gosh i hope these two turn out canon.

the cover art by Himi

her tumblr URL is phobialia, if you wanted to know.

EDIT: after the second episode, i rewrote a bit of the beginning to accommodate Gou's inner fangirl :3

Makoto broke the surface of the water, enjoying the feeling of breathing normally as he shook his head to clear it. He glanced over to Haruka, who was swimming laps calmly. The public pool wasn't that crowded, but there were a few high school girls who lounging by the pool and a couple of families with small children.

I think those girls go to Iwatobi as well, Makoto thought to himself.

He place his elbows on the edge of the pool and looked at the pool's entrance. He blinked when he realized that Gou-or Kou-was shutting the gate behind her. He waved and beamed at her, calling out her name.

"Good afternoon, Kou-chan! Mind helping me out?"

She walked over to the pool side and held out a slender hand.

Gou has nice hands.

Makoto's large one engulfed her own and the petite girl was nearly pulled in trying to help him out. Makoto's taut shoulder and back muscles flexed and glistened in the midday sun. He could see the high school girls giggling and ogling at his dripping wet torso a few yards away.

He pulled himself up to his full height of six feet and grinned at the red haired girl in front of him.

Gou tried not to blush and stare at Makoto's chest. His shoulders were broad and finely sculpted, and his pecs could be a work of art. She tore her eyes away and willed herself to look at his eyes.

"What are you going to do here, Kou-chan? I don't see that you've brought a swimsuit or anything."
"Onii-chan asked me to tell Nanase-san something."
"Hm? He couldn't've just told Haru-chan himself? What are you going to tell him anyway? Who does it involve?"

Gou shot him a sour look and crossed her arms.

"We have our reasons. Stay out of this."

Agh, she probably thinks I'm a rude jerk now! Nice going, man.

He placed his hand on her upper arm and the other on the back of his neck.

"So sorry! I didn't mean to intrude..."

Her expression softened at the apology and she looked straight into his green eyes with her clear red-violet ones. The wordless eye contact lasted for more than a few seconds before she broke the silence.

"Can you get him out of the pool now?"

He turned quickly on his heels and catapulted into the pool, using his momentum to torpedo through the water like a bullet. Makoto caught up with Haruka and pointed at Gou, smiling at his friend.

Reluctantly, Haruka allowed Makoto to help him out and Gou hurriedly pulled him aside. Makoto couldn't help but notice the way Gou slightly blushed as she leaned in and place a hand on his drenched skin to whisper something in his ear.

Maybe she likes Haru-chan...? It wouldn't be a surprise...

Haruka only nodded in response to her and shrugged her off indifferently to dry himself and leave the pool.

"Now I really want to know what this is about. I don't think I've ever seen Haru-chan so eager to leave a pool."
"I can only tell you that he won't be back for some time. You should leave too, if you don't want to swim all alone."

Ack! My chance is slipping away!

Gou turned to leave as well, but she had only walked one step before Makoto grabbed her wrist.

"W-wait!"
"What is it?"
"Will you swim with me, then?!"

Shitshitshitshit I'm an idiot she's going to say no anyways why did you say that she doesn't even have a swimsuit with her and you barely know each other you damn idio-

"Sure, Tachibana-san."
"Uh, what?"
"I said okay. It is hot today. My house is near here. I'll go get my swimsuit."
"Ah...okay. See you in a bit!"

He forced a smile to mask his flustered emotions. He watched her as she strolled out of the pool area and sighed with relief.

Easygoing girl, isn't she?

Makoto sat down on the bench to drink some of his water and relax.

By the time Gou had returned with a duffel bag, a towel and some drinks half an hour later, Makoto had returned to the water. He resurfaced in front of her and waved hello as she proceeded with taking her clothes off, revealing the one piece underneath. It was the most skin Gou had ever shown to Makoto and the older boy tried not to gape at her.

Makoto outstretched both of his arms up to her expectantly and Gou looked down quizzically in response. Confused, she took hold of his hands. He pulled a Nagisa before she could say anything and hauled her into the water.

She came up spluttering and indignant.

"T-Tachibana-san!"

He cut through the water towards her and looked her in the eye.

"Just call me Mako-chan, kay?"
"...alright."

They spent the rest of the day having splash fights and racing each other until they were both too pooped to swim another inch. The two laughed until they thought they would cry and by the time the sun was painting a fiery red painting with the sky as the canvas, they felt like old friends. Makoto and Gou sat on the bench next to each other, sharing the drinks Gou had brought, trying to regain enough energy to walk home.

That was...really fun. I wonder if Gou and I could ever do something like this again...

"Mako-chan, do you want to go somewhere for dinner? I'll pay."
"What are you saying, letting you pay would be an insult to my masculinity! I'll pay!"
"Wait, what masculinity?"

She flashed him a cheeky smile and he nudged her playfully, laughing to themselves.

"I know a great place that serves delicious yakisoba, how about there? I just know you'll love it, Kou-chan."
"Alright, let's go, then!"

She stood up and extended her hand to help him up.

Gou grinned as her delicate hand was overtaken by Makoto's sturdy one.