SouMako

SouMako
GENERAL
Free!
Character	Sousuke Yamazaki
Character	Makoto Tachibana
Canonical?	Fanon
Status of Relationship	Friends
IN FANDOM
Type (?)	Slash
Also Known As	MakoSou, Makosuke, Soukoto, SouMa, MaSou, Tachizaki, Yamabana, TachiYama, YamaTachi, 宗真, 真宗

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SouMako is the slash ship between Sousuke Yamazaki and Makoto Tachibana from the Free! fandom.

Canon

Eternal Summer

At first, the two shared very little interactions in the series. However, when Makoto and Haru find out about Sousuke's shoulder injury, Makoto tries to subtly ask about it and worries about it despite not being that close to Sousuke. As Makoto is the type of person to worry about others despite it not exactly being his problem. Haru tells Makoto not to worry about it "If he can swim it shouldn't matter." When they to swim in the relay with Samezuka again, the scene pans to the worry on Makoto's expression specifically.

Their first real one on one interaction is in the OVA when they discuss Nagisa's ability to coerce people into doing what he wants. Sousuke tells Makoto it's okay to call him by his given name and drop the honorfics. Makoto agrees and let's Sousuke know he can do the same.

Makoto corners Sousuke in the water gun fight as the two are on opposite teams. Here, Sousuke sees Makoto's competitive spirit as Makoto almost shoots him and confidently proclaims he'll be bagging a win. Sousuke compliments Makoto's aim and the Makoto confirms his own shooting skills. As the two showdown, Sousuke's water gun runs out of water and he uses Kisumi (whom Sousuke was previously hiding from Makoto's sight) as a human shield and runs away.

Road to the World

Sousuke telling Makoto about his dreams for swimming achievements. For a few seconds, they are seen as talking as children.

Makoto and Sousuke talking at the rooftop garden.

Makoto realizes he forgot to buy a book for one of his classes and walks to the library. He runs into Sousuke there and the two decide to sit on a garden bench and catch up. It's revealed they're both located in Tokyo and the two relate to being from small towns and being surprised about the amount of people in Tokyo. Makoto comments that it's unexpected that Sousuke felt that way since he is always so calm. Sousuke says that Makoto is also wasn't what he was expecting either. Makoto is a bit shocked, claiming there isn't anything unexpected about him and Sousuke brushes him off and let's them leave it at that. Makoto mentions that Sousuke looks like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. Sousuke explains that it was Haru and their friends that made Sousuke realize the truth in what he saw in the relay. The encouragement from all his friends giving him the strength to swim again and compete somewhere amazing. For a bit of the scene, Sousuke and Makoto are on the bench talking as children as Sousuke reveals his dreams for swimming.

After Sousuke's revelation, Makoto mentions that he wants to work even harder on his studies because he was reminded of how amazing Sousuke is. Sousuke is confused but smiles at Makoto fondly. Before the two part ways, Sousuke tells Makoto they should go out to eat sometime and Makoto says he'd love to.

Dive to the Future

FIRST SWIM IN ANOTHER COUNTRY!

One of Makoto’s friends asks if he wants to meet up with one of their friends after lunch. Makoto says he can’t, since he has other plans. Makoto’s plans turn out to be calling Sousuke. Sousuke asks if Nagisa told Makoto about Ikuya, Makoto says yes. Sousuke tells him that he had seen Ikuya IM before, but he doesn’t know anything else. He asks Makoto if something was going on with Ikuya, but Makoto only knows that Haru had talked to him, and he seems to have changed a lot since their swim team days in middle school. Sousuke realizes that Ikuya was an old teammate. In interviews, Sousuke says that Makoto contacts him from time to time at this point. Which implied this isn't the only phone call they've had and won't be the last.

THE GRAB START OF HOPE!

