Shizuru, orange juice or milk?
Episode 12: Dive to the Future!
Milk in the mornings.
Oh, do we have enough cups?
There's a measuring cup!
Whoa, wait!
What? Really?!
Yep, really.
You mean Haruka-senpai swam crawl his first time swimming, without being taught how?
That's right. And for 25 meters.
Even the swimming teacher was shocked.
It turned into a pretty big fuss.
That would've been before kindergarten...
Wow!
I'd never heard that story before, though.
I never brought it up before?
I'm shocked...
So basically, ever since the very first time he swam,
Haru's only swum freestyle.
I see!
Milk
Okay, dig in.
You're a great cook!
The toast is burnt, though.
What should we do with the salad?
All on the same plate, I guess?
So it's finally the big day for Haru-chan and the other guys!
Yeah. We should leave as soon as we finish eating.
Soon we'll be able to see Chappy-senpai swim in person!
That's right!
I can't wait!
There's also Rin-chan, Asa-chan, Iku-chan, and Hiyo-chan,
and lots of other amazing swimmers!
You really made it this far,
Haru.
How do you feel? Nervous?
Not really.
Good to hear.
So, it's time.
Yeah.
All right, let's go grab breakfast.
My treat today.
I told you that Ryuuji and I were rivals ever since high school, right?
Yeah.
He was a prodigy.
He was a swimmer meant to stand at the top of the world, without a doubt.
So then why...
A few days before the All-Japan Invitational,
an old friend of his was in an accident.
Oh...
And rather than rush to his best friend's side,
Ryuuji chose to race.
And... did he win?
No...
He lost.
After all he gave up to be in that race, he didn't win.
He ended up retiring from swimming after that.
I'm pretty sure he's still trying to find what's really important to him,
all while staying connected to swimming in some way.
He's probably coaching Nanase-kun to make sure
he doesn't end up going down the same path he once did.
Makoto-senpai!
Morning, you three.
Good morning!
How was Suzu-chan's place?
Suzu-chan?
They thoroughly drilled the allure of muscles into me.
Gou-san!
Good morning!
Morning!
Good morning.
If you were staying at Nee-chan's place, I could've stayed with you!
Yeah, like I was gonna let you.
Guess we're all here!
Yep!
86th All-Japan Invitational Swimming Tournament
You're late, Haru.
We got here at almost the same time.
True.
Ryuuji! It's been so lon—
Who are you?
Come on, Ryuuji! After all these years? You're so mean!
Only to you, muscle freak.
Whoa! You never stop, do you, Ryuuji?
How long has it been, anyway?
Since the tournament in Dubai, I think?
Oh, right, that one.
Yeah, that one!
Day one of the 86th All-Japan Invitational Swimming Tournament
will now begin with the qualifying races.
Let's go, Haru.
Yeah.
So, it's started.
Yes.
Anyone who beats the base time
qualifies for the world championship, right?
Yeah, but it's a tall, thick wall between here and there.
Only two swimmers can qualify in each event.
This is on a totally different level than the other tournaments we've seen.
It's that huge?
Yep.
And the first day was... Haru's 200m freestyle,
Rin's 100m butterfly,
and Asahi and Toono-kun's 50m freestyle, right?
There's also Ikuya's—
The men's 200m individual medley qualifier will begin shortly.
It's finally time, huh, Toono?
Yeah.
Ikuya's race against his brother, Natsuya-senpai!
Kirishima Natsuya Kirishima Ikuya
Will you stop laughing already?
I just never dreamed this day would come.
I wish I could tell my middle-school self
that he'd be racing his kid brother at the All-Japan Invitational one day.
I wish I could tell that
to the younger me, too.
Don't hold back.
I won't,
bro.
Good luck, both of you.
Take your marks.
Natsuya-senpai's fast!
Ikuya...
So is Ikuya.
He's slowly closing the gap!
Natsuya-kun's brother is lookin' good!
He's all the rage with the youth of today!
Ryuuji!
They're even.
It's too close to call.
Come get me, Ikuya!
You're kidding me! He's gaining that much speed now?!
But Ikuya's catching up!
Those Kirishima brothers are amazing!
That's the way!
Go!
Kirishima Natsuya Kirishima Ikuya
Ikuya!
Way to go!
He just...
Kirishima Natsuya Kirishima Ikuya
You did it.
You've really grown up.
Bro...
Yeah.
Er... Hey...
When the hell did you get so strong?
I'm seriously
proud to call you my kid brother!
You should be.
I'm your kid brother, aren't I?
Their times weren't bad at all,
but frankly, they might not be enough. It'll be close.
Yeah.
They can't get too confident yet.
Nii-chan!
Go!
Hoshikawa-senpai!
Get 'em!
Captain!
Mikoshiba Seijuurou Hoshikawa Tsubasa
Damn!
Nii-chan...
Even Hoshikawa-senpai...
...didn't qualify?
Were the guys who placed first and second adults?
This is intense, Rei-chan.
Yeah.
Haruka-senpai and the rest have really dived into an incredible world.
The 50m freestyle...
I believe we tied last time, didn't we?
Yeah. Let's settle the score once and for all today!
I've been swimming my butt off for this day, and you're gonna see—
Naribusawa
What's his deal?
So he's here.
Kinjou Kaede of Naribusawa.
That's...
Take your marks.
Asahi!
That Kinjou guy's power is incredible!
Damn it!
A tournament record? For real?
Who goes all-out like that in a qualifier?
What's wrong?
Scared?
No.
You can't gain that kind of strength without throwing something else away.
No one can survive in the competitive world with a regular mindset.
The only ones who make it are the ones who don't waver an inch,
even if something happens to someone they care about.
The men's 100m butterfly is next.
Rin-senpai!
Onii-chan...
