Grey skies
Plot: Haru cradles the phone to his ear as he looks at the sky. "I'll see you soon, ne Makoto?" Sequel to Say you love me one last time.
The others are worried- he can tell, because even Rin- Rin, who is brash, insensitive and has the emotional quota of a rock- treads around him warily.
"Hey." The redhead greets, Nagisa, Gou and Rei all still unsure what to say.
Haru just nods, and sends him a lazy glance.
"Hey yourself."
And it's like the tension is broken- like it was never there. The trio move forward to grab him in a tearful hug, wailing about how they hadn't seen him for so long, even if it was just a week, and how the lack of Haru makes one weak (god damnit Nagisa stop teaching Rei those kinds of puns).
It's like before.
Only, it's not. There are still pauses in between, where no one knows what to say- what to do when Haru tilts his head subtly, or looks to the sky, thinking absently.
It's moments like these that make Makoto's absence glaringly obvious.
When the lunch bell rings, they disperse- secretly glad, even though they're happy to see him back. There's something wrong, they can tell. There's a wall of sorts- and only Makoto knows the peekhole into Haru's thoughts. It makes them sad, and worried how Haru hasn't seemed to notice much else these days other than his phone.
They're back in class before they realise he hasn't followed.
Nagisa's phone rings- And his face pales.
The realisation hits him hard.
Soon enough, the others are on his tail, wondering what's gotten into him. And he runs, faster than he has ever run before. He feels his gut twist painfully, his feet burning as he races to the nearby beach- and stops short.
Because Haru is there, waist deep in the water and the skies are turning grey.
Steadily, and oh so calmly, he moves forward, ignoring the cries of Rin and the others. Nagisa throws himself in, and moves, yelling for Rin and Rei to help, please, just get Haru-
The storm rears its ugly head and roars, as Nagisa is swept back in a fierce wave, as if the water is helping Haru in its own morbid way. Taking Haru, just like it had taken Makoto that day, when he'd gone to save his siblings during that horrific thunderstorm.
"HARU!"
"OI, BAKA!"
"HARU-SAN!"
Everyone is calling him, can't he see that? A sob wrenches itself from Nagisa's lips and he forces himself forward, ignoring the disgusting salty burn of seawater in his mouth and eyes. He has to get Haru, save him-
But then he hears it, somehow, through the storm. Makoto's voicemail is making its way to their ears, and sees the green phone Haru holds close to his chest.
"Hello, you've reached the phone of Makoto Tachibana. I'm sorry I can't take the call right now, but leave me a message and I'll call back without fail."
The water takes Haru further out, and he can see Makoto, worried as ever.
He's chest deep into the sea.
"Makoto." He sighs in relief.
Closing his eyes, he tries not to turn back, to see the faces of his friends as they watch him. A pang of guilt shoots through his gut, but he knows that without Makoto, he's not going to last much longer.
"I'm sorry, Nagisa, Rin, Rei, Kou- But I have to go."
He slips under the water.
"HARU!"
Even when dying, Haru's never felt happier.
"Ne, Makoto, it's been a while huh? Don't worry, we'll see each other soon. Love you."
A/N: Aah. Well, there we go. Angst as usual. Sigh. Why does it even happen haha.