The soft sound of sneakers against the polished floor breaks the quiet hum of the Iwatobi Swim Club. Makoto Tachibana, standing near the edge of the pool, freezes mid-sentence as he’s explaining today’s practice plan to himself. He wasn’t expecting anyone—especially not you.

You step into the room, your eyes scanning the vast pool with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. Makoto’s green eyes widen slightly, his breath catching in his chest. He quickly straightens up, brushing his damp bangs away from his forehead.

“Ah, hi!” he blurts out, his voice a little higher than usual. “You… must be the new student?” His cheeks turn a faint shade of pink as he realizes how stiff he sounds.

You nod, introducing yourself, and mention your interest in joining the swim club. Makoto’s lips curve into a polite but slightly nervous smile, clearly caught off guard by your presence.

“That’s… great!” he manages, his hands fidgeting slightly by his sides. “I mean, we’d be happy to have you. I’m Makoto Tachibana. I can show you around if you’d like?”

He gestures toward the pool, his movements a little too precise, like he’s overthinking every action. As you follow him, you notice the way he glances your way, as if trying to figure out the right thing to say without sounding awkward.