"Hey, Haru?"
"What is it?" Haru asked, admiring the fading daylight as he and Makoto walked back to their room.
"Do you…do you know how to dance? At a ball, I mean."
"No."
"Hmmm…I don't really know either." He glanced at Haru, measuring his reaction. "I took a few lessons when I was younger…but I'm not sure if I still know how to do it." They stopped as they reached the door and Haru reached into his pocket in search of their keycard. "I wonder what we're supposed to wear…"
"Don't know," Haru replied. Neither had brought along formal clothing of any kind.
"I'm sure we'll find something," Makoto mused. He smiled. "Besides, we're going together…so it shouldn't really matter, right?" Haru stared at him in surprise, then smiled softly.
"Yeah."
Far away, in Iwatobi, Nagisa Hazuki was passed out on a couch. A television flickered in front of him, and the room glowed with the light emanating from it. A certain reality tv show was playing across its screen…
"I'm back!" Rei Ryugazaki entered the room with a flourish, brandishing several souvenirs and sporting a lurid t-shirt. He groaned when he noticed the papers flung haphazardly around the room and the large, half-eaten cake lying unprotected on the counter. "Honestly, Nagisa-kun! I said you could stay here while I was away only if you kept the place in order! I mean what…"
He stopped when he spotted his sleeping friend…his face softened.
"Nagisa-kun…" At these words, Nagisa's eyelids flitted open.
"Rei-chan…" His eyes widened. "Rei-chan!" he yelped again, bolting upright in his seat. "You're back already! I was going to clean everything up before you came back, I swear! I guess I just…"
"Don't worry about that now," Rei sighed, seating himself next to Nagisa. "What have you been doing? You look exhausted."
"Um…I'm still doing that holiday assignment," Nagisa chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Still?" Rei asked in surprise. "You should have called! I would gladly have helped."
"It's okay, I'm managing!" Nagisa replied quickly. "Besides, you were on holiday — I didn't want to disturb you. And I got help from Mako-chan, so it worked out!" Rei shook his head.
"Really, Nagisa-kun. You can't work yourself into the ground like this. You should take a break."
Nagisa smiled weakly and offered him a half-hearted wink. "Hehe…I guess you're right, Rei-chan." He yawned and slumped back against the couch. "Okay."
Rei smiled. "Good."
Nagisa smiled back with sleep-laden eyes, then gasped.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" he grinned. "How was South Africa?"
"South Africa?" Rei asked. "Oh, it was absolutely beautiful! Never before have I seen such diversity of people and wildlife. And I saw some black-footed penguins as well — I thought you would have enjoyed that!" Nagisa sat up straight, his eyes shining.
"Really! Did you see any rockhopper penguins?"
Rei laughed.
"No, I'm afraid not. But I…HUH?!"
"What is it?"
"Isn't that Haruka-senpai?" Nagisa rubbed the sleep from his eyes to stare at the television screen. His mouth fell open.
"Ehh?! Yeah it is!"
"What on earth is he doing on a reality show?
"No idea! And look, there's Mako-chan too!"
"This is absurd!" Nagisa stared at the screen for a little longer, then looked down dejectedly.
"You…you don't think they've forgotten they're supposed to be meeting up with us soon, do you?" Rei gazed at him for a moment, eyes softening, then nudged him gently.
"Don't worry. There's still a few days before our meeting in Iwatobi — I'm sure they haven't forgotten." Nagisa stretched happily.
"Good…because I want to see everyone again," he yawned. "I want to be with Haru-chan and Mako-chan…and Rei-chan too!"
"Nagisa-kun…" Rei murmured, touched. He glanced down when he received no response, then smiled. "Oh…" Carefully, he tucked a few wayward curls behind Nagisa's ear. "He fell asleep again…"
"Hey, Haru? You ready?"
"Yeah." Though he was dressed, Haru was still lying face-down on his bed. He wasn't sure "ready" was an apt term to describe how he felt about going to a ball.
