Prologue – Some Things should've Remained Unsaid

Leaving the locker room with a form-fitting black swimsuit; decorated with purple stripes, a sapphire-eyed boy dove into the water of an outdoor pool that had been freshly cleaned the day before. He came up and floated on the clear surface; eyes closed. He heard the gate open and close quietly, a bag set on the ground and the sound of someone walking over to the pool.

"Hey Haru." A familiar voice said.

Haru swam to the side of the pool and put his arms on the concrete. "Hey Rin."

"Did I disturb your relaxation time?"

"Not really. I just got here."

"Ah I see." He said standing up. He pulled his shirt off and tossed it with his stuff. "So..." He started and he undid his belt. "You ready for practice?" He asked as he tossed his pants over with his stuff; his shoes in front of his bag.

"I guess so. You're pretty happy this morning. Why?"

"I got your paperwork all filled out. You're officially-" The shark-toothed boy started to say before the gate opened again; catching both Haru and Rin's attention.

"Hey guys." Another boy said as he set his stuff down.

"Hey Makoto..."

"What were you two talking about?"

Rin looked at Haru.

Haru shook his head just enough for Rin to get the idea and for Makoto not to see.

"Nothing important." Rin simply said before getting in the water with Haru.

"Oh...uh...ok." Makoto said with a smile.

The other swimmers soon showed up, each greeting the others in the pool before changing.

"Um...Haruka-senpai?"

"Hm?"

"You look like you wanna say something. Is there something on your mind?" Rei asked.

"U-uh...yeah kinda..."

Rei smiled. "Haruka-senpai has something to say so listen up!"

Haru sunk a little. "That was a little uncalled for..." He thought before pulling himself out of the water.

Everyone's eyes were on Haru as Rei got into the pool.

Haru cleared his throat. "I...I wanted to tell all of you something that is very important..."

Makoto looked confused, but he waited for his friend to finish.

"I'm not going to be swimming with most of you next year..."

Makoto, Nagisa, and Rei looked completely shocked.

"I'm transferring schools next year..."

"Then where are you going to go to school?" Makoto asked.

"I'm transferring to Samezuka Academy."

"Why would you go there besides the fact that Rin is there?"

"I was offered a scholarship after regionals last year when Rin swam with us."

"And you took it?!"

Haru nodded.

"B-but Haru..."

"Makoto...it's not that I don't wanna keep swimming with you guys...it's just..." Haru stopped and looked down with a sigh. He picked his head back up. "I wanna move on. I want to get better at swimming, but I can't do that if I stay in the same place." Haru said before looking at Rin. "Even ask Rin. He got better while he was studying abroad in Australia. He proved it last time we raced."

Rin smirked at the raven-haired swimmer.

Nagisa looked at Rin. "You did get better come to think of it Rin-chan..."

"Exactly, and I want to get better too."

Nagisa and Rei smiled. "We support you Haru-chan." Nagisa said.

Rei nodded. "If you want to still come here and swim with us like Rin-senpai you're always welcome Haruka-senpai." He said with a sweet smile.

Haru returned the smile. "Thanks you two..."

Makoto got out of the pool.

Haru looked confused. "Makoto?"

Makoto ran his fingers through his hair. "Why Haru..." He asked as he walked over to him. "First we lose Rin to Samezuka and now you?!"

Haru gulped and backed up a bit. "I thought I already told you..." He said looking a little irritated. "I knew this wasn't going to be easy..." He thought. "Look, if you don't want anything to do with me that's your problem, but I want to be a better swimmer, and that's something you need to understand." Haru said before grabbing his stuff. "A real friend that's known me for a while like you have would support me..." He mumbled before leaving.

Rin got out of the pool and ran after Haru. "Haru wait!" He said before grabbing Haru's arm.

Haru looked back at his friend.

"You don't have to leave...you can stay and swim."

"I can look at Makoto...he's mad at me and if he's mad he'll just keep staring at me..."

"We can work around that. C'mon Haru. Please come back to the pool." He said as he held his hand out to him.

