looks delighted, but Makoto looks lost. Haruka sulks, thinking Makoto must decide for himself how he feels; that Haruka shouldn't act smug because he already knows. Rin doesn’t care about Haruka's snit as he turns to Makoto, reassuring him that everything will be fine. Haruka doesn’t look at them and Makoto simply nods.

Later, at swim practice, Rin has some time to himself. He enters the water and instead of butterfly, begins to swim crawl. As he does, he remembers meeting Haruka one year ago. He learns early on that Haruka swims only crawl and only distance races while Rin swims different strokes for both short and long distances. Yet, Haruka is always faster than he. It's frustrating and he keeps analyzing his style, but can’t figure out where he’s lacking and so, he continues to do laps until he's exhausted, hoping to find "his perfect form."

At the end of practice, Rin’s younger sister Gou shows up and thanks the team for looking after Rin. Haruka looks away while Makoto politely introduces himself and Nagisa gives a cheery greeting. Makoto asks Gou why she’s there. The girl hands Rin a paper bag with a cookie tin inside, embarrassing Rin as he tries to keep his teammates from seeing it. Nagisa observational powers has him guessing that it's food for a “well done” party. An unintersted Haruka begins to walk away, Makoto follows and Nagisa waves goodbye. As the trio leaves, Rin turns his back on Gou and runs to join them, too. Gou calls out to him what they’re having for dinner that night and Rin is embarrassed once more.

The following day, at the graduation ceremony, Haruka is confused by the fuss everyone is making. Most of his peers are crying, Rin most of all. Yet Mokoto is dry-eyed, confusing him further. When they meet up in order to run to practice, Nagisa demands to know if Haruka cried at graduation. Haruka says no, but Rin did. Rin defends his tears by calling Haruka and Makoto weird for not crying. Nagisa asks Makoto why he didn’t cry and the boy responds that Rin’s outburst startled his feelings away. Nagisa calls Rin a crybaby and Haruka runs faster to escape the conversation.

At practice, Makoto swims backstroke, thinking to himself that the reason he didn’t cry is that he’s waiting for the relay to be done. It will all be over then, but right now, swimming a new stroke with new skills, he feels only excitement as he touches the wall. Nagisa swims breaststroke questioning whether or not he’s burdening the team, though his swimming has improved. His worry pushes him to swim harder and faster as he reaches out to touch the wall. Rin swims butterfly, all the while searching his mind and body for “the perfect form,” annoyed that Haruka’s swimming has become pedantic instead of remaining a model he can emulate. He’s unmotivated, but forces himself to swim in a strong fashion. And Haruka knows as soon as he dives in that his swimming is off. He hates worrying about times and water is no longer special.

As Haruka climbs out of the pool, Aki Yazaki offers her hand and words of encouragement. They chat about graduation and Haruka realizes that Aki’s tender feelings are what most students feel. He's the odd one and it bewilders him. When he turns to leave, Aki speaks up, apologizing for pushing her ideas about the relay onto Haruka, then admits that seeing how hard the boys are working inspires her. She drops her face and Haruka doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t feel the way Aki thinks he does. Aki brightens, lifts her face and looks deeply into Haruka’s eyes. She says swimming is fun. Haruka has never in his life thought of swimming as fun.

How do the others feel about it?