I once fell in love in the past.
"Are you really going to follow your dad's dream?" A thirteen year old Haru asked a thirteen year old Rin.
"I dunno." Rin replied. "Not right now, at least." He said as he turned and grinned at her.
His smile was so brilliant... Almost like he was staring off into some sort of far-away distance that there was no possible way I could reach. What I felt... was that I honestly wanted his dream to come true, but... when I thought about the distance that would come between us that would grow when he left the next day... the only thing I could do... was stare at the ground below, my chest tight with pain.
...
Present day
Five Days Until the Prefectural Tournament!
"Amazing, Haru-senpai!" Gou complimented after Haru finished her lap in the pool and she checked the time on her stopwatch. "That's another personal best! The training camp from hell paid off!"
"What about me?" Nagisa asked.
"You need to work a little harder, Nagisa-kun." Gou told him.
"Still, I think we've all come a long way in such a short time." Makoto remarked. "And Rei's been improving his butterfly time."
"It helps that Rei-kun is pretty built from the pole vaulting he's done." Gou commented. "But that's not good enough." She said. "We must aim higher! Find a proper coach!" She declared, pointing outwards with her finger.
"What? Find a coach now?" Nagisa questioned.
"It's never too late to start." Gou said. "Even if someone can just help provide some last-minute conditioning, we'll be in better condition for the tournament!" She adds excitedly.
"A coach would help, but there's isn't anyone available." Makoto remarked.
"That's why we must look harder!" Gou shot back with determination in her voice.
"Not necessary." Haru, not standing in front of the manger and captain, said in monotone.
"Yeah, Haru's probably doesn't need a coach." Makoto stated.
"Onee-chan is too good for one." Kokoro complimented as she watched her older cousin step onto one of the starting boards.
After adjusting her swimming goggles over her eyes, Haru got into position. Then she jumped into the water.
...
The next day
"Everyone, I've printed out the pictures from the training camp." Gou announced as she walked onto the roof, where the rest of the members were eating their lunch.
"Lemme see!" Nagisa said, excitement obviously in his voice.
"Yes, yes." Gou replied as she knelt down in front of everyone and spreaded out the pictures.
"You took a whole lot." Nagisa commented.
"Everybody's having fun." Makoto remarked.
"Look at this one! Haru-chan has a funny look on her face." Nagisa said, pointing to one of the many photos.
"And she's actually looking at the camera for once." Makoto pointed out.
Haru gave a 'hmmp' sound. "Kokoro wanted to take a picture together." Was her reply.
"What is with this picture?!" Rei asked, looking at the picture he had picked up. "It's not beautiful not at all!"
"Um, persevering the moment?" Gou said, not as a statement but as a question.
