The water is alive.
Once you dive in, it will immediately bare its fangs and attack.
But there's nothing to fear.
After all, this water has been tamed.
It's been defanged and neutered.
For me...
It's not enough.
Uh...
Ah, there it is!
I'm heading out!
Stormy Dive-Dash!
Good morning, Tamura-san.
Good morning, Makoto-chan. Come to pick him up again?
Here, take this.
Oh, that's okay!
Thank you...
Hey, now... Oh, all right.
It's already spring.
Not again.
Excuse me.
I'm coming in.
Good morning, Haru-ch—
Don't call me -chan.
Right, sorry.
Figures...
What?
Nothing. I guess you didn't get to swim much this winter, did you?
We don't have time to drag our feet, Haru.
I'm done changing.
Good. We'd better run to the sta...tion...
Why are you putting on an apron?!
Because I'm going to grill mackerel and eat it, obviously.
Samezuka Academy
I just said we don't have the time!
Haruka-senpai and Makoto-senpai are late.
And aren't you overeating, Nagisa-kun?
Want some, Rei-chan?
I'm fine, thank you.
If you eat all that, you won't have room for lunch, you know.
I'll be fine!
Nagisa! Rei!
Sorry we kept you waiting!
Samezuka Academy
All right!
What? Isn't there anyone here who can beat me?
No need to hold back, now!
Guys! Over here!
This is the third-years' send-off race?
Yep.
Looks like a vicious battle.
What kind of harrowing race is it?
A 100m race, 100 times.
It's a Samezuka tradition to continue until someone beats the captain.
Rin!
Hey. Thanks for coming.
Have you raced him yet, Rin-chan?
No, not yet.
But logically speaking, racing 100 meters
100 times can't be possible.
Captain Mikoshiba defies logic.
I see.
Hey! You guys came to watch, too?
How about a race to mark the occasion?
Who, us?
But we're not even on your team...
Hey, don't be shy!
Let's go, Samezuka versus Iwatobi, 400m freestyle medley relay!
Matsuoka, you're swimming in this one!
Sure.
Who else wants in?
M-Me!
All right! Come on over, Nitori!
W-Wait a second...
Okay, who else is on board? Nakagawa, how about you?
We already told you, we don't...
Yes! Absolutely!
When did he...
Oh, my!
His triceps are staring at me!
He was wearing his swimsuit again.
Guess there's no helping it.
You said it.
Huh?
Actually...
Why do you have those?!
I had a feeling Haru would want to swim, so...
Traitors!
I told you, there's no need to be shy!
Nitori...
Right!
You're mistaken! I'm honestly not being shy—
Take him.
This way.
The Samezuka versus Iwatobi freestyle relay!
There, there.
Don't you "there, there" me!
Ready!
Set!
Go! Yeah!
Makoto's in the lead.
Yeah! He's pulling ahead!
Makoto-senpai's front crawl is fast, too!
I'm not losing to you, Ai-chan!
Please don't call me that!
Well, I'll be going ahead.
Ai...
Just keep calm.
Okay!
You're bending your knees too much, dummy.
I'll go next.
Huh?
I'll leave the last leg to you.
Captain...
Ryugazaki-kun can finally swim freestyle now?
Nope, he can't.
But isn't this a freestyle relay?
Yes.
I only swim butterfly!
Huh? What does that mean? Is he okay?
It's freestyle, so the butterfly is fine!
Interesting. I'll just have to swim butterfly too, then!
He's closing the gap!
Rei-chan's goggles are slipping again!
You can do it, Rei-chan!
Rei!
Fight, Captain!
This is our first freestyle relay against you guys, isn't it?
Yeah.
Sorry, but we'll be winning today, Haru.
I don't care about winning.
Jeez...
Go!
Rei!
Captain! You're almost there!
Man!
So frustrating!
We were so close!
But it sure was fun.
It was.
All of you
have really worked hard.
Today marks the retirement of us third-years.
All of us leave here with no regrets.
However!
Your peaceful days won't continue long!
This April, a fearsome new face will enter this club!
So enjoy the rest of your lives while you can!
What kind of villain is he supposed to be?
Matsuoka!
Yes, sir.
Starting tomorrow, you are the new captain.
Take good care of my team!
Yes, sir...
Rin-chan's the new captain?!
He doesn't really seem like the captain type to me...
What are you talking about?
However you look at him, my brother's muscles are totally captain-class!
Just his muscles?!
The Iwatobi High School Film Society presents its masterwork!
First-year Club Assembly
Ten years in the making,
a creature approaches
like none you have ever seen!
Amazing!
You're too easily impressed, Haruka-senpai.
We should've made a recruitment video like that.
Come on now, Haruka-senpai.
Are you listening to me, Haruka-senpai?!
As if we had the time or skill to do something like that.
At this point, all we can do
is handle this our own way.
Have faith in Gou-chan!
Yeah!
Right!
We look forward to welcoming new members!
Next, the swim club will introduce itself.
Our swim club began last spring,
when we repaired the pool and started up the club ourselves.
I am the swim club's manager, Matsuoka.
And this is...
Our treasurer!
Second-year, Hazuki Nagisa!
Come, All! To the Swim Club!
My specialty is the breaststroke!
My charm point is my calf muscles, for sure!
Our vice-captain!
Third-year, Nanase Haruka.
My specialty is freestyle.
My charm point is...
my triceps.
Our secretary!
Second-year, Ryugazaki Rei!
My specialty is the butterfly stroke!
My charm points are my deltoids and biceps!
And finally, our captain!
Third-year, Tachibana Makoto.
My specialty is the backstroke!
My charm point is
my back muscles!
We look forward to welcoming new members with fabulous muscles!
Why isn't anyone coming?
I told you we shouldn't have done the "charm point" thing!
Don't pretend you weren't enjoying it!
Now, now...
But the swim club really does have a disadvantage in this season.
We can't even have people come to watch us swim.
Does anyone have any other ideas for recruiting members?
Offer a year's worth of Iwatobi-chans.
No one wants that.
Draw a comic strip on our recruitment posters.
We tried that last year.
We could parade through the school halls in our swimsuits.
That could work!
No way!
Don't be stingy, Rei-kun.
That's not the issue!
Last twenty-five, go!
In order to join our swim club,
your time needs to be better than the Samezuka standard.
We'll time you now, so swim using your fastest stroke.
Yes, sir!
Hang on a minute!
Why me?
Because I chose you.
But it wouldn't be right for me to be captain—
Quit your whining.
Who was it that said he'd take responsibility for his actions?
I just...
Weren't you going to make our team the best around?
Matsuoka...
I want to entrust this team to you.
Captain?
Is something wrong?
Ai...
Can you not call me that?
Huh?
Just call me what you did before.
Sure, I can do that.
Anyway, there sure are a lot of people hoping to join this year!
That reminds me, Captain Mikoshiba said we'd be
getting a really strong new member.
Do you think he's one of them?!
You'd better work hard, or you might get surpassed by a first-year.
R-Right!
Faculty Office
You want to open the pool?
That's right! Just a little early this year!
We really need it to attract new members!
I understand that, but it's still too cold to swim, isn't it?
I can swim.
I'll just think of it as winter swimming!
Please help us!
Huh?! Er...
In that case...
How about Coach Sasabe's swimming club?
If I recall, it's opening soon, isn't it?
Hm...
There we go!
Oh? Were you hoping to join the club?
Unfortunately, we're not opening until next month.
But if you want to fill out an application...
No, I just...
You're not here to join the club?
This used to be the Iwatobi Swimming Club, right?
Ah, so you've heard of it.
It went under, and was about to be made into a health resort.
But last year, in the middle of the demolition,
the company handling the construction went bankrupt, too.
So I used my grandpa's squid fishing boat as collateral
to buy what was left of it, and rebuilt the club myself!
Those boys taught me with that race last year
that I need to be a little more wild and free with the way
I live my life, too...
Huh?
Coach Sasabe's new club would be great, but I think
we need to show potential members our pool first.
Indeed. Even if we don't have approval to fill it with water yet.
Don't worry!
I'm sure Amakata-sensei will take care of it!
Then I'm sure we'll get lots of new members!
Right, Haru-chan?
I just hope people who want to swim will join.
That again?
But it's true.
If we don't have more members by our third year,
we won't officially be recognized as a club.
Worse yet, we won't be able to compete in relays!
We need to be more aware of the urgency!
What? You want new members?
Just put up good results and they'll come to you!
That's easier said than done!
So what was it you wanted to talk about, Coach Sasabe?
The History of the Iwatobi Swimming Club
I'm saying I'll help you put up some good results!
The Iwatobi Swimming Club is back!
You betcha! And it's called...
Iwatobi SC Returns!
I got the pool up and running so you can use it before we open.
Goro-chan! Thank you so much!
Stop that!
Thank you very much!
Use this to train hard and
show us some good results during the public tournament next week!
And— Hey!
Haru! Wait!
Listen when someone's talking to you!
I'll swim too! I'll swim too!
Don't strip right here!
Aww!
For today's public tournament, only our new members will participate—
Rin-chan!
Wha—
In short,
I want inexperienced members to get
a better feel for competitions here.
That will be all.
Yes, sir!
Rin-san was surprisingly captain-like, wasn't he?
"Give it your best, or I'll beat the crap out of you!"
