Clouded Distance
Epilogue
For the Future

- Three Years Later -

Hana walked briskly down the familiar path, her footfalls echoing slightly in the air. She wanted to run, but knew if she tried to she'd trip over and probably break an ankle in the high-heel shoes she was wearing. Even now, she was risking injury by walking this quickly.

But she couldn't help it. She was so excited she felt like she was about to burst. She couldn't wait to relay the amazing news she'd just received to Haru, she couldn't afford to walk slowly.

She'd been living in Tokyo for three years now. During that time, she'd attended her university and was coping well. Of course, the expectations were high for her due to her being a scholarship student, but Hana found herself flourishing under the course. She continued to learn new things every day and only continued to grow more excited to add those things to her writing.

Makoto attended a college nearby. He also lived in the same apartment building as Haru and Hana, so they got together every day to hang out. It was good, having her best friend still be by her side. They studied together, and took turns cooking dinner, and they still weren't too old to have movie nights that would go past midnight. Of course, the three of them often went swimming on occasion, but only casually. The competitive swimming was left to Haru and Rin.

Rin was in Australia, and showing everyone just what he was made of. He'd made a reputation for himself, apparently, and was among the best of the swimmers there. He often told them just how much he was enjoying Australia, and would send pictures of the family he was staying with, who were the same people he'd stayed with when he first lived in Australia. Though Hana missed her friend dearly, they messaged each other at least once each day, and Rin had made a few visits back to Japan over the years. Hana, Haru and Makoto had even managed to squeeze in one trip to Australia. Rin had had a blast, showing him around the country.

Gou, Nagisa and Rei were now in university too. They'd all found universities that were just over half an hour away, so it was easy for everyone to still come together and hang out on weekends. They were all doing well in their respective courses.

And as for Haru... Hana smiled and quickened her pace. They had been living together for three years with only a few minor hiccups along the way. They'd had the most fun together, staying up late watching movies together, helping each other with the cooking, and Hana getting Haru to play video games such as Mario Kart with her. They'd learned how to work together to keep the apartment in order, and after the uncertainty and chaos of the first few months, they'd settled into a routine.

When Haru wasn't swimming and she wasn't at college, they'd often go for a walk in the streets and go to a nearby park just to talk. Or, of course, they'd head down to a pool and swim. They'd only continued to grow closer over the years.

And as for his swimming, well, she had seen his progress with her own eyes. She had walked down the path she was currently walking on so many times that it became automatic to her. He'd progressed so much since he'd started competitive swimming. If she thought he was good beforehand, it was nothing compared to how good he was now. His form was as beautiful as ever, and his times continued to amaze everyone.

She had come to the pool so often to watch and encourage her boyfriend. And now she was walking down, burst with the news she desperately wanted to relay to him.

When she stepped through the doors to the pool, as always the smell of chlorine was the first thing to hit her. She turned and headed to the pool area, her eyes trying to find Haru. Sure enough she found him; luckily, he was on his break, and currently taking a large gulp of water from his water bottle. 

A man named Eiji was the first to spot her. "Hey, Nanase!" he called, a teasing smile on his face. "Your girlfriend's here!"

Hana chuckled. She had been appearing at the pool so often and the other members of the team had gotten so used to her presence that she was practically an unofficial member. All new teammates who joined quickly came to know her as Nanase Haruka's girlfriend, and after a few interactions knew her as Etsumi Hana and welcomed her into the fold. 

Hana loved this team. It was like a large, extended family to her. Whenever a meeting or gathering was organised, Hana was welcomed among the swimmers with open arms. 

Haru looked up from his drink and spotted Hana in the entrance. A warm smile on his face, he started to walk quickly toward her. 

Hana couldn't wait for him to approach her at that speed. With a cry of, "Haru!"she kicked off her heels and sprinted toward him and threw herself into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time as she held him close, not even caring that she was wet.

Hana was aware that everyone in the pool was staring at them but she couldn't help it; she was just so ecstatic and couldn't wait to share her news. Even now she had to suppress screaming the news out for everyone to hear. But, she wanted Haru to be the first person to know of her success.

