A/N: Hello lovely readers! I apologize big time for not updating in two years! With the pandemic and juggling to work through it when it happened, I was in a rough spot, creativity-wise. I am back with a lot of inspiration, motivation, and ideas to write again, and hopefully, I will dedicate my time to writing and completing my stories. So again, I am sorry everyone and I wish you a wonderful Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club.
( * ) – meaning of words and phrases will be at the end of the chapter.
Chapter Two - Iwatobi Boy
Beep! Beep!
Blaring loudly at his right side was his alarm as Nanase Haruka shifted towards it. With an exhausted groan escaping from his lips, he reached over and picked up the noisy smartphone. He fidgeted for a moment, his fingers tiredly looking for the button to silence the sound. Much to Haruka's dismay, the bright light flashed, causing the black-haired man to grit his teeth with annoyance.
5:00 AM.
"Hrm…"
Finally switching it off, he tossed his phone back on his nightstand and forced himself to sit up. Letting out a yawn, Haruka rubbed his eyes. Through the transparent shoji paper screen from his window, he could see that it was still dark out. Not wasting another moment, Haruka promptly got out of bed and changed into his fitness wear, which consisted of a navy-blue tracksuit and basketball shorts.
Zipped and ready, Haruka was out of the door for his everyday morning jog.
The scent of salt and sea hit Haruka's nose as fast as he emerged from the door of his late grandmother's old traditionally styled home. Fast-paced footsteps pitter-pattered on the steep stairs that he had grown up with as the raven-haired swimmer ran to his usual route in the small town of Iwatobi.
This hour was his special time of the day. An air of stillness and serenity washed over the port town, giving him comfort from the usual bustling scenery of townsfolk and cars speeding by. Despite his new residence in Tokyo at Hidaka University, Haruka strongly preferred the slower pace and countryside lifestyle of the town he was brought up in.
Haruka ran his favorite route, which led him to the old streets of Iwatobi.
Picturesque machiya* homes that hung calligraphy-styled drape signs at their doors lined the streets as he could see the farmers and fishermen heading out to start their rigorous day. These people were the only ones active in such an hour while schoolchildren, businessmen, and housewives were still asleep in their beds. Because Iwatobi was a small town, people recognized him and greeted him in the morning when he would pass by.
Stores were not yet opened but Haruka could pick out the local izakayas*, mom-and-pop restaurants that his friends frequented, or the Japanese sweets and ice cream confectionery that Nagisa and Makoto raved about since they were high school students. Making a mental note that he was back home for the summer holidays, Haruka will surely bring it up to them as one of the places to visit.
Once he finished the first half, Haruka reached the second part of his running route - the trail close to the ocean. He picked up his pace, knowing the ground will no longer be the bumpy cobblestones and instead, be flat and smooth. On the horizon, his blue eyes glanced at the yellow sun, just peeking ever so slowly upon the ocean waters.
This was the part he was looking forward to the most - the waters, the rising sun, and the silence.
Away from the buzzing city crowds, the heavy fluorescent lights, blaring speakers, and the sound of announcers asking them to take their marks.
Away from his doubts.
Away from his insecurities.
Heaving a deep breath, he stopped his jog for a moment to admire and take it all in. Haruka gripped the rails near the path that overlooks the endless waters. Shutting his eyes, he felt the summer breeze against his face.
It should be alright.
He listened to the waves crashing against the shore.
It's calling.
The sun's rays were now seeping in vibrantly; its vivid, warm colors melting in the blueness of the water.
Don't resist.
Haruka took off his tracksuit and tossed it to the side.
Accept it.
With his shirt discarded, Haruka stepped onto the sand and raced towards the thing he loved the most.
He yearned for the feeling of being engulfed by the water's tides and basking in the warmth of the sun. Since he first started swimming at the tender age of nine, Haruka knew where he felt himself the most. It was the guiding ripples of the water, and it didn't matter if it was in a pool, lake, or ocean - it was where he wanted, no, needed to be.
But that was when he spotted her.
Pink.
Clear blue eyes widened when they landed on her petite frame. When the calm winds picked up, he watched as the long, loosely braided pink hair fluttered against her skin and the back of her simple floral yellow sundress. As the sun continued to rise, her silhouette became sharper against the cool colors of the scenery. He watched as she waded in the water; her small feet creating splashing sounds at each step she made.
In the twenty-one years of his life, Haruka knew one family in Iwatobi that carried the petal-pink hair color. Haruka was also not clueless enough to realize that this person wasn't his basketball-playing - and Makoto-stealing - friend Kisumi. Unexpected memories flooded his mind of the little girl who would practice playing her guitar every afternoon in the music room. Her nimble fingers were always bandaged because she tried hard to strum correctly.
"She wants to share her songs someday," Kisumi once told him when he caught the young Haruka watching her all those years ago. After swimming practice in their junior high school pool, Haruka would hear the gentle sounds of the acoustic guitar emanating from a window. Curiosity got the best of him and he decided to seek her out. Like the aches of his muscles from swimming, her hands were calloused from creating her music.
Shigino Sakura.
Like her namesake, she bloomed best with the instrument in her hand. With her eyes often closed, Haruka would watch and before he knew it, the minutes felt like an eternity. It was only when Sakura caught him that Haruka was pulled back to the present.
"Haruka-san?"
Once or twice, he blinked and suddenly, Haruka realized he was back on the beach and in front of him was Sakura. Green eyes were looking into his pools of blue as Haruka was at a loss of words. No longer was she the little girl with the big, red ribbon on her head and instead, it was replaced by a young woman who may have experienced things that were out of his reach.
"Is that you?"
Haruka heard the gentle splash of the water before it slowly transitioned into the sand crunching beneath her feet. Sakura was walking towards him. Visibly frozen, he didn't expect this to happen. He was only looking forward to being back in his hometown, unwinding and - recovering.
Especially after that competition.
No, he need not be bitter right now. Banishing the thought in the back of his mind, Haruka focused on bracing himself to see Sakura again.
"Shigino-san."
Despite knowing her for most of his life, he was never sure what to call her. The safest way was the most formal one. Then again, social situations were never Haruka's strong point. Since kindergarten, Makoto did all the talking for him. As he got older and was left to fend for himself during his university life, Haruka had to form more of a backbone.
Her jade-colored eyes blinked a couple of times before her lips parted in a laugh. He curled an eyebrow, not expecting that reaction from her.
"So, it is you!" Sakura exclaimed, trying to stifle herself.
Haruka only stood there, a bit dumbfounded and confused. What was so funny?
"I don't understand…?"
"No, no! I'm sorry!" She wiped a tear coming out of her eye, "It's just…"
Sakura's chest rose and then she let out a breath after her sudden outburst.
"It's just like you to greet in such a way!" The dimples deepened the more she gave him her bright smile, "You really haven't changed much, have you?"
Haruka wasn't sure if he should take that as an insult or a harmless comment. He was never one for change. Hell, the last year of his high school career had been spent with his friends worried about him finding his purpose or - his dream. To have a structure he was used to and nothing tampered with was what made Haruka who he was.
Recently, however, change wasn't as bad as it seemed to be.
Haruka turned his face away from her. "Is that a problem?"
He could feel her beaming at him. "No. It's… just, um, it's something familiar to me, I guess."
Haruka raised an eyebrow.
Even if he was not one for emotions, Haruka could still pick up the small changes in tone, especially with his close friends. Though Sakura was a girl he did not have much interaction with, he still encountered her daily because she was simply Kisumi's little sister.
Just now, her voice and the way she responded to him - it almost sounded relieved and sad at the same time.
"Anyways, long time no see." Sakura moved more towards him. Bending down, she wiped the muddled sand trailing from her knees to her ankles. Once she was done, she looked up at him. If Haruka was paying attention, he would have caught the redness in her cheeks when she saw him without his shirt on.
Clearing her throat, Sakura spoke. "Were you about to swim?"
Haruka glanced down and then towards the ocean. He nodded silently.
Sakura's smile became bigger. "I see."
Soon, she moved slightly past him to pick up her sandals. Haruka watched her with observant eyes; he couldn't believe that she was back in Iwatobi again. Though most people found Haruka to enjoy only two things in life, which were swimming and eating mackerel, they were unaware that he did keep up to date with what people his age liked. Most of those things he generally didn't care for, but he had his friend, Nagisa, to make sure he was in the loop by sending him random big celebrity news or the occasional new single from a popular singer.
Haruka knew who Sakura was and, like the rest of those close to the Shigino family, he kept it a secret. However, his recent memory of the mock swimming competition was the number one thing that occupied his mind. Everything else, especially what Sakura had been up to in terms of her professional singing career, was not in Haruka's radar.
"I should get going," Sakura said as Haruka was once again snapped back to the present, "I don't want to keep you from what you were doing."
"No… you weren't." Haruka replied.
"I know but this is you, Haruka-san. Nothing can deter you from your beloved water." Sakura teased with a wink, eliciting Haruka to give his signature frown. She didn't have to say it like that, nor did she have to wink at him that way.
She really was no different sometimes from the cheerful Kisumi.
As he did when others pointed out his obvious water fixation, Haruka turned his head away. Sakura laughed in response.
"Haruka-san, I'm joking. It's okay to do what you love if it makes you happy." She said with a gentle expression on her face.
Haruka's blue eyes looked at her again, catching the slightly bitter tone in her voice when she said the latter. Though it was a small change, it caused a slight concern for the black-haired young man. Known to be as bubbly and positive as her older brother, it was somewhat unnerving for Haruka to see her somewhat withdrawn with her actions.
He wanted to ask but…
"It's good to see you again. Really." Sakura said, "My brother told me so much about what you and the other Iwatobi boys have been up to. He especially told me how you were pursuing your swimming goals."
"He did?"
"Yep!" She nodded with a grin. "He's like a proud mother, at least, that's how he describes himself when he watches you swim competitively."
Haruka rolled his eyes.
"Regardless, I am happy for you." She finished strapping on her sandals and gave him another one of her soft smiles. Her expression was wistful but nonetheless, showed her admiration for him.
Haruka's words were stuck in his throat until…
"How have you been?"
The right words finally made their way out of his lips as Sakura paused at his sudden question. From when they were younger, Haruka knew that Sakura would probably be taken aback at his newly gained conversation skills. He had to learn how since his friends, specifically Makoto, weren't going to be with him to interpret what he wanted to convey.
"I'm…" Now, it was Sakura's turn to form a proper response, "I'm doing okay, you know, just here and there. I was enjoying the sea again."
Haruka saw her reaction; she crossed her arms, almost as if she was shielding herself from something. She looked troubled. Nonetheless, the disarming smile on her face was trying to convince the opposite. He wasn't sure if he was in a place to ask further or pry.
If she said she was okay, then that's fine, right?
"How long have you been in Iwatobi?" Haruka asked.
"About a week." Sakura answered, "And you? I know you're going to university in Tokyo right now. If you're here, then you're on your summer holiday, correct?"
He nodded.
"Great! That's really… great." She continued to shuffle her feet in the sand. The way she was moving – was the conversation becoming too awkward? Haruka wondered if he was at fault for causing it.
He wasn't good at this, but he was still trying. Sakura was, after all, a person he had known since childhood. Though they weren't as close, she was someone familiar to him. Remembering the times he had witnessed her in the school music room and how she would share her dreams of pursuing a career in singing, Haruka held those memories close. They were similar in terms of honing their talent. With him, it was the water and swimming. For Sakura, it was her voice and the stage.
Sakura had obviously sensed Haruka's struggle to formulate a reply. Instead, Haruka saw her give him a smile again. She was reassuring him that he didn't need to think too hard when it came to having a conversation. She followed up with a question.
"How about you? How long will you stay in Iwatobi before you go back to university?"
Haruka bit his lip. Still relieving the insecurities that formed from the university swimming event, there was a part of him that did not want to dwell on when he would return to Tokyo. Right now, recharging and recuperating was all he wanted to do, and his hometown would provide that for him.
"I'll be here for the rest of the summer, I guess." Haruka said.
"So, till the end of August?" Sakura estimated.
"I suppose."
When I am ready to face him again. Haruka thought, bitterly recalling the light-blonde haired man; the so-called record-holding swimmer from Sweden that beat him. The man that made him realize that Haruka's talent in the water, the thing he was constantly revered for, may not be enough in the professional world. It gave him a feeling inside his chest that he didn't want to go through.
He hated it.
Suddenly recognizing his tense actions, Haruka kept himself together. He didn't need to be like this, especially not in front of a person he hadn't seen a long time.
"But yes, I – will be around." He said to her, straightening himself.
Happily clasping her own hands together, Sakura spoke. "Since you and I will be in Iwatobi for a certain amount of time, I suppose we will see each other around?"
Blue-eyes broadening with surprise, Haruka wasn't sure if that was an open invitation but with the way Sakura was waiting for a follow-up answer, he considered it a possibility. It wasn't like they were complete strangers; she was Kisumi's little sister, and they lived in Iwatobi for most of their lives. Makoto did tell him to broaden his friend circle, even if it's a little bit.
He inhaled. Then, exhaled his next words.
"Yeah."
Short and straight to the point – that was how it was in Haruka-style.
Once again, Sakura let out a giggle. He narrowed his eyes, not understanding why his friends would do that at times. Was his responses and the way he behaved was interesting to them? Well, he was used to it, and overall, he didn't care.
This time, though, her giggle assured Haruka that she was okay. He recalled how she behaved earlier, seemingly withdrawn and anxious about something. Haruka was curious about it but once again, he chose to let it go for now.
"You never change." Sakura laughed. Once she was done, she settled and looked right back at him. "It was nice to see you again after all this time."
Haruka watched as she waved, the wind blowing her pink strands against her apricot, reddened cheeks.
"Catch you later, Haruka-san! Have fun with your lovely ocean!" She shot him a cheeky peace sign before turning around and heading back up to the boardwalk.
He huffed at her teasing words before feeling the smile that was slowly creeping up his face albeit a tiny one. Realizing this, Haruka placed a hand on his cheek and pinched it.
What was that all about?
A kind of warmth enveloped him from head to toe. He didn't know where it was coming from, but he liked it. As the sun was now above the horizon line, Haruka basked himself in its rays.
He looked back once more as Haruka watched her retreating figure in the distance.
I suppose we will see each other around?
Her words echoed at the forefront of his mind as his feet felt the cool water.
Haruka submerged himself in the sea. Effortlessly, he did what he loved the most: swimming free.
As the sea splashed against his sun-kissed skin, Haruka felt the world drift away for a moment. However, the curious color of pink and green remained. He couldn't describe why it did, but he knew for sure…
He would see her again.
Terminology and Phrases:
Machiya - traditional row-styled wooden houses commonly found in Japan, especially in Kyoto or older districts in countryside towns. They were sometimes used as shops or business buildings
Izakaya - Japanese-styled bars that mainly serve alcoholic beverages and snacks. It is a popular destination for businesspeople to unwind after work.
A/N: And there you go! I feel really happy to be writing and posting again. I apologize if the quality isn't the best and I do intend to edit the earlier chapters. Once again, I have no beta so if errors or grammar mistakes are found, please let me know.
Reviews and constructive criticisms are highly appreciated!
