"As you can see from these pictures. It was a tradition for the older siblings and relatives to take the younger ones to Tokyo right before the new year of their final year of high school." Aya-chan points to pile after pile of photos.

"Amaya and Arata were taken by their dad. And then the twins took Johan." Jun says.

"Johan took Akira and the two of them took me. And NOW!" Aya grins evilly. "Jun and I will be taking you!"

Rei and I sit together on their sofa, stunned.

"So you expect our mum and dad to let you, take us, on a road trip, to Tokyo?"

"Not just us though." Jun grins. "You have more cousins than just Aya and Johan." Jun chuckles.

"No!" Rei gasps.

"No way!" my jaw drops.

"You mean?" we ask in sync. "Amaya and Arata?" those three live a few towns away, about a third of the way to Tokyo.

"Yep!" Jun smiles.

"We never see Arata and Amaya!" I exclaim.

"And if you want, you can invite Nagisa and Makoto!" Aya gives me a look.

Rei and I duck our heads, blushing violently.

"I never thought I would see those two reduced to blushing messes." Jun muses.

"It's cute." Aya-chan giggles.

"SHIT!" I gasp, feeling my phone go off. "I'm late!"

"Late?"

"I have to go to work!" I shriek. "It's my last day! For God's sake!" I pout.

"Thank GOD you're already in your uniform." Aya-chan snorts.

"Want a ride?" Jun offers, gentle smile gracing his face.

"If we set off now, you'll arrive five minutes early. We can drop you off at Nagisa's if you want Rei." Aya-chan grins.

"Are you sure?" Rei asks as I hug Jun.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I exclaim.

"No worries. Let's go." Jun chuckles. We rush into Jun's car.

Once in the car we chat again about the road trip. Hey, once you're in the car, there's no way to go faster!

"What do you even do in Tokyo when on this trip?"

"SEE!" Aya-chan exclaims. "Tokyo is so beautiful! And this time you're actually there without training and stressing!"

"I'll need a break after Nationals." I groan.

"Me too!" Rei agrees.

"Rei needs it more." I retract my original statement.

"You think?"

"I'm seriously still so proud of you!" I high five my twin in the backseat.

"We usually stay in a youth hostle or something but if there are places that are preferred then we stay there instead." Aya adds. I try to fight a blush. I know what she's thinking now! Manipulation suits my cousin.

"What will we do, where will we go?"

"WELL, if Nagisa can come, you can have a romantic date in Tokyo, same with you Aoi. Do what you want. Just don't die." Aya giggles in response to Rei's question. We're getting close to Iwatobi SC Returns.

"Thanks guys! I'll be at the coffee house after regionals in two weeks if not earlier!" I enthuse jumping out of the car. "Rei, we running tomorrow?"

He nods.

"See you at home then!" I enthuse.

"See you at home Aoi." Rei waves.

"Hey Aoi!" Kisumi bounces over.

"Hey Kisumi! Hi Hayato-kun."

"Kisumi onii-chan, you know Coach Ryugazaki?" Hayato peeps.

"Yep! Your coah's friend went to my school." That's one way to word it Kisumi. I smile softly at Hayato-kun.

"Hey Aoi!" Makoto waves.

"Hey!" I enthuse.

"Kisumi onii-chan, are you sure their not married?" Hayato-kun asks. My face burns. As does Makoto's. Kisumi laughs awkwardly.

"Not yet Hayato-kun. Maybe soon though." Somehow Makoto regained his compsure first. Maybe that's because...

~(^v^)~ Flashback ~(^v^)~

"Ni-sama, you're bad at hide and seek! You're not allowed to get your girlfirend to help look for us!" Ran chides.

"Now now Ran. She's not my girlfriend." Makoto reprimands.

"Of course not! Ni-sama has a boyfriend, dummy!" Ren shrieks. IO watch in amusement as Makoto's cheeks burn.

"Haru-chan is not my boyfriend Ren!" Makoto shouts. I giggle.

"Kids, assumung that everybody is everybody else's boyfriend or girlfriend." I shrug.

