Only one person noticed that Haru has never said "I'm home" when entering his house. He just enters with a look of disinterest as he throws his backpack on the couch. The sound of the weighted fabric hitting against the couch would ring through the soundless house. Haru's parents have climbed up the corporal latter over the years and are constantly on trips. Haru doesn't mind. When he was home alone he would either soak in the tub or doodle in his sketch books. It was nice that he didn't have to deal with the screaming and abuse anymore but at the same time, it wasn't. Once Haru was at the age of fifteen and his parents started going on trips he would experience a different kind of abuse. He felt neglected. Through the many months his parents were gone he didn't get a single call, text, or letter. The only reason he knew his parents were alive was because money would appear in a bank account so Haru could buy food. He may of enjoyed the silence at first but after two years of rarely seeing his parents -and when he did the experience wasn't pretty- grew old. At least he could go anywhere in his house without getting yelled at.

Haru sighed as he turned on the tap in his tub. The warm water filling the bathtub and Haru stripped from his clothes. The sound of the water pouring from the facet to beat against the bottom of the tub was calming. Homework could wait, Haru needed to bathe.

Haru was never one to keep track of time when submerged in water. His nose would barely be above the surface of the liquid so he could breathe. His knees poked out from the top of the bath water. His eyes glued to the small dolphin floating in tub, enjoying the bath with him. Haru would stay in the tub forever but alas, humans do not have the ability to do that. Haru pulled himself out of the tub when his stomach rumbled in demand for food. Haru began to dry himself off while glancing down at his phone which had received a text message while he was soaking. The message was from Makoto asking if they could study together. Even though the message was sent over an hour ago Haru texted a reply to tell Makoto he could come over if he wanted.

Haru was heating up his skillet to cook dinner when a knock came at the front door. Haru turned down the heat and slipped off his apron before heading to answer it. Makoto stood in front of him with a gentle smile gracing his face. A strap from his bag hung over one shoulder and Makoto's hand gripped it tightly. Though the boy towered over Haru he didn't ever come off as threatening. It was as if Makoto wasn't programmed to be anything but kindhearted.

"Haru, are you just wearing your swimsuit again? You're going to get sick." Makoto's voice was slightly exasperated because this conversation happens almost every time Makoto comes over.

"I like wearing it." Haru turned to head back toward the kitchen.

"I know but it's not good for you." Makoto followed Haru into the house. "You are even cooking like that."

"I have an apron." As if to prove his point Haru picked up his apron and held it out for Makoto to see before he put it on.

"Oh, Haru." Makoto shook his head while chuckling. "What am I going to do with you?"

Haru stayed silent.

"So have you done today's assignment?" Makoto asked while he leant against the counter beside Haru.

Haru just placed a slice of mackerel on the skillet and looked up at Makoto.

"I guessed as much and I'm not too hungry but I won't stop you from cooking some for me." Makoto smiled at Haru as the black haired teen placed another slice of mackerel on the skillet. "Should we start the homework after you finish cooking? Mom said I could stay the night here so we have time."

Haru nodded while watching the fish carefully. He didn't want to let it burn. Perfectly good mackerel going to waste seemed like such a shame.

"This homework is getting a lot harder. It will probably take a lot longer to do it than normal. We might have to stay up extremely late considering what time it already is."

"What time is it?"

"It's almost eight thirty," Makoto told him after he checked his phone. He pocketed the light green device and turned to Haru. "How soon till you are done cooking?"

"Almost done." Haru looked over at Makoto who nodded and went to grab two plates and forks. From the many years the two spent together they could practically read each other's minds. Makoto needed to do most the reading considering the fact Haru doesn't talk as much as others. He didn't mind. Haru was the way he was for a reason and Makoto wasn't going to force him to change. That wouldn't make him a good best friend if he did.

The two boys ate the fish at the table in the kitchen while Makoto went over the basics of the assignment. When the meal was finished Haru placed the dishes in the sink and the two boys retreated to Haru's bedroom. They changed into their sleepwear, careful not to look at each other, which consisted of boxers and a t-shirt for Makoto and just boxers for Haru. Makoto was just grateful that his friend was out of the cold, wet swimming suit. It didn't bother each other in the slightest to be in this state. They do swim together and have been spending the night at each other's houses since the beginning of their relationship.

