A/N: Hello! With this, we are proceeding to the main timeline for this story!

There are some adjustment made, this story will start at high school year 2 for Haru and Makoto. The whole anime plot where they opened up swim club, recruited Rei, peace thing out with Rin already happened. I could start with them at year 3.. But I think I would need more time to develop the story, starting with year 3 would feel too rush.

I rewatched the Free! Anime to go through their character story again.. It make me realize just exactly HOW MUCH detail one could forgot in the phrase of three years.. Which I kind of slightly, screw up Makoto background in the last prologue.. I hope it still make sense though..

I thanks everyone who reviewed, followed, favorited!
I'm really happy !

Disclaimer: I owned the OC only !


Chapter 1

Tachibana Makoto - 17 years old. Male.

Makoto, tall, muscular young man with short, olive brown hair and droopy green eyes. His school uniform consists of light brown trousers, a white shirt with a green necktie, dark gray unbuttoned blazer and orange sneakers.

Standing in front of his childhood friend house, he pressed the bell. But as per normal, no response again. He led himself in through the back door.

"Sorry to intrude." He said as he walked in.

When the twins was Junior High, their father had to moved away because of work. And their mother, Akari, tagged along. Seeing as they grew up here and everyone was nice and kind. Mika even volunteered to keep an eye on them for her, the twins also refused to leave. Haruka sworn to take care both himself and his sister in term of physical and health, which is why.. He was good at cooking. (Mostly mackerel dish though.)

Very familiar with the house, Makoto made his way to where he thinks Haruka is at, the bathroom. Surprised to find it empty.

"Empty?! That rare.." Makoto whispered to himself.

Then he switched his path to Haru's bedroom,

"Haru? I'm coming in." Makoto slid the door.

Then closing swiftly just as he open, why? Because he was greeted by butt-naked Haru.

"Waa! Haru?!" He exclaimed from the other side.

"Makoto." Haruka simply acknowledged.

"Why aren't you wearing anything!" Makoto squawked.

"I can't decide which to wear."

Haru stared at seven pair of swim trunks he put out on his bed, all is similar with different/or same purple stripes.

"Haru..." A soft sigh escaped Makoto.

Sometime later after he's decent, worn the same Iwatobi uniform with swimwear underneath. Haruka exited his room to go to kitchen with Makoto on his tail.

"Oh Haru! Where are you going?" Makoto asked.

"Make lunch and breakfast."

Haruka took out two lunchbox from the shelf, ingredients for cooking, making sure mackerel was included.

"Now?! We are going to be late you know.." Makoto stared in disbelief.

"So that why! Help me wake Haruki up." Haruka pointed chopstick at his best friend, eye stern, shooing him to go.

"She still sleep..- Wait! Me?! That's a bit improper.. Haru.. I'm a guy you know.." The olive haired retorted, throwing his hands up, cheek slightly pink.

"Makoto." Haruka looked at Makoto straight in the eyes. Everything he want to say shine in his eyes. Makoto sweatdropped, knowing he can't win this. Best to do as he asked.

"Okay, okay. I will go wake her up." He turned and walked away, to Haruki room.

"Mm, this mackerel need about eighty seconds more to be grill to precise texture and juice."

"Haru! That is your reason for asking me?!" He perplexed flipped his head.

Ignored by Haruka with him so concentrated on cooking mackerel, Makoto went up to Haruki's room, outside. He hesitated.. Would he be greet by sight like when he entered Haru room? That would be bad right? He is a healthy boy for god sake! Seventeen years old, fully healthy and functionable! 'No no no' shaking his thoughts away, he will not think that way.

"Kii-chan? I'm coming in okay?" He knocked the door.

He waited for awhile before sliding the door, so that the girl could give some sort of warning if she was indeed indecent.

No reply.

"She really sleeping..?" He mumbled.

Tightening his grip on the shoji door, he gulped. And slid open.

Mirror image of Haruka, but female version. Softer eye shape and longer, thicker eyelashes. Jet black hair that was the same style as her brother but at the back, longer length which could be tied to a small ponytail if the weather get overbearing.

Haruki had already dressed for school. School uniform consists of light brown skirt, white shirt with green bow tie, light gray sleeveless jumper, dark gray unbuttoned blazer, knee length black socks and black shoes.

She curled up in her own bed, napping away. Makoto sighed in relief, seem like Haruki went back to sleep again after she prepare finished for school. Looking at her sleeping form, Makoto hold back a laugh, remembering how Haruki started her napping behavior ever since Haruka spent more time in the tub. She really got tired of waiting.

And because of that, Makoto often had to wake her up on behalf her brother. It was still alright when they are younger.. Now.. Haruka totally trusted him to not do anything, Haruki seem to be totally not conscious about the borderline between BOY and GIRL. Which made him the one to be more wary of all these.

"Kii-chan? Wake up." Makoto shaked the girl shoulder.

