Chapter 3 – Getting Settled – Haru's Chance to Swim with Rin
Rin and Haru packed everything up in boxes.
"Phew...that's done. Now what?" Haru's shark-toothed friend asked.
"I have to call the movers." Haru said as he picked up a phone.
"Ah ok..." Rin said as he sat on a pillow that was on the floor. His phone buzzed as Haru called for a moving van.
Matsuoka-senpai where are you? Practice is in an hour!
Rin sighed. "Nitori...why won't you ever leave me alone?" He thought before replying.
I'm helping Haru move. I'll be there don't worry so much.
Nitori replied back quickly.
Oh. Haruka is moving? To where?
To a dorm at the academy. I'm gonna introduce him to the team so tell the captain I might be a little late ok?
Sure thing Matsuoka-senpai!
Rin smirked and looked at Haru as the raven-haired teen hung up the phone. "Well?"
"They'll be here in ten minutes." Haru said with a smile.
Rin returned the smile. "Good, and Haru..."
"Yeah?"
"I'm proud of you..."
Haru blushed. "For what?"
"For wanting to move on...and wanting to step up your game in swimming..."
"You mean like you?"
Rin nodded. "Yeah...like me..."
"R-Rin...am I making the right choice?"
"What do you mean? Are you STILL thinking about Makoto?"
Haru looked down feeling a little ashamed. "K-kinda...I...I'm sorry..." He said; his hair hiding his tear-filled eyes.
"Hey...c'mon Haru..." Rin said lifting his chin. He saw that tears filled the swimmer's sapphire eyes. "Why are you crying so much today? This is so unlike you..." Rin said as he pulled Haru into his arms and held him close.
After a little while of Rin calming his sapphire-eyed friend, the two heard the moving truck after a couple minutes and started to help bring down boxes.
After the last box was put into the truck the driver walked over to Haru and Rin. "Did you two wanna ride with me or are you gonna take the train?"
Rin looked at Haru.
"Whatever is faster is fine." "I just wanna get outta here so I can forget you...Makoto...I'm sorry..." He thought.
The driver opened the other door. "Well then get in guys."
Rin let Haru get in first. "Go ahead..."
"Thanks..." he said with a small smile.
Makoto was walking up to Haru's house to apologize for how he acted when he saw the truck. He ran as fast as he could to the truck before it could leave for Samezuka Academy. "Haru!"
Haru saw Makoto running up to the truck. "Oh no...I'm trying to forget you, but you just keep pulling me back to you! Why?" He thought before rolling down his window.
Makoto went to Haru's side of the truck and caught his breath. "H-Haru...I wanted to say something to you..."
"What?"
"I...I'm sorry for acting the way I did. I realize now that I was wrong to be like that when you're right...you deserve to move on, and...I support you..."
Haru's eyes widened.
In that moment Makoto snapped since he was a still angry with this situation. "Just don't bother coming back to swim with us..." He said with a glare as he walked off.
Rin wanted to get out of the truck and punch him in the face for saying that to Haru.
Haru wanted to just crawl into a dark cave and die there; his best friend never wanted to see him again.
The driver decided that moment was the best moment to drive away and head off to Samezuka. He truly felt bad for Haru; knowing how close Makoto and him were. He gave Rin a quick look that told the shark-toothed teen to comfort his friend.
Rin put and arm around Haru's shoulders and pulled on him so that he was leaning on his shoulders. He rubbed the shoulder that his hand was around and put his head on Haru's. "I'm so sorry Haru..." He whispered.
Haru was silent for the entire ride; knowing that if he were to try to say something he'd burst into tears.
The driver, soon enough, pulled into the Samezuka Academy parking lot. "I-I'll help you get everything to his room..." He said looking at Rin with worried eyes.
Haru slid out of his seat and picked up a couple boxes and carried them inside; already knowing where he was staying thanks to Rin giving him a tour. He had gotten his dorm room key in the mail along with his schedule, even though school doesn't start for another week. He got to his room, put the boxes down, and unlocked the door. Once he opened the door, he walked in, put the boxes down and went back down to get more boxes; leaving the door open for Rin and the kind truck driver. He walked by Rin...not a sound.
