Love Birds ||Free! Iwatobi Swim Club - Aiichiro Nitori||

Happy Birthday! ||Free! - Aiichiro Nitori||

The water from the pool was rushing past me. I had to make it this time. All I've done is screw up lately with my times. But today I seem to be the most distracted. The Iwatobi kids are here today as well since their pool is outside and ours is an indoor pool. I look from left to right to see the ones I was going to be racing against have a more determined looks on their faces: Sakura Hitara and Nagisa Hazuki from Iwatobi and Aiichiro Nitori from our sister school.

I gave one last push as my hands touched the wall of the pool, letting the next person know it was time for them to go. When my head broke the surface of the water a hand was waiting for me to quickly pull me out of the pool.

"Natsume, you seem to be a little off the last couple of days. Is something wrong?" Ayame Mitsuho a second year, the clubs upcoming shining star and someone I consider to be a good friend asked me.

"Nothing's wrong, I just... I don't know what's wrong with me." I pulled my goggles and swimmers cap off and made my way to the benches to get some water.

"Maybe your nervous because it's someone's birthday today and you haven't gotten him anything."

I could feel a hot blush wash its way over my face. Ayame knows a great secret that I've been trying to keep since the day I first met Aiichiro Nitori, I really like him. I just think he's so adorable I can't help but get nervous when I'm around him.

"Ayame, don't say things like that with so many people around. He might hear you."

"Don't worry about that. Aiichiro, well... I have to say he seems a bit dense when it comes to things like that, and I'm not meaning to sound mean or anything like that. I bet after today your time will go back to the way they use to be, and they better if you want to be part of the rely team in the next meet."

I couldn't help but laugh a little bit, but she may be right. After today everything will back to normal, hopefully. When practice was over, and I got a good talking to from Captain Sakya Sunaki everyone got together for a little party we were having for Aiichiro. The look on his face when we all yelled surprise was so great but what was priceless was when Nagisa was trying to put a birthday hat on Aiichiro when he really didn't want to wear one at the time.

"Hold still Ai-chan! The birthday boy needs to wear a birthday hat. Everyone knows that!"

"I don't want to wear one right now! I'll wear one later! Please Nagisa, get off of me!"

Nagisa's harassment of not wearing a birthday hat, came to an end when Makoto Tachibana pulled Nagisa off of Aiichiro.

"That's enough Nagisa. If Aiichiro doesn't want to wear one then he doesn't have to."

"Then you'll wear one, right Mako-chan?" Nagias gave Makoto the biggest puppy-dog eyes in the world.

"Me? Well... I... I guess I could."

Nagisa gave the brightest smile as he placed the birthday hat on top of Makoto's head. He then made his way to Haruka Nanase, Rei Ryugazaki and then everyone else that was in the room. Some put their hats on right away while others said they would a bit later because their hair was still wet from swimming, me included. After a while even I placed the party hat I was given on top of my head, and after seeing everyone else Aiichiro did as well.

One by one people started giving Aiichiro their gifts and as the time for me to give mine to him I suddenly lost the nerve to do so. I needed to get out of that room before Aiichiro made his way over to me. Without anyone else noticing I managed to carefully sneak out without anyone noticing, or so I thought. Ayame noticed and figured I lost my nerve to give Aiichiro me gift.

"Oi Aiichiro, come here for a moment." Ayame whispered something in Aiichiro's ear and after she did his head perked up for a moment and his eyes went straight to the door I had just left out of.

I stood in the hallway trying to catch my breath. I just couldn't do it. Not in front of all those people. While taking my break out in the hall the door suddenly opened again. Standing right beside me was Aiichiro with a lavender purple and yellow polkadotted birthday hat sitting slightly titled to the side of his head.

"A-are you alright Natsume? Ayame said that there might be something wrong." Aiichiro looked at me with some concern.

"Oh... I'm alright. Really I am Aiichiro. Ayame is just worrying a little too much. I just needed to get some fresh air, and... also...." My nerves were starting to get the better of me once again. I held the bag that had Aiichiro's present in it behind my back. A few times the drawstrings almost slipped out of my hands. Almost causing me to group Aiichiro's gift.

"What is it Natsume?"

"Um... here!!"

I quickly handed the bag to Aiichiro. A startled look on his face as he took it. He ruffled through the bright orange tissue paper that sat inside the shimmering blue bag before he finally took out what was on the bottom. A medium sized ceramic duck with a glossy coat I had made in my art class.

"I know it might be a bit stupid and if you don't like it I understand, but I thought maybe--"

"I love it."

I looked up when I was suddenly interrupted by Aiichiro. A light blush was on his face and I could feel my face starting to get a little red. This was my chance to tell this little duckling my true feelings for him. Let him know that I really like him.

"Umm, Aiichiro... there's something else I wanted to tell you."

"What is it Natsume?"

Gathering up all my courage I took a hold of Aiichiro's shirt with both my hands and placed my lips on top of his. i didn't see but I have a strong feeling that Aiichiro was surprised. I quickly parted to see the look on his face.

"Happy birthday Aiichiro, and... um... I really like you. More than just a friend too. I really , really like you." I blabbed the enter thing out before my nerves stopped me from saying them. I honestly expected Aiichiro to say something, but he didn't. He wrapped his arms around my and pulled my in close to him.

"Aiichiro?"

"Thank you Natsume, and... I really like you too."

Once again our lips found themselves locked together. I don't know what I was so worried about.