Haru went to walk by Rin and was instead pulled under his arm.

"You're not going anywhere without me." He said with a smirk.

Haru sighed and turned the smirk. "Okay...fine."

Rin walked with Haru back to the pool. When they got there everyone else was swimming.

Rei stopped, hearing the gate open and shut, and smiled. "Hey. Welcome back Rin-senpai, and of course Haruka-senpai." He said happily.

Rin and Haru returned the smile.

Rin took Haru's stuff and put it next to his. He looked at Haru and saw that he looked a little nervous to be in the same place as Makoto who was much taller than him, and looked stronger than him as well.

Haru gulped and felt like hiding; only to be stopped by a rather muscular arm – Rin's. "Isn't it obvious that I don't want to be here anymore?! As much as I wanna swim, I can't stand to be stared at all the time, especially if it's Makoto..." Haru thought; feeling someone watching him. "It's already started...great..."

Rin looked at Haru and then to Makoto; noticing that Haru looked very nervous now. He saw that Makoto wouldn't take his eyes off Haru. "Hey! Makoto!"

"Hm?" Makoto asked; not even moving an inch.

"Would ya quit staring down Haru?! It's freaking the guy out!" He said; his face showing hints of anger and irritation. "Man...it's like he's in love with him or...something..." He thought for a moment. "That's it! That's why he won't stop staring at him! He's trying to get him to change his mind!"

Haru stared blankly at the water; just watching it move and ripple as the figures in it moved around.

Rin nudged him. "Hey, Spacey. C'mon." He whispered as he led him into the pool. "Just float and relax..." He whispered again before letting him go.

Haru nodded and floated on his back; trying to avoid eye contact with Makoto as well.

Nagisa and Rei watched as Haru floated around, also keeping an eye on Makoto as Rin had told them without grabbing attention.

Rin sat near one of the walls of the pool and watched Haru. "I feel bad...He's probably under a lot of pressure..." He thought as he watched the raven-haired boy float on the water's surface.

Haru sighed and slid under the water.

"I guess he wants to be alone..." Rin thought before closing his eyes.

Haru started gliding around underwater trying to forget all of his troubles. "Why can't he take it like any other good friend I have around here? I don't see what his problem is. Is it THAT bad that I wanna be a better swimmer and do different things instead of doing everything that I would normally do? Why is it me that is taking the hits here?" He thought as the water seemed to help him move in a seemingly flawless way; a couple tiny bubbles trailing from his eyes. He decided to resurface after a good couple minutes. "I think I'm done for today...I've had enough..." He thought before pulling himself out of the water.

Rin's head perked up as he heard someone getting out. He looked over and it was Haru; his hair not flicked and still in his face. "Something's off about him. I can't put my finger on it though..." He thought as he watched Haru vigilantly.

Haru dried himself off and put his clothes back on.

Nagisa looked over at Rin; worry filling his eyes.

Rin had the same look and decided to get out and talk to Haru.

Haru grabbed his bag and pushed the gate open and left without a word.

Rei and Nagisa got out and sat by the pool instead; while Makoto stayed in the water.

Rin caught up to the raven-haired swimmer and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey..."

Haru turned; trying not to show that he had been crying.

Rin moved the boy's hair out of his face and saw how upset Haru looked; not to mention the pinkish color around his eyes as if he'd been...crying. "W-why were you crying?"

Haru's head dropped as he shook his head.

"Hey! Why were you crying? I know you well enough to know that you don't cry very often, but when you do it's something serious. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing Rin, seriously..."

"Don't lie to me." He said as he gently grabbed Haru's arm for trying to leave. "Talk to me Haru. What's wrong?"

Haru sighed. "Makoto..."

"He's bothering you THAT much?"

Haru nodded.

"Is he the one that made you cry?"

He hesitantly nodded.

Rin pulled his friend into his arms and gave him a tight hug. "I don't like seeing you like this Haru...come to think of it...I've never seen you like this..."

"It's nothing...I'm just going to go home. Okay?"

"No. If you're expecting to go home and be alone you can forget it. I'm going to come with you..."