"Makoto! I swear if I ever see you again, you asshole, I'll kill you!" He thought as he put the boxes he was carrying in Haru's room. He went back to get more boxes like Haru had.
The driver was very helpful with unloading the boxes and carrying them up to Haru's room. "Poor kid...Makoto really stomped on his heart. I hope the kid will be ok..." he thought as he put boxes in Haru's room and went back to his truck. He handed Rin a couple boxes and then Haru a couple boxes. "That's the last of 'em." He thought before shutting the back of the truck. "Have a nice night boys...and uh...Haru?"
Haru turned and looked at the driver.
"This one's on me..." He said with a smile before getting in his truck and driving off.
Haru barely smiled, but managed a 'thank you' before he walked inside with the boxes he was handed. He got to his room and put the boxes with the others that were neatly stacked on one side of the room. He saw Rin lying down on the bottom bunk.
"Is this one gonna be yours?"
"I guess so. It really doesn't matter to me..."
"Okay."
The two started to unpack everything and put them in the right places.
"So when do you have practice?"
"In fifteen minutes..."
"You sure you wanna keep helping me? You might be late..."
"I don't give a damn..." Rin said with a smirk as he made Haru's bed.
Haru was putting his clothes away in one of the closets and one of the dressers. "I guess I'm gonna have a roommate...great..." He thought as he put away the last shirt he had.
"Oh I'll be right back I promise." Rin said before leaving.
Haru sighed and opened the curtains. "Nice view..." He thought before sitting on his bed to wait for Rin to come back.
Rin came back with what looked like a folded white cloth.
"A white cloth?"
"No, take it."
Haru took it and unfolded it on his bed; only to see that it was an official Samezuka Academy uniform. He smiled and immediately tried it on; not even caring that Rin was still in the room watching.
Rin blushed a little. "Excited much?" He thought as Haru pulled the jacket over his shoulders and turned around.
The raven-haired teen turned and looked at his shark-toothed friend. "Well? How do I look?"
"Y-you look...amazing...it suits you so well." He said with a smile.
Haru returned the smile. He heard a knock at the door and opened it to see a guy with boxes behind him. "Can I help you?" Haru asked; only to finally recognize him. "S-Sousuke Yamazaki?"
Sousuke smirked. "Hey there Nanase. Can I come in...roommate?"
Haru moved out of the way and helped Sousuke with his stuff (just to be nice).
Rin saw Sousuke and his eyes widened. "S-Sousuke..."
"Hey Rin. Long time no see." He said with a smirk before directing Haru to where his boxes would go until they were unpacked.
"Need some help there?" Rin asked.
Sousuke smiled. "Sure. Thanks."
"No problem." He said as he picked up a couple boxes and carried them in.
Haru got the last few and put them with the others. "There, those were the last ones." He said as he leaned against the wall next to them.
Rin and Sousuke smiled.
"Well...I'm gonna go get ready for practice. I'll be back later to meet up with both of you. 'Kay?"
Sousuke and Haru nodded and smiled.
Rin returned the smile and left; closing the door behind him; leaving Sousuke and Haru alone.
"You mind helping me unpack...Haru?"
"He never calls me by my nickname! He always calls me Nanase! What's goin' on?" He thought before walking over to the stack of boxes. "Nope." He said picking up some boxes and putting them on the floor and unpacked what was in them; asking Sousuke where he wanted some of the stuff in them.
Sousuke smiled and unpacked boxes as well. "Well this is different...he's not as childish as he used to be...I could hang around with this Haruka Nanase anytime." He thought as he smirked to himself.
The two finished and heard a knock at the door.
"I'll get it..." Haru said as Sousuke changed into something he's wear down to the pool.
"Thanks..."
"Sure..." He said as he opened the door and saw Rin. "Oh hey Rin."
"Hey. You two getting along okay?"
"Yeah. Sousuke's getting ready for practice."
"Okay. Are you ready? Or is that a trick question?"
Haru lifted his jacket and dress shirt to reveal the top of his swim suit. "What do you think?"
"Trick question." He said as Haru fixed his uniform.
Sousuke had his swim team stuff on and opened the door the rest of the way; startling Haru a little.
"We goin' or what?" He asked before he looked down at Haru. "What about you? You haven't been introduced yet..."
