[FREE!] Running

[manubibi]

Titolo: Running
Fandom: Free!
Personaggi: Nagisa Hazuki, Haruka Nanase
Genere: fluff, introspettivo
Avvertimenti: in inglese, missing moment,
Parole: 573
Note: per il compleanno di una cara amica ^^ visto che comunque non c'ho dindi e non posso comprarle il merch ;A;

"Friends!"

"You're too loud, noisy, embarrassing."
"We do not like you, not really."
"We don't need you."
"You are not useful."
"You're too slow."
"Go away."

Hearing those things from them, it would make him want to lower his gaze on the bright, colorful shoes he always wears and sob, and cry. He would pretend instead, he would laugh at a joke that's not there, because he would be the joke. He would make fun of himself for thinking they are 'friends', that they like themselves when they're with him enough to keep him around.
It's hard to keep up, but he never wants them to think such things. Not that they would anyway, and he never wants to allow himself to linger on these nightmarish fantasies for too long.
He should keep on running, keep up with them, never be a weigh on their shoulders, never slow them down.
He should glide sharp and fast through the water and air, even when he has to do it alone, to be more like them. When they tell him he did a good job, he smiles swelling up with pride for a moment. When they don't, it's alright. He should do better. Run faster, swim smoother, be funnier. Be amazing just like they are.
"If I keep swimming on and on, just like you, will I get a beautiful tan like yours?"

"Nagisa... You're fine just the way you are," Haruka mutters unexpectedly, his voice almost too low for him to be understood.
Nagisa's head whips around, his eyes find him and ask questions. Did he hear it right? Was that a good judgment? Was it just about his paleness or about something else?
"Eh? Did you say something...?" He asks, and his gaze brushes right past Haruka's eyes hiding a bit of frailty there.
"No, it's- nothing," Haruka finally replies, and his blue eyes lower shy as he walks away.
Nagisa heard it. He is sure he heard it. He already is amazing, Haruka said. His eyes widen, showing a heart swollen all of a sudden, and his smile radiates around them, against the world. The tips of his toes wiggle inside his shoes, they take him rushing out as the pervasive, intense smell of chlorine leave room for the fresh spring air.
"You’re so weird!" And that is not bad, not with Nagisa. "Hey, Haru-chan! Let’s swim heaps this summer!" He peeps, tying his hands behind his back because showing too much happiness or boldness would jinx it for sure, wouldn't it?
But it's okay. If Haru-chan thinks those things, then it's alright. It means he's alright. His fingers hover next to Haruka's. Too bold. The pace of their steps slows down.
However, he grasps on them anyway, and their hands touch delicate. It would look like they are afraid but that is not it: they link wrapping around each other finally. Haruka blinks once looking ahead like nothing happened, but a small blush soon appears on his cheek, turning the sunlight brushing on his face just a wee bit darker.
Nagisa's heart pounds, relieved by a few words, warmed up by the contact. It takes so little to feel so much better.

"Yeah... let's do that," Haruka finally replies, tilting his head to look at Nagisa with a big, sunny smile squeezed in his pure and soft eyes.
Summer seems to be already here, even if just for a fleeting moment.