I don't believe this.
There's no way!
He broke Iwashimizu-senpai's record!
Nitori-senpai is amazing!
Looks like someone's coaching was pretty effective.
Shut up.
That was awesome, Nitori-senpai!
After that, you're totally going to be on the relay team at regionals!
That's jumping the gun a bit, Momo-kun... But thank you.
What kind of training did you do?
Do you have some kind of awesome secret technique?!
No. Yamazaki-senpai just coached me a little...
No fair! Coach me, too!
What a pain...
Senpai! Pretty, pretty please?!
Ai...
It's not set in stone yet that you'll swim in regionals.
Don't lose focus.
Right!
Are you boys still practicing?
Miss Ama-chan!
The guidance counselor will scold you
for staying past the school's closing time, you know.
Regionals are next week.
So we want to use every moment we can to train.
The more we practice our exchanges, the better we'll perform.
One more time.
Okay!
Practice your exchanges?
That's right.
Our only chance at surpassing the top schools
Here I go!
is by shaving off enough time from our exchanges.
We need to learn to anticipate the timing of the person before us,
so that we're already starting to move into our dives
by the time they touch the platform.
We'll ideally have zero seconds between touch and dive.
But if you cut the timing that close,
what if you dive in before the touch?
We'd be disqualified.
But we can't let ourselves be afraid of that.
If we can master this timing, we can cut our time down further.
Oh, you're still practicing at this hour?
The guidance counselor?
And the principal, too?!
W-We're sorry! We were just getting ready to leave!
No, no, you're fine.
More importantly, Nanase-kun,
we hear that scouts have been contacting you.
That's very impressive! You're the pride of our school.
We're all looking forward to your performance at regionals.
Give it your all!
Okay.
That reminds me, it looks like at regionals,
Nitori-kun will likely be on Samezuka's relay team.
I get to battle against Ai-chan?
I can't wait!
Though I guess our toughest opponents are still Rin-chan and Sou-chan.
Why are you calling him "Sou-chan"?
Then Sousuke's shoulder must have healed, huh?
His name's "Sousuke." Hence "Sou-chan."
Makoto-senpai, what's the matter?
But still...
Oh, it's nothing...
Then what else would we call him, Rei-chan?
Gou-chan, have you heard anything about Yamazaki-kun?
Why would you ask me that?
Like what?
Can't think of anything, can you?
Well, it's fine if you haven't heard anything!
So what's wrong with calling Sou-chan "Sou-chan"?
I wonder if what Kisumi told us is true.
Who knows? It doesn't matter either way.
If he can swim, he must be fine.
You're right.
We need to worry about ourselves right now.
This hotel is huge!
It's quite a step up from our hotel last year.
The Forming of a Slump!
You don't think only Gou-chan and Miss Ama-chan are staying here,
and we're getting stuck in a tent?
Like at our training camp last year?!
What are you talking about?
That's right. You're the stars of this show, after all.
However, there is a famous saying that goes:
"There is nothing more expensive than that which comes free, for it is priceless!"
So make sure you all put up good results, okay?
Right...
Gou-san!
Onii-chan's team!
What, you guys are staying here, too?
Yep! Good to see you, Ai-chan!
Like I keep saying, please don't call me that!
That reminds me, Sousuke-kun.
I saw you at the station near our house the other day.
What were you up to?
Oh, nothing.
Gou-san! Please pay attention to me, not Yamazaki-senpai!
Mikoshiba Momotarou!
I'm the Star!
My favorite ice cream bar is the chocolate pudding flavor!
Gatagata-kun
My favorite hamburger is the triple-cheese burger!
And...
My favorite type of girl is...
We're going.
See you later.
Lemme go!
O-Okay.
Once we get back to our rooms, gather up.
We're having a meeting.
Yes, sir!
We got plenty of funds from Amakata-sensei, so feel free to eat whatever you want!
Whatever we want?!
I want this.
How cute!
Chub mackerel...
Haru...
I'd love to tell our guys that, too!
Captain Mikoshiba?
Why is he here?
