Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Free!: Take Your Marks (2017) movie poster

Plot Summary

Free!: Take Your Marks (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 108 mins · Japanese
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Eisaku Kawanami
Starring
Mamoru Miyano, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Koki Uchiyama, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Daisuke Hirakawa, Satoshi Hino

A special sequel anime for Free! to screen in Fall 2017.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Free!: Take Your Marks: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Free!: Take Your Marks (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

The collection of stories begins with Choice of Fate!, where Haruka Nanase, accompanied by his close friend Makoto Tachibana, begins the process of searching for a suitable apartment in Tokyo as he prepares for the transition into college life. During this search, they receive assistance from Kisumi Shigino, whose uncle happens to own a rental agency. Kisumi helps the duo secure a lease for an apartment situated conveniently close to a swimming pool. While visiting the potential residence, Haruka and Makoto encounter a young boy named Misaki Kuramoto, a budding swimmer who had previously been coached by the apartment's former tenant, Nao Serizawa.

The narrative continues with Cooling Down at a Secluded Hot Spring!, which focuses on Aiichiro Nitori as he struggles to decide on the perfect graduation gift for Rin Matsuoka and Sosuke Yamazaki. Meanwhile, Momotaro Mikoshiba manages to win tickets to the Anago Hot Springs. In a display of creativity, Momotaro and Aiichiro present these tickets to Rin and Sosuke through a complex and elaborate scavenger hunt. Once at the hot springs, the trip takes a comedic turn when Momotaro finds himself locked in a fierce competition with the captain of the Sofukan High School swim team over a specific capybara plush toy. Amidst the leisure, Natsuya Kirishima, an alumnus of Sofukan High School acting as a chaperone for the training camp, provides some poignant and wise guidance to Sosuke regarding his shoulder injury. As the trip concludes, Aiichiro and Momotaro give Rin and Sosuke traditional good luck charms as parting gifts.

In the segment titled Butterfly of Promise!, the focus shifts to Rei Ryugazaki, Nagisa Hazuki, and Gou Matsuoka, who are working together to produce a recruitment video to attract new members to the swimming team for the next school year. During the filming process, Gou discovers an outdated recruitment manual left behind by former club members. Inside, she finds a strategy referred to as "PKH East", which the group believes to be a highly resourceful technique for their video. However, their investigation reveals a humorous truth: "PKH East" was actually the nickname for "Perfect Kinniku (Muscles) Handsome Azuma", a former member whose striking physical appearance was the primary reason many female students joined the team. Although they are initially disappointed by this discovery, the experience ultimately inspires Rei to finish the recruitment video. During their investigation, Asahi Shiina also makes a brief appearance.

The final story, Eternal Blue of Setting Off!, centers around the members of Iwatobi High School and Samezuka Academy as they secretly organize a surprise going-away party for Rin, who is preparing to depart for Australia. The plans are complicated when Rin spots Gou and Momotaro together and mistakenly assumes the two are in a romantic relationship. His anxiety increases when he discovers that Momotaro intends to challenge him to a relay race alongside his older brother, Seijuro Mikoshiba. Fearing he might lose Gou's affection, Rin turns to Haruka for help, only for Haruka to reveal that Momotaro's true motivation was simply wanting a toy that Rin had acquired from a burger restaurant. Despite the misunderstanding, the competition proceeds, and the two teams face off in a race against the Mikoshiba brothers. Following their victory in the relay, the swim clubs gather to celebrate Rin's departure. Simultaneously, Ikuya Kirishima and Hiyori Tono are shown preparing themselves for the upcoming time trials at their college.

Following the conclusion of the stories, a post-credits scene appears with a cryptic message:

> "See you next stage"

This message served as an official teaser for the third season of the series, titled Dive to the Future.

Last updated: October 11, 2026 at 16:44

Was this helpful?

Plot questions answered

Free!: Take Your Marks Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Free!: Take Your Marks (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Haruka choose an apartment close to a swimming pool?

Haruka is moving to Tokyo for college and wants to continue his swimming career, so proximity to a pool is a priority. Kisumi Shigino helps Haruka and Makoto find the place through his uncle's rental agency, and the apartment's location near a pool makes it an easy choice for Haruka's training needs.