"I'm good to go as well," Makoto replied. Having been unable to track down anything even vaguely appropriate for a ball, he sported a simple jeans and t-shirt. Haru was similarly clothed.
"How long do we have?" Haru asked, forcing himself into a sitting position.
"Er…about fifteen minutes," Makoto replied. "There's still plenty of time." He fidgeted with the strap of his watch. "I'm still a little nervous…I hope I don't step on Sayuri's feet or anything. She's really short…" He winced apologetically. "Uh…I'm sure you and Aika will be fine though!"
"I'm not going to dance."
"Eh?! But why?"
"Don't feel like it. Besides, Aika didn't want to either so it'll be fine."
"Ahh, come on Haru-chan, don't be like that!"
"Don't call me -chan."
Makoto hesitated, sat down on the bed next to him.
"Then I won't dance either," he sighed.
"Why not?" Haru asked, discontented.
"Well there's no point in me dancing if you're just going to hide in a corner the whole time!"
Haru stared at him for a moment, then looked away, seemingly disgruntled.
"Fine. I'll do it." Makoto's eyes widened.
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
Makoto hesitated for a moment, then scooted up to him.
"Haru?"
"What is it?"
"Are you worried because you don't know how to dance with someone?" Haru folded his arms, a rosy hue barely visible in his cheeks. Makoto smiled, then stood up. He offered his hand to Haru.
"Why don't we try it together?" Haru's eyebrows ascended into his fringe. But, sighing, he took his hand. Makoto, with some determination, placed both of his own hands on Haru's shoulders.
"So now what?" Haru asked. Makoto frowned.
"Hmmm…" he mused. "I just remember…step, slide, step! Step, slide, step!"
Haru snorted.
"What kind of ballroom dancing did they teach you?"
"Uh…come to think of it, I'm not even sure if it's meant for dancing at a ball!" Makoto replied sheepishly.
"You're hopeless."
"Leave me alone!" Makoto laughed. "Let's try it anyway, okay? Step, slide, step! Step, slide, step!"
"Step, slide, step. Step, slide, step…" Though he got the steps right, Haru's arms were fastened at his side and his gaze unamused.
"Step, slide, step! Step sl"- Suddenly, Makoto yelped. "Ow! Haru, that was my foot!"
"Sorry." Makoto sighed.
"Okay, let's try it again."
"You have no idea what you're doing, do you?"
"Maybe, but we have to try, right?" Haru let out a dissatisfied "tch", then looked up as Makoto gasped.
"It's almost time! We'd better get going."
It wasn't long before Haru and Makoto found themselves in the hotel ballroom. Aside from a few platters of food littering the tables and a number of chandeliers, one wouldn't have known a ball was being held. Makoto breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, at least we're not the only ones who didn't have anything formal to wear," he said, gazing in mild interest at the casually-clad swimmers before him.
"This doesn't really look like a ball," noted Haru.
"Yeah…but I kind of like it this way!" Makoto said. He smiled. "It's not all stiff and formal like in the movies, y'know?"
"Yeah."
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Haru winced — of course Hideaki had to make a dramatic entrance. "May I have your attention, please?" He adjusted his magenta necktie. "It is a great honour to be here with all of you tonight…"
Makoto took a quick glance around the room, frowning.
"Is it just me, or are the swim teams the only ones here?" he whispered. Haru shook his head.
"Not just us…" He pointed to one of the cameramen in a nearby corner. Makoto pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Of course…"
"Hey, Igarashi!" Kaida snapped from a corner. "Get on with it."
"Now, now! Slow down, Kaida," Hideaki retorted, flapping his arms. "Take it easy…we're at a ball!" Kaida snorted.
"No. We're at a grown man's half-assed attempt at recreating a high school dance."
"JUST LET ME HAVE THIS, KAIDA! LET ME HAVE IT!"
"Tch."
Hideaki flinched when he realised the crowd was staring at him. "Ahem. Hehe…" He swallowed. "Then without further ado…I'd like to invite our swimming teams to open the dance!"
