Episode 8

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(Ryoma’s aspect)

It was already the end of the morning as I floored my father into the stadium. “there you are!” my father said as we arrived at the others who were already sitting at the tribune. Only Haru wasn’t there. I looked over at the pool but he also wasnt there. “we’re sorry for being late,” my father told them. “where have you been?!” Nagisa asked before I looked at him, “Haru-chan needed you!” I looked up before I let out a sigh, “Nagi-chan, things aren’t the same as In the past,” I told him. Miss.Amakata got up, “thank you for being here for our team,” she thanked my father. “its fine its fine,” my father said before he looked suspicious at her again, “im sure that we’ve met somewhere,” he said. “Gorou-chan, are you only here for picking on woman’s?!” Nagisa asked. “im not,” he pouted. “Haruka-sempai has already raced,” Rei said. “so we did miss it,” I said before I looked at my father, “I told you to hurry up!” “darling, at least we’re able to see him in the finals,” he replied. It was quiet, “actually,” Makoto started, “he didn’t made it.” I looked up as my eyes widened. “you mean he lost?” father asked them to confirm it. They stayed quiet. “b-but its Haru!” I continued. “we know,” Makoto said before he pulled me between them on the tribune. “but then, where is he?” I asked. “he’s taking a shower,” Nagisa told me. “Thought he already need to be back by now,” Rei said as he looked at his watch. I looked down before I got up, “I need to see him,” I said before I started walking away from them. “Ryoma-chan, just wait!” I heard Makoto chasing after me. “Ryo-chan! Mako-chan!” Nagisa started following us. “wha- wait for me!” Rei said before he also started following us.

I walked through the hallways towards a hallway with doors to separated showers. There only came sounds from water from behind one door and before I could open it, Makoto took my arm and pulled me back. “Ryoma-chan, wait and listen to me,” he said. “he’s right,” Nagisa said. “but.. but guys!  You were the ones who said that he needed me!” they stayed quiet. “that..” Nagisa said only before I looked at Makoto. “cmon Mako-chan, its Haru we’re talking about, Haru!” he sighed a bit and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Ryo-“ he started. “Rin-chan!” Nagisa said through him as Makoto took his hands off my shoulders again and we looked into the hallway. Rin quietly walked up to us as he ignored the guys and walked straight towards me. I stepped back till I reached the wall. He smirked as he kept walking towards me. “R-rin,” I said his name but he ignored it. He held his arm above me against the wall as he leaned forward and leaded his face closer to mine. Before I could look away, Makoto pulled me at my arm away from him. “idiots,” Rin hissed before he got right up and turned around to face us.

“Rin-chan, did you probably said something at Haru-chan?” Nagisa then asked him, ‘he didn’t come back yet.” Rin laughed a bit, “was it such of a shock that he lost? Wasn’t he the one who said that he didn’t care about improving his time or winning?” Rei looked up, “he isn’t like this because he lost,” he said, “there needs to be a different reason.” “what? At swimming whats more important than winning?” Rin looked annoyed at him. “there is more, at least that’s what Haru thought,” Makoto said, “that’s why he wanted to swim with you. And im sure that you where the one who teached him that. When we were swimming together in that relay.” “like I care about it!” Rin said, “I won, that’s that important!” he said before he left. I bit my lip and while I watched him leaving, I suddenly heard how the sound of water from the other side of the door stopped. As soon before anyone could take me again, I opened the door to the shower and hurried inside.

(Haruka’s aspect)

I was standing quietly against the wall of the shower in the ‘bathroom’. It was like a small bathroom though, with 2 separated areas; the shower and a different and dry area to drying yourself and change yourself. I was standing in the shower while I was still wearing my swimming trunk. I never cared about my time or winning, or that’s what I always thought. After some mins I turned off the shower and got out of it. I took a towel and started trying myself. As I was drying my hair, I looked at the small corner of the room, [“that means that I wont swim with you again, ever”] I bit my lip till I suddenly felt two arms wrapping around my middle from behind and feeling a cold cheek onto my back. “Haru..” I recognized the voice and looked up. I swallowed a bit before I turned around and looked at Ryoma. “w-what are you doing here?” I asked a bit uneasy, “aren’t you suppose to meet up with Rin?” she shook her head, “im sorry for being late and that I couldn’t see you anymore. But im sure that there will be other times I can see you swim,” she said as she forced herself to smile. “spare yourself the trouble,” I said quiet before her smile disappeared again. “Haru, we need to hurry or you’ll miss Mako-chan’s race,” she told me before i looked away. “whats wrong?” she looked at me. “can you get out?” I asked. She looked up as she let go off me, “right,” she said a bit uneasy before she walked to the door, “I’ll wait outside then.” “Ryoma,” I called her as she opened the door. She looked at me, “yeah?” “promise me, to be there when I’ll reach out for the side again.” She looked up and smiled, “I will, Har-“ “Nana-chan,” I corrected her before I turned around again and continued drying my hair. She stayed quiet for a moment before I heard her closing the door behind her.

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