Haru looked into her eyes, curiosity beginning to build up in his own. "What is it?" Hana didn't greet him that enthusiastically everyday. 

Hana was shaking when she delivered her news. "I did it!" she all but screamed, jumping up and down on the spot, the widest of grins on her face. "I did it! I'm going to be published!"

She'd received the news that afternoon. Ever since she arrived at college, she'd started playing with an original idea she'd had developing in her head. First she brainstormed characters and setting, then started writing excerpts, and before long she was diving into chapters and growing emotional attachments to her characters. She'd been invested in her work; Haru had seen her burn the midnight oil to finish working on a chapter, or the find the perfect way to express the scene. It had been two and a half years of hard work. She'd already been rejected twice, but when she sent this version off she told herself, third time lucky, surely.

And it had been. She'd been at their apartment, having a cup of hot chocolate when the letter arrived. When it had, Hana had spilt the hot chocolate down the front of her clothes and screamed so loudly, someone had come rushing outside her door to check that she was alright.

Haru knew how much that story meant to her. He would have some idea just how she would be feeling right now. And sure enough, his eyes widened. "Hana," he exclaimed softly. "That's... That's incredible!" He laughed and pulled her into an embrace once again. "Congratulations!"

Hana returned the hug, squeezing Haru maybe just a little too tightly. She was grinning so widely, she felt like her face was about to split in two. "I still can't believe it... I have to pinch myself regularly to make sure it was true. To think all my hard work paid off..." She shook her head. She just couldn't express in words just how happy she was.

"I'm so happy for you," Haru said, looking just as happy as she felt. She had been the person she would talk to about her story, or explain certain parts of it to try and make sense of it. He had even read some of her chapters, when she wanted a second opinion. He was just as invested in her work as she was. "Have you told anyone else?"

She shook her head. "I was going to tell Makoto when we met up for dinner. And I wanted to tell the others face-to-face, too." She paused, frowning. "Well, that might be a little difficult in Rin's case. I'll have to message him. Maybe I'll make a call this time."

Hana's cheeks turned pink as she rambled, and Haru only laughed. "We'll have to go out somewhere special tonight, to celebrate."

"You don't have to," Hana protested, but felt a thrill of excitement at the prospect. They didn't have enough money to eat out at nice restaurants too often. 

"Hey, Haru!" Eiji yelled. "We need you to get back to practice!"

Hana chuckled. "They need you." She quickly pulled him into a quick kiss, then pushed him in the direction of the pool. "Get back to it, Nanase."

He smiled, looking back over at her over his shoulder as he walked away. "It'll be over soon. Then we can take you out tonight."

"I know," she said, softly smiling. "I can wait."

Haru returned to the pool and Hana stood by the sidelines. She called greeting to everyone who walked by and watched Haru commence his training, a smile on his face.

Three years ago, if anyone had told her that everything would have worked out alright, that she and Makoto and Haru would be living near each other and catching up every day, that Gou, Nagisa and Rei also attended respective universities relatively nearby and dropped by on weekends, that they would keep in contact with Rin everyday thanks to the beauty of social media, she wouldn't have believed them. At that time she couldn't have believed anything would have worked out this well for any of them. 

But somehow, it had happened. Now Hana was just going along with the flow, embracing every new opportunity when it presented itself. 

Their futures were still unknown, but Hana was no longer scared of what the future held.

As long as she had Haru and her friends by her side, she knew that she would be okay.

They all would.

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aaaaaaaaand, that's a wrap of clouded distance, and on hana and haru's story!

before anyone asks, i regret to say there will be no sequel. harhana ends here, unfortunately. there might be a few one shots in the future, but their main story has come to a close.

i want to thank all of you for sticking with me as i wrote this story. i know i haven't exactly been the best updater, but you stuck with me through my highs and lows, and i just want to thank you for everything. for voting, commenting, reading, encouraging me to continue. this story wouldn't have happened without you all. so, from the bottom of my heart, i thank you all so, so much. you're all amazing <33

so what has been your favourite part of this series, either from this story or open waters? do you like how harhana's story ended? 

thank you all once again. it's been a blast, guys :D