Characterization Explanation (with thanks to heresincech1)..! (especially since you worded your criticisms so nicely when you didn't have to!)
Technically going, Haruka, Rin, and Makoto are all out of character. It really bothered me during my six-month break; I even considered deleting this story only like..every other week.
This is not a defensive explanation or anything (already know how bad the characterizations stand as it is), but more like a way to show you why I did those things. Interpret as you wish!
1) You said that the "Don't call me Haru-chan" thing fades out, but Haruka has been saying that to his friends since they first met, back in elementary. (In the LN). Still now, in high school. Sure, he might not say it in the anime as much after in season 1, but I'm pretty sure (watch season 2) he still does. Up to you to decide, sweetie, but it is pretty canon.
2) Makoto Tachibana. I already failed with him /falls over. I think I amplified the mother-hen effects because several things; one, even in elementary (the LNs), he always took care of his siblings and was even said to be older-brother (Haruka says so), and two; in elementary, it's said that Makoto only approached Haruka and made friends with him because Haruka had flaws (quiet, not social), and Makoto takes care of him (like voicing things for him out loud/socially). If Haru had been normal, he and Makoto wouldn't have been friends. They became friends because Makoto took care of him, and still does today. The author of the LNs even says "I wonder if Haru would notice how different his life would have been without Makoto," because their relationship is like that. Sorry if you don't like it! It's totally true that the anime shows him as being kinda a scaredy-cat guide dog kinda person.
Song Credit: Aoi Shiori by Gallilieo, opening theme of Anohara.
Notice: I'm in love with Rin's four-man harem (Momotaro, Sousuke, and Nitori) and though they'll be minor, I'd like to write them in this story a little bit. Going to switch the setting of the story a bit to copy the first episodes and it might be forced/boring, but bear with me for JUST this chapter and I promise that Rin and Haru will start their trek..probably.
Enjoy!
Make My World Just Explode
Written by Ko-Sensei
part twenty-five entails of setting a new stage with a new turn and mood (aka-enter-season-two), and tying things together before kicking off!
【私たちの感情は数え切れないほどのページを超えるまで減額されています。】
【Our feelings have been written down over countless pages.】
Normally, dramatic entrances and exits weren't really his thing. Doing 'flashy' things wasn't really his style, since those kinds of things normally needed effort, energy, and it just wasn't worth it, in his opinion.
But the things that had just happened with Rin back there.
Even he couldn't tell himself that they were not extraordinary for his usual self.
Haruka wasn't really sure what had come upon him—the words and actions had just happened.
It doesn't make much sense to him, but things with Rin had never been simple (after Rin had left for Australia, that was), he supposes, so it's not worth trying to spend time and effort putting what they have in-between each other into words.
Step, step, step.
On his way out, he comes across Nitori, who is simply waiting by the side of school absentmindedly, dressed in normal clothes.
A pink, baggy t-shirt with a picture of a splashing duck in it, along with light blue pants that run along and cut off at the knees. It's a really childish getup, of all things, and Nitori really doesn't have the aura of a high-schooler, to be honest.
-Maybe he's waiting for Rin?
When he walks by the blue-eyed freshmen, though, Nitori straightens up curtly when he shouldn't have to (it's kind of adorable, Haruka thinks), and flails widely, blushing and tittering nervously about nothing in particular.
(Haru supposes that it's also kind of awkward for him and Nitori as well if he thinks about it, because they had spent three weeks together, and he was kind of privy to a lot of everyday-events/personal-details/etc that had gone on. And they had spent a lot of time together.)
But after a minute or so of flipping out, the shorter boy takes a deep breath and peeks at him curiously in-between his hands (which are now covering his face), and cautiously, cautiously..
… Steps forward, and hesitantly places a hand on Haru's head, reaching up on the tip of his toes.
Nitori seems a little nervous (not really scared, no) at doing so, especially since before the entire Iruka incident, they'd known each other but weren't really close or anything. They do have a weird relationship, Haru thinks, since now, they're not strangers anymore, but they're not really exactly..uhh. Close either?
