Open Waters

Chapter Twenty-Nine

A Late Night

For the final training sessions before regionals, the intensity had been increased tenfold. The boys were swimming their absolute hearts out, getting better and better with each passing day, their times ever decreasing. Even Sasabe was pleased, even impressed and proud of their progress. Rei looked more in place with the team as well, and as well as working hard, the boys looked as though they were enjoying themselves.

Hana was glad she was able to watch it all happen.

The day before the regional tournament came around all too soon. They boys were leaving by bus to get to the area before night fell, so they didn't have to get up early the next morning. They needed to be alert and ready for their swim, and having to wake up early wouldn't benefit them at all.

Hana had journeyed to Haru's just before they left. She'd be going to see them off, but would be driven by her mum to the venue. Still, she didn't think she'd have much time to talk to him one-on-one later, and decided to do it now.

When she arrived, Haru was performing some last-minute packing. Hana smiled as she walked into his room, grabbing the swimsuit he'd folded on his bed, carrying it over to his bag.

"So, today's the day you leave, huh?" she murmured, placing the swimsuit in his bag. It was hardly overflowing, only packed with what he needed for a one-night stay. He'd be leaving directly after the tournament, after all.

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Hope you have a safe trip."

"Thanks."

Hana hesitated, then grabbed his phone, which she'd grabbed from the bench in the hallway, holding it out to him. "Please take your phone," she blurted.

Haru paused in his packing, confused. "Why?"

Hana flushed a little, but outstretched the phone further. "You... want to keep contact with us, right? With... with me?"

He looked at the phone nestled in the palm of her hand, which he hardly ever used. Slowly, he reached out a hand and took it, placing it in his bag. Hana smiled at the gesture. It was surprising how much taking his phone meant to her. But because Haru barely even looked at her phone, the gesture meant a lot.

"Thanks Haru. Even if it's just for a day... I don't want to have to lose contact with you." Hana stared at her feet as she spoke.

"Hana..." A hand was placed on her shoulder and Hana glanced up into Haru's ocean blue eyes. He smiled slightly at her. "I'll be waiting for your call."

Hana felt her lips stretch into a smile back. "Right."

Hana wasn't sure how long she was standing there for, but she absolutely jumped out of her skin as she heard a call of, "Haru? Are you ready - oh." Makoto walked into the bedroom, and caught the two before Hana jumped back, cheeks a flaming red, and proceeded to faintly whistle a tune and glance around the room. Even Haru glanced away from Makoto, seemingly fixated on a certain area of his bedroom wall.

Because that doesn't make things any less conspicious at all.

Makoto outright stared at them for a moment and laughed. "Don't worry. It's only me. I won't tell anyone."

Hana closed her eyes. Oh Makoto.

"So, Haru, can you finish getting packed with Hana in the room, or do I need to stand here and supervise?"

"Makoto!" Hana buried her face in her hands. Even Haru's eyes widened at Makoto's statement. Makoto just watched his two friends and laughed. "Right, you two, hurry it up already. We need to reach the school in ten minutes."

"Right." Haru returned to his packing. Hana, cheeks still faintly red, scampered to assist him, all the while trying to avoid looking up at Haru. She was sure she'd only just blush furiously again.

Finally, Haru finished packing, and the trio left his house with eight minutes to spare. The walk to school wasn't long, but the time stretched out a little more as the boys had to carry their bags loaded with overnight gear with them. Along their journey, Makoto seemed to enjoy teasing the others, each one resulting with Hana pushing him in the side. 

It was a relief to finaly make it to the school grounds, where Nagisa, Rei, Sasabe, Gou, Miss Amakata and Gou's friend were already waiting. Hana smiled and waved at them, though the smile faded as she noticed the banner held between Gou and her friend. That banner... she didn't show it, but she cringed inwardly. Something needs to change about it. 

"Mako-chan, Haru-chan, Hana-chan, hello!" Nagisa greeted brightly.

"Hey, Nagisa," Hana greeted back. She smiled at Makoto and Haru before stepping away from them and joining the other members of the support crew, whilst they joined Rei and Nagisa as they waited for the bus. Hana was sure to not stand next to the banner, however.

"Okay, I've taught you everything I can!" Sasabe said, as they were all lined up. "All that's left is for you to perform your best!"

The boys nodded. "Yes!'

"That banner is really embarrassing," Rei muttered, glancing back self-consciously as a few people passed on by.

Haru too stared at the banner, but with a very different expression on his face. "That drawing..."

"Oh, it's the one Haru-chan drew!" Nagisa cried, as Hana leaned over to view it herself. Huh. So it is. She remembered Haru drawing that. That feels like a while ago now.

"I didn't think it would be used for this," Haru muttered.

Miss Amakata smiled. "Well, we'll head up there tomorrow morning. Get plenty of rest at the hotel near the venue. The Roman general Caesar said it best." Here we go again, Hana thought, as Miss Amakata cleared her throat. If we cross, we will wreak tragedy upon the world. If we do not..."

The speech was interrupted by the arrival of the bus. Hana coughed a little as the smell of the gas got to her. "Oh, it's the bus," Makoto said hurriedly, no doubt to stop Miss Amakata before she delved into another long quote.

The boys grabbed their bags and turned. "Well... we're off."

"Have a safe trip!" Hana called after them. She watched as they clambered on board and grabbed seats, which wasn't too difficult, given that they had an entire bus to themselves and they were a team only four people big. Hana smiled and waved as the bus drove off, and watched it go until it vanished from sight.