Foreshadowing: Haruka's focus on finding a pool-accessible apartment establishes early that his swimming journey in Tokyo will continue after high school.

  • haruka apartment tokyo
  • kisumi rental
  • pool location
  • college move
Q2

Who is Misaki Kuramoto and why does he matter in the apartment story?

Misaki is a young swimmer whom Haruka and Makoto meet while inspecting the potential apartment. He had previously been coached by Nao Serizawa, the apartment's former tenant, which ties him directly to the swimming world Haruka is about to enter in Tokyo.

Foreshadowing: Misaki's connection to Nao Serizawa hints at how interconnected the swimming community is across schools and generations.

  • misaki kuramoto
  • nao serizawa
  • young swimmer
  • former tenant
Q3

Why did Aiichiro and Momotaro give Rin and Sosuke their gift through a scavenger hunt?

Momotaro won tickets to the Anago Hot Springs and wanted to present them in a memorable way rather than simply handing them over. By turning the reveal into a complex scavenger hunt, Aiichiro and Momotaro turned a simple graduation gift into a personal and creative experience for the seniors.

  • aiichiro graduation gift
  • momotaro scavenger hunt
  • rin sosuke hot springs
Q4

What is the rivalry between Momotaro and the Sofukan swim captain about?

During the trip to the Anago Hot Springs, Momotaro and the captain of Sofukan High School's swim team get into a heated competition over a specific capybara plush toy. The rivalry becomes a comedic centerpiece of the visit and highlights Momotaro's competitive personality even outside the pool.

  • capybara plush
  • momotaro rivalry
  • sofukan swim captain
  • hot springs competition
Q5

What does Natsuya tell Sosuke about his shoulder injury?

Natsuya Kirishima, a Sofukan alumnus serving as chaperone for the training camp, takes time during the hot spring trip to speak with Sosuke privately. He offers wise and reassuring words about Sosuke's shoulder concerns, giving him valuable perspective and encouragement about moving forward despite the injury.

  • natsuya kirishima
  • sosuke shoulder injury
  • wise advice
  • sofukan alumnus
Q6

What is "PKH East" and why do the swim club members think it's a strategy?

Gou finds the term "PKH East" in an old recruitment manual while making the Iwatobi swim club's recruitment video. The name sounds like a technical recruiting strategy, so Rei, Nagisa, and Gou investigate further, only to discover that it actually stood for "Perfect Kinniku (Muscles) Handsome Azuma," a former member whose attractive appearance was the real reason the club recruited so many female students.

Foreshadowing: The manual itself foreshadows the humorous reveal, since the acronym only makes sense once the full nickname is decoded.

  • pkh east
  • recruitment manual
  • perfect kinniku handsome azuma
  • gou discovery
Q7

How does discovering the truth about PKH East inspire Rei to finish the recruitment video?

Although Rei, Nagisa, and Gou are initially disappointed that the strategy is just a joke about a handsome former member, the experience sparks a renewed creative energy in Rei. He channels that momentum into pushing through and completing the recruitment video for the next school year.

  • rei recruitment video
  • iwatobi swim club
  • pkh east reveal
  • creative inspiration
Q8

Why does Rin think Gou and Momotaro are dating?

Rin spots Gou and Momotaro together during the planning for his surprise going-away party and immediately assumes the two are in a romantic relationship. His anxiety spikes further when he learns that Momotaro plans to challenge him in a relay alongside his older brother Seijuro, making Rin fear he is about to lose Gou's affection.

Foreshadowing: Rin's heightened reaction hints at feelings for Gou that have been quietly building across the series.

  • rin jealousy
  • gou momotaro misunderstanding
  • going-away party
  • rin feelings for gou
Q9

What does Haruka reveal about Momotaro's real motivation for the relay challenge?

A worried Rin turns to Haruka for help, and Haruka clears up the entire misunderstanding. Momotaro never intended to compete for Gou's attention, he simply wanted a toy that Rin had won from a burger restaurant, and the relay challenge was his playful way of trying to get it.

Foreshadowing: Haruka's calm reaction suggests he understood the situation long before Rin asked him for help.

