Player Name: tango
Player DW: polizei
Contact: exec.ashes@gmail.com | humanedfailure | sakugarne
Character Number: 2

Character: Makoto Tachibana
Source: Free!

Appearance: Makoto stands at 6'0", and weighs 161 lbs of pure muscle from swimming. He has incredibly well-defined muscles, short brown hair, and bright green eyes. He'll be arriving in nothing but his swimming goggles and swimsuit; long-legged swim pants with a green decal up the sides of his legs.

History: Free! Wikia
Timeline: Right as he nearly drowns in episode six trying to save Rei.

Personality: At his very core, Makoto is a sweet boy - he is always willing to help others, and the very best example of this is his relationship with his friend since childhood, Haruka Nanase. The two have been through a lot together, and because of that, Makoto has gained the ability to somewhat read Haru's mind. Due to his quiet nature, Haru isn't prone to explaining his feelings, or understanding them - but instead of speaking for him, Makoto is always there, patiently waiting for Haru to come out of his shell on his own. He'll speak up for Haru on certain occasions, or try to tempt him out of his shell by promises of swimming, but its never anything that would force Haru to shift his own opinions, or put words in his mouth.

The best example of this is in the very first episode - Haru claims he'll never competitively swim again, and is adamant that he doesn't care to go dig up the trophy he and his friends won as children, but the instant Makoto says he can go swimming, he's all for it. Deep down, Makoto knows that trophy, and their friendship with Rin and Nagisa means a lot to Haru, as much as he hides his feelings, and tries to live his life comfortably without any bumps. Just because Rin acts frosty toward them now doesn't mean Makoto thinks him any less of a friend, as well: he calls Rin the instant they decide to start up a swim club, and tells him that he should join his schools swim club too, so they can all swim with each other again.

Makoto is very much a mother hen, from looking after his introverted childhood friend, to something as little as giving his younger twin siblings his meat from his dinner to keep them from squabbling. Gentle giant is basically the best way to refer to Makoto - he wants everyone getting along, happy, and wants everything resolved as peacefully and happily as possible. He dotes on everyone (especially Haru) to make sure they're comfortable, and is even seen handing out tissues to a sick Haru, and even opening his ice pops for him. Seeing his friends fighting is upsetting, and he does everything he can to keep everyone happy.

Although it hasn't happened in the canonpoint i'm taking him from, it serves as a good example that Makoto isn't always cheerful an accommodating. After losing a race against Rin, Haru retreats into himself, and the others have a hard time finding him - they run into Rin, who is enthused by his win, and makes an offhand comment about now nothing is more important than winning. Makoto is clearly disappointed in Rin - not angry, but disappointed in him as a friend for forgetting how important swimming in a relay together was to Haru, and that feeling of being together was. He doesn't try to belittle Rin's feelings, but he lets Haru's feelings be known, along with his own disappointment. Clearly affected, Rin stalks off, and Makoto and the others only watch as he goes - Makoto doesn't press the matter, preferring to let Rin, like Haru, to come to his own answers on his own.

To help train their endurance, the club decides to train on some islands by swimming a full circuit of them all. Even though Makoto is terrified of the ocean (unknown to anyone in the club but Haru) he agrees to it, and does everything he can to see their little training camp through. He believes it will help them all out, and is willing to put himself out of his comfort zone for the good of their club, and to make his friends happy.

Unfortunately this ends up with him freezing up in fear in the water and nearly drowning, but, FRIENDSHIP.

The event that caused Makoto's fear of the ocean has an intense impact on him to this day - an old fisherman who he was friends with as a child had given him two goldfish as pets. After the abrupt death of the old man at sea, however, the goldfish passed on as well. The vast unpredictableness of the ocean is what scared him, and he made a special grave for the goldfish, which he keeps maintained in his backyard to this day.

Makoto, though he doesn't realize it, himself, is a natural, selfless leader. While elected the captain of the Iwatobi swim team, he's confused initially - why not Haru? Isn't he a better swimmer? But it's clear from then onward that he was perfect for the job. He takes the initiative in finding ways to help the other members, inspire them, and as mentioned before, give his all to help them go on their training trip to the islands. Unfortunately it can be argued that giving his all to help others leaves Makoto little time to worry about himself - and that's true. While he doesn't intend to neglect himself, he'd sooner risk his life to save someone (ex. Rei drowning) than worry about himself.

Although a big guy, Makoto is afraid of the dark, as well as ghosts: when he's scared he clings onto his friends and shrieks quite easily. My impression is that as he grew bigger, he didn't know how to use his size to his advantage. The director of the Free! anime, Hiroko Utsumi, really says it best: "He’s your everyday common high school boy. Strong, sweet, and a very helpful older brother".

Abilities: A 'a rough but dynamic backstroke that leaves everyone behind'. While he's incredibly good at swimming, and physically fit and strong, he's incredibly afraid of the ocean, and freezes up in rough waters.

Inventory: Swim goggles and his swimsuit.

Prose Sample: His hair is still damp from practice, and he can feel a bead of either water or sweat trickling down the back of his neck: it tickles and makes him rub it off with a roll of his neck. He runs over today in his mind, summarizing todays day in his mind after splitting up with Haru on their way home together. Rei had been having as hard a time as ever trying to learn to swim... he felt a little bad, honestly, not being able to be much help to him. He was the swim teams captain after all... maybe he should look up some videos when he got home? That seemed like the best idea.

Slipping into his front door, he's only removed one of his shoes before he hears his younger twin siblings calling out for him: "Nii-chan's home!"" "Nii-chan dinner is ready come quick!" "Nii-chan I helped I put apple in the curry!" He cant help but smile warmly and quickly jog into the dining room, he apologizes for being late to his mother, and takes a seat across from Ren and Ran, and beside his father.

"So Ran and Ren made this? I cant wait to eat it!" Ran cheerfully pipes up that mama helped too, and his mothers laughter comes from the kitchen. He's asked how his day was and is happy to talk about it: he doesn't hide anything from his family, he's happy to talk to them. He starts with Rei's progress today... and shares his insecurities on being unable to be of any help to him with learning to swim.

Afterwards its straight to helping with the dishes - mom washes them, Ren and Ran dry them off, then hand them to him to put away. From then on its helping Ren with his English homework, and Ran with her math. It's a lot to do, but its fun sitting in the living room with them at the table, munching on cookies they'd made the night before, talking and chatting away. It helps him forget about his insecurities, and helps him calm down; he'll definitely find a way to help Rei out, even if it took days.

Journal Sample: I've been trying to think of a way to help everyone out around here... I cant hunt, or do anything like that, so... I was thinking I could offer to cook for people? [ Makoto's mirror is focused on some bread he's been cooking in the inn's stove. he'll focus the glass back on himself and give a slightly dorky smile, tilting his head ever so slightly. ]

-ah. But don't expect too much. It wont be anything too great... but it could save people some time trying to cook for themselves- of if they cant. [ he seems pleased enough with that explanation, and continues to check the bread in the oven before focusing back on the mirror again after a small amount of time. ]

If anyone here wants to learn how to swim, I wont be as good a teacher as my friend Haru, but I can offer some lessons in the river once the weather gets warmer, too... would anyone be interested in either things? I can also run errands for people, or pick some things in the meadow...

[ he tries to think of something else, but comes up short on ideas, and looks a bit sheepish. ]

Um... I guess it would be better to say, I'd like to help everyone out however I can, so please come to me if you have anything you need help. [ he'll bow his head politely, smile back on his face, as he turns off the feed. ]