Haru watched Gou yell at the boys, the way her red hair bounced in her high ponytail, the way her voice pulled at his heart strings made him have to catch his breath and looked away. He wanted her, he really, really did, he wanted to be able to place his hands around her tiny waist and inhale her sweet scent. He was lost in thought when just the voice he had imagined whispering his name in a lovers voice called to him in a high pitched call.

"Haru!" Gou yelled at him, why wasn't he practicing today? She walked over to him and sat beside him, nudging him softly with her bare, now wet feet, "Hello in there?" She tried coaxing him out of what fantasy he was in.

"Hmm?" He looked at her, swallowing the blush and butterflies that crept into him as she sat next to her. He was all too aware that her soft cream colored legs were brushing against him.

"You look lost, more than usual, like you're not even interested in swimming today." Her slender fingers traced the outline of his shoulder in a compassionate way, he hadn't realized he was holding his breath until she let go.

Because I'm only interested in you Kou..

"I'm fine." He nodded, oh so smooth Haru. She nodded and stood up, her warmth gone far too fast, she placed her palms on his back and giggled, shoving him into the water. Did she just? Haru felt a smile creep onto his lips when he looked up at her, those warm red sunset eyes filled with joy, joy from him. God did he want to be the only one who could do that to her.

"Then get to practicing" Her voice was seductive and low, something stirred beneath his swim trunks and looked away, a blush creeping on his cheeks.

"Kou! Can you help me with something?" Makoto smiled at her, waving her over, to Haru's dismay she quickly ran towards Makoto. He knew his best friend wanted to be with her, he had confided in him that he thought he maybe falling for her. Haru turned towards the water to drown the sounds of her giggling in the distance.

Haru was pushing himself towards the end of the pool when he heard Makoto "Kou, I was wondering something." Haru's heart stopped as Gou drew her attention from her clipboard and looked at him.

"Hmm?" She smiled at him looking so damn gorgeous, and Makoto, all shy and smug. God did Haru want to smack his smile off and take Gou into the water and swim away. He almost did when he realized that would be crazy, she was just a girl, but she was his, or he wanted her to be.

"I was wondering something.." Makoto sighed and wanted so badly to ask her out, but his courage faltered "have you come up with a harder training regimen for nationals?"

She smiled with triumph "Oh yeah! I am working your guy's asses off!" Pride radiated off of her in waves. "Don't think I am going to show you, I want it to be a surprise!" She laughed and Makoto nodded, smiling at her and walking off towards the locker room.

"Kou," Haru had no idea what he was doing, he knew Makoto liked her, but he was already in love with her and couldn't help it.

"Haru?" She kneed down next to his bobbing head in the water. "Do you need something?" God she was so fucking cute, all he wanted to do was pull her into this water, but she couldn't swim, he'd change that once she was his.

"Go out with me tonight." Good, short and to the point, even if his face held no betrayal of his emotions, his heart was pounding horribly. He could feel Makoto's look of shock bearing into his soul but chose to ignore it.

"As in a date?" She felt her body grow in heat and looked at his beautiful blue eyes. He nodded and looked deep into those eyes. "Yeah, yes, sure I would love to." She blushed madly and looked away and Makoto, mouthing 'holy shit did you see that!?'

"Wait for me after practice okay?" He smiled at her, he smiled! He was shocked too, she looked at him with a pleased face and watched him longingly as he pulled himself out of the water.

"Yeah! What are we doing?" She watched him dry off those hard, beautiful muscles she had longed to touch.

"Surprise." He winked at her, God he was letting all his emotions run wild around her. He walked into the locker room with Makoto at his heels.

"Haru..what, what was that?" His voice sounded sad, his eyes, worse off. Haru felt guilty but he was in deep, he already felt something strong, stronger than his connection with the water.

"I think I love her, if I didn't I wouldn't even care at all." He sighed and looked at his best friend, pleading him not to make him go on.

Makoto's eyes shifted from sad to understanding "Why didn't you tell me?" Makoto felt sad that he hadn't noticed his best friend's growing love for Gou.

"You liked her too, and when I saw you were going to ask her out, I snapped, I couldn't let her be with anyone else." He sighed, he didn't like telling his best friend, let alone anyone, his feelings. Far too awkward and he was no good at it.

"Take care of Kou." Makoto hugged his best friend tightly. "I think she loves you too."