With regionals over everyone begin training for nationals, though Samezuka didn't make relays for national they did make it for their events. They still practice, everyone putting their heart and soul into it. To be ready. Rin was still getting more offers from scouts since regionals, Sugimoto the swim teams adviser informed him rather proud. Everything was going pretty well with Rin, as the end of the year begin to approach. Everything seem pretty set in stone it would seem.

Watching his team practice his eyes would at times glance over discreetly to the office, being careful no one really noticed. He made sure to remain focus upon his team, but it was rather hard when not everyone from his team was well...

Over at school, you where in the computer lab working vigorously. It was pretty pass closing time, but the computer club's president was kind enough to let you work here after. Knowing your sister, they didn't mind at all. For the pass couple of days you've been here, doing somethings. Looking at the time it was nearly time, not mention the sun also confirmed the time. Doing just a couple of more things, someone enters the room. They look around and spot you.

"I hope I'm not late."Rei apologizes. He takes a quick look at what you where doing and was rather astonished by what he saw for that quick second before you closed it.

"No."you tell him."You're not late."Getting up from your chair."Ready?"

"Yes. My place like always? Or would you prefer somewhere else?"You think about it for a second. He seem to see your answer in your eyes, but was hesitant to say it. "Don't worry, Nagisa won't be coming over today. I managed to provide him with a rather solid story, that he believed. So we can go to my place. Though Nagisa will accompany us, but he will go home after we get off the train. I hope that's alright?"

The thought of Nagisa coming really made you rethink this, but Rei assures you it would be alright. Taking his support and comfort you agree to come. The two of you meet up with Nagisa, who was rather surprise to see you, but didn't mind. While waiting for the train, the two of them talks about Haru, worried and concerned about him. His recent behavior discuss it. While you listen silently, though inside cringe from hearing what they both say. It wasn't helping you at all. Wishing for the train to hurry up, while you feet wanted to run and leave. Afraid Nagisa might turn it over to you, which he almost did if not for Rei who kept it from getting to you. Once the train arrived the three of you board, you take your seat with Rei in the middle. Remaining quiet the whole ride there, that is until Nagisa said something to you.

"May, how has Haru been at home?"

You quickly look at Rei who gives you the go it was alright to say something. Looking at Nagisa who waited for your answer. Biting the bottom of your lip, you had been so caught up in what was going on right now with you, that you didn't really pay much attention to Haru at home. Thinking about it, to be honest you had blinded yourself unable to see anything. Though you couldn't tell that to Nagisa. Thinking quickly on what to say, you had to think of something, because he clearly wanted an answer, with your silence he found your answer.

A sigh escapes him, he sits back."...So he's just the same at home."

The three of you come to the stop and get off. Nagisa goes his own way and says his good-byes. Rei and you walk to his place, his mother welcomes you like always. Rei tells her the two of you are going to be studying. The two of you reach his room, he tells you make yourself comfortable as he shuts the door and puts his things down. You take a seat at the table in middle of his room, he sits on the other side taking out some of his homework. There was no need for you to do your homework. Watching Rei lay it out, you where rather impress at what you saw.

"So,"he gets you attention and gets to the point."Do you want to start? It clear is still troubling you, I can see it."

"Yeah, I guess it can't be helped."you admit. Forcing yourself to smile. But it was clearly not a real one. One to fool yourself."I keep trying to process it all in my mind really. Every single angle and choice. And each time, I come to the same conclusion."Letting out a heavy sigh.

"I can only imagine how much a heavy burden this feels on you."Rei sympathizes with you, the best he could."I am rather honored you've chosen me to console in about this. Personally, I am happy for you. Really I am. But, at the time I can't help but feel deflated too. Though it's nowhere near the level of how the others will feel whenever you feel ready to tell them."He studies you."You still don't know how to actually tell them do you?"

You shake your head slowly."No. I don't really."You try to hold back your tears."Because no matter how much I would like to tell them, I can't help but..."you place a hand over your heart."I swear Rei, I never wanted to betray any of them. I never did. I want to go to nationals with all of you. So badly, to capture that moment again with everyone. A moment I long for...But then at the same time, I don't want to miss out on this. I'm stuck in a road I am undecided to know which way to go. And because I've been so worried about all this, I hadn't noticed anything wrong with Haru."

The hand over your heart clenches your shirt, your head drops in shame."I didn't notices at all. And after that Haru's done for me. Nor did I notices this has been effecting all of you too."Tears started to come, but you did your best to hold them back."Then there's Samezuka, I knew about Sosuke's shoulder and yet didn't say anything about it. Not to Rin, because well...because I just..."Biting your lip in anger."Because of that...I caused so many...And now this..."

Rei remained quiet and let you pour everything out. Again he was in this position with you. The first time he meet you on the roof of the school last year, self suffering. Like you're doing now. He didn't know what to do back then, because well, he didn't really know you. Now though after spending so much time with you since that day and after being brought into your life since the death of April, he's come to know you rather well. He could actually help you. You contacted him after regionals, which was rather a surprise. And you confided in him about what what Rin said. It was rather a shock to him. It was a rather bold move on Rin's part he had to admit. He didn't really understand why you weren't thrilled, until you told him. The more you told him, the more he knew. The more he saw. You needed him, his eyesight to see more than you could. To maybe hopefully see a clear path on which you should take.

Just looking at you and hearing you say what you felt inside, told him your heart wasn't sure now. Yet it seem like it was. Nothing but lost in a storm of confusion and from what he learned. You hated storms. Being in one for three and half years. You didn't want to be swept away. The last couple days you've been talking with him, nearly going on two weeks and half now. And yet there still seem to no clarity to all this. He knew you wanted to please both the others and yourself. But, that was impossible. Because life didn't work like that. Not for anyone. In his mind he was trying to figure this out for you, he really was. Thinking of every little angle.

The conclusion he came with from everything, was that you didn't have two roads to take, instead you quite a few. Rin's proposal was clearly one. Another you had yet to disclose to the others. Third, Nagisa's hopes on you to stick around still. Fourth, Mako desire. Fifth, what you held close. Now, a sixth one was with Haru. Though you refused to shed any tears they came anyway. The ideal dream you had in your mind, no doubt was now shattering or already broke. And had no choice but to accept it. It was like April all over again, in some ways. First her, then came Seijuro when left and now this.

Opening his mouth he finally speaks."...May..."he reaches across and takes your hand in his. Squeezing. Locking eyes with you."..."

Over at Samezuka, Rin return to his dorm. Coming seeing Sosuke's putting his shirt on, over his shoulder brace.

Sosuke turns around greeting him."Hey good practice man."

"Thank you."Rin tells him adverting his eyes away from his shoulder brace, shutting the door.

"Oh!"Sosuke remembers, looking at something."You got something in the mail today." Rin finds an envelope addressed to him, where it was from though surprised and shocked him."Is it good news?"

Rin didn't answer, instead he response with a question."Sosuke?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what you're going to do after graduation?"

"I don't know, maybe move back in with my parents. Help my dad run his business."

"So you're really going to quite swimming? It's all over."

"Yep."Sosuke said straight. He notices Rin's long face."Hey, stop with the moping."Rin looks at him."I told you, my dreams already come true. I've noticed May hasn't been around."He said worried. The mention of her name, bothered Rin."Still word from her."

Rin shakes his head."No. Nothing."

"I never did really get to ask,"Sosuke pries."What happened that night? Did even go well?"

Uncertain Rin looks at him telling Sosuke just that."I'm not sure really. When I told her, she was shocked. Which I was expecting, but that other look in her eyes, that look I wasn't expecting. There was something else, I couldn't put my finger on it."

"Sounds serious."Sosuke was able to deuce."She didn't say what it was?"

"No. She didn't."Rin said, his mind clearly trying to figure it out while thinking about that night. Reflecting on it, he was starting to have second thoughts about it. Wondering if it was right thing he should have done."She hasn't given me an answer. It feels the same like it did years ago. When she stopped writing, I didn't know what it was. Until I was told. When I found out, I couldn't believe it. I didn't realize when I left, I caused this affect to happened with her. Things begin to leave her, little by little. I wasn't able to do anything back then. I thought maybe, this time if where or whatever I do after here, I can take her with me-"

"So it's a redemption thing? Guilt?"Sosuke said, going by the way Rin sounded.

Rin cringes for a second from Sosuke's words. Which would have been dead on awhile back, but not anymore."At first, yeah..."Rin admits."But...not anymore."

"So it's that."Sosuke seem to figure it out. Chuckling a bit."I'm not surprise. I kind of figured that out when we were younger. Though of course you couldn't see it. I could tell. It just amazed me that it took this long."

While Sosuke snicker to himself, Rin looks at him and mumbles."Her eyes saw something else."

"What?"Sosuke slightly heard him."Did you say something."

"No."Rin tells him. Sighing."I just want to know. That's all."

Sosuke rest a hand upon his troubled friend's shoulder."You will. Trust me."he assures him."I know it's going to work out."

While Sosuke held high hopes for Rin which he did appreciate. Rin though wasn't sure.

Another day at school, you went through everything like normal. Well as normal as it could be, with the end of the year coming quickly, things where getting prepared for the third years. Everything just seem to feel different. So very different. Though the halls had students in them, it seem to start to feel rather empty. Normally would be having lunch with the others, but recently you've missed out on it a couple of days. Trying to find ways to avoid them. Your mind had more pressing matters to deal with. And seeing the others, would only, well it wouldn't help.

Feeling lost and without guidance, even though you Rei. What he told you, that day. Made sense, but also still left you feeling conflicted inside. The turmoil had yet to be settled. You needed some sort of direction right now. You really did. Even at home with Haru, you seem to be misplaced. Though you should have been worried about Haru, considering what you've been learning about him. You had to divide your time between the two. When you did take notice on Haru's behavior it did make you worry. You had tired to be shuttle about it. But, it didn't really help. Which left you feeling even more inadequate. You did seem to notice the lost look in his eyes. But with you in a sense feeling the same way as him, what good could you do for him really? Seriously, if one thought about it. You where not in the best position to do anything. Making you feel worse about yourself.

How could you reach out to him,when you yourself drowned.

You just needed that direction, that would guide you to the right choice. You had that once, you really did. Before it left you. What good would it do for to talk with them, when you would not even get a response at all? What you would give to hear their voice. They always knew what to say. All the time. Made everything better.

Staring out the window across the grounds, watching the other students.

"May."

Hearing your name, you look seeing Gou. She waves to you, you wave back."Hi."you greet her.

"Hey, I haven't seen you around for lunch."she says."Is everything alright?"

"...Yes, everything is."you tell her adding a smile."Why would you ask?"

"Well, because like I said. I haven't seen you at lunch."she tells you and looks at what you where looking."I can't believe you're going to be leaving soon. It's so soon."

"Yeah. It really is."you sigh. She noticed your sigh.

"Hey, you want to go to Obon festival tonight? You and me, what do you say?"she asks."We haven't gone to one together. A festival I mean."

Hesitant for a second, when you noticed her smile and the pleading in her eyes."Sure."you agree."I would love too."

She takes your hands in her's."Great! I'll meet you there. Wear your best kimono, okay?"

"Okay."you smile.

Evening came and you where ready for the festival. Getting ready, while Haru was downstairs. You had your yukata on, it was vivid lavander one with soft white seashell designs. Your hair was nicely done. You get a text from Gou asking what you where wearing and you tell her. Fully ready you head over. Haru hearing you coming down looks away from what he was reading over to you. He had to do a double take. His eyes follow you as you check yourself in the mirror. Feeling eyes on you, you look over to him.

"..."the two of you just stare at the other. For it to be broken by the presence of the Nagisa and the others.

They came to get Haru for the festival, when they spotted you. Nagisa comes in and goes over to you."You look really nice, May."he tells you."Kind makes me wish I would have worn mine."

You take his compliment."T-thank you."you blush a bit. He smiles at you."All of you are going to the festival as well?"

"Yes we are."Rei tells you."I am assuming you are headed that way?"

Walking over to them, Haru now sitting up."Yes. I am. I promised to meet Gou there."

"Well that's nice."Mako says holding out his hand to you."Why don't we all go together. We'll walk you there." You look at his hand, then to him. With his kind smile on, his hand always out for you. So much just processed through your mind. Your hand just an inch away from taking his. Hoovering over it. Until Nagisa accidentally bumps into you, andyou nearly fall off the patio. Luckily Mako caught you and hoist you up right. Setting you down carefully."You okay?"he ask.

"...Y-Yes."you tell him looking away. And give the two of you distance.

He smiles relieved."That's good. Let's get going then."

Everyone agrees. It didn't take too long to get to the festival. Once you arrive, you text Gou, who tells you where to meet her. Thanking the guys, you leave. Though Haru stops you for a second. About to say something but doesn't. You leave them and go to find Gou. Looking through the crowd of people at the beach, holding their lanterns lite for those of their ancestors and deceased ones. Letting them go into the water. It was a beautiful sight. It filled you peace and warmth.

Your eyes still looked for Gou, trying to find her. You where close to the spot the two of you said you would meet at. She told she would be holding a lantern, a teal one with yellow designs. You had yet to come across a lantern like that. Until you saw it. Once you saw it, you hurry over to her. Calling her name happily. Waving her down. She didn't say anything back. That was okay, because you felt joy being here with her. You didn't know why, but you did. Something inside you wanted to say tell her, you just felt the need too.

Reaching the lantern, you quickly put your hands on the other side of it."Gou, I need to tell you some-"

Hearing a deep chuckle, you knew rather well. You stop and clam up. Moving the light away from you towards the other person. Who it was standing there, surprised you completely. You weren't expecting them at all.

"Sosuke...?!"

There he stood in the spot Gou was to be in, looking down at you with his famous smirk."Hey May."