It's Free if it Takes Over Thirty Minutes

Chapter 1

It’s Free if it Takes Over Thirty Minutes

Chapter 1

     Haruka Nanase was scouted by a college to swim after he graduated high school and offered a full scholarship. Of course his long term goal was to make it to the Olympics, but he wanted to focus on his classes as well so that he would have a backup plan. Just in case swimming didn’t work out. He was currently studding culinary arts. His new training schedule gave him a day off from swim practice a week, he often made and practiced dishes then. His class was quite small compared the size of his classes in high school. He liked the professor in charge of his culinary class very much, but never really had the chance to speak with him. His professor approached him one day and explained to Haru his concerns.

     “Haruka, you are one of the top in the class. I’d like to see you step outside of your comfort zone, though. You have only worked on traditional Japanese dishes and plenty of recipes using seafood or fish since I’ve had you as a student at the beginning of the semester.” Haru would have said something, but he wasn’t the best with words. The professor saw the look in Haru’s vacant eyes and continued, “As your professor, everything I suggest should be in your best interest. There’s a pizzeria a few blocks down with an internship position open. If you had any intention to pursue a major in this class, you need to have at least six months of internship in a local restaurant or business. I strongly encourage you to look into it.”

     Haru took the business card his teacher help in front of him slowly, trying to process the idea. All Haru wanted to do was swim, but it couldn’t hurt to check it out, right? So, Haru nodded and grabbed his bag before leaving the class. Normally he’d head straight to the pool to get a few practice laps in, but today he thought he’d take a detour.

A Year Later

     Rin Matsuoka was not interested in the slightest bit at the idea of school. He was attending a college solely to swim, rented a first floor apartment. He switched schools this semester, because he heard that the relay team here was phenomenal; he had to be a part of it. He also liked the coach better and was informed he didn’t have to take as many classes as his previous school. There was no doubt in his mind that this school would be better than his old one. He could focus one hundred percent on his swimming and making it to the Olympics. To be honest though, the Olympics is a long way to go from high school competitions. Was his dream actually ever achievable?

     He woke up, his long hair a long mess. His red eyes barely open he made his way to the bathroom to get ready for the day. He checked his texts and ate before he left. The school was about a mile from his apartment, so he vowed to walk as much as he could. No need to pull out a bike or anything to go a mile down the road. Not many people had cars around anyway, it was a pretty large city. As Rin got on campus he evaluated his schedule. He actually had a number of classes that day. It’s not that Rin didn’t like school, or didn’t want to go to class. He actually thoroughly enjoyed studying, especially English, it reminded him of his days in Australia. He just didn’t want to take any time away he could be swimming for classes and studying.

Later that Day

     Haru hadn’t made it to the main pool in a month. He had only made it to the outside pool, seeing as it was so warm out, and it was closer to his dorm.

     “Haru! We’ve got a few deliveries, would you mind taking them?” Haru sighed and put his apron away. Haru’s boss has been trying to get Haru to be more social in the workplace, so Haru has been taking all of the pizza deliveries. You would be surprised how much pizza can be ordered in a Japanese city. “Oi, Haru. Make sure to get there on time. We don’t want to lose money in the transaction, eh? Now hurry up you rotten fish.”

     Haru isn’t exactly fond of his nickname “rotten fish” but to be honest, he felt it suited him. He never felt he deserved a better nickname.

     Haru drove a company scooter on deliveries. It was faster than walking, and easier to carry pizzas than s bike. He never had to go more than three miles on a deliver anyways, so it wasn’t too much of a hassle. Today his farthest destination was only two miles south. He only had three deliveries total too, then he could hit the pool. Today was the day he had planned to go the main pool. The thing with the main pool is that it had all of the kickboards, pull buoys, flippers, a larger space, and some competition. Rarely anybody would be found outside, and that was nice for a while, but it never seemed to push Haru enough.

     Haru never really got embarrassed over things. That was, until he took up this internship. Haru knocked on the first door and a pretty woman in her twenties swung it open.

     Hesitating and chocking on his words, Haru spoke quietly, “Sekai Saikō no Piza.” The woman laughed and thanked Haru by handing him the money she owed for her Hawaiian pizza. He felt that “World’s Best Pizza” might be the most embarrassing thing any pizza delivery guy would ever have to say.

     “Sekai Saikō . . . no Piza . . .” Haru greeted a tall foreigner at his hotel door. The foreigner at least couldn’t understand the Japanese and just nodded. Haru handed the man the bill and the box and waited for the money. He checked his watch quickly and approximated how much time he would get before the pool closed.

     Last stop. Haru took a deep breath and removed the baseball styled hat from his head and ruffled his own dark hair before he got off the scooter. He grabbed the last box and walked to the building. There was no name on the order, just an address. It was kind of strange, but Haru wasn’t one to ask questions. He ringed the doorbell and knocked once, for good measure. “Sekai Saikō no Piza,” he called out, waiting for someone to answer. The door flung open and man appeared, slightly confused.

     “Pizza you say? I guess the guy who lives in the downstairs apartment must have ordered it,” the man mumbled. “Come in. He must have ordered it on his way home, he’s not here yet.”

     “Thank . . . you,” Haru paused in the middle of speaking, looking around the building as he walked in.

     “You can wait here, he should be home soon. I’ll be upstairs if you need anything.” Haru nodded in reply and waited as he listened to the foot step of the man tracing stairs.

    It was a good five minutes and Haru was about to leave when the nob of the door started to shake and it swung open.

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     Rin recognized those blue eyes. He would recognize them from anywhere. But, what were they doing in his apartment?

     “H-Haru?!”

世界最高のピザ