Hello everyone! This is my first legit not yandere cray-cray fanfic I started to work on. It may seem to start out slow, but trust me! I have plans for future chapters that will for sure put a smile on your pretty little faces! (Trust me… pls) There will be no smut in this fic so I'm sorry if that's what you are here to see, but you never know what'll happen in the future…
Also a note to the people who are probably wondering the pairings, this is a RinxFem!Haru fic I promise, so don't let any tiny little hints I mix in with Makoto push you away. ANYWAYS I digress please enjoy the fic!~
Chapter 1
"Good morning," An old woman smiled kindly, she swept the sidewalk with great care being sure that all the dirt was contained in a spot. "Isn't it summer break for you young ones?" She asked with the kind voice of a grandma.
"Ah yes it is," The tall young man with short dark olive green hair bowed politely, "Our schools are attending a summer camp." He shifted the large bag on his bag, filled with an unneeded weeks plus of clothing and snacks and other things for the short trip ahead.
"Ahhh to be young again…" the older woman reminisced with a soft sigh, "well you kids have fun and be safe Mako-chan." She waved kindly.
"We will Tamura-san!" Makoto bowed his head and waved back hurrying off.
Makoto hurried up the stairs towards the house of his best friend, "Haruka-chan?" He knocked on the door setting the large bag down. Putting his hand on the door he rang the doors bell once to no avail, "Haruka-chan? Are you ready?" He called, sliding the door open, "You really should lock your door…" He walked in and headed straight for the bathroom. Makoto knew his childhood friend well enough. "Haruka-chan? I'm coming in…" He grabbed the door and slid it open a head popped up from the surface of the water in the bathtub. "Haruka-chan, you do know our schools have to go on a mandatory summer camp."
"Not interested…" The head bobbed under the water again before coming back up again to see a hand extended to help. Taking the hand, she stood up out of the water with a sigh of disappointment. "I'd rather just stay home…" she mumbled stepping out of the water. Haruka's long black hair fell down over her shoulders stopping at the small of her back, bright blue eyes looked on in almost a bored feel.
"Haruka-chan you really shouldn't just sit in the bath all day wearing your swimsuit…" Makoto sighed, finding a towel left behind as the young women left the room. He hurried behind holding the towel out, "We are going to be late if you don't change Haruka-chan." He smiled at his more than predictable friend, Nanase Haruka, always wore her swimsuit everywhere she was. A high quality brand one piece dark blue in color with lighter blue highlights on the edges and top part with an open back. "Have you packed at least?" He asked and almost collapsed, "H-Haruka-chan are you cooking?"
She nodded tying an apron around behind her, "I'm hungry…" she walked toward the refrigerator pulling out a container of mackerel. "I packed… clothing and swimsuits." She shrugged placing them on the skillet top to fry.
"Swimsuits?" Makoto sighed, "I guess… we are going to be camping near a pond and beach… but they said that's off limits to us except on one of the days besides." He sighed shaking his head, "Want me to cook the food so you can get ready?" He offered.
"No… I like to cook my own food…" she said simply, "You don't have to swim in the ocean you know…" Haruka flipped the food once then onto a plate with two bowls of rice. "Eat up," she said kneeling at the table, picking up a pair of chopsticks her eyes light up. It was one of the few times anything caught her attention, "itadakimasu…" she mumbled and started to eat the food with an elegant hand not spilling a grain of rice. "You should hurry or I will leave you no mackerel…"
"Ah yeah…" Makoto knelt down and uttered the same thankful phrase before picking up a piece of cooked mackerel, "It's alright... I won't be alone and plus no one on the team knows I don't like the ocean." He chuckled uneasy, "Thanks for worrying though." He added with a warm smile.
"I'll be there too…" Haruka simply said, "that uniform doesn't suit you Makoto," She eyed the overly bright white uniform, she wasn't one to normally fret about things like that but the overly sterile uniform made her think of a hospital or a morgue, both places far away from the free water she enjoyed more than anything.
"Ahh… well once we get there I'll be wearing the team's uniform." Another soft chuckle. "Alright let's head out then huh?" he asked standing up, "I'll be out front." Makoto waved heading for the door glancing back to see the girl stand up and rise the dishes off and disappeared into the back. Standing outside Makoto waited when suddenly the door opened up, "All set?" He asked with his warm smile.
Haruka gave a soft nod and shifted the large bag on her shoulder, "sure…" she fidgeted in her uniform. The short beige pleated skirt was uncomfortable and the short sleeved white blouse was even more so annoying. "They don't expect us to where these uniforms the whole trip do they?" She sighed.
"I think they said if you are not part of a club you can wear gym attire…" Makoto started looking at his friend with a chuckle, "Haruka-chan you're not wearing a swimsuit under there are you?" he asked.
"Possibly, did you want to look?" She asked and lifted her skirt without a thought about it causing the young man to blush and cover his eyes. "Yes I did Makoto." Haruka sighed and started to walk leaving her embarrassed friend behind. She bowed to the older woman who once again told them to have a safe trip.
The walk was nearly silent and even though Makoto offered to take Haruka's bag she refused like usual. Haruka's bright blue eyes never left the sight of the ocean until they came to a fork in the road. "Alright see you later Haruka-chan," he waved with a smile, "Say hello to Nagisa for me."
Haruka nodded and the two went their own ways. Makoto heading to the all-boys school Samezuka Academy and Haruka to the all-girls school, as well as sister school, Iwatobi High. In contrast Iwatobi High was a much smaller school than its much larger Academy and as such many of the clubs that were available were only for the boys' school.
Haruka came to a stop in front of the overgrown pool, empty for years. She put a hand on the fence that encircled it and soon walked on in silence. It had been a while since the pool was used, the swim club unable to keep enough members and soon was disbanded. Haruka could see she was nearly the last one to show up, the handfuls of girls standing off in their own clicks talking and giggling.
"Nanase Haruka-san?" A soft voice called, "Haruka-san?" Haruka looked up to see a teacher wave for her. "You're the last one to show up, Haruka-san…" She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. She was a thin woman with a warm face, her short slightly wavy brown hair fell over her eyes, "alright we will be getting on the buses soon." She turned to address the group of girls, which was about fifty in the combined first and second years.
"Ama-chan!" A short girl came running up, her wavy blond hair was messy and fell just barely over her shoulders. Dark pink eyes were brightly light up as she approached, "There were some girls arguing over there, I think it might get physical." She smiled rubbing the back of her head.
"Nagisa-san please refrain from using such names… it is Amakata sensei." She sighed shaking her head, "behave you two…" the young teacher hurried off to take care of the issue arising across the yard.
"Hehe works every time… Haruka-chan isn't this exciting!" The shorter girl smiled bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Ama-chan posted the tent arrangements and guess what!" She pointed a thumb at her chest, "We are in the same tent along with two others… you're the only second year student too."
"Good morning Nanase-san, Hazuki-san." A soft voice started, it barely got the attention of the hyperactive girl. "It looks like we'll be spending most of the six days together." The girl stood directly behind Nagisa, only a few centimeters taller. Compared to the disheveled blond haired girl, Aiichiro's light grey hair was short and styled to fit her small face. Light blue eyes looked on to the two, a beauty mark right below her right eye, "Let's get along." She smiled.
"Ahhh Ai-chan!" Nagisa grinned turned around, "It'll be a lot of fun huh?" She asked, "You're part of the volleyball team right?" Nagisa asked with innocent curiosity.
"Ah… yes." Ai smiled, "I wouldn't call it my choice in sports…" she sighed, "Nanase-san good morning."
Haruka looked over not really showing any interest in the conversation, "Good morning Nitori-san." She started, "Is your club doing anything special for the camp?" She asked trying to make light conversation with her under classmate.
"Senpai said we are going to relax a little but she said she set up a match with boys' team." Ai nodded, "But I might sneak out on the day the boys swim team does their swim…" she mumbled softly, "You plan to do that too right Nanase-san?"
Haruka blinked and nodded, "Yeah."
"The three of us can all swim together then!" Nagisa said loudly full of energy so early in the morning. "It'll be fun, Rei-chan and Mako-chan will be there too." She nodded, "I told Rei-chan if he didn't wear the jammers I helped him pick out I'd be mad." Nagisa grinned a devious look in her eyes.
Ai laughed softly, "Hazuki-san you seem much more excited about seeing Ryugazaki-san then actually swimming." She smiled, truth be told she was excited to see a few of the other boys who would be there.
"Ai-channn…" Nagisa pouted, "Drop the formalities we are the same grade and are going to be together for the whole trip. I will die if you keep calling me Hazuki-san." She repeated her name in an uptight kind of way but kept a kind cheerful smile.
"Ah, alright then Nagisa-san." Ai gave up, is she had to deal with the hyperactive teenager it was easier to just accept it now just like when they first met. "You and Ryugazaki-san have been together for six months now right?" She asked, the buses were just pulling up.
"Mhm! Rei-chan is so cute, he tries way too hard to impress me… but it's more fun that way." Nagisa picked up her bag, "Haruka-chan what about you and Mako-chan?" Nagisa asked, "You two are so close you know the rumors are spreading…"
"Makoto is just my friend." Haru shrugged walking past the two, "It doesn't matter what the others say." She added. It was the same thing she heard every few days now. "Haruka-san! Is it true you and Tachibana-san are going out?" "Nanase-san you're my rival for Tachibana-san's love!" "Good luck Haruka-chan." It was nearly to a point of driving her mad but in the end she didn't care enough to stop the rumors, she'd just remind everyone they were friends and that was all.
"Whatever you say Haruka-chan!" Nagisa laughed picking up her bag, slapping Ai square in the back, "Let's sit together Ai-chan! I call window seat." She hurried off. The students were given a seating arrangement based on the groups. "We have the best seats too, the back two rows." Nagisa grinned.
"Nagisa-san you are far too rough to be a girl…" Ai sighed following her friend. "Nanase-san can we switch seats please?" She asked.
"No thank you…" Haruka shook her head, "Nagisa will tire herself out soon enough." A small hint of a smile showed itself. It was a strange group of friends she had, not that it was bad in the slightest, and it kept her days more alive. They boarded the bus, the trip to the camp wasn't too far of a ride and they would be there by mid-morning at the latest. "Nagisa who is our last member?"
"Gou-chan," Nagisa smiled getting comfy beside the window a small box folded in a cute handkerchief sat on her lap.
Almost if on cue, a girl came to a stop in front of them, "Kou! I told you before Nagisa, Kou!" She pouted her hands on her hips, her piercing red eyes glaring at the blond head. Her striking red hair was tied in a ponytail and she was dressed in her formal school attire, a definite teacher's pet. She sighed again, "good morning Nanase-san, Nitori-san." She bowed her head towards them. Haruka scooted over for her looking out the window.
Nagisa was again frowning, "You guys are so formal…" she sighed unwrapping the box. "Also Haruka-chan why do you only call me by my first name? Am I not important enough to be called Hazuki-san!?" She asked in defeat.
Ai almost chuckled, "Didn't you want to be addressed in a less formal way..." it was hopeless, "are those from Ryugazaki-san?" she asked as Nagisa opened the box her face sparkling at its contents. A little note sat on top of the cute star shaped cookies. "Isn't it normally the girl that makes cookies for the boy?"
Gou grinned, "we all know Nagisa could never bake, remember that time in home economics?" She asked leaning over to look at the cute cookies packed into the tin with care, "we are lucky the whole class didn't burn down."
"H-how was I supposed to know?" Nagisa quickly defended herself, "I thought that if you turned the oven up more it would cook faster…" She sighed nibbling a cookie, "to think I was going to share with you guys…"
The three of them laughed, Haruka's eyes were still plastered to the window, as the bus's engines started up and they were on their way. Not that she was anti-social, she enjoyed their company but sitting beside Gou she couldn't help but to wonder what she really thought of her. "Matsuoka-san… is your brother going to be there?" she mumbled.
Gou looked over and smiled partly, "Ah yes onii-chan will be there." She nodded, "Don't worry Nanase-san I told onii-chan that if he starts anything I'll pout the rest of the trip." Haruka nodded to her reply, she was sure that Gou didn't know the extent of Rin and her past. It wasn't like she cared about Rin being there, she was excited and nervous. The last time the two had met it didn't end in a happy moment, and as such she was worried that it would make it hard to get along with Gou. "Would you mind if I called you Haruka-san?" Gou suddenly asked.
This caught Haruka's attention, she looked over and nodded, "Sure it is fine with me, Matsuo-"
"No!" She started her pout prematurely, "I refuse to spend this camping trip like this!" She pointed a finger, she quickly directed her attention to Ai, "from this point on, first names only." She said simply crossing her arms with a smile, "other than you Nagisa… you are welcome to be a bit more polite."
"Gou-chan you are so mean." Nagisa whined nibbling a cookie in defeat. Haruka found herself almost smiling again, maybe this camping trip wouldn't be as bad as she thought. She'd have a chance to swim eventually so it was all about enjoying the time for now… for now.
Ai smiled as per usual, "Sure formalities are for acquaintances anyways right?" She looked over at Nagisa and sighed, "If you eat all those on the ride there you will be sick…"
"No way don't be an idiot Ai-chan!" Nagisa put the cover back on the cookies, "Rei-chan made them especially for me, they are low in fat and only made with the best ingredients, plus he made more than one." she opened her bag, where a few more boxes wrapped in a variety of colors sat.
Ai's face dropped, "You are seriously going to get sick… Nagisa-san. Haruka-san," she looked back across the aisle, "you are a good cook right? They said we have an option to cook our own dinner one night."
Haruka looked over and cocked her head to the side, "I really only cook mackerel." She put a finger on her chin thinking, "mackerel and… rice, or roasted mackerel. I've never cooked mackerel over a campfire though. Mackerel and carrots?" She was in truly deep thought over how to make mackerel over a campfire.
"Ah don't worry Haruka-san," Gou was quick to cut in, "I like to cook, so maybe I can help out too!" She was sure that if they ate mackerel the whole time they'd get tired of it, at least for the ones who didn't eat it as a main supplement to most meals.
Haruka nodded, it was perfect! A chance to swim, maybe more than once, meals with mackerel, and a hopefully mostly relaxing few days. The scenery was slowly changing lots of trees were clumped together the woods thickening and the urban town slowly dissipating.
Haruka spent most of the time looking out the window watching, a couple times she looked over and add to the conversation. Soon the ocean came into view from between the rows and rows of trees, and her eyes light up, the crystal blue waves lapping against the pale sand… it would be the perfect temperature.
"Haruka-chan looks like a kid in a candy shop," Nagisa piped in with a smile. Haruka looked over and her smile dropped, the calm bored face back. "How much longer do you think we have Ai-chan?" She asked.
Ai looked out the window, the bus turned down a dirt road, "I'm sure we are pretty close by now…" She yawned, "I cannot wait to get out and stretch my legs are so stiff…"
"Yeah the air already smells nicer out here… you can sort of smell the ocean too huh?" Gou asked grinning as the bus hit a small pothole, "ah but I really want off this bus."