MakoHaru

"If you're not there... It's meaningless without you!"

- Makoto to Haru

MakoHaru is the slash ship between Makoto Tachibana and Haruka Nanase from the Free! fandom.

Canon
Makoto and Haru are childhood friends and best friends. Makoto often knocks on Haru's door in the morning to get him out of the bathtub so that they can go to school. They always walk to school together and have been on the same swim team since they were children. They are often depicted reading each other's "minds," showing their close bond. Makoto often acts as a communicator for Haru, since the latter does not speak often or publicize his emotions.

Makoto also acts as Haruka's "caretaker" and fusses over him quite a bit since the latter doesn't care about much besides water and swimming. He tries to restrain Haru from dipping into every body of water he sees and often talks for him when Haru doesn't know what to say in social situations. In turn, Haruka acts as a "protector" to Makoto. Makoto is usually seen jumping behind Haruka whenever he's scared, and Makoto mentions that Haruka, whenever they're walking by the shore, always walks closer to the ocean since Makoto has a fear of it.

In episode 6, Haruka wakes up to see Makoto drowning as he tries to save Rei and he immediately dives in to go after Makoto instead of Rei with no hesitation. He supports him and goes back to the shore with him, before collapsing from exhaustion. Haruka begins crying when he sees that Makoto is drowning and breathing weakly. He attempts to give mouth to mouth CPR to Makoto, but before he can Makoto wakes up and they sit there comforting each other.

Makoto admits that the reason he began a swim club was because he wanted to swim with Haruka again, like they used to when they were younger, implying that when they swim together it is a bonding moment for them that he misses. He goes on to say that without Haruka participating in the club, "It's meaningless" meaning that he enjoys swimming more when Haruka is with him and that he cares for him more than anybody else.

In episode 6, when Rei confronts Makoto about how he was acting when he tried to save him in front of the group, Haruka angrily yells at him to drop the subject and leave him alone, showing how protective he is of Makoto.

In episode 8, during Makoto’s race, Haruka stares at him, mesmerized, impressed, and deep in thought. When Makoto looks up and catches his eye, he smirks and Haruka quickly looks away, embarrassed.

In episode 8 again, Makoto is the only one who knows that Haruka owns a phone and that he doesn't carry it on him frequently, signifying that he knows most about Haruka.

When Haruka comes home that night, he sees Makoto has fallen asleep waiting for him while everyone else left. He listens to the voicemail that his friends left for him, and then wakes up Makoto and says that he will swim with him.

The next morning, as Haruka is looking forwards and Makoto is standing beside him, Makoto turns his head and smiles at Haruka while blushing.

Near the end of episode 9, Haruka and Makoto stand alone together looking over the festival, talking deeply. Makoto tells Haruka that he was happy that they could swim in a relay together again. Haruka's eyes tremble with tears that he holds back and he says he isn't sure anymore. Makoto is shocked by this statement and listens as he says that he used to just want to feel water, but now he's different.

He says that when he lost to Rin, everything turned black. But when he watched Makoto and his teammates swim, he changed. He says that if his teammates really want him to, he will swim in a relay with them.

Makoto smiles while blushing and says "Haru!" before being interrupted by Rei and Nagisa. Haruka tells Makoto that he will swim in the relay with them, while blushing.

In episode 10, during a flashback, Rin asks Makoto why Haruka is so obsessed with freestyle swimming. Makoto answers that he doesn't think it's the swimming style that Haruka likes, but he always says he only swims free because when he's in the water, he is free.

High☆Speed!--Free! Starting Days
Makoto is seen as having an internal battle with himself, swimming, and his relationship with Haruka. When questioned if he swims just so he can be with Haruka or if he actually enjoys swimming, Makoto realizes that he does not know the answer, which frustrates him. This causes him to distance himself from Haruka, who is upset by this and does not understand why Makoto is suddenly "avoiding" him. This causes them to get into a confrontation with one another.

Makoto ends up explaining why he was so distant and that he did not intend to cause any harm to their relationship. He ends up discovering that he swims because he actually enjoys it and because he wants to be with Haruka--telling Haruka he loves both him and swimming. After this, their relationship is mended and continues on as usual.

University and Australia
In Free! Eternal Summer Makoto tells Haru about his decision to go to the University of Tokyo to study so he can become a swimming teacher. This revelation has a great impact on Haruka who had not found a dream yet and was distraught over the fact that seemingly everyone knew what to do besides him.

Makoto contacts Rin about Haruka's uncertainty, asking Rin to show Haruka more of the world at large. When he finds out Rin took Haruka to Australia he was somewhat surprised, but hoped that the trip would be profound to Haruka. It turned out to be so.

Once arriving in Australia, Haruka acts distant and unlike himself--as seen when Rin takes him to the beach and he doesn't want to swim. Rin can sense something is wrong with him and asks him about it. Haruka reveals he and Makoto had their first fight (this information comes in conflict with High Speed!--Free! Starting Days since Makoto and Haruka are seen fighting there too), which clearly disturbs Haruka. Rin then asks Haruka why he even agreed to come with him and he responds by saying that he needed to be away from Iwatobi.

When they return home, Haru and Makoto meet and reconcile in a consoling way. During the trip, Haru found what he wanted to do with his future, which causes him to also go to Tokyo so he can train in competitive swimming. He and Makoto search for Haru's apartment there and the two are shown remaining close with each other even while in Tokyo, often hanging out with each other and helping each other study.

Dive to the Future
SPROUTING DIVE START!

Haru takes a break from his swimming when Makoto shows up. Makoto offers him a hand, which Haru takes and pulls him into the water. Makoto says that isn’t nice, but Haru says he was here to swim. Makoto still thinks it’s not nice, and the two begin to swim. Afterward in the locker room, Makoto remarks on Haru’s seeming inability to live without swimming. The two go to the train station before saying goodbye and going off to their universities.

After practice Asahi asks Haru what Makoto’s been up to. Haru tells him that Makoto is in Tokyo, studying at University. As Makoto walks out of class he receives a call from Haru. When he answers and it’s not Haru, he becomes worried. When he finds out that it’s his friends from middle school they meet up at a cafe. While there Makoto tells the others about how he and Haru had to start up their own swim club in high school. Asahi then pulls out a photo album. One of the pictures shows a young Makoto and Haru in the gym playing basketball. Makoto remarks on how young and innocent Haru looks. Haru says that he is still young and innocent.

At the newcomers' tournament, Makoto is excited that it’s Haru’s first time showing off his swimming as a college student. He cheers for him during his race.

INTERFERENCE OF LOSS!

Asahi, Makoto and Haru head to Ikuya's University and start to look for Ikuya. They are able to convince one of his teammates to tell him he's at his personal training and head there. They run into Hiyori who tells them to come back later as not to interfere with Ikuya's training.

The three go to the cafeteria, where they discuss what they're going to say to Ikuya. Makoto says that they should apologize first. Haru wants to talk to him about the training camp that they had in middle school and tells them about the conversation he had with Ikuya that night. Makoto remarks on how he never knew that.

The three return to the pool where they are intercepted by Hiyori who tells them that Ikuya left early since he was sick. They get into an argument, Hiyori constantly telling them to go away as they are too weak to be Ikuya's friends. Haru becomes angry and challenges Hiyori to a race. Makoto is shocked by Haru, but Hiyori thinks its a good idea. Although he specializes in backstroke but will swim free against Haru. Before they can officially agree, Makoto says that he’ll swim against Hiyori in backstroke, shocking Haru. Hiyori agrees to race Makoto.

Makoto practices for the race just as Haru arrives at the pool. Makoto gets out and Haru walks over to hand him a towel. Kisumi asks what the whole point of the race, Asahi answers that they understand each other better by swimming together, and Haru confirms this. Kisumi is offended and tells them not to leave him out of the group, Makoto laughs at them. They run into a kid named Misaki who Makoto and Haru had helped with swimming previously since he had a rival he wanted to beat.

Hiyori arrives at the pool and see’s the group, remarking on how early they are. Haru says that they thought he wasn’t coming. They start the race as Haru watches. Even though Hiyori wins, he still doesn't believe that they should see Ikuya. He tells Haru that he's noticed how the people who swim with him tend to suffer, which starts to eat at Haru. As Hiyori walks away, Makoto turns to Haru trying to get his attention, but Haru just stares on ahead, frozen.

Dive to the Future
A Promise on a Shooting Star! Interference of Loss!
 * During a flashback to middle school, Makoto, Asahi, and Ikuya sneak up to Haru while he’s sleeping. The other two want to scare him to wake him up, but Makoto wants to wake him up normally. When he wakes up, Makoto tells him that they’re going to start their training camp.
 * Once Haru is done with his swim, Makoto offers him his hand to help him out of the pool. Haru thanks him.
 * Kisumi and Makoto begin to become worried after Haru and Asahi are gone for too long after their race.
 * When Haru heads back to the venue to get his towel, Makoto calls after him that they’ll wait for him at the station.
 * Haru looks over worryingly at Makoto when they're in the cafe.

Quotes
"Makoto. I appreciate you being here for me. Thanks."

- Haru to Makoto

"I love both swimming and Haru-chan, so I want to swim together with you!"

- Makoto to Haru

""(...) I chose to start the swim club. But that was because I wanted to swim with you again. I wanted to swim in a relay with everyone again. But... If you're not there... It's meaningless without you! I want to swim with you!""

- Makoto to Haru

"Seriously guys. If this were a horror movie, you'd be the newlywed couple that gets killed in the first five minutes."

- Nagisa

"Well, our Haru-chan and Mako-chan, actually they..."

- Nagisa

Songs

 * Always Here by Tatsuhisa Suzuki and Nobunaga Shimazaki
 * My Base, Your Pace by Tatsuhisa Suzuki and Nobunaga Shimazaki

Fanon
It is considered the most popular ship currently in the Free! fandom. In fanfictions, Makoto and Haru are often depicted as practically married and act very lovingly and cute. To strengthen this image, Nagisa and Rei usually make comments such as "I thought they were already dating."

The major appeal of their relationship is the best friends to lovers trope. That and the fact that they are both very close with each other and know each other practically "inside out." They are both very dependent on each other in a healthy way, caring for one another greatly.

On AO3 it is the most written ship for both Haruka and Makoto. It is the most written ship in the Free! tag as well.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Makoto/Haruka tag on FanFiction.Net
 * Makoto/Haruka tag on FanFiction.Net

TUMBLR

Trivia

 * Makoto has a habit of hiding behind Haru when's he's frightened.
 * Haru's animal is a dolphin, while Makoto's is an orca, the largest member of the dolphin family. Both communicate with echolocation.
 * In the fanmade abridged series, 50% Off, Makoto is shown to be in love with Haru.
 * Haruka prefers to be called Haru in the anime.
 * They are wearing matching bracelets in the official art for their character duet songs, Always Here and My base, your pace.
 * Makoto and Haruka's character songs are always released first and on the same day, together.

Variations

 * MakoHaruRin refers to the ship between the two and Rin Matsuoka
 * MakoSouHaruRin refers to the ship between the two, Sousuke Yamazaki and Rin Matsuoka
 * SouMakoHaru refers to the ship between the two and Sousuke Yamazaki