What's this- am I actually writing something that's not Rin and Nitori?! Ahaha, yes, I am! I know this chapter is kinda short, but I'm already well underway for the next one so bear with me.

Haru closed his eyes and rested the back of his head against the window of the train. It had been a long four years of university and he was finally returning home. Well, sort of. Since he wasn't going to be using it for so long his parents had decided to sell the home he had lived alone in all through high school, but the Tachibana family, who treated him like their own, had kindly offered to let him live with them while he found an apartment for himself. Makoto would be returning home, too, until he found a place (likely with Haru, since rent would be cheaper that way).

The train screeched to a halt, allowing passengers on and off, though Haru remained seated, his eyes not even twitching open as people bumped his legs while scurrying past. This was the last stop before his. Haru remembered when he and Makoto had left, how Nagisa, Rei, Gou, and all of Makoto's family had been there to see them off. By the time he and Makoto had past this point going away from Iwatobi, Nagisa was already texting them about how much he missed them. Back then it had been annoying, but now he wondered how they were all doing, each off to study their own things, and wished he'd not dropped his phone in the water, losing all of his contacts. He should remember to get them from Makoto later, he decided, after they'd had a chance to settle back in.

There was one person who had not seen them off that day. Rin had also left around that time, and while he could have made it out to say goodbye, Haru didn't feel slighted by his absence. He'd already said his goodbyes with Rin weeks before, when they broke up. Ever since Rin had reappeared in Haru's life their relationship had been rocky, but through apologies, tears, and strong desires they had managed to form a slightly more stable bond. It lasted for about a year before their differences began to tear them apart again, but it was a year that neither would change for anything, and the break-up had been a mutual decision. Sometimes Haru missed having Rin beside him but he knew it was best for both of them to be apart now.

When the train reached Iwatobi, Haru rose, grabbing his suitcase from overhead. The rest of his belongings from school had been sent ahead of him and he only had the bare essentials with him in the suitcase. Stepping out onto the platform, Haru looked around at the familiar sight, his eyes seeking out anyone he might recognize.

"Haru-chan!" A loud voice called from somewhere in front of him. Haru looked past the businessman who had just stepped into his line of sight and saw two kids in high school uniforms waving him down. The kids ran up to him and the girl, her hair in pigtails, latched onto his arm. "Haru-chan!" She called again happily.

"Ran?" Haru mumbled, surprised. The girl smiled up at him. Haru noticed the boy, who had not clung to him as affectionately as his sister, and for a moment thought he was looking at a younger Makoto, save for his brown eyes and differently styled hair. "And Ren, too." Upon hearing his name the boy smiled, and Haru thought he saw some pink on his cheeks.

"Welcome home, Haru-chan!" Ran beamed. "Mom told us when you'd be coming so Ren and I came straight over after school to meet you here!" She gave his arm a tight squeeze before leading him away from the train. Ren fell into step beside his sister and the trio walked together to the Tachibana home.

"What time will Onii-chan be coming?" Ran queried as they approached the shrine steps.

"I don't know." Haru responded plainly. "He still had some things to do and he didn't know how long it would take. I don't think he'll be more than a day, though." Ren and Ran both brightened at the thought of having their brother home within the next day. They had hoped he would be coming with Haru but when some things came up he had to call and say he was coming late. Haru had offered to stay with him but Makoto sent him away, saying that he would be fine on his own.

"Haruka-san," Ren started nervously. Haru stopped and gave the boy a curious look. "Um..."

"What's with that?" Haru asked, his voice flat though inside he was a little hurt.

"Well, I thought it would be weird to call an adult '-chan', so..." Ren shrank back a little. He seemed to be on edge for some reason, and even the distant Haru had noticed.

"Then call me Haru." Haru stepped so that he was now between the twins and put his arms over their shoulders. Ren wasn't much shorter than he was now, but Ran was at least a foot shorter, probably more. "I don't want to hear you calling me '-san'. We're practically related."

"Y-yeah..." Ren turned his head away from Haru. Ran looked over at him and giggled, a knowing look in her eyes.

"Well, I'll still call you Haru-chan!" She said cheerily. Haru's lips turned up in the corners and he sighed. He had long ago resigned to being called '-chan' by this family, and while he once resented it, he now thought it was almost cute. Especially the way Ran said it, so happily through her cheerful smile. Even though he'd been back to visit during holidays, it still took Haru by surprise just how much the twins had changed over the years. Ren was growing taller every time he saw him and Ran was beginning to fill out into a lovely young woman. It was especially noticeable when she squeezed Haru's arm against her chest; he was used to being held onto by a kid, but now there were suddenly breasts there.

Haru cleared his mind; if Makoto knew he had just thought about his sister's chest he would kill him. Besides, they had already reached the door which Ran was enthusiastically shoving open with a loud cry of, "Haru-chan's home!" She led the way inside, followed by Haru, with Ren falling in behind them and closing the door.

"Haruka!" Came the voice of the Tachibana siblings' mother. She came swiftly out to greet him, taking his face in her hands and smiling with a motherly love. "You look well; I'm glad. In honor of your homecoming I'm making mackerel for dinner." Haru's eyes sparkled; they really were like family.