Makoto and Rin meet up at the aquarium after Rin gets back from Australia. As they're talking Makoto looks away, worry etched on his face. He asks Rin if he had talked to Sousuke. Rin smiles at him and confirms that he had, and confirms that Sousuke's shoulder surgery was a success. Makoto look over at Rin, relief all over his face. He excitedly exclaims that that's great news. Being one of the first people to worry about Sousuke's shoulder injury, his gratitude for Sousuke's success if significant. In the same episode he finds out Sousuke will be working to swim professionally again, Makoto tells Nao he wants to help swimmers on a global level.

The Final Stroke - The First Volume

Makoto is shown to be coaching Sousuke along with Nao and Natsuya in support of Sousuke's rehabilitation post shoulder surgery. Makoto asks if there's any way he can help Sousuke's swimming and Sousuke suggests Makoto observes his turns in the pool since they have similar builds and would like to know how Makoto uses his body. Makoto agrees determinedly.

In The Final Stroke, Makoto and Sousuke both express feelings of nervousness and anxiety watching Haru and Rin swim in competitions. After this, they are depicted watching these competitions alone. Sousuke even watches a race with Makoto that Rin isn't swimming in and reassures Makoto that everyone is feeling just as nervous as he is. Showing how the two emotionally relied on each other during a time of high anxiety.

Makoto and Sousuke posing for their punishment after losing a backstroke swim race with Hiyori.

In a different scene, Makoto is overseeing a training regimen for Sousuke and Hiyori. The two are panting heavily from Makoto's tough training menu. As they go on their break, Sousuke offers that the three of them have a backstroke race. Hiyori agrees and offers that the losers should have to do something embarrassing. It is later shown that Makoto and Sousuke lost the bet and Hiyori made them take pictures with dog filters over their faces.

The Final Stroke - The Second Volume

Makoto showing Sousuke swim stats during practice.

Sousuke sees Haru overworking himself during a morning jog. Sousuke offers Haru a ride and as someone who has been injured from overworking himself, he tells Haru that rest is also part of training. He then goes on to mention "Makoto is worried, also." Sousuke, who knows how much Makoto has been worrying about Haru, mentions this to Haru because he should also know what state Makoto is in when Haru isn't communicating or seen overworking himself.

Another instance where Haru is sleeping on the bench in between practices, Asahi and Ikuya offer to assist him and run off to the swim club. Sousuke turns to the sleeping Haru and says "Being friends isn't just about being nice to each other, but look how much those around you care about you. Take at least a little notice, protagonist." Sousuke is referring to Asahi and Ikuya's care toward Haru, but it's also heavily implied Makoto is one of those people. Makoto is the number one person who cares about Haru and his well being. Sousuke, who knows about how easily those you love can worry about you if you're not taking care of yourself, is telling Haru to notice the care of his friends. Showing Sousuke knows how much Haru tends to not acknowledge the degree of care his friends (especially Makoto) goes through for him.

Haru swims a freestyle race with Kaede, but Coach Azuma reveals to Makoto that if Haru swims one more time he will collapse and pass out. Haru swims anyways and Makoto immediately runs to find him. However, Makoto doesn't come alone as he is shown to find Haru with Sousuke. Either Makoto called Sousuke for assistance or Sousuke also went to look for Haru with Makoto. This is significant because throughout the series Makoto puts the burden of taking care of Haru on himself. But here, he relies on Sousuke and strength while being emotionally vulnerable in front of him. Makoto who often shoulders responsibility alone (especially when it comes to Haru) shows that he’s learning to rely on others and sees Sousuke as someone who can support him and someone he has a genuine trust and relationship with. While also solidifying Sousuke's role among their group of friends/family.

Makoto continues to coach several of the boys along with Nao. It is revealed that Makoto and Nao helped Sousuke specialize in a new stroke, remind him not to overwork his body, and refine his swimming skills overall. During the final relay, Sousuke swims backstroke instead of his usual butterfly. When he does a turn in the pool, Nagisa notes that it's a kick that he learned from Makoto.

