Clouded Distance

Chapter Two

An Invitation

After the amusing turn of events at Makoto's, Hana bid farewell to everyone and walked back up to her own house, Haru by her side. Hana ended up teasing him mercilessly about Gou's proposed idea, which he just rolled his eyes to. Hana giggled.

They reached her house soon - too soon for Hana's liking. That was both the advantage and disadvantage of herself, Haru and Makoto living so close together: it didn't take long for them to reach each other's houses, but it was an ill suited arrangement for walks when you wanted to spend just that little bit longer with someone.

The sun was just starting to dip into the sky, the wind as nippy as it had been that afternoon. They ended up staying at Makoto's longer than Hana had expected: the meeting fazed out and turned into the six of them just hanging out, watching television and eating. It had been a shame to leave, but they had to. It had been growing late.

Hana sighed, standing just shy of her door as she turned around to look at Haru. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said, shivering a little in the cold.

Haru took her in his arms, feeling how icy her hand was, despite them only being outside for a little while. "You should get inside, you're going to catch a cold by the looks of it."

"That's a probably a good idea." Hana smiled. She stayed in Haru's arms for that moment longer, reluctant to leave. Eventually, she told herself that Haru would get cold too should they stay outside much longer, and reluctantly disentangled herself from their hug. "Okay, goodnight, Haru."

"Night, Hana."

Hana looked back at him and continued smiling, and didn't let the smile drop until she had opened the door and closed it softly behind her.

Hana stayed there for a moment as she usually did after she came home with Haru, smiling softly to herself. She then straightened herself up and walked further into the house. She inhaled appreciatively. It seemed like her mother was cooking lasagna, one of her favourite dinners, second only to pizza.

Despite having eaten a lot at Makoto's, Hana felt her stomach rumble at the prospect of dinner. Her favourite foods tended to do that to her.

Mae looked up from where she stood, overlooking the oven when her daughter walked into the kitchen. "Hi, honey!" she greeted warmly.

Hana smiled, quickly embracing her mother. "Hey Mum." She looked quickly around the kitchen. "Where's Dad?"

"He got called in late to continue working, unfortunately. So, how was everyone?"

"Great. We've come up with a plan for recruiting first years to the swim club this year." Or rather, Gou came up with the idea, an idea that amuses me and both horrifies and terrifies the boys.

Mae smiled and stepped back, returning to overlooking the lasagna. It must be nearly ready if she was keeping this close an eye on it. "Speaking of clubs, have you made up your mind about joining the writing club?"

"Huh? Oh... not really..." Hana rubbed the back of her neck and looked away. Though she knew her parents had her best interests at heart, something she felt ad though they were just trying to push this issue too much.

Mae frowned, disapproval clear in her eyes. "Hana, I really think you should," she said seriously. "As a part of the writing club, I think you'll be able to go far. Your skills will be more developed, and you'll egg the chance to enter competitions. You could get recognised, which could open up so many career paths for you."

Hana sighed, wringing her hands a little out of discomfort. "I guess. But... I don't know if I'll be able to successfully juggle two clubs, especially considering that I'll have to train so much for the swim club, what with tournaments like the prefectures."

"Then maybe you should consider dropping the swim club. After all, you don't exactly have a future in swimming."

Hana's eyes widened as her mother suggested this. "But I can't drop the swim club!" she exclaimed, the mere thought of dropping the swim club horrifying her. No. She couldn't imagine dropping the club she helped to create. "My friends... I can't leave them."

"You can't leave Haru, you mean." Mae's eyes held a knowing look.

"Mum!" Hana groaned. "No, not like that. I can't leave Makoto, Nagisa, Rei, Gou, Haru... everyone! I started this club with them... I'm seeing it through to the end."

And she would be. She hadn't started the club with Haru, Makoto, Nagisa and Gou. She had helped repair the pool, had joined as joint manager, had been to every one of her friend's meets, watched every training session, been to their training camp of those islands, and had offered and received encouragement.

No. There was no way she was backing out of the club now, not after all that.

"Hana..." Mae sighed wearily. "You need to make a decision, and soon. Your term begins again in three days. You have to choose either between them, or to do both of them."

