AN: I felt that Haruka's perspective during this scene was really important to describe because he was the one that was most affected. Just lots of personal headcanons, really. Lots of thanks to my beta for all the support. This chapter is dedicated to you, Amanda.

Episode-base: One
Character Arcs:
Haru
Word Count:
1,419
Summary:
Rin appears in their old grade school, and Haruka's forced to remember their past.


"I didn't think I'd run into you guys here."

Reddish brown irises, messy, silk-like hair to match, and the snap of elastic material from the back of the cap: this was Rin Matsuoka, no doubt. He positioned himself in front of the three astounded figures, all of which were trying to make sense out of this unexpected encounter.

For the two less-composed individuals, there was an obvious reaction, the kind that you'd consider to be normal. Not only had the suspenseful vibe of their surroundings drop, but now, they actually had reason to feel nostalgic in their old grade school. After all, with their convenient meeting in said school, what would've possibly been more miraculous? Nagisa, convinced that their reunion was conjured by some "unseen force," was especially fired up. Makoto, feeling a mixture of relief and curiosity, supported the gleeful ambiance to what he thought would be a new start for all four of the male acquaintances.

Haruka, on the other hand, thought otherwise.

The brooding male hesitated to step forward and inquire of why Rin was in Japan again, why he was in their old elementary school at such a late hour, and why he hadn't told them sooner about his transfer when they were kids. He wanted to know exactly why Rin had sprouted hope inside of him when they were children, because a solid friendship seemed to build up and completely break down in a matter of seconds.

No one besides Haru, Rin, and their old coach knew the cause of this fallout. The fact that Rin couldn't accept his defeat in the last race he'd had with Haru separated them. It crushed Haru, too, that his friend's failure was too much to bare, and he had quit swimming competitively as an effect in the matter. Seeing Rin here, now, easily brought back this memory, and it infuriated Haru. From such merry expressions to painful ones, Haru cursed Rin for having shown them. But mostly, Haru cursed himself for allowing them to affect him this much. What was with that careless smile Rin threw around like nothing, anyways? It was that fleeting image of sharp, pearly whites that permanently imprinted itself into Haruka's brain and allowed itself to resurface unwanted feelings.

Well, whatever it was, Haru needed answers. He had so many questions, yet he couldn't bring himself to ask any of them while captured in Rin's unfamiliar, cold gaze. Instead, he stood speechless as his friends before him chattered about.

The presence was different. The air around him entirely mystic, sullen, and incomprehensibly foreign. Disappointed? No.. no, that word was an understatement. If anything, that was merely a branch to the different emotions rooted deep within Haru. Rather than feeling disappointed, he was frustrated. Frustrated, why? It was a question he forced himself not to answer half-heartedly. After all, he had expected this sort of atmosphere the moment Rin stated his leave to Australia. The sudden announcement from their childhood made Haru think, 'Maybe I was the only one that cared,' and 'Is he really ditching us to attend a swimming school?' Rin standing there in front of them with such a peculiar atmosphere was proof enough, and Haru decided that it was useless to to ask something that had already been answered.

Really, what else was Haruka to expect after years of separation? His subconscious dared not to challenge this fact, and to make matters even more intense, he'd promise himself not to over-analyze the situation. He would leave all that to Nagisa and Makoto. Nonetheless, he made an attempt to stay composed as he was.

The memories he had left with his once competitive, excitable friend were arising. Staying in touch with each other after their departure meant little from the fact that they were too young to exchange information like email addresses and phone numbers. With the burial of their trophy from their relay race, it seemed like the same thing could have been said about their friendship. They've gone through with their goodbyes, and yet, "fate" brought them here tonight.

Why?

No matter how much he reminisced about the past, the thought that Rin would actually come back never occurred to him, nor did he anticipate how much Rin would change. His eyes used to be filled with so much enthusiasm and eagerness. The ardent glow in his eyes, despite how much he'd deny it, made Haruka fall deeper into his passion for swimming. The caress of the water, the sound of it rushing over his ears as his arms swung back and forth in the front crawl, and how the weight of everything seemed to vanish whenever he swam―he loved it all. It was clear enough for any fool to see Haru's ardor for swimming from the exterior perspective, and Rin had playfully yet firmly challenged it the instant they'd met. Sharing something you loved and being able to express it thoroughly to others who admired you for it overwhelmed Haru with indescribable joy.

But that was in the past, and right now, this was the reality.

"Haru―"

His eyes and voice were harsh, masked with cold, unwillingness to discourse in amiable mannerism. They were eyes that which have lost their zealous glow, the glow that Haruka had once thought warmed his soul in the deepest of ways. It was a voice of something new and strange, and he didn't like the sound of it. It was dead, lost in fathomless confidence and arrogance.

"―you're still hanging out with these guys?" A forced, hoarse chuckle. "You never learn."

It was as Haru expected, but although this was the case, he couldn't bring himself to be proud of the accurate assumptions he'd made so far. It was cruel, he thought; cruel that Rin had made his theories reality that day. The young, cheery boy he knew back then had drowned in a sea of competition and aggression for swimming, awakening this obscure monster with a scarily similar face and physique. It wasn't as though the result was horrible, but out of all people, Haruka hoped with all his might that Rin wouldn't be the one subjected to this sort of change. Alas, his poor luck made it the inevitable.

Watching upon closer observation was unnecessary. His speech, the way he spoke with such nonchalance alone had bitterly shattered the innocent image Haru had of him. To think the reserved male ever spent hours, even days reminding himself that his past was just that: the past. Yet he remembered the moments he'd spent with Rin so clearly, so vividly enough to visualize it at any time, anywhere he was. 'It's true,' he thought to himself. 'I never learn.' But his pride would never cave into this declaration, nor would he utter it aloud for the male before him to hear. Instead, Haruka felt that he needed to pay him back. So, just as Rin used to challenge Haruka, Haruka now had the guts to challenge Rin. 'Don't flinch,' he told himself.

"And how about you?" he asked, closing his eyes. He could envision it under darkness, Rin's departure. It was painful to remember, but this time, he forced himself to. After a while, he welcomed the present darkness again. "Have you learned anything?"

Haru hated it. He hated the way Rin answered, popping his neck as if emphasizing his annoyingly boastful confidence. "Why don't I show you?" he replied, a lazy smile slapped across his face. While gesturing his rival to follow him, Rin began to walk down the hall where they would settle personal matters. "Let's race, Haru."

It didn't take Haruka long to decide his next move. He quickly brushed past Makoto and caught up with Rin, walking side-by-side, an arm's length away.

Unsettling chills ran through both spines as they ventured towards the indoor pool, fully aware of the other person's presence. Standing beside each other in their old school.. it was almost surreal. Both males could see their youthful days flash before them, back to a time when ignorant bliss was all they knew. They saw the image of their short legs running past them, into the lounge, the locker rooms, and the swimming pool. How they had come to envision it, they'll never know.

The halls weren't the same as they used to be. They were dark, and there was no sign of jovial atmosphere wandering about. Only silence hovered between them, but they didn't need to use words, anyways; their actions would speak for them.