If it were anyone else, he would have told them off for patting his head (Makoto included), but since it's earnest, enthusiastic Nitori (who he's also grown fond of, maybe), he stays still and lets him do so just this once.
"H-Haruka-senpai," The blue-eyed freshmen says almost curiously, and still being on the tip of his toes, pets him a few times. "Umm, you can call me Aiichiro. Please do." Then with that, Nitori blushes again and shyly wraps his arms around Haru's waist before backing away.
.
.
.
"I'm not Iruka anymore," Haruka says wryly. "But, you know, we're still the same person."
It's not like he's said anything particularly sappy or heart-warming, but Nitori's blue eyes still widen (adorably) and he flails again, seeming to be touched (about what, Haru has no idea), but oh well, it's not like it hurts, right.
(Not that much at all, since right after he says that, Nitori clings to him again, exclaiming loudly about how "I missed you, Iruka—uhh, I mean, Haruka-senpai!" And "Matsuoka-senpai was also really angry and scary while you were missing, he was all like rawr and grrr and I didn't know what to do!")
【しかし、いくつかの理由で、私は空白のこの1行に記入することはできません。】
【But for some reason, I just can't fill in this one line of blank space.】
In the midst of things, everything calms down for a while.
Though Haruka has an inner feeling—an instinct of sorts, if he could say that (he seems to have a lot of those nowadays; not really heightened senses or anything cool like that, just gut feelings and such), that it's not really a stable calm that'll last for long.
Not anything dramatic like "the calm before a storm," but more like some short break before something else in his life starts happening.
.
.
.
"How long exactly are you two going to be cuddling over there in that corner? I'm trying to study here, you know."
(Until a certain redhead snaps at him...while wearing glasses. Which is kind of hot, maybe, which might also account for the fact that Haru might not reply right away—or rather, isn't able to, since he just might have his head in the clouds.)
Oh, right, and about the accusation...
They're not cuddling, Haru swears, just… uhh.
Whenever Nitori texted or called him over and over to come and visit ("I'm lonely, Iruka-chan!") and he actually was around to pick up the phone that he never carried around with him, he occasionally complied with the kouhai's requests and came over.
Even if he didn't come see them right away when going over to that school; spending at least two hours first in the Samezuka pool..which always ended with Nitori always coming to drag him out, dry him off, and drag him back to the room.
(The kouhai had gotten rather good at the dealing-with-Haruka-skills recently. Maybe he'd even match Nagisa or Rei now.)
The redhead had told them both off, saying to not be too loud or obnoxious because he had studying to do, so Nitori had announced that they would quietly game instead, not bothering him (and beat all of Rin's high scores too, while they were at it.)
It was really weird, since Haru had played these games as Iruka together with Nitori often, so when he played now with the kouhai, they were still able to do teamwork together (reminiscent of when Haru had still been Iruka) so it was just…weird. For lack of a better word to say.
Anyways. They'd started playing at the other end of the room.
At first, Haruka had lazily sprawled out on the ground, elbows propped up on top of Nitori's legs as support (kind of intimate, maybe) to play the game, and after arguing and switching around, the blue-eyed kouhai was now sitting in Haru's lap while the both intensely concentrated on the screen.
"Haruka-senpaiii, we already played Legend of Zelda like, every other time," Nitori complains, though it comes out muffled because Haruka (immaturely) covers the kouhai's mouth with his arm. "It's a one-player game, and besides, I want to play something else."
"Too bad." Haruka was resting his chin on Nitori's shoulder before, but presses down with more force when the kouhai starts complaining.
As a result, Nitori starts to squirm and giggle, which in turn makes Rin turn around and glare at the two of them.
"….You two are definitely cuddling with each other. And being obnoxiously loud."
They aren't being that loud, not really. Haruka arches an eyebrow. "What, feeling left out?"
"Fuck you, Haru."
