Persona || Makoharu || Free!

•Just Another Wave in the Water•

-Haru's pov-

Makoto hasn't been smiled once so far today.

Makoto greets me in the morning and it isn't that he looks unhappy exactly, but the way his eyes light up is not the same and doesn't smile.

Th corner of his mouth turn up at least once or twice when we walk to school, but I can tell that he is holding back more than he normally would.

He is like this during class and swimming practice, Makoto resisting the urge to smile and me not commenting on it.

"You have been acting weird, Makoto-senpai. It's like you've been down lately," Nagisa points out as we all are drying off and putting on our casual clothes.

Makoto looks over at Nagisa, and then shakes his head, "I think you're imagining it, Nagisa, I'm not sure what you are talking about." Makoto grabs his things and stomps out of the locker room.

Nagisa looks at me with a worried expression and Rei walks over to where Nagisa and I are. "What was that? Did I do something wrong?" Nagisa says with hurt eyes.

I shake my head, "you did nothing wrong." I say as I pull up my pants over my swimsuit.

"What is wrong with Makoto-senpai anyways?" Rei asks.

I open and close my mouth a few times, it feels like I am swaying and my head feels fuzzy so I shake my skull to clear it. "He's fine," I reassure them, even though my head still feels clouded, "he told me that he was fine so he is fine. Makoto doesn't lie."

Nagisa and Rei look at each other, and then at me, they don't look like they have any doubt, but it is obvious that they are still unsure at the same time.

~~~~~~~

The whole week passes like that, strong awkward tension and me biting back my questions and concerns for Makoto.

I'm so glad when the weekend is finally here, relief and exhaustion.

"Hey, Haru? Do you want to come over to my place? I'm sure the twins would love to see you." Makoto asks as we stop in front of his stairs that lead to his house.

"Um-sorry, but I'm tired and I just want to sleep." I reply.

"Oh okay, see you tomorrow I guess!" Makoto hesitates before nodding.

It's different from all the other times because I can feel Makoto stare at me as I walk home, sad eyes piercing me in the back of my head. It's different because we both know something is wrong, but we are not sure how to fix it.

I open the door to my lonely house, slip off my shoes, and walk up stairs to my bedroom. I throw everything down on the floor and sigh. I take off my shirt and pants so that I am in just my swimsuit.

I walk to the bathroom and being to fill the tub with water.

I love swimming, but I also love the feeling that comes after. The bone aches and exhaustion that's warm and smooth. I love lying in bed, closing my eyes so my body will fool me to think I'm still drifting half submerged in the clear water. It lets me forget all the bad things.

I don't mean to fall asleep in the tub, but sometime in the midst of drifting and forgetting, it happens when my eyes fly open and I feel someone shaking me.

"Haru-chan, wake up! I'm sorry to barge in, but you left the back door open. Anyways, you felt one of your bags at my house a few nights ago and I'm returning it."

I groan and sit up, rubbing my eyes with the heels of my hands. I don't say anything so I'm guessing that's when Makoto gets the invitation to speak.

"You should get to bed, Haruka. It's dangerous to fall asleep in the bathtub," Makoto scolds me.

I nod and step out of the tub. I look down at Makoto's hand and see that I, in fact, left one of my bags there as I unplug the tub so the water

I look up and down Makoto's body for a moment.

His collarbone is showing and he looks pretty pale. His usual lime green eyes now are dull and his hair is a mess. His lips are really plump and his muscles are slightly showing through his tight black shirt.

"Haruka, why are you staring at me like that?"

I shake my head and widen my eyes, "sorry, like I said, I'm tired."

Makoto nods and hands me the bag, "well, I have to get going. I'll see you later, okay?"

I nod and Makoto leaves.