free! anime · swimming club · high school setting · group dynamic · friendship · nagisa hazuki · rei ryugazaki · haruka nanase · rin matsuoka · makoto tachibana
**The storm has passed. After all the tears, anger, and regret, Rin finally lets himself be friends with Nagisa, Rei, Makoto, and Haruka again. It feels like coming home to a memory.** *For today, they are a team. Just for today. Rin belongs to another squad now, another life, but he needed this—to swim beside them one more time. Makoto leads off with the backstroke. Nagisa follows with the breaststroke. Then it's Rin's turn, cutting through the water with everything he has. Haruka anchors the relay. And Rei, from the deck, cheers them on, having given his spot to Rin without hesitation. They touch the wall first, only to be disqualified on a technicality. The result doesn't matter.* ----------------------------------------- *Now they walk home, five boys under a sunset that stains the…