After school, Haruka rushed towards the pool. Too much trigonometry, too much logic made his head heavy. And for some reason, he was sure that he would sink with all the load in his brain.

"Haru, wait up!" Makoto chased him some distant away. "Please don't jump into the pool just yet. You need to rinse first. Nagisa!"

Nagisa seemed shocked at the call, he was only on his way to the pool, absent-mindedly. He was ahead of them. "Mako-chan."

"What's wrong, Nagisa?" Makoto stopped before Nagisa. "Is it about the test?"

"I… I- Umm..No, but-"

Haruka stopped and looked back to Nagisa and Makoto. He knew that Nagisa's feeling was overflowing at that moment. Nagisa's confession made it clear that he was lovesick, but, he had to hold back. He cherished their friendship so much that he had to hold back. And Makoto being straight, with Gou and all. Nagisa seek Haruka's help into overcoming his crush towards Makoto, what he didn't know, they were both in the same state. Haruka thought that Nagisa's plead may help him get out of the awkward thing he had for Makoto. Haruka tried to call Nagisa.

"Rinrin!" Nagisa exclaimed as he saw a certain red head with sharp teeth wearing the white Samezuka Academy uniform.

"Yo!"

"Rin, what are you- Hey!" Makoto couldn't finish his sentence when he was pulled away by Rin by his forearm.

"You, come with me." Rin looked irritated.

"Rinrin, where are you-"

"Adult's business. You children go play in the pool while me and him settle a few things. And no, Nagisa, no I'm not going to join you, if that's what you are thinking now."

"Well, I was also thinking- Ow!" Makoto tried to add something before he was cut out by Rin and dragged away from the gang.

"No, I'm not joining you, even if I am free right now."

"You guys go ahead, go warm up! That includes you Haru! Warm up, not dive in!"

"Jeez, what's his problem?" Rei stopped by. He was also on his way to the pool when he saw Rin dragging their captain away.

"Let's go!" Haru called out to Nagisa and Rei.

As the three of them walked, they saw Rin and Makoto at some distance. Rin was holding Makoto's chin and lean in closer while talking. That's all they can make out from the distant. Right now, Haruka and Nagisa were in sync. Whatever Haruka felt, Nagisa might felt it too.

"Ah!" Rei exclaimed. "They weren't doing what I think they did, didn't they? I didn't know Makoto-senpai swings that way. And with Rin-san? Or maybe not, according to that distant, it can't be."

"Adult stuff, huh? They could just go die, for all that I care." Nagisa walked faster than later ran towards the locker room.

"What did I say?" Dumbfounded, Rei asked.

Haruka shrugged and leave Rei alone to reflect. Honestly, anyone would feel guilty or sympathy, when Nagisa showed a face that is far from his bubbly expression. With words like that, Rei knew he did a big fault.

"Nagisa..?"

Nagisa made sure his new swimming suit fit nicely before turning to Haruka and Rei. "Nee, what do you think?"

"It lacks something," Rei adjusted his prescribed goggles and saw Haruka's irritated expression. "Umm, sorry, Nagisa-kun. If I had offended you in anyway, just now."

"Meh, nothing to worry! I didn't even realised I said all those things," Nagisa gave an assuring smile. He wasn't exactly the type to be mad easily to begin with. However, it is complicated when it comes to Makoto. "I didn't mean any of it. Race you to the pool!"

"Nagisa-kun, you heard what Makoto-senpai said!" Rei tried to stop Nagisa but it was too late, water splashed and Gou was in the way and she got hit with some of the splash.

"Nagisa, you!" Gou cried.

Haruka was going to dive in as well, the water looked gorgeous at this time of the day. It was as if hypnotising Haruka to dive in as well. But before he could move one more step, he immediately took one step back and bend himself to the right.

"Well, let's get started-" Makoto called out after changing into his swimsuit. "Nagisa?!"

"I tried to stop him. I told him you wanted us to stretch first." Haruka tattled nonchalantly.

"What?!"

"No, you weren't! You almost jump along with him." Rei added.

"But I didn't."

Makoto sighed with his usual smile and put his thumb and index finger on his temple. He turned to Gou, "We're busted."

"Uh-oh. What did he said?"

"Well, he misunderstood at first, and threatened me instead."

"Did you tell him, then?"

"Umm… I think I did, but I'm not sure if he gets the message."

"He doesn't need to know the details, you know. Oh, I'm so dead."

After practice, the swim team are allowed to linger around the pool up until 5.45pm. Usually, Haruka is the only one still in the pool. But today, he was accompanied by Nagisa.

"Nee, Haru-chan. Now I know why you love the water," Nagisa waddled a bit in the water. "I feel so calm in the water. It is as if it takes my problems away."

"That's not solely what it does, and by the way, you mis-used it. You should not burden the water with your problems. Now, get out of the water."

"Eeeeeehhhh! How come!" Nagisa cried out. "If only I have a crush on water instead of Mako-chan."

"Mako-chan what? I heard my name being said." Makoto called out from the side of the pool. He was already dressed in the school uniform, ready to go home.

Nagisa dived in deeper to get rid of the heat that crawled up on his face. He wished from the bottom of his heart that Makoto didn't hear a word he said before. When he resurfaced, Makoto's hand extended towards him. Haruka was already out of the water. He took a deep breath and took Makoto's hand.

"Alley-oop!" Makoto pulled Nagisa out of the water with much ease. For a second, he thought he was floating in mid-air as Makoto pulled him out of the water onto the side of the pool. Nagisa is light and Makoto is strong, maybe Makoto did lift Nagisa before landing him on the side of the pool. "Ah, I forgot to ask. How did the test go?"

Nagisa was in conflict. It was as awkward as it is being next to Makoto. Perhaps it would be weirder for him to be quiet. "You are awesome, Mako-chan. I got an A"

Makoto looked delighted. He smiled and put his hand on Nagisa's head. Makoto ruffled Nagisa's light blond hair in approval. He was proud of him. Haruka could see that Nagisa is uncomfortable and his face reddened. Nagisa pushed Makoto's hand away before running towards the shower.

"What was that all about?" Makoto looked at Haruka, confused, but still smiling.

"Makoto no baka."

"Eeeehh!"

"Be sure to check the mirror, when you get home. I thought I saw nose hair sticking out."

"Haru!"

I should stick to just loving the water. Haruka smiled.

Umm... I think I just made Nagisa OOC back in chapter 5. I'm so sorry!