literature

Literature - Haruka x Reader: Unchanged

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    For as long as you've know him, Haru has never changed.

    The thought struck you suddenly as you discovered an ancient photo album hidden in the murky depths of the attic. Years ago, when you had first moved in, you had decided to stash away some cherished, but otherwise inoperative, memories. Now, as your parents were coming to visit you soon, you decided to clean even the most remote areas of the house, and that just so included the stuffy attic. But, as you took a short break to scan through the laminated pages of the flowery album, you decided that dusting the attic was more than worth it if you found such precious things every time. Wiping off the thick layer of dust, you flipped open the front cover and smiled at the picture and your messy, childhood scrawl. Although your letters were uneven, you were still able to make out the caption.
    "Me and my first friend!"
    You couldn't help but chuckle at the picture and your enthusiasm. It was obvious that you had dragged a reluctant Haru into the frame, and, while the picture itself was amusing, the story of how you first befriended him was even better.

    It was lunchtime on your first day of kindergarten in a new town, and you were about ready to cry. Having just moved to the area from [Your Country], you didn't have any friends to talk to. In fact, everyone either teased you about your strange, foreign accent or ignored you entirely. Any attempt you made to be friendly was shot down in a heartbeat, and you had all but given up. Reluctantly pulling out your lunchbox, you stared gloomily at the plain rice, stir-fried vegetables, and fried mackerel. 
    You hated mackerel.
    With a heavy sigh, you glanced around the cafeteria where all the students were gathered. Every table seemed to be filled to the brim, and you were just about to resign yourself to eating in the bathroom when you noticed a raven-haired boy sitting at a table in the far corner, all alone. Was this your chance? Your eyes lit up hopefully as your heart hammered against your tiny chest. Could you actually make a friend here? You hesitated. Looking back at your track record, it was highly unlikely that, out of nowhere, you would suddenly be granted a friend, not when you seemed all but destined to be a social outcast. But, you reasoned, like your mother always told you, it never hurts to try. So, straightening up purposefully, you approached the boy, a hopeful smile lighting up your face, and stopped before him, asking, "Can I sit with you?"
    The boy only stared at you impassively before going back to his lunch.
    Backtracking in a panic, you tried to figure out what you had done wrong to elicit such a reaction, or therefore lack of. "I-I mean, may I sit here? All the other tables are taken and I have nowhere else to go and I... I'll give you half my lunch!"
    At your loud, flustered negotiations, the boy seemed to take pity on you as he looked back up and, after a moment's consideration, nodded curtly. You sighed in relief, blatantly deflating as you took a seat opposite the boy. Opening your lunch, you cleanly parted it in half and offered it to the boy. "H-here..." 
    He observed it with keen, blue eyes before grabbing his piece of mackerel and leaving the rest untouched as he returned to eating without a word. You followed his example, and the two of you sat in tense silence until you tried to start a conversation: the key word being tried.
    "I'm [F/N] [L/N], what about you?"
    "Haruka Nanase."
    "Hi, Haruka. Nice to meet you."

    No response.
    "Hey, Haruka, I have a little request, if you don't mind."
    No response, again.
    "I just moved here, and I don't have any friends..." you paused, wondering if he would be offended by your straightforward question, although it didn't look as though he was paying much attention anyways. "So I was wondering if you'd be my friend."
    Yet again, no response. But he did stop eating in lieu of staring at you intently, as though sizing you up. And, as you fidgeted uncomfortably in your seat, Haruka's expression only seemed to get colder and colder, until you were sure he would reject you completely. But, just as you were about to collect your things and apologize for disturbing him, he simply said, "Mackerel."
    "W-What?" You watched him incredulously, unsure what the demonic, disgusting food had to do with the situation at hand. 
    "I'll be your friend if you give me your mackerel," Haruka explained, eyes moving away from your to look longingly at the fried fish.
    Processing that, your grin threatened to split your face as you replied, "Sure! Take it!" You could get rid of your least enjoyed food and get a friend at the same time? It was almost too good to be true. Gratefully handing the fish away, you finished the rest of your lunch in silence again, but, this time, neither of you felt any need to break it.

