[Y/N] was actually more intelligent than people think, despite the treatment her mother gives her. It's difficult to get "in the mood" when it comes to projects, studying, or daily homework.

    It takes a lot out of her father, the one who reminds her every morning to do her math homework that's due right when she steps in the classroom. The daughter would hurriedly do her work while at the table ten minutes before she has to leave, but that only occurred once in a blue moon.

    However, underneath all of the procrastination lies some intelligence that rarely emerges from beneath the surface-- no matter how opaque that seems.

    "Here's your breakfast," her father cheerfully said. He inspected the sunny-side up egg he made. It looked perfect in his eyes: a bright yellow sun, egg whites that looked likes clouds, and the underside a little on the brown side. "I think I managed to make it this time!"

    [Y/N] was speechless as she sat down at the table, the plate was placed in front of her. The window on the far side wall brought in rays of sunlight that shined on the egg, amplifying the glory of it. Surrounding the window were two stands that held medals and trophies that her father received in his younger years. The shiny gold figurines of swimmers reflected the light from the exposed glass. She couldn't believe it; her father-- of all people, managed to put together a decent breakfast. She was waiting so long for this day.

    She slowly picked up a fork and it hovered over the egg, as if she was afraid to pierce it. [Y/N] glanced at her father who was leaning on the kitchen counter and watching her intently.

    The teeth of the fork cut the sun, and she was surprised that the yolk didn't ooze. [Y/N] had to blink a few times, but eventually sighed. "It's overcooked," she commented dryly.

    The man had his face in his hands. He whined like a child, "I was so close." He slumped over as he walked to the pantry to get cereal. "I'll never be able to cook like your mother this rate."

    [Y/N] grid her teeth at the mention of her mother, "It's fine. I should be the one to learn how to cook."

    "I'll lose my pride as a parent," he set down a bowl and all the necessary foods for cereal. "Did you do your homework?"

    "I did actually," she filled half of her bowl with cereal. "I finished some math sections out of the textbook and started the science project I told you about last night. The guy I'm doing it with is coming over today."

    He appeared suprised, "You're telling me that you completed everything you have to do?"

    [Y/N] nodded as she poured milk on top of her breakfast, and his eyes lit up. "If it makes you feel any better, I have a B in history."

    "That's my girl!" Her father gave her a pat on her back. "Someday I'll pass on the egg thing, alright? I promise."

    "It doesn't really matter that much," she said, waving her spoon in the air. [Y/N] glanced at the clock and almost spitted the cereal out of her mouth. "Shit, I'm going to be late."

    Her father just chuckled as a waterfall of profanity came pouring out of her daughter's mouth. She slung her bag over her shoulder and ran out the door with shoes in her hands. He just stood there with his hand waving at her back as she sprinted down the street.

    He turned around and was about to shut the door.

    "Dad!"

    The man saw [Y/N] stop before the corner.

    "Remember to ask your boss for a raise!" She smiled brightly, "Prove that mom isn't the only one who can make money!"

    His daughter flipped around and hurried to school before the bell could ring, leaving her father alone once again. He closed the front door and leaned against it.

    He sighed and whispered, "How am I going to tell her that I was fired?"





    "I'm Rei, and this is Nagisa."

    [Y/N] found his particular pair quite interesting, given that they atleast managed to be friends with Haru in some way. Rei had the bright red glasses that seemed to be the latest style and a mob of navy-black hair. He did this weird hand thing to push up his glasses, but it seemed natural to him.

    Nagisa was surprisingly shorter than her and seemed to have an unhealthy knack for sweets. He seemed to nod along to what his swim club member said, his curly blond hair bobbing back and forth.

    Rei did the move with his glasses again, "Makoto mentioned this being to us before." He examined [Y/N] briefly, "I wondered what kind of species was working with our amazing Haru."

    Nagisa nodded in agreement, acting as a sidekick.

    She glared at Haru sitting across from her, and he just returned her with a dull look. [Y/N] gave him a signal to say something but he just furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. She sighed, "Great, nice to meet yo-"

    "I've realized that you took a route near the pool we practice in. I never was actually interested in finding out who you were until now."

    Her eyebrow twitched.

    "Rei," Nagisa whined. "Don't be so mean to [Y/N]!"

    "What is this?" Rei asked, ignoring his teammate and looking at the notebook underneath her arm. He pulled it out from beneath me and skimmed over its contents. "Are these research topics?"

    "Yeah..." She leaned her head against her wrist. "They're not really good, but it's a start."

    "These are all bland," he stated. "Try something more spicy. Like the reptile theory-- I always wanted to do that one."

    "What?"

    "You don't know the reptile theory? Let me educate you then." [Y/N] felt her food get cold. "Evidence suggests that our worlds most eminent figures are actually shape-shifting reptiles that control countries and other areas..."

    She did what she was best at: tuning out noises. Rei's voice became nothing more then a buzzing in her ear. [Y/N] picked at her cold food with a fork and stared at the clock from across the lunchroom, hoping time will fly by faster.

    "...all of these "people" are trying to take over the world, waiting until the right moment to jump up and reveal themselves..."

    She glanced over at Haru, and he met her eyes. 'Help me,' she mouthed.

    "Rei, what time do we have practice until today?"

    [Y/N] was surprised that he even said anything to distract him.

     



    "I've never seen you be so productive," the man commented when seeing his daughter working with a classmate at the kitchen table.

    The teenage girl glared at him with that look saying that what he's saying is embarrassing.

    He only shrugged, "Not that I'm complaining or anything." He flipped on his jacket and announced, "I'm going out to pick up some stuff for dinner. You want anything in particular?"

    "I'm in the mood for fish after all this H20 research," she replied, her voice bland.

    "I'll be back in a few," he opened the door, letting the smell of spring drift into the room. A cherry blossom even escaped into the warmth of the home. Before he could shield them from the outside, he popped his head back in. "Don't do anything weird okay."

    [Y/N] face-planted into the table while Haru nodded, but still stared at the laptop screen. The door slammed shut and footsteps were heard on the concrete.

    "Your father is interesting," Haru said.

    "Why is that?"

    Haru saw the said man peep through the window behind the trophy case, but he immediately retracted when blue eyes met his. [Y/N] didn't see the exchange because she back faced the window, so she turned around to look where her classmate was looking.

    "Did he use to swim?" Haru questioned, noticing the trophies that had swimmer figurines on them.

    "Yeah," she sighed. She set down her pen and stared out the window at the trees. Two large trees stood at the foot of their house, one a bushy cherry blossom and the other was a shabby oak. It was more interesting than science, she forced herself to think that.

    "Like professionally?"

    "Mm, hm." [Y/N] rubbed her lips together. "He played all the way through high school. I heard he was really good, but he had to quit by the time college went around."

    Haru looked confused, and she smiled at him.

    "He met my mother," she elaborated. "She convinced him to pursue a more safe career. Athletics are a hard thing to make money on, it's a hit or miss. My father agreed with her, saying that swimming was too much of a risk."

    It was as if Haru never knew that. He appeared to have never considered the thought of his future in swimming, nor his lucrative abilities.

    "He hates his job though," she chuckled, but anyone could tell that she didn't find it funny. "I can see how much he wants to go back to swimming everyday. Sitting at a desk isn't for him."

XXX

    The door was slammed opened and [Y/N]'s father came rolling in with groceries. "Good news!" He looked so excited. "Mackerel was on sale!"

    Haru's head perked up, but nobody noticed.

    "I never cooked it before," he said happily. "There's a first time for everything, right?"

    Haru immediately just stood up, grabbed the mackerel, and took the spare apron that was hanging from the hook. He seemed to gravitate to all the correct cabinets of the small kitchen. Within minutes, he was firing up the pan with oil and cutting the fish.

    [Y/N]'s father tried to protest, but she butted in, "Honestly, I trust Haru more with cooking than you."

    He worked in lightning speed, flipping the slices of fish constantly and cracking salt and pepper on top. Her father just stared in awe as a high school student, not even older than seventeen, cooked infinitely times better than he could. His pride shattered into a billion pieces, but Haru slowly picked each and everyone one of them up.

    "Hey," he said. "Do you happen to know how to cook stew?"

    "I know a recipe," Haru replied, slipping a piece of fish with a spatula.

    "Fried chicken?"

    "Sure."

    "Chicken noodle soup?"

    "Yep."

    [Y/N] almost laughed when she heard him name all of his favorite dishes.

    "Teach me your ways."