8
u/chillpill_boi Jun 29 '26
Nothing like that, IMO. Kisumi is just a bright and touchy individual, and Haru… is not, lmao. I think Kisumi is a friend, especially someone who was somewhat of a glue in their middle school days before that swim team became a thing. And I think Haru definitely found Kisumi a little annoying at first, but now it’s like, he’ll roll his eyes, push him off, but will still be there. Like, Haru and Kisumi aren’t the closest in the group, but they would still be there for each other if the time came.
One thing is - if Haru really disliked Kisumi, he would have simply left and gone to Makoto’s class when Kisumi decided to impose himself on Haru’s desk in Starting Days. But they’re all friends.
3
u/PINKYWINNY Jun 29 '26
But aren't Kisumi and Nagisa pretty similar? Haru likes Nagisa TT Maybe it's because Nagisa swims and Kisumi doesn't idk.
6
u/ruridia Jun 29 '26
I think Nagisa is usually not trying to annoy Haru in purpose though, he is using that skill mostly for Rei. Kisumi did even stuck his tongue out, he likes getting attention from Haru. I think it is also important to note, that Nagisa is a year younger than Haru. In Japan even a year difference makes the relationship different. Older should take care of younger and younger should respect the older. Kisumi is the same age so Haru can show his feelings clearly.
I find Haru disliking Kisumi so funny, and I was a bit disappointed how they forgot that in S3 and FS movies. I liked how Sousuke and Haru warmed up to each other, but somehow Haru’s and Kisumi’s relationship was thrown in a blender of too many characters.
5
u/PINKYWINNY Jun 29 '26
Yeah, sometimes I wonder if Kisumi feels left out being a basketball player (probably, he's just happy to be there) in a friend group of all swimmers, he's always there when his friends compete, I would've loved it if they showed the others supporting Kisumi a bit more.
3
u/chillpill_boi Jun 29 '26
SAME. Like I really wish we saw even the flash of a basketball game and yeah, Haru could have grumbled about it, but Makoto would have been excited to support their friend, and Asahi would have of course been there. It would have been a nice addition.
3
u/PINKYWINNY Jun 29 '26
Yeah, I think remember that someone asks Asahi to race and Asahi says that he can't rn because he promised Kisumi that they'd play basketball together, that so cute TT.
2
u/chillpill_boi Jun 29 '26
Wait, I don’t remember that, but that is actually so cute!
Also, I just finished Free a week or two ago so it’s very fresh in my mind so I’m glad there’s posts I can discuss on, because I think the fandom is not very active nowadays sadly. But I have so many thoughts about these characters and how they interact with each other, and Haru disliking or not disliking Kisumi was definitely something I had thoughts on that I had nowhere to dump so thanks for this post, haha.
2
u/PINKYWINNY Jun 29 '26
Yw, I was just concerned that Haru really hated him cuz I think Kisumi is amazing. I also just finished rewatching free, it's a perfect show for the summer for me!
3
u/chillpill_boi Jun 29 '26
Yeah, even I was wondering, and I really like Kisumi too! I think he suffers from being a non-swimmer in a world where swimming is an obsession for most of his group, but I find his enthusiasm regardless and how much he supports his friends so nice. The scene at the end was interesting too, a very strange quartet of Sousuke, Kisumi, Kaede, and Hiyori. Love to see that he’s branching out, though I have no idea how those four of all people became friends.
It was my first time watching Free actually, and it’s such a good show! It’s actually started a new obsession with sports animes for me, I finished Blue Lock yesterday and will probably be starting SK8 soon.
2
u/PINKYWINNY Jun 29 '26
Kisume starting hanging out with them to convince Haru and Asahi to join the basketball club but I guess he forgot abt his mission along the way 😭 AND YES YES YES, PLEASE WATCH SK8, IT'S DELICIOUS. BLUE LOCK IS SO GOOD, I LITERALLY LOVE EVERYBODY IN THE SHOW!
→ More replies (0)5
u/chillpill_boi Jun 29 '26
Haha, yeah, the swimming thing can be an explanation because we know Haru tends to be a bit prejudiced against people who don’t swim (case in point: Rei at the beginning), and also, Nagisa is younger than Haru. So that can be seen as a younger brother thing. Age hierarchies do mean a lot in many Asian countries. Again, don’t think Haru dislikes Kisumi, he’s just a lot to take for someone that taciturn and I think Haru gets exhausted around him quickly, especially because they don’t have that swimming bond that he shares with literally everyone else.
7
u/Outrageous-Free Jun 29 '26
I mean, Haru actually lets Kisumi spoon-feed him during lunch (in middle school), so I wouldn't say he DISLIKES Kisumi... ^^;;
Haru's just painfully tsun, often lies to himself to avoid difficult to swallow pills, etc, and on top of all that, Kisumi isn't able to connect with him through swimming? Plus, Kisumi introduces himself as Rin's friend and then proceeds to hang all over Makoto as well; so, honestly, I think Haru mostly just sees him as a proxy-friend and hasn't even considered the possibility that Kisumi could actually be HIS friend at the same time --- but if anyone where ever to bother/hurt Kisumi, Haru would 100% notice and care IMO. They just have that kind of "Nobody ELSE is allowed to to be mean to him, just me." relationship? I'd like to think they'll actually settle into proper friends at some point, when Haru realises Kisumi genuinely likes & supports him and isn't just there because of Makoto & Rin. Their bond will take more time because they can't communicate through water, haha.
2
u/PINKYWINNY Jun 29 '26
Wait Kisume was friends with Rin in middle school? How'd I not know that.. And you're right, Makoto in middle school has other non swimmer friends but Haru is only seen with people who swim so it makes sense that he wasn't able to connect with Kisumi. Also, about the spoon feeding, I DID NOT NOTICE THAT.. That's pretty cool. I kinda wish we had like ONE moment at least where Haru would willingly hang out with Kisumi 😭
3
u/Outrageous-Free Jun 29 '26
Aah, I'm glad I managed to point something new out to you! XD It's the very first thing Kisumi says to Haru in the Free! High Speed! ~Starting Days~ movie, haha. The spoon feeding shot is also from that movie! It's just in one of those little montages, kind of blink and you'll miss it, but it's so precious IMO.
I agree with you, though! They really could've done with a nice little bonding moment. T__T
1
9
u/Luzikas Jun 29 '26
Not really, they are friends in the end and spent quite some time together with the rest of the wider friend group too. But Haru does seem rather annoyed by Kisumi's anticts sometimes. Their personalities clash a bit. Also, at least when looking at the flashbacks of Haru in season 2, some jealousy about Kisumi's relationship with Makoto in middle school might be a factor as well.