The Ocean We Left Behind

Introduction

Cinnamon and apples; the same smell always lingered in the passing days of December. Delightfully filling the hearts of all who happened upon it. Not that many people noticed it: by now it had just become a smell that mingled in with the rest at this time of year. The supermarkets were stacked with shelves full of cinnamon and apple scented candles, so much so that they were sold even until the late days of January for those who were planning a year ahead.

It rarely ever snowed in December, much to the chagrin of the townsfolk. They had grown so fond of Christmas for all of its festivities that brought everyone together, that they didn't quite mind the absence of some white fluff. Many people began to buy cans of fake snow to spray on their Christmas trees - it made them seem more authentic - and the children enjoyed being able to decorate the tree with those tiny white flakes. Besides, what's Christmas without a little bit of snow here and there?

For as long as anyone could remember, Christmas was always a huge event: nearly everyone decorated their houses with bright lights and a blow up Santa with his reindeer, and if you weren't invited to a Christmas party, you were hosting one. Even the street lights were decorated with tinsel, which shined out when they were switched on during the night.

Iwatobi University always held their annual Christmas Charity Event; this spanned for several days and it seemed every single person in the town attended at least once. You see, they raised money for the town hospital every year, and without their donations the hospital wouldn't be half as good as it is.

Admittedly, many of the students that attended Iwatobi University helped out with the event in one way or another, which was a huge relief for the staff who would otherwise have to organise it by themselves and stress too much over making it a festive success. They trusted each and every student helping out to make it as great as they possibly can - they have not disappointed yet, and they do not plan on doing so anytime soon.

When it came to what events and activities are set up, they are always decided fairly between the student organisers. There was always a small committee, no more than twenty on the team, who would take it upon themselves to neaten up the organisation of the annual event and decide which events would be held on which days at which times - there were some members of that committee every year who took the work to heart and got really into making it unforgettable.

Rei Ryugazaki was one of the main members of this committee - actually, he was on almost every productive committee he could get his hands on. Being the very straightforward and calculating person that he was, made it easy for him to organise even large-scale events like these, and many people knew him as one of the founding brains of the University: it was people like Rei that gave the place its good reputation, after all.

But even the great and mighty Rei Ryugazaki, with his red glasses and neat dark blue hair, had his weaknesses: namely a lively blonde that went by Nagisa Hazuki. The two of them made quite the show every time the blonde wanted his undivided attention. Rei would always push his red spectacles up with a huff whilst Nagisa whined and clung to his arm, begging him to go and do one thing or another.

Although, they weren't the only ones.

Makoto Tachibana wasn't naturally smart, but had managed to make his way into the University with hard work and determination, he had even declined when his wealthy friend had offered to pay his way in. That wealthy friend being his lifelong best friend Haruka Nanase, another extremely intelligent student.

These two were even more peculiar, considering that they were complete polar opposites, down to the last detail. Haruka is about 5"9 with short, straight black hair and deep blue eyes; his serious expression gives away nothing and he always remains stoic and quiet, reserved in his own manner. Makoto on the other hand is about 6"0 with short, unruly light brown hair and kind green eyes; his constantly caring personality causes him to worry about his friends a lot, mainly Haruka, but he always sees the brighter side of everything - again, mainly with Haruka.

There was something strangely soothing about Haruka that Makoto couldn't put his finger on. There were so many details and features he sees in and on the dark-haired boy - he couldn't choose a favourite, but if he had to, it would be the eyes that contain that lifetime of memories in their depths. He knows how silent he usually is vocally; however, to him, the freedom in his eyes express more than the rest of his body ever cares to. Maybe he was looking too far into things between himself and his best friend, and in more than a platonic, 'just friends' style, but he couldn't help himself. He knew there must be something screwed in wrong in his brain to make him believe he has a crush, an actual crush, on the young man he's spent most of his life with. He swore to only be his friend. Better to suffer through a hopefully short-term crush than destroy the greatest friendship both boys could ever have.

They would talk - Haruka isn't completely mute and is able to have direct conversation - but most of the time, Makoto just leant back and watch the other write pages in his deep green-covered journal. In Makoto's eyes, he swears he always looks most content when writing in that journal. He always guessed Haruka needed a place - even if that includes the space on clean white paper - to vent his emotions, his true thoughts and feelings on many occurrences during his day, or week or months, or even year. He has left him to his privacy; he never wants to intrude on it and make him feel uncomfortable.

However, he only allowed Haruka's escapism to venture so far: there is always a place where the line must be drawn.

Haruka had an obsession, one that Makoto was pretty sure only occurred in people like Haruka and himself, it came almost naturally to them both after all, though his friend's interest took a turn for the more unhealthy. You see, Haruka had an obsession with water; not your run of the mill "drinks nothing but water" type, oh no, he had a need to be in water, a.k.a the "I need to get in that pool" type.

Out of every type of water though, the ocean was always his favourite. Something that Makoto was quite uncomfortable with but was willing to put up with as long is it made his best friend happy. And that wasn't the only thing he had to put up with: although Haruka was a wealthy and intelligent student, surely understanding how much education stands for nowadays, there was never a day that passed when he would make the both of them rush to Uni and almost miss their lectures.

If it had been anyone else, they would leave Haruka to be late every morning, but they were life-long friends and Makoto was by far one of the most kind and considerate people in the whole town.

On this particular morning, Makoto proceeded with his usual routine, and casually took a few moments to pet the stray kitten he had affectionately nicknamed "Snow" for its peculiar white coat. He usually walked from his own house to Haruka's, where he lived alone, and let himself in with the key Haruka had specially made just for Makoto.

Now this was where things got rather tedious: since Haruka had been gifted his own house by his parents, he had decided to spend some of the house funds on an indoor swimming pool. The expense didn't matter to Haruka nor his parents, it was how much time he took throughout the day to swim inside it.

So to begin his mornings, Haruka Nanase liked to take a long swim in his pool.

You can understand what kind of dilemma this caused...