Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club Episode 9 Recap: “Hesitant Loosen Up!”

Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club Episode 9 Recap: “Hesitant Loosen Up!”

With Haruka as the fourth swimmer in the medley relay, the team gets hyped up and Iwatobi Swim Club gets the first place. Makoto and the others are overcome with joy. Meanwhile, Rin reminisces about their days in elementary school.

The next day, it is announced before the whole school that the swim club remained in the best eight at the prefectural tournament, and that they have advanced to the regionals. Everyone is about to start practicing for the regionals, but it turns out Haruka has been way ahead of them. However, Haruka isn’t swimming out of motivation, but rather confusion.

Around the same time, Rin was also practicing at Samezuka Academy. Even though his junior Nitori tells him, “With this, you’ll be able to move forward,” he is still not satisfied.

In the evening, the four members of the Iwatobi Swim Club go to a festival, including a visit to a shrine to ask for certain victory. However, the members of Samezuka Academy go to the same festival for the same reason. Why is there only cuttlefish at the festival?

Nagisa and Rei find Rin at the festival. They become worried that Haruka and Rin will bump into each other, so Rei goes to tail Rin, while Nagisa takes Haruka to all kinds of different places, making efforts to keep the two from meeting.

Rin leaves the festival alone, visits Iwatobi Elementary, and remembers their years back then. Rei, who was following Rin, loses sight of him, and fails in his task as a result. On the other hand, Haruka also realizes there is something off with Nagisa, and he learns that Rin is also at the festival.

Makoto and Haruka take a short break while waiting for Nagisa, who went to get Rin. Makoto says he is happy that he can swim with Haruka and the others. Haruka, although he has lost his meaning for swimming when he swore not to swim with Rin again, answers Makoto that he was happy that they participated in the relay together. Nagisa and Rei also overhear this, and the union of the swim club grows even stronger. Meanwhile at Samezuka Academy, Rin tells the captain, Mikoshima, that he wants to participate in the relay.

Haruka and Rin’s feelings toward each other remain unsettled. And there even seems to be a rematch in the regional relays! Will they be able to understand each other’s feelings? Stay sharp!

TV Anime Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club Official Site

© Koji Oji, Kyoto Animation Co. Ltd. / Iwatobi High Swim Club

Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club Episode 9 Recap: “Hesitant Loosen Up!” 1
Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club Episode 9 Recap: “Hesitant Loosen Up!” 2
Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club Episode 9 Recap: “Hesitant Loosen Up!” 3

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