I'm sure.
Gou-kun! And Nanase-kun and the team!
Good evening!
And who is this?
This is Toudou-san, who oversees all scouting for my university!
A scout?
As an alum, I thought I'd introduce some of Samezuka's swimmers to him.
Nanase-kun? As in, from Iwatobi High School?
Yes!
He's heard of Haruka-senpai?
Of course I have.
Ah, so you're Nanase-kun!
Nanase Haruka, the freestyle swimmer.
Who could forget you after the way you swam at the prefectural tournament?
We, along with other colleges, I'm sure, have had our eye on you.
I sense that your talent has infinite potential.
We can't allow that talent to go to waste.
I'm positive you'll climb to far greater heights.
We've got high expectations for your race tomorrow!
Nakagawa Shouta.
Yes, sir!
Minami Kazuki.
Yes, sir!
Ryouno Dai.
Yep!
That's our roster for the freestyle relay.
Next, the medley roster.
Backstroke, Mikoshiba Momotarou.
Yes, sir!
Breaststroke...
Nitori Aiichirou.
Yes, sir!
Butterfly, Yamazaki Sousuke.
Yep.
And I'll be swimming freestyle.
Get plenty of rest tonight and prepare for tomorrow.
Dismissed!
Yes, sir!
Looking forward to swimming with you, Nitori-senpai!
Yeah! I am, too!
Sousuke...
Let's swim so we'll have no regrets tomorrow.
Yeah.
Haru?
Sorry, but can you bring me a towel?
Haru?
Excuse me.
I'm terribly sorry!
Your shoulder hasn't healed yet?
What are you talking about?
I ran into Kisumi the other day.
He told me.
Damn him...
Wait.
It won't have any effect on the match.
But...
Don't breathe a word of this to Rin.
What? Haru's not here?
When I got out of the shower, he was gone.
He's probably gone for a jog or something.
For crying out loud!
Tomorrow's an important match with a lot of scouts watching!
What's he doing messing around the night before?
Did you want to talk with him about something?
I just wanted to find out whether he's made up his mind yet.
But it looks like he's still running away, as always.
Jeez, what is he thinking?
But you know, I think in his own way, Haru is thinking things over.
Even if he doesn't say it out loud.
If he doesn't say anything, how am I supposed to know?
So, how about you?
Huh?
At your skill level, at least one or two scouts should come talk to you.
I...
Haru-chan! Mako-chan! Listen to this... Oh...
Rin-chan?!
Rin-san?!
You two! Don't stay up late the night before a tournament!
It's only eleven!
Did something happen?
I just dropped in to talk to Haru for a bit.
But it looks like he's out, so I'm heading back.
Later.
Hang on, Rin-chan!
We won't lose tomorrow.
That's my line.
You're the pride of our school. Give it your all!
We can't allow that talent to go to waste.
We've got high expectations!
Too bright...
It's finally time, Haru.
Why are you saying that now?
Today's the big match!
I bet lots of scouts will be watching!
I don't care.
Logically speaking, it's theoretically impossible for you not to
catch the scouts' eyes, Haruka-senpai!
That's enough. Stop.
Nanase-san! We're expecting great things from you, too!
So swim already.
There's a famous saying that goes:
"You mustn't run away. You will only find yourself in a dead-end alley."
Haruka-senpai, look. Onii-chan is waiting for you!
Come on, let's go, Haru!
On your marks...
Go on, Nanase-kun. Swim now and show us.
Show us your freestyle!
It's finally time!
I'm getting nervous.
What's wrong, Haru?
Nothing...
Hey! We came to cheer for you guys!
Hana-chan!
We took the very first train.
We were sleepy, but we hurried!
Thanks so much, guys!
Huh? Where's Coach Sasabe?
The swimming club's going to be busy today, so he said he couldn't come.
Aw, how could you, Goro-chan?!
Hey, aren't those university scouts over there?
There are some over there, too.
There sure are a bunch here...
Yeah. It means if we swim well today, all those schools will reach out to us!
Haru?
