8 – gathered
Ayaka had never been one for formalities. She hated the rigid performance, the decorum of it all, and was far more inclined to just let things happen as they would. This attitude left for little to surprise her, as she took it all in stride. It was easier to enjoy herself when she wasn't so caught up in the details.
So, in that way, when the doorbell rang, she was in no way unprepared.
She may have been sitting on her couch, sloppily dressed and having woken up ten minutes before midday, but Ayaka felt as if it was all a part of her plan. She was well aware of the company she had coming over – and even more aware of who else might join in on the gathering.
Ayaka had neglected to mention that last part to her visiting friends.
"Just a minute!" Ayaka called out to the guests at her door.
She tumbled from the couch to her feet, fingers immediately seeking to tidy her ash-blonde hair. Unlike as was usual for a weekend, she wore a full face of makeup at odds with her shorts and hoodie.
In the distance, Satsuki's voice returned the greeting indirectly. "I'm coming in!"
True, Satsuki hated formality as well, and Ayaka's house had always felt like something of a second home to her. The blonde was just entering the hall when she spotted her friend opening the front door.
Satsuki's brunette curls were ever in need of taming, and she wore only little makeup. Her clothes were far dressier that Ayaka's, though the point of it was lost on the taller girl. She never understood the point of dressing up for company, only for the occasion.
"Hey." Satsuki addressed casually.
"Hey." Ayaka responded, tilting her head.
Following Satsuki through the door was Gou, peering curiously around. "Is your brother here, Aya-chan?" she wondered.
"Thankfully not."
From outside the door, murmurs resounded quickly. Ayaka listened with half an ear, eventually deciding it must have been the boys arguing. Satsuki ended it by turning around and ordering sharply, "Hurry up."
Haruka wandered in first. His eyes, a brilliant blue, were fixed on Ayaka in an unnerving stare. The girl started, blatantly perturbed by the attention. Usually, when Satsuki was around, he paid little attention to anyone else.
The behaviour was explained by the words from Haruka's own mouth. "Where's your pool?"
Makoto's tall figure loomed over, announcing his presence wordlessly. "Good morning." He greeted, smiling at Ayaka.
She returned the greeting cheerfully, before extending it to the third and final member of the party. "Nagisa, welcome."
"Hi, Shi-chan!" The blonde first year replied enthusiastically, waving his hand over Makoto's shoulder. As Nagisa entered, he pushed the door shut behind him.
Ayaka once more caught Haruka's stare, and returned the look with mocking eeriness. For whatever reason, Haruka didn't comment on anything and merely waited. Satsuki intervened, "The pool," she announced, "Is out the back."
Gou smiled brightly. "Let's go then."
"Aren't you gonna change…" Ayaka cut herself off, recalling all at once the many times Haruka had worn his swimsuit underneath his clothes. There was surely something unhealthy about that.
"I'll lead the way." Satsuki asserted, perfectly at home among the familiar setting.
Ayaka stood back and watched the line of friends traipse past. Haruka walked close by Satsuki, who afforded them all the added benefit of a bonus tour along way. Nagisa and Gou walked side-by-side, at ease in each other's company until the boy felt it necessary to mention how her name wasn't actually 'Kou'. Makoto was the only one to remain loitering by Ayaka's side.
"I hope we're not intruding." He told her apologetically.
"It's no problem," Ayaka quickly assured him, lying only just a little, "You wanna help me get some towels out?"
"Sure." Makoto agreed easily, letting her take the lead.
"You know, I'm not sure how warm the pool is. Or how clean. I don't know if it's gonna be that great to swim in."
"Haru won't mind," Makoto replied cheerfully, "It's better than his bathtub, anyway."
"He acts so cool but he's really not, isn't he?" Ayaka shook her head pityingly. "How Haruka managed to get a girlfriend like Satsuki is beyond me."
Beside her, Makoto began ducking under a low-hung light. They had entered the long hallway that led to two things; the pool, and the laundry. He continued the conversation with ease, though she had always pegged him to be shy. "It's cute," Makoto declared, "Haru really does like Satsuki a lot."
"In an unorthodox way."
"Is there a normal way to like someone?"
Ayaka flung open a closet door, hiding what blush might betray her thoughts. "I suppose not." She mumbled, distracted by the recollection of a peculiar bet.
"Is there someone you like, Ayaka?"
The blonde pulled herself from the closet, unloading a pile of towels onto Makato. With her arms now free, she stood with her hands on her hips, wearing an expression that matched her posture. "Now why should I tell you that, Makoto?"