(The strange thing is, after their last practice, Rin has calmed down a lot. Not so hot-tempered anymore. Even now, as they're arguing, Rin doesn't sound that fired-up and is pretty cool about it. It's like he's matured, or something.)
"You're distracting me from studying right now," The redhead snaps again (he looks kinda irritated, for some reason? Maybe he's not always calm then), and throws a book each at both of them. "Get out right now."
"But I'm not done with this round yet—" Haruka starts to complain, but Nitori only clamps his hand over Haru's mouth instead and flails widely with his arms out (he does that a lot, doesn't he?).
"H-Hai! W-We're going right now, Matsuoka-senpai, so don't be mad please!"
【私たちは捨て見つかり自転車であなたと一緒にブックマークし、ロールなどの押し花に置く。】
【I put in a pressed flower as a bookmark and roll along with you on the bike we found thrown away.】
But the thing is, when Nitori starts to get up and grab his jacket, getting ready to leave the room with Haru (since he's earnestly trying to help Rin study like a dork), Rin only seems to get even more irritated at the fact that they're leaving together, so he throws another book at Nitori.
"You don't have to actually leave," The redhead says slowly, stopping the two of them in their tracks. "So don't go off on your own. Just keep it down."
Wow, Haru really can't keep up with what his childhood friend is thinking. "Rinrin's being bi-polar again."
"Don't call me that—and no, I'm not!"
【私達は私達が忘れてしまったレンガを積み上げた後、背部の下にそれらを引き裂いた。】
【We piled up the bricks we've forgotten and then tore them back down.】
Matsuoka Rin has really cooled down a lot recently. He doesn't get mad that easily anymore, isn't that tense or uptight like he was before, and it's not as though he's reverted to his elementary self (which was dramatically different, as he was an easily-excited, friendly dork), but he's definitely become more….Hmm. Nice? (No.) Mature? (Yeah.)
As the end of the year approaches, Iwatobi (being invited) goes to Samezuka to watch their traditional yearly send-off they do for the third-years. Nagisa overeats a lot of sweets on the train, and Rei (after chastising him) seems to be excited enough about seeing what they'll do that day. Makoto leads their group like usual through the trip ("Nice going, captain!" "Eeek, don't call me that, Nagisa.!")
When they get there, though, Mikoshiba challenges them to a freestyle medley race.
Aiichiro immediately comes out in a somersault and excitedly raises his hand, wanting to participate, and of course, Rin is going to go, of course.
Haruka simply strips down right there, Makoto and Nagisa sheepishly smile (at a panicking Rei) and pull out their swimsuits, saying "Figured we would, since we have Haru-chan," then Rei (who flips out again, and has déjà vu occur)—is ushered away by none other than Nitori Aiichiro, who helpfully leads him to the locker rooms (and gives him super-short shorts to wear. Embarrassment.)
Makoto heads off first and gives them a head start. Nagisa keeps it up. Rei goes third, exclaiming "I only swim butterfly!" and unfortunately, he faces off against the fired-up Samezuka captain, who pulls in front of him in an even-more-furious butterfly-stroke.
Then Haru and Rin, both poised on their podiums, dive down into the water to start their race.
Really? It's too bad that you still don't care about winning. But you think no one can beat you in the water, don't you?
Their lanes are right next to each other, and Haruka starts to feel a sort of dizzying rush go through his head.
I'll take your cool gaze and turn it hot.
In the end, Iwatobi loses by mere seconds.
See? His childhood friend slyly smiles at him, evidently pleased with the result. You've become fired up, haven't you? And it's just a bit frustrating because it's Rin and Haru doesn't like losing to this kind of thing.
(But Haruka feels like he's lost by a mile, by the way that his heart has decided to beat a little faster.)
The elusive dolphin boy only turns his head away, miffed.
"Whatever."
【我々は対等であるためには、同じレベルに引っ張られている。】
【We're being pulled to the same level, to be equals.】
Later, when Mikoshiba Seijuurou announces that Matsuoka Rin will be the new captain of Samezuka, all of Iwatobi is excited, of course.
("You guys are way more excited about this than I am, geez." "Of course we are, Rin-chan!" "Stop calling me that.")
Really. Haru's lips quirk upwards. To think that not too long ago, Rin had been irresponsible—sneaking out of school, getting suspended, being banned from activities. It's kind of funny. With all their drama, as well, it's really weird to think of Rin being a captain, of all things.
"We're going to throw a party for you at my house!" Nagisa announces loudly (while hanging onto Rei's neck, who's sputtering at him), and points at Nitori. "You're invited too! We're going to have a lot of fun, we'll play games, and have a sleepover, and and—"
"Don't use me as an excuse to have fun," The redhead complains, and shakes his head. "As if I'd want to go to something like that."
"Nii-san says that," Gou cuts in, smiling angelically while holding up a certain Matsuoka Rin's phone. "But I'm pretty sure the fact that he canceled all his other plans for that day means he wants to come."
Aiichiro seems a bit shy around their Iwatobi group (other than Haru, of course), since he doesn't know them that well, but he agrees to coming as well (and is taken-down in a tackle-hug by Nagisa), and Rei tries to save him while Makoto apologizes for the blond's behavior.
It's still kind of awkward. Not so much with Aiichiro, but with Rin, but they've kind of reached some sort of middle where the two of them are still friends but then close and something all in-between. (Who knows.)
"Meet me later at Iwatobi," Haruka says to Rin, who seems a bit confused as to why he'd need to go all the way over there to talk.
"Heh. To settle the score?"
"You'll see."
【楽しみを持っていることからからすべての疲れ。私たちは驚くほど青い空を覚えていないことを確信しています。】
【All tired out from having fun; I'm sure that we won't remember the frighteningly blue sky.】
"You want to cover our pool in sakura petals? For 'Rin-chan'-san?" Rei adjusts his glasses, frowning. He's obviously lost in thought right now. "Why would you want to do something like that, Haruka-senpai? Not to be rude or anything, but it's cold out right now, and besides, the flowers will just sink into the water and drown."
"Don't be like that, Rei-chan!" Nagisa chirps, and takes some dramatic pose where he brings a fist to his chest and points out towards the horizons. "It sounds exciting!"
"Oh!" Green eyes widening in realization, Makoto brings his hand up to his forehead. "It's for Rin-chan, right? It was a long time ago, I almost forgot. When we were in elementary, just once, there was a time when he said…"
"…that his dream was to swim in a pool covered with sakura-flowers," Haru finishes for him.
.
.
.
Which only makes Nagisa and Rei gawk at him because ("Rin-chan is so cuuute," "That's kind of corny, senpai!") it's Matsuoka Rin of all people, and such a thing like that seems really fun to do.
"Let's do it," Rei promises, and before he knows it, Haru's being dragged by his friends towards the Iwatobi pool, their plan apparently already being set in motion.
【そのようにして、太陽の光の束が今、私の方向に押し込む。】
【In that way, a bundle of sunlight now pushes in my direction.】
Matsuoka Rin cries when he sees the pool filled with sakura petals.
It's kind of cute, Haru thinks, because maybe there's still a part of elementary-Rin still in him somewhere. (Or they're just the same person, but—it's so much nicer to think of it like that.)
It's not the first time he's seen Rin cry, but it still manages to shock him and take away his breath every time.
Though right after Rin sees it, it kind of really sucks that a storm suddenly blows over them, ruining the display that Iwatobi (Rei, Nagisa, Makoto, Gou, and him altogether) had spent hours creating and making so that it'd be perfect, but it was worth it.
Worth it as there's still a light in Matsuoka Rin's eyes, and the notion all of them had made for him had gotten across.
"You have to come for sure to the sleepover, Rin-chan!" Nagisa sings, and tries to latch onto the redhead and give him a tackle-hug as well.
