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Samezuka Alum
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Post by Sousuke Yamazaki on Apr 10, 2016 12:35:57 GMT
 I don't think that's quite so true. Haru loves being in the water more than anything, and when it comes to that... I just can't compete. I can't keep up with him as well as someone like Rin can. I think I've done everything I can for Haru now. It's going to be Rin that pushes him to be his best now and to keep him on track.
A low sigh left the small gap left between his lips, voicing his own confusion. The way Makoto doubted himself, doubted his own abilities in the water made Sousuke frown. It made his stomach twist and turn, unable to point out the last person who'd doubted his own skills. He'd seen him the water, the backstroke and how powerful it was. Even the slightest part of Sousuke felt jealous because he didn't have the same strength of diving perfectly in the water. If he didn't have the skills, he wouldn't have surpassed other swimmers who did the backstroke in the water.
He knew what he was about to say next would wound his untouchable pride, but he knew it was necessary. "Nor can I compete with Nanase," he admitted, voice low, but calm and collected as if he was commenting about the weather. "But I don't doubt myself, you don't swim freestyle, Makoto. Maybe in one occasion if you choose so. But your backstrokes, they are the source of your strength. For once, think about who'll push you to your best, but I do feel like you're already there on your own. Your friends are the source of your strength, so don't try doubting yourself now." Honestly, it gave him a small scare when he thought about how talkative he was just about now, but he didn't take anything back and he never will. If it could help set Makoto's mood on the right path ahead of him, then it was worth breaking his own speech limit.
Thank you, I'm not sure anything is going to really help the situation, but I really do appreciate it, and if I think of anything at all, you'll be the first I come to for help.
Sousuke could only nod, feeling a light tug in his heart, one that he couldn't define, maybe because the sound of Makoto's chuckle warmed him up, or it was something else that he couldn't pinpoint, not alone. "Two promises in one day, better not forget them." He teased lightly, a small smirk twisting over his lips. Maybe way later, he'd actually agree on swimming and the second person, after Rin being the first, he'd ask to swim with him would be Makoto. It would be nice to compete with someone who was strong and almost unstoppable in the water.
He watched the other move to throw his own can, Sousuke was the first to start walking, a slow pace was set by him to be careful about not making the other jog. Only a few steps separated them from walking side by side. That great coldness next to him was slowly replaced by the essence of Makoto's presence. That strange feeling came back in a rush once more and he willed himself to push past it, afraid of digging deep to learn more about that feeling and the true meaning behind it.
You should smile more often, Sousuke. It's a good look on you.
Sousuke broke into a soft laugh at that, shaking his head. "Are you flirting with me in our first date, Makoto?" He said, arching an eyebrow, almost looking serious, but his lips soon failed him at keeping away that smile from taking back over his lips. "I should be the one to talk about smiles, yours is a good look on you as well." He teased back lightly, keeping the aura around them humorous by returning the teasing back to Makoto's ground.
"Speaking of which, do you want to grab some coffee later after you're done with your classes?" Then he noticed how that sounded like. He quickly shook his head, "It's not a date, because that would suck, you deserve a date better than rusty coffee." That sounded even worse, Sousuke.. His mind scolded him and he gave a light shrug of his shoulders, clearing his throat to try and sound more.. calm. "It's just coffee." Sousuke explained, or at least tried to. "Unless you're busy, It'd also be okay with me?"
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Iwatobi Alum
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Post by Makoto Tachibana on Apr 10, 2016 14:48:02 GMT
How'd we drift so far away from where we left off yesterday?
I'm lonely like a castaway Nor can I compete with Nanase.
Makoto looked over at him, unsure of whether or not that was actually true. If it hadn't been for his injury, who knows what Sousuke would have been capable of. Even with it, he was incredible. Makoto really wished he could have seen him before his shoulder had started acting up. He was a force of nature now, and Makoto could've only imagined how he must have been. What he could have been in the future. It saddened him too much to continue with that thought phase, and he decided to push that down to continue on with the time they were spending together without making it so negative. He just wanted to make Sousuke happy. He wanted to make everyone happy, but it was feeling as though he was just bringing him down by where his thoughts seemed to head even if Sousuke was managing to bring him a little up.
And then it seemed as if Sousuke just continued to bring him up by the way he recognized his own skill at the backstroke in the water. It was his favorite way to swim, the one that made him feel the most comfortable and like he had the most control over everything. He enjoyed seeing the sky or the ceiling or whatever happened to be above him when he swam it. And he was right about the second thing too. His friends were the source of his strength, but the problem was that he'd gotten a little too far away from them lately. He needed them, and he needed to be around them so that way he'd be able to bring himself back down from where ever his mind was floating lately. It was hard to think about who would push him to his best. It had always been his drive to swim with Haru, but lately it felt like that'd changed since Rin had come back into the picture. Makoto just wasn't so sure who he really swam for anymore if he was being honest with himself. That was probably the deeper reason of why he just wasn't swimming at all anymore. Sooner or later he'd have to in order to further his career as an instructor, but it wouldn't be quite the same thing. He smiled at him, knowing that on some level, Sousuke's words were really exactly what he'd needed to hear in such a doubtful time in his life.
Two promises in one day, better not forget them.
Makoto laughed lightly. "Like you could be so lucky." His smiled big at him. "I won't forget," he reassured him. "You're stuck with them." If nothing else they were an excuse to get to see him later on again for some reason or another. He found he enjoyed his company quite a bit and really didn't want this to be the one and only time they'd actually interacted. The more promises, the better. Keep 'em coming. If he did, maybe he'd have a shot at at least being his friend.
Makoto walked only a couple of steps behind Sousuke, enjoying the feeling of standing near him. He wondered if this was how Rin felt walking around with someone like Sousuke all of the time. He wanted to experience more of it and made sure to catch up to him in order to be at his side while they walked.
Are you flirting with me in our first date, Makoto?
Makoto immediately felt his cheeks heat up, tinting pink. Was he flirting with him? It was sort of a foreign idea to him, but it wasn't like he didn't want to flatter him. He looked at Sousuke to try and read his expression to figure out how he was feeling about the whole thing. Another smile. A joke. Though he couldn't quite dismiss the pink color from his cheeks, he couldn't help but chuckle even if it sounded a little nervous. "I'm just being honest," He said a little quieter then before.
I should be the one to talk about smiles, yours is a good look on you as well.
Oh yeah. The pink in his cheeks wasn't going to be disappearing any time soon. Not with a comment like that it wasn't. He figured it was just a joke, but it was still something he liked hearing him say. Another nervous chuckle escaped him.
Speaking of which, do you want to grab some coffee later after you're done with your classes? It's not a date, because that would suck, you deserve a date better than rusty coffee. It's just coffee. Unless you're busy, It'd also be okay with me?
Yeah, the pink was still there. He stared at Sousuke's face as he spoke, trying to pinpoint exactly how he was supposed to respond. He frowned a little when he mentioned that it wasn't a date, even if he was unsure why. It appeared Makoto was a bit oblivious to how he was feeling in this situation. "I'd really like that," Makoto responded, pushing a smile back on his face with ease. "And you don't have to worry. I didn't think you'd be willing to ask be on a date quite so easily," he chuckled, teasing him a bit awkwardly to reflect his own nervous emotions. "I'm sure you're much harder to get then that." He shrugged his shoulders. "Coffee sounds great."
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Samezuka Alum
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Post by Sousuke Yamazaki on Apr 10, 2016 22:05:14 GMT
TAGGED: Makoto Tachibana | i'm so sorry this involves no long speeches ;w; let me know if you don't have much to reply to! Like you could be so lucky. I won't forget, You're stuck with them.
That would be a promise he'd be willing to keep, lock it somewhere in the depth of his mind with a reminder that would flash up whenever his eyes met the wild color of Makoto's eyes. It was funny, how his opinion changed quickly upon meeting him. It was easy to chat with him, he didn't have to try hard to match is words or try harder to comfort him. Sousuke wasn't the best when it came to comforting others with words or spilling his own problems. He'd kept his shoulder a secret for so long, afraid of seeing Rin cry about it. He knew his friend would cry, he was always quick to draw a small tear in his eyes, letting that drop roll down his cheeks. That pain was still there, it never left him. It was like a shadow he didn't want, always following him, in the dark and hidden in the light. To know the possibility of making, at least, one friend outside the swimming club of Samezuka's swim club was enough to tell him that maybe he was not a bad person, after all.
I'm just being honest,
Sousuke never really drew a blush on his cheeks or felt that heat tingling up to settle on his cheeks, heating the area until it is colored softly pink. Though his eyes poured out enough emotions that his lips didn't have to say or express through words. He'd almost called Makoto as 'Rin' quite a few times, still unused to that smile being drawn with someone other than his best friend. He grew fond of that meeting and hoped it would click yet again, perhaps away from Makoto's friends since they weren't on the same page, he preferred to let out that side of him only to one person while the others heard tales about Sousuke's smile to one of them. He was being honest, too. About the other's smile and how heart-warming it was. Almost as soon as he saw it, his own lips accordingly stretched into one as well. What the hell are you doing to me, Tachibana. A small brooding frown settled on his forehead, lightly tugging on the edges of his lips, unaware of his sudden brooding face, he was far too gone in his own thoughts to recognize that odd sensation clouding over his forehead.
I'd really like that,
For some reason, his heart ached. It nearly made his heart leap out of his chest to hear him accept the offer of getting something to drink later after their sessions. It wasn't like he agreed to go on a date with him though that would have made him even happier. He had to dismiss the thought of a 'date' with Makoto, thinking about himself as someone who didn't deserve that smile or bright smile that shone among the peers. He played it off cool by letting a small smile spread his lips, giving a somewhat curt nod.
And you don't have to worry. I didn't think you'd be willing to ask be on a date quite so easily, I'm sure you're much harder to get then that.
That brooding look came back, looking at the other in confusion. Was he doubting himself or something? He didn't really understand, but he didn't feel the urge to agree on that because he wasn't right. He had something to say about that, but he'd rather wait until the end so he'd say it and just.. walk away. For now, he remained silent and gave a quick shrug of his shoulders.
Coffee sounds great.
"Okay, let's meet by the University's interior, around four?" Sousuke said, his tone still calm and collected, trying to find the best way to make it work for both of them, knowing that doing it right after class wouldn't be nice as he'd probably be tired, getting some rest in between would be great and it would also give them time to change their clothes into something better. Then again, he had to remind himself quite a few times it was not a date. He should've just said that it was, maybe by then, his mind would be at ease. But he held a solid ground on taking Makoto out on a date -- he deserved to be taken somewhere fancy. Stopping his thoughts from getting any weirder, he was suddenly thinking about taking him on a date, they'd just met.. He went back on finishing the current task of taking Makoto to his class so he'd go back to his own.
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Iwatobi Alum
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Post by Makoto Tachibana on Apr 10, 2016 23:23:12 GMT
How'd we drift so far away from where we left off yesterday?
I'm lonely like a castaway Makoto looked up at Sousuke's expression as they'd walk, seeing it suddenly shift. He began to wonder if he'd done something wrong. He didn't want to upset him or make him uncomfortable. He wondered if perhaps he'd said to much. After pondering whether or not he should say something, he decided it would be for the best to not make him feel uncomfortable in his presence if that was what he was doing. "I'm sorry if I've over stepped with my comment." He smiled nervously, worried that he'd made him uncomfortable, but he said it as matter-of-factly as he could manage to keep anything from dampening the mood on a meeting that was proving to be pleasant as far as he was concerned.
As much as Makoto really appreciated all of the words that Sousuke had given him earlier, making him feel encouraged, he also enjoyed the silent side of him. He never pegged him for much of a talker, and the fact that he'd gotten the conversation he'd had with him earlier made him happy. It made him feel good to be able to get so many words out of a guy like Sousuke. He couldn't help but look up at the features of his face again. For every word Sousuke didn't speak, it just added to that whole intriguing mystery vibe.
Okay, let's meet by the University's interior, around four?
Makoto smiled brightly and nodded. "Alright, sounds like a plan." He was excited to get to go out for coffee with Sousuke even if deep down he was wishing it would actually be a date. He felt silly for wanting something like that, but he couldn't seem to help himself. He wondered what Rin would say if he knew he was developing a crush on his best friend. He swallowed hard, not realizing that he'd just admitted to himself that he did, in fact, have a crush on Sousuke. He could sense it brewing in the back of his thoughts when he'd seen him around Rin during high school times, but now that he'd talked to him on his own, it was hard to deny. His cheeks were tinted that pink color again, but mostly it was just from his own thoughts that he really couldn't risk saying out loud.
They were approaching his class a lot sooner then he wanted, causing him to frown for a brief moment. "Hope your class isn't too far away from mine." He was still a little worried about making Sousuke late as he dreaded the sight of the door of his own classroom only a moment's walk away.
| | 437 words | :3 I had plenty, it was great. ;-; I loved it. |
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Samezuka Alum
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Post by Sousuke Yamazaki on Apr 11, 2016 13:19:44 GMT
I'm sorry if I've over stepped with my comment.
Sousuke was puzzled for the first few moments until he came to realize that he had a brooding frown on his forehead that might have dampened the mood around them. He quickly dismissed it was a shake of his head, his hand slowly coming up to rub circles over the nape of his neck, a sheepish motion for someone who looked mysterious. "No, you didn't. I was just, lost for a moment," he explained, regaining his calm tone, hoping that there could be enough time or actions that could fix that sour mood. He willed himself to snap out of whatever thoughts that threatened to crawl back into his weakened mind, knowing it would be better for him to fix only at this moment with nothing else bothering his mind.
Alright, sounds like a plan.
He nodded at that, agreeing with the other's words. "Okay, good." Sousuke offered back, looking over his shoulder to mainly trace his eyes over the side of Makoto's face before he came to realize he was rudely staring at someone who didn't notice him. It made him feel slightly creepy and with that thought haunting and taunting him, he quickly averted the other's face and looked ahead of them, watching as the students slowly went back into their respective places and soon enough, he'd do the same.
Hope your class isn't too far away from mine.
"No, it's not. It's pretty close, actually." It could be considered a white lie, but it was more than enough to brush away the other's concern of making him arrive late to his class. He didn't want their meeting to end, but the mere promise of meeting again made him accept the fact that he was about to drop the conversation and allow the other to head back to his rightful place. "I'll see you later, then." That was better than 'bye', to him at least. Goodbyes never earned a respectful place in Sousuke's heart, he never really said it to Rin when he left.
He turned around to walk away before he stopped in his tracks, turning around slowly to look at Makoto. "Tachibana." He called out, voice slightly dry. "I never wanted to go out with someone before," he breathed softly, eyes trembling for a second. His expression was stoic and slightly unreadable, completely different from that humorous face he wore with Makoto not too long ago. "But then, I came to realize maybe I'm tired of being like this." He said, looking down at the ground. "It's worth a try. With you." Sousuke said, allowing another rare smile to slip on his lips, it shouldn't be considered rare anymore, not with the many times he'd done it with Makoto. "See ya later." With that, he fully turned to walk away to his own class.
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Iwatobi Alum
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Post by Makoto Tachibana on Apr 11, 2016 21:12:45 GMT
How'd we drift so far away from where we left off yesterday?
I'm lonely like a castaway No, you didn't. I was just, lost for a moment.
Makoto smiled lightly. "Good, you scared me for a moment." He chuckled nervously before turning back to face the direction they were walking. Even though Makoto seemed like he was usually so good at saying the right things, there were times when he was just so lost in his mind that he was winging it. He felt pretty confident that he was able to keep up a strong outward appearance during those moments though. Even if everything was all scrambled around in his brain lately, he was doing his best to keep on just as he always had.
No, it's not. It's pretty close, actually.
"Oh, good." The smile was kept on his face, and now the worry of making Sousuke late was gone. It felt nice to be walking side by side with someone. He'd been by himself since he'd started here, and he hadn't actually really been around Haru either. Still, this felt different then it did with Haru. It felt... nicer. He felt a little bit guilty about thinking that someone he barely knew made more exciting company in the moment then his best friend since childhood. He just had a strange feeling in his stomach, one that most people referred to as butterflies, and he kind of liked it. It's not like that meant he was saying he didn't appreciate Haru or anything of that nature.
I'll see you later, then.
Makoto nodded as he stopped near the door way of the classroom. "Looking forward to it," he admitted, not wanting to say goodbye but knowing that at least he had something bright in his future. He hoped that didn't make him sound too eager. Makoto wasn't really sure how to go about situations like this. How did people act around people they liked? It was all kind of foreign territory for the brunette.
Makoto turned around to walk into the classroom just as Sousuke started to turn to go his separate way. However, he stopped and turned his head back to him at the sound of his last name.
I never wanted to go out with someone before.
Makoto's face was questioning, trying to read his expression as he eagerly waited to know what he was going to say next. He wasn't entirely sure where that was leading to, and it made him wonder if Sousuke was the type who liked to fool around and not actually date. He was embarrassed to even think about such a thing, but Sousuke was a really cool guy. The only shame was that Makoto actually wanted to date him, he was pretty sure of that now. He gave him strange feelings that he'd never really experienced. Makoto had never been with anyone in any way, always too focused on his friends and swimming. In fact, he'd never even been asked out. He didn't put too much thought into it, but he figured it was because he was too tall or something like that in which others might find unappealing.
But then, I came to realize maybe I'm tired of being like this. It's worth a try. With you.
Makoto's cheeked were undoubtedly bright pink as he stared at Sousuke's smile after hearing those words. He had no idea what to say, but he could hear his hear start thumping just a little bit faster in his chest. His nerves were beginning to bunch up. Did that mean... Sousuke did plan to date him? Maybe if he still wasn't considering the coffee thing a date he'd ask him out for real after. He pressed his lips together, suddenly feeling very hopeful. He wished he was man enough to just ask him, but Makoto was far too nervous about the entire situation. There was also that thought still pressing at him that Sousuke was out of his league, despite what he'd only just said.
See ya later.
With that, Makoto realized that he hadn't even responded to him. "H-have fun in class!" He called after him, eye twitching slightly at how dumb it sounded. Yeah. He definitely wasn't on Sousuke's level of cool. Still, a smile spread across his face as he thought about what he had said before turning and walking into his classroom and then disappearing on the other side of the door.
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