7 – transparent

Shadows were short and the sun at its peak, her skin awash in pleasant warmth. Under the promise of summer, Satsuki leant backwards and tilted her face towards the sun.

"I suppose the swim team might be able to use their pool soon." remarked a cheery voice, the owner of which was leaning against Satsuki's shoulder.

"Mhm," agreed Gou, "If the pool was cleaned and heated, we might've be able to start using it now."

"Shame it's not." Ayaka replied, stretching out her words as she revelled in languidness.

Satsuki had to accede on this, adding, "Haru's getting impatient."

"Oh, yeah, but don't you care about the rest of the team? Like Makoto?" Ayaka quipped.

Satsuki shrugged half a shoulder, still barely brushing the short crop of her hair. Her eyes were still shut, condemning her to experience of her other senses. She was not that eager to confront reality; given reality was a small schoolyard they could only enjoy for the duration of lunch.

"Speaking of Makoto…" Gou murmured.

She didn't have to say anything further, for a politely intrusive voice explained it all for her.

"Ayaka! Satsuki!"

Her hazel eyes flew open, darting around until they landed on the approaching figures. The pair, seemingly inseparable, approached with obliviousness to the fact that they were the subject of discussion. The conversation dropped as Makoto and Haruka neared, as did Satsuki's mood.

Her eyes clashed against Haruka's, hazel on blue, but there was little to indicate his happiness to see her – a mood killer if ever there was one.

"Hey, Gou." Makoto added, nodding towards her.

A shadow fell over the trio, causing Ayaka to sit upright. "Makoto, you're blocking the sun!" She had no qualms about sounding like a whiny child, but had no doubt that Makoto would see through any other mask she attempted anyway.

He smiled apologetically, stepping aside quickly. "Sorry."

"It wouldn't be a problem if you weren't so damn tall."

"Sor-"

Satsuki held a hand to her face, shielding the light so she could glare up at Makoto. "Don't," she grumbled, "Don't apologise for something like that. You should know Ayaka's just teasing you."

"You got me!" Ayaka exclaimed with a grin.

"I knew that anyway." added Makoto, though he didn't appear at all worried.

Satsuki exhaled heavily, defeated. "Whatever, fine then."

"Just goes to show how nice Makoto is." Ayaka interjected, smiling happily.

Makoto blinked once, widely, before laughing nervously. "Ah, well…"

"Look! So modest!" continued Ayaka, before saying with a wink equally as disturbing, "Nice personality, good looks – you've got it all, Makoto."

Gou nodded in added agreement. "Not to mention beautiful back muscles."

Haruka's cool tone interrupted them all, offering a mild, "Let's keep moving."

Satsuki merely stared at him, at the boy who had claimed to be her boyfriend. Though how well Haruka understood the concept of dating was still relatively uncertain, he knew enough to exploit Satsuki's weakness – him. He had flustered her into accepting, but never really taken it any further.

Now, however, he had taken it to a whole different level. She felt as if they were taking slow steps away from each other – he hadn't even acknowledged her.

Before Makoto could reply, to agree or reject the suggestion, Satsuki intervened on her own account.

Her short temper prevailed over a kinder nature. "Haruka, wait."

He glanced at her. "What?" he wondered, oblivious to the fact that he was the target of her irritation.

Satsuki pushed herself from the grass and to her feet. In a second, she had grabbed Haruka by his wrist and began dragging him away. "I need to speak to Haruka alone for a bit." She announced to the others, turning away quickly.

Haruka offered no resistance, allowing himself to be led along by the curly-haired brunette. He studied her, the skin of her neck and freckles spattered across it. He rather enjoyed her freckles, and had spent enough time searching for them that he knew she had a collection of them flecked like paint across her chest.

"I wanted to go to the pool." Haruka insisted, once Satsuki had stopped walking.

They were hidden behind a bush, but Satsuki kept an ear out for their friends – it would not be the first time Ayaka had listened in on her private conversations.

"Really?" Satsuki asked bitingly.

"Yes," Haruka replied seriously, "Is something wrong?"

Her fingers left his wrist to push back her hair against the wind. "Can you," she struggled to swallow with a dry throat, "Just for a second, imagine something crazy."

He tilted his head, which was more an acknowledgement than usual.

"Imagine, just for a second, that I have feelings of my own. And imagine if you cared about them."

There was bitterness in her voice, not just sarcasm. Haruka's thoughts flashed passed, unable to be acknowledged or even comprehended as he watched her expression fall from determination to outright irritation.

"…You're angry." He deduced.

"Yes," Satsuki snapped, "You know, you might be a swimming prodigy, but you're clearly not a genius."

"Why?"

"Why?"

"Why?" Haruka repeated firmly.

"Are you kidding?" Satsuki marvelled, frowning, "You're just proving my point even further now."

Haruka took a step towards her, teetering, but waited for her to continue. He knew if he was patient that Satsuki would explain herself, that she would talk when he would not. Their relationship was push-and-pull, just like the water.

"You've been ignoring me, Haruka Nanase." She declared.

"I…"

"Don't even deny it. You've been ignoring me, and I don't know why. Do you not like me after all? Is there someone else? I honestly don't know how I'll feel if you tell me I have to compete against your love of water."

"It's not a competition. You're my girlfriend." Haruka insisted, as earnest as it could be said for someone of his stoic character.

"Am I?" Satsuki said snippily, "Didn't you only say that so you could kiss me more?"

"Yes." Haruka conceded without much fight. He honestly couldn't see why it would be a bad thing – she wanted to kiss him as well.

Satsuki glowered, her eyes downcast. "Shit. I knew this was a bad idea…" At her muttered admission, Haruka reached for her.

His fingertips landed on her shoulder, the other hand splayed across her neck. Satsuki shot to attention, hazel eyes staring across at him. Under his touch, she grew warm and blushed profusely. Her lips were parted breathlessly, flustered and speechless in a way Haruka thought – but would never admit – was really cute.

"Satsuki-" He began.

"Whatever," she sighed, pushing his hand away, "I'm still mad. I just wanted you to know."

Haruka inclined his head ever so slightly, blue eyes betraying his surprise at her words. In his shock, he fumbled for a reply and blurted, "Okay."

Despite her reluctance, Satsuki forced herself to step backwards. Haruka's hand fell to his side, and she had to avert her eyes. She might have felt bad about telling him off, but it needed to be said. She couldn't always value Haruka's feelings over her own.

Haruka almost took another step forward. He disliked the despondency in her posture, and knowing that her miserable attitude was his fault didn't make it any better. He knew, however, that a hug or a kiss couldn't change anything.

Without a way to resolve the problem, Haruka decided to continue ignoring it. In a second, he had turned his shoulder to her in preparation to walk away.

"Wait." Satsuki ordered suddenly.

He hesitated, briefly and on instinct.

"You want to swim?" That caught his attention.

"Where?" Haruka demanded, spinning around to face her.

His eyes were alive, dancing with the promise she held tauntingly on her lips. Satsuki smiled slowly, glad there was one way to make him listen.

"Ayaka." She supplied vaguely.

"Shibata?"

"Although I'm not so sure if I should tell you…" Satsuki murmured, eyes on him, "I might need a little persuading."

It was intentional and he knew it. Haruka was going to have to pay for slights, and Satsuki had a few ideas on just how he could do that. He understood her meaning, and he didn't hesitate to grab Satsuki's shoulders and pull her closer.

Their height difference meant she stood on her tiptoes to reach him, but it was worth it. When Haruka kissed her, he took his time. He indulged in it fully, revelled in the closeness – her skin smelt like grass and her favourite strawberry soap, while she tasted of the orange she had been eating earlier.

Satsuki pulled away first, lungs straining for air. There was no thought to move away, and neither would Haruka's embrace let her.

"What does Shibata have to do with this?" Haruka asked quietly.

"Well, she has a pool." Satsuki explained.

"Last time I swam in a pool, I got sick."

"That's because it was too cold, idiot. Ayaka has a heated pool."

For all his love of water, all Haruka said was, "Hm."

He had never been one for speech, as he far more favoured actions. Satsuki was learning to understand him better each day, but she couldn't predict that Haruka would grab her wrist and lead her around the bush.

In the distance, their friends sat in a circle. Gou was snacking on some food, while Ayaka talked animatedly with Makoto. As Satsuki watched, the blonde even punched the taller boy on the arm, laughing as she did so.

Haruka ignored civilities and marched up to them, dragging Satsuki behind him.

"Shibata," he interrupted firmly, staring down at her, "You have a heated pool."

"I told you to call me Ayaka," Ayaka replied quickly, "And yeah, I do. Why?"

Haruka nodded curtly. "We're coming over this weekend."

There was no room for objection, only for the faint echo of Satsuki's apologetic regret. She was rather more distracted by Haruka's hand around hers.

I don't know what I was thinking when I decided that the Free! universe needed more drama...Oh well, I hope it's at least entertaining.

Thanks for reading and reviewing!