"I was going to bring him down with us and introduce him then, and hopefully get him on the team."
"Captain's in charge of who gets on the team."
"Yeah I know that smartass! I meant I was going to convince him to see what Haru's got."
"Oh...well why didn't you say that in the first place?!" Sousuke argued.
"Let's just go..." Haru said as he walked out; making Sousuke fall forward a little because the taller boy had been leaning on him slightly.
Sousuke nodded and walked out; moving out of the way for Haru so he could lock the door. "I'm gonna get the spare key on the way if that's ok..."
"Sure..." Rin and Haru said.
They walked to the main office so Sousuke could get the spare key to his dorm and the three walked to the pool.
Rin looked at Haru; seeing he look rather nervous and nudged him. "I'll be right beside you the entire time...don't worry Haru." He whispered.
Haru gulped and nodded as the three walked into the indoor pool.
The captain was waiting for Rin and Sousuke to get there and turned around. "Ah finally! Rin! Sousuke! Good to see you decided to show up, and only five minutes late. Not bad boys, but who's this?" He asked as he walked in front of Haru.
"Captain, this is Haruka Nanase. He just transferred here from Iwatobi." Rin said.
"Oh yeah. I remember you. You're a great swimmer Nanase, but I gotta be fair so show me what you've got after you change in the locker room." He said before looking at Rin and Sousuke. "You two wait with the others till I get back ok?"
The two nodded and walked over with the others.
The captain showed Haru to the locker rooms. "By the way, the name's Seijuro Mikoshiba. I'm the captain of this swim team. Nice to formally meet you Haru." He said holding his hand out.
Haru shook hands with the boy and continued walking through the locker room.
"I recommend you pick a locker near Matsouka or Yamazaki, in case you have questions."
Haru nodded and found a locker that was across from theirs.
"You can just put your things inside for now. Well see if you make the team first..." He said with a wink.
Haru smile and nodded.
Seijuro left and walked back to the rest of the team.
"Where's Nanase?" Sousuke asked.
"Getting changed. I wanna see what he's got before we practice."
He nodded.
Haru opened the doors; changed and ready to go.
"You ready to show us what you've got Nanase?" Seijuro asked.
Haru got on a platform and nodded. "Yes sir." He said; focusing on the water.
The captain nodded at one of the other swimmers.
The swimmer nodded back and got on the neighboring platform.
"Ready?" He said before blowing his whistle.
The two dove off their platforms; Haru going farther than usual.
Haru breached the surface smoothly as his body glided through the water. "This is my only chance to prove that I'm worthy to swim with Rin...for the team..." He thought as he kicked of the other side; blasting ahead of the other swimmer next to him.
Both Seijuro and the other team members watched in awe, especially Rin and Sousuke; they've never seen Haru swim with such determination and swiftness before.
Haru's hands slapped the side of the pool as he finished and caught his breath; hearing the cheers from some of the other swimmers he knew he had won. He pulled himself out of the water and helped the other swimmer out too. "That was a good race. Nice job out there." He said shaking the guy's hand.
The other swimmer nodded and smiled. "You too Nanase. Congrats."
Seijuro walked over to them and dismissed the other swimmer back to the others. He looked at Haru with a smile on his face and a swim team jacket in his hands. "It's yours if you want it. We'd be happy to have ya Nanase."
Haru looked at Rin and Sousuke.
The two nodded and smiled.
Haru looked back at the jacket in front of him and gladly accepted it. "Thank you very much sir."
"Well don't just stand there! Put it on!" Rin said.
Haru unfolded the jacket and slid his arms in and pulled it over his shoulders.
The jacket fell perfectly over his broad shoulders and it wasn't too tight on his arms. It was a perfect fit.
Haru smiled.
"Well?" The captain and Rin asked.
"It fits perfectly..."
The two smiled at him.
Rin walked up to him and put his arm around the back of his neck and pulled him closer to him. "Nice job out there Haru."
Nitori stood and watched; feeling a little envious of the raven-haired teen who was with Rin.
Haru laughed a little as Rin ruffled his hair.
Sousuke smirked and put his arm around both of them, though he couldn't help but feel a little...jealous of Rin.