Pool Rules [Haruka x Reader]

It felt so good. The water caressing  her skin, welcoming her body felt so good that she was able forget about the loss for a while. The air bubbles escaping her mouth disappeared as they reached the surface. Something so basic was so beautiful and ephemeral, and she wondered why they reminded her so much of human life.

[Name] was digressing, her mind was traveling to faraway places, and it shouldn’t be like that; not now. Not with them present. That was the reason why she surfaced, leaving the pleasing embrace of the water behind. However, the girl didn’t even dared to step out of the pool. She heard her friends talking, saying that it was already too late, that they had to get changed, and she was sure she heard Makoto offering his help. Unsure if what she heard was right, she just shook her head.

The door of the dressing room closed and the female felt a wave of relief wash over her body. They left her alone, alone to let the suffering bloom. And not too long after, she started crying. Tears were escaping her eyes and there was nothing she could ―or wanted to― do to stop them. It was her first time losing a family member, and the pain oppressing her heart was too strong for her to handle. She wasn’t going to ask someone for emotional support, though, she wasn’t that desperate.

Being too engrossed in her thoughts, the [h/c] haired girl didn’t notice her upperclassmen approaching her silently. Haruka stood there, watching how she hid her face behind her wet locks. Saying that he knew what was going on was a lie, but he indeed noticed something was wrong with [Name].

He shivered when he heard a soft sob.

There it was, rolling soundlessly down her cheek: a tear. The swimmer was confused, and found himself lost. He wasn’t sure what was happening inside of him, why his body felt so tense, the reason why his mind was completely clouded. He needed to say something, anything.

“Don’t cry.” He murmured.

She looked up, surprised, and the male averted his eyes.

“You aren’t allowed to cry in the pool. Come out.”  His voice was serene as always, but there was something different on his face. Was he… nervous? The girl wondered.

However, she did as told, and taking the male’s hand she left behind the liquid’s embrace. She stood there, eyes glued on the ground. And the ravenette did his best to come up with something else.

“It’s ok. To cry, I mean. Sometimes.” It came out more awkward that he intended to.

He continued talking nevertheless. “But not in the pool, because if the water accepts you, it’ll make you, somehow, feel at ease. You shouldn’t cry in there, because you'd be belitling the water's effort to calm you.”

“You can cry in a pillow, a blanket... or even in someone’s shoulder.” The girl remained silent, but he noticed her muscles relaxing. “You don’t have to tell me what’s wrong, you know.”

That was it.

Before he could even react, the girl pressed her forehead in his shoulder blade and hid her face underneath her silken tresses. She started sobbing, and the swimmer felt warm droplets going over his chest. He didn’t dare to move and disturb her, though, so he let them roll and make their way to his swimsuit. After a few minutes of hesitation, Haruka decided to place his hand on [Name]’s head, in an attempt to… console her? He wasn’t sure why he did it.

He wasn’t sure what was going on inside of chest, neither ―something bubbly and warm?

The female couldn’t think in another thing. She was now crying in her upperclassman’s shoulder, his hand resting on her head, and she swore she felt his fingers move in circular motion, stroking her hair. Was this ok? Was accepting his help correct? She wasn’t sure if it was.

She was indeed sure that she felt safe  in his arms, though.

After five more minutes, after pouring all her grief and pain, the female straightened and met his ocean blue gaze. With a quick movement, Nanase erased the wet trails of her face. And her lips curled upwards for the first time in the day.

“Thanks, senpai.” She laughed softly as time Haruka looked at the dressing room’s door.

“It’s ok. You should go change. You’ll catch a cold.” He replied with his usual monotonous tone.

She hummed in response and gave him a quick ―and a bit awkward― hug, before closing the door behind her.

He stood there, alone, and looked the hand he used to caress her skin. It felt warm, like his chest before.