For the team

Chapter 13

Today, I was walking to school with just Makoto. Haru decided to go to Australia with Rin and so it was just the two of us.
Makoto: Haru did what?
Me: Haru went to Australia with Rin to find his dream.
Makoto: Aren't you a bit worried that Haru might replace you with Rin?
Me: Nope. You and I know Haru better than anyone. He isn't that kind of person.
Makoto: I hope he finds his dream soon. I don't want to see him like this.
Me: Me neither.
During lunch time, Makoto and I told Rei and Nagisa.
Nagisa; HAA!? Haru-chan went with Rin-chan to Australia!?
Me: Yeah.
Nagisa: Aren't you scared that he is gonna cheat on you with Rin?
Me: *eye twitches* Why is it that all of you ask the same question? And no, I'm not scared because Haru isn't like that!
Rei: But I hope Haruka-senpai finds his dream...
Nagisa, Makoto, and I: Yeah...
It got kind of lonely without Haru's presence and his constant whining for Mackerel.
Nagisa: Eh? Shiro-kun, you have mackerel for lunch today...
Me: Ahahaha, I guess I got a little lonely without Haru so I decided to make his favourite.
Makoto: It looks delicious.
Me: Thank you...
Nagisa: Let me try some!
Me: OI! NAGISA!
Rei: Me too!
Makoto: I hope you don't mind me having a taste as well.
Me: *sighs* what am I gonna do with you all?
I started to miss Haru even more than usual... even though he was gone for a couple of days to Australia with Rin, I still wonder about him. I wonder how he is doing, how he is eating, how he is sleeping...there was so many things I wonder about. I wonder how he is going to manage in Australia since they speak a lot of English there as well.
I brought the cats into my room and slept with them there. I felt super lonely without Haru. I wished he would come home soon.
A couple of days passed and Haru was supposed to come home today. Also, I was first place in Nationals which kind of got me a bit moody. My parents were proud of me, friends, and Coaches and teachers. Nationals were the highlight of my life, until I reach University obviously. Also, today Makoto was going to go pick up Haru from where ever. So I decided to clean the house for Haru to come back to.
Me: Haru...
Today was also the day where Nagisa, Rei, and Makoto are going to practice for Nationals.
After they finished, Ama-chan sensei invited us over for dinner and such. Because we went out to eat, she told us to eat to our hearts content. Being Nagisa, he decided to name everything that had lobster in it to make himself happy. Ama-chan-sensei stopped him and told him to leave out the lobster which made him whine.
Once everyone finished we decided to walk home together.
Me: So, how was your trip? Did you finally find your dream?
Haru: Yeah. I did. Thanks for always supporting me.
Me: No problem. Even though I'm sure you had some difficulties in Australia with Rin.
Haru: ....
Me: *chuckles* I knew it. So what happened?
Haru: Trying to speak English there was difficult. Also, I thought Rin left me all alone. Another thing was that was had to sleep in the same bed because there was a mix up with the room.
Me: *laughs*
Haru: Oi! That wasn't funny.
Me: It is, it is.
Haru:...
Me: I'm glad you are back home safe and sound.
Haru: I'm glad to be home. I missed you.
Me: Me too.
Haru: Shiro... I'm sorry, for before. I know I've said some rude things to you.
Me: It's okay, I'm not sad or mad or anything.
Haru: Eh?
Me: Because it's you, Ha-ru-chan!~
Haru: *looks away* Don't add -chan to the end of my name
Me: Too bad Haru-chan!~
Haru:....
Nagisa: With lots of practice and training camps, we will be even more amazing next year!
Rei: What are you saying Nagisa-kun? The third-years are retiring tomorrow after the tournament...
Nagisa: Oh....
I realised that it was our last day together...tomorrow and today... That we will no longer be together as a team but individuals; I didn't want this to end... without noticing I started crying silently... I didn't even know that I was crying until Makoto and Haru started pointing it out.
Makoto: Shiro...
Haru: You're...crying?
Me: Eh?
Nagisa: Rei is too...
Me: We made it this far... I don't want us to get separated from one another! I'll miss you all too much! I don't want to be separated from neither of you!
Rei: S-s-s-shiro-senpai...
Me: I'm sorry I didn't tell you this sooner...but... I'm leaving in a week's time. I'm really don't want to leave you all behind like this... I don't want to end everything off like this...
