When they first met, they were squishy little babies. Haruka himself could remember nothing of the encounter and had to base his understanding of the situation off his mother's blurry memory. Mrs. Nanase and Mrs. Tachibana were out having a stroll with their sons in a bundle of blankets. It was the day of the first snow in the winter, and the babies were squirming energetically in excitement. It just so happened that the two mothers sat down at the same bench, and then, quickly got to know each other.
Haruka was told that he was more interested in the feather-like flakes of snow than the baby placed next to him. He reached out a chubby hand, letting a single snowflake land on his hand. The raven could not recall what it felt like then, but he was sure it was the same as it is now. Light, translucent, like a piece of lace ribbon that brushed gently past his skin.
Unfortunately, the beauty could not last, as the snow quickly melted into water. Only after his distraction had melted did Haru finally turn towards the sleeping brown haired baby. He reached out his wet hand and touched the brunet on the face. Makoto Tachibana, his future best friend, was roused and feeling most unpleasant about being wet. A wailing session ended their first meeting quickly, but that was just the very beginning.
"Haru, let's build a snow man!" Five year old Makoto was dressed in thick layers, yet still shivering in the coldness of the winter. His cheeks were reddened by the harsh wind, yet his smile was nothing short of sweet. Haruka agreed to the proposal quickly. At that age, he was a little more willing to pursue entertainment. Makoto set on making a bunny, while Haruka was a lot more ambitious. After an afternoon of labor, the two snow creatures were examined for imperfection. Makoto's bunny was truly adorable...While Haru's pile of snow seemed strange in comparison.
"Hm..." The young dolphin frowned then. Something was missing. He walked up to his friend and stole Makoto's scarf. Without explaining himself, he wrapped the scarf around the snow creature's neck. Only then did Makoto realize that the snow man Haru built was the same height as he. So, that pile of snow was in fact Haru's best attempt at making Makoto, huh. The thought made the five year old brunet smile.
He wanted to stay in this moment forever.
When they were ten, the snow man building contest began again. This time, it wasn't just the two of them. A cheerful blond was beside Makoto, making a snow toilet so he could sit on it. The red head beside Haru was equally excited to be playing the game and he was trying to make a snow trophy. The four of them had a grand time before leaving the field that day, red faced and shivering. Makoto had made a bunny, honoring the tradition and Haru, like last time, made Makoto. While it was more human shaped this time, it still looked closer to a snow monster than the young orca standing before them.
Fifteen was a tough age. Haru didn't want to build a snow man at all. He wanted to just sit inside with a bowl of mackerel miso and watch the snow flakes fall to the ground and turn black underneath dirty shoes. Makoto, for once in his life, persuaded his best friend otherwise. They went to the same field, just the two of them alone again like when they were five. Together, they build snow creatures. Makoto built a family of bunnies and Haruka, a Makoto. This time it was difficult, for Makoto had grown much taller and Haru only liked life-sized snow men. The brunet had to step in to help, and even donated away both his hat as well as his scarf to the tall being.
When they were twenty, the tradition was followed. This time, there was Makoto, Haruka, Nagisa, Rin and newest edition Rei. They were all building snow creatures together, a little sad because their time together would be brief. They had gone to different universities, you see, and could no longer be together as they were as teenagers. Makoto had a smile on the entire time, trying his best to treasure his time with friends. However, if one looked closely enough, they'd see the smile didn't touch his eyes. Yesterday, Haru told him he was moving. Haruka, who had always been with him since the beginning, was leaving.
A snow ball was initiated after the snow creatures were judged. Everyone had a lot of fun. This time, Haru's snow man was the best. It really was beginning to look like Makoto...
The brunet might have turned his eyes away, afraid the sadness in his heart would leak out if he was to stare at the snow built version of himself any longer.
Then, there was the goodbyes.
All of the boys who turned men walked away from one another. Each in their own direction. Haru and Mako didn't get to walk home together. They would not get to walk home together again.
At first they tried their best to keep in touch. Haruka even started answering those phone calls of his and learned to text. Gradually, though, life was getting busier. Their conversations were shorter and their texts less frequent. On Makoto's twenty-third birthday, he realized he haven't spoken to his best friend for over six months.
He tried to not be upset. After all, old friends go, new friends come. It was all a part of life. Perhaps he should be glad to have had Haru for so long in the first place.
Only...It was not like that. Haru was more-
Now that was a secret that he once wanted to share with Haruka. A moment of hesitation took away his chance. Probably forever.
He really thought it was...Until two years later that morning when he looked out the window. Light bounced off snow, making the day seem extra bright. There was a man with dark hair and clear azure eyes outside of his window. "Hey, Makoto." Haruka waved, blowing warm air onto his snow frosted hands.
"Do you want to build a snow man?"
