The Ocean We Left Behind

Chapter 4

As Christmas came, was celebrated and passed along, all of the buzz was dying down and the streets were starting to regain their former beauty; simplistic and plain. Sure, the holidays were a joyous time but Christmas was now two days ago. As soon as the trees were thrown away and the decorations were removed, the new spark of excitement spread around like wildfire over the next upcoming event: New Year.

Whilst it was a celebratory occasion for the adult population of the town, the younger generations were more focused on their plans for the next occasion already. Some held parties, others would just spend the night with their families - however, the majority of them were making arrangements to head out to festivities. Not as extravagant as those held for Christmas, they wouldn't be as popular among everyone but it was still a night out with friends and loved ones.

One annual New Year event was the fireworks festival, which despite the weak attendance, was the most attended at New Year's Eve. It was usually a social gathering area, held in an open field where people would rest on the freshly cut grass; it resembled a late night picnic with that festive vibe. As midnight struck, the crowd-winning show would hit its climax, following a lightened lead-up minutes before. Many attendees would call the festival romantic, and one of which was a certain Iwatobi University student.

Makoto had attended on odd years, his last being almost two years ago, but it was never with anyone who wasn't of blood relation. He often saw how couples surrounding him would hold each other close, hands entwining together and soft whispers being exchanged, and he would admire their unity as the sprinkling of bright colourful explosions filled up the otherwise dull navy sky. Fireworks were registered as a prop in romance, signifying the love between two people. He knew everyone had their beliefs and explanations for love and this was one of his: firework-filled nights were ones to be shared with the love of your life.

Just days before New Year, he decided to introduce the festival's happenings to the one person he could not shake out of his head: his best friend Haruka. After the beauty of Christmas night, it became less distinctive that there was a strong force between the two of them. Makoto treasured his present dearly, having not taken it off since that night. It was just something he still couldn't believe he was given, and to add to the still fresh shock, it was a present from Haru. His Haru.

It was all that clouded his thoughts as he made his way over to his house; so much so, he almost ignored the little kitten he never missed the opportunity to talk to.

Once he realised, he stepped back a few paces and knelt down, feeling the unnoticeable joy from Snow. He gently tickled under its chin and chuckled as he heard the barely audible purr he enjoyed causing.

"There's a sweet kitty-cat." He cooed, giving the kitten one last stroke on its back before standing up straight. "I have to go but I'll see you again later or tomorrow. Okay?"

He just needed to hear one last meow from his favourite feline before feeling free to leave and continue with his short journey to Haruka's house. He turned up at the front door and knowing well how he was trusted to enter whenever he felt the appropriate need to, he pulled out the spare key from his pocket and unlocked the door.

After walking in and locking the door again behind him, Makoto looked around - despite being in the dwelling so often, every entrance felt new to him. He took a moment to think of where Haruka could be at that time in the morning. It was a decision between checking two areas in the house: the master bedroom, where he preferred to sleep hours into the morning time; and the indoor pool, where he had found him spending a great portion of his waking hours.

He understood his liking to the subject but he still believed it was out of the ordinary to spend much of the day swimming and feeling truly one with the water. Then again, he couldn't talk; he wasn't Haru. He didn't know what it was like to him, but he wouldn't question it as he would favour to keep his friend content with what he found a suitable activity instead of argue over it. He wasn't the type.