Waves of Future

Part 2

The Tachibanas' home was buzzing with energy as Makoto's younger siblings peppered Haruka with questions, allowing him a momentary respite from his usual apprehensions about the future. Their innocent curiosity was a much-needed distraction from the daunting thought that lingered in the back of his mind: "Once you hit 20, you become an ordinary person."

After the family dinner, Haruka and Makoto stepped out into the cold, seeking the comfort of their usual spot—a place that harbored countless memories. It was a silent agreement between them, a shared need to reminisce about the past and to ponder the road ahead. Despite the familiarity and warmth of the nostalgia, Haruka remained mostly silent, still visibly shaken by Albert's performance that had ignited the flame of doubt within him.

With the coming of night, the temperature dropped, and a chilling breeze swept through, yet Haruka was drenched in sweat. His panic, usually quiet and unseen, now raged visibly against him. He sought refuge, hoping to escape the relentless voice of Albert echoing in his mind: "What are you swimming for?"

The Iwatobi Elementary School seemed a sanctuary where he could find his lost sense of peace. Under the Sakura tree, where childhood dreams were once etched into its bark, Haruka grappled with the advice from Sousuke, Ikuya, and Rin not to feel overwhelmed when faced with stronger swimmers. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't shake off the impact Albert had left on him.

It was there, in the shadow of memories, that he encountered Rin. "Oh, you couldn't sleep either? I didn't know I would run into you," Rin said casually, breaking the silence. Their conversation quickly deepened, with Haruka confessing, "In this world of champions, we are going to take on the world in freestyle. I was scared of the last race since I was alone with Albert. But this time, in the world championship, I won't be scared and I'll be right next to you."

But Rin had other plans, "I'm not going to swim freestyle anymore, nor will Ikuya from what I heard from Natsuya-san he will concentrate only on breast stroke" he revealed. "Mikhail got me a sponsor, and I need to do well in the Athens championship, or I'll lose my sponsorship. I'm going to focus only on butterfly."

This revelation shook Haruka; the thought of swimming alone was now a reality. His panic became too much to bear, and in the midst of his attack, he blurted out, "I'm all alone. You're lucky that Albert doesn't swim butterfly."

Rin, taken aback, questioned Haruka's seriousness, only to be met with a harsh response. The exchange grew heated, with Haruka's words cutting through the cold air, "This is the type of person you are, Rin. You drag me into something and then disappear when I need you the most."Rin's retort was swift, "With the person you are now, I would hope you would understand." He let go of Haruka's collar, walking away with final words that seemed to sever the bond they had, "I was glad to swim the relay with you, but it looks like you have nothing to do with me anymore. Get stronger, Haru."

Haruka stood there, disconnected from the moment, trying to process the confrontation that had just occurred. It wasn't long before he found himself running back to his house, each step echoing Rin's parting words.

Rin, too, wasn't faring any better. He arrived home in a foul mood, barely acknowledging Gou's concerned inquiries. "It's Haru," he muttered before disappearing inside.Gou, puzzled and troubled what could change so much in a span of few hours, remembering Haruka's soft smile from the afternoon. Determined not to let the holiday be ruined by their usual love hate drama, she decided to find Haruka and uncover the truth. So, with quiet resolve, she slipped out into the night, making her way toward Haruka's place, where she hoped to find answers and perhaps a way to mend the fractured friendship between the two swimmers.