Makoto was relaxing on the beach with his hands behind his back, staring up into the blue sky as he breathe in the salty air from the ocean, listening to its waves and the cries of the seagulls soaring above, enjoying their vast freedom.
The ocean was calm, thank goodness the breeze was soothing that it can even lull him to sleep instead of its usual harsh cold temperature. He allowed his mind to wander, to only think about the usual. What would he do in his life, where he'd like to go, where he'd like to meet someone, when to start a family, to which he thought that it would be rather satisfying...
It was the only thing he can think of whenever he takes walks along the shoreline of the beach or just to clear his mind of stress, and it also helped forget for a moment about his fear of the ocean. Because was the only place where he can be alone, unless if there were a few surfers if the waves were more rough than today's or swimmers like Haru-
Well, mostly Haru.
If only he were brave enough like him to swim in it, he had that tensed feeling that the ocean would rise against an innocent soul, and devoured them.
It happened before.
Memories like that makes him easily teared-up and feel a mourning loss once again, Makoto took a deep breath to compose himself. He was relieved that a slight breeze caressed his temple, he finally opened his eyes and focused on the sky above him.
Finally, without any bird nor plane to disturb it, he concentrated into the celestial, allowing himself to actually get lost into it, he could almost feel weightless, like he was almost floating. The feeling was peaceful and heavenly.
It made him feel free.
...
...
...
"GAH!" Makoto was jolted back into reality when Haru flicked water from his dripping wet fingers onto his friend's daydreaming face.
"Haru! Don't scare me like that I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK!" Makoto whine.
"I assume you were dreaming," Haru murmured.
"Heh, well, you know me." Makoto smiled, completely setting his mood to his calm and happy self again.
"Thank goodness you're here now, it's time to eat breakfast and I'm starving!" Makoto smiled as he got his backpack and took out two bento boxes.
"My mom prepared it," Makoto said as Haru sat across from him on top of the extra beach towel Makoto laid out for him and unwrapped his box.
Haru only stared into his box.
"I only eat mackerel," Haru said.
"I know, but we didn't have mackerel... but there's tuna!" Makoto pointed out. He digged into his backpack once again and took out two spoons.
"Is this... souffle?" Haru asked.
"Yep! A new recipe my mom made,"
Haru looked up to him, unamused, Makoto could only sigh.
"I know it's not mackerel, but at least try it, you'll probably like it." Makoto smiled warmly.
Haru's stubborn frown only deepened, he picked up his spoon to only start picking at the souffle before he tried a teensy-weensy bit of it.
"Well, how is it?"Makoto leaned in curiously.
Haru was silent until he replied.
"Hmm... I prefer mackerel."
Makoto raised his eyebrows before he chuckled.
~So like you~
~~~~~~~~~~
After they ate, they decided to head back, As they walked Makoto spotted Haru gazing back at the ocean with longing still plastered on his face.
~Thinking about swimming again, even after taking a dive right into the ocean!~
Makoto smiled at the natural state of his friend.
"Don't worry, we'll come back tomorrow," Makoto said. Haru only nodded without sending him a glance.
"How was the ocean for ya?" Makoto asked.
"Perfect." Haru breathed.
"Don't you get a little scared or maybe even creeped out?" Makoto asked curiously.
~ Me. afraid of the ocean? afraid of water? ridiculous~ Haru thought to himself.
He only shrugged, he really didn't mind the natural habitat of the ocean, it's just water. Even if it was just that, the atmosphere was beautiful.
"I wish you could just swam in it for once, then you wouldn't be afraid," Haru replied after awhile.
"...Maybe by then you would get over it," Haru stopped walking to turn to him.
"Just accept it, Makoto, accept it and it will accept you," Haru told him with sympathy in his voice. Makoto paused for a moment, then he tried to reassure himself with shrugging it off.
"We both know it's not easy..." Makoto replied sadly, after a pause he shook and smiled at his friend and continued to move ahead.
"Just be careful while you're there, OK Haru?"
Haru continued walking beside him.
"I can't imagine what I'd do if I lost another friend,"
Makoto invited Haru to stay for awhile at his house, He accepted and they entered.
They were greeted by the excitement from Makoto's younger siblings: Ren and Ran, two twins that didn't look alike, Ren was a boy at the age of 10 who had brown hair and eyes of the same color, Ran was a girl of the same age but who had black hair and unusual turquoise eyes. The twins ran and hugged Makoto's legs.
"Makoto you're home!" They exclaimed happily,
Makoto chuckled and began to walk carefully with both siblings attached while Haru took his time taking off his shoes.
"Haruka, welcome." Makoto's mother greeted him kindly. Haru internally cringed at the sound of his full name, he stood up and bowed respectfully to older woman.
"Good Morning," He said.
"I have prepared some tea, would you like to have some?" She asked.
Haru nodded and followed her back into the kitchen.
"Haruka!" The twins exclaimed, they ran towards him and tugged at his hands.
"Big brother told us you went jogging!" Ran exclaimed.
"Where did you go?" Ren asked,
"Swimming" Haru simple stated.
"In the ocean!?" The twins' eyes widened with intrigued curiousity.
"Ehm... actually Haru was the one who went swimming," Makoto said.
His mother placed two cups of tea in front of the older teens, she ruffled her son's hair playfully before going into the kitchen and prepared breakfast for the twins.
"How big is the ocean?" Ren asked.
Haru's answer was quietly stretching his arms outwards.
"Is it filled with sharks?" Ren asked again.
Haru only shook his head.
"Is it filled with treasure? I heard there could be sunken pirate treasure in the ocean," Ren continued to speak with more excitement.
"Didn't see any treasure," Haru responded. Ren whined in defeat as his twin sister sneered.
"Of course he didn't silly," Ran began to think for a moment, suddenly she tugged excitedly on Haru's sleeve.
"Did you see any mermaids!?" Ran questioned happily.
~Mermaids?~
"He wouldn't." Ren cut in.
"Mermaids don't swim, they sit on rocks and comb their hair all day,"
Ran glared annoyingly at her twin. Makoto cleared his throat.
"Even so, I don't think we would've spot them," Makoto said before sipping his tea,
"Besides, they're not even real," Ren boasted.
"They are!" Ran protested.
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Kids, I think they could be real," Makoto reassured.
"Just because you don't see something, doesn't mean it's not there,"
The children went calm after that. Breakfast was served for them and they ate.
~Mermaids... mermaids.. mermaids...mermaids?~ Haru kept thinking about the subject ever since it was brought up. The more he thought about it, every time he went to that same peaceful spot in the ocean, he would notice something in the corner of his eye... must've been a small fish or the reflection of the water... whatever it was, he was never disturbed or threatened.
~I've always wondered if the ocean ever looked over me the same way I do, but then that would impossible... or would it?~
...
...
...
~Eh.~
Haru shrugged it off and continued to sip his tea.