Gather 'round!
Okay, everybody here?
Makoto, introduce yourself.
R-Right!
Uh...
Hello there.
I'm Tachibana Makoto, and I'll be helping to coach you starting today.
It's nice to meet you!
Nice to meet you!
What?
The Locomotive of a Twist!
Mako-chan, you started helping out at Goro-chan's yesterday?
Yep. That's right.
Haru-chan, did you know?
I hadn't heard.
I was going to tell you all when I saw you today.
But with regionals coming up, are you sure you can do it?
He's right! Will you still be able to train?
I'll only help there when we don't have practice.
It won't have any impact on my training, so I'll be fine.
But what made you start doing that?
Well, yesterday at practice...
Makoto-senpai!
Mako-chan, go for it!
How was that?
Your dive timing is still late.
We really aren't making much progress, are we?
Let's try it again!
Right!
Is something wrong?
It's just, these are your times from the prefectural tournament.
But Coach Sasabe hasn't been by lately, so I still haven't gotten to
go over them with him.
I see.
It's always dark by the time we finish practice.
I'll check in on him on my way home tonight.
You wouldn't mind?
Then, thank you!
Good evening!
Good evening.
Coach Sasabe!
Hey! If it isn't Makoto!
The swimming club sure is busy!
And I'm definitely happy about that,
but I'm so short-handed, every day is hectic.
Sorry I haven't been able to come see you guys at practice.
No worries.
Coach Sasabe, these are our times from the prefectural tournament...
Coach Sasabe! Hurry up!
Hold on just a sec!
I'll be right there!
Coach Sasabe!
Huh?
Is there anything I can help with?
R-Really?!
Of course, if you think I can do it.
So that's what happened.
Coach Sasabe's done so much for us, I thought it'd be nice
to help him for a change.
But we can't let you do all the work yourself!
We'll help, too!
Right? You think so too, don't you, Rei-chan?
But of course!
Thank you both.
But aren't there other things that both of you need to focus on?
But...
Haruka-senpai, aren't you concerned, too?
I just swim.
Makoto should do what he's set out to do.
Haru-chan...
Haruka-senpai...
Yeah.
I guess you're right.
Before worrying about others, we should worry about ourselves.
What I need to do is
be able to manage both studies and swimming at the same time.
I'll work on that first!
I'm with Nagisa-kun.
I need to improve my swimming by the start of regionals.
So Makoto-senpai, you should accomplish what you've
set out to accomplish, as well!
Nagisa... Rei...
But it sure sounds like fun!
I bet you get to play with the kids a lot.
Makoto-senpai isn't going there just to play!
I know, I know!
All right, let's train hard today, too!
Yeah!
Yamazaki-senpai!
What are you doing here?
Your fatigue is ruining your form.
W-Were you watching me swim?
You won't get better by just swimming recklessly like an idiot.
Take a break.
I-I'm sorry, but my time is among the slowest on the team,
so I need to swim more than the others to catch up.
If you overdo it,
you won't be able to do what you could before.
I'll coach you.
What did you say?
I said I'll coach the rest of your practice.
After you take a break, that is.
You want to swim with Rin, don't you?
Okay!
Is Ai training on his own again?
You're letting your legs open too wide again!
Sousuke...
Better.
We're ready to practice!
Let's have a great practice!
Coach Tachibana, what are we doing today?
Why don't we start by practicing our butterfly kick?
Okay!
Thank you very much!
Bye-bye, Coach Tachibana!
See you later!
Bye-bye!
Bye!
That's right...
He was afraid to swim without a kickboard.
Hayato-kun?
What's the matter?
Didn't you have fun today?
I...
hate swimming.
Hayato!
Kisumi-onii-chan!
Sorry I'm late!
Kisumi?
Shigino Kisumi?
Wait, are you...
Makoto?
Yeah!
It's been so long, Kisumi!
Yeah, it has!
I don't think I've seen you since middle school!
Kisumi?
