sousuke and makoto are emotionally interdependent on each other
i noticed that in the final stroke movies makoto and sousuke watch some of rin and haru's competitions together... alone? Which was interesting because it would show in scenes that their friends were also watching.
but then I realized that for both makoto and sousuke, watching rin and haru race is such a high intensity, emotional moment for both of them... They're both anxious about their best friends' performances and watching them live out their dream... They both agreed that watching them swim made them nervous...
But it seems like they actually start choosing to watch these competitions alone because they know how the other is feeling. Sousuke even watches this haru race with makoto even when rin isn't swimming and reassures him that everyone's feeling the same. To me, it shows that they're relying on each other for support in times of high anxiety.
EDIT: I had to add this. Sousuke sees Haru's overworking himself and tiring himself out. Sousuke also sees people like ikuya and Asahi working hard to help Haru out, cheering him on. Then sousuke goes to say the following:
Although Sousuke is talking about a bunch of their friends, Sousuke already knows Makoto is the most consistently devoted person in Haru's life. he way he frames it—telling Haru to "at least take notice"—suggests that Sousuke has noticed how much Makoto constantly looks out for and thinks about Haru. Sousuke telling haru to pay attention to his friends more (but mostly makoto...) sousuke noticing that in the first place, Sousuke relating to both haru and makoto at the same time... as the friend who didn't take care of himself and the overlooked one maybe that's why they mix the blues and greens for him for some of his outfits.
Another instance Makoto puts a lot of trust in sousuke's care and friendship is after Haru's freestyle race with kaede and he practically passes out after. Makoto knows that Haru needs medical attention (or rest at least). So he runs out to find Haru after the race is finished.
except he doesn't go straight to haru. He actually calls sousuke first. The tachibana makoto who always puts the burden on himself to take care of haru goes out and finds sousuke and relies on his strength and care while being emotionally vulnerable in front of him…..
/the/ makoto who's fiercely protective of haru trusts sousuke enough to carry haru to the clinic... mind you the guy just went thru REHAB..... either makoto trusted sousuke more in carrying him or sousuke offered which in both ways shows their mutual reliability and care for each other.
i also think it shows Makoto who often shoulders responsibility alone (especially when it comes to haru) shows that he's learning to rely on others and sees sousuke as someone who can support him and someone he has a genuine trust and relationship with. While also solidifying sousuke's role among their group of friends/family.
I think it's beautiful the two characters in free! who have emotionally, mentally, and physically sacrificed themselves due to their fierce loyalty and protectiveness of their friend(s) finds solstice in each other despite often times hiding their emotions from those who care about them… By becoming emotional, mental, and physical strengths for each other instead?? (watching high anxiety competitions together, sousuke helping makoto with haru, makoto helping sousuke through rehab).
I'm happy the two have someone they can share their burdens with and someone who matches their own thoughtfulness.
bonus: makoto welcoming sousuke back to the swimming competition world ("Sousuke, okaeri."). he's so proud of how hard sousuke worked especially as the coach who helped him train ;;;
Here is a rec list of my favorite, brain chemistry changing, soumako fics:
To the Flower of Winter
In the country that greets the sun first as it rises from the darkness of the world, a sakura tree blooms in the depths of winter. Soft pink buds unfurl as the flower greets the snow. Sousuke Yamazaki watched each nip bloom, rippling open from each branch. A wind blew and shook the tree, coaxing it to release the flowers from its stems. Sousuke watched with amazement, wondered how hard the wind would have to blow until a single blossom fell and touched him.
Stunningly beautiful. My all time favorite fic ever. Nature imagery, symbolism, soumako parallelism and soulmatism explored so thoroughly. Contrasting them in such a unique way. If you read any soumako fic, this one is stunning to the highest degree.
six, maybe eight
Sousuke has a secret problem that is uniquely his own and has come up with a surefire way to finally deal with it.
There's gonna be a lot of Ishka in here because they write soumako with so many varying surfaces in so many interesting scenarios I recommend anything and all they write. six, maybe eight takes such an intimate spin on a Sousuke hopelessly in love. I've read it six, maybe eight times and love it even more each read through.
love, poppy
Sousuke's cat dies. She was Makoto's, too.
Another Ishka, a rollercoaster of emotion in the perspective of a Makoto. Exploring such interesting character traits with him and how he processes his emotions toward his future, his friends, and failures. Super unique, devastating the whole way through. Has made me bawl even on the third read through...
