Chapter 6: "I Snapped Back into Reality"

This is it.

There was Haru, "morning, Makoto."

I can feel my face brightened up. I was so happy that he's ready for school. I cannot hide my smile, "Haru..."

"hm?" he asked, locking the door.

"I'm so happy you're going to school," I said, with a cannot-be-anymore-wider smile.

"oh yeah. After what you said, I did a lot of thinking, and I concluded that I have to go to school. Besides, being depressed that long just won't make sense anyway," he explained while walking down the stairs in front of me.

"doesn't make sense?" I asked.

"yeah. Even Gou's alright now, right? According to you, that is," he answered.

"yeah."

"and I think it's time for me to be strong and try to be beautiful like before, for you guys. Though, his death was a massive blow to my mental and emotional health, if I might say."

Haru has never been this talkative before...I wonder what changed him?

"it seems you're recovered now, Haru," I said while trying to catch up to him after we passed the stairs.

"I'm trying," he looked at me. "and you'll always be here for me, right?"

"of course, Haru."

"hehe I knew you'd say that," then he smiled at me.

That was the most adorable face I've seen of him. A smile that sincere, was almost never shown. He's been a bit strange than before, I still don't know if he has changed for the better or worse

But Haru, what are you doing? You hugged me yesterday and just now you smiled like an angel. Are you testing me in some ways? What was the thing you wanted to clarify? My feelings for you? Do you know them?

Or is it that maybe our feelings for me.

Do you...like me...Haru...?

No, no. That's not possible. Don't flatter yourself, idiot Makoto. The higher you go, the more painful it'll be if you fall.

Grakk.

We were late, seriously late. Too much chatting on the way. But we're here. The girls gasped when they saw Haru, but the teacher didn't care. Haru's appearance made an uproar. The girls surrounded him and started to say stuff.

"Nanase-kun, you're here!"

"thank God!"

"you're not gonna get expelled!"

"I could still see you!"

But Haru, being Haru, ignored them and went straight to the teacher, so I went to my seat.

"I'm Nanase Haruka, sensei."

The teacher looked slightly surprised then opened the book and marked Haru. They chatted a bit and walked back to his seat. He didn't want to look at me in the eyes and was blushing, I wonder what the teacher told him?

Short after that the bell rang and homeroom was over. The second period was Literature, and since I loved it, it went by pretty quickly. The third and fourth were pretty short too, for me. It's lunch already.

"Mako-chan!"

"Nagisa?" though I didn't see the person, I knew that voice was his and he's the only one that called me that anyway.

He ran to me - followed be Rei - and grabbed my shoulders. With a really excited face he asked me, "Rei said he saw you with Haru-chan! Is he here?!"

"ca- calm down Nagisa...Haru's right there," I pointed Haru, who was at the doorway and I didn't know how they could miss each other, and Nagisa ran towards him.

Haru just came back from telling Miss Ama-chan about his absence and the club. When I offered to go with him he said no so I didn't go with him. He seemed kind of sad and somehow...angry...is something bothering him? Or am I bothering him?

Nagisa suddenly appeared before my eyes and smacked my shoulder, "Mako-chan! What are you spacing out about?"

"nothing really," I answered.

Nagisa then took Rei's hand and said, "we're going to the rooftop together again, Mako-chan! Prepare you lunch immediately! Haru-chan too! You agreed after all! Then wait for us!" then they stormed off to their class.

Haru turned to me, "I-"

I cut him, "'I don't have my lunch', right?" then I opened my bag.

"yeah. You know it. Why did I waste my energy to talk when you already know what I'm thinking?" he giggled.

"well sometimes it's better to be told then knew beforehand," I took out two lunch boxes. "here, this one's for you."

"I guess. What's inside?" he asked.

"salted mackerel and-" I haven't finished my sentence but he picked the lunch boxes and pulled me.

"let's go then, I want to eat your mackerel," he said while walking rather quickly.

"I guess Nagisa was right then," I smiled.

He turned his head to me, "about what?"

"you make all decisions based on mackerel. I didn't lose to it this time though haha. You didn't look hungry in class."

He glared at me and turned his head back, "it's because it's YOUR mackerel."

"eh?"

"and that time it was because of certain idiot that can't even choose."*

"eh?"

Haruka's P.O.V.

Where're Nagisa and Rei? Though I didn't really mind them not coming, since Makoto was here. But still, this was kind of boring too; he kept on staring at the sky and doesn't say anything.

"Makoto," I called him.

He turned to me smiling like always, "yeah, Haru?"

"do you have your phone? I'm kind of bored and I don't have mine," I said.

"I do. Here," he gave me his phone. "I have a new game there, you probably will like it."

"okay thanks," I opened the lock.

I clicked on the icon I haven't seen before. The theme song played.

"Makoto, what exactly is this?" I asked.

"otome game," he answered, still smiling.

"and which part of it will I like?" I glared at him.

"haha don't be so cold, Haru. That game's nice, you know. I'm kind of addicted to it," he laughed.

Trying to be a bit sarcastic, I said, "really Makoto? You downloaded it? Your taste is wonderful."

"no, Ran did it."

It didn't work.

"oh I see. Well it's better than being bored like hell," I started playing it.

Makoto giggled.

The game's title is 'Memory'. The main character is a girl that later in the game will be discovered that her name is Lucy. She lost her memory due to an accident a month before the New Year and is in the hospital. Although she's being kept in the hospital she can go out to play - in case it helps her regain her memory. My job is to help her figure out her background; full-name, age, school she goes to, parents, siblings and many other things. I would win if she remembers everything by New Year's Eve and if not then I would lose. The game's pretty simple but the mystery kept me going that I let myself be addicted to it.

"Haru," Makoto called me.

I snapped back into reality, "uh, yeah?"

He giggled, "so how's the game?"

"fine, I guess," I gave him his phone back.

"really?" he checked it. "woah, you made more progress than what I and Ran did in two days."

Attempting to change the subject I said, "where're Nagisa and Rei?"

Makoto smiled, "they never came. Maybe caught by some teacher and made to do some errands.

"oh...I'm hungry, Makoto."

He opened the lunch-box and handed it to me, "here, eat lots, Haru."

"yeah," I started to eat.

"anyway, Haru, what do you think about the game?" he smiled.

I choked. The stupid rice wanted to go to my lungs.

Makoto handed me water, "sorry Haru, didn't mean to startle you..."

After finally freed I said, "no I was just...surprised."

I shoved a spoonful of rice into my mouth. After I swallowed it all I said, "the game was nice, but..."

"but?"

"I fell sorry for the parents."

Makoto gave me his half-serious face, "why?"

"because even though they've been together forever, she forgot about them. Because she didn't remember them she didn't care at all."

"why do you feel sorry for the parents and not Lucy? She's alone you know."

"because being forgotten hurts."

Makoto was silent until the bell rang.

Nagisa and Rei came to our class afterward, saying 'sorry' and all. Not that I didn't wonder why, I just wasn't really interested in knowing it.

Nagisa and Rei's relationship seemed to sail smoothly. Nice.

"I'm going to swim again tomorrow," I said.

"why all of a sudden?" Makoto looked at me.

I sped up my walk trying to match him, "because I was kinda thinking about it.

"hm, really?" he smiled.

"Makoto?" I called him.

"yeah?"

"you look really happy."

"is that so?"

"why?" I asked back.

He chuckled, "because I'm with you again." then he looked up to the sky and looked back and smiled at me, "you know, I enjoy walking to and from school with you, like finally!"

"hmh," I felt happy. "umm, Makoto?" I looked up to him like a puppy.

"eh? Yeah?" he blushed.

I've been thinking about this, maybe I really should say it. It didn't feel nice holding something like this in my heart, I mean; it just didn't suit me but who cares. What's so wrong with a guy being in love and is embarrassed to say it to the person? Oh come on, this thing needs a LOT of courage!

I stopped walking. We were in a place best suited for this type of thing. Any girl would say this is really romantic; beside the sea during sunset.

I can consider myself lucky...

"I...about you..."

"hm?"

...or not.

Makoto pulled my hand and whole body. I heard honks...and people shouting.

Makoto gave me a really sweet sincere smile, his tears started to fall, he mumbled, "thank you, Haru."

Everything went blank.

"MAKOTO!" Haruka shouted.

"Haru-chan!" Nagisa gasped, he's crying.

"Haruka-senpai!" called Gou, she's crying too.

Just then Rei came into the room, "ah, Haruka-senpai, you're awake!" he tried really hard to sound okay.

Haruka looked at his body which was wrapped around with white thing.

"truck...you...and Mako-chan..." Nagisa cried more.

"that's right! Where's Makoto?!" Haruka shouted.

Rei took off his glasses to wipe his eyes, and kneeled in front of Nagisa and hugged him.

He tried to speak clearly, "Makoto-senpai...he...is in the Level 1...I just came from there..."

"you're not telling me Makoto is..." Haruka looked at Gou, desperately trying to be told these all were just a terrible joke.

"sorry Haruka-senpai...but he really is..." said Gou, covering her face with her hands.

"WHAT THE HECK?!" Haruka shouted.

The nurses came but he didn't care, "are you trying to say that my two beloved persons were taken away by the same damned stupid reason?!"

He can't stop his tears from falling.

"you guys are playing pranks, aren't you?" he laughs.

No one dares to look him in the eye.

"no no no no...guys please say something..."

Gou went out of the room.

"no wait, no this can't be..." he smacked his own head.

"no..." he scratched his head.

"why...no..." he pulled his hair.

"not when I finally remember our promise no..."

"...no...!"

"NOOOO!"

'I am yours and you are mine, forever.'

He thought that his worst nightmare played in front of his eyes again and grinning while looking at his miserable condition.

This was his second regret that'll make him feel guilty forever.

* reference to 'Free! Iwatobi High School Activity Log 1: Track 03: If He Was Your Boyfriend – Iwatobi Side'

I am really sorry for the very late update...It's just that my teachers always give us bunch of homeworks and two weeks ago was the mid-term and I have test next Tuesday...I'm really busy omg I never expected to be this busy because of school...really.

oh look! I have cover pic for the story now!

cover pic is by Nakajima Hotaru on deviantART.

- Nakaness