Rin smirks. That's exactly what he was trying to do. Ai might be flustered, but his heart is pumping. Mikhail has a similar coaching method. Maybe Ai wouldn't be such a bad pupil for his uncle after all--
He hurries back up to the stands, waving at his Mom and Gou. He plops down next to them, scanning the queue as it begins to form. He wonders if Sousuke will come back up, but he sees him and Makoto looming near one of the poolside entrances. Perfect vantage point, and no need to rush up. Rin starts whooping when Ikuya and Ai have barely lined up. Gou chimes in, as she looks over her pamphlet.
"It's so nice to see you branching out from your childhood obsession and making new friends." Rin whips around to glare at her, and their Mom just laughs beside them. She presses the lines of their shoulders together, reaching up to press her fingers in her son's hair.
"Be nice. Just be happy anyone wants to, what with the promise of going deaf one day." Rin balks, and practically whines at his mom, pressing his face into her shoulder. He missed this, fuck. He hates how awol he went, from everybody. It was a pitfall coming back from Australia, having to face the music of things he ran away from. But he missed so much. And Ai helped him see that.
"Not that loud..." Rin mutters against her. He pulls his face away from her shoulder, watching Ikuya and Ai make their way to the starting blocks. Ikuya sheds away his jacket with a thinly veiled confidence, obviously still riding his personal best earlier. Rin hopes he makes another one. And another.
His eyes drift back to Ai, and he can hear Sousuke and Makoto shouting from poolside. He scans around, and his heart jumps in his throat as he sees Nagisa bouncing to his lane. They're all here. Fuck, they've got to do it somehow. One of them? All of them? Rin adds in another cheer for Nagisa, his Mom pulling away and plugging her ears with a laugh.
Ikuya and Ai's lanes are surprisingly close, though Ai can hear Nagisa a few lanes down. He suspects if not for the distance, the Iwatobi native might've goaded him something fierce, propensity for propriety at a professional event notwithstanding.
Something in his subconscious recognizes the roar of voices, some calling his name, but Ai lets it all fall to the wayside like cacophony. A dull buzz. He looks at Ikuya for a final well-wish before he and the rest of their queue step up onto the starting blocks.
Swimmers, take your marks.
..
boom!
Ai cuts through the air, breaks the surface, and extends. His start used to be so shaky, but is now one of his strongest assets; knows if he can start strong, he can stockpile his energy on the turn, and dump it all into the final leg. The benefit of having a deep well of stamina. Push, extend, kick, surface; the overhead lights catch across his goggles on the turn, and Ai swears for a moment he exits the pool and begins swimming in air.
On the turn, he's nearly bottom of the pack, chasing seventh. But cuts ahead with his burst, eclipsing one after the other, focused only on counting his breaths as his hand reaches desperately for the wall--
He tosses his goggles off, feels his entire body vibrating as he looks back.
Hazuki 59.51 3 Kirishima 58.98 1 Nitori 59.48 2
And he stares. And stares. And stares. Feels as if he's gotten pool water in his eyes, why is the leaderboard blurry? Feels something tap his shoulder; Ai sees Ikuya holding out a hand, and wearing an uncharacteristically wide smile. Ai takes it with a strong shake, expression completely blown and miles away before pulling himself up and out of the pool, legs akin to gel.
Something muttered under a watery voice. It's only when he's firmly gotten his feet planted on the tile behind the starting blocks that he nearly doubles over, fists pulled to his stomach, voice uncharacteristically booming--
There's a certain beauty in watching something blossom. Something you remember being curled, fragile, hesitant to bloom. Circumstances and fear of what's to come, what's already come to pass, threatening the petals. Rin is pressed up against the railing, fingers tight around cold steel, unable to take his eyes away.
Ai nails the turn. There's no floundering, even trailing behind. Rin knows exactly what comes next. That stamina comes into play. He begins to overtake everyone; even Nagisa has a hard time, and the second half is where he shines. Ikuya is carrying his lead, but Ai is closing that gap. And fast.
Rin screams for all of them, but his voice carries the loudest for Ai. Gou and his Mom are cheering right alongside him, carrying above the crowd as they near the wall. Rin's heart slams in his chest. Ikuya and Ai are in the lead, NAgisa just behind them. It's anyone's win now--
Ikuya slaps the wall. Ai right behind him. And before Rin even sees the score, he's booking it downstairs. He knows, he's grinning so hard it fucking hurts. They made it, they all fucking made it. He's choking back a sob, stopping right next to Sousuke. He pants hard, hands on his knees. Sousuke is cheering Ai's name for them both, while Rin catches his breath. There's tears streaming down Sousuke's face too.
Makoto shouts for all of them. Ikuya is sobbing, Nagisa as well. Fuck, are they all crying? Rin laughs breathlessly, and finally pulls himself up a bit. The waterworks are fresh again, and he can't help but choke out another laughing sob as he watches Ai sob over victory. All it takes is a little fire.
His head very much feels like it's still swirling. Is this what unfettered adrenaline feels like after all? Has he discovered for the first time what a sincere pride in oneself can do to the body? When he straightens his spine, the first person by his side isn't Sousuke, or Rin, or even Ikuya - Mikhail has sailed down from the back bleachers to clasp his nephew on the shoulders and slap his cheek and congratulate him. Ai shares a teary thank you. Wonders vaguely if his parents are watching the broadcast or not.
Finally with his wits about him, he goes to flag down Nagisa and offer a handshake. OCT time was nothing to turn their noses up at, and it was just as likely he'd be there alongside Ikuya and Ai and the others in Fukuoka and Athens and beyond. Instead, Nagisa takes Ai's hand and pulls him into a too tight, too energetic embrace; Ai begins to flounder, which earns a laugh from Sousuke.
It's for the better Ikuya is the more decorated swimmer at the moment, as text reporters seem to all descend on him, and Ai can make a clean break for the side door. Half way to freedom though Sousuke is beside him, sharing with Ai a look that reflects a journey they know they've both walked. Roadblocks and stopgaps and massive, massive walls.
"You could have kept the timing consistent instead of giving us all a heart attack after the turn," Sousuke playfully nags. Ai laughs, a watery sound and nearly paired with a sob, picking up his jacket before he forgets about it.
"I had to beat Hazuki-san at his game, otherwise I didn't stand a chance." Goes to show Ai had done his studying.
Finally they step out into the warm-up and locker room area. And he meets Rin's eyes, and Ai's mind wipes blank. This thing he's worked so hard for-- this dream of his that has developed into so much more than wanting to swim with someone one last time. A sense of self, a purpose, and a drive, all because Rin had been there. His eyes are quicker than his tongue, immediately breaking out into another fit of waterworks. Beside him Sousuke gives Rin a knowing, unusually kind smile.
It's not like Rin to be rendered speechless, but after Sousuke breaks the ice Rin slaps his hand on Ai's shoulder, trying to swallow down the tears he sees in Ai's gaze that are quickly welling up in his own.
This was a guy who truly crawled through everything to get here.
And Rin watched it all unfold over the years. From the awkward kid stumbling after him their first year together--even when Rin didn't deserve such kindness and understanding--to watching Ai unfold into an amazing swimmer, beating Samezuka records, swimming the relay together... to living together, beating the odds stacked against them even after such an awkward night. Rin beams at Ai, squeezing his shoulder.
"Welcome to the olympic team."
Sousuke matches the motion, squeezing Ai's other shoulder. Rin's gaze trails over to Ikuya, surrounded by press and sponsors. Someone who has worked equally hard. Rin's beaming with excitement for all of them. The representation of Japan is all coming together. People Rin has walked with through all different times in his life. There's still the butterfly qualifiers, individual medleys... his skin prickles, the 200m free is the last event, but one he's still pumped for.
Rin runs through everything in his head. All the infinite possibilities, ladders to climb. He's so happy. He pulls his hand away to rub at his eyes, fuck they itch from sobbing so much today.
"....thank you." He doesn't know what else to say. "Thank you guys, fuck."
It's something Ai would have said even if he had lost, but holds even more weight now that he's made the cut. There's an unusual confidence, and almost relief when he looks to Rin, watching him still more choked up than Ai himself had been at his own victory.
"You'll get to make your ultimate team." One that spanned beyond Iwatobi, beyond Sano, beyond Samezuka, and even beyond Australia. The next stage, Ai knows for a fact, will be one of Rin's most important. A culmination of all the bonds he's forged over the years. Ai's just relieved to be a part of it, a small slice of his own dream coming to fruition.
All this crying, all these accolades - Ai's head is almost literally spinning. He's grateful he didn't qualify for the IM, else he isn't so sure how he'd be able to enter the heat and actually perform. He tucks his swim cap into the hem of his jammers and looks up at the nearest wall clock, then to Rin.
"You can't get complacent yet, senpai. Your next heat is soon."
"Yeah, yeah." Rin pulls away from his friends to look up at the clock. He looks back at Sousuke and Ai with a wave. "You guys better be rooting for me, it's not over until I qualify in everything!"
Sousuke just laughs, rolling his shoulder a little bit.
"We'll be waiting for you, mister hotshot. Don't get too cocky."
Rin speeds of towards the locker room. It's buzzing with nervous athletes, coaches giving last minute words of wisdom. It's some small wonder that Rei isn't in the heat with him. But his stamina won out in qualifying rounds, and he decided to go for the 200m. Rin is sticking with the 100m. Endurance isn't exactly his strong suit, diving stubbornly head first and giving it his all from the get go.
He's not a strategist like Ai or Nagisa, leaving all his strength until the final roundabout to surpass the crowd. It's just not his style. Rin flits through nervousness and excitement, as he works out every spot in his body for the second time today. Ikuya bumps into him, and Rin almost jumps backwards. Ikuya just laughs, pressing a hand on Rin's back. "You good?"
Rin jerkily nods, running his fingers through his hair.
"Ah, yep. Sorry! Just crazy how we're all setting the stage together. Congrats on your win. Saw that coming from a mile away." Ikuya laughs, heading towards his locker and pulling his goggles down.
"You too. Don't mess it up. Don't want to disappoint Haru right?" Rin rolls his eyes, not even bothering to retort. Whatever. People can think he's a slut. Or a show off for certain people. He doesn't care. He looks at the time, and scurries off to the pool. This is the first heat where he doesn't know anybody. Which is fine. Less chance messing up because he wants a friend to be on the Olympics team with him. He checks in, and heads to the starting block, taking position with a heavy swallow.
Mental pep talk. He's the best at 100m butterfly down in Sydney. He's been the best consistently since high school. That won't change. Swimming with Haru is one thing, it makes his free so much better. But this is still somewhere he can shine. He snaps his goggles, and leans forward, waiting for the starting gun.
...
It's over almost as soon as he hears the send-off.
He's slapping the wall, miles ahead of the pack. His kick at the turn is his saving grace, something he's perfected. Something Mikhail has drilled into him rigorously. It was one of his specialties during his time as a swimmer, after all. Something he passes onto his athletes with great enthusiasm and perfection.
Rin doesn't even need to look up at the scoreboard to know he's first. It doesn't do anything to stop the tears though, as he hears the cheers, he can hear his friends voices carrying above the crowd. He's about to haul himself out of the pool, when he sees three people beaming down at him, all hands out to pull him up.
Haru. Makoto. Nagisa. The people he swam with. The people he's won with consistently by his side. They're all there, tears brimming their features. Even Haru looks oddly emotional. Rin sniffs, and as all three begin to reach for him, he grabs Haru's wrist first. Squeezing it tightly. Only to immediately drag him into the pool, ignoring Makoto's surprised noise and the chiding screech from a ref not fifteen feet away. Rin is just laughing as he's met with Haru's absolutely shocked face when he surfaces. He thinks Haru's maybe going to hit him (worth it). But even then, a little smile twists on Haru's face, and they all collectively lose their minds together.
It feels like things a long time ago.
Makoto hauls the two of them out of the pool, all laughs and adrenaline as Rin scans the people surrounding them--swarming him really. All sponsors and congratulations again, but he's just looking for two people in particular. He knows without looking his mom and sister are up in the stands, sobbing their eyes out.
Sousuke accompanies Ai back up onto the bleachers, and chooses to post near Rin's family, where Rin had gathered them all earlier. Before the heat, Sousuke begun to chat quite casually with both Gou and their mother, and Ai couldn't help but eavesdrop a little. Got the impression their family unit was incredibly strong, and even without saying much about it explicitly, can tell that the inspiration left behind in the wake of Rin's father is borderline insurmountable in its footprint.
It's a similar welling feeling in his chest when Rin takes to the starting block. He wonders, perhaps off-handedly, if Sousuke missed butterfly overmuch - but a quick look at the man's countenance tells Ai that Sousuke is satisfied with his qualifications this go around. It brings Ai a measure of relief; no dream left behind.
Hands grip tight to polished steel, and his voice goes hoarse from cheering. Rin may have had to fight in the free 100m, but this was no contest; from Ai's purview, Rin nearly looked a full body ahead of his competitors. He's about to do as he had twice earlier in the day and run down to the entrance to congratulate Rin firsthand, but some familiar suspects not only beat him and Sousuke to the punch, they completely outshine.
It's familiar. Nostalgic. And a bit bittersweet. Ai watches as Rin pulls Haruka into the pool, and sighs with an awry smile, "He's begging to get in trouble..."
"He's gotten away with worse."
Ai and Sousuke had talked about it, when they grew familiar. Rin's stunt at his second year Samezuka relay. How Sousuke, too, had seen every single moment of it - had, embarrassingly, even heard Ai and Rin's altercation. Ai has it on good faith that Rin only bothers with stunts like these when he has his whole heart behind it.
"Well," Ai leads, sitting back down and choosing not to inject himself any more than strictly necessary, "They all look happy. So Rin-senpai is doing something right."
Sopping wet and red comes barreling up the stands, and Ai figures he's headed for his family given the gusto in his walk and the rings around his eyes, but Ai still smiles at Rin proudly, "Congratulations!"
"You guys didn't even give me poolside congrats. Rude."
Rin barks playfully, as he plops into the seat between Sousuke and his mom. He barely even bothered to dry off, as Makoto, Nagisa and Haru were quick to find a new spot to spectate as Rei's heat would be coming up next. And Rin was eager to be surrounded by his family and found family in the lapse.
He leans his head back, breathing hard. Two heats in one day is exhausting enough, but Rin still has one to go and he feels exhaustion creeping up his limbs. It's not like he doesn't swim constant laps all day, practicing every which way. But the constant rush of adrenaline is pulling at him with a certain exhaustion.
"Let me guess, you just knew I would win before I even touched the wall so why bother--" His sister reaches over to smack him with her pamphlet, chiding him for being cocky and a smartass. Miyako says nothing, but smiles into the back of her hand like she's trying not to say or do something and let her son have this. Even if the mom in her might think otherwise.
Rin groans, leaning his head against Sousuke's shoulder. He feels him stiffen a little, but relax almost instantly after. This level of physicalities is nothing new. It's just Rin. He sighs, and looks over at Ai through exhaustion laced eyes.
"Fuck, this is exhausting. How are you guys holding up?"
"You were busy." It's a genuine reply, though Ai is aware it could come off as loaded under a different pretext, which is why he's certain to pair it with a wide smile. Speaking of pretexts-- "You have to be careful with your delinquent charm, Rin-senpai! Any other venue could have seen that as aggressing your competitor."
"Nanase had it coming."
"Sousuke-senpai--!"
Rin's leaning on Sousuke then, and Ai measures Sousuke's reaction habitually. For reasons he cannot and doesn't want to name, Ai is suddenly sitting a little bit straighter, and the pool down in the center of the room is infinitely more interesting.
Ai contemplates his answer to Rin's question, feeling a fire burning in his chest. So much matters, and yet so little of it actually does.
"If I don't sleep well tonight, I'll be pretty angry." He turns his head to his two seniors, simper plastered upon his lips. "But I'll be sad once it's over, too. These feelings of mine... It's as if I don't want to let go of them just yet." The good, the bad, the ugly. Pride, joy, adrenaline, attitude; bittersweet, jealousy, envy. If there is one thing Ai can say for certain, it's that he's never felt more alive.
He studies Rin's expression. The red tint to the corners of his eyes.
"Will you be alright for your 200m, senpai? Do you want to stretch?" A pause, and then a very stupid grin threatens his face, lidded only because he catches Sousuke in his periphery. "My hands are neither dark nor brooding, I promise."
"As if. Sou's right. Asshole had it coming." Rin doesn't know what transpired earlier between Haru and Ai. He genuinely thinks Haru was jealous and pouting off in a corner. Which isn't necessarily far from the truth, but...
"I'll sneak an allergy pill in your tea then." Rin laughs, peeling himself off of Sousuke to raise his arms above his head.
Okay. Alright. Ai is actually pretty funny. Rin snorts, almost on the side of Sousuke's cheek and he just makes a face at Rin. Rin laughs, holding his hands up in a mock apology. "Woah, woah. It was an accident. Don't get all dark and broody on me again." Oh yes he did just go there. Rin winks at Ai, because he's going to remember that one for as long as he lives. "...yeah, you're probably right. Ugh. After Rei's fly, and Kirishima's individual."
Rin has never said it out loud, but he owes so much to Rei. Tracking him down, and giving him a hard wake-up call outside Samezuka. Calling him out on all of his shit. Talking with him after Rin got pulled off the Samezuka relay team, grounding him almost. And then giving up a spot he had actually worked hard for--earned--something Rin didn't come even close to doing.
Haru helped him find his purpose for swimming again, sure. But without Rei, it never would have come to fruition. He leans on the railing, chin resting on his crossed arms, watching the butterfly swimmers begin to queue up. Gou is on her feet, cheering her lungs out. Rin can pinpoint exactly where in the crowd Nagisa and the rest of Iwatobi's dream team are by their shouts.
A little smile crosses his face. He wonders if Rei even knows how Nagisa looks at him. Like the guy carved out the stars and the sky by hand.
If Ai has any luck it'll stay that way, too. But he knows Rin, and knows once the dust has settled, maybe as soon as being back at the apartment, Rin's going to ask. It still baffles Ai - the thought he was any competition, in any sense of the word. He was a convenience at best, and a nuisance at worst. So he felt, anyway, under this circumstance. But he feels as if he conveyed what he had to, and that it reached Haruka, and so as far as Ai is concerned, it's behind him. The only porcelain left to clean up is his own still smashed on the floor.
Rin's quip to his quip has Ai nearly straining to smile, and it's anyone's guess if it's a threat of a laugh or a groan.
"That was a one time instance."
Ai doesn't mind remaining here with the Matsuokas and Sousuke, though his mind does immediately flit to Nagisa as he watches Rei - and two Samezuka alumni, if Ai squints - carve out his future. Ai may have written off Nagisa as an annoying firestarter at first, but had come to learn very quickly that he is much more than meets the eyes. In fact, Ai doesn't think he can imagine anyone who so single-handedly invests in his friendships, oftentimes in thankless ways. That, and Ai knows yearning when he sees it.
Never mind Rei, with whom Ai shares so much in common. Scraping up to the top from nothing. Only hard work and an inspiration set aflame thanks to the people they looked up to most. Ai cannot help himself, his thoughts dragging his eyes up out of the pool and across the length of the natatorium and landing on black hair and ocean blue eyes and a cheer loud enough to put Ai himself to shame.
He watches the scoreboard; Rei's placed third. There's an excitement that overcomes his features.
"The time is good enough for the Consideration qualifier!" Subtly and to himself, Ai pumps his fist at his side. "Both Rei-kun and Nagisa-kun might be able to stand on a world stage, after all."
It will never fail to be a rush. Watching the people you love outperform themselves. He cheers for Rei, maybe louder than he has for anybody else, slapping his hand against the guard rail (immediately regretting it, but. details). He can see across the natatorium, Nagisa book it down poolside. He turns to Ai, nodding in agreement eagerly.
"Careful Nagisa doesn't edge you out of any of your spots, Ai. Terrifying little dude."
And watching what happens next is something that erases every other event of the day.
Rei stumbling out of the pool, tears in his eyes apparent even from so far as he gazes up at the score board. Rin stands up, watching Nagisa peel out of the side entrance looking around. Makoto and Haru aren't far behind (Rin thinks they all should have just stayed down there, but. again. details) and as Rei waves at them, Nagisa propels himself forward. He latches onto Rei as hard as possibly. Rin can feel the wind getting knocked out of his own lungs at the sight.
Or maybe it's the way Nagisa grabs Rei's face after, and shoves their mouths together. Uncaring of the press, or sponsors all around them as Rei flails rather expectedly, and Nagisa just pulls away with that big stupid grin and laughs so loud anyone could hear it. Something in Rin soars. He always had an inkling, but.
He hears Sousuke whistle so loud next to him, he swears he feels his ear drums crack. Gou is screaming and whooping from beside their mother, and it's just stupid and perfect the way Nagisa makes a scene in such a way. Even when the individual medley swimmers are lining up, and the refs try to shoo some of the swimmers to more secluded areas to discuss with coaches, sponsors, everyone possible poolside, Nagisa is still clinging to Rei like a lifeline, like he is afraid what will happen if he lets go.
"Don't cry dude. I know how you are during those ratman movies..." Rin sniffs, and just smiles as he watches Ikuya take position.
"Shut up, Sou." He laughs so hard as the timing gun goes off and the individual medley begins. Ikuya is insane. There's no doubts there. Nobody has as many events and strokes as he does in his backpocket. And it shows. All that time training in America, all the time spent mimicking Haru's freestyle stroke. Carving a place in the water for himself.
Even Sousuke gets on his feet to cheer on this one. He's seen Ikuya swimming for longer than Rin has. Ikuya finishes second, no easy feat given his competitors. Rin is buzzing in his chair, Ikuya and him have moulded into some friendly rivalry over the years, always pushing each other's buttons. He wants to give him some hell before he stretches for his upcoming heat, so he begins to bolt downstairs, tossing over his shoulder.
"Meet me down there Ai!! Dude needs some pep talk about his sloppy fly before I can think about stretching."
"You're telling me..." Nagisa-kun is a force to be reckoned with. A thought amplified only by the spectacle laid before them, which causes Ai's face to heat up to a bright crimson, feeling as if he's been given a paid seat to a show he isn't sure he should be watching. He knew it was well overdue, but still.
Idiot dumb traitorous thing that he is, instinctively and subconsciously, his eyes look to Rin. Realizing the neurons that have just fired, Ai's face heats up even worse, and rather than dignify the thoughts in his head with words of admonishment, he simply yanks his head away and claps.
"Even if it isn't his race, Nagisa-kun finds a way to win."
Sousuke isn't the only one rising to get ready for the IM; Ai had a surprising amount on his mind for this one. Chose not to engage this year, as having swam beside Ikuya for two full semesters has taught Ai he is nowhere near competition level yet with his IM times. He favoured endurance where he could, and knew he actually had some amount of instinct for it, but had come to this realization too late in the year to justify training for it. Ikuya's given him some pointers, and Sousuke was there frequently to coach him on his free and his butterfly; it's a goal for next year. For now, it's all he can do to give his support to Ikuya as loudly as possible, and take in the sights eager-eyed.
Rin's declaration has Ai whipping his head, looking to Rin almost skeptically before deflating and saying quietly, though still within Sousuke's earshot, "He's just going to say something crass...!"
"And you think you'd stop him?"
"I'd have better luck diving into the pool from here."
Ai bounds out from the bleachers, not necessarily intent on being there right as Rin is, but Ai wants to give his support to Ikuya directly too, and knows he has two, maybe three minutes to do it.
Rin slams into Ikuya the second he gets downstairs. Ikuya makes a horribly offended noise, trying to push Rin away from him. Rin refuses to relent, fucking up Ikuya’s hair and cap as much as humanly possibly. His smirk is wild.
”Two qualifying Olympic times is pretty sick.” Ikuya looks at Rin with twisted brows, like he’s really discerning whether Rin is complimenting him genuinely right now or—
”But your fly could use some fine tuning.” Ikuya balks and shoves his palm against Rin’s face, trying to shove him away with an offended noise. “—propel yourself further out of the water dude. Less drag. Faster time. Come on!”
Ikuya spits back, “That’s rich coming from the guy who probably can’t even propel himself off the bed in the morning.” Rin fucking yanks himself back, a scowl spreading across his face.
”Oi, don’t—“ Ikuya interrupts him.
”Your times would probably be better if you focused less on taking it and more—“
Haru steps between them, an annoyingly calm look on his face. He pushes a hand on each of their chests, gently prying them away from one another. Rin grits his teeth, shooting a dirty look at Haru. Who just ignores him. Rin looks around for some backup, seeing Ai and Sousuke and visibly slumping, pulling himself away from Haru’s outstretched arm.
”Such a prick.” He’s pouting. Absolutely one hundred percent pouting. He wanders off to stand back near Ai and Sousuke, kicking at Sousuke’s shin when he gives him that fucking look again.
”Fine. You did good Kirishima. Congrats on fucking proving your point and making it in again. We’re all very proud.”
Ai's only and primary solace is that only Haruka, not Ikuya, knows the truth. Self-consciously before eyes fall on him however, Ai pulls his jacket's zipper all the way up.
They're like cats, he thinks in a deadpan, spittling at each other over nothing. They'd both probably shut up if they had food in front of them.
Ai blinks when Haruka breaks up their spat, unsure how to feel about the debased nature of their... Encouragements, but figuring there was likely an angle here Ai just didn't get yet. Vaguely, it reminds him of when Sousuke and Haruka first met, not that he can exactly place why.
"Kirishima-senpai!" His voice is such a gentle lilt, and a little croaky from all his screaming today, "Fight hard! I'll need you to give me pointers back at the university pool, and I won't be able to take your word on any of it unless you win."
And then he thinks. About impressions, mostly; on all of his seniors, on Haruka. There is just something about him specifically that simultaneously has Ai drawing a very stern boundary around himself, and yet is unintentionally egged on just by being in his presence.
And so it's that smile of his. The type that is too innocent to be anything but. Overly polite, Ai crosses his arms behind his back as he continues toward his college senior,
"There are a number of ways to keep the body limber, you know. It can be good to let off steam sometimes."
The silence that passes through the group was so thick, one could hear a pin drop. What started with Ai's normal dialogue, praising Ikuya for his performance (and putting himself down a little in the process, ugh) turned into something that made Rin's guts twist. But whatever collective response from the group does something to make Rin's heart slam against his ribs.
Sousuke--Sousuke--is fucking snickering into the back of his hand, albeit red faced. And now Rin knows exactly why, and he's never letting him live it down.
Realization dawns on Ikuya. Warping from a burrowed brow and tilted head to his jaw dropping, face bright red and jerking his head away so fast Rin swears he hears his neck snap. "Don't even joke about that!!" Obviously caught off guard from someone he deems so otherwise unthreatening on his team.
But. Maybe Haru is the most priceless of all.
Haru's brow is furrowed, much like Ikuya's. But some semblance of understanding crosses his face, and his eyes widen a hair. A blink and you'll miss it thing. But he looks between all of them, gaze falling on Rin. And that's when his face really gets some color in it. And Rin is caught between blushing at Ai's comment in regards to the night they spent together, Haru obviously giving him a once-over or just the fact that Ai made the comment at fucking all.
And he starts laughing. So hard his chest hurts.
"See. What have I been telling you? Even Ai gets it. Stop being a prude, Kirishima." And that's when their collectively loses it in turn. All at Ikuya's expense, of course. Despite being a two time olympian-destined, he can't escape camaraderie like this. And he's going to be stuck with it in close quarters for the forseeable future.
It was retribution of the highest caliber, and Ai is just grateful Rin stuck the landing instead of getting worked up to the point of fumbling it all. Even Ai himself laughs something of a loud, crass, barked noise when Ikuya scolds him to not even joke about that!!, and the wording is vague enough that now Ai has questions, but maybe he'll save those for over a study period.
"What do you mean even I--?"
The lot of them are laughing now, and Ai's cheeks have come to match theirs in colour. Every bit a man as those present! Sousuke would know best. That may explain why colour is still kissing the very tippy-tops of Sousuke's ears. More than anything else present, disarming Yamazaki Sousuke is what Ai will consider the biggest win here, putting the sight of his heated skin into his memory locket.
Sousuke mutters something under his breath as he pulls his hand down his face, as if he could get his smile to stop. Something to the tune of, you're fucked up.
Ai only looks at Rin, smile even and steadfast and so irritatingly pleased. Payback. Then to Ikuya,
"If you don't hurry up, you'll miss check in." As if he didn't just bowl a strike.
It's so warm and fulfilling, Rin thinks something in him might burst.
Truly, he thought he did something irreparable that night he goaded Ai into fucking him. The subsequent fallout felt like something that could never be glued back together. Rin had been sulking, wishing he wasn't the way he was. And even going a step further, hurting Sousuke in the process. It doesn't feel like near two weeks ago. It feels so much farther out, with the way they're able to laugh like this.
Something swells in Rin, hearing Ai crack jokes like this. Even effecting Sousuke to such a degree. It's an intense accomplishment to nail down, and Ai's medal is gold in that regard. Rin smiles, looking over at Ikuya and Haru. Final event of the day. Men's 200m free. A friendly with Michael fucking Phelps. Rin is currently vibrating out of his skin, grabbing onto Ikuya and Haru's sleeves and dragging them towards check in.
He sees him standing there, in the fucking flesh. Haru and Ikuya both look at Rin and laugh at him acting much like a five year old in a candy shop. He's someone Rin and his dad watched on their old, janky television. His dad showing him exactly how Phelps would cut through the water. Phelps is just a friendly, sure. But there's something so invigorating in the prospect. Ikuya laughs.
"Dude, chill. He can probably feel you staring."
Even that rips a little smirk out of Haru. But Haru is obviously nice, knowing how much Rin has wanted this and doesn't say anything, just puts his hand on Rin's shoulder as they queue up. The first ones, naturally. Because nobody is as eager as Rin is for this. Given Haru and Ikuya and Rin have all already qualified for the team. Rin even admitted this wasn't his strong suit.
Still. He looks back at Ikuya, thinking at least he didn't just finish an intense medley with barely any time to breathe inbetween. He's got an edge on him. He's got this.
Ai knew that for Rin, this was a victory lap more than anything. Watches as he all but scruffs Ikuya and Haruka and disappears out toward check-in, and if Ai stands on his tip-toes, he can see the sun and gold radiating off the American with shoulders a mile wide. Ai didn't have the same kind of idol worship - had reserved that for someone else circa four years ago - but it's still hard not to be in absolute awe. Mentally he's trying to calculate what his total number of wins were when he feels Sousuke close behind his back.
"He'll complain again if we go back up."
Ai simpers, "Gou-san must be so tired." She's had an impetus to cheer for nearly every single one of her friends and her brother's friends!
He walks to the mouth of the poolside entryway, cupping his mouth and yelling loud enough to make sure Phelps can hear even if he can't understand,
"Rin-senpai! The skillful hawk hides his talons! But maybe this time it's okay if you flash them!"
"You can't use an idiom and then completely subvert it."
He hopes somewhere his dad is proud, on whatever godless sphere of earth they're occupying at least. The day has been spent sprinting up and down all those steps, slamming into friends, riding the highs of their wins, of his own. And it's culminated into this. He's had a little time between his heats, thankfully.
He's in lane four. Phelps in lane three. Haru in lane five. Ikuya in lane one. Sandwiched between two of the people who have helped make him into who he is, helped him reach this stage. He stands before the starting block, snapping his goggle strap, and Phelps looks over at him and laughs. It's not malicious, it looks like he's beaming and he tries doing the same thing. Rin's face burns as he steps onto the block.
They all assume position. And the stands quiet. It's tense for the moment before the kick off. Rin's gaze is plastered firmly ahead. He's not letting those flanking either side of him throw him off. He's waited too long for this. He doesn't even need to beat him, just show him what a capable swimmer he can be--
The timing gun sounds off.
And his left calf seizes.
He jerks as he messes up the landing worse than he ever has before. White hot pain slicing up his leg, as he tries to flounder past it. There's already water up his nose from such a sloppy entrance. His teeth are clenching so hard it only intensifies the pain. One stroke. Another. Another.
His body crumples, leg locking up completely as he crashes into the lane line. He can't get the torque or push to propel himself forward. He gasps as the line digs into him, chlorinated water flooding his mouth. And that's when everything tilts. There's only the dull thrum of water moving around him, distant and echoey under the water. The panic is faster than his limbs. All that courses through his mind is this must be what his dad felt.
It's like he cant get a hold of the lane line, scrape his foot on the bottom well enough to push himself up. Kicking attempts just made it worse, and he swallows water again. The surface was right there, but completely unreachable.
His eyes squeeze shut.
But then, there are hands on him. Hauling him up.
The second he breaks the surface, he coughs hard and the burn of chlorine floods his senses. More than anything, the shame burns the most. It's been so quick, the other swimmers hardly know what's going on, focusing on kicking off the wall for their second go. There's murmurs of some spectators, realization beginning to kick in for them. It must have been only seconds, but to Rin it feels like it had been hours.
He doesn't need to see past the blur to know who's hands they are. It's fucking Haru. Cheers begin to shift into a more confused, panicky thing. Poolside staff realize what's transpired and begin to move. But Haru had been quicker, as he skirts across the lane line, and begins to drag Rin back the measly distance he had covered. All where medical staff is holding out arms to pull Rin up, Haru pushing him in turn.
A fucking humiliation. He doesn't need to look to feel the eyes on him, confused swimmers hitting the halfway point. Nevermind. Rin doesn't want to think about it. Because he just fucking tanked in front of someone he's aspired to be like since he was a kid. And he doesn't even want to think how Haru just--
The air around him feels like it's crushing him. There's strangers coming into focus, all surrounding him and prodding at him like he's something worth caring about. And in the noise, he can feel Haru's eyes on him. Rin can't stand it. He fucking sobs, ripping his goggles off his face, and jerkily pushing himself to his feet. He feels someone grabbing for his wrist, Haru, medical staff, someone, but he jerks it away. It feels like it's burning him the same way his throat is on fucking fire.
And so Rin does the thing he's best at.
He panics. He runs.
He doesn't face the music. All he can think of is his sheer stupidity, recklessness and how much of a fucking failure he is.
Sousuke winces when he realizes for once his playful ribbing may have accidentally been prophetic.
Ai watches with a flinch as Rin's dive off the starting block is immediately aborted, and panic sets in when he doesn't see red hair emerge from under the surface for four, five seconds. He's about to run out toward the lay in, do something, but someone is faster.
He isn't at all surprised that Haruka would sacrifice another qualifier to help Rin - Ai would have done the same in a heartbeat. But what kills Ai isn't circumstance, it's the way he can see Rin's face distort with the rapid onset of shame and self-loathing. All at once, the high he'd gotten crashes.
Somehow, Rin takes off running, nearly mowing Ai down in the process. Ai stares on in horror for only a half second before he's hot on Rin's heels.
"Rin-senpai!" he yells, managing to catch up with Rin just outside in the hallway. For being enfeebled, Rin was still incredibly fast - Ai still tries to reach out and grab his arm just to get him to slow down, if he can. "Senpai, please stop! It's no good for you to overextend your leg right now!" It's no good to run away, he thinks, but has been face-to-face with this type of Rin before, and even in his own mild form of panic and worry, Ai knows better than to instigate. He'll choose his battles; first one is making sure Rin doesn't just disappear.
It's not the first time someone has flubbed during a qualifying international tournament. It certainly won't be the last.
Rin already has two qualifications under his belt for the Olympian team. That doesn't matter. What matters is doing the flubbing the way he did, a lane over from someone who means the world to him. Make that two. Three if you want to get technical about the ones in the pool with him. Infinite more in the stands, people back home, in Sydney...
Athletes will always suffer in some form. Whether it's through some scandal in the press, a losing streak, a setback injury. But for some reason, Rin Matsuoka equates it towards his whole career. Like the other things he's accomplished up until now aren't relevant. It's only the one flaw. But he thinks to himself, as he leans against a wall, choking, it's not the only time he's flubbed horrifically. That second year at Samezuka. He remembers the talk Seijuro and him had, when he got booted off the relay. It effected everything else, tore something in his psyche that had been hastily patched together already.
God, he's a fucking joke, isn't he?
He feels fingers tight around his arm, and his first instinct is for every muscle to tense, everything in his body screaming at him to run. It would be so easy to fall back into bad habits. Act the equivocal of the way he did after Ai said Rin hadn't given him something to be mad about.
It would be so easy to lash out, tear and claw until nothing is left behind but the levels of his own misery he's feeling. But he can't, he won't do that. So as gingerly as he is able, he tries to pull at Ai's grasp. He knows the others are surely not far behind, and the last thing he wants is for everyone to see him in such an abysmal state.
He never wants to act like he did to Ai. Not ever again, let alone in front of everyone all over again. Rin bites his lip, a quiver in his voice as he tries to level off his breathing through the rasp and burn of chlorine he coughed up.
"I...sorry." He can't meet Ai's gaze, can't stand to see the worry or disappointment or whatever else is there, flooding his features. He knows his Mom and Gou are probably in a panic, he can hear Haru and Sousuke's voices echoing down the hall. It all suddenly feels so loud. And for a moment, Rin aches for the dulled muffles of the surface underneath.
"I just need... I don't..." Rin doesn't even know what nonsensical babble he's trying to formulate. Just something coherent, something that screams he can be trusted to be alone for a moment. There's no way to measure the amount of gratefulness he feels towards Ai. It's immeasurable. But sometimes, life kicks you so hard that it feels better to sink into the current for a moment or two.
Ai could take a stab at guessing the hoops Rin's mind is jumping through. Pressure and expectation. Experience and fear. Shame and necessity. Ai knew better than to overextend and interject; he did trust Rin. Trusted him not to do something rash or make a mistake that could undo the tangible, real progress he's made in all his other qualifying heats today. Trusts that Rin maybe just needed time to cool off.
But there are two people Ai does not trust, not fully. One is responsible for having pulled Rin out of the water. The other is currently staring at Rin with sky blue eyes lined with a worry, turning inward, examining the sudden pit of self-loathing that wells in his gut.
A time like this, and you're worried about that? Get over yourself.
Ai rescinds his hand. Steps forward, presses a reassuring flat palm to the top of Rin's back, just for a moment, as if to make his presence known before daring to step into Rin's peripheral vision, trying to get Rin to catch his eye. Ai thinks if Rin can just conjure the courage to see the face of at least one person who has his back, he might be amenable to help, or at least figuring himself out in a non-volatile manner.
"I could walk you to the car," he offers. And figures Sousuke would have no problem with that, either. It was still on premises and they parked pretty close; it would at least grant Rin the privacy to work his shit out without cameras or reporters or fretting friends surrounding him. It just meant he'd have to be willing to walk over there. Because even if he doesn't want or feel he needs or even deserves Ai's help, it is in Ai's nature to try. He has to.
Ai's sentiments are appreciated, giving Rin a sanctuary away from the prying eyes of people surrounding him. But Rin also knows his family is probably desperately scrawling to hear from him, or check in on him. Frantically, given their history with water swallowing over someone's head--
He startles himself out of the thought, trying to rip himself free of the panic and shame swelling in every core. It's a little late to escape completely undetected. Sousuke and Haru are there, panting, and Ikuya isn't far behind. Rin's eyes widen. There's no way in this lifetime or the next either would participate in any sort of scrutiny towards him for such a human mistake or slip up. His skin quivers underneath Ai's ministration, concerned gazes falling onto it.
Rin's never noticed before now how all the most important people to him... all come in various shades of blue. Their eyes at least. The intensity of their cores, and the windows to their souls. It brings back that lump in his throat, as he stares at the floor, unsure of how to proceed.
Haru breaks the silence first, stepping forward, unsure of how to proceed. But he has Rin's jacket in his arms, pushing it towards Rin. Haru is the master of not liking eye-contact, and so he spares Rin any further from him. Maybe Haru's hand drags down Rin's arm a little too slowly, which just makes him shiver more. But...
"Your phones in your pocket." Is all Haru says, before he steps back. Something in Rin swells with gratitude. He can't face his Mom and sister. Not right now. Not anybody, even this group is hard. Sousuke gives Haru a look, once Rin can't quite discern through his ebbing adrenaline and panic. Sousuke sighs, fishing around in his pockets. He's intuitive, and knows all he needs to. He grabs his car keys and hands them to Ai, looking over Rin's momentary caretaker with an equally level look.
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Date: 2025-07-30 04:29 am (UTC)He hurries back up to the stands, waving at his Mom and Gou. He plops down next to them, scanning the queue as it begins to form. He wonders if Sousuke will come back up, but he sees him and Makoto looming near one of the poolside entrances. Perfect vantage point, and no need to rush up. Rin starts whooping when Ikuya and Ai have barely lined up. Gou chimes in, as she looks over her pamphlet.
"It's so nice to see you branching out from your childhood obsession and making new friends." Rin whips around to glare at her, and their Mom just laughs beside them. She presses the lines of their shoulders together, reaching up to press her fingers in her son's hair.
"Be nice. Just be happy anyone wants to, what with the promise of going deaf one day." Rin balks, and practically whines at his mom, pressing his face into her shoulder. He missed this, fuck. He hates how awol he went, from everybody. It was a pitfall coming back from Australia, having to face the music of things he ran away from. But he missed so much. And Ai helped him see that.
"Not that loud..." Rin mutters against her. He pulls his face away from her shoulder, watching Ikuya and Ai make their way to the starting blocks. Ikuya sheds away his jacket with a thinly veiled confidence, obviously still riding his personal best earlier. Rin hopes he makes another one. And another.
His eyes drift back to Ai, and he can hear Sousuke and Makoto shouting from poolside. He scans around, and his heart jumps in his throat as he sees Nagisa bouncing to his lane. They're all here. Fuck, they've got to do it somehow. One of them? All of them? Rin adds in another cheer for Nagisa, his Mom pulling away and plugging her ears with a laugh.
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Date: 2025-07-30 04:47 am (UTC)Something in his subconscious recognizes the roar of voices, some calling his name, but Ai lets it all fall to the wayside like cacophony. A dull buzz. He looks at Ikuya for a final well-wish before he and the rest of their queue step up onto the starting blocks.
Swimmers, take your marks.
..
boom!
Ai cuts through the air, breaks the surface, and extends. His start used to be so shaky, but is now one of his strongest assets; knows if he can start strong, he can stockpile his energy on the turn, and dump it all into the final leg. The benefit of having a deep well of stamina. Push, extend, kick, surface; the overhead lights catch across his goggles on the turn, and Ai swears for a moment he exits the pool and begins swimming in air.
On the turn, he's nearly bottom of the pack, chasing seventh. But cuts ahead with his burst, eclipsing one after the other, focused only on counting his breaths as his hand reaches desperately for the wall--
He tosses his goggles off, feels his entire body vibrating as he looks back.
Hazuki 59.51 3
Kirishima 58.98 1
Nitori 59.48 2
And he stares. And stares. And stares. Feels as if he's gotten pool water in his eyes, why is the leaderboard blurry? Feels something tap his shoulder; Ai sees Ikuya holding out a hand, and wearing an uncharacteristically wide smile. Ai takes it with a strong shake, expression completely blown and miles away before pulling himself up and out of the pool, legs akin to gel.
Something muttered under a watery voice. It's only when he's firmly gotten his feet planted on the tile behind the starting blocks that he nearly doubles over, fists pulled to his stomach, voice uncharacteristically booming--
"Yes!!!!!"
no subject
Date: 2025-07-30 11:47 am (UTC)There's a certain beauty in watching something blossom. Something you remember being curled, fragile, hesitant to bloom. Circumstances and fear of what's to come, what's already come to pass, threatening the petals. Rin is pressed up against the railing, fingers tight around cold steel, unable to take his eyes away.
Ai nails the turn. There's no floundering, even trailing behind. Rin knows exactly what comes next. That stamina comes into play. He begins to overtake everyone; even Nagisa has a hard time, and the second half is where he shines. Ikuya is carrying his lead, but Ai is closing that gap. And fast.
Rin screams for all of them, but his voice carries the loudest for Ai. Gou and his Mom are cheering right alongside him, carrying above the crowd as they near the wall. Rin's heart slams in his chest. Ikuya and Ai are in the lead, NAgisa just behind them. It's anyone's win now--
Ikuya slaps the wall. Ai right behind him. And before Rin even sees the score, he's booking it downstairs. He knows, he's grinning so hard it fucking hurts. They made it, they all fucking made it. He's choking back a sob, stopping right next to Sousuke. He pants hard, hands on his knees. Sousuke is cheering Ai's name for them both, while Rin catches his breath. There's tears streaming down Sousuke's face too.
Makoto shouts for all of them. Ikuya is sobbing, Nagisa as well. Fuck, are they all crying? Rin laughs breathlessly, and finally pulls himself up a bit. The waterworks are fresh again, and he can't help but choke out another laughing sob as he watches Ai sob over victory. All it takes is a little fire.
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Date: 2025-07-30 12:53 pm (UTC)Finally with his wits about him, he goes to flag down Nagisa and offer a handshake. OCT time was nothing to turn their noses up at, and it was just as likely he'd be there alongside Ikuya and Ai and the others in Fukuoka and Athens and beyond. Instead, Nagisa takes Ai's hand and pulls him into a too tight, too energetic embrace; Ai begins to flounder, which earns a laugh from Sousuke.
It's for the better Ikuya is the more decorated swimmer at the moment, as text reporters seem to all descend on him, and Ai can make a clean break for the side door. Half way to freedom though Sousuke is beside him, sharing with Ai a look that reflects a journey they know they've both walked. Roadblocks and stopgaps and massive, massive walls.
"You could have kept the timing consistent instead of giving us all a heart attack after the turn," Sousuke playfully nags. Ai laughs, a watery sound and nearly paired with a sob, picking up his jacket before he forgets about it.
"I had to beat Hazuki-san at his game, otherwise I didn't stand a chance." Goes to show Ai had done his studying.
Finally they step out into the warm-up and locker room area. And he meets Rin's eyes, and Ai's mind wipes blank. This thing he's worked so hard for-- this dream of his that has developed into so much more than wanting to swim with someone one last time. A sense of self, a purpose, and a drive, all because Rin had been there. His eyes are quicker than his tongue, immediately breaking out into another fit of waterworks. Beside him Sousuke gives Rin a knowing, unusually kind smile.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-30 03:30 pm (UTC)This was a guy who truly crawled through everything to get here.
And Rin watched it all unfold over the years. From the awkward kid stumbling after him their first year together--even when Rin didn't deserve such kindness and understanding--to watching Ai unfold into an amazing swimmer, beating Samezuka records, swimming the relay together... to living together, beating the odds stacked against them even after such an awkward night. Rin beams at Ai, squeezing his shoulder.
"Welcome to the olympic team."
Sousuke matches the motion, squeezing Ai's other shoulder. Rin's gaze trails over to Ikuya, surrounded by press and sponsors. Someone who has worked equally hard. Rin's beaming with excitement for all of them. The representation of Japan is all coming together. People Rin has walked with through all different times in his life. There's still the butterfly qualifiers, individual medleys... his skin prickles, the 200m free is the last event, but one he's still pumped for.
Rin runs through everything in his head. All the infinite possibilities, ladders to climb. He's so happy. He pulls his hand away to rub at his eyes, fuck they itch from sobbing so much today.
"....thank you." He doesn't know what else to say. "Thank you guys, fuck."
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Date: 2025-07-30 04:23 pm (UTC)"You'll get to make your ultimate team." One that spanned beyond Iwatobi, beyond Sano, beyond Samezuka, and even beyond Australia. The next stage, Ai knows for a fact, will be one of Rin's most important. A culmination of all the bonds he's forged over the years. Ai's just relieved to be a part of it, a small slice of his own dream coming to fruition.
All this crying, all these accolades - Ai's head is almost literally spinning. He's grateful he didn't qualify for the IM, else he isn't so sure how he'd be able to enter the heat and actually perform. He tucks his swim cap into the hem of his jammers and looks up at the nearest wall clock, then to Rin.
"You can't get complacent yet, senpai. Your next heat is soon."
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Date: 2025-07-30 09:39 pm (UTC)Sousuke just laughs, rolling his shoulder a little bit.
"We'll be waiting for you, mister hotshot. Don't get too cocky."
Rin speeds of towards the locker room. It's buzzing with nervous athletes, coaches giving last minute words of wisdom. It's some small wonder that Rei isn't in the heat with him. But his stamina won out in qualifying rounds, and he decided to go for the 200m. Rin is sticking with the 100m. Endurance isn't exactly his strong suit, diving stubbornly head first and giving it his all from the get go.
He's not a strategist like Ai or Nagisa, leaving all his strength until the final roundabout to surpass the crowd. It's just not his style. Rin flits through nervousness and excitement, as he works out every spot in his body for the second time today. Ikuya bumps into him, and Rin almost jumps backwards. Ikuya just laughs, pressing a hand on Rin's back. "You good?"
Rin jerkily nods, running his fingers through his hair.
"Ah, yep. Sorry! Just crazy how we're all setting the stage together. Congrats on your win. Saw that coming from a mile away." Ikuya laughs, heading towards his locker and pulling his goggles down.
"You too. Don't mess it up. Don't want to disappoint Haru right?" Rin rolls his eyes, not even bothering to retort. Whatever. People can think he's a slut. Or a show off for certain people. He doesn't care. He looks at the time, and scurries off to the pool. This is the first heat where he doesn't know anybody. Which is fine. Less chance messing up because he wants a friend to be on the Olympics team with him. He checks in, and heads to the starting block, taking position with a heavy swallow.
Mental pep talk. He's the best at 100m butterfly down in Sydney. He's been the best consistently since high school. That won't change. Swimming with Haru is one thing, it makes his free so much better. But this is still somewhere he can shine. He snaps his goggles, and leans forward, waiting for the starting gun.
...
It's over almost as soon as he hears the send-off.
He's slapping the wall, miles ahead of the pack. His kick at the turn is his saving grace, something he's perfected. Something Mikhail has drilled into him rigorously. It was one of his specialties during his time as a swimmer, after all. Something he passes onto his athletes with great enthusiasm and perfection.
Rin doesn't even need to look up at the scoreboard to know he's first. It doesn't do anything to stop the tears though, as he hears the cheers, he can hear his friends voices carrying above the crowd. He's about to haul himself out of the pool, when he sees three people beaming down at him, all hands out to pull him up.
Haru. Makoto. Nagisa. The people he swam with. The people he's won with consistently by his side. They're all there, tears brimming their features. Even Haru looks oddly emotional. Rin sniffs, and as all three begin to reach for him, he grabs Haru's wrist first. Squeezing it tightly. Only to immediately drag him into the pool, ignoring Makoto's surprised noise and the chiding screech from a ref not fifteen feet away. Rin is just laughing as he's met with Haru's absolutely shocked face when he surfaces. He thinks Haru's maybe going to hit him (worth it). But even then, a little smile twists on Haru's face, and they all collectively lose their minds together.
It feels like things a long time ago.
Makoto hauls the two of them out of the pool, all laughs and adrenaline as Rin scans the people surrounding them--swarming him really. All sponsors and congratulations again, but he's just looking for two people in particular. He knows without looking his mom and sister are up in the stands, sobbing their eyes out.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-30 10:23 pm (UTC)It's a similar welling feeling in his chest when Rin takes to the starting block. He wonders, perhaps off-handedly, if Sousuke missed butterfly overmuch - but a quick look at the man's countenance tells Ai that Sousuke is satisfied with his qualifications this go around. It brings Ai a measure of relief; no dream left behind.
Hands grip tight to polished steel, and his voice goes hoarse from cheering. Rin may have had to fight in the free 100m, but this was no contest; from Ai's purview, Rin nearly looked a full body ahead of his competitors. He's about to do as he had twice earlier in the day and run down to the entrance to congratulate Rin firsthand, but some familiar suspects not only beat him and Sousuke to the punch, they completely outshine.
It's familiar. Nostalgic. And a bit bittersweet. Ai watches as Rin pulls Haruka into the pool, and sighs with an awry smile, "He's begging to get in trouble..."
"He's gotten away with worse."
Ai and Sousuke had talked about it, when they grew familiar. Rin's stunt at his second year Samezuka relay. How Sousuke, too, had seen every single moment of it - had, embarrassingly, even heard Ai and Rin's altercation. Ai has it on good faith that Rin only bothers with stunts like these when he has his whole heart behind it.
"Well," Ai leads, sitting back down and choosing not to inject himself any more than strictly necessary, "They all look happy. So Rin-senpai is doing something right."
Sopping wet and red comes barreling up the stands, and Ai figures he's headed for his family given the gusto in his walk and the rings around his eyes, but Ai still smiles at Rin proudly, "Congratulations!"
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Date: 2025-07-30 10:35 pm (UTC)Rin barks playfully, as he plops into the seat between Sousuke and his mom. He barely even bothered to dry off, as Makoto, Nagisa and Haru were quick to find a new spot to spectate as Rei's heat would be coming up next. And Rin was eager to be surrounded by his family and found family in the lapse.
He leans his head back, breathing hard. Two heats in one day is exhausting enough, but Rin still has one to go and he feels exhaustion creeping up his limbs. It's not like he doesn't swim constant laps all day, practicing every which way. But the constant rush of adrenaline is pulling at him with a certain exhaustion.
"Let me guess, you just knew I would win before I even touched the wall so why bother--" His sister reaches over to smack him with her pamphlet, chiding him for being cocky and a smartass. Miyako says nothing, but smiles into the back of her hand like she's trying not to say or do something and let her son have this. Even if the mom in her might think otherwise.
Rin groans, leaning his head against Sousuke's shoulder. He feels him stiffen a little, but relax almost instantly after. This level of physicalities is nothing new. It's just Rin. He sighs, and looks over at Ai through exhaustion laced eyes.
"Fuck, this is exhausting. How are you guys holding up?"
no subject
Date: 2025-07-30 10:51 pm (UTC)"Nanase had it coming."
"Sousuke-senpai--!"
Rin's leaning on Sousuke then, and Ai measures Sousuke's reaction habitually. For reasons he cannot and doesn't want to name, Ai is suddenly sitting a little bit straighter, and the pool down in the center of the room is infinitely more interesting.
Ai contemplates his answer to Rin's question, feeling a fire burning in his chest. So much matters, and yet so little of it actually does.
"If I don't sleep well tonight, I'll be pretty angry." He turns his head to his two seniors, simper plastered upon his lips. "But I'll be sad once it's over, too. These feelings of mine... It's as if I don't want to let go of them just yet." The good, the bad, the ugly. Pride, joy, adrenaline, attitude; bittersweet, jealousy, envy. If there is one thing Ai can say for certain, it's that he's never felt more alive.
He studies Rin's expression. The red tint to the corners of his eyes.
"Will you be alright for your 200m, senpai? Do you want to stretch?" A pause, and then a very stupid grin threatens his face, lidded only because he catches Sousuke in his periphery. "My hands are neither dark nor brooding, I promise."
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Date: 2025-07-30 11:11 pm (UTC)"I'll sneak an allergy pill in your tea then." Rin laughs, peeling himself off of Sousuke to raise his arms above his head.
Okay. Alright. Ai is actually pretty funny. Rin snorts, almost on the side of Sousuke's cheek and he just makes a face at Rin. Rin laughs, holding his hands up in a mock apology. "Woah, woah. It was an accident. Don't get all dark and broody on me again." Oh yes he did just go there. Rin winks at Ai, because he's going to remember that one for as long as he lives. "...yeah, you're probably right. Ugh. After Rei's fly, and Kirishima's individual."
Rin has never said it out loud, but he owes so much to Rei. Tracking him down, and giving him a hard wake-up call outside Samezuka. Calling him out on all of his shit. Talking with him after Rin got pulled off the Samezuka relay team, grounding him almost. And then giving up a spot he had actually worked hard for--earned--something Rin didn't come even close to doing.
Haru helped him find his purpose for swimming again, sure. But without Rei, it never would have come to fruition. He leans on the railing, chin resting on his crossed arms, watching the butterfly swimmers begin to queue up. Gou is on her feet, cheering her lungs out. Rin can pinpoint exactly where in the crowd Nagisa and the rest of Iwatobi's dream team are by their shouts.
A little smile crosses his face. He wonders if Rei even knows how Nagisa looks at him. Like the guy carved out the stars and the sky by hand.
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Date: 2025-07-30 11:32 pm (UTC)Rin's quip to his quip has Ai nearly straining to smile, and it's anyone's guess if it's a threat of a laugh or a groan.
"That was a one time instance."
Ai doesn't mind remaining here with the Matsuokas and Sousuke, though his mind does immediately flit to Nagisa as he watches Rei - and two Samezuka alumni, if Ai squints - carve out his future. Ai may have written off Nagisa as an annoying firestarter at first, but had come to learn very quickly that he is much more than meets the eyes. In fact, Ai doesn't think he can imagine anyone who so single-handedly invests in his friendships, oftentimes in thankless ways. That, and Ai knows yearning when he sees it.
Never mind Rei, with whom Ai shares so much in common. Scraping up to the top from nothing. Only hard work and an inspiration set aflame thanks to the people they looked up to most. Ai cannot help himself, his thoughts dragging his eyes up out of the pool and across the length of the natatorium and landing on black hair and ocean blue eyes and a cheer loud enough to put Ai himself to shame.
He watches the scoreboard; Rei's placed third. There's an excitement that overcomes his features.
"The time is good enough for the Consideration qualifier!" Subtly and to himself, Ai pumps his fist at his side. "Both Rei-kun and Nagisa-kun might be able to stand on a world stage, after all."
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Date: 2025-07-31 12:03 am (UTC)"Careful Nagisa doesn't edge you out of any of your spots, Ai. Terrifying little dude."
And watching what happens next is something that erases every other event of the day.
Rei stumbling out of the pool, tears in his eyes apparent even from so far as he gazes up at the score board. Rin stands up, watching Nagisa peel out of the side entrance looking around. Makoto and Haru aren't far behind (Rin thinks they all should have just stayed down there, but. again. details) and as Rei waves at them, Nagisa propels himself forward. He latches onto Rei as hard as possibly. Rin can feel the wind getting knocked out of his own lungs at the sight.
Or maybe it's the way Nagisa grabs Rei's face after, and shoves their mouths together. Uncaring of the press, or sponsors all around them as Rei flails rather expectedly, and Nagisa just pulls away with that big stupid grin and laughs so loud anyone could hear it. Something in Rin soars. He always had an inkling, but.
He hears Sousuke whistle so loud next to him, he swears he feels his ear drums crack. Gou is screaming and whooping from beside their mother, and it's just stupid and perfect the way Nagisa makes a scene in such a way. Even when the individual medley swimmers are lining up, and the refs try to shoo some of the swimmers to more secluded areas to discuss with coaches, sponsors, everyone possible poolside, Nagisa is still clinging to Rei like a lifeline, like he is afraid what will happen if he lets go.
"Don't cry dude. I know how you are during those ratman movies..." Rin sniffs, and just smiles as he watches Ikuya take position.
"Shut up, Sou." He laughs so hard as the timing gun goes off and the individual medley begins. Ikuya is insane. There's no doubts there. Nobody has as many events and strokes as he does in his backpocket. And it shows. All that time training in America, all the time spent mimicking Haru's freestyle stroke. Carving a place in the water for himself.
Even Sousuke gets on his feet to cheer on this one. He's seen Ikuya swimming for longer than Rin has. Ikuya finishes second, no easy feat given his competitors. Rin is buzzing in his chair, Ikuya and him have moulded into some friendly rivalry over the years, always pushing each other's buttons. He wants to give him some hell before he stretches for his upcoming heat, so he begins to bolt downstairs, tossing over his shoulder.
"Meet me down there Ai!! Dude needs some pep talk about his sloppy fly before I can think about stretching."
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Date: 2025-07-31 12:32 am (UTC)Idiot dumb traitorous thing that he is, instinctively and subconsciously, his eyes look to Rin. Realizing the neurons that have just fired, Ai's face heats up even worse, and rather than dignify the thoughts in his head with words of admonishment, he simply yanks his head away and claps.
"Even if it isn't his race, Nagisa-kun finds a way to win."
Sousuke isn't the only one rising to get ready for the IM; Ai had a surprising amount on his mind for this one. Chose not to engage this year, as having swam beside Ikuya for two full semesters has taught Ai he is nowhere near competition level yet with his IM times. He favoured endurance where he could, and knew he actually had some amount of instinct for it, but had come to this realization too late in the year to justify training for it. Ikuya's given him some pointers, and Sousuke was there frequently to coach him on his free and his butterfly; it's a goal for next year. For now, it's all he can do to give his support to Ikuya as loudly as possible, and take in the sights eager-eyed.
Rin's declaration has Ai whipping his head, looking to Rin almost skeptically before deflating and saying quietly, though still within Sousuke's earshot, "He's just going to say something crass...!"
"And you think you'd stop him?"
"I'd have better luck diving into the pool from here."
Ai bounds out from the bleachers, not necessarily intent on being there right as Rin is, but Ai wants to give his support to Ikuya directly too, and knows he has two, maybe three minutes to do it.
mobile is ass so I’m sorry for the ass reply
Date: 2025-07-31 01:01 am (UTC)”Two qualifying Olympic times is pretty sick.” Ikuya looks at Rin with twisted brows, like he’s really discerning whether Rin is complimenting him genuinely right now or—
”But your fly could use some fine tuning.” Ikuya balks and shoves his palm against Rin’s face, trying to shove him away with an offended noise. “—propel yourself further out of the water dude. Less drag. Faster time. Come on!”
Ikuya spits back, “That’s rich coming from the guy who probably can’t even propel himself off the bed in the morning.” Rin fucking yanks himself back, a scowl spreading across his face.
”Oi, don’t—“ Ikuya interrupts him.
”Your times would probably be better if you focused less on taking it and more—“
Haru steps between them, an annoyingly calm look on his face. He pushes a hand on each of their chests, gently prying them away from one another. Rin grits his teeth, shooting a dirty look at Haru. Who just ignores him. Rin looks around for some backup, seeing Ai and Sousuke and visibly slumping, pulling himself away from Haru’s outstretched arm.
”Such a prick.” He’s pouting. Absolutely one hundred percent pouting. He wanders off to stand back near Ai and Sousuke, kicking at Sousuke’s shin when he gives him that fucking look again.
”Fine. You did good Kirishima. Congrats on fucking proving your point and making it in again. We’re all very proud.”
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Date: 2025-07-31 01:14 am (UTC)They're like cats, he thinks in a deadpan, spittling at each other over nothing. They'd both probably shut up if they had food in front of them.
Ai blinks when Haruka breaks up their spat, unsure how to feel about the debased nature of their... Encouragements, but figuring there was likely an angle here Ai just didn't get yet. Vaguely, it reminds him of when Sousuke and Haruka first met, not that he can exactly place why.
"Kirishima-senpai!" His voice is such a gentle lilt, and a little croaky from all his screaming today, "Fight hard! I'll need you to give me pointers back at the university pool, and I won't be able to take your word on any of it unless you win."
And then he thinks. About impressions, mostly; on all of his seniors, on Haruka. There is just something about him specifically that simultaneously has Ai drawing a very stern boundary around himself, and yet is unintentionally egged on just by being in his presence.
And so it's that smile of his. The type that is too innocent to be anything but. Overly polite, Ai crosses his arms behind his back as he continues toward his college senior,
"There are a number of ways to keep the body limber, you know. It can be good to let off steam sometimes."
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Date: 2025-07-31 02:23 am (UTC)The silence that passes through the group was so thick, one could hear a pin drop. What started with Ai's normal dialogue, praising Ikuya for his performance (and putting himself down a little in the process, ugh) turned into something that made Rin's guts twist. But whatever collective response from the group does something to make Rin's heart slam against his ribs.
Sousuke--Sousuke--is fucking snickering into the back of his hand, albeit red faced. And now Rin knows exactly why, and he's never letting him live it down.
Realization dawns on Ikuya. Warping from a burrowed brow and tilted head to his jaw dropping, face bright red and jerking his head away so fast Rin swears he hears his neck snap. "Don't even joke about that!!" Obviously caught off guard from someone he deems so otherwise unthreatening on his team.
But. Maybe Haru is the most priceless of all.
Haru's brow is furrowed, much like Ikuya's. But some semblance of understanding crosses his face, and his eyes widen a hair. A blink and you'll miss it thing. But he looks between all of them, gaze falling on Rin. And that's when his face really gets some color in it. And Rin is caught between blushing at Ai's comment in regards to the night they spent together, Haru obviously giving him a once-over or just the fact that Ai made the comment at fucking all.
And he starts laughing. So hard his chest hurts.
"See. What have I been telling you? Even Ai gets it. Stop being a prude, Kirishima." And that's when their collectively loses it in turn. All at Ikuya's expense, of course. Despite being a two time olympian-destined, he can't escape camaraderie like this. And he's going to be stuck with it in close quarters for the forseeable future.
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Date: 2025-07-31 02:37 am (UTC)"What do you mean even I--?"
The lot of them are laughing now, and Ai's cheeks have come to match theirs in colour. Every bit a man as those present! Sousuke would know best. That may explain why colour is still kissing the very tippy-tops of Sousuke's ears. More than anything else present, disarming Yamazaki Sousuke is what Ai will consider the biggest win here, putting the sight of his heated skin into his memory locket.
Sousuke mutters something under his breath as he pulls his hand down his face, as if he could get his smile to stop. Something to the tune of, you're fucked up.
Ai only looks at Rin, smile even and steadfast and so irritatingly pleased. Payback. Then to Ikuya,
"If you don't hurry up, you'll miss check in." As if he didn't just bowl a strike.
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Date: 2025-07-31 02:54 am (UTC)Truly, he thought he did something irreparable that night he goaded Ai into fucking him. The subsequent fallout felt like something that could never be glued back together. Rin had been sulking, wishing he wasn't the way he was. And even going a step further, hurting Sousuke in the process. It doesn't feel like near two weeks ago. It feels so much farther out, with the way they're able to laugh like this.
Something swells in Rin, hearing Ai crack jokes like this. Even effecting Sousuke to such a degree. It's an intense accomplishment to nail down, and Ai's medal is gold in that regard. Rin smiles, looking over at Ikuya and Haru. Final event of the day. Men's 200m free. A friendly with Michael fucking Phelps. Rin is currently vibrating out of his skin, grabbing onto Ikuya and Haru's sleeves and dragging them towards check in.
He sees him standing there, in the fucking flesh. Haru and Ikuya both look at Rin and laugh at him acting much like a five year old in a candy shop. He's someone Rin and his dad watched on their old, janky television. His dad showing him exactly how Phelps would cut through the water. Phelps is just a friendly, sure. But there's something so invigorating in the prospect. Ikuya laughs.
"Dude, chill. He can probably feel you staring."
Even that rips a little smirk out of Haru. But Haru is obviously nice, knowing how much Rin has wanted this and doesn't say anything, just puts his hand on Rin's shoulder as they queue up. The first ones, naturally. Because nobody is as eager as Rin is for this. Given Haru and Ikuya and Rin have all already qualified for the team. Rin even admitted this wasn't his strong suit.
Still. He looks back at Ikuya, thinking at least he didn't just finish an intense medley with barely any time to breathe inbetween. He's got an edge on him. He's got this.
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Date: 2025-07-31 03:13 am (UTC)"He'll complain again if we go back up."
Ai simpers, "Gou-san must be so tired." She's had an impetus to cheer for nearly every single one of her friends and her brother's friends!
He walks to the mouth of the poolside entryway, cupping his mouth and yelling loud enough to make sure Phelps can hear even if he can't understand,
"Rin-senpai! The skillful hawk hides his talons! But maybe this time it's okay if you flash them!"
"You can't use an idiom and then completely subvert it."
"You say something nicer, then."
Sousuke rubs his neck.
"Don't eat shit!"
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Date: 2025-07-31 03:45 am (UTC)He hopes somewhere his dad is proud, on whatever godless sphere of earth they're occupying at least. The day has been spent sprinting up and down all those steps, slamming into friends, riding the highs of their wins, of his own. And it's culminated into this. He's had a little time between his heats, thankfully.
He's in lane four. Phelps in lane three. Haru in lane five. Ikuya in lane one. Sandwiched between two of the people who have helped make him into who he is, helped him reach this stage. He stands before the starting block, snapping his goggle strap, and Phelps looks over at him and laughs. It's not malicious, it looks like he's beaming and he tries doing the same thing. Rin's face burns as he steps onto the block.
They all assume position. And the stands quiet. It's tense for the moment before the kick off. Rin's gaze is plastered firmly ahead. He's not letting those flanking either side of him throw him off. He's waited too long for this. He doesn't even need to beat him, just show him what a capable swimmer he can be--
The timing gun sounds off.
And his left calf seizes.
He jerks as he messes up the landing worse than he ever has before. White hot pain slicing up his leg, as he tries to flounder past it. There's already water up his nose from such a sloppy entrance. His teeth are clenching so hard it only intensifies the pain. One stroke. Another. Another.
His body crumples, leg locking up completely as he crashes into the lane line. He can't get the torque or push to propel himself forward. He gasps as the line digs into him, chlorinated water flooding his mouth. And that's when everything tilts. There's only the dull thrum of water moving around him, distant and echoey under the water. The panic is faster than his limbs. All that courses through his mind is this must be what his dad felt.
It's like he cant get a hold of the lane line, scrape his foot on the bottom well enough to push himself up. Kicking attempts just made it worse, and he swallows water again. The surface was right there, but completely unreachable.
His eyes squeeze shut.
But then, there are hands on him. Hauling him up.
The second he breaks the surface, he coughs hard and the burn of chlorine floods his senses. More than anything, the shame burns the most. It's been so quick, the other swimmers hardly know what's going on, focusing on kicking off the wall for their second go. There's murmurs of some spectators, realization beginning to kick in for them. It must have been only seconds, but to Rin it feels like it had been hours.
He doesn't need to see past the blur to know who's hands they are. It's fucking Haru. Cheers begin to shift into a more confused, panicky thing. Poolside staff realize what's transpired and begin to move. But Haru had been quicker, as he skirts across the lane line, and begins to drag Rin back the measly distance he had covered. All where medical staff is holding out arms to pull Rin up, Haru pushing him in turn.
A fucking humiliation. He doesn't need to look to feel the eyes on him, confused swimmers hitting the halfway point. Nevermind. Rin doesn't want to think about it. Because he just fucking tanked in front of someone he's aspired to be like since he was a kid. And he doesn't even want to think how Haru just--
The air around him feels like it's crushing him. There's strangers coming into focus, all surrounding him and prodding at him like he's something worth caring about. And in the noise, he can feel Haru's eyes on him. Rin can't stand it. He fucking sobs, ripping his goggles off his face, and jerkily pushing himself to his feet. He feels someone grabbing for his wrist, Haru, medical staff, someone, but he jerks it away. It feels like it's burning him the same way his throat is on fucking fire.
And so Rin does the thing he's best at.
He panics. He runs.
He doesn't face the music. All he can think of is his sheer stupidity, recklessness and how much of a fucking failure he is.
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Date: 2025-07-31 03:58 am (UTC)Ai watches with a flinch as Rin's dive off the starting block is immediately aborted, and panic sets in when he doesn't see red hair emerge from under the surface for four, five seconds. He's about to run out toward the lay in, do something, but someone is faster.
He isn't at all surprised that Haruka would sacrifice another qualifier to help Rin - Ai would have done the same in a heartbeat. But what kills Ai isn't circumstance, it's the way he can see Rin's face distort with the rapid onset of shame and self-loathing. All at once, the high he'd gotten crashes.
Somehow, Rin takes off running, nearly mowing Ai down in the process. Ai stares on in horror for only a half second before he's hot on Rin's heels.
"Rin-senpai!" he yells, managing to catch up with Rin just outside in the hallway. For being enfeebled, Rin was still incredibly fast - Ai still tries to reach out and grab his arm just to get him to slow down, if he can. "Senpai, please stop! It's no good for you to overextend your leg right now!" It's no good to run away, he thinks, but has been face-to-face with this type of Rin before, and even in his own mild form of panic and worry, Ai knows better than to instigate. He'll choose his battles; first one is making sure Rin doesn't just disappear.
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Date: 2025-07-31 04:22 am (UTC)Rin already has two qualifications under his belt for the Olympian team. That doesn't matter. What matters is doing the flubbing the way he did, a lane over from someone who means the world to him. Make that two. Three if you want to get technical about the ones in the pool with him. Infinite more in the stands, people back home, in Sydney...
Athletes will always suffer in some form. Whether it's through some scandal in the press, a losing streak, a setback injury. But for some reason, Rin Matsuoka equates it towards his whole career. Like the other things he's accomplished up until now aren't relevant. It's only the one flaw. But he thinks to himself, as he leans against a wall, choking, it's not the only time he's flubbed horrifically. That second year at Samezuka. He remembers the talk Seijuro and him had, when he got booted off the relay. It effected everything else, tore something in his psyche that had been hastily patched together already.
God, he's a fucking joke, isn't he?
He feels fingers tight around his arm, and his first instinct is for every muscle to tense, everything in his body screaming at him to run. It would be so easy to fall back into bad habits. Act the equivocal of the way he did after Ai said Rin hadn't given him something to be mad about.
It would be so easy to lash out, tear and claw until nothing is left behind but the levels of his own misery he's feeling. But he can't, he won't do that. So as gingerly as he is able, he tries to pull at Ai's grasp. He knows the others are surely not far behind, and the last thing he wants is for everyone to see him in such an abysmal state.
He never wants to act like he did to Ai. Not ever again, let alone in front of everyone all over again. Rin bites his lip, a quiver in his voice as he tries to level off his breathing through the rasp and burn of chlorine he coughed up.
"I...sorry." He can't meet Ai's gaze, can't stand to see the worry or disappointment or whatever else is there, flooding his features. He knows his Mom and Gou are probably in a panic, he can hear Haru and Sousuke's voices echoing down the hall. It all suddenly feels so loud. And for a moment, Rin aches for the dulled muffles of the surface underneath.
"I just need... I don't..." Rin doesn't even know what nonsensical babble he's trying to formulate. Just something coherent, something that screams he can be trusted to be alone for a moment. There's no way to measure the amount of gratefulness he feels towards Ai. It's immeasurable. But sometimes, life kicks you so hard that it feels better to sink into the current for a moment or two.
no subject
Date: 2025-07-31 04:34 am (UTC)But there are two people Ai does not trust, not fully. One is responsible for having pulled Rin out of the water. The other is currently staring at Rin with sky blue eyes lined with a worry, turning inward, examining the sudden pit of self-loathing that wells in his gut.
A time like this, and you're worried about that? Get over yourself.
Ai rescinds his hand. Steps forward, presses a reassuring flat palm to the top of Rin's back, just for a moment, as if to make his presence known before daring to step into Rin's peripheral vision, trying to get Rin to catch his eye. Ai thinks if Rin can just conjure the courage to see the face of at least one person who has his back, he might be amenable to help, or at least figuring himself out in a non-volatile manner.
"I could walk you to the car," he offers. And figures Sousuke would have no problem with that, either. It was still on premises and they parked pretty close; it would at least grant Rin the privacy to work his shit out without cameras or reporters or fretting friends surrounding him. It just meant he'd have to be willing to walk over there. Because even if he doesn't want or feel he needs or even deserves Ai's help, it is in Ai's nature to try. He has to.
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Date: 2025-07-31 05:00 am (UTC)He startles himself out of the thought, trying to rip himself free of the panic and shame swelling in every core. It's a little late to escape completely undetected. Sousuke and Haru are there, panting, and Ikuya isn't far behind. Rin's eyes widen. There's no way in this lifetime or the next either would participate in any sort of scrutiny towards him for such a human mistake or slip up. His skin quivers underneath Ai's ministration, concerned gazes falling onto it.
Rin's never noticed before now how all the most important people to him... all come in various shades of blue. Their eyes at least. The intensity of their cores, and the windows to their souls. It brings back that lump in his throat, as he stares at the floor, unsure of how to proceed.
Haru breaks the silence first, stepping forward, unsure of how to proceed. But he has Rin's jacket in his arms, pushing it towards Rin. Haru is the master of not liking eye-contact, and so he spares Rin any further from him. Maybe Haru's hand drags down Rin's arm a little too slowly, which just makes him shiver more. But...
"Your phones in your pocket." Is all Haru says, before he steps back. Something in Rin swells with gratitude. He can't face his Mom and sister. Not right now. Not anybody, even this group is hard. Sousuke gives Haru a look, once Rin can't quite discern through his ebbing adrenaline and panic. Sousuke sighs, fishing around in his pockets. He's intuitive, and knows all he needs to. He grabs his car keys and hands them to Ai, looking over Rin's momentary caretaker with an equally level look.
"Just make sure he gets his space, yeah?"
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