Hey, Haru!
You sure you're okay?
Yeah. It's nothing.
It's just about time.
Let's go, Haru-chan!
Go get 'em, guys!
Right!
Then, let's each do the best we can and stay focused!
Yeah!
Stag beetles! Stag beetles! La, la, la!
Ow! Nii-chan?!
Are you turning in your relay order sheet?
Lemme see.
Hey! Give it back, Nii-chan!
You're gonna be in it!
'Course I am! I can even match you at backstroke!
So this is Matsuoka's ultimate team, huh?
Ultimate team?
Rin-senpai! Yamazaki-senpai! Nitori-senpai!
Let's swim together, as the ultimate team!
I was wondering where you were. What brought this on?
I just heard about it from my brother!
About what happened at last year's tournament!
It sounds impossible if you think about it.
But when you guys put your strength together, miracles happen!
That's awesome!
I was so moved!
I couldn't just stand around after hearing that!
I get how you feel, so take it easy.
Well, we're all here now.
Let's do some practice exchanges in the warm-up pool.
Let's go right now! Hurry, Nitori-senpai!
Oh, no, I'm getting a little nervous now!
What are you getting nervous over warm-ups for?
All right, let's go!
Yeah!
What's wrong, Sousuke?
Sorry. I messed up my timing.
That's not like you.
I know. I'm gonna go grab a drink.
We will now begin the third heat of the men's 100m backstroke.
Makoto-senpai!
Mako-chan!
Ready...
Go!
Go, go, go, go, go, Makoto!
Swim, swim, swim, swim, swim, Makoto!
Last leg, last leg, last leg, last leg!
Great job!
4th Tachibana Makoto
This is on a totally different level than prefecturals...
That's regionals for you.
Looks like Makoto didn't make it to the finals.
Yeah...
Haru, have you made up your mind yet?
Not really.
What do you mean, not really?
After prefecturals, a bunch of scouts started contacting me.
You must've gotten calls too, right?
Fine.
We'll talk after the race, then.
I'm going on ahead.
We will now begin the fifth heat of the men's 100m freestyle.
Onii-chan!
This time, Rin-san and Haruka-senpai are in different heats.
Haru-chan will be in the next one.
Welcome back!
Good work out there.
Thanks.
Rin-san's race is starting!
Ready...
Go!
And swim!
Samezuka Academy
Swim!
That's amazing. He's already taken the lead!
They're heading into the turn!
Go!
He increased his lead even further during the turn!
No one can even compete with Rin-chan's speed!
He's so fast!
All right!
1st Matsuoka Rin
Onii-chan!
That time would be enough to win the finals!
He definitely made it to finals, then!
The captain's amazing!
Awesome, awesome, Matsuoka! Yeah!
Yes!
Next, we will begin the sixth heat of the men's 100m freestyle.
Next up is Haruka-senpai!
Ready...
Go!
I...
Haru-chan...
Haru!
What do you think you were doing?
Why the hell did you do that?!
It has nothing to do with you.
Like hell it doesn't!
This was an important match with all the scouts watching!
What do I care about that?
Because scouts were watching?
So I can set records in front of a crowd?
None of that is what I swim for.
Then what do you swim for?
I swim for myself and for my friends!
Then swim for those friends, and for your own sake!
Do you not understand that what you do out there is going to impact your future?
Don't you have a dream?!
Take this more seriously!
I know you could—
You're the one who doesn't understand!
What dream?
What future?
It's you who cares about all that!
I'm not you!
I don't have any of that!
Haru...
Haruka-senpai...
You guys were in here?
It's okay.
Nagisa, Rei.
Makoto.
I'll swim the relay with you.
That's what I've come this far for.
If only we could've stayed children forever...
I wish I could continue dreaming the dreams I had back then.
What are you talking about?
To continue dreaming would mean that you're asleep.
Wake up, Sousuke!
Dreams exist to be realized!
Next episode: The Six-Beat Kick of Tears!
The Six-Beat Kick of Tears!
Hey, Rin, do you remember our dreams from back then?