Sunday. 31 nights left.
Bright blue eyes stared up at the ceiling as a frown decorated Haruka's face. It was too cold. Twisting and turning restlessly in bed, Haru settled on his side, dully noting the large boxes adorning his new apartment—yet to be opened. Truthfully, he did not know what to make of his current situation. Moving to Tokyo just seemed like a good idea at the time, and Haruka was someone to follow his instincts.
There were more job opportunities and prestigious schools in Tokyo, rather than in the subarbs. And restaurants and public pools were far more easier to access. But Haru knew that deep down, that wasn't really what brought him to the city.
What really attracted his attention was a flyer that dropped by his house a few weeks before. It wasn't the neat color scheme or the pen that came with it. In fact, his first instinct was to just throw the paper away. He made the effort to skim the page, however, when he noticed the large imprinted letters of Support the Iwatobi Swim Club! on the flyer, particularly the swimming part. Right below it, there were two very familiar names: Makoto Tachibana and Nagisa Hazuki. There was also two others, Rei Ryugasaki and Gou Matsuoka, but they didn't quite ring the bell as much as Makoto and Nagisa did.
Haruka didn't waste much time before looking into a new apartment and packing up. He hadn't heard those names in over 5 years. At the moment, there wasn't a single doubt in his mind. He wanted to see them again. But most of all, he wanted to make sure a certain someone was okay.
Currently, however, he was beginning to regret that decision. What could he possibly say to his childhood friends? How would he be able to explain his reason for leaving so suddenly back then without even a goodbye? Would they even recognize him anymore?
Unwelcome questions invaded his head as the blue haired teenager snapped his eyelids shut, willing himself to drown in the sleep that eventually consumed him. After all, it was easier for him to just hide from the doubt for as long as possible before reality kicks in.
"Rin!" Haruka stared, wide-eyed as Rin kneeled on the side of the pool, uncharacteristically shedding tears. It was supposed to be a friendly competition between Haru and Rin, but it wasn't even a competition anymore.
"You didn't even take me seriously, Haru. How can I ever think of myself as an Olympic swimmer if you beat me this easily." With those words, the two swimmers glanced at each other. The blue haired one clutched his jacket tighter, helplessly watching the other pick up his pride and making his way out the building—and possibly taking his friendship with him.
It was that day that Haruka truly knew the feeling of sadness. Tears rolled down his cheeks as the normally vibrant eyes lost their shine. Even the water couldn't reflect on them.
He didn't know how long he was there, carefully memorizing how cursed his talent really was and burning into his mind the look on his friend's eyes. He did the only thing he thought he could do.
He ran away.
The next day, he turned in his resignation form in to his swimming coach and school principal before moving out into the suburbs. His family died long ago, so he knew that his friends could never find him, even though some part of him, sometimes, still wished that they would look. That moment, Haruka turned his back on his past.
His new life wasn't any better. In fact, it was probably worse if the swimmer hadn't dubbed Rin's agonizing, accusing eyes as the worst. At his new school, he knew nobody. The feeling of being an outcast strangled him as days went on where everyone talked behind his back, wondering why his name was so girly or why a city boy would ever come to the country without a family. His face was always emotionless, but inside, Haruka knew that while the words hurt, it hurt more that every curious or accusing look at him reminded him of Rin. The purple haired boy haunted Haruka's dreams, following him like chains throughout the day.
Haruka already knew. He loved Rin. Perhaps much more than a friend should.
And he also knew that the other would never love him back.
"Oh look, it's the fag. What's wrong? Did Ha-ru-chan forget to wear nail polish?" Nameless students walked up to Haruka, smirking all the way. Fists clenched at the nickname, but unclenched as his tormenters drew closer. Haruka already knew that there will be more bruises on his body by the end of this. He stopped fighting back. He figured that if he just let them hit him, then it would go quicker. He deserved it anyway for what he did to Rin.
At the same time, however, it was at times like this, that Haruka wished that he was someone different. Someone who wasn't so lowlife that people wanted to step all over him. Someone who would have a chance with Rin. Someone who wouldn't make the other cry. Someone who would give Rin the love he deserved. But that would never happen...because fate would never allow it. He will never be free.
Haruka snapped his eyes open, automatically wiping his neck free of cold sweat. What was that dream? It started out like his nightmares always did. That day never left his mind. To make someone you love cry like that, it would haunt a person until the end of the world. However, it continued much further this night than it ever did before. Was it the familiar Tokyo air? Haruka rubbed his temples, hoping to quell the incoming headache.
Sluggishly, he took a quick glance at his alarm clock beside his bed before gingerly making his way towards the bathroom. It was only a few feet away, but times like these make him wish that there were moving beds...or something like that.
A heavy sigh squeezed its way into his lips as the tantalizing, yet antagonizing scent of fresh water surrounded him, a painful reminder of what he left behind. Haruka took one glance at his disheveled appearance in the mirror before splashing his face with water. He'll be late if he doesn't try harder to get up. He smiled. Makoto normally helped him get ready years before, stopping by his house, making sure he's punctual for class, and taking care of him in general.
An accustomed clench reached his heart. Makoto would be smiling at him exasperatedly if he saw Haruka's state at the moment. His hair was in tangles. His clothes were hanging off his shoulders. His face was flushed.
Haruka shook his head. It was no use to remember Makoto from years ago. He probably didn't even remember Haruka anymore.
