[ swimming feels ] post episode-7

[dolfin]

[ It wasn't the temperature of the water that made Haruka shiver all down his spine. No. In fact, it wasn't even the words that came out of Rin's mouth, but the grin accompanying it when he said it. The fact he looked the happiest he had seen him since he left for Australia. That, coupled with the breaking of the only tie that held them together now that they attended different schools. If they couldn't' swim together, there was no reason, no excuse to see one another again. There was no fixing things. There was no hope in going back to a group of friends who swam together for the sake of swimming. There was no possibility of Rin ever turning back into the playful and rowdy young boy he had been that got on Haruka's nerves often but never failed to interest and keep him on his toes.

There would be no more Rin.

He'd return to feeling as dead as he had been since Rin had been hurt that first time. In fact, it was even worse. He had hoped to mend things, to show Rin he hadn't meant to hurt him and that swimming was something they had in common, that they were both passionate about, and apologize. But apologies were hard and saying, "I'm sorry" didn't cut it because he wasn't sorry about winning. He was just sorry Rin took it that way and that winning meant everything to him.

Haruka hoisted himself up from the lane, watching Rin leave, his heart down in the pit of his stomach. His eyes were a bit distant, hazy, and maybe chlorine had snuck its way in. He ignored Nagisa and Rei hesitantly approaching him, about to pile on the, 'you did great!' 'it's fine!' 'we're proud of you!' and 'are you ok?'. But instead he chose to speed up after Rin.

It couldn't quite end like this. ]