"Alright..." Hana sighed and wandered out of the kitchen. "I'm just going to put my stuff away."

"Okay. Dinner's nearly ready anyway, I'll call you up when it's done."

Hana trooped up to her bedroom and collapsed, falling backwards onto her bed. Her legs dangled off the sides and her body sank deep into the mattress.

Swim club, or writing club? Hana knew she'd reassured Haru that she'd be fine with juggling two clubs, but now she thought of it, she wasn't too sure. She would be training a lot for the swim club, and that would get in the way should she join the writing club. 

Could she successfully juggle two clubs?

Hana sighed, rested her forearm over her eyes and closing them. She probably could... she'd just have to work around her schedule a bit. School and the swim club would take up most of her time. There was little time left for the writing club. 

But then again... writing wasn't something she could only do at school. Hana could easily write at home. She had pens and paper here. 

So what if she talked to the captain about what was happening with the writing club, and then wrote what she had to at home and handed everything in the next day...

Maybe that would be possible... yes, she'd do both. She'd just let the captain of the writing club know she had swim training to go to, and could only appear at the writing club sometimes. She'd write at home if she must.

Yes. Hana turned onto her side where so she was facing her desk, where the untouched club form rested on top of the dark wood.

I'll fill that out tonight, ready to hand in the day we go back.

*          *          *

As she'd promised herself, Hana filled out the club form as soon as dinner was over. She had told her mother of her plans, and while Mae still seemed to disapprove of her loyalty to the swim club, she agreed anyway.

Now, the piece of paper was scribbled over in ink. Hana sighed as she went to her that night, satisfied in knowing she was organised and had a plan for her next and final all year.

When Hana woke up the next morning, it was already nine o'clock. She yawned and stretched out in bed, unsurprised. She always took the opportunity during breaks to sleep in just that little bit longer. She was hardly a morning person, exempting a number of times this break where she woke up early to go running with Makoto and Haru, in order to strengthen themselves up for the upcoming prefectural tournament. If she skipped the run in the morning, she'd make up for it with a run in the evening.

Once she was fully alert and awake, Hana went to make herself some breakfast. As she walked down, she grimaced to realise she had fallen asleep in clothes. She felt a little rumpled as a result, but knew it was all in her head.

Not being that hungry despite only just having woken up, Hana was just about a breakfast bar when the door rang. Curious, she unwrapped her bar as she padded down the corridor to the front door and opened it.

She was shocked, and embarrassed, to see who was outside.

"Haru? Makoto!" she exclaimed hastily, a pink tinge to her cheeks. "What's going on?"

Makoto smiled. "Rin called. He's free, and wants to meet up," he informed the girl who was still half-asleep. "He said he phoned you as well, but your phone must be switched off or something."

It was. Hana always switched off her phone when she planned to have a good night's sleep so she wasn't disturbed, especially when she planned to have a long lie-in.

But, at the mention of Rin, Hana gasped, her eyes shooting side open. The tiredness a washed away from her body. "Ah! That's great news!" She looked down at her crumpled clothes and felt her knotty bed hair and flushed, hastily smoothing her clothes down as best as she could before looking up apologetically at her friends.

Gosh, Makoto and Haru - Haru! - are seeing me in bed hair and messy, last-night's clothes.

Hana's flush deepened as she stepped back hastily. "Hold up, I'll be ready in just a tick!" she called.

She though she could hear chuckles of amusement from the others as she dashed back to her room. But then again, it had been too long since any of them had last seen Rin. It would be great to finally get to see him once again, and Hana was looking forward to it.

She did things all as quickly as possible, stripping the ruffled clothes she'd managed to fall asleep in the last night, almost tripping and falling face-first on the floor as she hopped around the room, trying to get her jeans on. She pulled on a nice, lavender sweater and pulled on a scarf, brushed a brush through her hair and quickly applied a layer of foundation. Satisfied with her quick change, she scuttled back to the stairs to where the boys were.

Hana hadn't been timing her change, but neither of them looked bored or irritated, so she mustn't have taken too long at least. "Right, let's go!"

They began their walk down to the place Rin had organised them to meet - a café not too far from there. Hana hadn't been to it before, so she was interested to find out what it was like.

