HaruHaru

11. Stand Still

The next morning, everyone was at Haruka's house. Haruna wanted to confess to the kissing incident that happened last night, and so, she did.

"WHAT?!?!!?!?!?" They all couldn't believe what Haruna just said. They looked at her AND Makoto for long periods of time. Back and forth, back and forth, from Haruna to Makoto and so on. Haruka was a bit shocked by this, surprisingly.

"Nana-chan kissed Mako-chan?! I smell a relationship!" Nagisa freaked out. Rei tried to calm down his senpai, but was hit in the face by Nagisa's swinging arms.

"Guys, calm down, calm down. It's just a p-peck on the c-cheek... WE'RE NOT DATING."

"Haruna's right, you guys. We're just f-friends!"

Haruka glared at Makoto and wanted to get his attention for a quick second, but decided to drop his actions to watch him crash and burn while explaining his part of the incident. Ai was deeply interested in this, and opened up Ramblr to wirte another fanfic involving Makoto and Haruna, but still kept her faith in Makoto and Haruka's relationship alive and well.

"We should head back to the pool," said Rin. He sounded uninterested at first, but became more and more involved after the incident. He wanted to hang out with Makoto for a while to talk about his relationship with Haruka.

-AT THE POOL-

Everyone was in the pool except for Rin and Makoto. Rin felt that odd vibe coming from Makoto, feeling that he must be detached from Haruka. He looked at Makoto's deep green eyes that were slowly opening and closing.

"Hey, Makoto," Rin whispered.  

"Hm?"

"Is something wrong?"

"No, not really. It's just that I felt so surprised when she did that to me. Never in my life has that ever happened to me. I felt  sudden rush to hug her back, but I just stood there. I wonder how Haru feels about this..."

"He must be coping with this separation between you two quite well, I guess. Don't get me wrong, but Haru really--"

"He really doesn't mind, huh? It sounds like Haruna's trying to break us two up to get revenge on Haru... Maybe I'm wrong, but it sounds like it..." Makoto sighed and looked at his own reflection. He was too down to talk anymore, and felt his heart being ripped out.

"Makoto, look up." Rin told Makoto as he pointed out to him Haruna and Haruka chatting with each other. Rin carefully listened to their conversion despite the fact that Nagisa and Rei were making too much noise.

Haruna: Haruka, you and Makoto are so close.

Haruka: Yeah...

Haruna: I want to be with him, is that okay?

Haruka: Sure. Whatever makes you happy.

Haruna: Are you really okay with this?

Haruka: Do I have to answer that? I just said that I'm cool with that. 

Haruna: Haruka, you're not opening up again.

Haruka:...

Haruna: Haruka, say something..!

Haruka: Why should I?

Haruna: *Under breath* This is why you deserve to be alone without Makoto...

Haruka: Hm?

Haruna: Ahhhh, nothing!

"You hear that, Makoto? You're pretty much right. Haruna's trying to break you two up by being with you. She WANTS you to forget about Haru because of what he had done to her. Of course she has the hots for you, but that's the truth. She wants you to pay more attention to her. What do you think?"

"... I told her not to lament over this. Why didn't she listen to me?"

"She feels crushed that she never has that brother-sister relationship that we have. I dunno about Nagisa and speedo glasses, but she feels left out."

"Rin, this is so not like you."

"What's your point?" Rin glared at Makoto for a second and slipped into the water to be with the others. Makoto was the only who hasn't touched the clear body of water just yet. He still felt that awkardness coming from the Nanase twins. He wanted to scold Haruna, but at the same time, he didn't. 

"Mako-chan! Get in the pool!" Nagisa called out to him. Makoto looked up and saw Nagisa riding on Rei's back. Makoto chuckled a little and listened to Nagisa's simple command. Ai and Miharu were relaxing on their backs while warming up to the sun. Rin made his way to Haruka and Haruna to have a quick chat with them about their recent conversation. Makoto, on the other hand, was enjoying life as he normally would with Nagisa and Rei.

"Haru, are you okay with Haruna hanging out wth Makoto?" asked Rin. Haruka gave Rin that cold stare that he's used to, and nodded.

"Don't you feel a bit detached from Makoto?" he asked again. Haruka shook his head.

"Not even this much?"

"No."

"Haru, don't lie. I know you miss being with Makoto. Look, the squid festival is coming up and you should go hang out with him."

"..."

"There you go again," Rin sighed. He took a quick glance at Haruna who was with her friends and shook his head in disappointment.

"You should really talk to Makoto. He really needs you..." Then Rin swam off to be with the others. Haruka was all by himself, but did he even care? No. Haruka went underwater for the time being...

"Hey, Rei-chan! There's that awesome squid festival coming up! Let's go, go, go!!"

"If you drag me to any mini games again, I will forever ignore you," Rei replied. Nagisa laughed at him without a clue of what he just said.

"Ehhh, a festival, huh?" Miharu said.

"Oh, those are really fun! Miharu, you should come!" 

"Ai, there's one reason why I don't go to squid festivals... I hate... squid."

"YOU WHAT?!?!?!" Nagisa gasped.

"It's true! They're so slimy and eww! I can't stand squishy things!"

"Miharu, you don't have to hate squid to not go to the festival! There's more than just squid!" Ai said protested. She shook her head at Miharu in disappointment and kept an eye on Haruka who was almost beneath her. She floated away from him just in case. Haruna swam over to Ai to ask her a question.

"Hey, Ai?"

"Hm?"

"Are you going to the festival?"

"Of course! Why not?"

"Just wondering~~ Let's see, I feel as though I want Makoto to show me around."

"Then go ask him, gosh." Ai laughed. She pushed Haruna away from her and swam off. Haruna looked back at Makoto who was with Rin and Rei and smiled to herself.

Someday Haruka will open his eyes to the real world of being ignored...