I remember that I thought I’ll ship Rinharu when I watched Free! the first time because I like the conflictual relationships in anime.
And no, I didn’t ship Makoharu immediately after watching the 1st episode (unbelievable ! but I fell in love with Mako-chan XD).
But I saw the connection between them and I thought it was really cute but my mind kept repeating “Stay focused on RinHaru, stay focused on RinHaru…!!”
And then came the beginning of the 3rd episode and this happened :
I felt my heart “doki doki” just with this scene. And it’s funny because I remember all thoughts I had at this moment :
- How a scene with a guy who gives a handkerchief to another guy can make my heart beating like that ?
- How to give a handkerchief to someone can be done in a so tender way ?
- Why is he so close to Haru just to give a handkerchief ?
- AND WHY AM I SO EXCITED WHEN IT’S JUST A HANDKERCHIEF SCENE ?!!
So I stopped listening to my mind and I decided to follow my heart ♥
Now, I’m a very strong MakoHaru shipper (I don’t realize it’s been several months now !) and I’ll never regret it =)
THE END
Similar story, it’s absolutely crazy how hard I fell for Makoharu, and I was originally an avid Rinharu shipper!! In fact, every time Makoto came on the screen in season 1, I would get frustrated and yell: GET OUT, IT’S NOT HAPPENING, STOP COCk-BLOCKING DAMNIT, trying desperately to focus on the Rinharu ship and ignore the signs. If you asked me if I was into Makoharu back then, I would grab a picture of Rin, slap it on the table and say:
Okay, that’s maybe an over dramatization. But you get my gist. Anyways, I think the turning point for me was helped by the gradual appreciation for Makoto and his character. It was impossible to ignore the fact that this boy was absolutely, cavity inducingly sweet with such PURE intentions. As Makoto showed more and more of his personality, from helping kids at the swim center, to supporting his friends with the passion of a nurturing mother, and doting on Haru with the eyes of a love struck school girl, I fell slowly but surely. I just didn’t know it yet.
I started to notice more how much he cared and appreciated Haru, how their relationship was so unique, how he understood Haru without words needing to be said, how he was able to assess Haru’s needs, despite Haru being often surly and curt. He was able to not be intrusive, not push, but at the same time be firm and attentive, and with how deeply he wanted Haru to be happy– it made it soooo difficult to see anything else. The way he looked at Haru sometimes just… it said it all to me. But still, I continued to be resolute in my decision. I tried, desperately, to commit to Rinharu.
Then it happened.
The episode which was the turning point for me.
Two. Words
I lost.
This precious, precious boy. Here, he wanted to race seriously against Haru. He worked hard, because he knew that Haru was walking down a different road, and that road lead somewhere he could not follow. He wanted to stand by Haru on equal footing, just as Rin does on a daily basis. He wants Haru to look at him with the same fire and passion that he does when he’s swimming with Rin, because Makoto wants to be closer to Haru. Makoto wants to be someone Haru will look at. He doesn’t want to be left behind.
Yet here, he realizes that he will never breach that space. Haru will ultimately walk the same path as Rin, and he realizes it first. It’s important that he does. He accepts that what Rin elicits in Haru–that competitive, encouraging spark–is something Makoto can’t bring to life even if he tries. That what Haru and Rin have is unique, and it’s something he can’t hope to replicate. And he masks the pain with a smile, allowing himself, resolving to be content with the way things are now.
It takes a truly good person to understand that some things can’t be changed. To not let your own insecurities hinder yourself or those around you, especially those you care about. So it was there, that I fell in love with Makoto Tachibana. And it was in this moment, as well as the moments to come–
From his first fight with Haru, begging him to look to the future for his own sake–
To welcoming Haru home, knowing his decision, and embracing him with open arms– that I realized the extent of just how deep his love went. And it touched me.
