:Tuesday:
Makoto was a bit on edge this day, but the shock of it all had pretty much sunk in.
He was dreading to see Haruka in class. However, he was shocked to see that his friend was acting as if nothing happened.
They greet like usual outside their houses. They walked together in silence. Once they reach school and their classroom, Makoto nervously says, "Well..."
Haruka glances at him, expressionless, and doesn't say anything. He simply sits down, ready for roll call.
Makoto took this behavior (normal behavior, that is) as sympathy for his foolishness of yesterday, so he plays along. He acts normal and plays the role of mother for everyone once again. Of course, he thought scolding himself, it must have been a joke.
Yeah, Haruka playing a joke. Okay, Makoto.
The rest of the day goes on as usual too. The team has practice, and Makoto was, unsurprisingly, a bit off. His times were all wrong, and his breathing rhythm was out of sync. When Gou blew the final whistle and thanked the boys for the practice, she called out to Makoto. "Could you stay for a while after you change? I'd like to talk to you."
Makoto had a dreading feeling he knew why; it was to yell at him about not having his head in the "game".
Once he had changed and grabbed his bag, he met Gou in the area between the locker room and the pool's fence.
Much to his surprise (was it just him, or was he surprised a lot lately?) it was just the contrary. Gou stood and talked to Makoto about random swimming business. Upcoming competition dates and practice schedules and the like. In her long monologue, she reminded him of the joint practice for tomorrow. And the conversation pretty much played out like that.
Makoto stands there, nodding and smiling, chiming in where needed. Makoto assumed the conversation was over when Gou suddenly paused and cleared her throat.
He was just about ready to say his goodbye when she held her clip board up, covering her face up to her nose. Makoto pursed his lips, confused.
"W-well, um, so, Makoto-senpai," she half-whispered in the tiniest voice Makoto had ever heard from her, "I've noticed that you have been a little off today,"
Makoto sighed and nodded. He knew this was coming. He opened his mouth to speak but Gou continued, "So, I'm guessing something is bothering you."
"Wh-no, nothing at all! Please don't worry about me." Makoto lied with-what he thought was-a convincing smile.
Gou's expression quickly changed, from what Makoto could see, to nervousness. Her fingers rapped on the board. "If you need...If there's anything I can do for you let me know, because..." She lifted the board up so her entire face was hidden behind it as she announced quite loudly, "Because I really, really like you Senpai."
Oh.
o H.
Wait.
Makoto felt her words hit him like a bus. There was silence, and his book bag slipped off of his shoulder and fell to the ground in a dull thud, "I beg your pardon?" he asked the clipboard, his voice cracking on the first syllable.
He heard her whimper as she mustered up the courage to speak again.
Her voice was even louder this time. It caused Makoto's hear to jump.
"Your pectorals are the perfectly chiseled. Your deltoids and triceps are so wonderfully sculpted. And not to mention your biceps are God's finest work. Makoto-senpai is walking perfection!" And with that doozy, she reached in her pocket, grabbed a small gift, slammed it in his hand, and ran away yelling "You don't have to answer right away" over her shoulder.
Makoto stood for a moment while his synapses tried connecting.
Did that just...
Was he imagining...
He gave his head a little shake and looked down into his hand. It was a small chocolate "lucky cat" with a green ribbon tied around it's neck.
He breathed deeply and let his cheeks puff as he let it out. Picking up his bag, Makoto mumbled, "Well, now there's that."
:End of Tuesday: