Chapter 14

Regionals were almost here for the Swim Club. In just a few days it would be time for them all to compete on a bigger scale than just Prefecturals.

The sun had set and the moon had risen, but the boys were still in the pool practicing.

"I don't need you boys coming out looking like prunes, you know?" I said as I walked over to Makoto, Nagisa and Miss Amakata.

"Kei-chan!" Nagisa greeted me.

"What're you doing here, Kei?" Miss Amakata asked me.

"I wanted to drag Haru home, but it looks like I have to drag all of you home." I sighed. "What are you guys doing here so late for anyways?"

"We want to use every moment we can to swim." Makoto said.

"The more we practice our exchanges, the better we'll perform." Nagisa added.

"Practice your exchanges?" Miss Amakata asked.

"That's right. Our only chance at surpassing the top schools is by shaving off enough time from our exchanges. We need to learn how to anticipate the timing of the person before us, so that we're already starting to move into our dives by the time they reach the platform. We'll ideally have zero seconds between touch and dive." Makoto explained.

"That's a huge risk, Makoto." I stated the obvious to the brunette.

"But if you cut the timing that close, what if you dive in before the touch?" Miss Amakata asked.

"They'll be disqualified." I answered her question.

"But we can't let ourselves be afraid of that." Nagisa said.

"If we can master this timing, we can cut our time down further." Makoto said.

"Oh, you're still practicing at this hour?" The voice of a man was heard from behind us. Everyone stopped what they were doing to see who was standing by the entrance of the pool.

"The guidance counsellor?"

"And the principal, too? W-We're sorry! We were just getting ready to leave!" Miss Amakata began to apologize to the principal.

"No, no. You're fine!" The guidance counsellor waved his hand.

"More importantly, Nanase-kun." The Principal called out Haru's name. Haru swam over to the edge of the pool to look at the head of the school. "We hear that scouts have been contacting you. That's very impressive! You're the pride of our school. We're all looking forward to your performance at Regionals. Give it your all!" Haru's head dropped slightly as he muttered his reply,

"Okay."

It was the night before the Swim Club were going to head to Regionals and Haru and I decided to celebrate our first year anniversary a few days early because we didn't know what was going to happen at Regionals and if it was going to be a good result or not.

Haru opened up the door and let me inside his house. I followed him into the family room and fished the small box from my jacket pocket and placed it on the table.

"I know we promised not to get each other gifts because we're not that kind of couple, but I just really think this one year is pretty special." I mumbled to him. Haru didn't say anything as he walked over to one of the shelves in the room and took off a blue box from the shelf and placed it beside my white box.

"I had a feeling you were going to buy something." He said. I sat down at the table and Haru sat beside me. Neither of us reached for the boxes, but we just sat there and stared at them.

"And what if I didn't buy you anything?" I questioned.

"I still would've given it to you." He answered. "Open it." I reached over the table to grab the blue box. I slowly peeled off the lid until I saw a beautiful blue charm bracelet. The band was an ocean blue and the clasp with a sterling silver. A few of the charms were a dolphin, a starfish, some sterling silver spacers in-between with intricate designs and an anchor as well. I slowly placed it on my right wrist and admired the bracelet against my skin. I looked at Haru and smiled as I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him.

"Thank you! I absolutely love it."

"I'm happy you do." I then grabbed my box for him and handed it to him.

"Open it." I watched as Haru slowly peeled back the white lid until he saw a deep blue coloured nautical bracelet. The bracelet connected to a sterling silver anchor. "Turn it around." Haru did as I asked and he turned the anchor over. On the other side I had 'I refuse to sink' engraved.

"Thank you." Haru said softly. As I looked at him he gave me a soft smile as he nodded his head.

"Do you like it?" I asked.

"I do." He placed it on his right wrist as well and admired it for a few seconds.

"We're matching." I commented as I placed my wrist besides his and saw the two bracelets beside each other.

"Kei?"

"Yes?"

"Do you still want to be a singer?"

"Sometimes, but I know that it wouldn't be fair on my family. The thing is, I would be happy being a producer because it's music I love, not the fame and the parties. But I don't mind becoming a music teacher. Sure, it's not my dream, but I love kids and I still get to make music."

"So you don't mind?"

"Not really, why?"

"It's nothing."

"Are you trying to figure out what you're going to do after graduation?" Haru didn't answer me. He never answered those kinds of questions because he didn't have the answer or he had too many thoughts in his head. I took his hand in mine and gave it a soft squeeze. "You'll know the answer one day, Haru. Just follow your heart. Trust the water. I know it gives you all the answers."

I quite like their simple relationship, but that might just be me...I might also be a little bias...Leave me a review! :D

-xoxo