Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rin was extremely nervous. He could feel his heart beating loud in his chest and the way his hands were a little bit shaky as he ran his fingers through his hair. His date was late, but it wasn’t a problem at all. He looked around him in the restaurant, at the other couples there. Some of them were exchanging some whispers and knowing smiles. Other couples were looking at their phones, typing fast on the keys. He knew he would look like one of these couples in a few minutes, but he was hoping that things would change after tonight. He was so eager to spend the evening with the girl, to learn everything about her and to maybe exchange a kiss at the end of the date. He had a feeling that maybe this time, it would be the right person. The one who would make the butterflies in his stomach flutter, to make fireworks dancing behind his lids when he’d finally kiss her. Rin was hopelessly wishing this time might be the right one. 

Apparently, they already had so much in common, according to his friend Sousuke. Mai, the girl Rin was waiting for, also was a hopeless romantic. Her favourite movies were romances like The Notebook and The Titanic . She was a figure skater and loved to go to the pool with her little sister every weekend. Rin looked at his phone, reading the short description Sousuke had sent him about Mai for the hundredth time. She was in one of Sousuke’s classes and when they had to work on an essay together, she had asked him about Rin. He had happily accepted to give her Rin’s number so they could go on a date. 

When Rin looked up from his phone, he saw Mai walking toward his table with a shy smile. She was stunning with her long, shiny hair. She was wearing a plaid dress with a light sweater tied around her shoulders ; even though Summer was almost there, nights could still get chilly in the area. Rin stood up to greet her and pulled her chair like a gentleman. When they were both seated, a waitress walked up to them and offered them the menus with a pen and a glass of water. Rin looked at her with a shy, but warm smile. Rin noticed that her eyes were hazel, just like the fabric of her wool sweater. He pulled out his phone and opened their conversation. 

Rin: You can order whatever you want. My treat.  

Mai : Are you sure? 

Rin : Absolutely! 

Mai looked up from her phone and smiled at him before turning her attention back to the menu. The restaurant wasn’t the cheapest in town, and Rin wondered for a few seconds if he may have exaggerated, but Sousuke assured him that it was a nice place and that Mai would love it. He watched her circling things on the menu, and he did the same. He wasn’t very hungry because of the stress, but he picked up what looked the most tasty without being too expensive. When the waitress came back, he handed her their menus and pens. He silently thanked her with a nod and turned back to Mai. She was already looking at him with a soft smile, holding her phone in one hand. When Rin looked down at his own phone, he saw that she wrote him a message. 

Mai : I don’t know about you, but I am so nervous. 

Rin typed in a reply instantly, telling her that he was nervous too but happy to finally meet her. They kept exchanging messages and questions about the other, looking up from their phone to smile at each other from time to time, when the waitress came back with their orders. She placed a plate of pasta in front of Mai and the salmon he ordered in front of him. After the waitress left, Mai and Rin both put their hands together and bowed, mouthing the word itadakimasu . 

The date went well, the flow of their messages smooth and easy. They asked the other mundane questions about themselves and what their plans for the future were. They were both ambitious about their passion for sports and wanted to travel the world. Rin wasn’t exactly sure if he wanted to participate in international swimming competitions, but he was sure he would still be swimming in the future. Mai was aiming for the Olympics, hopeful. She also talked about her dream to create a family, to find The One. Rin shared that feeling, mentioning his own desire to find the right person for him. 

Rin knew that they were both still young, or that some people will never find their soulmates. Some couples were dating the wrong person, stubbornly staying with them even if they weren’t their soulmates. He knew it was a possibility that Mai might not be the girl he was waiting for,  but he wished more than anything to find his soulmate. He ached for that kind of love story, longed for the passion and extreme sensations people talked about in movies. He wanted to find his soulmates and kiss them, so they could finally find their voice and be able to say those three words that Rin desperately wanted to hear some day. Rin wanted the kind of love that made him go crazy and yell at the top of his lungs his undying love for the other. He wanted to be able to say it out loud, to feel the spark and the warmth his mother always talked about when he asked her one day how it felt to be in love, to find a soulmate. Sousuke sometimes laughed at him for being such a sap, ever the hopeless romantic guy, but deep down he understood Rin like no other people. That’s why he was helping him to try and find people that would be a perfect match for Rin. 

When they finished their meal and felt like the date was nearing its end, Rin waved at the waitress for the receipt. Rin handed her his card, trying not to wince at the price on the receipt. It wasn’t extremely expensive, but it definitely wasn’t cheap either. But Rin was so certain that this girl might be the one that he found himself not caring that much about money. Love has no price , he kept repeating himself. Mai seemed like the kind of girl he’d be proud to bring home and present her to his mother. She was polite, ambitious, smart and kind. She had beautiful hair and a smile that made Rin’s insides tingle with anticipation and hope. 

They walked outside the restaurant and Rin decided to walk with her to the bus stop. He didn’t want their date to end, but she had told him earlier that she had a practice in the morning and couldn’t go back home too late. Their fingers brushed against the other’s when they walked closer to let other pedestrians pass them on the sidewalk, and Rin wasn’t sure if his fingers were tingling because of the cold or because of the physical contact they had, even if it only lasted a few seconds. When they reached the bus stop, Mai turned to him with an expectant look in her eyes. Rin recognized the excitement and if he was being honest, he felt the same. His heart was beating faster, his whole body buzzing with hope. She signed with her hands because it was faster and more intimate than getting her phone out. It took a moment for Rin to analyze what she just signed because Rin never really was good with sign language, but he was pretty sure he recognized the word “kiss” when she pointed her mouth followed by her cheek. It was one of the few things that Rin knew in sign language, because he saw it and signed it God knows how many times. So when she looked at him with so much emotion in her eyes, Rin knew what he had to do. He wet his lips and leaned down, angling his head to have a better angle. Inches away from Mai’s lips, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath in before closing the distance and-

And nothing. No sparks, no butterflies, no fireworks. Only her cold, wet lips against his. The kiss wasn’t bad itself, Rin knew it. He had kissed enough people in his life to know if the other person was a good kisser or not. But the warmth and overflowing feeling he was hoping for never came, and a little piece of his heart broke again. When they broke apart, Rin knew he must have the same sad, defeated expression on his face as Mai’s. She looked on the verge of crying, but she managed to smile up at him and hug him anyway. He let her wrap her arms around his waist and he did the same to let her know he understood her pain. Or maybe it was to comfort himself, he wasn’t sure which one needed the most reassurance. 

