on Haru and Makoto ending up in Tokyo
This was originally a reply to an ask, but since I’m a fan of read-mores I am giving it its own separate post instead!
The tl; dr of this is that in my eyes, Haru and Makoto ending up in the same state does not undermine all the character progress they went through; and neither does it negate the fact that they are, indeed, taking separate paths.
I have to start by saying that usually keep to my side of the fence; so while I’m prone to address misconceptions about my own pairing, I try to not give much thought to how others may interpret their own and the happenings surrounding it. It makes being a shipper and part of fandom a lot easier lol
But since this does seem to be a gripe that many have about the outcome, I will make an exception because I feel that by zeroing in to the simple fact that they’re both in Tokyo, something truly important is being missed.
(everything in this post is only my opinion)
Haru and Makoto are separating.
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While the physical aspect of separation does play a role (and we may have been led to believe it was the crux of it), the storyline about their separation has always been about more than just physical distance. In fact, IMO it was never even mainly about that!
It’s about the fact that they’re going into different worlds. That they have dreams that they can support each other in but not actually effectively share.
Haru is going into the world of “wins and loses”. Into competitive swimming.
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Meanwhile, Makoto chose an altogether different road:
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Their lives will take different paths; they will reach different destinations. They are effectively aiming towards different things.
We saw just how hard the mere fact of being part of different clubs (!!!) hit them in High Speed! 2; so this? This was huge. For both of them!
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We saw Makoto realize the inevitable and come to terms with it in Episode 6.
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Come to terms with the fact that Haru is going into a world where he can’t follow him. But the thing is, at that point, Makoto would have liked to! If given the chance to swim competitively, I believe Makoto would have taken it in a heartbeat because he genuinely wanted to stay with Haru.
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Hatta: “It means that he won’t be able to stand in the same arena as they will.” [x]
But facing his feelings and accepting that made possible something pivotal for Makoto’s character.
Hatta: “Makoto only really focuses on Haruka and his immediate surroundings, so it’s difficult to discern his own feelings, what it is exactly that he wants to do himself.” [x]
But facing his feelings and basically letting go of Haru (when it comes to following him into the competitive world) opened the door to something pivotal for him. He was able to realize his own dream!
A dream not as Haru’s friend Makoto, or as Makoto who wants to swim with Haruka - but as Makoto who has wants and wishes and ambitions of his own!
Personally, I feel this scene with Rin in Episode 09 illustrates that extremely well.
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Here Rin is, without realizing, reopening a door that Makoto asummed was closed for him.
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Because sure, we know and Makoto knows that Makoto wouldn’t be able to compete in the same league as Haru and Rin - but maybe he could do something with his talent nonetheless if competitive swimming is what he wanted for himself.
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But it isnt! If you ask me, going by what we saw going competitive is something Makoto would have wanted to do just to stay with Haru. He says so himself this episode that “there wasn’t anything he particularly wanted to do”.
So this time it’s not that he is reaching out and falling short, like in EP 06; but that even when presented with the possibility, Makoto closes that door on his own because he has found his own calling.
And Haru? Haru has come to terms with it, too; with the fact that he and Makoto have different dreams and are taking different paths for the first time in their life. And I feel we see it shown in this scene right here.
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Haru remembers Makoto and how happy he was; how at ease, how at home. Coaching kids fits him like a glove! And in my opinion, Haru may as well have been thinking that indeed; it is what Makoto is meant to do.
But the thing is, coaching kids is something that Haru himself won’t be doing. It will take Makoto to places that Haru himself won’t be accompanying him to.
But instead of feeling hurt and betrayed at the prospect:
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Haru is now 100% supportive!
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Because thanks to Rin -thanks to Rin showing him how big the world is and helping him to learn how to deal with change and separation and the uncertainty of the future - Haru has finally been able to realize this:
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Why do you think Makoto was shown right during Haru saying that particular line? Because that part applies to Makoto most of all. It is an important realization that Haru has come to in regards to him; a realization they have come to in regards to each other.
So after this huge digression what I’m trying to say is: Haru’s and Makoto’s separation story-line always involved much more than just mere physical distance. It covers having different ambitions. Having different futures. Facing that, accepting it, and realizing that walking different paths does not mean they have “ended”. There will never been an end to them (or to their bonds with their nakama) because they’re more than friends; they’re family, they are nakama.
But going into separate roads does not and has never meant that they will stop being part of each others’ lives; why is why it was so important to see them meeting each other in the end, specially given that they are farther-apart from each other distance-wise than they have ever been. No matter how far apart they may be or how different the things they are aiming towards are, they will always support each other.
And I feel that shot of them studying together was meant to illustrate that.
(so sorry for the lenght! I hadn’t realized I had this many feelings about this subject. But I adored their character development; though this is just my take on it, for course!)
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