It was at the end of the summer after their first relay together as a team.
Makoto's parents had an annual tradition of spending two weeks at a five star hotel that had its own private beach. They always took Haru along, that year however, they also took Nagisa and Rin along.
It was just a few weeks before Rin's departure to Australia, the pending goodbye hung in the air with an undeniable weight.
Makoto had begged his parents permission to invite his new friends to go with them. Spending so much time with Rin had rubbed some of his sappy romanticism on Makoto, for he begged Haru to help him make wonderful memories so they could see Rin off with smiles and their very best wishes, instead of regret.
It had almost been a good idea.
Almost.
"Let's play soccer down at the beach!" proposed Rin one day the beach was closed for swimming.
"No thanks" Haru had been cranky for not being able to swim since the day before yesterday, what was the point of having a piece of ocean to yourself if you couldn't swim in it? Dangerous tides be damned.
"Come on Haru-chan please! Please" Nagisa had hung himself from his neck and was jumping up and down and begging like an overexcited puppy. He heard Makoto letting out a quiet giggle next to him, Haru sent a glare his way.
"I think it's a good idea" was all the brunet had to say in his defense. Haru tsked, he had no choice but to go now, even though he much rather spend the day soaking at the pool of the hotel.
They played for an hour but Rin's competitiveness and Haru's dark mood hadn't exactly amounted to a good combination and soon after a few frustrated draws the mood had gone sour.
Haru knew he was being insufferable but he couldn't help it, Rin already got on his nerves on a good day, and today was not a good day.
"Come on Haru you're not even trying anymore" That stupid grin on his friend's face made his blood boil.
Nagisa and Makoto had given up and were just barely attempting to catch the ball, both probably wondering why they even bothered playing anymore.
Haru used all of his anger and frustration -and his thirst for water- to fuel his last kick to the ball, not pass Rin and into the imaginary goal arch mind you, but directly at him.
It was childish he knew, but it was too late, Rin was already down… lying on the sand clutching his stomach, eyes shooting daggers at Haru.
"You bastard" he growled before he stood up set on returning the favor.
His anger unlike Haru's, far from giving momentum to his skills, made them run uncontrolled, and while the force and speed of the ball were remarkable, little good it did when it missed Haru by a long shot and dove right behind some trees by the hotel.
Haru smirked despite his inner voice telling him to stop behaving in such an immature way.
He regretted it when he heard the reproach in Makoto's voice as he uttered his name.
"Haru…" Mako's eyes looked disappointed, Haru gulped.
"I'll go find the ball" the brunet added with a sigh
"I'll go with you Mako-chan!" Offered his blond junior, voice full of sympathy.
"No, you stay and make sure they don't end up throwing punches at each other" Makoto sent another "scolding mother" look his and Rin's way, which made both of them lower their heads in defeat. And with that the taller boy turned around, off in the direction of the trees.
He felt offended Makoto would think they would really resort to throwing punches… he wasn't that childish.
Haru dropped to the sand, he hoped Makoto couldn't find the ball, he didn't want to play anymore. He heard Rin huffing and dropping to the sand with a loud thump behind him as well, ha! such a drama queen. He followed Makoto's back with his eyes until it disappeared among the trees….
Makoto never did find the ball, nor did he ever return.