When her bus came to a stop in front of them, Rin let go of her and she waved at him. She mouthed a small “thank you” and climbed on the bus, leaving Rin behind. He watched her go in the back of the bus and get her phone out of her purse. She typed in a few keys and looked up at Rin just as the bus took off. 

Mai : Thank you for tonight! I’m sorry we’re not soulmates. I hope we can stay in touch anyway, I really enjoyed your company. 

Rin let out a shaky, silent laugh. He replied instantly that of course, he would stay in touch with her. He truly enjoyed her company as well, and she seemed like the kind of girl who was nice to have around. But Rin was on a mission. He wanted to find his soulmate, and he didn’t have time to lose with other people if it didn’t lead him to his dream. 

He fished out his AirPods and started his sad love songs playlist. He walked home with his hands in his pockets, his head hanging low in order to avoid all the couples holding hands and kissing on the streets. 

Chapter Text

Haru was lying on his stomach on Makoto’s bed with his notebooks spread open in front of him. From time to time, he looked up from his books to glance at his best friend who was sitting on the floor, his own textbook open on his lap. Every Sunday, Makoto invited Haru to study together, and Haru could never say no to Makoto. He was pulled toward the other guy, his kindness and soft eyes always piercing Haru’s heart like nothing or no one else has ever done. The brown haired boy was deeply focused on his homework and couldn’t see Haru. 

Or so Haru thought. 

When Haru stole another glance at Makoto’s profile, Makoto was already staring back at him with a soft, warm smile that made Haru blush a little - but only a little. Makoto picked up one of his pens and his textbook and wrote something in the margin of his page. 

Hungry? 

Haru read Makoto’s neat handwriting and shrugged. He wasn’t particularly hungry, but he would happily take a break from studying if it meant that his best friend would pay more attention to him than his homework. 

From as far as he could remember, Haru has always been in love with Makoto. They’ve been neighbours all their lives, but only started hanging out when they were in elementary school. When they were seven, Haru was invited to one of his classmate’s birthday party. At first, he didn’t even want to go, but his mother had insisted that he should go and make some friends. When he got there, the other kids completely ignored him, even when Haru tried his hardest to interact with the others. It was as if he wasn’t even there. When Makoto noticed how Haru was all alone in his corner, wiping angry tears from his cheeks, he walked up to him and smiled at him with the warmest smile Haru had ever seen. Makoto sat down next to Haru and picked up the magnetic drawing tablet for kids that was lying on the bookshelf. He wrote something on it and then showed the tablet to Haru.

Hi, I’m Tachibana Makoto. :)

They started exchanging some messages on that tablet, and after a moment, Makoto suggested that they leave the party and go to his place instead. They had their own sleepover, and Haru never felt more included and cared for than this very moment. Since then, Makoto has always been so patient and genuine with him. Haru has never been the most popular kid at school, not caring about the other kids. But there was something about Makoto, the way he was always by his side even when other kids were mocking him for always eating mackerel or for being such a loner. 

Makoto got up from the cushion he was sitting on and the movement brought Haru back to the present. He blinked fast to chase the memories and got up himself. He put his pen in between the pages of his book just to remember the page he was reading, and followed his best friend to the kitchen. Makoto put some water to boil on the stove for the tea, and Haru silently stood next to the cupboards. Even though he knew Makoto’s house by heart, he still didn’t feel comfortable enough to rummage through the pantry by himself until someone gave him the permission to. Usually Makoto always gestured to Haru to come closer and help with the preparation, and Haru never complained. From the outside, Haru never really seemed to care, but deep down, he was grateful for Makoto’s presence in his life. Things have always been so simple between them. It was as if Makoto could read in Haru’s mind, as if he could understand him with a single look, a simple nod of the head or a smile. Of course, they still relied on paper and pens or their phones to communicate some deeper, more specific subjects, but Haru felt like they almost didn’t need it. Makoto always knew what Haru wanted or needed without him having to spell it out. Makoto opened the fridge and took out a plate filled with pre-cut vegetables and a box that contained rice balls. Haru set two mugs on the table and a coaster for the teapot. He also found a box of crackers he added on the table after Makoto approved his addition. 

They sat in front of each other, Makoto’s knee accidentally bumping into Haru’s. He gave him an apologetic smile and picked up the teapot to pour tea in Haru’s cup first. When he was done with filling their cups, they joined their hands. They both mouthed the traditional “itadakimasu” at the same time and then started eating. Or more like Makoto started eating, and Haru stared down at his food, lost in his thoughts. 

He wondered if things would be easier between them if they could actually talk to each other, if things would be different. Makoto always had the ability to read him like an open book, even when Haru tried his hardest to shut him out or to avoid his gaze. He had always been there for Haru, both in the best moments of his life, and when his parents left him behind. His friendship with Makoto was literally the only stable relationship Haru had in his life, he realized. When his parents left him, he acted as if he didn’t care or as if he wasn’t hurt to be left behind, but at the time, he really didn’t want to leave. Being separated from Makoto seemed even more painful than being separated from his parents, so he decided to stay. When Makoto had asked him why he didn’t go with his parents, Haru simply shrugged and told him he didn’t want to change schools. He wasn’t sure if his best friend believed him or not, but Makoto was nice enough not to push him. 

Makoto’s hand gently waved in front of his eyes to catch Haru’s attention. Haru’s head snapped up and his eyes fell on green eyes filled with worry and questioning. Haru’s best friend silently asked him if everything was ok. Haru realized then that he still hadn't touched his food or tea yet, so he slowly nodded his head and took a bite to prove his point. He didn’t want his friend to worry about him when, really, everything was fine. Or almost fine. 

