**unedited**

Like I said, I was going to make friends on Monday. I entered the Sports Complex feeling confident and my fists clenched. That morning, Makoto and I had barely exchanged words because he'd left in a rush to meet up with Hannah and their friends. I was aggravated but I knew I could prove myself if I could make at least one friend today.

"Um, hello Nanase-san," Coach timidly greeted me. Today, she was casually wearing a neon orange shirt with tight black yoga capris. The everyday smile on her face had vanished and she looked like she'd been hit by a bus. I stared at her for a moment. She was unusually quiet and her face showed isolation. "We're just doing laps again and today uh," she paused and turned around, wiping her face with her hand. ". . .just working on breaststroke."

"Are you okay?" I asked, walking over. But she ran to the other end of the pool, helping out the rude guy's breastroke. I couldn't help but wonder why she'd been crying, but the thought evidently passed and I was back to reality within seconds.

"Runt!" The rude guy called from across the pool. "Alyssa wants to talk to you!"

I steadied myself and hurried over to Alyssa. Before I knew what was happening, she grabbed my hand and led me to the training room, locking the door behind her.

"W-what's going on?" I blurted. She burst into tears, and dropped her knees to the floor. "Coach!"

"I-I-I didn't t-t-hink I would have to tell y-uou this because y-you're my student b-but I told Sam so I'm going to tell you," she sobbed. It was clear now that Sam was the rude guy. "It's really sudden and I'm truly sorry f-for putting this much weight on you. Last night, I broke up with my boyfriend."

"No," I said, comfortingly. I was being so stupid, I had no clue what to tell her actually. "I'm. . . so sorry."

"Me too," she agreed, her voice cracking. "Again, this is so sudden and I'm really sorry an-"

I pulled her close to me and gave her a nice and long hug. What are you doing Haru? You're gay! GAY! GAY FOR MAKOTO STOP IT! But I couldn't let go of her and she hugged me back, her cries echoing in the room.

"Thank you, Haru," she whispered.

We both got up and exited the training room, only to be confronted by Sam. He practically hovered over me like a giant, his body like massive block of solid rocks. "Runt, Coach wants us to practice together."

"Y-yeah, okay," I said, shakily. "What are we doing?" Alyssa sniveled and shrugged off the tears, then said, "Just help each other out on your breakstroke."

"Got it," Sam said, and he dove in with an enormous SPLASH!

I stood outside watching him swim and he was doing it all wrong. After watching Nagisa swim for so many years, I knew the correct form, I just couldn't interpret it very well. "Sam!" I shouted, loud enough so that he could hear me underwater. "Kick your legs out a little bit more!"

"That's it!" Alyssa cried, jumping to her feet. She'd been sitting on the bench nearby, texting someone and now she was into it. "Great job, Haru, you seriously helped him!"

"I was just doing my job," I said, shyly. "Hey, can I ask you something?" She turned towards me, her hands on her hips, a perceptibly smile on her face. I twiddled my thumbs as I stuttered. "Do y-you maybe, uh, wanna go out for like coffee or something?"

Alyssa blushed and covered her face with her hands, spinning around. "Er, I'll have to get back to you, Haru," she replied. "I mean, your my student so it would be kind of weird, don't you think?"

"Yeah," I lied. I didn't have a problem with it whatsoever considering she'd been like a friend to me my time in Tokyo. "I get it." I started walking away to go get some water when she stopped me.

"But hey, Haru? Would this weekend on Saturday night be a good time?" I smiled.

"Yeah, I'd love that!" I said.

I'd just made a friend. Sort of.

***

Makoto's POV

"The answer is free!"

"Very good, Tachibana-kun," Sensei Hayamoto remarked. "You're a bright student aren't you. What high school are you from?" Suddenly, all eyes were on me.

"Um. . .Iw-watobi, sir," I replied. "It's back in-"

"Yes, yes, I have son who attend that high school. Quite a remarkable school, eh?"

"Yeah," I said. "I miss it." I let my words drift on in silence when Sensei Rei clapped his hands together.

"All right, now," he began. "Class is dismissed. Have a good lunch."

I gathered my belongings together and placed them in my backpack. The lecture halls were pretty big for a campus, honestly. The ceiling stretched up miles above me, its chandeliers soaring in the sky. I carefully escalated the stairs going back into the hallway and made my way to the cafeteria.

Usually, I met up with Haru to have lunch back in high school, but now I had almost no one. Except the lovely and precocious, Hannah Winters.

"Makoto!" She called. "Over here!" She was seated beside some our friends at a large, round table. I walked over with my brown paper bag and sat down next to Yui Adachi. "So-o-o-o, tell me about your class? Mine was super boring, ugh."

"It was alright," I said, hesitantly. For some reason, Haru's image kept flashing through my mind and I couldn't get him out of my head. What was he doing right now? Stop it, I scolded myself. He's probably out with his friends for lunch, that's all.

"Makoto?" Yui asked. She had a frail voice and was unbelievably petite for her age. "Um, we were asking if you wanted to come with us for Hannah's birthday party actually." I blinked, getting Haru out of my head.

"Oh! Yeah sure! When is it?"

"Saturday night," Hannah replied seductively. Her face flicked in my direction but I quickly averted my eyes. "It'll just be us, frankly. You can invite Haru if you want."

"Who's Haru?" Nao asked.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Kaori sneered. "Mako-chan's g-"

"No! It's not like that!" I blurted. Everyone glanced my way and I immediately said, "He's just my best friend, that's it. I'm not g-gay or anything." My cheeks flushed as I said it and Hannah beamed, throwing her arm around me.

"Awwww, you're too cute Makoto," she laughed. "We were just kidding." They all chuckled along with her and I awkwardly joined in, but I was annoyed.

"I don't feel good," I said, tossing my leftover sandwich crusts in the trash behind me. Everyone glanced my way and gave me funny looks. My voice wavered as I spoke. "I think I'll head home for now."

"You sure?" Yui asked.

"Are you sick?" Hannah added. "I could walk you home if you wanted a-"

"It's fine," I said, abruptly. She was taken aback and I instantly knew I'd hurt her feelings.

"Are we still good for Saturday?" She whimpered. I flicked my eyes in the opposite direction and shook my head. "Actually, for the longest time, Haru and I have been planning this nice dinner, so I don't think so. He would be so upset if I ditched him for other plans."

"I see," Hannah replied. I lowered my head and dashed out of the cafeteria.

As I came into the streets, I kept running until I couldn't feel my legs anymore. I ran down to the subway and waited for the next car, panting. When I reached my apartment, before opening the door, I stared up into the sky, the gray clouds like a storm waiting to attack. What am I doing?

MAKOTO SWEETIE NO DON'T FEEL THAT WAY! I can't really describe what he's feeling right now bc that'll like give away the entire story so just bare with me and don't ASK BC I WONT TELL YOU >:) //evil Monty laugh

This story is actually going somewhere!! Wow!! Never thought I'd get this far lololol

I'm really sad Christmas is over omg you have no clue this is like my favorite time of year :-( bUT MY BIRTHDAY IS JANUARY 11tH AND 2015 IS NEXT WEEK OMG

Lemme know your thoughts in the comments. Peace out homies (2014 is almost over and I legitimately haven't done anything productive can u blame me bro)

Stay tuned!

-Monty

p.s. haru is all mine guys all mine i own haru we have a child okay bye