Truly Understanding

Thirty Five: Race You!

My phone begins to ring. Our song twinkles from the speakers.

"Hello?" I yawn.

"Morning beautiful." Makoto greets.

"Hi." I stretch.

"Did I wake you?" I am asked.

"Yeah, just a bit." my hands comb through my matted hair.

"I'm glad Fubuki-kun and Kaito-kun got you home safely." he'll be smiling.

"They're great." I say, not that bothered by his words.

"I'm sorry to have woken you but...I can't get in contact with Haru. He's not home. Not a trace. None of his swimsuits are gone. His room is a mess."

"Do I want to know how you got into his house?" I ask, groggily.

"He gave me a key." Makoto assures.

"Tried calling Rin?" I ask.

"I got forwarded to an unknown number. The call was then rejected with the excuse message 'Not important enough'.

I tilt my head. "Not important enough?" I muse. "You're one of his best friends, who couldn't be more important?"

"I don't know, mind giving him a call?"

"And if I'm not important enough?" I enquire.

"Then we contact one up?"

"You mean Mei?"

"Yes."

"Whatever you say." I huff, still tired. "I'll give him a call but Rei'll be in my room within the next hour demanding that we run. Coffee later?"

"Of course." Makoto says. "Do you want me to pick you up?"

"I don't mind." I smile.

"Aoi!" Rei calls.

"Sorry, I'll give him a call but I have to start getting ready for my run." I say to my boyfriend.

"Bye beautiful, see you later."

"See you later."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

The two of us hang up. I should get this over and done with.

I punch in Rin's number and wait.

'Your call has been forwarded to another number.' the phone says.

"Hello."

I flinch. This is Sousuke.

"Hi Sousuke, I was just trying to call Rin-." I'm cut off.

"He's gone to Australia."

"AUSTRLIA!" My jaw drops. After regaining composure I try to ask some questions.

"Do you know if he took Haru?"

"Nanase?"

"Yes."

"He took Nanase."

I sigh with relief.

"When will they be home?"

"Nationals."

"NATIONALS!"

"Day before, two days, can't remember."

I huff.

"Why doesn't RinRin have his phone? Makoto called thinking he might know where Haru is!" I demand.

"He didn't want to leave it somewhere and a koala answer the phone."

I scoff at his answer and end the call.

I stand and start to prep for my run. Rei's due to knock on my door when I walk out, already ready to go.

We leave. Aki went to work about an hour ago and won't be home for hours. Mum and dad aren't really doing things to restrain him because technically, Akira is an adult.

"Aoi...I heard what Makoto-senpai said last night." Rei states as we start to stretch in the living room.

"I'm sorry you had to hear like that." I hang my head. "He didn't want to tell anybody under such harsh circumstances. How are you taking it?" I ask.

"What!" his jaw drops.

"He's your friend, your captain, your senpai." I prompt.

"He's your boyfriend!" Rei protests.

"But he told me ages ago because his parents let slip!" I press.

"I'm more concerned about you, Haruka-senpai and Nagisa-kun. You were much closer with Makoto-senpai."

We finish our stretching and head out.

"Rei, you know that it won't be that bad. It'll be a year until I try and go for the Olympic team."

"Ahh, the Olympic team train in Tokyo mostly." he recalls.

"Yep!" I nod. "And it's unlikely that Makoto and I will break up. I'm pretty sure of that." I grin as we pick up the pace.

"You are?" my twin brother cocks a brow. I nod my head.

"It's not just me either, Mei-chan, Ami-chan, Hika-chan think so too. And don't let me get started on Aya-chan, Jun and Johan." I laugh.

"But is there truly trust between you two?"

"Huh?" I tilt my head. "Of course there is. He's completely fine with me being on the main and girls team at Samezuka. Just like I was fine with him being in the muscle contest and being a part of Kou-chan's schemes to recruit members."

"But...I thought that he accused you of cheating?"

"How did you know about that!" I gasp.

"So there isn't as much trust as you thought." Rei pushes up his glasses. I jab his arm with my elbow.

"He heard a rumour and asked if it was true. It was me who made it all dramatic, people under the beds, in the closets and bathrooms." I state.

"Oh?"

"Yes." I reply. "So, I think everything will be alright between Makoto and I."

"Will you be visiting him during the road trip?" Rei enquires. I blush.

"I might stop by and say hi." I try to be nonchalant.

"No, Aoi, are you intending to STOP BY."

"Seriously? Why is everybody asking about my sex life." I roll my eyes, cue my twin brother getting flustered.

"Sorry I asked then." Rei mutters.

"And I don't know. That's like asking you if you and Nagisa will in like six months." I tease. His face burns.

"Shall we go around the town centre and then to home, it looks like it may rain." I suggest.

"Sounds good." we pick up the pace.

Ring. Ring.

"You going to answer that?"

"Nah." I wave it off. "It'll probably be Sousuke, all grouchy."

"You've got the right to be mad. You should never compare your reasoning behind something to that of another to do the same with the deceased."

"Thanks Rei." I beam.

"Race you?"

"Just because you're former track and field." I giggle. "Doesn't mean you'll win!"

With that the two of us race each other up the hill to our home.