Makoto Tachibana of Free! is Haruka Nanase's best friend, and is also a second-year in the same class as Haruka.
Unlike Haruka, he is more outgoing and often speaks up for Haruka. He is nice and considerate to others, putting others before himself. However, he is weak-hearted and gets scared easily (particularly Nagisa Hazuki teases Makoto by scaring him). He developed a fear of the ocean due to a traumatic incident in which an old fisherman, whom Makoto greatly idolized, drowned in a typhoon alongside many others. He is captain of the swim club. His specialty is the backstroke.
Makoto is voiced by Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Japanese) and Johnny Yong Bosch (English).