"Does any of this make sense to you?" Makoto asked. Haru and Makoto were sitting side by side on Haru's bed. Their arms pressed together as they worked on their homework for hours on end.

"Does it make sense to you?" Haru didn't look up as he sketched at the top of his paper. The drawing of the waterfall started to take up the whole side of paper that was being unused.

"A little bit. We'll probably understand it better once we learn more about it. Right now we are still just trying to figure it out."

Haru nodded.

"We finally finished though which means we can call it a night." Makoto started to gather up the papers scattered in front of them. Haru just sat down his pencil and shut his eyes. His head fell down slightly to come in contact with Makoto's shoulder. Makoto smiled while he dropped the homework off the side of the bed and slowly moved himself and Haru to a more comfortable position. They now laid side by side with Haru's head still on Makoto's shoulder. After a few minutes Haru turned in his sleep and wrapped his arms around Makoto's arm. His face buried in Makoto's neck. The olive brown haired teen just used his free hand to grab the sheet and pull it over the two so they could sleep peacefully that night. A smile across his face as he fell asleep.

Haru didn't particularly care for school. The constant droning of the teacher didn't grab his attention but instead made him look out the window beside him. Haru could easily not do his school work. If his grades plummeted no one but Makoto would even worry. The reason Haru kept his grades high was because he wanted to get out of his house. If he couldn't leave for his future career, whatever that may be, then he will never escape his parents grasps. Haru would rather sit through school than deal with his family any longer than he already has to.

Haru pulled out his sketchbook from his bag along with a set of art pencils. He glanced over at Makoto who was taking notes carefully to make sure he didn't miss a single thing his teacher said. Haru flipped to a new page in his book and picked up one of the sharpened pencils and started to sketch out a circle for the guidelines of the head. The pencil seemed to move on it's own with Haru lost in his thoughts as lines were drawn. Warm eyes staring ahead, eyebrows slightly furrowed in concentration. Haru glanced over to his right every minute or so as he copied the scene beside him down on paper. After much time Haru brushed off the small pieces of eraser on the page and compared his art to the real image.

It was of Makoto chewing on the end of his pencil as he watched the lesson going on in front of him. His notebook opened ready to be filed with any notes Makoto deems important. Haru glanced at his friend to see him jotting down some notes before returning the pencil to his mouth. That poor pencil.

Makoto glanced over at Haru and smiled. Haru's eyes grew wide for a moment, because he was caught staring, before he looked back down at his drawing. The bell rang and Haru stayed seated without taking his eyes off his work.

"What did you draw?" Makoto asked with his bag slung over one of his shoulders. He leant against his desk and peered down at Haru.

"You." Haru held the drawing out to Makoto who grabbed it to get a better look. It wasn't strange for Haru to draw Makoto. Haru enjoyed drawing the things around him when he wasn't able to be in water. Makoto was almost always around Haru so it only made sense that Makoto would show up in Haru's drawings. Makoto studied the piece of art before he handed it back.

"You are such a good artist. It's spot on. I wish I was that talented." Makoto smiled down at Haru.

"You are, just not in art." Haru shut the sketchbook and placed it in his bag along with his set of pencils. He zipped the bag up and stood from his chair. Time to eat lunch.

The two teens sat on the roof eating lunch. After a few minutes of Makoto chatting at Haru Nagisa and Rei showed up to join them. The two boys sat in front of Haru and Makoto. Nagisa in front of Haru and Rei beside him.

"Hey, guys." Nagisa smiled while opening his lunch.

"Where were you guys? You came rather late." Makoto asked.

"Oh, uh, Nagisa and I are working on a project together in school. We stayed after class to work on the outline." Rei pushed his red glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Yeah! It's going to be great. Rei is super smart so this project is going to rock!" Nagisa threw his arms in the air. His fingers spread wide and with excitement.

"How are you, Haruka?" Rei asked while glancing at the older boy.

"Fine." Haru looked toward Makoto who smiled.

"So guys, what are your plans for practice today?" Makoto asked the two other boys.

"We are just hoping to improve," Rei said.

"Yeah!" Nagisa grinned.

"That's good. What about you, Haru?" Makoto turned to look at his friend.

"To be with the water."

"That's just like you." Makoto laughed. "I wouldn't expect anything less."