canon is swimming anime---I mean Free! uh, spoilers?

[butterflystroke]

I don't find it funny in the least.

"You thought I would be cool." ...Then why are you still so smug? Your calculations were all wrong!

It's not about being cool anyway, it's about doing things beautifully... how am I supposed to do that when I can't swim...?

Comments

[brasse]

Rei-chan!

[ ONE (1) HYPERACTIVE SHOTA COMING IN! OH BOY IS HE EXCITED FOR THIS, MUCH LIKE HIS MUN. ]

Don't worry about that! We'll definitely teach you how to swim! ... Eventually!

[imperiousqueen]

I don't see why the two can't coincide. What's this about not being able to swim?

[butterflystroke]

[ Ugh with the -chan and the energy and the grumblegrumble. ]

Y-you'd better! Sooner than later, you hear me?!

1/2

[butterflystroke]

The two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, but being beautiful is much more important than just... looking cool! Anyone can do that! It takes grace to look beautiful!

[butterflystroke]

A-and if you must know, I can't... actually... swim.

Though I know all of the theory! It won't be that hard to learn, I'm sure!

[brasse]

Yes, yes! Beautiful like a butterfly!

[ it's gonna be great! full team!! nagisa can barely contain his excitement for having a full team again!! ]

[butterflystroke]

Exactly! Just so! I want my swimming to be as beautiful as Senpai's one day.

[ You picked the hardest stroke, Rei?? Really?? ]

[brasse]

We all do, Rei-chan.

[ he laughs. ]

You're really getting into this!

[butterflystroke]

O-of course. There's no point in trying if you don't aim to do well. I don't want to fall even further behind if I can't help it.

[aquaholic]

[ l o l u suck Rei. and totally don't appreciate the water, but w/e. ]

It's not about doing things beautifully, either. Swimming is beautiful enough on its own.

[butterflystroke]

...Do really you think so? [ Totally taking notes... "Swimming = beautiful"... well, we'll see how that turns out once he does the math. Not learning anything here ] What would you say is your secret, Senpai?

[aquaholic]

[ heheheh he kind of enjoys having someone who actually wants to hear what he has to say about swimming... ]

There's no secret. [ it doesn't seem like a secret, anyway? you gotta wash the pool, you gotta date the pool, you gotta be the pool. duh. ] It's not about angles or times. [ sorry bud, calculations aren't going to get you anywhere.

an awkwardly long pause... and then: ] ...You'll want to learn how to stay afloat first.

[butterflystroke]

[ You best believe Rei is writing all of this down. "Not about angles or times..." and "Says there's no secret but maybe it just comes naturally to him?" Of course-- at the last bit, he looks up, raising his voice (to hide his embarrassment.) ]

I-I know that! I didn't exactly have a lot of time when my first try was at the joint practice!!

[aquaholic]

[ ...is he drawing a picture of a dolphin or something, there's no way he's taking notes on this. of course, Haru always has an unreadable face, but one of his eyebrows quirks up. it's almost... funny? ]

You should've told us you couldn't swim. [ finding out by watching him drown was... interesting. because he actually likes talking about swimming, he'll offer this advice: ] Try getting used to floating on your back in the water first.

[butterflystroke]

Th-the longer I waited, the more embarrassing it would've gotten to tell you! [ He pushes his glasses up, that nervous habit. ] You all obviously thought I seemed like the kind of person who could, so...!

[ auuuuugh it's motifying, he's just gonna write down more of those tips in his notebook for later. ]

[aquaholic]

It wasn't embarrassing falling face first into the pool? [ buuurrnn or at least, Haru's totally boring and monotone version of one. ]

Straighten your legs more next time. The point is to kick off. [ hardcore glancing at that notebook now... what a weird kid. he's in no position to judge, though. ]

[butterflystroke]

[ WAY TO MAKE HIM BLUSH A TON, SENPAI!! He looks up to you!!! Or at least your pretty swimming!! ]

I knew everything in theory, I'd just never done it. I thought maybe... That is, it didn't seem all that hard when I saw everyone else swimming, so I didn't factor in several important details.

[ Like breathing. And diving. And being surrounded by water. ]

I-I'll be sure to do that next time. [ Blushing for a different reason this time. Senpai noticed him... and his poor form, but oh well. They're points that are worth writing down. He can factor them in later, too. ]

[aquaholic]

[ he'll get compliments when he deserves them!! and you know, actually knows how to swim without dying. senpai ain't gonna sugarcoat that suck, sorry to say. ]

Stop factoring. [ factoring and theorizing is not swimming! and thinking he can calculate everything is just a disservice the sport, in his opinion. ] Just swim.

[ and maybe spend some time in the bathtub! you gotta feel it, okay. ] And try not to sink.

[butterflystroke]

I tried that, and look what happened!

[ calculations are how he thinks, okay!! don't hate, senpai!! ]

If I could just close my eyes and swim, I wouldn't have this problem...!!

[aquaholic]

[ brb, hating. ]

That's because you're overthinking it.

[ thinking isn't really a big part of swimming for Haru, but maaayyybe it should be for Rei so he can remember how to breathe. and move his arms and legs.

if he was a more socially adjusted person, he'd offer more than that, but. he's not. he just stays silent. LET THAT COMMENT SINK IN... ]

[butterflystroke]

[ senpai nooooOOO you're traumatizing the poor child ]

I-I--- That's just how I do things! I can't achieve natural beauty the way you do!

[aquaholic]

[ GOOD. you've been hazed, Rei!!! ]

Do them differently or drown. [ is there even another option? 4 realsies, Rei, get your ass in gear. ]

[butterflystroke]

[ This is why he asked Nagisa for help and nnoooootttt YOU! ]

That's too harsh! Is this how you treat all your new members?!

[aquaholic]

[ DO YOU WANNA BE BEAUTIFUL OR NOT HUH just feel lucky that he's not captain. ]

Our other members know how to swim.

[ not even meant to be mean!! it's just... true. they've all been swimming since it was possible for them to swim. it's second nature at this point. ]

It doesn't matter to me whether you can swim or not. [ "but it matters to the others" is implied, and yes secretly the tin man has a heart!! ] I'll spend all winter in the water no matter what.

[butterflystroke]

You're the ones who asked me to join! [ HE'S REALLY NOT PROUD OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SWIM OKAY, HE'S DOING HIS BEST--- it's a good thing Haruka follows that up with him not caring or Rei might've gone on another rant. ]

You'll get sick doing that! [ You're already sick in the brain, Senpai. ]