Chapter Text
"Remember class, your midterm exam for this course is in 3 days. I expect only the best results from aspiring teachers, such as yourselves. The next time that I will be seeing you will be in the New Year so study hard and have a wonderful holiday. You are dismissed."
Makoto closed his notebook and gave a sigh of relief as the bell chimed, signalling the end of the seminar. He was just about done tucking his pencil case into his bag when the professor himself approached his desk. Makoto straightened and shook the professor's hand.
"Thank you very much for the seminar, Professor Iwanako."
"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Tachibana," the Professor replied in his gravely but kind voice.
"I'm looking forward to the hands-on experience component of this course in the New Year," Makoto said eagerly.
"As am I. For this class specifically, I have high mind to assign part-time coaching positions at local high school and public swim clubs, should your exam marks be sufficient," the Professor's tone growing harder at the mention of the exam.
Part-time coach. The word "coach" had a very nice ring to it.
"I am going to study very hard, it is only right, to repay you for your wonderful seminars."Makoto gave him a sunny grin.
The Professor gave a small smile. "Very good then, I wish you the best of luck. Until the New Year, Mr.Tachibana."
They shook hands once more and Makoto watched as the elderly man made his way back to his mahogany desk, opened up his large briefcase, and began to prepare his notes for the next group of students. Makoto zipped up his bag, tucked his red reading glasses into his shirt pocket, and shrugged into his thick green jacket. With a small yawn, he walked through the glass doors and began to walk through the bustling hallway. Wintery sunlight shone through the wide windows, casting shadows of snow covered trees and dancing snowflakes on the floor. The laughter and chatter of the other students pressed on his ears as Makoto turned on his cell phone.
You have: 3 emails and 1 voicemail
Makoto reached the end of the hallway, and quickly opened his bag to retrieve his scarf and gloves. With a small shove, he pushed open the sturdy front doors of the SPORTS EDUCATION building of the University of Tokyo. He gave a small wave and flashed a quick smile to any classmates or Professors that crossed his path as he made his way to the centre of the courtyard. A ring of wooden benches surrounded a small heated fountain, filling the cold air with the soft sounds of trickling steaming water. Makoto brushed off a bench and placed his bag on his lap as he pulled out his phone again to read the emails. The first one was from Nagisa but Makoto could tell that it was Rei who typed the message; he didn't type the customary greeting, MAKO-CHAN!. Rei instead had sent a very long and descriptive message concerning the state of Iwatobi's swim club.
In light of the snowy weather, Coach Sasabe has graciously allowed the club to use his pool until the new term. They have yet to discover the wondrous beauty that is my Butterfly stroke, I have promised the interested members a demonstration next practice. Nagisa is adjusting to his position as captain and is very diligent about everyone attending every practice. Although, Gou-chan is still chiding him about his obsession with the Iwatobi Special Bread, which he eats every other day. I hope for the club's sake, that he stays in top physical condition because the preliminaries are coming up so- MAKO CHAN! HOW ARE YOU?! HOW IS UNIVERSITY?! ARE YOU ACING ALL OF YOUR CLASSES?! HAVE YOU SEEN HARU-CHAN?! I HEARD THAT HE'S IN TOKYO FOR THE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE 500 METER FREE!
Haru's in town?
Makoto felt his face warm. The last time he heard from Haru, he and Rin were training overseas with an American team. Makoto hadn't seen him since the start of term.
ME AND REI ARE GOING TO HAVE A MOCK RELAY AFTER PRACTICE WITH THE SAMEZUKA SWIM TEAM! IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT! WE MISS YOU A LOT, PLEASE COME AND VISIT US SOON! - As I was saying, preliminaries are fast approaching and I have no desire to see my boyfriend lose his title as top breath stroke competitor. We've built up a new relay team too, Gou-chan is coaching them on the same training regiments she made us do.
Makoto gave a small cringe; Gou's training was intense.
Of course, Iwatobi will never have a stronger backstroke and free swimmer than you and Haruka-senpai but if my calculations are correct, our two relay members will reach the peak of their abilities by the 7th cycle of Gou's training. I will message you again soon for some tips for our new backstroke relay member. Have a Happy New Year!
For the Team,
Nagisa and Rei
Makoto felt the warmth of those three words wash over him. It was those three words that made winning Nationals possible and it was those three words that still connected the four of them together. An unbreakable team. Makoto brushed off some snow from his hair and clicked onto the next email, from Ren and Ran. It was a picture of them swimming at Coach Sasabe's club, goggles plastered on their foreheads and holding blue flutter boards. Makoto downloaded the image and immediately set it as his phone background. He closed his eyes for a second, letting the sudden bout of homesickness pass. He was going home for New Years, right after this exam. He would soon see their shining green eyes in person. Makoto clicked on the last email, from his study partner Mei-Chan.
MAKOTO-SENPAI <3
Uh oh.
I was wondering if you wanted to grab a coffee and have one more session before our exam? How does the cafe near the public library two days from now sound? <3 Email back ASAP <3 - Mei <3 P S: Toffee misses you a lot, almost as much as I do.
Makoto felt a familiar discomfort settle in; those blasted heart emoticons. Mei was always sending them and always asked to have a study session off campus. He'd begun to recall all the little things he'd been noticing with her over the past few weeks. Blushes, wide fluttering made-up eyes every time he looked at her, the way she held on to every word he spoke. The staring, that always creeped him out. Bringing up her beautiful adorable cat, Toffee, as an incentive? That was an all time low. Makoto sighed in frustration. How many times did he have to go through this? The first question his many female study partners would ask always had the same answer: I'm seeing someone. Which of course, led to the reoccurring questions of "Do I know her? What's her major? Is she really cute? Is she American?". Every answer to every question would be told with his trademark 'embarrassed' approach: full on blush and trembly voice that sadly, came extremely easy to him. "She is actually a he." And with that, he would apologize profusely and hurry away, hands over his face trying to rub the blush away. How many times did this have to happen until everyone got the message?
Makoto was contemplating a way to bring yet another girl down gently as he clicked on the voicemail button. He brought the phone up to his freezing ear and waited for the dial tone.
"Makoto, it's me."
Makoto felt himself turn bright pink and couldn't stop the wide grin to spread across his face. He took a breath to calm the warmth bubbling through him and tried to listen over his pounding heart.
"I hope I didn't call during a seminar, I know that your midterm exams are going to start soon. Maybe Nagisa told you, I'm in Tokyo for the Swimming Championships held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. I'm going to be swimming free and I would really like you to be there and come see me...as always,I'll show you a sight you haven't seen. Call me when you get this message. "
Makoto saved the voicemail, he always saved Haru's voicemails, and hit the speed dial button. The soft click on the end of the line set his heart racing again. He heard the sound of running water, the sound of a rustling towel. He stifled a laugh. Of course. The sound of water cut off abruptly.
"Makoto."
Smiling, he closed his eyes and gave his customary greeting.
"Haru-chan."
He heard a small splash, and Haru gave a small sigh.
"How many times have I told you not to call me that? Honestly-"
Haru paused. "Well... since it's you, I guess it's alright."
Makoto could picture the faintest tinge of a blush creep across his dripping face.
"So... I'm swimming two days from now at 6:30 PM. Do you think you can come?"
Makoto thought about his impending "study session" with Mei and Toffee, her beautiful adorable kitten. No contest here, he thought.
"I'll be there."
Haru sighed again, but Makoto knew he was pleased.
"Ok... sorry if this is short notice but I'm coming over to your dorm. I brought something for you from America."
The day just kept getting better. "Sounds perfect, come over anytime. I'll make some fried mackerel for dinner."
Makoto could definitely picture Haru's dark blue eyes beginning to sparkle, his blush growing deeper.
"Ok, I'll be there in an hour. I need to spend a little more time with the water."
The sound of running water started up again.
"See you soon, Haru-chan."
Makoto began to feel the warmth slowly leave him as he prepared to hang up. The sound of running water continued.
"... you can say it, if you really want to..."
Haru's voice echoed through the water sounds, as if he were speaking from the bottom of a pool. Makoto closed his eyes and felt the warmth return, rushing through him.
"I love you."
Makoto hung up quickly, and rubbed his red face. His breath clouded the air as he tried to slow his rapid heart rate. He picked up his bag and shook his hair of all the snowflakes. Time to get a hat, he thought faintly. He pulled his scarf tighter around him as he began to trek through the snow to student residence, blushing all the way there.