[He doesn't respond to the words in any verbal way, but his swimming strokes do get more firm and controlled. He can't think about how he's being chased, or he'll panic again--he can't think about it at all. So instead, he thinks about Makoto, and matches her strokes, and it works.
They're swimming, and they're synchronized, and when they reach the shallow water, Makoto knows they're safe.
And so he takes a deep breath, shuddering, and splashes right out of the water and onto the beach, for a moment just convincing himself--
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They're swimming, and they're synchronized, and when they reach the shallow water, Makoto knows they're safe.
And so he takes a deep breath, shuddering, and splashes right out of the water and onto the beach, for a moment just convincing himself--
They made it.]