"Right, I'm headed back to my job," Sasabe said. "I've taken the day off tomorrow, so I need to make up for today."

"We're going to use the classroom to make another one of these," Gou said, indicating to herself and her friend. "Want to join us, Hana?"

But Hana shook her head. "No, I need to get home soon. I'll see you all tomorrow!"

The others called goodbye to her. Hana smiled as hse waved to them, heading back toward her home. However, she had to get home wasn't the only season she was leaving so early.

She had her own project in mind.

*          *          *

"Hana? Hana, you should be heading for bed soon."

Hana ignored her mother's suggestion. Her tongue stuck out of her mouth a little as she painstakingly drew another line on the large sheet before her. This needs to be finished by tomorrow. No, today. I won't have time to do it tomorrow, with the time I have to wake up.

Mae knocked on her daughter's door. "Hana, you've been working on that project since you got home. You'll ruin your eyes at this rate. I think it's time you got some sleep."

"Ah, Mum, I can't!" Hana yelled back. She sat back, glancing back at the sheet before her. It was a sheet of fabric, not paper, (paper wouldn't suit her purpose) sprawled out over the wooden floor of her bedroom. She'd managed to scavenge some paint and oil pastels in her old craft kit, and was using them to work on her project. It was difficult and she was taking her time, since neither oil pastels nor paint could be erased. She'd taken extra care with every line and drew and every stroke of paint. So far, she'd gotten about two thirds of it done.

The door opened, and Mae walked into the room. She walked up to stand behind her daughter, who kneeled on the ground, the large sheet spread out on the floor before her. Mae looked down over Hana's shoulder to see what she'd been working on, and a fond smile crossed her face.

"Oh... so this is your project?"

Hana nodded, and wiped her forehead with the sleeve of her jacket. "Yeah."

Mae bent down and squeezed her daughter's shoulder. "I thought you were working on just another art project... but this is something else. It's a wonderful incentive, Hana, and will be very well received."

Hana flushed. "I hope so. I thought they might like it."

"I'm sure they will." Mae stood up. "I'll allow you to stay up on work on this, but try not to be too late, okay? You still have an early start tomorrow."

"Okay," Hana agreed. Mae squeezed her daughter's shoulder and left the room, closing the door softly behind her. Hana sighed and rubbed her eyes. How late is it exactly? She checked her phone, eyes widening in surprise. It's only ten? This project must be draining me more than I thought.

Staring at her phone, another memory came to mind, and she jolted upright with a start. Oh! And I forgot to make a phone call... is he still up? Maybe... if tournament nerves are keeping him up? Should I take the risk... maybe not... but, I did promise that I'd call...

That thought was enough for Hana to make up her mind.

Hana reached over and grabbed her phone, flipping it open and quickly punching in Haru's number. It only rang once before he picked up.

"Haru?" Hana said quietly into the speaker.

"Hana?" His familiar voice made Hana smile.

Then the small hint of tiredness to his voice registered in Hana's mind, and it made her stomach clench in concern. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No, I was awake."

"That's good." She shifted her position. The floorboards were killing her knees. "How are you? Nervous?"

"A little on edge."

"I guess that's natural, because it's regionals." She chuckled feebly. "I'm a little nervous, too"

"You're not swimming."

"I want you guys to succeed."

There was a small silence. Even though she wasn't swimming, Hana craved victory for her friends as much as they were craving it themselves.

"What's it like there?" she asked, breaking their silence.

"It's big. And different."

"I wish I was there," she said wistfully, a hint of longing to her voice.

"... So do I."

Hana flushed a little at his confession. "Is it weird that I miss you guys?" It hadn't even been a full day since she'd last seen them but knowing there was so much difference between them made her miss them even more.

"No, it's not, I, miss you as well," he admitted.

Her cheeks became even hotter. "I wish there was more I could do to support you."

"Just cheer us on. Just being there is enough, Hana."

She grinned. "Well, you can guarantee that I'll be the loudest supporter there tomorrow. You'll hear me as you're swimming,"

"I don't doubt it."

"Well, in any case, you'll see me tomorrow. I'll get there as early as I can."

"Hana, you're brilliant," he said, soon after she'd finished speaking.

She blinked, shocked. "I - I am?"

"Your support means so much to us all... to me." He hesitated a little as he spoke, as though nervous speaking the words aloud.

"Oh, well... I just, want to help out," she murmured, resting her cheek in the palm of her hand. "I love you all, and want to be there for you."

She wondered if he was smiling on the other end of the phone, for his voice softened. "Thanks, Hana."

"You're welcome." She chuckled. "I won't keep you up any longer. You need all the sleep you can get for tomorrow!"

"Alright. Goodnight, Hana."

"Night, Haru. See you tomorrow."

Their connection went dead. Hana smiled and flipped her phone shut, staring at it for a few moments, before she returned to her task.

It took another hour before Hana finished her project. When she did, she breathed out in relief, staring at her finished project with a sense of satisfaction. Her eyes were droopy and tiredness weighing her down, but the end result was well worth it.

She knew other major schools has their own banners, proudly displaying their school, and even a saying or team quote. Hana knew Iwatobi didn't have such a thing, so she'd decided that, in order to boost morale, she'd find a sheet of fabric similar to the type used for other school's banners, get her paints and oil pastels out, and make one on her own.

And the end result had turned out rather well.

"I hope they like it," she muttered, rereading what she'd written on Iwatobi's banner.

Iwatobi, she'd written.

And then, in larger letters:

Free.

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chapter 30 to come soon! and i think you'll like it c: