While the Iwatobi Swim Club struggles to recruit new members, Coach Sasabe restores the nearly demolished Iwatobi Swimming Club building into the Iwatobi Swimming Club Returns, providing the team with an indoor pool. At the start of the next school year, Haruka and the others meet Rin at Samezuka's pool for a send off event for third-year members where they compete in a freestyle relay. Rin, now captain of the Samezuka Swim Club, agrees to again race Haruka and they tie at the finish. That evening, the Iwatobi team invites Rin to their school pool, which they've filled with cherry blossoms, only for rain to ruin the surprise. The next day, Rin discovers that his childhood best friend, Sousuke Yamazaki, has transferred to Samezuka Academy.