The school year had really only just begun when Haruka was told rather abruptly by his parents they were transferring him to an all-boys prestige high school; far from where he was now and apparently paraded an elite swimming program. His parents didn't give him any time to process the sudden news or even allow him to decline the request as they arrived on his doorstep the next morning. Haru would have argued furiously with his parents, demand they leave, and let him live the life that they had so valiantly left him too. But, Haru knew better, however hard he would push and protest, the harder they fired back, belittling him until he's a squished ant beneath their boots. Haruka silently and obediently followed them- suitcase in hand- staring longing at Makoto's home as he passed by it. Haru had only just managed to send a message to his best friend before his parents had confiscated his mobile. His parents were selfishly cruel and strict; yes. Hated emotional and pointless relationships? Definitely. Their parents had arranged their marriage, and it was their apparent duty to provide an heir to the Nanase line. As he hesitantly closed the door of his father's rather expensive car, he watched the house he lived in for more than ten years disappear from sight.

After almost two hours of silence, with only the humming sound of the engine filling the awkward tension, Haru finally spoke.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To the top swimming school in the country." His father answered like it was obvious. "Having such a talented swimmer for a son, there was only one place to take you."

Haruka rose a brow in scepticism and turned back to watch the scenery pass by in a hazy blur. His thoughts unwillingly led to Makoto. Haruka shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Nagisa and Rei. As much as he enjoyed his own sullen company, those boys were a part of his life, he wouldn't dare replace. A small vibrating noise echoed in the car, and Haru turned to find his small green mobile shaking in the cupholder. Rin's name was lit up on the screen. The redhead would be devastated and exceptionally angry, scarily furious. Haruka silently shifted, flickering his eyes to the rear-view mirror before reaching for his phone. He was but centimetres away when his mother seized his phone and sighed disappointedly.

"Oh, Haru honey. You don't need this anymore."

Haruka watched the women delicately place the device in her rather expensive and hideous handbag and offered him a sickly-sweet smile. Haru grimaced slightly before he nodded and leaned back, and stared up at the ceiling of the car.

"Here we are, honey." Haru's mother announced merrily. Haruka wordlessly got out of the car and stood rigidly beside his father.

"It's in a perfect position." His father announced proudly. "Not five minutes from your school, and not far from my work." He slung his arm around his son's shoulders.

"It's very far from my school actually," Haru muttered and clenched his jaw.

"Haruka, you need to let go of that life." His mother came up behind him, handing the boy his case. "You're about to start a whole new existence, here, with us."

His parents walked hand in hand towards the house, leaving Haruka to stand motionless outside, his hand felt numb around the handle of his suitcase.

This was happening. This was now his unthinkable reality. He wasn't in Iwatobi anymore. Nowhere near Samezuka either. From what he heard from Rin's constant prattles, Riendea were the swimming champions. They have won consecutively for the past thirty years, in almost all events.

"I don't want a life with you," Haruka sighed before heading inside after his parents.

Dinner was unsettlingly silent. Haruka, refusing to even acknowledge his parents' presence as he pushed the rice around the bowl. He left after hardly touching his food, heading to his bedroom. His eyes caught the sight of his mother's handbag as he entered the hall, and flexed his fingers. Haruka walked over, checking over his shoulder, expecting to find his parents preying on his movements. He quickly grabbed his phone and walked swiftly and quietly up the stairs. Rummaging through his suitcase, finding a notepad and pen, he opened his contacts on his mobile. He quickly wrote down the minimum numbers he had. Makoto, Nagisa, Rei, Rin. His hand stopped when he scrolled to the last name on the list. Sousuke.

"It's for emergencies, Haru." Makoto had said. Haruka hadn't wanted Sousuke's number, much less wanting to acknowledge his existence. Makoto had insisted, and Haru had folded, knowing he and Rin were not always available.

