Summary: They may be in a different place, but their morning routine remains relatively unchanged.
A/N: Wrote this a while ago, just thought to post it here too.
Haruka observes the water dripping from his fingers, before leaning back and submerging half of his face in the water.
Even though they're in Tokyo now, their daily morning routine hasn't changed much. Even if their houses are no longer just a flight of stairs apart, even if Makoto lives a fifteen minutes' train ride away from him now, he still diligently comes to fetch Haruka out of the bath almost every morning.
Haruka had initially wanted to pick an apartment right next to Makoto's. If he were being honest, as long as it had a bathtub and a kitchen it was good enough. But Makoto didn't seem to approve of his decision.
"Isn't it better to take up the recommended accommodation? It'll be nearer to your university and much more convenient, not to mention it's subsidised!"
His parents advised the same, and Haruka couldn't say that it didn't make sense, so he went along with it. Though, now that he thinks about it...
What about you? It's not inconvenient for you to wake up earlier than needed to come here every morning?
He hears the doorbell ring, shortly followed by the click of the door coming from the living room. He imagines Makoto sighing and shaking his head, chiding him for not keeping his door locked for safety reasons as usual. Haruka never mentions that he makes sure to unlock his door every morning for Makoto.
Counting the usual seconds, Haruka emerges from the tub just as Makoto opens the door to his bathroom, shakes the water from his hair in a practiced movement, before opening his eyes to be welcomed by a hand before him.
"Come on, you'll be late for your swimming practice, Haru-chan!"
At the childish nickname he looks up, and is greeted by the warm, bright smile that he compares-once compared, he mentally corrects, slightly embarrassed-to the morning sun. He mutters 'drop the -chan' out of habit and takes the offered hand, letting the warmth linger on his hand for a little while longer as he tends to do so lately, though he doesn't really think much of it.
He passes Makoto and heads to the kitchen to put on his apron, preparing to make his usual breakfast of toast and mackerel. Makoto may protest and complain that Haruka will be late if he takes his time making his breakfast, but he's the one who has always been making sure to pull Haruka out of the bath on time so that he has ample time to grill his mackerel every morning. Not that Haruka is completely incapable of keeping track of time in the bath by himself, but he secretly appreciates it.
He hears a loud yawn and frowns. He settles the two plates of mackerel down on the table, where Makoto is seated and rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. It reminds Haruka of a cat.
"You're tired." Coming from Haruka, it's more of a statement than a question. He has noticed dark circles under Makoto's eyes recently. Makoto must have been studying really hard.
"I've been staying up late to study for my midterm exams..." Makoto confesses. "Yesterday night's was the last paper, though! I'm so glad it's over!" Makoto smiles, though it doesn't completely reach his eyes.
Haruka resists the urge to ruffle his hair.
"You've worked hard." Haruka simply states as he sits himself down beside Makoto. "You should rest. You don't have morning classes today, you didn't have to..." He trails off, looking at Makoto, trying not to sound too worried.
"It's okay!" Makoto beams. "Besides, I felt like watching Haru swim today!"
Too bright, Haruka thinks, as he looks away from the dazzling smile, feeling his cheeks heat up a little. 'It's nothing special,' he wants to say, but instead,
"...If you say so."
Occasionally, Makoto visits Haruka during practice if his classes end early and waits for him to have dinner together. During those times Haruka has begun to notice more and more just how Makoto always looks so content watching him swim, the way his emerald eyes always seem to gleam with awe and fondness, the easy smile never leaving his face. It's always been this way, even before they joined the swim club together when they were little. It's really nothing special, they've been swimming together for years, and yet... It makes him feel strange but familiar things, such as how his face turns hot and how his heart seems to pound harder and faster against his chest, yet he knows it's not the same as what it feels like after an intense race.
They finish their breakfast, with Makoto talking most of the time about his classes, his scary new lecturer and the shenanigans some of his classmates have been up to. Haruka gives Makoto a pointed look when he offers to wash the dishes for the both of them.
"Rest," he tells Makoto, softening his expression. Makoto complies, resting his head on the table and watching Haruka move around in the kitchen.
Meanwhile Haruka finishes getting dressed and packing his bag. He's ready to go when he realises Makoto has already fallen asleep. He's about to wake him up when his mind flashes back to the time he returned home the night after the prefecturals, where he found his house lit and Makoto having fallen asleep waiting for him at his doorstep. Makoto, always waiting for him. His hand moves from hovering over Makoto's shoulder to his face, brushing his bangs aside and lightly thumbing under his eye, leaning in.
Makoto stirs awake, and Haruka's hand retreats.
"Haru," Makoto smiles sleepily. "You're ready? Shall we go?"
It almost feels like how it's always been when they were still in Iwatobi. Almost. Except when they step out of the house, and Haruka is reminded that they're not. Instead of a quiet seashore, he sees modern buildings and traffic lights. He sees a lot more cars than in Iwatobi, sometimes annoyed by their honking, and he sees even more people everywhere, some texting on their phones while crossing the roads and others rushing to catch their morning train. Unfamiliar things. It's only been two months, but Haruka wonders if he'll ever get used to the fast pace of the city. He walks a little closer to Makoto.
Haruka usually walks Makoto to the train station where they part, but today Makoto walks with him from his apartment building to the swimming facility. It's been a while since they've done this, walking side by side to school together. Though, they're in different universities now. The hustle and bustle of the city fade into background noise as Haruka settles into the comfortable silence between him and Makoto, the two of them in step with each other.