The two characters in Free! who have emotionally, mentally, and physically sacrificed themselves due to their fierce loyalty and protectiveness of their friend(s) finds solstice in each other despite often times hiding their emotions from those who care about them. By becoming emotional, mental, and physical strengths for each other instead.

Makoto and Sousuke as Mirror Characters

As the best friend counter parts of Rin and Haru, Sousuke and Makoto are actually mirror characters of each other. They reflect and react to their relation to Rin and Haru. Makoto, who realizes early on in his life that his main motivation for swimming is Haru, goes through an entire arc where he tries to understand his own quiet jealousy toward the drive Rin is able to push Haru toward. Meanwhile, Sousuke, who originally thought of swimming as an individual sport, tries to understand his own feelings toward not being able to be part of the friends who 'save' Rin.

Both want to be the person that motives them. But the two do accept that Rin and Haru are the ones who help each other out of slumps. After all, Makoto and Sousuke just care about Haru and Rin's wellbeing over everything. They love how their best friends inspire people around them and themselves to achieve higher. They admire Rin and Haru to the highest degree, thus their fierce loyalty and support. And quietly accepting it while being by their best friends’ side in case they ever do need them.

The two both self sacrifice their own feelings for Rin and Haru's feelings. Sousuke refused to tell Rin about his shoulder injury at first, Makoto didn’t know how to tell Haru about going to school in Tokoyo. As they were both worried about hurting Rin or Haru's feelings. These two actually have parallel recap movies depicting their separate relationships with Haru and Rin in Timeless Medley: The Bond and Timeless Medley: The Promise that are meant to mirror each other.

Paralleled Evolved Identities

Makoto, whose original motivations to swim is Haru, develops an identity to swimming outside of Haru. And then makes it his own by adding his caring and nurturing personality through coaching. Sousuke, whose original ambitions to swimming is individuality, competitiveness, and Rin, develops a relationship to swimming through connections and friends outside of Rin. Paralleling their diverged paths that they actually found together as Sousuke is one of the first people Makoto coaches professionally and Makoto is one of the new connections Sousuke makes that enhances his swimming to a new degree.

Makoto uses swimming to solidify and create bonds while Sousuke’s is the opposite where he realizes bonds are what can solidify his swimming.

At the end of the series, Makoto and Sousuke are close friends who genuinely trust, care, and respect each other to the point where they rely on each other physically, mentally, and emotionally (through rehab, watching swim competitions alone, reaching out to each other for support).

Passing the Baton

Makoto throughout the series is the only backstroke swimmer on "Haru's" relay team. However, in the final relay in the final movie, Makoto is the one who coaches Sousuke as his replacement by helping him refine his backstroke and turn. Makoto has always cherished his place at Haru's side on his relay team which means relinquishing his role to Sousuke is an emotional moment for both of them. Sousuke knows how important Haru is to Makoto and would not take his place lightly. Meanwhile, Makoto knows that Sousuke has worked hard through his surgery, rehab, and training to find a place in the swimming world again. This allows Makoto to still directly contribute to the professional swim world, while Sousuke finally gets to swim in a professional relay with the connections he built.

This creates a bond of mutual respect, genuine care, and awareness of each other's emotional vulnerability during moments like this. Makoto and Sousuke ending the series as friends who match each other's thoughtfulness and creating a bond that strengthens both of them as people. Embodying the themes of Free! through their connection.

Fanon

What originally started as a seeming "crack" ship grew to have quite a large fan base despite it being considered a "rare" pair. Ever since Eternal Summer's ending, the pair grew a large number of followers of all kinds, and not just ones that ship RinHaru, showing the ships appeal to numerous different people. Despite the small amount of interactions during the release of Eternal Summer, the two pair was often drawn together in fanart.

Souske and Makoto tend to serve as a second focus couple in RinHaru fics. However, due to the ships soaring popularity, the pair have numerous fics dedicated to them and only them, and are not just a secondary to RinHaru fics.

