Wait...Unknown?

Ignoring my friends' countless messages, I scroll past and click directly on unknown. This isn't an unusual occurrence, many eccentric people like to disturb my time with meaningless hellos and a variety of questions despite not knowing who I am. Usually I ignore them after reading their texts, which I only do in case someone I know gets a new number.

Opening the unknown chat, my eyes scan the screen as the fight going on outside fades into the background.

I stare in disbelief at the device in my hand.

Unknown
*Unknown*:This is Haruka.
*Unknown*: You weren't at the swim club today.

Still trying to take in what I was witnessing, my mind intrigues how he got my number in the first place. However, before I even have the chance to ask, he answers himself as I look down at the other messages he had sent.

*Unknown*: Your friend gave me your number.

Which friend exactly was he talking about?
Clearly the one who's going to get a beating from me.

Me: Oh.

*Unknown*: Rei learned to swim
*Unknown*: Butterfly.

A small warmth fills my heart as I read the sentence in my mind. Rei finally learned to swim and I felt so happy for him. After all the hard work he had put in to make his dream come true, he deserved it.

Even though I had bigger things to ponder on like how did Rei find out it was butterfly that would work for him, I can't help but notice how monotone Haruka sounds even on text.

Me: Yeah.
Me: I couldn't come today and won't be able to come to school for some more days.

I answer his questions first.

*Unknown*: Are you ok?
*Unknown:* What happened?

An odd sensation takes over me, as I feel my heartbeat rise slightly. Unconsciously taking back the statement about him unbothered, I sense the worry in his words.

Does it really matter to him that I wan't at the swim club today?
Is he that concerned about me?

Coming out of my thoughts, I quickly respond before an awkward silence can take over.

Me: I'm fine, just had some problem with my leg.

*Unknown*: Okay, hopefully you get better soon.

Me: Thanks
Me: I'm so glad Rei learned to swim, he deserves it after all his hard work.

*Unknown*: Yeah.

Thinking about Rei again, my mind wanders back to when Haruka had talked to him. Without being too rational, I type out what's inside my brain.

Me: He really looks up to you and when you talked to him, I think he was really encouraged and motivated.
Me: You should credit yourself that much.

When I get no reply, the realisation slowly dawns on me of what I had done.

I complimented Haruka Nanase.

Before embarrassing myself any further by showering him with more compliments, I quickly think of an excuse.

Me: I have to go eat, bye.

*Unknown*: Bye.

Pushing the conversation to the back of my mind and ignoring my friend's numerous unattended to messages, I get up to start my day.

(TIME SKIP)

Having gotten used to the routine due to the countless times I've stayed back home, the day passed by like usual with nothing unexpected happening.

Until a specific call rang.

Having completed most of the activities for today, which pretty much consisted of me doing nothing but watching more Naruto Shippuden and abandoning my art projects, I lay back weary on the couch in my bedroom.

Having watched enough anime, I decide to switch off the TV just as the title of the next episode appears on display: "Naruto Shippuden: Episode 400- As a Taijustsu User".

Thoughts flicker into my mind tempting me to watch just one more episode but my phone starts to ring as if coming as a sign and indicating it wasn't going to happen.

Glancing at the clock, I wonder who's calling me.
It's 10'o clock at night.

As I reach over to where my phone was, I focus on the screen flashing a name, jogging my memory back to not so long ago.

Unknown

Yes, I haven't even saved it as his real name yet.
Should I even pick it up?
I don't know him that well.
But he is the one who called and it would seem rude to not answer...

Hesitantly, I brush my finger over the green button flashing on the screen.

"Hello", I pick up and speak first, instantly regretting it as I'm greeted with a dead silence.

"Ummm...", Still awaiting a reply and growing restlessness, my mind suggests closing the call until silent whispers could be heard coming from the other side.

"Haruka you're supposed to say something when you call someone...Makoto quieten down, she might hear you...", You make barely make out what the voices say and before you have more time to question them, your thoughts are interrupted by a voice you recognise a bit too well.

"Hey...(Y/N)", Haruka manages out a greeting, before plunging the call into another moment of silence.

Slightly annoyed by the disturbance and lack of conversation, I impatiently get up and steadily move around the room. Wanting to end the call, I start to remove the phone from my ear, when another set of voices give me hope for a discussion.

"Nagisa wanted to talk to you...HUH...ME?...BUT HARUKA IT WAS YOU WHO WA-", The booming voice which I'm guessing to be Nagisa is cut short by a loud smack resulting in a shriek coming from the same individual.

What the hell is going on? O_o

Before getting a chance to ask what all the commotion is about and why I was called in the first place, a voice blasts through the phone's speaker.

"Hello (Y/N), I've missed you sooo much, in fact everyone's missed you a lot. I hope you come back really soon! Oh wait did I mention Rei learned how to swim and butterfly too. I'm so excited about what's going to happen next!", Nagisa announces all in one breath.

"Yh, I'm really happy for him", I reply in the most subtle manner.

After some more happy outbursts from nagisa, he's gradually forced to say bye and hand over the phone to someone else.

"(Y/N), I hope you had a great day. We can't wait to have you back."

This next voice was very calm, yet energetic and reassuring.
Makoto.

"Makoto, I can't wait to be back"

But did I really want to go back?
I mean it was nice to have them around but I'm only going to the club for the enrichment program which is going to end soon.

Keeping the conversation going Makoto follows up with," I hope Nagisa didn't give you too much of a headache, he was a bit too vibrant today", as a genial chuckle escapes his lips.

Returning a well-rounded laugh, I respond, "No not really, you've cheered me up anyway".

"Ah, sorry (Y/N), I got to go, see you soon, bye!", Makoto informs me as I also say bye.

Just as things were getting better...

Once again I'm left in this uneasy stillness.
Predicting that the only person on the other side is haruka since makoto and nagisa left, and because if rei was there he would have already spoken, I speak out.

"Haruka...are you there?", I question softly.

"Yeah", A discreet voice speaks out a second later.

"How was your day?", Is the first question that comes to my mind as I try to keep the conversation consistent and to not plunge into another hole of uncomfortable silence.

"It was good. I swam a lot today, it felt nice...but your company was missed", Haruka replies, his voice filled with more certainty than before.

"Oh...", my voice escapes quietly and before I have time to come up with a proper reply, a question is sent my way.

"How was your day, (Y/N)?"

His voice comes out as sweet as honey, while my mind involuntarily imagines him standing in front of me, his lush lips moving slowly as my cheeks heat up from the way his eyes intensely bore into mine.

Jerking back to reality, I stare in horror, remembering what I had just thought.

No. (Y/N). No.

Stop thinking these things.

Realising I still hadn't replied to his question, I quickly manage to push out a few words as an alarming blush threatens to creep onto my face.

"Umm...it was ok, just a bit boring", I state the honest truth.

"Well, I...and the others where thinking if you could come with us tomorrow just to celebrate Rei learning how to swimming but if you can't it's ok ", He suggests, a hint of invalidity present in his tone.

Haruka Nanase just invited me to join him...and the others tomorrow.
Was this the same person I had seen just a few days ago?

This would be the first time I would actually see them outside school?

My wanders off to my doctors words of advice from a day ago. It wouldn't hurt to go out just once, especially since I'll have the crutches.

"Sure", I beam out, my happiness clearly visible in my speech.

We talk some more on swimming since that was the only thing he spoke about with desire. His whole tone changed dramatically when he started talking about it.

I was amazed to see how much he loved it, he could just go and on about his love towards it. Listening to haruka about swimming, anyone would fall in love with his bond with water, maybe even him.

As we both give our input on the different aspects of swimming, my brother rushes in from the door in search for his teddy bear that was left on my bed. A pang of pain envelops my heart as he takes away the plushie, forcing me to glance towards the black, cosmic clock hung on the wall opposite me.

It was nearly quarter past eleven, the call had been going on for more than hour.

"Freestyle just makes you feel s-"

Sensing that Haruka was still oblivious about time, he goes on explaining why freestyle was the best stroke and I had no choice but to stop him.

"Haruka, I have to leave", I blurt out, feeling somewhat horrible for interrupting him talking about his eternal love.

There was a little silence on the other side, broken by a sentence I thought would never come out of Haruka's mouth for me.

"It was nice talking to you (Y/N)", He says gently before ending with, "Bye, have a nice sleep".

"Bye"

Plopping down on my bed and tossing my phone aside, I daze into the ceiling, my mind occupied with only one person.

Haruka Nanase.

What have you done to me?