Quickly getting ready, Haruka struggled through the unopened boxes to find his uniform and book bag. By the time he was done, his apartment looked as if a tornado tore its way past. A blasé look continued to decorate his face before another sigh ripped its way from his throat. Carefully slinging his book bag across his shoulder, the raven walked away from the mess and out his apartment, shutting the door behind him.
Just like how Rin walked out of his life. A dull smirk adorned his face. How ironic.
Monday. 30 nights left.
The streets looked different from the last time Haruka walked on them, but at the same time, it gave off a nostalgic feel that he couldn't shake off. His legs dragged him down these streets that were constantly lingering in his memories.
It was getting harder to breathe, but it was as if his body had a mind of its own—that wasn't his. Before he knew it, he was in front of a house. It looked the same for so many years. The wood was old and worn by now, but it was still distinct with the smell of cinnamon. He stared at the letters beside the door, still there even after years of constant rain and rust. Tachibana.
Some part of Haruka wished that it said Matsuoka instead, but he knew that he didn't have enough courage to face the hate and resentment in those violet eyes again. For the second time that day, his heart clenched in anguish.
He didn't know what possessed him to knock like he did on the door. It was a desperate move that Haruka regretted when the door opened to reveal Makoto's surprised face. He stood dead silent and still. He was paralyzed as he watched the emerald eyes glossed with tears and the way the normally gentle features clenched up.
As Makoto moved his hand, Haruka immediately braced his body. He inwardly laughed at himself. After years in hell school, they finally broke him into submission. He couldn't even stop himself. It was just a reaction by now. Instead, he felt warm arms wrap around him. It was a feeling that he hadn't experienced in years. Uncontrollable sobs took over his body as he felt the arms tighten around him.
Countless apologies were whispered as Makoto shushed him, comforting him like he always did before. Haruka berated himself for every apology he made, for being so weak, but eventually, he started to quiet down. When his sobs turned to hiccups, he felt the warmth leave him, along with the arms that comforted him. Subconsciously, the raven felt compelled to lean towards the other before he felt two strong hands gripping him, steadily pushing him back on his feet. Haruka winced as one of the hands came in contact with a bruise from what of his last...sessions with nameless students. Out of instinct, he turned away, ashamed of the state he was in.
"Haru-chan...What happened to you..."
It wasn't a question. Haruka just stood still as Makoto pushed his sleeves up, revealing countless bruises and scars—some of which he inflicted on himself. He knew it was wrong, but when he lost Rin, he felt like he lost the feel of the water as well. It was as if two parts of himself died that day. Even now, the water felt bitterly cold to him. He couldn't feel the warmth that used to surround him.
He couldn't truly swim anymore. He was broken.
His eyes were fixed on the floor. He was never a person for words, but he knew that Makoto understood. He always did.
He felt lips press against his forehead before a hand clasped against his own.
"I understand." Haruka could feel the soft smile the other was wearing after saying that. There was a silence between the two afterwards. It wasn't an awkward silence...it was just there. "Let's go to school now, okay Haru-chan?" A nod was all that was mustered.
That was the first time in four years that the two walked together again. Haruka probably wouldn't admit it out loud, but he missed this. He didn't understand how the other could just smile and act like his Haru-chan never left without a word. Was there a human in the world who was really that good inside and out? Haruka used to believe that Rin was the light of his life—the person who smiled through the good and bad, who would always cheer him up, but even he held boiling jealousy inside of him.
Dwelling over his thoughts the entire way, Haruka didn't even notice he was at the school until he saw that Makoto stopped walking through the corner of his eye. Taking a moment to spare the other a glance, blue eyes dully noted the school in front of him. It was as ordinary as can be. But he felt a wave of nostalgia. Iwatobi. That was the school he always decided to go to as a child, together with his friends, before the incident with Rin.
As if knowing exactly what he was thinking, Makoto whispered, "Just like old times, huh, Haru-chan. All of us always wanted to reunite in high school together."
"All of us? Or was it just you and me?" Haruka couldn't help but add that at the end. He could feel the disapproving gaze pointed at him at that moment, but he didn't particularly care. He heard a sigh above him.
"After all these years, Nagisa still asks me where you went. I can't say about Rin, but I'm sure he misses you deep inside." Makoto laughed lightly. Haruka disregarded the notion about Rin for a moment. Rin didn't miss him at all. Without him around, he would be the star. The prodigy. The title that Haruka refused to carry any longer. It was all his. Instead, Haruka opted to ask about the other one.
"Nagisa?"
"He transferred here last year, Haru-chan." Haruka furrowed his eyebrows together absentmindedly. That's right. Nagisa was on the swim club as well. By the time Haruka had left, Nagisa wasn't even in the same middle school.
"I see."
Makoto just smiled.
"I have to leave for class now, Haru-chan. The Principal's office is down this hallway to the left, by the way." Haruka watched as Makoto amiably patted him on the shoulder before jogging towards the entrance. He didn't want the other to leave just yet, but it would be selfish to keep Makoto any longer.
"Makoto!" He saw the other turn around, surprise evident in the normally composed eyes.
"I told you not to call me Haru-chan."
With that, Haruka turned and made his way to the Principal's office. He didn't need to wait for Makoto to laugh to feel his old self creeping in. For the first time in years, Haruka felt as if he was himself again. Tilting his head down, he hid a small smile. This year would be full of firsts. He couldn't help but wonder if the water would be warm again. For the first time in years as well.
Author's Note: So I hope you guys enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Q U Q It's my first story, so review if you like it. It'd really encourage me to keep going. I'm not much of a writer, so there's going to be mistakes. Also, English is not my first language, so sometimes, I'm confused with spelling or grammar. If so, just point it out~