HS2C02: Run

'Synopsis: Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana question whether or not to join the school's swim club. Natsuya Kirishima, Ikuya Kirishima and Nao Serizawa make a first appearance in the story. Haruka finds happiness running on the beach with Makkou, his dog.'

Recess begins and Asahi Shiina shows up at Haruka's desk. Haruka doesn't know why this happens daily, but doesn't say anything. Asahi is annoying, so when he again asks about swimming a medley relay, Haruka tells him he doesn't do relays. Asahi carries on and Haruka thinks it's useless arguing with someone who doesn't listen when you speak to them.

Kisumi Shigino breaks into the conversation to say that they seem to be getting along. Haruka isn't pleased about that. Kisumi goes on about the girls who always flutter around him and, indeed, girls are staring at Haruka and Asahi with withering looks.

Asahi attempts to tell Kisumi that a man's worth is here and here: pointing to his arms and chest. Haruka wonders why the head is excluded. Kisumi chimes in that Makoto is joining the basketball club and this irks Haruka, though he doesn't know why.

Yuzuki Tomo approaches and chides Haruka for not being more assertive in classroom activities and because when he says, "I don't mind" to new ideas, all the boys do the same, so none of the votes feel genuine. When she leaves, Haruka is relieved. The last thing he wants is to be trapped in new ties again.

Yuzuki is made class representative and immediately starts assigning roles to the boys. Kisumi is made the male class rep and Asahi, the animal caretaker assistant. Neither object. Haruka is made library assistant, along with Nii Satomi for the girls.

Makoto meets up with Haruka and just as he begins to speak, Kisumi appears out of nowhere and wraps an arm around Makoto's shoulders, reminding him about basketball. They head off towards the gym. Kisumi turns to look back at Haruka and sticks out his tongue. Haruka has no idea why.

When Haruka reaches home, the dog is gone, only to be found waiting beside Haruka's front door. Haruka changes and heads to practice, the dog following once more. When he reaches the ISC, Nagisa Hazuki again clings to him, asking about Makoto. Haruka remembers Kisumi sticking out his tongue at him, then forgets about it. He moves away from Nagisa and dives into the pool, where he feels most comfortable.

All of a sudden, memories of the relay arise. What was he thinking about at that time? Not times, not winning – just swimming. But then the sight of them winning comes to mind and maybe, just maybe, that could only happen with those three boys. It truly was a sight he'd never seen before. He finally gives up thinking about it and just swims.

When he exits the club, the dog is waiting. Nagisa joins them and asks about giving the dog food. Haruka is glad Makoto isn't there to tell Nagisa that Haruka looked like he was having fun feeding the dog. That would be totally embarrassing. Nagisa is worried and Haruka unexpectedly agrees to keep the dog, adding that Makoto insisted, though he did not.

As they run home, Nagisa fools around with the dog, but not Haruka. When they reach Haruka's house, Nagisa reveals that he once owned a dog named Dick that died. So sad. Just like when the medley team broke up. So so sad. Nagisa adds that friends can be like that, too. Haruka doesn't know how he feels about that, so he simply looks away.

The following morning, Makoto meets Haruka and they walk to school. Haruka thinks that Nagisa has given him too much advice on how to take care of the dog. It's annoying. Then Makoto asks about a name and Haruka replies, "Makkou." It's very much like Makoto's name, but that's just how Haruka wants it. Makkou it is.

At lunchtime, Asahi again sits with Haruka, along with Kisumi. Haruka thinks that his peaceful lunch is no longer peaceful. Asahi knows that Haruka swims so he tells him that if he joins the school's swim club, he won’t be able to swim at the ISC. Kisumi again tries to enlist Haruka into basketball without success. Asahi keeps insisting on a relay, saying that Makoto thinks he can do both basketball and swim club.

That's when everyone's attention is drawn to a figure running outside. The boy is older, has a good running physique and is named Natsuya Kirishima. Haruka knows that name, but before he can recall why, Yuzuki forces him to help put away pots and pans in the Home Economics room. Haruka thinks it has nothing to do with his library duties, but that's how it happens that he sees the school's pool through the window and sees Makoto and Natsuya lifting weights poolside. Are they both in the swim club? It's confusing.

After school, there is a meeting for the library assistants, the chief assistant being Nao Serizawa, who was also excercising at the pool. Is he a member, too? Yes, yes he is. Nao explains all the library assistants' duties and Haruka is not sure if he can remember them all, but feels he will remember over time.

As he walks home from school, Makoto and Aki Yazaki come running up to him. They converse until a figure slips by nearly crashing into Haruka. It's Ikuya Kirishima who doesn't apologize nor stop. Haruka mentions Ikuya's name and both Makoto and Aki are surprised. Haruka asks what kind of guy he is and the two tell him: sullen, always alone, hard to get to know. Haruka is sure he's seen those dark shining eyes before.

The next day, Haruka gets up early to walk Makkou. When they get to beach, Haruka removes the leash and runs beside the ocean. Makkou splashes around him and it makes Haruka happy. Maybe owning a dog isn't so bad after all.

Taking care of Makkou means Haruka doesn't go to the ISC for four days and, finally, Nagisa appears on his doorstep looking forlorn, then crying. He confesses that he misses Haruka and Makoto and feels lonely at swim club. Lonely. Haruka realizes for the first time, that this is what he feels in the water when no one else is with him.