canon is Free!.

[birdish]

Hello! Excuse me! I think the way you're using 'side character syndrome' isn't nice!

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[birdish]

Even to you, senpai?

[openturn]

I said that it happens to everybody...

[ please, don't make him say the exact words. he has too much pride for that. ]

[birdish]

Well... I'll have to make the most of my strengths.

Besides... senpai, you were right. This week, I got to be in the story even more... talking with senpai, cheering for senpai. It worked out after all.

[S-Stalker tendencies, oh man, Nitori pls.]

[openturn]

[ someday, Nitori. someday you might even get a scene where you're not attached to Rin. I believe. ]

Just keep doing your best. It's a good feeling to subvert expectations, isn't it?

[ and again: project harder, Rin... ]

[birdish]

[SAMEZUKA BROS OVA WHEN, KYOANI???]

A good feeling... Yes. I want to do my very best...

Th- Thank you... Senpai. I'll keep trying.

[openturn]

[ laughs and floats into the stratosphere ]

You don't have to thank me. I didn't do anything.

[birdish]

[dries tears with the money kyoani doesn't want ;_; ]

You encourage me.

[openturn]

We're teammates.

[ he just thinks of it as being truthful, though... ]

[birdish]

[///////]

That's right... Teammates. So we use each other as a support system.

[openturn]

[ yeah, like -- he throws his towel at you and you pick it up. support. ]

Something like that, yeah. You can't improve if you only work by yourself, after all.

[birdish]

[WISE ADVICE]

Then... Senpai! I hope you know that I'm always... here for you to use!

[openturn]

What.

[ okay, he ob...viously... didn't mean it like that, but ]

Ah... yeah, thanks. I... [ come on, Rin, spit it out. ] ... appreciate it.

[birdish]

[Dear journal why does senpai sometimes react so strangely to the things I say?? Is he okay....???]

Of course! I will... also become that kind of teammate!

...I'm relieved.

[openturn]

Relieved? Don't say that until after you've gone through your qualifiers.

[birdish]

...[Tiny Nitori laugh.] I guess you're right. I'm just relieved about you, senpai. But I won't relax yet.

[openturn]

... You weren't doubting me, were you? [ well, he can only be cocky about it now that it's already over. ]

[birdish]

Of course not! I knew you would do something amazing! Just... The way you were acting, before... [Well, he was worried.]

[openturn]

Something like that wouldn't stop me from swimming at my best.

... It's more of a motivation than anything else.

[birdish]

That's true... But outside of swimming...

[openturn]

[ he raises an eyebrow. ]

What about it?

[birdish]

I just... wanted to make sure that... you're doing... all right. [He says it like he's got no backbone.]

[openturn]

[ there's a pause, and then he smirks. ]

Why wouldn't I be? I just won my heat, after all.

[birdish]

...That's right. You were amazing as ever, so...

[Really, he's just not brave enough to say everything he wants to.]

Because winning... made you happy, right?

[openturn]

Of course it did. I wouldn't have been happy with anything less than that!

[birdish]

[Be courageous, Nitori! You told him when you were upset about his choice to swim the 100m freestyle, so you can do this!

He looks up quite decisively.]

I'm just worried about your feelings outside of swimming, Matsuoka-senpai. This whole thing with Nanase-san... There's a lot more to it than I understand. And it may be none of my business, but... even though you told me to focus on myself... are you focusing on yourself enough, too? Or is your focus on him?