If only he had the courage to finally kiss his best friend and find his voice, he would finally be able to tell him just how much he cares for him. But Haru was too afraid to ruin his friendship with Makoto, so he never did. 

Chapter Text

Rin was already sitting at his usual table in the cafeteria when Sousuke walked in. Rin watched his best friend walking in his direction with determination in his eyes. The red haired teenager slightly judged his friend for having that much enthusiasm for a Monday, but Rin had a rough Sunday and he was still in a sour mood. He had been sulking all day long in his room, trying to do his homework but was too distracted by the events of the night before. When he got home from his date on Saturday, Rin had locked himself in his bedroom and watched a compilation of the best scenes in romantic movies to try and cheer himself up. To be fair, Rin has been pretty devastated from his date - well, not exactly the date itself. Mai was a pretty nice and fun girl, but Rin was getting frustrated and disappointed, and so many more emotions that he couldn’t put his finger on. 

He wanted to find the love of his life so badly, just like his parents. Even though he couldn’t remember his father very much since he passed away when he was still young, Rin loved hearing his mother talk about his father. The story always sounded so romantic, just like a fairytale. When he was young, Rin insisted that his mother would tell him and his little sister the story of how they met before going to bed. It sounded even more passionate and real than any other bedtime story, because Gou and him were the proof of their love. He wanted to believe that life was wonderful and that he would find love when he was still young. He wanted to build a family of his own, and he wouldn’t accept to do so until he found his soulmate. Rin knew that statistically speaking, almost half of the population was married or in a relationship with someone who wasn’t their true soulmate, that even if they weren’t made for each other, some couples even had children. He didn’t want any of that. He wanted to find the one. He had to. 

When Sousuke sat in the seat in front of him with a mischievous grin, Rin eyed him suspiciously. The black haired boy lifted a finger to make him wait while he opened his school bag and fished out a sheet of paper. He handed it to Rin and waited for him to read. 

It looked like a job application, and as he started reading it, Rin was indeed right. It was a flyer from Iwatobi’s lifeguard’s crew, announcing their recruitment season starting the following weekend. Swimming has always been one of Rin’s passions and Sousuke must’ve thought it would be a great way for Rin to pile up some cash during summer. Rin had shared his dream of going international and competing in bigger competitions, though it wasn’t cheap. The Iwatobi’s lifeguard’s salary seemed quite nice, and Rin already knew he had all the abilities required for the job. He was a part of the swim team of his school and was competing in some competitions so obviously knowing how to swim - and fast - wasn’t a problem for him. Plus he already knew CPR. Rin truly appreciated Sousuke’s faith in him, though he wasn’t interested. He needed to focus on his strokes and wanted to spend his last summer before college as free as possible. He wouldn’t admit it, but he also wanted to spend all summer finding his soulmate, if possible. 

Rin handed back the sheet to Sousuke and shook his head. He heard his friend breathe out an annoyed huffed but didn’t pay him any attention. He simply resumed eating his tuna sandwich while Sousuke scribbled something on the back of the sheet. As soon as he was done, the black haired boy slammed the sheet between Rin and him on the table, making other students in the cafeteria jump in surprise. After all, the room was mostly silent - not a lot of people are lucky enough to find their soulmates at such a young age, and if they do, they usually try to keep a low profile so as not to annoy other kids in school. Rin sighed and looked down at his best friend’s messy handwriting. 

If someone drowns, someone will have to do cpr. What if you find your soulmate while saving their life? 

Rin stared at the words, especially the last sentence. He still wasn’t really interested, but the thought did cross his mind and a small glimpse of hope bloomed into his chest. 

But as tempting as it sounded, Rin sighed. He picked up his phone and started typing a message. 

Rin : I need to get ready for college. I want to apply to universities that have great swim teams. I don’t have time for that. 

Sousuke : I’m gonna try and join the team, so we would be together. Also, think about it! If you’re so desperate to find love, it’ll be a great opportunity to kiss people. Assuming that they’ll need cpr, that is. 

Rin looked up at his best friend and huffed in annoyance. He ignored the cocky smile Sousuke was giving him and he typed furiously on the small keys of his phone. 

Rin : I’m not that desperate! 

Sousuke : Please. We’ve known each other for over ten years, your eyes and body language SCREAM for someone to love you. I’m pretty sure you kissed half the people at school. 

Rin groaned as much as he could, though the sound got stuck in his throat and he simply got up from his place. He threw the last piece of sandwich on the tray and packed his things. He purposefully ignored Sousuke’s strangled laugh as he stormed out of the cafeteria. He threw away the remnant of his lunch in the nearest trash can and walked away. His whole face and ears felt hot under his skin and Rin knew without having to look in a mirror that he was blushing. He wasn’t sure if it was from anger or if that’s because Sousuke was right about him wanting to find love so desperately, but he didn’t like that his best friend was calling him out like that. 

He looked down at his phone when it vibrated in his hands and almost wanted to throw it into the wall after reading the new message he just got. 

Sousuke : Does that mean you’re not gonna join the team? 

Rin : Fuck off. 

He put his phone back in his pocket and made a beeline to the locker room leading to the pool. He still had about thirty minutes before going back to class, and he wanted to clear his mind before attacking the rest of the day. Lately, the only way he could relax was under water, so he quickly put his clothes and bag into a locker and walked around the pool toward the diving boards. He put on his swimming cap and goggles, snapping the elastic band behind his head like he always does. He positioned himself on the platform, leaning his weight on one of his feet, the other one behind him ready to propulse himself in the water. He looked up at the clock on the wall and waited for the clock’s hand to hit the mark. 

When there were only a few seconds before the second hand hit the number, Rin took a big breath and held it in. And then he jumped.