Some of the reasons people ship them is because of their opposing personalities (Sousuke being slightly intimidating and the dark-broody type, while Makoto is the easy-going, friendly type). At the same time, both Makoto and Sousuke are shown to be observant, loyal, and caring to their friends. Both tend to take care of those younger than them and look out for the people they have in their hearts. Thus, the two's personalities are seen complementing each other, playing off of their strengths and weaknesses.

Sousuke and Makoto watching Haru swim the 100m Freestyle.

During university, Sousuke and Makoto seem to have grown closer. The two are comfortable calling each other, have been seen to be spending time alone on some occasions, and have developed a coaching relationship where Makoto along with Nao has supported Sousuke during his rehabilitation post surgery. Makoto and Sousuke even watch Rin and Haru's competitions together. During the final relay in The Final Stroke - The Second Volume, Sousuke is doing backstroke, presumedly under the guise of Makoto's coaching. Nagisa confirms that Sousuke's kick during the backstroke turn is something he learned from Makoto.

During Eternal Summer, Makoto is shown to worry about Sousuke even before knowing him too well. Having had concern for the other when Kisumi mentioned Sousuke having a shoulder injury. As the two grow closer post Sousuke's surgery in Tokyo, Makoto becomes a significant part of Sousuke's journey in rehabilitation. Sousuke becomes proficient in backstroke enough to qualify to swim in an international relay along with Rin, Haru and Ikuya for the Japanese National Team.

Sousuke observes a different side of Makoto that not many others sees. Sousuke knows of Makoto's competitive nature and believes he is very strong and powerful. At the Samezuka Cultural Festival, Makoto reveals a rare competitive and cocky side of himself to Sousuke during a showdown during a water gun fight. Similarly, Sousuke was in attendance for the Iwatobi festival as Makoto sumo wrestled while wearing the Iwatobi-chan mascot during a livestream. Sousuke having had said Makoto put up a good fight and did a good job. Sousuke seems to have admiration and respect for Makoto in relation to his swim style, kindness, competitive spirit, and power.

On AO3, SouMako is the fifth most written ship within the Free! tag; Makoko's second most written, and Sousuke's second most written.

Sousuke and Makoto observing Rin and Haru practice swimming.

MakoHaru and SouRin are decently popular ships that rival SouMako.

While their canon interactions are limited, their contrasting personalities and shared values have made them a popular ship within the fandom. This pairing explores the idea of opposites attracting, with fans emphasizing their complementary traits and depicting them as deeply romantic and devoted to one another.

Sousuke is depicted in canon as stoic, reserved, and emotionally guarded. His serious demeanor and strong sense of loyalty make him a stabilizing presence in any group. In fanon, this reserved nature often contrasts with Makoto, who is outgoing, warm, and approachable. Makoto’s kindness and nurturing tendencies naturally draw people to him. Unlike Sousuke, Makoto is open with his emotions and expresses his affection readily.

In fanon works, these contrasting traits are seen as complementary:

• Makoto’s openness helps Sousuke express his feelings.
• Sousuke’s calm demeanor provides Makoto with emotional stability during moments of overthinking or stress.

Fandom

FAN FICTION

Sousuke/Makoto tag on AO3

Makoto/Sousuke on FanFiction.Net

FAN ART

宗真 tag on Pixiv

真宗 tag on Pixiv

TUMBLR

SouMako posts on Tumblr

MakoSou posts on Tumblr

Sousuke x Makoto tag on Tumblr

Makoto x Sousuke tag on Tumblr

Trivia

• Makoto's animal is a killer whale/orca, while Sousuke's is a whale shark.
• Makoto's main stroke is backstroke, while Sousuke's is butterfly.
• Makoto is one of the first people to know and worry about Sousuke's shoulder injury when him and Haru find out from Kisumi. He then goes on to be the one who directly helps Sousuke come back to professional swimming through coaching and rehab support. While also refining his swimming and specialize in a new stroke.
• The first time Sousuke sees Makoto swim in high school, Makoto beats everyone in his heat. In an interview about describing Makoto, Sousuke doesn't believe Makoto should be described as gentle due to him having a hungry and powerful swimming style.
• In “Dive to the Future” Makoto and Sousuke frequently contact each other through phone calls.
• Makoto is known for having a very powerful kick during turns when he swims. It is revealed Makoto has taught Sousuke the same move which earns extra momentum during the start of turn.
• Sousuke only gives compliments he genuinely means. He is shown to give Makoto compliments pretty often:

Sousuke – “Hah, you’re pretty good at this, Makoto.”