    Smiling fondly, you remembered how, originally, you thought Haru just didn't value friendship as much as the average child. But, soon enough, you learned that it wasn't that friendship didn't mean much to him; friend mackerel was just more important. Even now, he would do most anything to eat his precious fish. Turning the page, your mood dampened with the next picture.
    "Elementary Graduation."
    The letters were a little neater this time, but it were the faint tear-stains that told the real story. 

    "Are you guys excited?" You forced a weak grin, trying your hardest to fake some of your usual energy, although the occasional twinges of guilt made that harder than necessary.
    "Yeah, we're moving on to junior high school, huh?" Makoto sighed wistfully. "It's kind of sad, isn't it?"
    "Yeah..." you murmured quietly. "I get what you mean." 
    It was time for a new beginning, a new slate in a new school with new teachers, new classrooms, and new friends. Most of your classmates were excited at the prospect of branching out into a new chapter of their lives, but you just felt a growing sense of dread, because, for you, graduation didn't just mean you were going to a new school with new teachers, new classrooms, and new friends. You were leaving for a whole other country, one you hadn't been to for years, and you were downright terrified. Graduation was your deadline, and with only a few hours left on the clock, it was approaching faster than you were ready for. But you didn't want to spoil everyone else's good mood, so you steeled yourself and sucked it up. You were stronger than that. You could handle it. You wouldn't break. You couldn't let them know...
    ...but one look at Haruka and you knew the cat was out of the bag.
    He had always been smarter than people gave him credit for. Shooting him a shaky smile, you fought the sudden weakness in your knees as the school's loudspeaker announced that it was time to begin the graduation ceremony. By the look on Haru's face, you could tell that he wasn't convinced by your pathetic display, but it was too late anyways. As everyone began to file out of the classroom, you hurriedly left the boys behind, weaving in between other students as you hid yourself within the crowd. If you stayed any longer, you knew you would've cried.
    When the ceremony finally ended, you found yourself, once again, with Haruka as the two of you walked home together. But, with every step you took, you were held back by the heaviness of reluctancy and agitation. So you rambled, on and on, to fill the noiseless atmosphere and the expanding hole in your heart.
    "Wow, that ceremony was something, wasn't it? I never thought I'd see the class president cry! Oh, did you notice? I almost tripped going up to grab my certificate. I was so lucky that I caught myself in time. Honestly, if I fell, I would probably just roll away and never leave my house again. What about you, Haruka? Then again, I don't think you would be that bothered, not as long as you have fried mackerel with you," your mouth couldn't stop. You couldn't stop. 
    But Haru did.
    You were jerked to a sudden stop as he grabbed your wrist, holding on insistently as he grounded you to the spot. Then, before you could protest, his blue eyes locked with yours, his sharp, cutting gaze pinning down your tongue, and he said, "Stop."
    Swallowing thickly, your voiced wavered. "What?"
    "Stop." In the next instant, you saw a sudden flash of a simpler time, of when you were all alone, of when you traded a piece of fish for a friend, of when a raven-haired boy cared enough to give you a chance. In Haru's eyes, you found that same raven-haired boy from all those years ago. And you spilled everything. Grabbing Haru in a tight hug, you unabashedly cried as you choked out your fears and insecurities. What if you couldn't make friends in [Your Country]? What if, in the years you had been gone, everything had changed? What if you never made it to [Your Country]? What if your plane falls out of the sky? You unloaded all of your worries, and Haru listened to each and every one, no matter how ridiculous or unlikely. Finally, when you had no more tears left to spill, you hesitated to step away as you had one question left.
    "What if you guys forget me?"
    "We won't." Haru made no move to explain his reasoning, but he was certain. Makoto wouldn't forget you. Nagisa wouldn't forget you. Even Rin wouldn't forget you. And, most definitely, " I won't forget you."
    That was enough for you.
    