Chapter Text

Haru always walked back home with Makoto after school, since they lived in the same neighbourhood. The silence between them was comfortable and relaxing, and the sound of the waves nearby soothed him. Some days, they’d walk slower just so Haru could look at the water, amazed by the power of nature. One time Makoto had asked him if he wanted to go swimming, but Haru slightly panicked and shook his head. He didn’t know how to swim, but he didn’t want Makoto to know that. His best friend probably knew just by his reaction, or at least noticed that something was bothering him, because he never asked him to go for a swim with him after that. 

It wasn’t exactly the case for their friends Rei and Nagisa, though. The two boys loved swimming and constantly asked him and Makoto to join them to go to the beach, especially now that summer was almost here and that the days got warmer. Earlier that day, the smaller boy had asked them to join them this weekend but Haru clearly shook his head no. 

“Come on, it's gonna be fun!” Nagisa had said in his high pitched, excited voice. 

Because, of course, Nagisa had found his soulmate. Rei and him had been best friends since kindergarten and had always been very close, kind of like Haru and Makoto. But Rei and Nagisa had started dating a few years ago and obviously these two were meant for each other because the moment they kissed, it changed their life forever and they became the youngest couple of soulmates in their school. And even if they were two boys, nobody dared to insult them or give them shit for that because nobody was brave enough to insult soulmates. It was just how the world was; no one should intimidate soulmates, ever. It was a sacred thing, a gift from the gods. But even if people weren’t looking weirdly at Nagisa for dating another guy, the other students were still looking at him with a frown whenever he spoke up. The blonde boy had always had the energy of a toddler, babbling with excitement in his eyes and throwing his arms in the air as if he was the main character of a kid’s cartoon. It also didn’t help that he had a rather high pitched voice for a guy, though it was hard to compare since most guys his age haven’t found their soulmates yet. Rei was way more reserved and aware of his surroundings than Nagisa, but sometimes he was just as excited and acting as childish as his boyfriend. 

Haru wondered if he and Makoto could be like them. He often wondered how Makoto’s voice would sound, or how he would sound himself if he ever found his voice. Haru imagined Makoto’s voice like a cloud or a sheep, if it made any sense. His best friend was a soft guy, so it only made sense that his voice would be as smooth as the wool of the scarf he wears during winter. It must be warm and reassuring, like a cozy blanket. 

Haru felt a hand tug on the sleeve of his jacket and when he looked up at Makoto, the boy was giving him a soft, apologetic smile. He held his hand in the air and shook his phone to catch Haru’s attention. On Makoto’s phone, there was a text message from his mother, asking him to stop by the grocery store before coming back home. She forgot to buy some ingredients for dinner and didn’t have the time to go buy them herself. She also added that Haru was more than welcome to join them for dinner if he wanted to. 

Haru looked up at his best friend again, unsure. Makoto signed with his hands, asking him if he minded going to the grocery store with him. After a moment of hesitation, he agreed to follow him. Mostly because he didn’t have any other plans and wanted to spend more time with Makoto, but also because he needed to buy more mackerel for himself. Haru wasn’t as good of a cook as Makoto, but he wasn’t very picky with food. He could live a whole week only eating mackerel and rice without getting sick of it. Sure, his friend was looking at him with a concerned yet defeated look on his face every time that Haru opened his bento box, but he didn’t care. 

They walked back in the direction they were coming from, going back into the city. It was a little bit further than the store nearer Makoto’s house, but this grocery store had fresher food and a bigger variety of products. Makoto was carefully choosing the nicest eggplant, weighing them in his hands and squeezing them lightly to know which one was the best. He was so focused on his task that he didn’t seem to notice the agony on Haru’s face. Haru wasn’t the most explicit person on Earth, and he definitely, purposely tried to avoid any kind of social media and their weird fetishes, but he wasn’t completely unaware of the irony of the situation. He knew what eggplants meant and he couldn’t bear the sight of his best friend squeezing - no, feeling so many eggplants in his hands. Haru had to turn around and do something else before it got too weird. 

The black haired boy walked a few aisles further, remembering he needed some lemons and potatoes for his hot-smoking mackerel recipe. He put the ingredients in his basket and turned around before Makoto worried about him and- 

And he bumped into something - or someone. The shock was so big that Haru almost lost his balance but the other person grabbed him by the shoulder and stabilized him. The first thing Haru noticed was a flash of red hair under a black and white cap, and teeth as sharp as a shark. Then the guy let him go and simply mouthed an apology before walking away. As Haru watched him leave, he recognized the guy’s shirt as a different school’s uniform which meant that he probably never saw him before. To be fair, the guy was so unique with his red hair and awkward smile, Haru would’ve remembered him if he ever saw him in school. 

Haru walked back to Makoto who finally settled on the perfect eggplant and was now debating if he should also buy a dessert for the twins or not. Haru sighed and just stood next to him, content with just spending some time with his best friend. It took him a while, but they headed to the cash register and paid for their food. Without realizing it, Haru looked around him, not sure what he was looking for. When they were finally done with buying the food they needed, they headed back to their place. Haru decided not to join Makoto for dinner but promised him to do so another time. 

He climbed up the stairs separating Makoto’s house and his, and he opened the door to his house. He took off his shoes first, setting them aside at the same exact spot he always put them in, and headed toward the kitchen where he put the grocery bag on the counter. He started making dinner in silence. He could’ve put the radio or the television on to have a background noise, but he wasn’t in the mood. He never really was in the mood for music or television, to be honest. Haru actually enjoyed the silence, it made his thoughts clearer. While the rice was cooking, he carefully cut the ingredients for the mackerel and put everything in a pot and put it in the oven. He put a timer on and decided to go take a bath while it cooked.

As he sat in the tub, Haru finally registered what had been on his mind all that time since he walked back from the grocery store. To his own surprise, he wasn’t thinking about Makoto, for once. Instead, it was another smile that his mind was still reflecting on. A smile full of shark-like teeth. 