Except, well, Rin dodges it and the blond ends up on the floor.
"Now why exactly do I have to go to something like that with you stupid dorks?"
"Nii-san, stop pretending that you don't care."
【お二人はすぐそこにまだあるが、私は自分自身を我々は再び会うことができることを祈って見つける。】
【The two of you are still right there, but I find myself praying that we can meet again. 】
"Isn't that exciting, Haru-chan?" His best friend asks him, chatting lightly. They're both at the store right now, having been sent by Nagisa to buy supplies and such for the 'Matsuoka-Rin-Captain-Promotion-celebration (AKA-a-perfect-excuse-to-have-fun).'
Though it's more like, Makoto is doing all the shopping while Haruka idly follows him around since the taller of the two had insisted that Haru come with him.
"Sounds like a bother. Nagisa doesn't even have a pool."
"Now now, don't be like that, Haru-chan."
There's always the bath though, and bathrooms have locks, don't they.
Haruka perks up, seeing a ray of light in the looming darkness, and thinks that maybe there's an angel looking out for him somewhere.
Unfortunately, he has a best friend that can follow his train of thought though, and right on beat, Makoto grabs a few packets of glow sticks and paps Haru on the head.
"We're not going to let you go to the bathroom without a buddy, since you've already ditched us by taking a bath and not coming out for hours like… every other time already."
Or maybe there's no angel.
(At least Rin will be there to suffer with him at the hands of Nagisa.)
"…..I don't think I need a 'bathroom buddy' to use the toilet."
"Eh hehh, I think Nagisa will have something to say about that."
【私と一緒に間違って何かがなければならない。】
【There must be something wrong with me.】
He taps a finger along a framed photo of four small boys hugging each other. The caption says that they won a relay at this-and-this date, and so on.
"So this is Iwatobi, huh."
Seems like there's someone inside the building. Turning around, coach Sasabe looks for the new person to greet them.
Heh, was Iwatobi already attracting people?
"Are you here to sign up?"
"No, not really."
The person turns around, waving dismissively.
.
.
.
"Just looking around."
Anon Wall!
First, the anon reviews from chapter twenty-three which have been overdue for...six months, about.
Guest 1; About the entire Rin thing, well, I guess you'll see below. KnB /is/ amazing! Hoping that the next season will come soon, since they're still in the middle of the Winter Cup. Seirin's totally going to lose but they have to win. My favorite character is Akashi Seijuro (even role-played him quiiite a lot-still do, I guess, quite often), since he's insane (love insane, sadistic characters who are control-freaks) with maybe Kise Ryouta coming second. Break of Dawn: Not yet! "Guest"; Thank you! The ps2 was actually a prompt idea, but that was fun too. I've never played one in real life. Gayguy55; Don't die, puppy!
Now chapter twenty-four's;
Maiden Warrior; You're still here..! Awww, that just made my day okay. Hahaha, I guess you should decide on whether it's cute or terrifying first. I actually saw the first episode, and- it was totally deja vu but it was worth it. Rin did get adorable..he's now a captain. Makoto's going to have to step it upp. Guest 1; Oh boy, you have NO idea, I had to reread all the chapters because I'd forgotten about what I'd written. I'm glad it still reads well. And yes…! Haikyuu has ruined my life, the volleynerds are on all my devices as the wallpapers. I've even written something for them! JustJolola; Yes, I replaced the A/N with the chapter. Thank you! Wow, I really can't write because this broken-up sequence is the only way I can, but I'm really glad you like the dreamlike/magical feel. You're so sweet. I seriously cannot write I'm so sorry- this fragmented way with a crap ton of line breaks is the only way I can function.
I'm just in love with Samezuka's new transfer-ins that make up Rin's group of friends, seriously. Seeing Sousuke and Rin interact is adorable and I need not say anything about the sea otter's habits.
Thank you for all the support I've gotten so far! (It's much appreciated, all the people that review, follow/favorite or just read it.)
See you next time!