Just JiMei 芷薇

When Haru Met Makoto…

…is finally COMPLETE!

Summary: Free! UA where Rei was part of the original relay team and Makoto becomes the new fourth member of the Iwatobi Swim Club. Follows the structure of the anime going by the subtitles produced by HorribleSubs, but bases back-story more closely on High Speed! and includes references to theFrFr! specials and drama CD content where appropriate.

Start reading here: ff.net / Ao3

Read the prequel here: ff.net / Ao3

Episodes: 0 / 1 - 2 - 3 - FrFr! 1 - 4 - FrFr! 2 - 5 - 6 - 7 - FrFr! 3 - 8-FrFr! 4 - 9 - FrFr! 5 - 10 - 11 (FrFr! 6) - 12 - FrFr! 7 - 13.

That’s right! This retelling, which began with a short text post in January 2014, and debuted on March 25, 2014 with Episode 1, is complete at last. After two and a half years and a total of seventy chapters, I can finally give you the longest, greatest thing I have composed to date. It was a huge emotional rollercoaster, where I needed an entire year to compose myself and finish the last two episodes, but it was worth it. I now give it to you in all its complete glory - nobody has to worry whether it will be finished anymore.

There are too many of you I wish I could thank in person. I heartfelt thank you to everyone who read it, liked and/or reblogged my posts, left kudos, and left comments - it meant the world to me, every single one. Still, here are a few special mentions:

Here’s to a special someone who helped me spruce up my titular drawing for this story, and whose stylish text embellished every title card I ever made. I know you wanted no credit, but I hope you will take this much. Thank you.

Here’s to @boo-kuyatogami, who signal boosted and followed my fic from the beginning, and left me a review on almost every chapter, and even drew me fanart.

Here’s to @meowyumo, who posted long and lovely liveblogs of so many chapters, and drew me fanart as well.

Here’s to @anime-grimmy, who drew several pieces of fanart for me.

Here’s to @sakuramikage, who occasionally read my chapters in advance when I was feeling anxious, to reassure me.

And here’s to @bombushuntii, with whom I had a lot of fun analytical conversations over my chapters.

Thank you all so much. I could actually list a hundred names, so just know that if you had ever been kind to me in the course of my writing this fic, I think of you with fondness and gratitute, and you are included in my general thank you. Every kind word counted, I assure you. Every readerly comment either helped cheer me up, or shaped later revisions. I could not have gotten this far and finished this fic without all of you caring. Bless all of you.

* New student, very small. Grace said it was pebble. Pebble is small Earth rock. Pebble likes name.

* He found out Eridians have no gender rules.

* Students brought him mineral sample. After he stopped crying he said he loves show-and-tell game. Human naming conventions oddly literal.

* I told him Earthsun grew bright.

* I took him up atop atmosphere bypass elevator to look at stars.

* He woke up from nap and found me still with him. I did not wait on his chest; he says I am heavy like “elephant” and he “couldn’t breathe.” I laid my arm over him instead, kept him close, feeling safe. He said “cuddle” was warm.

* Before class he heard younglings singing.

* He has plants in house from sprouts on ship. Plant grew “bud.”

* Engineers got seawater temperature right. He took off shoes and stood in water, sighing. He didn’t care about pants getting damp. Cried until shirt was also damp. Humans very endlessly wet.

* He missed “Doritos.”

* Adrian helped food scientists make taumoeba dried paste. Made it crunchy after heating. We fused it into triangle form. Told him it was Tauritos. That made him laugh-cry. Laugh-cry is rare and precious.

* He remembered Eridians have no gender rules.

* We made him celebration outfit. Used metals he calls pretty. He can see frequencies named “colorful” and “shiny.” These make humans happiest.

* I gave him hug when he wasn’t expecting it. Easier to hug close now with exosuit. Hug when Grace sitting down so he does not fall over.

Natsume’s Book of Friends