    When you got home, you forced Haru to take a picture with you. Graduation was a big event after all, but you didn't just want to remember moving on to junior high school. You wanted to remember the day you had to leave your best friend, and also the day that he promised never to let you go. Both of you had grown up in time, but, to this day, you still look to Haru as the boy who had let you cry into his shirt and lifted your burdens as though they were lighter than a feather. For as long as you've known him, Haru had been taciturn and quiet, but he spoke just the right amount to remind you that everything would turn out fine.
    Moving on to the following picture, you brushed your thumb over it fondly, recognizing the handwriting you employed in high school.
    "Welcome back!"
    Honestly, the first day you had returned to Japan, you were more nervous than ever. 

    "Hurry up, [F/N]! You're going to be late!" Your mother yelled at you from downstairs.
    "Just a second, Mom!" You hollered back, peering anxiously at your reflection in the mirror of your bathroom. "Uniform? Check. Hair?" You paused to fix some loose strands. "Check. Teeth? Check. Deod-"
    "[F/N] [L/N], you get down here right now! What is taking you so long?"
    "Okay, okay! I'm coming!" You abandoned your mental checklist as you rushed back into your room to grab your backpack before jumping down the stairs and running out the door.
    "What about breakfast?" Your mom shouted from your doorway.
    "I'm not hungry!" You replied, not bothering to glance back over your shoulder as you tore down the street, running faster than most of the bikers in the streets. You really weren't hungry, how could you be? It was your first day back in Japan, your first day at Iwatobi High School, and your first day seeing them in person after two years. Stopping abruptly to nurse a stitch in your side, you slowed to a walk as you panted, running a hand through your wind-swept hair. Would they still recognize you? Now, when you had lost your baby fat and grew your hair out, when you shot up like a weed the first summer you were gone, when you looked at old photos and could barely draw the link between the chubby, flushed toddler you once were and the tall, willowy high schooler you became. Surely, there was no way you could expect them to be able to, to hold them to a naive promise made years ago. But, a small piece of your heart, hidden far in the back, begged you to not give up hope. Hoping, however, did nothing to improve your state of mind. You were stuck between two possibilities: one, they would remember you as the best friend who had finally come back to them, or two, they wouldn't notice you at all.
    Frankly, you weren't too sure which option was better.
    After another few minutes of walking in silence, you arrived at school, barely on time, and proceeded to take a seat. Glancing around, you noticed that you couldn't spot any sapphire-blue eyes, and found yourself torn between thanking the fates or cursing them. It wasn't until school had ended, however, that you found yourself in actual turmoil. The entire day had gone back and you saw neither hide nor hair of Haru, and it worried you a bit. What if he didn't go to Iwatobi High School? What if he had spent an entire day expecting you, only to be let down as well? Or worse, what if he had saw you in the hallways and purposefully avoided you? The possibilities grew and grew, each darker than the last, until, finally, you were on the edge of bursting out in tears. You felt like a failure. You had failed yourself, and Haru had failed y-
    "Rei-chan, hurry up! We need to get to swim practice!" A blond-haired boy insisted as he dragged another glasses-clad boy through the hallways. "If we're late again, Gou-chan is going to throw a fit!"
    Swim practice? That rang a bell. Looking back on it, you recalled how Haru revered the water; he loved it. He would constantly get in trouble during elementary school for getting caught trying to immerse himself in the sink or playing around with the hose or even dumping out his water bottle over his head. He loved water, he loved to swim, and you had a hunch that he would take any chance to swim. So, stealthily, you followed the two boys out behind the school. Shortly after, you abandoned them when they walked into the boy's locker room, and you let yourself out through an open door only to be blinded momentarily by the glaring sunlight. 
    "Nagisa! I told you not to be late!" A fierce, red-haired girl screeched as she spun around, looking near angry enough to maul you before doing a double take. "W-who are you?"
    It was in that split second that you finally understood how illogical your plan was. In a fit of desperation, you had deluded yourself into acting before thinking things through. Now, you were stuck in an awkward situation: you were intruding on a private swim practice and, no matter how you might attempt to explain yourself, there was no easy way to smooth things over.
    "S-Sorry!" You apologized with a deep bow, very aware of the sudden flush of crimson in your cheeks. "I didn't mean to bother you! I'll leave now!" Turning back, you were just about to bid a hasty retreat when you bumped into a firm, shirtless chest. Stumbling back with another round of apologies, you tried to step around the other person when a large hand shot up and firmly grabbed your upper arm, holding you steady as they scrutinized your features. 
    "[Y/N]," a soft voice spoke. It wasn't a question; he knew who you were.
    When you also looked up and found a pair of dazzling blue eyes and raven hair; you also knew who he was.
    "Haru..."
    And all was right in your world.