As they walked, Hana kept her head down, still a little embarrassed about their first encounter. If only she knew they'd be coming...

Haru stepped closer to her. "Hana, why do you look so embarrassed?"

"Why? Because I was messy and bleary-eyed in front of my best friend and my boyfriend!" she exclaimed softly. If she knew it was them at the door - or if she'd had any sense at all, she'd have put a jumper over her shirt and pulled her hair up into a quick ponytail or something to hide its messiness.

Haru leaned in closer to her. "I thought it was cute."

Hana's stomach perform a somersault at his words. She flushed, and then laced her fingers in his. "Thanks, Haru."

They continued walking, and eventually let go of their hands in order to not exclude Makoto more. Makoto seemed to appreciate the gesture and the three of them engaged in coversation all the way to the café.

When they started nearing their desired location, Hana kept a sharp eye out for Rin. Suddenly she gasped and waved enthusiastically, catching sight of the familiar, red haired figure.

"Rin! It's great to see you!" Hana ran forth and pulled their red-haired friend into a tight hug. Rin made a choking sound, so Hana lessened her grip a little, but still held him in an eager embrace.

"Careful, Hana. Haru might get jealous if you greet me so enthusiastically," Rin joked, as he disentangled himself from her arms.

"Oh, he knows my heart belongs to him, and him only." Hana looked back at Haru and winked, to which he just smiled back. Hana beamed at him and turned back at Rin. "We haven't seen you in ages!"

Rin chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "It has been a while. Things have been busy, with preparation for the -"

"Gou, Nagisa, Rei! Hello!" Makoto called, interupting Rin unpurposefully.

Hana turned around as Makoto called out to the trio that were all making their way toward them. Hana grinned and waved as they approached. Nagisa laughed and jogged forward, while Gou and Rei already looking laboured in their attempts to keep up with him.

"Hey, Mako-chan, Hana-chan. Haru-chan," Nagisa greeted brightly, and then turned to Rin. "Hey, Rin-chan! It's great to see you!"

"I've been good," Rin chuckled, and ruffled Nagisa's hair. Nagisa cried out a little and stepped away, but made no attempt to re-flatten his hair. Hana couldn't help but laugh. These boys all have such a wonderful friendship.

Everyone soon settled, grabbing seats around the circular table. With the seven of them, it was a little cramped, but Hana didn't mind. It just gave her another excuse to inch ever closer to Haru. He noticed this and smiled, draping an arm over her shoulders. Haha flushed at first, but soon nestled back and smiled.

"What did you call us here for?" Rei asked, he and Gou coming to a stop.

Rin picked up one of the menus that rested on the table. "Do you want to order first?"

Hana looked around at the others, and they all nodded their agreement. It might be a good idea, so they didn't get sidetracked when they ordered, and so they didn't stay longer than was socially alright.

Everyone quickly looked through the food and delicacies on order. Not feeling hungry enough got a real lunch, Hana scanned the desserts section of the menu. Since she didn't come to this place often, so she just went with what the others recommended: iced coffee and a raspberry tart.

Everyone finished placing their order, and Rin volunteered to leave it at the counter. When he came back, he was still in the princess of sitting now when Nagisa chirped, "So, can you tell is now, Rin-chan?"

"Sure. You see, the send-off for the third-years is approaching, and Captain Mikoshiba would really like all of you to be there."

Rei's eyes widened. "Really? It's a Samezuka thing, and he wants us to be there?"

"Yes." Rin rubbed the back of his neck. "He said it would be a shame for our competitors to kiss out."

Hana's hand shot up into the air, waving it about a little. "Well, I'm in!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.

Before the others had time to laugh at her eagerness, Haru quietly put in, "So I am."

Makoto chuckled, the rest of the boys showing knowing looks. "Haru was a goner the moment Hana volunteered," he noted. "Right, I'm in as well."

"Count us in, too!"

Everyone was in. Rin smiled, just as their orders started to come in, "Great! He'll be excited to see you there."

"We'll just have to clear some things up with Amakata-sensei, but I'm sure it'll all turn out fine," Makoto said, accepting his order from a waitress with a smile.

Hana grinned and looked over at Haru, eyes dancing.

Whatever would happen at Samezuka, she was sure it'd be a blast.