HS1C03: Free

'Synopsis: Haruka Nanase returns to swim practice even after missing school. Makoto Tachibana worries but is brushed off, as well as thanked for his concern. In the water, Haruka feels himself healing and at the end of his lap, it is Aki Yazaki who extends a hand. Haruka takes it and they talk about the scarf. Rin Matsuoka approaches after Aki leaves and asks Haruka about practicing for the medley relay, to which Haruka says he only swims free. Makoto arrives, expressing worry again, but Haruka ignores him. After Nagisa Hazuki and Haruka leave, Rin again pressures Makoto to ask Haruka to be a member of the relay team. That evening, Makoto meets Haruka on the stone steps and reveals several things about himself, even though he realizes that Haruka knows everything about him, but pretends he doesn't. Haruka agrees to think about joining the team and Makoto is happy.'

Haruka watches Rin swimming, thinking how his speed is connected to his strong kick, making him faster in the short lane than the distance lane. It gives him an advantage over Haruka in the short lane, but Haruka won't acknowledge that anyone can feel the water more than he does, no matter the reason. Still, it's why he runs.

Makoto waits on the other side, looking older than his age because of his imposing height and wide shoulders. When he dives in after Rin's finish, he swims in his typical style, which is with all of his power, all of the time. Then, he suddenly stops before reaching the end of the lane and stands, breathing hard. Rin jumps into the pool and swims to him, but Makoto says he's just out of shape. Haruka, however, can tell that despite smiling, Makoto is upset. Even so, he simply walks away.

Back at school, the class is making bricks for the flowerbed. As they knead the clay that will turn red in the kiln from iron oxidation, Rin approaches. He asks Haruka yet again about participating in the medley relay at the next tournament. Haruka and Makoto have already started participating in tournaments, but in individual races -- Makoto winning twice at breaststroke and Haruka winning three times at freestyle.

Haruka reminds Rin that he only swims free and Rin says it's fine before turning to Makoto who asks about the butterfly component. Rin tells him that he, himself, will swim butterfly while Makoto can swim backstroke and Haruka freestyle. They'll figure out the breaststroke. Makoto grows quiet in the face of Rin's pushiness, but Haruka firmly tells Rin not to make assumptions.

Rin's voice grows loud as he restates that Haruka can swim free, causing the rest of the class to stare at him. Rin stands and suggests that everyone write a phrase or word on their brick in a free manner. He waits for someone to call his bluff, but Aki says it's a good idea and everyone goes along with it. Haruka and Makoto act like nothing has happened and the subject is dropped.

As Haruka runs to swim practice, he's joined by Nagisa, a 5th-grader who also comes to the swim club. Haruka doesn't know why Nagisa runs or is always so happy. When Nagisa begins chatting, Haruka wishes he wouldn't. When Nagisa asks if he can join Haruka in his daily run, Haruka can't think of a way to say no, but he speeds up, thinking to outrun his kohai. Nagisa sprints past his senpai at the very end, surprising Haruka.

At the pool, Nagisa approaches Rin, who peers over to where Haruka is swimming his elegant crawl while Aki stands poolside. Nagisa asks about the tournament and begs to be a part of the relay team, swimming the breaststroke. Rin refuses, but Nagisa insists. Finally, Rin just walks away hearing Nagisa call him a "meanie" behind his back.

Aki encourages Haruka to participate in the relay, but Haruka is non-committal. Back in the locker room, Nagisa tells the others that he and Haruka run together, though Haruka qualifies his answer by saying that Nagisa must keep up. Rin is amused, annoying Haruka, so Makoto says he'll run, too. After Haruka and Nagisa leave, Rin again pressures Makoto to convince Haruka to join the relay team.

At home, Makoto buries the two goldfish he'd been tending. He apologizes to the fish, feeling terrible. Looking at the water in the fishbowl, he thinks about Haruka nearly drowning in the river and, all at once, he must see him. He runs outside and turns towards the stone steps leading upwards. Hearing his name, he looks up to see Haruka beneath the torii. He knows it's just coincidence, but part of him hopes that Haruka had been waiting for him. When he asks directly, Haruka denies it. Makoto says that seeing Haruka makes him feel better and Haruka chuckles. Looking into Haruka's eyes, Makoto thinks he can tell what Haruka is feeling.

Then Haruka asks if Makoto is afraid of the water and Makoto realizes that it's Haruka who knows how Makoto feels about things, but pretends he doesn't. Makoto shares that he's been afraid of the water ever since they saw a funeral procession together, and he grows terrified when he thinks of Haruka's near-drowning. To himself, Makoto admits that he's constantly afraid that water, one day, will take Haruka away. He covers his fear by telling Haruka that he's going to swim with Rin in the relay, but it's no good if Haruka isn't there.

Haruka accepts Makoto's words and feelings with a cool attitude, and Makoto apologizes for saying something weird. As he turns to head home, he hears Haruka say he'll think about joining the relay team. Just knowing this and having openly shared a bit of himself, Makoto feels better.