" Where's Arata?" He asked looking around. When he found him with Kōji he heaved a sigh of relief.
" I was so scared, so s-scared I'll make the same mistake," he mumbled into Asahi's chest his grip tightening. The tears still falling.
" It's okay baby, you need to rest okay?" Asahi said and he nodded not raising his head up.
Arata sat there feeling guilty and stupid.
" Here," Kōji said giving home the board.
" Thank you very much" he said not above a whisper.
" Are you okay?"
" Yes.... I'm very sorry about this" Arata added.
" It's okay," Kōji reassured him.
" But it's my fault that everybody's..."
" That stuff can wait," Kōji said interrupting him.
" Right now we need to get you and Hinata to rest." He added with a sincere smile. And at the mention of Hinata, Arata's face fell once more.
" I'm sure he'll be fine," Kōji quickly added.
" But... I saw Hinata coming to help me, but he didn't seem like his usual self. I mean he's always expressionless and all but this time I saw fear of something he's hidden deep down replaying in his eyes," Arata said almost crying and Kōji just patted his back listening attentively.
They fell silent after a while. They had to look for shelter, the current drove them to one of the Islands.
" Have you calmed down," Asahi asked Hinata who was still in his arm and he hummed in reply.
" I completely froze," he muttered. "The memory of that day immediately surfaced," he continued and started trembling again.
" Sorry I dragged you into this ," he murmured.
" I don't know what happened baby, but it's not your fault. You don't have to tell me until you're ready but please make it sooner. I can't bear you carrying this burden on your own," Asahi replied whispering into Hinata's ears, sending a shiver down his spine. And Hinata finally raised his tear stricken face and looked at Asahi. Well Asahi couldn't control himself anymore and took Hinata's lips into his ignoring the two people staring at them with jaws literally touching the floor.
The kiss was short but lingering. Hinata felt not alone and warm and wrapped his hands around Asahi once more. " Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you Arata" Hinata said.
" Don't say that! I'm the one who should apologise! " Arata said quickly and Hinata smiled at him.
" It's okay. I'm just glad you're fine."
" It's not okay," Asahi voice growled.
" Why were you swimming in the ocean at night ?" He asked anger dripping in his voice.
" You were practicing right?" He asked
" He wants to catch up to the rest of us, Asahi-senpai" Kōji quickly chipped in and Asahi's gaze softened a bit.
" Yes.." Arata murmured.
" And he's not the only one at fault. Hinata, you shouldn't've tried to save him by yourself! And you just drove into the water without thinking, Asahi-senpai!" Kōji nagged. Yeah, he was one of the nagging mothers in HHCS.
" Well at least everyone's okay," he added.
" Anyway isn't it kinda cold?" He asked suddenly remembering they were still in the rain.
" Yeah, I wonder if we can find shelter from the rain somewhere," Arata agreed. And they saw an abandoned factory right above them.
" Rest howse , what's a rest howse?" Arata asked .
" It's rest house" Hinata corrected and Asahi chuckled. " Let's go inside ," he added.
" Wait are we really going inside?* Kōji asked as Arata made his way in first.
" Hinata , are you okay?" Asahi asked, concern evident in his voice.
Hinata looked at him for a while and smiled, " Yeah, I'm fine," he replied.
" Stop talking like a couple about to enter a haunted house," Kōji said teasingly and Asahi smirked when he saw Hinata flush in embarrassment.
" I have a feeling something's gonna pop out," Kōji said gripping onto Arata's board.
" Whoa!" Arata said suddenly and Kōji screamed.
" What?!" Asahi asked .
" A flashlight,* Arata replied oblivious.
" D-Don't scare us!" Kōji said .
They continued looking around and at long last, they found an empty room to rest.
" I guess we'll have to stay here until morning," Kōji said looking outside where it was still pouring heavily.
After minute of silence, Arata spoke up, " Um Hinata I've got a question to ask you," he said looking at his fiddling hands.
" Sure, go ahead" Hinata replied already knowing where this would lead to
" When you tried to save me, you were behaving strangely," Arata said .
" We're not gonna discuss it ," Asahi said cutting him off sharply.
"But..."
" Just drop it," he yelled and everywhere went silent.
" Thanks Asahi," Hinata looked at him and smiled. * It's okay. I'll face this sooner or later anyways. I think it's okay to let it out" he added.
" I suddenly felt scared," he admitted.
" Scared?"
" Scared of what?"
" I'm scared of the ocean," Hinata said.