~(^v^)~ End Of Flashback ~(^v^)~

I burst out laughing, clutching my sides at the memory. How was I so blase about that! I can't believe that! Makoto was so embarassed! I continue to lauh, clapping like a messed up seal.

That was definately why.

"Come on Aoi, we have to go inside to warm up." Makoto says. I nod my head.

"Catch you later Kisumi."

"But isn't today..." Makoto cuts the grating voiced boy off.

"Catch you later Kisumi."

"Byee!" I wave.

Once we're inside Makoto grins at me, eyes ablaze with determination.

"What's up?" I cock a brow.

"Haru-chan helped me figure it out." Makoto enthuses.

"The Hayato-kun thing?" I ask.

"Yeah!"

"So, what's the plan?"

"Backstroke."

"Backstroke?" I tilt my head.

"Backstroke." Makoto nods. "I was afraid of water when i first joined the swim club. But when I learned backstroke, I stopped being afraid of the water."

"How amusing how the boy who was afraid of the water's best friend and girlfriend cannot get away from it." I snigger.

"Emphasis on the was." Makoto presses.

"Thank you."

"It's been over a year, you don't have to keep thanking me about what i did for Rei at random intervals." Makoto chuckles.

"I still owe you for that."

"I kno how you can repay me." he tries to be seductive. The two of us burst into fits of laughter. We're such dorks.

We make our way toward the pool. Our small class are eager to participate-par Hayato-kun.

I help the kids perfect their strokes. I let them play with the plastic water guns and it's me and Makoto angainst the class. We intentionally miss the kids each time we aim. Thus the children dominate us.

To finish the session, Makoto declares that the kids will participate in a relay. Hayato ends up being the penultimate child to participate. He shakes his head fearfully, not wanting to put his face in the water.

"Would you like to try backstroke Hayato-kun?" Makoto asks gently.

"Backstroke?" the little boy tilts his head.

"Aoi?"

"Hai!" I immediately go onto my back and do two circles of my arms, kicking gently.

"I could do that?" Hayato looks bemused.

"Yeah. I'll hold your arms if you would like. Just turn to face the wall and I'll help you float." Makoto smiles with a head nod.

"Hai Coach Tachibana!" Hayato-kun nods. Makoto helps Hayato onto his back.

My eyes widen with glee. He's floating. The small boy kicks his legs. He's swimming backstroke...ish.

"Coach Tachibana? Can I try to move my arms?" he peeps.

"Hai." Makoto puts his hand under Hayato's back to keep him floating. Hayato is in awe as he swims the short distance, with assistance to his teammate. He stops, getting to his feet. He's amazed. Hestitantly, Hayato high fives the final person in line and she swims the last leg.

"Kyahh!" I bounce.

Once the kids are out of the pool, Makoto and I face them.

"Today, sadly marks the last day that the two of us will be coaching you." Makoto says.

"You have improved so much, we're so proud of all of you!" I enthuse.

"But you deserve a proper teacher." my dorky boyfriend smiles softly.

"So you can progress even more." I continue his sentence.

"Why are you leaving?"

"Is it so you can get married?" our faces heat up at the innocent question. I can hear Kisumi snort a laugh from the doorway.

"Not yet." Makoto grins.

"Maybe someday." I muse. Makoto's face is ablaze. Payback is sweet!

"Please visit us Coach Tachibana! Please visit us, Coach Ryugazaki!" the kids chime, hugging our legs, pushing us together.

"Man, I didn't expect it to be that hard." I pout.

"Nor did I." Makoto admits. "I was worried you were going to be late today."

"Nah, I was just with Aya-chan." I assure.

"Ahh." Makoto nods. "Are you alright?"

"Just distracted. Regionals is coming up." I pout.

"Are you worried?"

"I don't know." I admit. "This years' gone quickly."

"Is that what's making you sad?"

"You'll be leaving soon." I murmur.

"Don't think like that, we've still got a whole summer." he enthuses. I hug him tightly, face burried in his shirt.

"I'll miss you."

"I'm not gone...not yet." he chuckles but he's clearly sad.

Yet being the word that is making me want to cry.