**unedited**

My mornings weren't always this crazy. I'd wake up, take a bath, grill some mackerel, and go to school. After Makoto came to pick me up. Everyday.

He never forgot, and that's what drove me insane. Insane, as in, a way that made me happy. You know, like that bubbly feeling you get when your friends remember you or when they include you. Yeah, just like that.

But he was always there for me, and that's why I loved him. Aye, not like that kind of love. Best friend love. There was no way in hell I was going gay for him.

Maybe just a little.

Anyhow, this morning, he wasn't there to come get me. That basically hit me that since I was a college student, and that we weren't living together, he wasn't always going to be there.

I managed to drag myself out of the tub with my swimsuit on and threw a towel over my head. Walking in to the small kitchen in my apartment, my eye caught a glimpse of someone sprawled across the couch in the living room.

"M-Makoto?" I sputtered, catching my breath. "What the hell are you doing in my living room?"

"Haru!" He cried, jumping to his feet. Damn, he was inexplicably tall. His shoulders were miles apart and his glasses stood perfectly on the bridge of his nose. He was dressed in a button-down shirt with khakis and boat shoes.

Perfection at its finest. Shut up, you idiot. You're not gay.

"I didn't want to disturb you taking a bath so I thought I'd wait here until you were ready," he said, smiling. He never stopped smiling. The one time I saw him enraged was a few months ago when we'd had a fight. The memory stung to even think about it.

"T-thanks. . ." I stammered. "I'll just grill some mackerel and we'll get goi-" I stopped, mid-sentence, surprised to see a plate of mackerel on the countertop with some toast on the side, fully buttered. A small glass of right-size poured orange juice sat beside it.

"My pleasure," Makoto said, cheerfully. "By the way, the Sports Complex sent you a letter. It's on the dining table." I carefully picked up a long, white and sealed envelope on the table and ripped it open.

I almost spit out my orange juice.

Nanase-san,

Welcome to Tokyo! I'm glad you've safely moved into your apartment! Attached are the directions to the Sports Complex by train, which you'll need, but there a few rules you should know before you start your regimen.

1.) All swimsuits must be checked by your assigned Coach to approve the style and fitting.

2.) No food or drink in the Complex, other than water and sports drinks. No soda or chips.

3.) Maintain a healthy diet! You are a swimmer and you need to keep your arm and leg muscles fit.

4.) Always appear on time to your practice. Tardiness is unacceptable.

5.) If you're missing a practice, make sure you let your Coach know ahead of time. Communicate through emails and notes.

We look forward to seeing you at the Sports Complex!

Your Coach,

Coach Alyssa

"Is something wrong?" Makoto asked, placing his hand on my shoulder. I nearly jumped out of my skin. His hand was warm, holy shit.

"Er, nope!" I said. I quickly rushed over to put my jacket on when started laughing at me. "What?" I spat.

"You're still wearing you're swimsuit!"

My face suddenly got as hot as an oven and I covered it as I ran to my room. Dammit, what the hell am I even doing? I don't like him, I don't like him but why the hell do I even feel this way? I pulled on a white sweater and some cargo pants, I brushed my hair. For some odd reason, I ended up spraying some Japanese cologne I'd gotten as a present from Rei before I graduated.

"It's a beautiful scent!" He'd told me.

"Rei-chan, how can a smell be beautiful?" Nagisa asked.

"It just is!"

I missed them a lot, now that I thought about it. My days at Iwatobi were a memory now. I still remember when we'd first opened up the swim club, when Rei joined, when Rin and I raced for fun. . . the good days were the best memories. But those bad times when Nagisa almost had to quit, when Rin was emotionally unstable, when Makoto and I fought.

When Makoto and I fought.

Stop thinking about that. Stop.

"Haru? You ready?" Makoto called, knocking on the door. I stepped uout and slipped on my coat, rushing passed him. He smiled at me as I opened the front door. "You look adorable in that jacket."

"T-thanks," I stuttered. Who even says that to their best friend? He hurried ahead of me and grabbed my hand.

"Let's go!"

Yo guys! Monty here ^^ Sorry I haven't posted a story in ages! I had writer's block for a long, long time and some stuff in real life to deal with as well. If you haven't already watched the anime Free! make sure to watch it! It's really good and sad as well. This story is Haru and Makoto's college life and experiences they come to see; both good and bad.

What did you think of this chapter? Leave a comment!

Stay tuned!

-Monty