Chapter Text

When the bell finally rang on Friday afternoon, Rin couldn’t get any happier to get out of school. He had yet another date night with a girl from his class. He had noticed earlier that day that she was constantly staring at him from the corner of her eyes, but she turned her head whenever he was looking back at her. She had blonde, curly hair that were shoulder length, and she was wearing a dark green headband that matched with her eyes. When Rin walked up to her desk during lunch break and asked for a piece of paper, she handed him her textbook opened on a blank page with a pen. By the blush on her cheeks, she must’ve had a crush on him or something, and he knew he was right when he had asked her out, the words written right in the middle of the page. She tried to hide her gasp, putting a hand in front of her mouth, but she nodded her head eagerly right after. They both agreed to go out that night since Rin had swimming practices in the mornings during the weekend. They had exchanged numbers and Rin suggested that he pick her up at her place just a little after dinner time. They agreed not to get dinner, but instead go for an ice cream and walk on the boardwalk. 

Rin still had plenty of time between the end of classes and his date, so he decided to go to the school’s pool and swim some laps. After sulking for the last few days, he felt alive again now that he had something to look forward to for the weekend. Maybe all wasn’t lost, maybe he could finally feel a deep connection with her and spend the whole night getting to know her more. Rin walked to his locker in the locker room and started to get undressed. He was already wearing his swim suit, as always, so he didn’t have to change into them, but he put his clothes in his bag. Before shutting the metallic door closed, he picked up his swim cap and goggles and looked one last time at his phone in case there was any new message. When he headed to the pool, he noticed a tall, muscular figure with black hair standing by the pool talking with another member of the swim club. He didn’t have to think twice before walking up to him and greeting him with a wave. 

Sousuke waved back at him and pointed at the pool, as if he was asking if Rin wanted to race against him. Rin smirked, because of course he would race against his best friend. They walked up to the diving platform and positioned themselves. When they were ready, they nodded in agreement and turned to the smaller boy with silver hair, waiting for him to tell them when to start. Aiichiro looked at the big clock on the wall and waited for the second hand to hit an even number. When he judged the time right, he used the whistle that was hanging from his neck to give them the signal and the two teenagers dived in the water. 

Rin won the race, but only by a few seconds. Sousuke was getting better and better, and Rin liked that he was being more competitive. It helped him improve his own techniques and time, it was pushing him to be better himself. His best friend patted him in the shoulder to congratulate him and then Rin kept swimming and practicing his strokes for a few more minutes before getting out of the pool and getting ready for his date. 

When he parked in front of his classmate’s house, Rin pulled down the sun visor and looked at himself in the small mirror. He fixed his hair and took a deep breath in before he got out of the car. Rin flattened his shirt with one hand as he walked up to the front door and he braced himself mentally to face whoever would open the door. No matter how many times he went out with different people, he was still getting nervous at the idea of meeting someone else’s parents for the first time. He definitely wanted to give the best first impression he could, so he brought a small bouquet of flowers either for the girl’s mother or for his date - nothing too fancy but still a nice thought. Rin straightened his posture when the door opened, revealing a short blonde. Rin almost didn’t recognize his classmate because of her outfit, but he hoped she understood his appreciation when he smiled up at her. 

Rin handed the flower to Kiko and bowed politely. She invited him inside while she put the flowers in a vase with water and then they were out the house again, walking toward Rin’s mother’s car. Rin opened the passenger’s door for her and waited for her to be comfortably seated before shutting the door gently. He then walked around the car and took place behind the wheel. He grabbed his phone and started typing a few words before pointing his screen to the little blonde girl. 

Still down for ice cream and a walk around the beach? 

She read the words slowly and nodded with a sweet smile. Rin then put his phone in the cup holder so he could drive safely. He turned his key in the ignition, bringing the car alive and put some music on, but not too loud. He drove through the city, glancing at the girl from time to time. She was wearing a white skirt with pink floral designs, and a burgundy cardigan. She switched her dark green headband for a ribbon that matched her shirt. She looked more relaxed than Rin thought she would be, so he tried to be as relaxed as her. There was no reason for him to be all tensed up, especially since the date only began. Right? 

Rin parked the vehicle in a parking lot near the beach and they walked toward the nearest ice cream parlour. The red haired man wondered if he should hold her hands while they walked, or if it would feel too weird. Surely, it would help not to lose her in the crowd of pedestrians, but he was also not sure if he wanted that kind of proximity with her yet since he didn’t know her that much. In the end, Kiko made the decision for him when she grabbed his pinky so as to not lose him when a few families tried to walk around them. Her hand felt nice against his, her skin smooth and warm. He didn’t have the heart to pull his hand out of hers when they finally reached the door to the ice cream parlour, so he opened the door with his free hand and held it open for her. They waited in line patiently, looking up at the big boards above the cash registers with all the sort of ice creams and other frozen snacks and drinks they served. The restaurant was pretty recent and they had tablets on which people could use to order their food without having to talk to an employee. Rin liked the innovation, so he ordered their food on one of the available tablets. There was even an option for customizing the ice cream, but neither Rin nor Kiko had to modify their orders.  

It turned out that eating ice cream, holding hands and walking at the same time was too complicated for them, especially since they couldn’t really talk while doing so, so they decided to sit on a bench while they finished eating. They tried to exchange messages, but it was messy because their hands were sticky from the melted ice cream. It also became a little bit awkward between them when they realized they had literally nothing in common. Rin tried to come up with questions to ask her in order to learn more about her, but she only gave short answers and asked him other questions about him. It was as if she didn’t want Rin to know more about her, but wanted to know everything about him instead. Aslo, Rin realized after a few minutes, she sat closer and closer to him, the distance between them becoming smaller and definitely not appropriate for a public space. He recognized the look on her face, the glimmer of hope in her eyes. She was about to kiss him right here and there, but Rin didn’t want them to kiss her in such a public place where families and kids were constantly walking past them. Rin suddenly stood up and threw his litter in the trash can next to them. He invited her to follow him and walked toward the shores. It was less crowded than the boardwalk, and they could maybe find a more secluded place where they could talk - or not. 