"You don't have to." He assured, smiling.
"Good, because I'm not. Don't you have a kid to supervise?"
"Haru?" Makoto guessed, assuming that was who Ayaka was intending to belittle.
She nodded. "The very same. Let's go."
Using her own height and strength to her advantage, Ayaka managed to turn Makoto around and shove him out the door. The way outside was led by Satsuki's reprimands, which could be heard even from inside the house.
They emerged into the daylight, and stared ahead at the scene together. It took a moment to register, but very soon Ayaka was laughing at the comicalness of it all. While Gou and Nagisa were winding back the cover for the pool, Satsuki had herself wrapped firmly around Haruka. He was grounded, she sitting on his chest, and it was blatantly obvious that Haruka had tried to jump in at a dangerously early point.
When Makoto merely sighed, Ayaka clapped him across the shoulder and began the march forward. "Wow, Satsuki, aren't you being forward today?" she called out teasingly.
The comment earned her a scathing glare. "So long as it stops Haruka from killing himself." The brunette retorted.
"Why bother?" Now, with that, Ayaka had collected the glares of both Satsuki and Haruka.
"Be careful." Makoto warned, his voice hushed so that it reached only Ayaka.
She shot him a playful smirk, but was distracted by Nagisa and Gou approaching them. "The cover's off." announced the younger girl.
"Is there anything else that needs doing?" added Nagisa.
"Nothing that I can be bothered with," Ayaka recounted, "I turned the heating on this morning, so go for it. Knock yourself out!"
"Not literally!" Satsuki added snappily.
Ayaka watched on as she continued wrestling with Haruka. He, now that permission was granted, had a vastly different level of determination than before. Honestly, it was quite remarkable.
Against him, Satsuki appeared to be entirely helpless. In quick second, a flash of movement too fast for the eye, their positions had been reversed. Haruka was careful to keep a hand under her head, preventing it from hitting the tiling around the pool area. Satsuki, for all that she had ever claimed to be, lay there still and stunned.
Haruka was up in a second, on the edge of the pool and in his swimmers within seconds. "Poor Satsuki." Ayaka remarked, though without any particular investment.
"Where do you want the towels?" interrupted Makoto, causing Ayaka to indicate to a plastic set of deck chairs inside the pool area.
All other sound was rendered mute by the glee with which Nagisa cried out to Haruka, asking, "How's the temperature?"
"Good." Haruka replied simply, floating along the surface. He seemed perfectly content, not in the least bothered by Satsuki's cold glare.
She turned to Ayaka and Gou, and began marching over until the three converged. Satsuki, though irritated, only offered a resigned sigh, "At least someone's happy."
"It's nice that we're all here together," Gou added, "Even though Rei couldn't make it."
"Unexpectedly pleasant." agreed Ayaka, who then pulled the two girls towards the chairs.
When next the trio glanced around, they saw that all three boys were in the pool. Ayaka was certain it was freezing, but decided that if she wasn't swimming it wasn't her problem. Gou and Satsuki didn't appear to be in a hurry, as Gou settled onto a deck chair and the brunette surveyed the scene with a grumpiness to contrast Ayaka's own smile.
"Sorry," Satsuki muttered, watched her friend from the corner of her eye, "I hope it's not a problem that we're here."
"Nonsense, I'd do anything for you!" Ayaka assured, slinging an arm around her. "But…"
"But what?" Gou inquired, staring up at her.
Ayaka fidgeted under their gazes, her fingers twisting together anxiously. "But," she continued lowly, "I sorta have company coming over in a few hours."
"Company?"
Satsuki snorted. "Like who? All the people you like are here right now."
"Ah, well…"
Gou was the first to realise, her mouth gaping. "Oh," she breathed, "Wait, if that bet is still going on, why is he…?"
"Who?" Satsuki insisted.
The expression was ineloquent, overused, but Ayaka fully acknowledged how fitting it would be to say she could kill two birds with the one stone as she answered them both.
"I'm just offering my services as a tutor," She worked a grin onto her lips, "And only because Rin Matsuoka is cute."
Only Ayaka would have dared reveal such selfish motivation out loud – no matter how true it was.
So this chapter is the officially unofficial halfway mark for this story - which means, only 8 more chapters to go. That kinda seems like not enough for the amount of development to come, but hey, you guys can judge how well the ending fits the rest of the story!
Also, thanks to everyone who reads, reviews and favourites this story.