Haruka sighed heavily, it was inevitable that Makoto would be annoyed if he didn't keep the butterfly swimmer's number. He scribbled it roughly down on one of the pages at the back of his notebook. Haruka let out a yawn, his tired eyes threatening to close. He snapped the pad closed and padded over to his bed. He flung himself onto his stomach and fell asleep almost instantly.

When he woke that morning to his mother gently rocking his shoulder, he smiled warmly. It had been many years since his mother had awoken him with her soft voice and calming eyes. He couldn't deny that he'd missed this. But then he remembered all that'd was happening, and he frowned. As much as he had missed his mother's face, nothing could beat the continuous visits from Makoto. Every morning on the dot, a knock, a soothing voice, and a scolding glance.

"Come on sweetie. First day of school. Your father left your uniform downstairs."

Haru turned the corner, pulling loosely at his collar. His white shirt was far too constricting, shelling his neck like armour. His expensive-looking royal blue tie was too tight around his throat. His ocean-blue eyes widened considerably when he situated himself just outside the school gates. It seemed like a school from a romantic movie that Nagisa enjoyed. Its path was lined with grand trees; its purple petals falling gracefully to the ground. He was shoved in the shoulder as a boy, far taller than himself, passed by in a hurry. Haruka didn't mind and pulled at his collar again in irritation, attempting to stretch it out.

"Tried it, doesn't work."

Haruka turned to his right to find a tall, blonde boy, smiling genuinely at him. Haru rose a brow in confusion, which had the boy laughing and elaborating.

"Your collar. It won't stretch. It'll just ping straight back into place." The boy demonstrated; his collar flinging back to flick him on his cheek. "I'm Taekun Yagnima."

Haru let his fingers fall from his shirt, watching Taekun smile so warmly at him- it reminded him of his green-eyed friend. That smile that always made Haru let his guard down.

"Haruka Nanase." Haru introduced himself.

"What do you mean Haru's gone?" Nagisa asked.

"He's moved away," Makoto announced after the fifth time. Surrounded by both his own team and Samezuka's, Makoto had to break the saddening news to the teams. They didn't believe him at first. Rin giving him a playful slap on the shoulder, while the others wondered why Makoto would announce such a thing.

"He's really gone?" Nitori piped up, his light blue eyes dulling as he was the first to realise the backstroke swimmer was telling the truth. Makoto caught a lump in his throat and nodded slowly. The others began to sober and stared at Makoto in despair.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Rin snapped, taking a step back as he tried to process the reality.

"Haru's moved to Riendea," Makoto spoke, his voice cracking with emotion. "I went to his house this morning, and he wasn't home."

"So what? He could have gone for a run." Rin threw his hands up and tried to divert Makoto's accusation.

"Haru-chan didn't come to school today," Nagisa spoke, eyes watering. "Makoto-chan, you said it was because he was sick."

"I'm sorry Nagisa." Makoto frowned in guilt, "I hadn't accepted it yet, I don't want to."

Rin started to shake his head, whispering 'no' over and over. "This is not happening."

"Rin-senpai." Nitori placed a hand on his arm in comfort. Rin shook it off angrily and took one last glance at his team before he ran off.

Makoto felt a tear run past his cheek and jumped slightly when he felt pressure on his shoulder. He glanced behind him to see Sousuke eyeing him, his features betraying nothing.

"He'll cool down," Sousuke said as he watched his best friend disappear. He turned to the others before he crossed his arms, and sighed at them. "We'll see him at competitions."

Sousuke watched the others lighten up slightly at this but knew that their motivation and inspiration had disappeared for good.

Haruka came home that day with an unwelcome escort. Taekun Yagnima seemed to have taken a liking to Haruka, for reasons that were beyond him. He had shown him around; the classes, toilets, the gym, and the pool. It reminded him somewhat of Samezuka, and let a small smile grace his features. Rin would be so pissed.

"You like to swim?"

Haruka glanced up at the boy and nodded once. "Why else would I be here?"

