HS1C08: SAKURA

'Synopsis: Haruka Nanase, Makoto Tachibana, Nagisa Hazuki and Rin Matsuoka stand in the garden behind the club, discussing what to do with the trophy they’ve won. They decide to bury it as a time capsule and begin digging in an approved spot among the blossoms. Suddenly, they uncover a box with the name “Rin Matsuoka” written on top. When Rin opens it, at the urging of the others, he sees four gold medals and immediately realizes who won them. As he rushes inside to look at the photo depicting his father with his then-teammates on the day they won their relay, he also realizes that the discovered box was buried by his teammates at some point, a symbol of their friendship to be recalled in the future. They return to the garden and bury the trophy alongside the box. Later, thoughts of the future fill their heads once more as they gather with Aki Yazaki near the cherry tree and look at the bricks they’d made and the messages they'd inscribed on them. Makoto, Nagisa and Aki are happy, Rin smiles and Haruka stares at the sky. The future feels hopeful.'

Behind the Iwatobi Swimming Club is a well-tended garden groomed each season by the club’s superintendent. In early Spring, yellow canola blossoms are blooming. Beside them stand three swim club members: Haruka Nanase, Nagisa Hazuki and Rin Matsuoka.

They are all in high spirits having won a trophy in the medley relay. Trophies can be kept by the victors or placed into the club’s showcase, but the boys are undecided about which option they prefer. Rin wants them to keep the trophy, rotating it between their homes. He sees it as a time capsule, a symbol of everything they have been through preparing for the tournament, but especially of their resulting bonds.

Makoto Tachibana emerges from the clubhouse with the trophy and several garden shovels. Rin pulls from his gym bag the cookie tin his sister, Gou Matsuoka, had brought to him weeks ago. Makoto asks Rin if he always knew they would win and although he didn’t, Rin says he did. The trophy is handed over, fitting inside the tin perfectly. Nagisa asks where they're allowed to bury it and Makoto indicates the camellias’ area. Haruka recognizes the flower, amazing Makoto with his knowledge.

They begin to dig, but the earth is still winter-hard and they quickly grow tired trying to dig a hole of proper depth. Haruka silently leaves them, disappearing into the clubhouse as Rin criticizes him. However, he returns with a larger shovel which they take turns using until Haruka hits something hard. Makoto digs up a tin encased in a clear plastic bag with the name “Rin Matsuoka” written on it.

Rin recognizes the tin as one he used in Kindergarten and is confused. Haruka tells him to open it, so he does, finding four gold medals within. One medal reads "18th" and Makoto states that it's from 23 years ago. As he says it, Rin grabs the medal and rushes inside the clubhouse. He heads to the wall where winning team photographs are hung. At the very end is a photo of a team with a smiling boy wearing the medal he now holds in his hand. It's the medal his father won so many years ago. Tears roll down Rin's cheeks at the sudden connection, more so as he realizes that the box was buried well after his father died, so it must have been buried by his teammates – his friends. After that, the decision is made that the box of medals and the box containing their trophy should be buried together in the garden behind the clubhouse, their contents a reminder of this day when it's finally unearthed in the future.

~*~*~

Later that season, the four teammates stand beside the cherry tree behind the elementary school, its blossoms ready to burst open in the warming spring weather. With them, is Aki Yazaki.

She and Makoto crouch down to look at a few early pansies. That's when Makoto notices the brick wall their class had built and the sayings upon them. Nagisa wants to know which brick belongs to Makoto. They seek it out and find it, the phrase baked into it, “I swim,” in English. Aki's brick is beside his with the phrase, “Best,” also in English. Haruka's is next reading “Free,” then Rin's reading “For The Team.” It seems like an entire phrase written in English and Aki admits that she lined them up on purpose.

Rin declares in a dramatic fashion that it's not coincidence, but fate. Nagisa and Makoto chuckle at his exaggerated posture and voice as Aki reads the sentiment aloud: I Swim Best For The Team. Just then, a honeybee flies out of a pansy, startling Aki and Makoto who jump up and back. Nagisa calls them scaredy cats and catches the bee easily between cupped hands. Rin tells him to let it go, but denies being scared. Haruka isn't scared at all, but watches the honeybee as Nagisa uncovers it. Stunned for a few seconds, the honeybee recovers itself before brushing Haruka's cheek as it flies away.

Haruka turns to Rin and asks if he met his father. Rin says yes, then asks if Haruka saw a great sight. Haruka replies, “Probably yeah.” Makoto says he saw it, too, but it feels strange. Nagisa proclaims he did, as well, and it felt really good. Their voices echo in the empty schoolyard. Aki says that it's amazing that they won the championship so easily and set a new tournament record. She adds that she might like swimming again, too.

Rin, Makoto and Nagisa agree with Aki. Haruka simply looks at the sky with a distant gaze. He calls Rin's name and asks if he's going to follow his father's dream. Rin's good cheer fills his words as he replies, “I don’t know.” It could have sounded morose or confused, but it's a positive statement because knowing the future holds potential is enough.

In fact, it’s a privilege and they all know it.