"Mmmm….? Five more minutes.." She rolled to other side.

"Geez, we are going to be late." He murmured with a sigh.

"Kii-chan, Kii-chan, Kii-chan…" Makoto whinged continually, shaking Haruki nonstop."

"Kii-"

"Okay! I'm up!" Haruki elbowed herself up.

Grumbling, she frowned at the person who woke her. Only to see one hand being extended to her. The same thing that Makoto always do to Haruka.

"Good morning, Kii-chan." Makoto greeted with a smile.

Haruki stared at him then back to his hand, her eyebrow twitched in not-morning person manner, took it and pulled herself from the bed.

"Mako… Haru-nii asked you to wake me again?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

They went down to the kitchen where Haruka is putting the food in the lunch box, almost finishing.

"Morning." Haruka said when he saw them coming down.

"Morning Haru-nii." She replied back, and went to the counter to help. Tying their lunch box with water patterned small tablecloth while Haruka cleaned the sink. Sniffing the air, she sighed.

"You made mackerel again?" Haruki murmured.

"Mackerel is essential." Haruka protested instantly. His feeling shone in his eye brightly.

Makoto stood there and exhaled loudly at their exchange.

xxx

On the way to school was the usual, the school is walkable distance from their house. Haruka would occasionally slow down and glance at ocean, Makoto would smile and said what on Haruka's mind.

"C'mon, Haru-nii, we can swim at the school."

Upon arriving, they went to their class, same class together. The school authority usually would put twins together, Iwatobi is no exception.

Funny enough, while Haruka is good at Home Economic and Arts, Haruki was bad at it, but she was good at English. Yet Haruka worst subject was English.

Haruka preferred to be alone, kept socializing to a minimum to his sister, Makoto and the Swim Club. And Haruki felt that it would be too weird without her brother with her if she go around and make friends. She could actually, Haruka didn't stop her. But it just don't sit right with her.

And growing up with mostly boys, her interests is very different from other girls.. In other words.. She's a tomboy.

[Lunch Time]

"Ne, ne. Let go to the ocean during our summer vacation for another training camp!" Nagisa eye lit up when he suggested his idea to everyone gathered together for lunch.

"Eh?!"

Everyone, Rei, Makoto, Gou, Haruka and Haruki. Burst out in surprise, except the twins.

"But, Nagisa-kun, we achieved some results from the tournament previously. Our Club should be able to get more funds to use for pool facilities." Rei analysis.

"That's right" Makoto contributed. Shuddering slightly at the thoughts of their last training camp.

"Ehh, but outdoor camp would be so much fun! We could do lots more too! Barbeque, fishing, diving. And training in the sea is more efficient because we are fighting against the waves." Nagisa protested. Pouting as he stated his reasons.

"I don't know, but have you forgotten what happened previously?" Haruki voice broke out. Everyone went silent except for Gou.

Rei's guilt written on his face, he blamed himself for what happened last time. He just want to chased after them and not hinder them. He just want to improve his timing on his swimming.

Haruka twitched his eyebrow slightly, he cared greatly toward Makoto even if he doesn't show or voice. In all, when Makoto was unconscious and losing his breathing after he rescued him from the ocean traumatized Haruka. He doesn't want to see his best friend in that state again.

Makoto looked down to his lap, clenching his fist lightly. A sad smile cast over his face, he thoughts he already grown out of it, the fear of ocean. Truthfully when he said he believed he could go anywhere if the rest were with him, he really meant it. But it been awhile since the last trip to ocean, he still have to go back there to reconfirm whether his fear have tone down a little.

Nagisa's cheery aura fell, he want to have fun with the rest. But he won't force Mako-chan if he really don't want to.

Haruki witnessed their little Rei-kun incident previously, she can't float properly so she couldn't enter the ocean. And swimming butterfly at that point would be suicidal, her brother and Makoto did filled her in afterward what happened.

"Well.. Rei-chan wouldn't be so reckless this time..Right?" Nagisa said weakly.

"I definitely learned my lesson.." Rei agreed softly.

"What's going on?" Gou asked confusedly, looking at everyone who looked away.

"But in the end, we are all safe!" Nagisa exclaimed loudly, fisting the air. His smile brightened everyone's mood.

"So." Nagisa pointed his finger at Makoto. And he gestured himself curiously.

"Mako-chan as the Captain of the club. Make the final decision, but Mako-chan. If you really don't want to go, I understand." The petite boy grin in understanding.

"Eh?!" Makoto gasped. Glancing around and found everyone patiently waited for his final call.

"Haru, what do you think?" He asked Haruka seated next to him, attempting to delay.

"I don't care as long as I get to swim." He answered, stuffing a piece of mackerel to his mouth.

"I figured as much.."