Even though Kiko wasn’t his soulmate, she was cute enough and looked like she only wanted to have a good time with him. He couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment when nothing changed when their lips collided. He felt nothing but her cold tongue and the strawberry flavour from her ice cream. Kissing Kiko felt nice, but not world-changing. Rin knew that after this night though, he wouldn’t be able to keep in touch with her since they didn’t have anything in common to talk about. 

Later that night, when he got back home from his date, Rin lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. He tried not to feel too devastated by yet another failure, but it was slowly getting on his nerves. As much as he knew being a hopeless romantic was part of his personality, sometimes he hated that part of him. Maybe Sousuke was right. By the time he’d finish high school, he’d have kissed the whole school if he didn’t control himself. The contacts list on his phone was fuller than most people his age, yet he didn’t even have the energy or motivation to talk to half of them. 

Rin scrolled through his latest messages and found his conversation with Sousuke. He read and reread the most recent exchanges they had and sighed. 

Rin : So about the lifeguard’s team… Do you think they’re still searching for new members? 

He sent the message before he could change his mind and closed his eyes, waiting for an answer.

Chapter Text

Saturday came faster than Haru would’ve liked it, much to his dismay. When Nagisa had insisted that he and Makoto join him and Rei to the beach, there seemed to be no place for opposition. Even if he said no to the blonde guy, he knew the smaller boy would’ve come to his place and dragged him to the beach by all means. He hated how persuasive his friend could be sometimes, but he sighed heavily and agreed to tag along. As long as he didn’t have to go in the water, he’d be fine. At least, that was his plan for the day. He only planned on reading peacefully on the beach while his friends would be swimming. Maybe he’d even play volleyball or something. Haru packed a book and sunglasses in his bag, along with a large towel on which he planned to rest and relax while his friends would swim. While packing his bag and deciding on what to wear, the teenager realized that he didn’t even own a swimsuit, but it wasn’t like he needed one anyway. Wearing shorts at the beach would be more than enough. 

Haru was still hesitating between two shirts when Makoto slid the door open. He looked up at him when his friend walked in the room and held his options up in front of him, silently asking for his opinion. Haru was ready to stubbornly stay home even though it meant that he would’ve had to bear with Nagisa’s whiny complaints, but he agreed to go to the beach because Makoto had looked at him with an hopeful smile. Haru didn’t have the heart to see his friend sad or disappointed because of him, so he had sent a message in the group chat telling his friends that he’d come. The thought of seeing Makoto shirtless in the water was also something that weighed in the balance and made him agree to follow them, but he didn’t want the boys to know. 

Makoto pointed at the light blue polo that Haru was holding in his left hand, so the black haired boy nodded and put it on. Haru wished Makoto would look him out while he changed, but the other boy seemed totally unfazed by Haru’s half naked body. This kind of thing only seemed to happen on TV. He finished getting ready slowly, trying not to hide his internal frustration. He wasn’t really in any rush to join Rei and Nagisa at the beach, because it would mean that Makoto’s attention wouldn’t only be on him anymore, and Haru selfishly wanted to enjoy his company to himself a little bit longer. When he was ready to leave, he stopped in the hallway and pointed at the kitchen. Makoto seemed to understand right away his questioning. 

Nagisa and Rei already prepared a picnic. Makoto signed with his hands. Plus, there are a few restaurants on the boardwalk if we run out of things. 

Haru didn’t particularly like eating out, but he shrugged. If that’s what his friends wanted to do, then he’d follow. Haru put on his shoes and took the keys from the little table next to the door and they were ready to go. He walked next to Makoto and their steps synced to the other’s pace. As they made their way down the stairs, a white kitten came out of the bushes. Makoto crouched down and petted it behind the ear, and the small animal started purring in appreciation. Haru just stood there, watching his best friend scratching the cat’s head and smiling so softly. Haru didn’t really care about animals, and he couldn't understand the need to give them love and attention. But he waited patiently for his friend to get back up and kept walking. 

When they reached the shore, Haru noticed that the beach was already full of people, even though it was still early. He wondered how they would be able to find Rei and Nagisa in this crowd, but Makoto took out his phone and texted Rei to let the other two know they were there. Haru followed the taller man in whichever direction he was going, according to the indications from their friends. After a minute of walking around families and groups of friends sitting on camping beach chairs and towels, Haru and Makoto finally found their friends. Or, more like Nagisa found them, because he was screaming their names and waving his arms in the air like a mad man for them to notice them. Haru and his friend made their way through the crowd and joined the young couple, glad that they saved a good spot under a large parasol. The sun was already high in the sky, announcing that it was almost midday. Nagisa was swirling on himself, showing his friends - and anyone else who was looking at him - his new swimsuit. While his boyfriend was proudly showing people his matching towel, Rei opened the cooler they brought and handed a soda to Makoto and Haru to start off the day. 

“Are you guys hungry?” Rei asked. 

Haru took the can from Rei’s hand but he shook his head. He wasn’t really hungry yet, he was still a bit nervous about the day and was almost regretting his choice of coming here. There were too many people on the beach, and the heat was already too hot to handle. Haru could feel a bead of sweat forming on his forehead and he wiped it away with the back of his hand. Makoto opened his bag and unfolded his towel, laying it on the sand. Haru imitated him and they all sat down in a circle. Nagisa started gossiping about people in school and about the swimming club he and Rei had started at the beginning of the school year. 

“You guys should totally join!” Nagisa said with enthusiasm.

Haru and I are graduating in a few weeks, it’s not like it would be worth it. Makoto signed with his hands. 

“Oh, you’re right…” The blonde boy said, his shoulders dropping at the realization that they wouldn’t be able to hang out as much as they did once Haru and Makoto will graduate. 

Haru remembered the first time Makoto had introduced him to Rei and Nagisa. Makoto had known them from the swimming club in which the three of them were when they were kids. They unfortunately lost sight of each other when the public pool got closed for financial issues. It also didn’t help that Makoto was one year older than these two and went to a different middle school than them. One day in high school, when Makoto was walking out of the library, he bumped into Rei and Nagisa, and they all caught up from there. When Makoto brought up his friendship with Haru, Nagisa instantly wanted to befriend him. Haru didn’t really know why, since he wasn’t the type of guy to make friends easily, but the small blonde boy somehow intruded himself in Haru’s life. At the time, Rei and Nagisa weren’t dating yet, but it was as obvious as the sun in the sky that they were in love with each other. Nagisa’s sudden obsession with Haru had created some kind of misunderstandings between Rei and Haru because the younger boy got jealous, but everything got fixed when Nagisa kissed Rei during one of their study dates. 

