Episode 5 — Free! (dub)

"Haru! Nagisa! Rei is gone!" Makoto’s voice cracked with urgency.

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.

The three boys rushed to the beach, calling Rei's name over the roar of the wind. Through the rain, Haru spotted a flicker of movement—Rei’s bright yellow kickboard bobbing far out in the surf. Without a second thought, Haru dived in, followed closely by Nagisa. Makoto hesitated, his feet frozen at the water's edge. The dark waves looked like reaching hands, dragging memories of the past to the surface.

They reached Rei just as he was losing strength. Haru and Makoto grabbed him by the arms, keeping his head above water while Nagisa helped guide them back. By the time they collapsed onto the sand, they were exhausted and shivering, but alive.

Rei sat up, coughing and looking thoroughly defeated. "I'm sorry... I just wanted to be like you all."

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.