Chapter 40

You tried to take a moment to process what was happening right now, it didn't seem right even when you thought that you haven't done anything wrong. If that makes sense.

Rin stands up from his toes and extends his arm to Haruka, who was frozen-still in disbelief at the current sight. "..Haruka! How are you doing, buddy?" he says, the tone in his voice sounded somehow, an act, a pretened his trying to cover.

Shark's boy hand wasn't accepted to shake Haruka's, so he just slid slid his arm back down besides his thighs, Rin looked like he already knew that Haruka was going to do that.

You tried to slowly but surely hide the flowers that was given to you by Rin behind you but Haruka's eyes was just staring at it with an empty expression pouring all over his emotions.

Rin wasn't pleased at the situation at all, neither were you or even Haruka. He walked backwards beside you again and whispered, "I'm leaving, sorry for the inconvienience." and he just left just like that with hands tugged in his pants-pockets.

You stared at Rin's back with a frown, for some reason, it felt comfortable that his presence was with you ti'll Haruka came.

You stood up and managed to fix a smile on your lips to Haruka, his appearance causing you to feel soft. You opened your mouth to say something but no words could come out.

And a life saver just came out.

"Ey! Practice is about to start, why are you two still here?" Nagisa runs in, full of hype for the tournament. He looked really exhausted from running but he still kept in a bright, big smile.

He gasps and claps like some kid getting its favorite toy. "Haru-chan gave you roses??" he giggles, not knowing that he was wrong. "That is so sweet!"

You forced a smile across your guilty lips and just glanced at Haruka, acting as if everything was alright. "This doesn't feel right at all, ugh."

"C'mon now, lovesquids! Its time to practice!" Nagisa nudges both of you playfully and jogs to the direction of Iwatobi Highschool. You just followed the pink-colored eyes male, hoping Haruka would do the same.

"Why aren't I feeling myself, today?"

**

The warm shade sunlight of the sun up with the pretty, soft clouds illuminated the sky. While complimenting the scenery mentally, a hand gripped one of your shoulder causing you to flinch.

"(Y/n)-squiddie!" Gou calls with a smile filled with euphoria. Its been a long time since someone you called you by your first time, and you just realized that, at that moment. "Where's Haru-kun?" she questions.

You itched your head in confusion while lifting one brow. "Haru-kun isn't here?" you ask, mirroring the question to Gou. "Where the water is that man.." you mutter while looking at your back.

"Nope. He definetly didn't follow, not once a bit."

Sighing in frustration, you mentally kicked yourself for feeling really irresponsible. If only you let Haruka walk first before you did, he would be here possibly.

"I'll call him." Makoto offers. He grabbed his phone from his swimming bag and walked out of the frame, just raising his arm to all of you while he did.

Rei whined of how the day was going, your father or your coach perhaps left Rei in charge for the practice. "Lets just start practicing while the others aren't here." he announces and all of you followed.

You lead yourself into the locker room to switch gears into your swimming attire. It was just a dark shade of blue suit that doesn't covers your thighs but instead exposes it along with your shoulders as well.

Looking at your reflection on the full-body length mirror, you just pouted at the sight. "Just looking at a pitiful girl who's boyfriend is probably angry at her.."

Repetition of sighing while going out from the locker room, you walked your way to the swimming pool and sat on the lanes, dipping your fair legs on the splashing, cold water.

A tingly spine slid down your spine. "Why is the water so cold?" you ask to them, its been awhile since you started swimming again. "Its like a tub of ice here!"

"Winter just finished, squid. You shouldn't expect a warm or a hot swimming pool here." Rei laughs while preparing himself for practice. Flexing his new, expensive and gold eyegoggles.

You grinned at mister-smarty-pants. "Yes sir." you say causing the others to grin at you now.

Gou pats your back. "C'mon now, stop waiting and get your asses in the pool." she reminded while looking at your orbs, she suddenly whispers something in your ear: "Did something happen? You look pale."

Her surprsing concern made your lips twitch into a smile, it was impressive when she just looked at your face once and she alread knew what emotion you are feeling right now.

Guilty.

"Lets talk about it later, kay'? For now, just focus on practice." she comforted making you encourage yourself to lift up from the ground, your feet strong as ever. You uttered a nod to her.

Nagisa and Rei was already practicing in the pool, you watch them giving all their best to win the competition next month. They honestly look so determined that made you motivated to win also the tournament.

Rei was practicing butterfly swimming while Nagisa was doing breastroke swimming. You started to dive in the cold, fresh swimming pool, practicing your speciality, "Sidestroke".

Then you pushed yourself by pressing your feet hard on the wall and swam with your side exposing up in the water. Your head lined with your spine, slightly upwards.

Your arms moves simultaenously but they execute different movements which was hard to do at first but you got used to it eventually.

"Nice, squid! Haru-chan was a really good teacher." Nagisa compliments you, making your cheeks blush. Lots of people say that you were an automatic fast learner, you deny from the saying though.

You pressed your fingers gently on your eyes to removes excess water droplets, you finally opened your eyes with a smile. "Thanks, Shota-kun!"

"Shota?!" Nagisa's expression shockens while Gou and Rei was laughing at the back. "Well, tons of peeps says that I look very youthful and a-"

"Like a seven year old?.. yeah, we know." you finish his sentence with a grin plastered on your simply wet face. Shota rolled both of his orbs and mirrored you're silly grin.

Now, heavy footsteps was heard near by. Makoto spoke, "He's here now, everyone."

Nagisa runs out of the water and quickly gives stoic boy a big teddy-hug. "Haru-chan! Haru-chan! Where were you all this time?!" Nagisa squirms beneath the tight hug of the two.

Haruka didn't bother to reply, he looked really empty-looking, you didn't like the reason behind it.

"Don't worry, he told me some reasons why he was late. Sorry for the tardiness too, by the way." Makoto says and grins at Gou, the manager who was looking at him in disappoinment. She shooked her head at him.

"Some...reasons?"

What could be those reasons?