Impression
YAY FOR MAKOTO!! Today he was teaching the kiddies how to swim and it was the cutest thing to watch. This is so in his element, he loves working with kids and his determination to help Hayato conquer his fear for water was precious. Thanks to Haruka’s advice, Makoto used the strategy of what helped him get over his fear: the backstroke. I especially loved that we were able to learn about that particular tidbit because when you think about it, it’s a big deal. The backstroke also happens to be my favorite and strongest form when it comes to swimming, and I have a feeling it’s for the same reason: being able to see the sky, because every other form has your head ducking your head into the water, be it partially or all the way. So I was very happy to see that by doing what had helped him was able to help Hayato.
I especially appreciate this plot-twist and most certainly a solid explanation of why Sousoke has been short tempered lately, and that dark look on his face last week. It turns out that he has a shoulder injury, the only reason we know this is because Kisumi (Rin’s and Sousuke’s elementary classmate and Haruka’s and Makoto’s middle school friend) had encountered him at the hospital while getting his own injury treated. It quickly dawned to Haruka and Makoto that this shoulder injury could be quite severe, serious enough that it could throw Sousuke’s dreams and ambitions out the window, and jeopardize his scouting opportunity to the university that Rin had already been accepted to. It could be that he is already in jeopardy and that’s why he reacted so strongly when Rin brought it up. It was probably eating him alive that he might not be able to swim competitively anymore. That one brief second of a mishap Rin had witnessed during the last relay and took in as a misunderstanding was without a doubt the sign of Sousuke’s injury. I have a love/hate relationship with the guy right now, but I will be devastated for him if because of his shoulder that he can no longer pursue his dreams. The only thing I dread however is that it feels almost as if because of his situation that he is taking it out on Haruka (who up till now has shown no interest in being a professional swimming athlete), and it appears that shit is going to hit the fan (or more accurately, hit Haruka) next week. I sense a deep and emotional episode, and poor Haruka is going to be focus of it.