Yeah, your old classmate from middle school, Shigino Kisumi.
Oh...
His younger brother is in the class I'm teaching,
so I saw him yesterday for the first time in ages.
Whatever.
Weren't you two close when you were in the same class in middle school?
Nope.
Really?
Well, if you have some time on Sunday, you should come by too, Haru.
Huh?
Only if I have time.
Haru! You came!
You forgot your lunch.
Your mom asked me to bring it to you.
Oh, that's right! Thanks!
Makoto! And Haruka, too!
Good morning!
How about it? If you've got time,
why not go for a swim again?
Sure.
Makoto, how're the kids looking?
They're all improving so fast. I'm really surprised.
Glad to hear it!
Is Hayato able to swim now, too?
Hayato?
Kisumi's little brother.
His name is Hayato-kun.
He still has some trouble swimming without a kickboard.
Whoa, look at the time!
I've got some interviews for the part-time position, so I've gotta go.
Sorry, Makoto! Thanks again for your help!
Hang around and enjoy yourself, Haruka!
Hayato-kun told me he hated swimming.
It's actually kind of been bothering me.
What do you think, Haru?
Don't resist.
Don't resist the water. Accept its presence.
That advice is so like you, Haru.
It's time to start, so I'd better go, too.
Okay.
Thank you very much!
Let's get ice cream on the way home!
Hey, Makoto!
Kisumi!
How's Hayato looking out there?
He's still afraid to swim without a kickboard.
I see... I figured as much.
Hey, um...
There's something I've been wondering.
Is there a particular reason Hayato-kun hates swimming?
If you know, I'd like you to tell me.
It was probably my fault.
A while back, our family went to the ocean, and we rode on a boat.
Locker Room
Hayato got too excited and lost his balance,
and he fell off the boat.
He started to drown.
The water wasn't too deep and we were able to save him quickly,
so it didn't turn into anything serious.
But it must have really scared him.
So that's what happened.
He started to really hate his swimming class at school,
so I want to watch over him
in these swimming lessons until he learns to swim at his own pace.
What happened was my fault, for not watching him properly.
Kisumi...
But if Hayato really hates this, then I wouldn't mind letting him stop.
If it's stressing him out...
I...
want to teach Hayato-kun how to swim.
Makoto?
Hayato-kun sort of reminds me of the way I used to be.
That's why I don't want him to give up.
Not him, and not you, either.
You really do love swimming, don't you, Makoto?
Yep!
Then I'll leave Hayato to you, Makoto.
If there's anything I can do, let me know.
I will. Thanks.
Haru!
Haru?
Wow, it's been so long!
This really brings back memories of middle school!
I remember how lonesome you got after Rin went to study abroad!
Aw, don't get mad!
Kisumi, you went to the same grade school as Rin, right?
Yep! And so did Sousuke.
Makoto.
Oh! It's getting late!
Let's go home.
You're so cold, Haru.
We haven't seen each other in ages!
We'll see each other again.
True!
Kisumi-onii-chan!
Hayato!
All right, see you later, Makoto!
You too, Haru!
Shall we get going, too?
How to get a kid who hates the water to learn to swim?
Can you guys think of any good ideas?
It's simple!
First, get him to be able to float without tensing up.
Then, teach him to balance his body so his hips don't sink,
and from there, you just need him to kick his legs to—
Wait, you can swim, Gou-chan?
No. So?
Then there's no authenticity to your advice!
What advice did you give, Haru-chan?
Don't resist the water. Accept its presence.
That's very Haruka-senpai, isn't it?
In this case, wouldn't the advice of Rei-chan,
who only recently learned to swim, be the most effective?
Good point!
That's right! Really, it took you all long enough to realize that!
Do you have some advice, then?
Indeed!
What is it?
Tell us, Rei-chan!
I was unable to swim because I always sank no matter what I did,
which makes this situation different from mine! Therefore—
Oh, I see.
Yes, that's true.