"Then, as long as everyone keep their rules of safety in check, I don't see why not. But-"

"Yeah! It decided!" Nagisa cheered immediately and successfully cutting off Makoto. The sparkles glint in his eyes told Makoto to keep quiet. Still, Makoto did want to ask why not to opt for facilities, they had the funding for it.

"Wait.. Where do we go for the camp?" Rei questioned.

"We can go to the same place we went last time? We can ask Coach Sasabe to bring us again." Nagisa tilted his head.

"I guess we could try asking.." Rei shoulder fell as he sighed.

The rest of the lunch is having Nagisa being very enthusiasm toward the incoming camp, going overboard with suggestions and ideas, Rei had to poured down his excitement so to control him. Certainly, hunting for edible food on isolated island and spearing fishes is definitely NOT beautiful or fun nor is training related scheme.

"Can someone please fill me in that what exactly happened?!" Gou yelled, after being ignored and cut off by Nagisa excitement.

[After School - Swims Club]

Haruki spend her time drifting in the pool (with a float mat) while the rest was training. She joined the club, but not for competition purpose. More for her brother, she can't really swim, except for butterfly. And the problem with her unable to float like a normal person hindered her ability. Swimming to her was just a way to pass time. And she always found it amusing to see Gou going ogling mood when come to those beautiful muscle, quoted her.

Everyone was swimming laps after laps, the only one not really putting efforts in training was Haruka. He swam at his own pace, his blissful face shown every time he surfaced for air.

"Everyone is training hard, but the timing hasn't really improve.." Gou mumbling to herself while looking at the times noted down on her clipboard.

She overheard Gou and glanced at her. For someone who doesn't have any experience in swimming or managing skill. Gou displayed her potential being the manager, writing out their training regimen and planning. She definitely could use this skill to work on this path for her career.

"That can't be helped, we had to stop swimming when the weather get cold." Nagisa said after hearing her as well.

"We can't have that, tournament is coming right after summer vacation! We need to improve a lot more!" Gou scolded.

"Now! Back to training!"

"Eek!" Nagisa dived back in the pool. But rather than training, he went over to Haruki with a mischievous grin. He sneaked under water and overturn the float mat, making the sinking girl sank before she stood up, dark aura leaking as she glared at the mastermind.

Everyone else that witnessed the scene, shook their head and turned away from Nagisa.

"Haha! Kii-chan sank like a brick!" Nagisa laughed out loud. (literally lol LOL)

"Nagisa-kun….." Haruki whispered darkly.

"Hehe~ Time for me to make my escape!" The petite boy said, turned his tail and swam away, away from the raging senpai.

"Tch." She give up the idea of chasing him in the water, she would just get him back later on. Sighing, Haruki jumped and sit on the pool edge, combing her hair. Annoyed by the fact she would need to wash her hair later.

"Nagisa-kun that wasn't nice." She heard Rei reprimanding Nagisa at the other end of pool. But with that grin on his face he doesn't feel sorry for doing so.

"Haruki." Haruka suddenly appeared from the water infront of her, slightly startled his sister. Concern shown in his eyes when he looked at her.

"I'm fine." She gave him a small smile. Even as cold as he was, he is a caring brother.

Makoto and Gou watched from the opposite, they both have the smile of looking at their sibling being happy meaning the feeling also affected them. It heartwarming to see the scene folded out before them.

"Haruka-senpai looked so much at peace, my brother is peaceful too when I visit him at Samezuka." She spoke to herself.

He didn't reply her, he was concentrated at the little sister tucking few strands of hair behind her ear, droplets trailed down on her exposed neck. This is bad, when did she grew to be like this? The twins were so similar back then and suddenly, puberty hit. Makoto become conscious of Haruki as a girl but.. They don't.. He forced himself to look away before his thoughts gotten out of imagination.

"Ma.."

"Ma..pai..?"

"Makoto-senpai!" Gou shouted.

That snapped Makoto back to the earth. "Huh?" He quickly turned his head at her.

"I was talking about the upcoming training camp."

"Yeah?"

"Are you guys going to camp out this years again or book a lodge?"

"I would prefer a lodge, but Nagisa may say otherwise."

" I see.."

"Makoto-senpai?"

"Hmm?"

"I know you were looking at Haruki-senpai earlier." Gou gave him a sly smirk.

Makoto's face burned up instantly and flusteredly, he tried to speak. But nothing audible exit, he gaped few times before decided to just shut up and feigned innocence. Too late though, Nagisa had saw everything, and he was confident that Gou would tell him why later on.

He hid his face in his palm, cringing at the incoming teases by those two.


And done!

For awhile back when I was typing this, I was thinking about the storyline.
It made me stopped writing for a while until I figured out what ideas to go for.

Writing is so difficult, I really admire and salute those people who write professionally.. TAT

See you next chapter! (which again, not started yet,)
And, Happy Chinese New Years to all Chineses out there! :)
(I'm Chinese btw)