Never Again (Free! Eternal Summer)

Letter of the Afraid: Haruka & Makoto

Haruka's POV

Recently, I have been in a slump. In the week other the funeral, nothing has been the same. It seemed like it has rained a lot since. Everyday, is cloudy. Looking out of the window, in school, after a bath, eating dinner, and when I go to bed, rain and clouds. Nothing else. The world is lifeless...

I sit in my bedroom, looking out the window, wondering what I could make for dinner. A sudden flashback pops into my mind.

"Hey! Haru-chan!! What ya making?" Mei comes up from behind me and peaks over my shoulder while I stand behind the stove. I was about 10. Mei had found out my interest in cooking and couldn't stop herself from wanting to help me. He begged and begged for almost 15 minutes. She didn't want to "place the burden of cooking", on me. So, I did. I just sucked it up. Why not? She liked it. We made a tasty homemade pizza, with some rice and mackerel on the side. Grandma loved it. It became her favorite dinner.

I grin. These two past weeks, have been wonderful. I can't believe how much I missed Mei. A little too much from what Makoto told me. He said I was hogging her more than I ever did. Yeah. Maybe he was right...

I haven't saw Makoto after the funeral. He was obviously really crushed by what happened. Mei and him, kept in touch even when she was attending Sano. Out of me and Nagisa, I would say Makoto was more like another brother towards her.

Someone knocks on the door. I glance out my window looking to see who it could be. The crimson eyes met mine and I knew something was wrong. When I dash downstairs and open the door, Rin rushes in and his eyes are red. Was he crying? I glance down at what he is holding. Letters? There are a few.

He sits down at the table in my main room, while laying out all of the letters neatly, across the table. I glance at the names neatly written on each envelope.

Haruka
Makoto
Nagisa
Rei
Gou
Osumu
Sousuke

Rin's is already opened, as well as Nagsia, Rei, and Gou's. He must have been given the permission to take them, and he is crying now... I wonder who wrote these. I slowly take my own letter and glance at Rin. He doesn't seem to care. When I open it, I read.

Haruka
Now, where do I begin with you? Deep down inside, you have a lot to say. I have realized that in the past 2 weeks. With me, you seem to be quite the chatter box, while still holding the same expression. A lot of questions came at me from you. How are you? What did you do special in Sano? Did you swim free? Stuff like that. I know you own love for swimming. Let me just say, you really have grown. Just like everyone else.