Waves of Future

Part 6

Haru's sensei, Azuma, watched from the edge of the pool, his gaze heavy with concern. The way Haru cut through the water was different now, each stroke seemed to be a battle against invisible currents. The defeat he had suffered at the hands of Albert lingered in his muscles, adding weight to his limbs that wasn't there before. This physical change was a mirror to the turmoil within, where Haru's efforts to isolate himself from his friends cast a shadow that stretched across the lanes.The dreams were another layer to his distress – vivid images of himself with pale skin and long, red hair haunted his nights, disrupting the peace that used to come with sleep.Makoto, upon hearing from Azuma that Haru needed rest, had rushed to find him. In a state of panic, he called Rin. The phone call quickly escalated, leading to a fiery confrontation with Sensei Azuma. "Why let him slip through our fingers now?" Rin demanded, frustration lacing his words.Azuma's reply was stern yet laced with an underlying plea, "Be brave and tell Haru all of this. He needs you more than ever. Don't waste your anger on me. It's your friendship – go find him and talk some sense into him."Heeding their sensei's words, Makoto and Rin spent the entire night searching for Haru. They checked his house, the beach – places where memories of their shared past floated like the sea breeze. Finally, it was at a night pool where Rin discovered Haru, his silhouette ghostly in the moonlit water.

"Always here to swim against me," Rin said, half in jest, half in challenge. It led to an impromptu race – a silent conversation of splashes and breaths. Mid-race, Haru felt the weight in his body, yet his spirit surged with an undimmed passion. As they reached the end, a revelation dawned on him – he could swim in his own way, no expectations or pressures could chain him.The race culminated in an embrace among friends, a silent agreement that dissolved the tension that had built up between them. They swam together under the starry sky, their laughter mingling with the sound of the water. Haru's voice carried a new lightness when he said, "After the finals, I felt like I was swimming at the bottom of the ocean, but not today. Thank you, folks."They floated on their backs, eyes fixed on the stars, letting conversations about the past and dreams of the future drift between them.

Elsewhere, Gou, Rin's sister, overheard her brother recounting the night. Emotions welled up inside her, a mixture of relief and happiness. The knowledge that Haru and Rin had found their way back to each other, as they always did, moved her to tears.

Rin's light-hearted tease, "I thought I was the crybaby," broke through her tears, prompting a laugh. She was overwhelmed with joy for Haru and took this moment as an opportunity – a chance to visit Tokyo and see them all.

Gou reached out to Izuzu, hoping to arrange a place to stay. However, Izuzu was away at a swim meet, which directed Gou to consider staying with Rin. Yet, the thought of imposing on his dorm life held her back. Haru was an option, but his usual indifference meant a probable 'no'. That left Makoto, her former captain, in whom she placed great trust. With a plan forming, she sent a message to Rin, "I'll be in Tokyo this Friday."

His immediate response was a curious, "Why?"Her reply was simple and filled with anticipation, "To see you all 😊," and she went to bed with a smile. Yet, the dawn greeted her with a peculiar craving – cheesecake.