Chapter 1: Why?
"Haru!"
Makoto Tachibana. Captain of the Iwatobi Swim Club. Biggest sweetheart in the world. He comes running towards Haruka Nanase's direction. Haru's ears perk up to the sound of Makoto's voice. Makoto stops in front of him and bends down to catch his breath. He looks back up and smiles sweetly at Haruka.
"What is it Makoto?" Haru says quietly. Both of them walk leisurely up to the roof where they always eat lunch.
"I just wanted to catch your attention so we could go up to the roof together," Makoto grins widely. His cheeks had a light rosy tint on them which made him that much cuter. Haruka's heart skipped a beat, maybe even two. His breath hitched when he saw Makoto's smile.
Haru snaps back into reality, "Oh... okay." Haru and Makoto finally reach the roof and sit down to start eating. Makoto brought his usual bento his mother makes him in the mornings. Haru has his usual mackerel and rice to satisfy his hunger. They sit in silence for a while as they wait for Rei and Nagisa.
"Uh... Makoto," Haru speaks up.
"Yes?" Makoto looks up from his lunch and faces Haru.
Haru suddenly stops and starts to figit with his hands. "Nevermind," he looks away.
"Are you sure, Haru?" Makoto shows a worried expression and tilts his head to the side.
Oh no. I can't do this. I've got to ask him. I need to tell him I love him. Haru finally musters up the courage and starts to speak. "Do you want to go to the festival with me tonight?" Haru's eyes shut close and his fingers cross behind his back.
"Sure, Haru-chan!" Makoto says eagerly. His light, emerald green eyes light up with excitement. Haru opens his eyes and silently cheers to himself and keeps the same expression on his face. Deep down inside, Haru was jumping up and down, but he just showed a straight face.
XxX
"Where are they?" Nagisa pulls on Rei's purple shirt as they wait for Makoto and Haru to arrive.
Rei checks his watch and gives out a sigh. "They're already three minutes late. They must be more punctual. Research shows that when one-"
"Haru-chan!" Nagisa cuts off Rei and waves at an incoming Haruka Nanase.
"Ah, Makoto-senpai," Rei looks to his right and sees Makoto jogging towards them. His blue shirt was a bit wrinkled, his jeans had dust on them, and his black Converse shoes were a little dirty.
"I'm so sorry! I was helping Ren and Ran with their homework and then I forgot to-"
"It's okay!" Haru said almost too excitedly for his usual tone of voice. He was very eager to be alone with Makoto during the fireworks which were going to happen very soon.
Nagisa and Rei look at each other and think the same thing. "Rei-chan! I'm hungry! Come with me to get some food!" Nagisa tugs at Rei's shirt and gives a secretive wink to Haru just as if he's saying "Good luck, Haru-chan."
Rei goes along with Nagisa to 'get some food'. Haruka looks at Makoto and notices something is off about Makoto. He is always in time for events and he has a distant look in his eyes. Haru leads the way to the best place to watch the fireworks. Makoto walks beside him, more quiet than usual. They stop once they get to a spacious, yet empty area. Above them was a clear and starry sky.
"Makoto."
"Haru..."
They speak at the same time. Makoto laughs lightly at what just happened, and Haru just smiles because he loves to hear Makoto laugh.
"You can go first," they both say at the same time. Makoto giggles and Haru's smile grows even wider. His heart rate increased and was getting a fuzzy feeling inside. He already knew that feeling was called love.
"You can go ahead, Makoto," Haru says. He would always put Makoto's happiness before his because of all the years he's known him, Makoto would always sacrifice his happiness for Haru's.
The mood suddenly became serious and world seemed to stop spinning. An unpleasant feeling stirred in Haru's stomach. He knew something was going to go wrong.
"Haru... Listen..." Makoto speaks. "I- I got scouted."
Haru's heart drops to his stomach. I should be happy for him. Why? Why aren't I?
"There was this really good college that contacted me the day after perfectuals," Makoto pauses to gather his thoughts.
That's great. Haru thinks happily, but deep down there was a part of him that wishes Makoto wasn't scouted.
"They're from America."
The fireworks went off in the sky, showering the night with color and beauty. Haru and Makoto didn't even glance at the direction of the fireworks, much less flinch at the sound they made.
"I'm going to be moving to America this month. I won't be visiting Japan for maybe two years. I might even have a chance to swim for the Olympic team there!" Makoto smiles. He had so much excitement in his voice. Haru kept a straight face, trying not to show any emotion. He didn't want to smile, but he wanted to cry and break down.
"That's great, Makoto!" Haru says excitedly. He manages to force a smile. Haru wanted to run. He wanted to punch something. He wanted Makoto to hold him in his arms. He wanted to be with Makoto. He doesn't want to be separated from the man he loves.
Haru couldn't take it anymore. He was happy for Makoto, but he didn't want him to leave. He wanted him to stay with him. He wasn't even able to ask the question he's been dying to say for so long. Haru reaches into his pocket and pretends to receive a text.
"Sorry, Makoto. My mom needs me at the house right now," Haru lies. He couldn't face the facts. He can't face Makoto. He just needs to get away.
"Okay, Haru! See you in school tomorrow!" Makoto says as he waves towards Haru's retreating body.
Makoto feels relieve to get that off his chest. He's been waiting to tell Haru for a long time, but could never have the courage to say it. He turns around and sees Nagisa and Rei staring at him.
"You really have no idea, do you, Mako-chan?" Nagisa says. A look of confusion is plastered onto Makoto's features.
"What are you talking about, Nagisa?" Makoto asks.
Rei butts in before Nagisa could say anything. "Haruka-senpai loves you!"
Makoto's eyes widen. His heart is beating out of his chest. "W-what-"
"Haru-chan wanted to tell you he loves you! He was going to ask you to be his boyfriend!" Nagisa says loudly.
"Haru LOVES YOU!" Both of them say simultaneously.
Oh, no. What have I done?
XXX
Haru stumbles up the stairs of his home. Tears streamed down his face as he's trying to pull himself up. When he reaches the top, he fumbles around with the door handle to his room. Once he finally gets it open, he slams the door shut. He leans back against the wall as the tears fall. He slowly slides down against it until he's sitting on the floor. Haru brings his knees up to his chest and cries even harder. He gathers enough energy to reach his bed. Haru grabs throws his pillow at the door and picks up an item hiding under it.
It was a picture.
It was a picture of him and Makoto. They were taken by Gou during the training camp at the beach. Makoto's arm was around Haru's shoulder as they stood by the beach. It was that weekend Haru realized how much he loves and needs Makoto in his life.
Haru bursts into tears once again. They weren't going to stop anytime soon.
Why? Why couldn't I have told him sooner!? Haru throws his alarm clock at the door in anger. Rage fills his heart, but the sadness still lingers.
"Why? Makoto. Why? You can't leave me. Please. Not, yet. Both you and Rin are going away." Haru whispers to himself. "Why couldn't I just tell you I love you. That I need you. That I want you." Haru falls back onto his bed and looks at the blank ceiling.
Please don't go away. Please stay with me. Please tell me you love me just as much as I love you.
And for the first night for so long, Haruka Nanase, the quiet, sassy, talented boy cried himself to sleep.
XXX
How do you guys like it? There's still a next part!
-Lukas