   
After school, you invited Haru over to catch up. You had even had your parents buy fresh mackerel from the fish market, just for Haru. And he accepted quickly; he still loved fried mackerel, just like nine years ago. As you were walking home together, you entertained a seemingly one-sided conversation as you chattered nonstop about your life in [Your Country], about the friends you made, about the plane ride back, about how Japan hadn't changed at all, and about how you had never forgotten Haru, just like he hadn't forgotten you. And, while he didn't make a sound, Haru let you know he was listening in his usual manner. He nodded along, glanced at you occasionally, and, when you thanked him for keeping his promise, he smiled. Or, rather, the corners of his mouth twitched upwards ever so slightly, but you caught it, and it made you beam. He was still able to make you happy with the least words, just like three years ago. Emerging from a narrow alleyway, you narrowed your eyes against a sudden onslaught of salty mist as a sea breeze blew your hair around playfully. Although you had just seen it that morning, you couldn't help but pause for a moment to admire the vast ocean as it tumbled into the sandy shore. The waters had seemed so calm in the morning sun, but during the day it had woken up and was now crashing excitedly onto the beach as the sunset painted a beautiful backdrop of blues, reds, and indigo on the horizon. For a second, you thought you understood Haru's appreciation for the water, a dynamic, force of nature, but when you looked over you realized just how wrong you were. In Haru's eyes was an unidentifiable emotion. It was deeper than admiration, more complex than love... and you had seen it before. Almost as if he could read your thoughts, Haru turned to face you, meeting your gaze and confirming your speculation.

    From the moment he had looked away from the ocean to when he had locked gazes with you, the emotion in his eyes had never changed. 

    Haru loved the water, just like he always had, but it never bothered you. Because from that moment onwards, you knew, just like fate must have known years ago when it decided to throw two toddlers together, that he loved you too.

    That day was a day of many firsts. It was your first time walking home with Haru in three years. It was the first time you had brought a boy home, knowing that the two of you were more than just friends. It was the first time you held his hand. It was the first time you cooked fried mackerel. The list could go on and on, but, among those many firsts, there was always the boy who was your first friend, the pre-teen who held you on the sidewalk as you cried, and the teenager who loved you more than you had ever known. And as life went on, you continued to add to that lineup. He was the boy who took you on your first date, the college student who stayed up past 2 A.M. just to Skype with you, the young adult who helped you choose your first apartment, and he was the man who slipped a diamond ring on your finger and swore to honor you until death do you part. 

    "What are you looking at?" Your husband mumbled. He had crept up behind you when you were lost in thought and had caught you in his warm embrace, not that you particularly minded. Leaning back into him, you held up the album for his scrutiny.
    "I found this when cleaning out the attic. It sure brings back memories, huh?"
    He was silent as he flipped through the pages, until he reached the end where he stopped, reading the caption dutifully written down.
    "Forever and always."
    "I like that one too," you murmured, receiving a hum in response. Then, he pulled away, album in hand, before descending the step ladder into the living room below. Turning to follow him, you called out, "What's for dinner? I'm starving!"
    Haru replied monotonously, "Mackerel." 
    Honestly, you knew the answer even before you asked.

    For as long as you've known him, Haru has remained unchanged, but, you wouldn't have it any other way. 
[1]: For those who don't know, the standard in Japan is 3 years of middle school and 3 years of high school :)

Wow okay, I was planning to finish this earlier but then school started and AP classes just wrecked me... 

But this is my first time writing for Haru, and, honestly, it's really hard. Still, this is for the giant Free! contest, and I hope you guys like it!
© 2015 - 2024 heika-shi
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