The day rolled mostly uneventfully, thankfully for Haru. An hour after they arrived, they shared lunch on the beach. Rei and Nagisa had prepared them bentos and snacks. Just when they finished eating, the crowd seemed to clear a path near them and when they looked up, Haru and his friends realized what was all that commotion about. Iwatobi’s lifeguard’s team was recruiting new members and they all came here to teach them some basics. Something - or someone - caught Haru’s attention. One of the new members of the lifeguard’s crew seemed oddly familiar. The guy was slightly taller than him and had bright, maroon hair. It wasn’t until the moment he smiled at something the guy next to him had said that Haru’s mind went full speed. It was the guy with shark-like teeth from the grocery store. 

After watching them curiously for a little while, they all decided it was time to go in the water - all except Haru who stayed on his towel. He pretended he wanted to keep an eye on their stuff while the other three were swimming and playing in the water. If Nagisa had pouted at first, it seemed like he quickly forgot about it when Rei had splashed him playfully and started running, inciting Nagisa to chase after him. Makoto had given him a questioning look, probably asking if there was another reason for him not joining them in the water, but Haru only shrugged and lifted up his book. He would be fine on his own, he always had been an introvert after all. Makoto nodded, knowing there was nothing else he could do or say to convince his best friend to come with him in the water, and took off his shirt. Haru looked down when too much skin was exposed for his own comfort and pretended to readjust his towel. When Makoto’s shirt fell on the towel next to Haru’s, the black haired boy looked up again at Makoto and found his friend smiling down at him. He waved his hand and walked away. 

Haru let out a small sigh of relief when they were all gone. In the next minutes, he tried to find a position that was comfortable enough for him to read and keep an eye on the water. He wasn’t worried for his friend per say, but he didn’t really trust the water. Since his grandfather had drowned in front of him when Haru was still a kid, the teenager was sort of afraid of the water since then. He knew deep down that Makoto and his friends were good swimmers - he once watched him swim in a swimming competition. But he couldn’t help the feeling of his insides being crushed whenever he saw Makoto’s head disappear underwater. 

A whistle on his right caught his attention and his eyes landed on the lifeguard’s team dividing themselves into teams of two. Each team picked up a red swimming kick-board and started practicing swimming and rescuing their teammate on the sand. Haru watched the red haired boy attentively, his eyes following each of his movements. He was teaming up with a tall, muscular guy with black hair. Haru didn’t expect to find someone even bigger than Makoto, but this guy had an impressive body. Even though his colleague was the type of guy people wouldn’t be able to stop looking at, Haru’s attention only was focused on the guy with red hair. At one point, the guy must’ve felt Haru staring at him because he turned his head and looked back in Haru’s direction. Haru turned his head around quickly and tried to ignore the irregular rhythm of his heartbeat. 

It must have been from the embarrassment of being caught staring, right? There was no reason for his heart to skip a beat only because another guy caught him staring.

Chapter Text

Rin woke up extra early on Saturday. He had a private swimming practice at seven in the morning and he knew the coach wouldn’t accept any bad performance from him since there was an important competition coming up in the next few weeks. The teenager barely had any time between his practice and the Iwatobi’s lifeguard’s team recruitment meeting. It started right after lunch time, and Rin had to run from the school’s pool to the beach with his bag. When he got to the beach noticeably out of breath, most of the new members were already there and Rin had to walk across the crowded shore to join Sousuke and the team. When he reached his friend, Sousuke patted him on the shoulder to greet him and led him to the place where everyone put their bags. They then joined the group and introduced themselves to the other people - mostly guys but some girls too - while waiting for the captain to blow his whistle and start the lesson. 

Just like most teachers at school, the guy who was teaching them the basic information about the job had apparently found his soulmate since he was able to speak loud and clear. He introduced himself as the chef of Iwatobi’s lifeguard’s team and handed everyone a small pile of paper with more details about the application and the job. Behind him, two members of the crew held a portable yet big enough white board on which he was doodling some sketches and important notions. After he was done with the instructions, the guy asked everyone to pair up with another crewmate and start practicing and analyzing the other’s technique. 

Sousuke was lying on his back, his head resting on the red kickboard that Rin had collected from their instructor. Rin was about to practice the heart massage on his friend when he felt someone looking at him. Surely, a bunch of dudes practicing to become lifeguards must be some kind of entertaining thing to watch, but Rin felt like it had been a full minute since the eyes were following him. He turned his head in the direction he felt like it was coming from, and his gaze instantly fell on a guy sitting under a big parasol. 

The guy looked away quickly, and Rin was almost sure he saw a blush rising on his cheeks, but he might be wrong. Maybe it was just the sun, maybe it was just his imagination. But from the split second his eyes met the other boy’s eyes, Rin kind of felt his heart speeding up. He had bright blue eyes and dark hair, and Rin was instantly amazed by him. His frame was smaller than his, but still distinctly muscular. The guy lifted up a book in front of his face, avoiding Rin’s gaze, and if it weren’t for Sousuke tapping on his thigh, Rin almost got up and walked up to him. He didn’t even know what he would’ve told him, but he felt a weird feeling in his guts when he looked up again at him after looking down at Sousuke for a second. Rin sighed and looked at his best friend who was now resting up on one elbow and looking at him with a frown. 

It’s nothing. Rin mouthed and positioned himself better. 

