Fish Outta Water (Haru x Makoto)

Chapter Four

Haru's POV:

"Get in the pool, Haru," Makoto demanded.

"No."

"Please?"

"No thank you."

He had been trying this for the past twenty minutes. It was beginning to get a bit irritating, however there wasn't anything I could do to stop him. Well, I could do what he says, but I don't want to drown...

"Haru, it's shallow, I promise you that you'll just be able to stand there, and not sink," Makoto encouraged me. "And even if you do, I'll always be here to pull you back up. That's what friends are for."

Mokota smiled, and for a moment, I felt something. Something in my chest. But I only had moments to try and determine what it was before Makoto gave me a gentle shove towards the pool and I fell right in. He was right, it was way to shallow to sink in, and so I just sat on the bottom of the pool, the water going up to about my chin. I glared at Makoto, and he began to chuckle.

"How is this funny?" I asked.

"I'm sorry.. your expression just then was priceless!" Makoto continued to laugh and I looked to the side.

"Well... now that I'm in, you have to get in too..." I muttered. "It's only fair.."

"Hehe, alright, alright," Makoto was still smiling his kind smile. Every time I see him looking like that makes my heart flutter. He was probably the only reason I put up with Nagisa and Rei.. And Rin for that matter. Without him, I wouldn't have agreed to form a swim club. But now I can't swim.... should I quit swimming? I was already planning to in a few years, maybe this is nature's way of telling me to. "Earth to Haru," Makoto interupted my thoughts. "Are you listening to me?"

"Not at all," I answered.

Makoto sighed, and put his hands on his hips. "I told you to practice kicking your legs.. Hold onto the side of the pool and move each leg up and then down."

"I know how to do it..."

"Then do it already," Makoto said.

"Fine," I agreed, moving to one edge of the pool. I grasped the side of it, and began attempting to kick my legs. Of course, this resulted in water splashing everywhere.

"Haru, you have to do it more smoothly. Here--" Makoto came up to one side of me and gently held onto either side of my waist, holding me up. "Now try." With Makoto's assisting hands, I was able to do his activity a lot better. Not that that was any sort of accomplishment... this was a training regiment meant for grade school children. If anything, I should be frustrated that something so simple was so difficult for me. "I'm proud of you, Haru."

"Proud?" I asked, letting my legs drop. "Why?"

"Because you're making progress," he said. "It's not your fault you can't swim anymore, but you're doing everything you can to try and relearn, even if it means repeating all of these elementary lessons. You're amazing if you ask me -- most people would give up. Actually, I think this is why I fell in love with you."