frfr | High Speed! Chapter Three Discussion

Only read the first half, I'll come back later with the rest.

I liked the beginning with Haruka trying to reassure Makoto that he's just fine. I especially love how he puts his hand on his shoulder. :) and taking Aki's hand that he shoved away earlier. Haru is very conscious of others' feelings, but he really doesn't want too much people fussing over him.

He really is bothered by all the bricks around the cherry tree, isn't he? ...and bothered that Rin suddenly changed his mind (freestyle relay > medley relay). Haru gets uncomfortable with changes in his environment.

Man, Rin sure knows how to improvise...

Nagisa. So young and already so... persuasive.

Rin wondered if Aki was being asked to do too many things. Well, as long as she doesn't feel over-burdened, I guess it's okay…

This line made me wonder a bit...

what did it make you wonder?

(i want to discuss more but this week is really busy wah)

What exactly makes Rin think that she's being asked to do too many things?

(ahh :_:)

oh god I'm so late with this again. My coherency levels are low at the moment plz don't mind me.

Hehehe Rin was somewhat reconsidering his image of Haruka after hearing helets Nagisa run with him. In this chapter Rin has already convinced two people to talk to Haru. Just doing anything to get him in the relay huh?

Makoto doesn't seem to care whether Haruka enters the relay, but he is bothered by the lack of Haruka and he wants to run with him. He feels bad for Nagisa who was left behind by Haruka. Things are not only changing for Haruka, but for Makoto as well.

Oh man, Makoto. It's sad that his parents weren't around when he found the goldfish. The goldfish were probably his first pets too. It struck me how he was in such a hurry to bury them. Then I realized that his parents are probably picking up the twins from kindergarten, and the first thing they would see are the dead goldfish in the bowl. >>

...Is this the first time ever we see/read Haruka smiling? Yes, we do. Anyway, I find the use of torii/sunset symbolism quite interesting.

i am procrastinating on another thing i have to read so i gotta... i gotta make this quick. sob. after january is over i'll have more time

rin is funny in this book and makoto is really sad in this book

they all motivate each other a lot in different ways

what does the torii and sunset symbolism mean? plus i think how the place is laid out must mean something here.

hang in there!!

Yeah, the torii is definitely there for a reason... It functions as the entrance to a sacred place and symbolizes the 'transition from profane to sacred' (more here). It literally means bird abode... and apparently birds were symbols of death in Japan. Interesting. I didn't know that. ...by the way, the shrine is named after a bird.

Hmm.... Why they live so near a shrine like that at all is also relevant.

According to the second chapter there are three torii on the path to the shrine. Haruka is standing under the first one (or the second one?) as can be seen in the picture.

That line... doesn't exactly mean that in the original. (And upon rereading it, I realized that I originally messed up on it, too, so I sneakily fixed it just now.)
Originally it says: Aki ni yokei na koto wo tanondeshimattaka to omou.
'Yokei na koto' would literally more or less be 'unnecessary thing', so Rin probably asked Aki to talk to Haruka, and now he's having second thoughts if that was really necessary or not.

You're right indeed. I didn't remember anything like that from the original, so reading that line made me go ?!?.

damnit i want to discuss but i know if i get started i'll be here for a long time and i need to attend to other matters, especially because there's a lot in this chapter about all of their different relationships.

i agree with haru being actually very thoughtful of others.

that ending. what the heck.

more insightful comments later

Yeah, there's a really interesting duality in Haruka's behaviour. On one hand, he acts all pissy about Makoto mothering over him upon his return to the swim club, but he understands why Makoto's doing it and thanks him in the end. Same thing with Aki, he practically drowns for her scarf yet he's still hung up on brushing her hand away. Haruka worries about other people's feelings, he just can't seem to react well in the moment and he's aware that he just comes off as cold.

Makoto is very sensitive, and he tries so hard not to let it show... he fakes it when he suddenly stops in the middle of swimming, and he fakes it when they're talking about running and makes a passing mention that he won't be late anymore. Same goes for the previous chapter, he only breaks apart when Rin can't see him anymore.
And after all that bottling up, he finally lets it out to Haruka in that last scene at the shrine. Makoto may be Haruka's mind-reader and speaks for him often, but just as much as he sees through Haruka, Haruka sees through Makoto, too.
And indeed, this was the first time Haruka smiled.
This is definitely one of my favourite parts of the entire novel. The sunset it depicts is beautiful, and I love the way Makoto's thoughts are described.
(And this made the cave scene in episode 6 so much more heartwrenching, Makoto repeating the same words to Haruka. I'm pretty sure that played a huge part in setting Haruka into motion again.)

Rin sure is pulling out all the stops to get Haruka to join the relay: talking to him directly, asking Aki and asking Makoto to talk to him, too. Makes sense, now that we know why he wants to be in the relay so bad...

Aaww Nagisa, trying his hardest to get closer to his senpais. I'm sure he's admired Haruka's swimming for a long time, but maybe it's only now that he sees that Rin has 'befriended' them that he's trying to do the same as well?
Also, it was sweet how Makoto cheered him on while he was running, on their way home. And by now, even Rin was ready to help Nagisa with his swimming again though he's probably still a bit annoyed by him.

As for the layout of the place, it is literally exactly the same as it is in real life, so that's just the way it naturally is. I would really love to know if Ohji Kouji already based Iwatobi off of Iwami, or if it ended up like that when the illustrations were drawn and maybe the descriptions were altered from the very original script to fit with this specific setting?
There's definitely symbolism in putting Haruka 'above' Makoto on the stone stairs, and Makoto trying to go up to reach him.

High Speed! Chapter Three Discussion

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject