Day 5 has arrived! Today is Hurt/Comfort & Support

Haru had just exploded at Rin after choking in the race and to his annoyance his friends had caught him. He ensured the three of them that he'd be there for the relay. However the raven haired boy was having his doubts. He hated this. His feelings taking control. Not letting him focus. He walked to showers wanting to wash away his worries and anxieties. He went to take his jacket off when he noticed a figure curled in on themselves. Noticing the clutched shoulder and the flop of dark hair plastered on the teens face Haru realised who it was and went to turn and leave. He stopped himself knowing he couldn't just leave the swimmer there.

"Sousuke?" Haru called out, slowly approaching him. Sousuke flinched away as Haru stretched out to him and cringed in pain as his shoulder sent a bolt of pain through his system.

"Get out." Sousuke growled at him, not daring to face the unwanted boy. Haruka ignored him and turned off the shower, kneeling before the injured butterfly swimmer.

"Let me see." Haruka ordered. He reached out to see the injured shoulder and found himself being pushed back, landing on his butt, eyes widening at the deathly look Sousuke had on his face, aimed at the raven haired boy himself.

"I said GET OUT!" Sousuke yelled, bringing his knees to his chest, leaning his head on his knees. Haru narrowed his eyes and hovered over the teen.

"I'm not leaving." Hands on hips, Haruka watched Sousuke grasp his shoulder more tightly and twist his body further into himself. Haru gently grasped the teens hand that was holding the injured shoulder and squeezed it gently. "Let me see."

Sousuke peered up at Haru, noticing no empathy or ridicule emotions in Haru's face only concern, he let Haru tenderly pull his hand away and felt Haru's cool hand replace his own.

"You're an idiot." Haruka sighed, gently smoothing the flaming skin. Sousuke glared at him, saying nothing. Haru sat in front of him, not caring about getting his pants wet. "Do you have lotion for your shoulder?"

Sousuke nodded, "Why are you helping me?"

"We've both done some pretty stupid things today." Haru sighed, removing the hair covering Sousuke's eyes. "Lets get your lotion."

Haruka struggled to help Sousuke up, however managing it successfully. Haru led him to the bench and sorted through Sousuke's locker. He moved back over to Sousuke, sitting beside him, cracking open the cream and squirting some on his hand. Haru gently rubbed it into sore shoulder, slowly increasing the intensity of the pressure, causing Sousuke to flinch and grunt in pain.

"Sorry." Haru cringed. Sousuke glanced at his rescuer and frowned in confusion.

"You never answered my question."

"Which was?"

"Why are you helping me?"

Haru stopped for a second before he continued slightly harder than before.

"It keeps my mind off of what I did."

"What happened?" Haruka's eyes widened slightly at the interest and concern in Sousuke's voice.

"I choked in my heat race and took it out on Rin."

"Don't like the pressure hey?" Sousuke nodded in understanding. Knowing all about pressure being the number three butterfly swimmer in Japan.

"I just want to swim." Haru sighed. "I don't want any of the pressure, the times, the expectations. I swim because it relaxes me. Not because I enjoy competing."

"Have you told anyone this?" Sousuke asked.

"If I did, they'd just say it's a waste of talent, you should think of your future." Sousuke felt the anger seeping through Haru's words into the massage. "Maybe I want to be a chef or maybe I'd liked to keep my options open and not have others plan my future for me."

"Lighten up there." Sousuke squinted in pain, Haru recoiled back.

"Sorry. I wasn't thinking."

Sousuke rolled his shoulder and smiled slightly. "That's better. Do you think you could grab the brace from my locker?"

Haruka grabbed the brace and helped Sousuke put it on, then with his shirt and jacket. Sousuke watched Haru from the corner of his eye as he placed Sousuke's stuff into his gym bag. Sousuke tried to wrap his head around Haru causing him to smile to himself.

"Did you want to grab a bite to eat?" Sousuke asked.

"I thought you hated me?" Haru frowned,

"We got off on the wrong foot." Sousuke offered Haru his hand. "I'm Sousuke Yamazaki, I don't know if you remember but we raced back in middle school."

Haruka looked from the teens hand to droopy teal eyes, that were hopeful. Haru rolled his eyes and grasped the hand. "Let's just get something to eat."

Sousuke chuckled as Haru walked ahead of him out of the locker room. He caught up with him and nudged him gently.

"Thanks."

Haru nodded and smiled softly up at him. "Thanks for listening."

They bought lunch and sat opposite one another. "You know if you don't want to swim competitively, you don't have to."

"You shouldn't push yourself." Haru pointed out.

"I just want to swim with Rin again." Sousuke frowned, a flicker of sadness in his eye.

"I just want to swim with my friends." Haruka replied.

"Are we idiots?" Sousuke asked, smirking slightly.

"Maybe." Haru returning the gesture. They sat in comfortable silence for a while. Sousuke was watching Haru closely, he never understood everyone's obsessions with the boy. But now he did. Haru was unique, original, of course his swimming was beautiful even Sousuke knew that but he never noticed how handsome he actually was. The way he would flick his fringe back with his slender fingers, his eyelashes blinking over his shining deep blue eyes.

"What are you looking at?" Haruka asked. Sousuke choked and averted his gaze.

"Nothing."

Haru smirked and placed his hand on the unexpected butterfly swimmers hand that was lazing on the table. Sousuke's eyes widened and glanced from their linked hands to the shying free style swimmer.

"I'm Haruka Nanase, I remember you. I've liked you ever since."

Sousuke's face went from confusion to realisation to satisfaction. "Wanna go for a swim some time?"

"I'd like that." Haruka smiled. Both boys finding an understanding and developing it into a new relationship.