Take your marks.
Not a bad start.
But this final heat
has three guys who've been in world championships.
Rin...
He picked up speed!
Rin-chan!
Rin...
He's...
Onii-chan!
Matsuoka Rin
He placed second!
And he just barely beat the base time.
All right!
Rin... Well done!
Yes!
Okay, you're up next.
Start getting ready.
Okay.
The men's 200m freestyle final.
If he wins this, he takes on the world next!
Yeah.
In lane 5, Nanase Haruka of Hidaka University.
Haru...
Take your marks.
That idiot.
Late start!
Haruka-senpai!
Haru-chan!
He's not moving as smoothly as usual...
Haru...
Haru!
Go!
Haru-chan... lost?
Nanase Haruka
Haru-chan...
He still has tomorrow's 100m freestyle.
Too bad you didn't make it, Asahi.
Yeah... But I don't regret anything.
I still have the 200m butterfly tomorrow.
And even if I lose there,
there's always next year!
You're already talking about next year?
You really haven't changed a bit since middle school.
Enough with the compliments! You're gonna make me blush!
I don't think that was really a compliment.
Huh?
Rin.
Congrats on the 100m butterfly.
Yeah, thanks!
So the world's next, huh?
Yeah. I don't know how far I'll get,
but I'll give it all I have.
I still have the 100m freestyle tomorrow, too.
The 100m free, with Kinjou, Kirishima Ikuya, Haru, and you.
It'll be a free-for-all.
I'm more excited than nervous right now, though.
That's reassuring.
I hope I can swim in a tense race like that soon.
Yeah.
You'd better hurry back, Sousuke.
Haru-chan! Over here!
Great job today!
Haru-chan, we're going out to eat with Ai-chan and his friends.
Want to come?
No, I need to get some air.
Okay...
Well, good luck tomorrow!
We'll be rooting for you in full force!
Thanks, both of you.
Nagisacchi!
Let's go, Rei-chan.
See ya, Haru-chan.
See you tomorrow, Haruka-senpai.
Yeah.
Mako-chan, Asa-chan, and Iku-chan,
and Hiyo-chan and Kissme, too!
See you tomorrow!
Hiyo?
Why am I "Kissme"?!
Haru, I'll see you in the 100m freestyle tomorrow.
Yeah.
Give it all you've got! I believe in you both!
Good luck in the 200m butterfly, too, Asahi.
And you still have the 100m breaststroke, right?
I'll be rooting for you!
Yeah. Thanks.
Kirishima! Toono!
What's the hold-up? Let's get going!
We'll be right there!
Bye.
See you guys later.
Sure!
Well, I should head home, too. See ya tomorrow.
Okay, later.
Bye-bye.
Hey, Kisumi, can you drive me home?
Haru...
Hey, you guys!
Rin!
Yo.
What's up? It's just you two?
Rin, congrats on the 100m butterfly!
Oh, thanks.
I couldn't believe how you hung in there at the end!
That sure wore me out, though.
But the real battle is just starting.
Hey, since we're all together, want to cool off for a bit?
I know a place that's perfect for us.
I haven't been this close to the ocean since I moved out here.
You can't survive without throwing something away.
I didn't want to throw anything away.
But I lost.
I've been thinking since the race ended...
Maybe I don't deserve to compete at the global level.
Why are you laughing?
Oh, just thinking that I guess even you feel the pressure here.
You're actually getting heated up.
The rest of us are here because of your swimming, Haru.
Maybe just the fact that you're worried about it is your answer.
What does that mean?
You know, Haru...
I felt like I was being crushed under all kinds of pressures.
There were even times I stopped believing in myself.
I guess you already know all that, though...
But after all of our struggling and butting heads,
we actually made it this far.
There's more than one way to chase a dream.
Let's face tomorrow head-on with everything we've got.
You know, after working with the kids, I've decided I want to be a trainer.
Really?
Watching them go head-to-head in pursuit of their dreams
made me see that there's much more I want to do.
I've felt really excited ever since I realized that.
I want to support swimmers who are striving to take on the world.
I think that'll give me a way to teach kids how much fun swimming is, too.
That's awesome!
I want to support you both, too, if I can.
And nothing would beat seeing that same view together again!
Trying to sound all cool now?
I'll be rooting for you, Makoto.
Yep. Thanks.
I will take on the world!
Huh? Hey!
Let's go too, Rin!
Huh?!
Oh, come on... What kind of teen drama is this?
For crying out loud!
There are still more tight races to come in this tournament.
The pressure must be immense for those teenage kids.
They're just too mentally weak.
Jeez... That damn Nanase was so close to the world championships.
Did you notice it?
Yeah.
Maybe that bad start actually sapped his strength.
In the middle of the race, his speed clearly surpassed Albert's.
But he lost speed toward the end.
I think what he was really worried about wasn't Kinjou or Albert.
He faltered at the feeling of surpassing his own limits in freestyle.
He still has room to improve even more. It's scary, honestly.
I think Rin-kun is right up there with him.
We'll find that out tomorrow.
He keeps talking about stupid stuff like friendship and bonds...
Times change, Ryuuji.
Those kids might actually...
He beat the base time by a mile.
A new tournament record in the 100m freestyle, too?
That guy's insane...
The fourth heat of the men's 100m freestyle qualifier.
How do you feel, Haru?
Surprisingly calm.
I'm psyched.
The world is waiting for us just ahead.
It's like a dream, huh?
But
it's not a dream.
Yeah, you're right.
We're so close, we could reach out and touch it.
No one can guess what's going to happen from here on.
Let's go find out
what lies ahead of us.
Yeah! Let's dive...
...to the future!
Nanase remains in the lead at the turn!
He's setting an excellent pace!
Yes, if he keeps this up, a new tournament record is...