The boy's eyes widened, "You raise a fair point. What stroke?"

Haru rose a brow and let the smile return, "I only swim free."

"Cool, I'm a butterflier."

"I can see that." Haruka opened his mouth without thinking which had the boy coughing awkwardly, and scratching the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Well, thank you for noticing." This response had Haruka smiling humorously as Taekun flexed his muscles. "Come on, let's get to class."

Lunch had Haruka meeting Taekun's friends. Four boys were just as tall as his new 'friend' and one much shorter. To Haru's surprise, they all welcomed him with open arms. For the first day of school, it was a success, and Haruka couldn't help but forget his life back in Iwatobi- if only for a second.

"Thank you for walking me home." Haru bowed, stepping up to his door.

"You're welcome Haruka."

"Haru." The freestyle swimmer corrected. "Call me Haru."

"Alright, Haru." Taekun smiled cheekily. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Haruka greeted his mother warily as he got inside, and he was received with a gripping hug and a soft smile. She handed him a small box and watched her son open it.

"A phone?" Haruka knitted his brow and looked at her quizzically.

"Yes, with a new life, you need a new phone." His mother clapped her hands together. "How was your first day?"

"Fine," Haruka replied his mind on his notebook upstairs. "I'm going to get changed."

His mother waved him off and Haru entered his room, slumping his bag on his desk. His hands found his book as he checked the door. He opened it- ready to add his friends' numbers- when his eyes landed on nothing. The page was ripped roughly from his place. He could see the remnants of the paper connected to the spine, and Haruka clenched his fists.

"Oh honey, I threw those numbers out." His mother popped her head through the door. "You don't need them anymore."

Haru watched her leave, flaring his nostrils as he threw the notepad across the room in temporary anger. He flopped on his bed and covered his eyes. He'd lost them. Makoto, Nagisa, Rei. Rin. Sousu-

Haruka bolted upright. Sousuke. He scrambled to the book and turned to the back. He flicked through, finding the page he had written the teal-eyed man's number on and sighed in relief when he saw the stained ink. He silently thanked his mother for not being thorough and grabbed his phone.

Sousuke's phone buzzed beside him. He glanced to find a number- along with a message- he hadn't seen before flashing on the screen. He looked away in indifference before a name caught his eye. He grabbed his phone and his eyes widened.

Unknown: Yamazaki, it's Nanase. If you get this, please reply.

His phone buzzed again.

Unknown: Don't tell anyone.

Sousuke rose a brow in surprise. Don't tell anyone. That meant he was the only one the freestyle swimmer had texted. But why? Surely he'd be the last person Haruka Nanase wanted to check upon. Curiosity getting the better of him, Sousuke texted back immediately.

Yamazaki: Nanase. What's going on?

He only had to wait a few minutes before he got a reply.

Nanase: Parents stole me away. Mum took my phone, gave me a new one and your number is the only one I could salvage.

Yamazaki: Do you want the others' numbers?

Nanase: No. My parents look through my phone every day. I can't afford to lose your number.

Sousuke's thumbs froze. What was he supposed to reply to that? He jumped in his skin when Rin suddenly called out to him and dropped the phone on his face. He quickly shoved it under his pillow and leaned up on his elbows.

"What?"

"I asked if you wanted to go for a run?" Rin sighed, stretching his legs.

"You went for a run two hours ago." Sousuke scolded. "You should rest."

"I can't." Rin glanced at the ground before leaving Sousuke staring after him. A buzz had Sousuke reaching for his phone and he froze again.

Nanase: Do they miss me?

He couldn't lie and say they didn't, they were all devastated. If he told the truth Haruka would feel guilty. He couldn't let Haruka waiting for long, he'd know something was astray.

Yamazaki: They do, we all do.

Nanase: Even you?

Yamazaki: Of course not.

In two rooms, in two different houses, in two different towns, two young men, one with teal eyes the other ocean blue, smiled.