Makoto – “I have some confidence in gunshooting games.”

Sousuke – “Makoto, your swimming style is pretty wild.”

Makoto – “Huh? Is that so? I can’t really tell myself…”

Sousuke – “Makoto, you have really nice muscles, what kind of training do you do?”

Makoto – “Umm… somehow my body just seems to build muscles easily.”

• During the Coco's cafe campaign in 2021, Natsuya asks Makoto to help at a cafe and to gather 7-8 more people to assist in a part time job for the Summer. Makoto recruited Asahi and Hiyori but was too worried to ask Haru and others who were busy with swim practice. However, he was prepared to just continue working at the cafe despite it being understaffed. Sousuke noticed Makoto's flustered state and volunteered to help. He also offered to reach out to Rin for him while also encouraging Makoto to ask Haru too since he said "it can't hurt to ask." This displays Sousuke's observant and and calm attitude in finding a solution for Makoto.
• During a Coco's cafe collab in 2023, Sousuke offered to show Makoto how to cook. However, Makoto kept tearing the aluminum foil incorrectly.
• Kisumi has said he plays basketball with Makoto and Sousuke but is disappointed that they aren't interested in Basketball Club at all despite their height.
• Sousuke believes that Makoto always does the utmost for people.
• Sousuke thinks Makoto coddles Haru too much.
• For Kisumi’s birthday, Makoto and Sousuke bought him a rabbit plush together since Rin told Sousuke to look for a gift himself.
• Rin took Makoto clothes shopping but most of the clothes were tight around the chest due to his broad shoulders and size. In the end, Rin took Makoto to a sports brand store that Sousuke goes to. It's implied it's the Mizuno sports jackets worn by them in Free! Dive to the Future.
• They have a similar dynamic to OmiJu from A3! Act Addict Actors:
  • Both Makoto and Omi are shown to care about Juza and Sousuke.
    • Makoto is shown to help Sousuke during his swimming shoulder therapy.
    • Omi helps Juza in his flourishing acting career.
  • Both Sousuke and Juza are committed to their dreams: Swimming and Acting.
  • Sousuke and Juza are close with both Makoto and Omi over time and easily get along.
  • Both Sousuke and Juza plead to Omi and Makoto to support them in their commitments (Acting for Juza, Shoulder Therapy for Sousuke).

Gallery

Screenshots

Makoto talking to Sousuke about their history with Ikuya.

Eternal Summer Ova

Free! Road to the World - The Dream: Makoto and Sousuke talking on a rooftop garden. Sousuke tells Makoto about his shoulder surgery and Makoto talks about how he admires Sousuke's hard work.

Free! Road to the World - The Dream

Free! - The Final Stroke Part 1: Losing a backstroke race against Hiyori

Free! - The Final Stroke Part 1: Watching Haru's competition alone. Sousuke comforting Makoto by saying everyone feels the same way about Haru. That Makoto isn't alone in supporting him.

Free! - The Final Stroke Part 2: Makoto and Sousuke checking on Haru after Haru's race.

Free! - The Final Stroke Part 1: Makoto and Sousuke watching Rin and Haru's race together.

Fan Art

All art in this section is fan made, and must be sourced back to the original artist. It also must have permission from the original artist to be posted here. If your art is here without your permission and you wish to have it taken down, please inform an admin, so that we may delete it.

Art by 若(草薙玖穏)＠転載不可

Art by i-only-swim-for-makoto