The World Ends With Me
When Makoto died he was left with two options. One was to disappear forever, the other one was becoming a grim reaper. He chose the second option, hoping to get another chance to live again. However, he finds himself at loss when he can't remember anything about his former life and the job isn't quite as easy as he thought.
Ouh.... this one reads more like a mythology than a cute romantic fic. Places Makoto in a setting so obscure from his original world it's able to explore interesting characteristics of his morality. The plot abstract and philosophical enough to be reminiscent of The Good Place. Which is, imo, a very high honor
Come a little bit closer
It is so effortlessly easy to envision the outside of right now falling away as loose sheets on the wind when Makoto reminds him that they are stronger than the sum of what haunts and hunts them. They learned it together. Sometimes Sousuke forgets.
(A Quiet Place AU)
A quiet place AU so yeah... you know this one is a doozy. Read this one and went into work the next day unable to think about anything else. Such deep themes of care, love, hope, and family and.... gosh this one... it's amazing 😭
As the air begins to cool
Sousuke and Makoto are happily married, with a son that takes after Makoto and a daughter that takes after Sousuke.
It's definitely raining today.
Day 1: Fluff / Angst
ANGST WARNING. This was actually my first soumako fic i've ever read. Yeah. I was not okay afterward. it probably triggered something within my own grief which only some of the best writing can do. Fully recommend when you want to feel something deeply sad.
Witch's Son
Prompt 6 for SouMako Week: Halloween
Sousuke is a witch's son and helps out in her store. Makoto's mother is one of their loyal customers. One day, the two men meet.
Here's some happier fic recs now!! I love and adore Witch's Son. The author creates a pocket world that tells so much about both Makoto and Sousuke while still feeling like there's so much more to explore. Sousuke's mother here is utterly charming and wonderful.
let's not waste it feeling wrong
In an unfortunate turn of events, a civilian gets shot on Sousuke's watch.
Sousuke's built up guilt turned curiosity and admiration is the heart of Sousuke Yamazaki channeled into a future fish au that's as sweet as the desserts Sousuke can bake. Makoto being depicted with sincerity and justice that one can't help but to keep coming back to even when you don't need to.
come in out of the rain
sousuke has been coming to makoto's flower shop for three months, buying real flowers for a fictional girlfriend. but now there's been a fictional break-up, and it's time for sousuke to get back to reality.
The hopeless romantic of it all. Sweet, adorable, and the flower symbolism in itself that symbolizes Sousuke's adoration for Makoto in his own Sousuke way really really got to me...
over the moon
With a few false starts holding him back, Makoto has become complacent with his life of little consequence working at the Wanderlust Lodge, the only bed and breakfast on a small, forgotten fly-over moon in the least popular Centauri star system. Following an intergalactic push to develop a nearby planet, the moon becomes the center of attention overnight, booking the place solid for months on end. Despite Makoto's ongoing blunder and existential terror, one recurring guest slowly shakes him out of stasis.
Idk something about a soumako paralleling loneliness in the vastness of space in time, orbiting each other in ways that feel both isolating and communal... it's beautiful. please read this one.
Let Me Lie To You
On a faithful day Makoto meets a dark moody man in the supermarket he works at, and finds that he can't lie to this person.
Toooooo stinking adorable. A cute, silly soulmate au found in someone you can't hep but to tell your darkest secrets to... even if it's not by choice i guess...
Come on, Come over
Things are fine, really. Makoto has a decent job and good friends and to top it all up, he's moving into a new apartment. Turns out his next-door neighbor is a goddamn hunk with bright eyes that travel his way more often than not.
[SouMako neighbor AU, with some side sprinkles]
Neighbor soumako is actually everything. Strangers to lovers soumako has special place in my heart but this one really takes you on a fun one. Fuck buddies too, so you know it's extra fun LOL
Nothing to Throw Away
Makoto finds himself living the same 24 hour day over and over. Turns out, he doesn’t like weddings as much anymore. Sousuke already knew they were never that great to begin with.
Written by me, a soumako who learn to find new meaning in the same day over and over again with a person who deserves something beyond it. Writing this altered my brain idk
Side by Side
Sousuke asks his roommate to be his fake date at a wedding. To top it all off, the always overly helpful Makoto helps a drunk Sousuke brush his teeth at the end of the night too.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
Wrote this when I was going through some medical things and it carried me through so well it was practically healing. My own personal comfort story, sickeningly sweet with mutual pining. But also I had a lot of fun writing soumako's dynamic and their relationship with everyone else in the fic. We love shameless, flirty smk banter in this house