  • haruka reveals truth
  • momotaro toy
  • burger restaurant prize
  • relay motivation
Q10

How does the relay race end, and what happens at Rin's farewell party?

Rin and Haruka team up to face the Mikoshiba brothers, Seijuro and Momotaro, in a relay race. After winning the race, members from both Iwatobi High School and Samezuka Academy gather together for the surprise going-away party to celebrate Rin before he leaves for Australia.

  • rin haruka relay
  • mikoshiba brothers
  • going-away party
  • australia departure
Q11

Why do Ikuya Kirishima and Hiyori Tono appear at the end of the special?

The two are shown training intensely for upcoming time trials at their school, mirroring the broader theme of characters stepping into the next phase of their lives. Their inclusion teases the conflicts that will drive the storyline of the next season, Free!: Dive to the Future.

Foreshadowing: Their focused training foreshadows the rivalry and personal struggles that take center stage in the third season.

  • ikuya kirishima
  • hiyori tono
  • time trials
  • college preparation
Q12

What does the post-credits message "See you next stage" mean?

The cryptic post-credits message serves as an official teaser for the third season of the franchise, titled Dive to the Future. It signals to viewers that the characters' journeys toward college, Australia, and new rivalries will continue beyond this anthology special.

  • see you next stage
  • post-credits teaser
  • dive to the future
  • season 3

Movie threads

More Movies Like Free!: Take Your Marks, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Free!: Take Your Marks tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Breezy ensemble comedy with friends like in Free!: Take Your Marks

Self-contained comedic episodes that wrap up neatly with warmth and laughter. Looking for movies like Free!: Take Your Marks? This thread gathers light, easygoing ensemble comedies centered on close-knit friend groups. If you enjoy breezy episodic sketches, playful misunderstandings, and warm humor without heavy drama, these similar friendship stories should hit the spot for relaxed viewing nights.

  • comedic
  • lighthearted
  • playful
  • ensemble
  • warm friendships
  • self-contained
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: brisk, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories unfold as a series of small, friendly scenes rather than a single dramatic arc. A group of familiar characters drifts from one lighthearted situation to the next, such as scavenger hunts, silly bets, petty misunderstandings, or everyday errands. Each segment resolves itself quickly, leaving room for the next comedic idea. The humor relies on personality and gentle exaggeration rather than high stakes, giving viewers a relaxing, smile-inducing experience that rewards showing up just to hang out with the cast.

Why they belong together: Films cluster here when their tone stays firmly in easygoing comedic territory and the appeal comes from spending time with a beloved friend group. They share low-stakes conflict, brisk pacing, and a focus on ensemble dynamics rather than a singular protagonist's journey. Viewers seeking comfort viewing, where warmth and laughs outrank dramatic tension, will find these titles feel like a cozy hangout session.

Bittersweet coming-of-age transitions like in Free!: Take Your Marks

Warm stories of friends leaving home, chasing dreams, and starting new chapters together. Movies like Free!: Take Your Marks that gently capture the bittersweet feeling of graduating and moving on to college or new adventures. These warm coming-of-age stories balance hopeful new beginnings with nostalgic farewells, making them perfect picks if you love heartfelt friendship transition tales.

  • bittersweet
  • nostalgic
  • coming of age
  • farewell
  • gentle
  • new beginnings
  • Tone: bittersweet, warm
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives follow characters on the cusp of adulthood, often finishing high school or closing one life chapter. The plot circles around farewells, going-away parties, and small rituals that mark the end of an era. Underneath the cheerful surface lies a quiet awareness that the friend group may scatter, and the story's emotional payoff comes from honoring that change. New paths feel exciting but tinged with nostalgia, and the ending usually leans toward warmth even when acknowledging the sadness of moving on.

Why they belong together: Films in this thread share a transition theme wrapped in gentle, hopeful storytelling rather than dramatic turmoil. They prioritize emotional resonance over conflict, focusing on how friends say goodbye, what they take with them, and how the bonds they've built endure. Viewers seeking reflective but not heavy stories about friendship, graduation, and starting over will find these titles naturally sit alongside one another in mood and shape.

Every angle

Free!: Take Your Marks (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Free!: Take Your Marks in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app