"Open? But no one else will be dancing," Makoto sighed. Then his eyes widened. "Wait a minute! Where are Sayuri and Aika?"
Haru frowned. "Don't know."
"I'd better call them!" Makoto fumbled in his pocket for his phone, flipped it open, then furrowed his brow as he stared at the screen.
"What is it?" Haru asked.
"It's a message from Aika," he said, sinking into a nearby chair. Haru settled himself next to him, then peered over his shoulder at the screen:
"Hey, Makoto. It's Aika. Tried Haruka's phone but he didn't answer. Sayuri wanted to pass the pool on our way here and she fell in. Went back to the rooms to dry her off. We'll be a bit late — sorry!"
"Oh no," Makoto murmured, concerned. "I hope they'll be okay."
"I'm sure they're fine," Haru replied reassuringly. Makoto's face softened, seemingly at ease.
"You're right. I shouldn't worry so much." He laughed. "Well, on the bright side, it looks like you won't have to dance after all, Ha"- He stopped as Haru stood up.
"…Haru?" His eyes widened when Haru extended a hand towards him.
"Are you coming?"
Makoto blinked.
"Eh?!" Haru raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't take all those dance lessons for nothing did I?" Makoto gaped at him, the tips of his ears a vivid red.
Then, his features broke into a smile.
"Er…right!" He took Haru's hand and allowed himself to be led onto the dance floor.
For a while, they stood facing each other, waiting for the music.
"Ready?" Hideaki said. The small amount of chatter in the hall faded into silence. Then, Hideaki pressed a button…and the music started to play.
Haru frowned.
"This…doesn't sound like music for ballroom dancing…" Makoto noted uncertainly.
"Yeah," Haru murmured. "It's…slower." Makoto stared at him for a moment, then smiled sheepishly.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to go with it then."
In a surprisingly deft movement, Makoto slipped one hand around Haru's waist and interlaced their fingers with the other. Haru's eyes widened.
He could feel the music, soft flurries of sound brushing past his skin. He could feel the atmosphere, heavy and thick like syrup.
More than that, he could feel Makoto.
When they began to dance, their movements were nothing like they had been in their room. Whatever they were doing now was natural and smooth…instinctive. Inexplicably, Haru could feel his heart starting to race…and then all he could sense was Makoto.
Makoto's eyelashes falling over half-lidded eyes.
Makoto's soft green irises reflecting the light of the chandeliers.
Makoto's hair falling in a perfect, perfect mess across his face.
Makoto's hand on his skin. The curve of his waist beneath his fingertips.
The dusting of freckles on his nose Haru had never noticed before.
And Makoto's scent…it weighed on the space between them. It was all-encompassing.
Haru was drowning in it.
Unable to control the sudden rush of emotion, he let out an inaudible gasp. His fingers untwined from Makoto's and his arms lowered to his sides. He stopped moving.
Makoto stared at him in concern.
"Haru…are you okay?" Haru looked away quickly; suddenly, Makoto's voice seemed like the song of a fireplace. He'd never noticed how much its sound could warm him.
"I…I'm fine," he stammered.
"Are you sure?"
That voice.
"Yeah." He spun around and strode towards the door. "I'm going back to my room."
"Haru!"
Haru vaguely heard Aika and Sayuri rush into the room.
"I'm so, so sorry we're late," Aika began. "I can't believe…" She frowned at Haru's retreating back. "…Is everything okay? Why is Haruka leaving?"
"I don't…know…" Makoto murmured.
"He looks upset," Sayuri whispered.
"Makoto…" He turned around at the sound of Aika's voice.
"Yeah?" he asked, eyes wavering.
"Go check on him. We'll be fine." Aika bit her lip, worried. "I think he needs you right now." Makoto's eyes widened and he glanced at Sayuri. She smiled.
"I'll be okay. I have Aika, remember?"
Makoto swallowed. "Thank you."
With that, he ran after his friend.