Haruka Nanase

 Haruka enjoys his close relationship with Rin Matsuoka, a former childhood friend with whom he shares an intense athletic rivalry. During elementary school, while at break from studying in Australia, Rin loses to Haruka in a private race and announces that he will stop swimming completely. Even though Rin insists that his reasons are different, Haruka feels it is his fault and quits the sport out of guilt. Rin returns to Japan to attend high school, and a race is held in a random attempt to rekindle their competitive spirit. Both Rin and Haruka then join their respective school teams. In the course of the event, Rin is released from the relay team of his school and then goes away. Haruka takes him in and reminds him that it was Rin who taught him that the most important thing about swimming is not winning, but teamwork and friendship with your fellow swimmers. Rin is able to take Rei's place in the relay race, and although the Iwatobi team's win is rescinded, everyone's friendships are restored