That makes sense.
Wait a second!
Have you figured out what to do yet?
I haven't even gotten to the actual advice,
so why are you reacting like that?!
I do have some ideas, but...
Well, because...
Giving Hayato-kun everyone's advice might be a little difficult.
What was it like for you?
If you think back on that, you'll probably know what to do.
In my case...
It was because I was able to see the sky while I was swimming backstroke
that I stopped being scared.
But starting with backstroke isn't the normal way to teach someone to swim.
So what?
You should just do it your own way.
Haru...
You're right.
I'll give it a try!
Okay!
So as our last activity today, why don't we try a relay?
A relay?
What's a relay?
What is that?
That sounds fun!
It is! So let's get ready!
First, we'll split into two sides.
After you swim from here to the other end,
you'll high-five the next swimmer.
You can let your feet touch the bottom if you need to.
Okay, is everyone ready?
Yes!
Okay then. Start!
Go for it!
Okay!
You can do it!
Hayato-kun, do you want to try swimming a different way today?
You won't have to put your face underwater,
and you can see the sky as you do it.
I couldn't do something like that.
I'll be holding you up, so don't worry.
I definitely won't let you sink.
I can't... Because... Because...
I'm scared!
You'll be okay.
I promise, I won't let go of your hand!
You promise it won't be scary?
Yep. I promise.
Hayato-kun!
You can do it!
Go for it!
Here we go.
Just kick with your legs and move yourself forward.
Hayato, try opening our eyes slowly.
Awesome! You did the backstroke!
Hayato!
Okay, last leg! You can do it!
Go for it!
Hayato!
Thank you very much!
Hayato?
Um, I... I'm not
afraid to swim anymore!
I had fun!
That's because you tried so hard, Hayato.
Thank you, Coach Tachibana!
Sure!
Good work today!
Good work!
Oh, Makoto!
I just hired a new part-timer, so you're off the hook!
You can make next week your last class.
What? I thought you'd be glad.
Yeah...
Okay, take care getting home.
I will.
Onii-chan!
Ran! Ren! What are you doing here?
Haru-chan...
He brought us here!
They said they wanted to see you coaching.
Thanks, Haru.
Ran, Ren, make sure you behave, okay?
Okay!
Gather 'round!
So, I know it's pretty sudden,
but today is actually my last day swimming with you guys.
What?!
But why?!
I wanted to swim the relay again!
Come visit us again, Coach Tachibana!
You have to!
You have to! You have to!
Promise, Coach Tachibana?
Yep! I promise to come back and see you.
Yay!
Okay, that's all for today.
Thank you very much!
It went by so fast.
Makoto.
Haru.
Thanks!
Ran and Ren are waiting in the lobby.
I'll be right there.
Haru! Makoto!
Kisumi!
I just heard that today's your last day?
Yeah, it is.
Hayato was really sad.
He said he wanted you to keep teaching him how to swim.
It makes me really happy to hear that.
It's thanks to you that Hayato is finally able to swim.
Seriously, thank you.
Nah.
It's been ages since we met up,
but you two really haven't changed!
You're both still swimming competitively, right?
Both Haru and I are.
I thought so!
In fact, we're both competing at regionals this year.
Wow! Figures that you two would make it!
Rin and Yamazaki-kun will be competing for Samezuka.
Wow! Wait, Sousuke too?
Yeah.
Oh, then Sousuke's shoulder must have healed, huh?
His shoulder... healed?
I ran into him at the hospital a while back.
Huh?
Sousuke?
But if he's competing in tournaments, then it must have healed.
I'm glad.
Oh, I'd better go!
Well, Makoto, Haru, see you later!
Nanase, what do you intend to do?
Are you prepared to cast aside everything else
and swim for a dream you cannot surrender to anyone else?
If you're not prepared to do that, you have no right to stand on this stage.
Dream?
Future? I...
Next episode: Forming a Standstill!
Forming a Standstill!
What is it that I swim for?