He waited for Sousuke to lay down again before getting ready. He joined his hands together like he had been told to, and pressed lightly right in the middle of Sousuke’s torso, where his heart was. The whole point of this exercise wasn’t to actually do a heart massage, but to see if they all understood how to do it properly without hurting the person. They switched positions after a while and Rin tried to steal a look at the guy from earlier, but the boy was deeply focused on his book. Rin couldn’t tell which book it was from a distance, but he still enjoyed the view. Even though the other teenager was hiding under a parasol, the weather was getting so hot that the black haired boy had removed his shirt and was using it to wipe out the sweat on his forehead. Rin watched him as long as he could without being pushed on the ground by Sousuke. 

Rin was lying on his back and looking up at the sky, wondering which was the brightest. The guy’s ocean blue eyes, or the sky on a bright, summer day. His thoughts were soon crushed when Sousuke pressed his gigantic hands on top of his chest and started pumping it. They kept practicing swimming techniques for a few more minutes before the instructor blew his whistle again to catch everyone’s attention. He handed them another pile of paper and asked them to read them meticulously so everyone would be on the same page as to what was expected from them. 

By the end of the afternoon, the lifeguard’s recruitment was almost done and Rin couldn’t be happier than that. It’s been a long day and the heat was starting to get unbearable. The beach was a little bit less crowded than it was when he got there after lunch, and Rin wondered if the guy he saw earlier was still there. Maybe he had left already, like most families who were going back home and getting ready for dinner. Rin looked around him slowly, not trying to look like he was searching for someone in particular. Sousuke was standing next to him and eyeing him suspiciously but didn’t dare asking Rin what he was looking for. When the Iwatobi’s lifeguard chef announced that the meeting was over, everyone started gathering their things and either chose to stay longer on the beach or went home. Two members stayed behind and helped the instructor to pack the kickboards and life vests they brought. 

Rin decided to stay longer, but it was no surprise to his best friend. They picked up their bags and made their way to a less crowded area where Rin and Sousuke could relax a little bit before heading back home. Rin’s bag was hanging on one of his shoulders when his eyes finally found the black haired boy. He was still sitting in the shadow, but he was now in the company of three other boys. A tall, muscular boy with light brown hair, a short blonde guy and a tall dark haired one with red glasses. From what Rin could see, the last two were probably a couple, based on the way the smaller boy was all touchy-feely with the guy with the glasses and talking loudly. Though Rin couldn’t hear what he was saying, it seemed like they were asking the boy sitting on his towel if he wanted something from one of the shops on the boardwalk because a few seconds later, they left him alone and started walking toward one of the buildings. Rin watched as the taller boy walked back to the water, leaving the black haired boy behind. It looked like he was staring at the water - or his friend? - with both fear and determination, and Rin’s gaze followed the boy when he finally stood up from his spot under the parasol. He walked up to where the water met the sand but kept a safe distance between him and the water. By the way his posture was tense and his fists clenched on both sides of his body, Rin supposed he was either afraid of the water or just really stressed in general. 

From where he was, he couldn’t see his face anymore and Sousuke was shaking his hand in front of him to get his attention. Rin looked at his friend who was pointing at an area where they could put their bags and lie down. He followed him in silence, though his mind was preoccupied by the stranger with black hair. He couldn’t help but worry about the way he looked petrified by the water. Sousuke had just put his towel and bag on the ground and Rin imitated him by dropping his bag in the sand next to Sousuke’s stuff. Rin turned his head once more to look at the other boy while he unwrapped a snack from his backpack. The boy was now in the water, about hip deep. Rin hated that Sousuke had chosen a spot further than he initially was to the black haired boy, but he shrugged it off. The guy seemed a bit tense but fine. Maybe Rin was just tired and hallucinating things, maybe the weird tension that happened between them when their eyes met was all in his head. Rin jumped when he felt his phone buzzing in his hand. 

Sousuke : Seeing hot girls in bikinis? 😏 

Rin : I just have a weird feeling… 

Rin played nervously with the whistle that was hanging around his neck - a gift from the Iwatobi Lifeguards Club. Every new member had received one, in case there was an emergency. It was also very useful for those who haven’t found their soulmates yet, because at least they could still alert people around them that there was something going on, even if they couldn’t scream for attention. Rin thought it was a great idea, but he also wished he would never have to use it. The red haired boy started typing on the little keyboard to explain to his best friend what was worrying him, but when he looked up from his phone, his whole body froze. The boy was now swimming - or trying to - in a deeper part of the water where Rin knew there was no way he would be able to touch the ground. He seemed to struggle with his arms, splashing water all around him, and his body was being carried away by the current of the water. Rin squinted his eyes, hoping to have a better view of the boy. He stared at him intently, watched carefully in case there was any sign that he was truly in danger. When the guy’s arms started to waddle in every direction and he seemed to be struggling to keep his head out of the water, Rin dropped his phone and got up promptly. He looked around quickly, wondering where the guy’s friends were but they were nowhere to be seen. The taller one, the guy with light brown hair, was even further in the water than the guy Rin was obsessing over, and Rin knew there was no way this guy was aware of what was happening to his friend. Rin took off his shirt and threw his whistle at Sousuke and urged him to use it while he ran towards the water. It took a few moments for Rin to hear the whistles, but Sousuke must’ve had noticed where Rin was going and finally acted on it.

Rin had always hated running in the sand, each of his movements absorbed and slowed down by the dune. It felt like he was running in slow motion, while all of his body was on high alert. He avoided a few people that were walking and even jumped over a girl who was perfecting her tan in order to reach the water as fast as he could, his eyes never leaving the black haired man drowning. From what he had learned in swimming classes, Rin knew it only took an average of 2 minutes for people to lose consciousness and drown. Every second counted, and he didn’t have time to lose. 

The water was surprisingly colder than what he had expected, considering that the sun had been shining all day and that there were a lot of people gathered at the beach that day. As soon as his feet touched the water and he was deep enough to dive in instead of awkwardly running in the water, Rin took a deep breath in and dove. Swimming fast has always been one of his specialties, but at that moment, he felt like he wasn’t fast enough. The current was strong, the water cold, and he knew that someone’s life was on the line. 

Everything happened so fast. When he had finally reached the spot where the guy was, