#but the dynamic between sousuke and makoto.... kyoani the potential... they knew it... we knew it... they literally wrote out the dynamic

[mochiri]

A SouMako Essay in 2024...

It took me a long time but I finally caught up with free! and remembered why Tachibana makoto is the man of my dreams. But on my watch I realized as it went on Makoto and Souske interact a bit more post Eternal Summer?? The chemistry they have is actually really sweet… and flows naturally well. although it’s def not as much as I would like… here’s why Tachibana Makoto and Yamazaki Sousuke are actually kind of perfect for each other? Sorry it got way longer than I meant it to be LOL

They balance each other out 

Makoto’s sweet, clumsy gentleness complements Sousuke’s no-nonsense, grounded demeanor. Makoto’s kind and nurturing nature has a way of softening Sousuke’s tough exterior and easing his tension, while Sousuke’s firm, straightforward attitude helps ground Makoto, counteracting his tendency to overthink and shoulder everyone else’s feelings.

Together, they create a dynamic that is equal parts comforting and steadying, bringing out the best in each other.

They naturally look out for each other 

Makoto looking out for Sousuke’s shoulder even though he barely knew the guy back in eternal summer. Plus the most precious sweetheart face when he finds out sousuke's shoulder was a success.... if sousuke say that face he'd grumble and be like "don't make such a big deal out of it..." but would appreciate how happy makoto was....

Even helping Sousuke with rehab hello?? i'm going to talk about that more later but it's very fitting the person who was worried about sousuke's shoulder gets to be the one to help him too!

In the Final Stroke part 2 Sousuke is telling Haru Makoto is worried for him. One, probably to tell Haru to chill out and relax, but two because Haru should know that Makoto being worried means Makoto is worried. It’s Makoto for Christ sake. And Sousuke’s probably spent enough time with the guy to know how much he thinks about Haru. Sousuke is telling Haru this for both Makoto and Haru’s benefits. 

Unfortunately this is not part of the show/movies but part of the coco’s 2021 collab is short but shows why those makoto and sousuke balance so well. Natsuya asks Makoto to help him recruit 8 people for the summer cafe. Makoto was able to recruit two people, but he didn’t want to bother the others because they had swim practice. So the guy tries to work an understaffed cafe himself!! Sousuke, who sees poor Makoto frantic about hiring people who APPROACHES Makoto and he’s like “hey let me help you out.” And volunteers his time!! BUT he’s also like “and I’ll ask rin too Makoto. Why don’t you ask Haru?” And makoto’s all worried about them having practice. But practical Sousuke is just like “why don’t we just ask? It won’t hurt.” (source)

I think here…. Sousuke’s levelheadedness was able to calm Makoto and find a solution that works better for him. Sousuke noticed that Makoto was about self sacrifice (YET AGAIN) but Sousuke came with a new solution since Makoto was thinking about everyone’s feelings again instead of thinking about his own wellbeing!! 

Here Sousuke is both looking out for Makoto AND balancing him out. All while finding a solution that doesn’t make makoto sacrifice himself.

They admire and respect each other

Makoto, when he first saw Sousuke at the garden, they talk about Sousuke getting surgery and going back into swimming. To swim somewhere amazing because Sousuke just spilled his dreams to Makoto on the rooftop (romantic). Makoto calls Sousuke amazing because wow… going back into swimming and working hard. And Sousuke doesn’t even know how to react because Makoto gave him such a genuine compliment to the point where Makoto even challenges him.

And then Sousuke immediately asks him out on a date out to eat, basically LOL.

Sousuke’s admirations are unfortunately not in the anime either but these desktop chibis where Sousuke compliments makoto in ALL of them and makoto does not know how to respond to said compliments. Sousuke's looking at Makoto's muscles, his strength in swimming, and his shooting skills:

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.” (Source)

Sousuke calling Makoto big. Idk about you but from an athlete, that’s a compliment. LOL. But when Rei calls Makoto gentle, Sousuke says that a guy who swims with that hungry of a swimming style should not be called gentle. From an athlete who loves swimming... that's def a compliment LOL. (source)

Sousuke calling Makoto surprising. I think here he’s surprised about makoto’s competitive and cocky nature from the eternal summer ova. As Nao says Makoto is actually prudent, daring, stubborn, competitive and inhibitive. Which is the surprising/not gentle side of Makoto Sousuke is probably talking about with Haru. (source)

And Sousuke a competitive guy. He appreciates other competitive guys lol. I think Sousuke is quite pleased at Makoto's competitive drive.

They watch out for each other 

Makoto literally takes Sousuke through rehab after his surgery. He trains him, takes his swim times, does whatever coaches do at a pool idk 

Also in Coco's 2021, Makoto offers to do the dishes since Sousuke cooked a lot and Sousuke tells him NOT TO HURT HIMSELF CAUSE HE KNOWS MAKOTO IS CLUMSY HES JUST WASHING THE DISHES BUT HONESTLY SSK’S RIGHT…. Makoto needs someone to watch out for him… he’s a hazard sometimes… Showing Sousuke being worried about makoto's clumsiness AGAIN

Makoto thanks Sousuke for pushing him to ask more people and sousuke’s like “well if it’s just you Makoto everyone will worry” and makoto’s like “oh is it because I’m unreliable…?”

And Sousuke's like “you’re always doing the utmost for people Makoto. It’s that they couldn’t leave you alone, you know.” (source). Sousuke…….. are you talking for yourself….. the ever observant Sousuke notices the Makoto who’s always doing stuff for others volunteers and helps him get more people……. He couldn't stand watching makoto be all stressed out... Showing how sousuke's level headedness eases a frazzled Makoto and helped him find a solution!! (Like a good boyfriend LOLOL) 

During Haru's race Sousuke noticed how worried Makoto is for Haru. He verbally tells Makoto to relax and lets him know that he's not alone in his feelings! But also noticing how worried Makoto was in the first place... Also look how cute they are in their official matching Mizuno jackets... (source)

They would be such sweethearts to each other but still be able to challenge each other

Those two work hard to look out for others and the people they love… of course they would look out for each other too… 

Makoto I bet is so patient during rehab. He helped Sousuke bring his shoulder back into shape and had him swim on a national team. To swim with rin again. Sousuke knows how much makoto’s helped him. And that boy does not take friendship for granted.

I can’t help but to be so happy that makoto who was worried for him back in season two got to heal him and bring Sousuke back to his dream at the end (?) of the series. All while finding a dream for himself and coach professional swimmers! Which he’s very good at by the way!! So so proud of Coach Tachibana 😭😭 and Makoto puts them boys to work he's got Sousuke and Hiyori sweating

I wish this got longer scenes cause it’s such a pivotal moments in BOTH their careers but it was like “teach me how you move your body, makoto!” And makoto’s just like “of course!” 

They would be so funny 

They went bunny plushy shopping together for Kisumi's birthday, can you imagine what they even talked about? (source)They would probably take forever choosing one cause Makoto would try to think about what Kisumi would want and Sousuke’s like let’s choose any. And they bicker about it in the aisle and eventually Makoto wins cause of course the bunny has to be extra special. It’s a present, it has to seem like you thought about him! And Sousuke grumbles and picks the one that looks like Kisumi or something LOL

Sousuke cooks and Makoto is canonically bad at cooking/handling the kitchen. When they ate nabe with rin and haru sousuke saw the mushrooms and were like “why do these look like they were cut by demons…” and makoto’s all flustered and talking about how bad he was at cutting and then makoto says he made dessert. And Sousuke’s like oh wow is this tuna surimi?! It looks delicious! And Makoto’s like… actually it’s strawberry jello…. And Sousuke’s like…. "…. Sorry." (source)

LIKE HOW IS THAT NOT ANIMATED fr!fr! the final stroke version... Kyoani pleaseeee im begging (they’ll never do it)

They play basketball with Kisumi. Can you imagine that… isn’t that adorable… (source)

When they went to the cake buffet (source) and makoto grabbed all those cakes and Sousuke’s like “you eat a lot…” because he’s so stunned how many cakes Makoto grabbed LOLOL my sweet tooth loving Makoto…. I bet they would go on cafe dates all the time…  oh wait they do… with all their friends ��� they most def went by themselves before 

Two people who have an intense amount of loyalty to their best friend… wishing to be the one that makes him have the drive he has… to be the one to save him…

Makoto’s love for Haru and Sousuke love for Rin are the two most important relationships in free! …. After Haru and Rin’s relationship. And that’s just what the series is. The competitive relationship between Haru and Rin. But here it leaves Makoto and Sousuke who love their friends with all their hearts, yearning for…? Someone to see them as an equal…? Idk what it is but that’s kyoani’s fault for not letting Sousuke and Makoto share the screen for more than 60 seconds at a time

I just rewatched the first final stroke movie. I can't believe makoto and sousuke both say such sweet and motivational words to haru and rin respectively together at the end credits!! Talking about how much they love and appreciate their them and the friendship that they have... I'm convinced Makoto made Sousuke do that omg LOLOL

Last point: Sousuke can probably carry Makoto. Or Makoto can carry Sousuke. Or both. I’m pretty sure both. They both deserve that for each other, congratulations to the happy couple!

Bonus: i'm pretty sure these two coordinated this attack on rin and haru. They're already doing couple hijinx...