Tears kept falling from my cheeks and soon I started bawling... I started sobbing because I don't want to be separated from the people I care about again. I don't want that to happen...
Rei, Nagisa, and I started to cry and sob together. I was then pulled into a hug by Haru and Rei and Nagisa got patted on the head by Makoto.
Makoto: Now, you don't cry...besides, there is nothing to cry about. We're going to be swimming together tomorrow, aren't we?
Me: Awh-roooo (Haru)*is still crying*
Haru softly pats me and soothes me as I was crying. He knew that this week would be the last week he would be able to be with me before I travel to Italy.
Makoto: Nothing's over yet.
Haru: That's right. Swimming the relay together connected us...Swimming itself connected all of us. So even if we ended up taking different paths...we would still be connected somehow. There won't be an end for us.
The next day came by like the wind. Soon it was time for Haru and the others to swim the relay for Nationals. My camera was already filming IWATOBI's entrance as they walked to the pool.
The crowd was cheering and everything. They are now announcing the start of the Men's 400m Medley Relay race. Everyone was watching anxiously not only me but people from Samezuka too.
First was Makoto; we watched him swim with all his might making it into the first place mark. Then, it was Nagisa...then Rei and finally Haru... I can see Haru's emotions within each stroke as he swims. He is truly a gifted swimmer. Not to mention the fact that I am sitting right next to his parents as they watch Haru swim. And with that last stroke, he touched the wall and was in first place. The crowd was cheering, teachers and scouters were cheering...it was truly a fantastic day. I started crying a little as I watched them hug on stage while cry at the same time. They worked hard just to get to nationals and I'm sure...they won't ever forget that feeling.
Apparently, Nitori became the new captain for Samezuka's swim team. Now, Haru and Makoto moved out of their parent's houses and into apartments... Makoto told be through skype that Haru was still the same though. And every morning he would still have to go all the way to Haru's house to get him out of the bath.
Because I was super busy trying to master all the arts in the University I was studying at in Italy I sent them my letter to put in the box since I didn't really have time to go there and come back.
I'm sure they had a lot of fun without me as I was studying like crazy. I was almost done here in Italy anyways...I had to quickly travel to Canada then to Korea and back to Japan again. But before I travel back, I went to watch Haru and Rin's race.
~AFTER 4 YEARS LATER~
Me: I'm home.
The place was pitch black and there was no one in sight. I was about to turn on the lights was the light flickered on and everyone was screaming and yelling surprize at me, which scared the living hell out of me.
Nagisa: Welcome back, Shiro-chan!
Makoto: Yes, welcome home.
Me: Thank you so much.
Haru: Welcome home, Shiro.
Me: I'm glad to be home again.
Rei: How was travelling from Japan to Italy, to Canada, to Korea, and then back to Japan again?
Me: Tiring because I had to go to school the very next day.
Makoto: Well, please take it an easy. We don't want you to collapse or anything.
Me: I'm alright. Right now, I'm just glad to be home with all my friends and with my boyfriend.
Rin: Don't tell me you were cheating on Haru.
Me: I wasn't. I almost didn't have time to make any friends.
Rin: Well dig in! Haru made all of this today. I'm surprised he can still cook.
Me: Hahaha, thank you for the meal.
With that we all talked and laughed at each other as we ate.
~A year later~
Me: Hey, OW!
Chouko: Nee-san! You're moving too much!
Me: Well I can't help it if you keep stabbing my head with those pins!
Chouko: Sorry...
Mom: Hey, is everyone almost done here?
Chouko: No, Nee-san's hair still needs to be done.
Mom: Give me that.
In a couple of swift movements my hair was done. I quickly out on the veil and got out holding onto my father's arm. We were walking down the aisle as all eyes were on us; even Haru's. I can see Haru's ocean blue eyes widen for a bit as he saw me. He just smiled back at me as he saw me walking towards him.
Priest: Do you, Nanase Haru take Takashima Shiro to be your beloved wife?
Haru: I do.
Priest: And do you, Takashima Shiro take Nanase Haru to be your beloved husband?
Me: I do.
Priest: Then, you may kiss the bride.
With that, Haru and I kissed in front of everyone... Also, we got married on the beach too....it was all Haru's idea. We also had a child too...named Aoi... And that was our happily ever after.