Clouded Distance | Free! Fan Fiction

3. Unexpected Relay

Clouded Distance

Chapter Three

Unexpected Relay

When the doorbell rang the next morning, Hana instantly knew who it was. With a grin, she shrugged her jacket on and swung her bag over her shoulders, making a beeline for the door.

"Have fun!" her mother called as Hana sprinted down the corridor. She at least understood how excited Hana was to go to Samezuka and meet up with all of her friends.

Hana grinned. "Sure will!" she called back, looking over her shoulder. She looked back in front of her just in time to stop before she collided with the door. Chuckling a little at her own absent-mindedness, Hana opened the door to find Makoto standing outside. Like herself, Makoto also had pulled a jumper on. It was a bit of a chilly day.

"Hey, Makoto," Hana chirped as she stepped out of the door, closing it lightly behind her. A small shiver passed down her spine as she left the warmth of her home and stepped outside, where it was colder.

He smiled. "Hey, Hana." They walked a little way down the small path. "You didn't run today."

Hana chuckled, running a hand through her hair. "I slept through my alarm," she admitted. "I must've been tired or something - I stayed up most of last night due to excitement." She laughed. "It sounds childish, doesn't it?"

"Not at all."

Hana smiled at her friend. They continued to walk the familiar route togehter, chatting away and feeling content.

They soon arrived at the stairs that led to Haru's. Last year, the sight of the stairs they had to climb filled Hana with a sense of deep despair. Now, she was so used to it and her fitness had increased that the stairs didn't even bother her anymore.

Makoto rung the doorbell and stepped back, waiting for Haru to open the door. But, the door didn't open, and there wasn't any sound of movement from the inside.

Both their eyes instantly drifted to the, the same realisation dawning upon them. "Not again," Makoto sighed, exasperated.

Hana giggled. "What else did you expect?" she asked, with a small roll of her eyes.

Makoto just shrugged in response.

They wandered over to the door they knew would always be open. "Excuse us," Makoto called, as he pulled the door open, allowing Hana to enter before him. Hana quickly thanked him, smiling at how much of a gentleman Tachibana Makoto could be.

They wandered a little further into the house, looking across at the bathroom. Hana rolled her eyes as she saw the basket, filled with clothes. "I'll let you get him," she teased, and ambled her way into the kitchen.

Hana sat herself down in the kitchen, absently drumming her fingers on her leg as she waited. An amused smile crossed her face as she remembered this time last year, when she and Makoto came to collect Haru for school, and he had been in the bath. She laughed lightly to herself as she remembered how flustered she had been when Haru had walked around in nothing but his swimsuit, which made the already awkward situation that much more awkward.

Hana heard footsteps approach. She looked up and smiled as she heard Haru entered... and then mentally facepalmed as she saw him wandering around in his swimsuit.

Gosh, why am I getting a sense of déjà vû?

"Morning, Haru," she greeted, as naturally as she could.

He nodded at her. "Morning." He walked

Definitely gave a feeling of déjà vû, she thought, as Haru ambled over to grab an apron.