Desperate to catch up to the natural talent of his teammates, Rei decided to take matters into his own hands. Under the cover of a growing storm, he slipped out of their lodging and headed for the ocean. He believed that if he could just conquer the open water alone, the "logic" of swimming would finally click.
"Haru! Nagisa! Rei is gone!" Makoto’s voice cracked with urgency. Free! (Dub) Episode 5
"I just need to find the rhythm," he muttered, adjusting his glasses before diving into the dark, choppy waves. But the ocean wasn't a controlled pool. The tide was stronger than he anticipated, and the salt water stung his eyes. His limbs grew heavy, and the "beauty" he sought was quickly replaced by panic as the current pulled him further from the shore. Desperate to catch up to the natural talent
As the storm began to break, the four friends walked back to the lodge together—bonded not just by the water, but by the lengths they were willing to go to pull each other out of it. "I just need to find the rhythm," he
Makoto, still catching his breath and trembling from the adrenaline and the lingering fear, placed a hand on Rei’s shoulder. "We're a team, Rei. You don't have to do this alone. And besides," he added with a small, weary smile, "we're not perfect either. We all have things we're afraid of."