I thought he'd say something like that.
He wouldn't say that.
You kids are late!
Huh? You're swimming too, Goro-chan?
You bet I am!
There are races for the general public, too.
This feels so much more relaxed than the prefectural tournament!
It's a nice change, isn't it?
Though it's a bit lacking in terms of muscles on display.
I'm disappointed there's no relay event.
Me, too.
But at least there'll be one at prefecturals!
Trying to ambush me here, Rin?
I've been waiting for you, Haru.
We're racing in adjoining lanes again.
Yeah.
You guys didn't get to swim much over the winter, did you?
I can give you a handicap if you want.
There's no need.
Even if I couldn't swim, I kept training.
You're actually pretty fired up, aren't you?
Okay. Let's see the fruits of all that—
I'm definitely gonna win!
You mean I'm gonna win!
You're not gonna beat me!
Since we can't all race in a relay today,
this showdown is between you and me.
I don't care about my time.
Are you still saying stuff like that?
Even if you don't care about winning or times,
you think no one can beat you in the water, don't you?
I'm gonna make that cold face of yours heat up.
Haru-chan and Rin-chan are up next!
Onii-chan!
Haru!
Haruka-senpai!
Ready...
They're both so fast!
Rin's pulling ahead...
Don't give in, Haru-chan!
Haru!
Haruka-senpai!
They're on a whole different level from the other swimmers!
Haru-chan's amazing. He's catching up to Rin-chan!
They came in at...
...the exact same time!
The swimmers in lanes 4 and 5, Nanase-kun and Matsuoka-kun,
have just set a tournament record.
Haru...
See? You're all fired up now.
Not really...
You were amazing, Haruka-senpai!
You broke your own record and tied with my brother!
All of you did an excellent job!
If only it hadn't been so long since I last swam...
Don't worry, Sasabe-san.
There's this famous saying...
When I went into the turn, my feet hit the wall and...
Rin!
Go on ahead.
Okay.
What's up?
I need to talk to you. Come to Iwatobi High later.
What for?
Are we settling the score there?
You'll know when you come.
Hey, Haru! I'm here!
Come out!
Oh, come on...
He asked me here, and where is he now?
Huh? Looks like it's open.
Bring him!
Skree!
What the... Hey! Let me go!
What— Hey!
Come along quietly.
Haru-chan, the sentence ending!
Come along quietly, moge.
Don't "moge" me! Let go!
Oh, no! Don't take my brother away!
Gou! You're here, too?!
Rin, stop kicking!
Will you guys give it a—
When we were in grade school, you once said
you wanted to swim in a pool of cherry blossoms.
The idea was to open the pool early so we could attract new members.
Thanks to Ama-chan's hard work!
Though it still resulted in zero new members.
But since we got to see our pool of cherry blossoms as a result,
we wanted to show it to you, too.
You guys...
Rin-san, go for it.
Go for it!
I guess I'll let you swim in it just this once.
Well, I do want to swim in it, but it's still kind of cold.
Onii-chan, take that stuff off!
Hey! Quit pushing!
No need to hold back!
He's right! You don't have to be bashful!
I'm not being bashful!
Hey, seriously, stop—
It's cold!
It doesn't look like it's going to stop soon.
After all our preparations!
Now we can't...
Could it be that you attract the rain, Rei-kun?
I do not!
The weather report didn't say anything about rain today.
That reminds me...
Have you two thought about what you'll do after graduation?
Not really.
You can't not think about it.
You're aiming to swim at the world level, right, Rin?
Yeah. Since I wasted some time getting here,
nationals this summer will be my last chance.
If I can make it to nationals, I could get scouted.
I'll set new records there and grab hold of my dream!
Haru, Makoto...
What do you guys plan to do?
I...
haven't really decided yet.
More like you haven't even thought about it.
Aww, all the cherry blossoms fell.
We'll have to clean the pool again.
Haru, we should go, too.
Yeah.
So I saw this on TV yesterday...
Matsuoka, thanks for lending me this.
Sure.
Take your seats.
Today, I'd like to introduce a new transfer student.
This is Yamazaki Sousuke-kun,
Yamazaki
who is transferring here from Tokyo.
Sousuke
Please make him feel welcome, class.
Sousuke?
The monster Iwa-Moge suddenly appears before Rin!
To rescue the kidnapped Gou, Rin is reborn as a cyborg—
Haruka-senpai, please stop with that!
Hey, hey, I want to know who that transfer student who came to Samezuka is!
Next episode, "The Stroke of a Chance Encounter!"
The Stroke of a Chance Encounter!
The true identity of Samezuka's
powerful new swim team member will soon be revealed, moge!
Enough with the Iwa-Moge monster speak already!
Haru-chan, are you actually enjoying this?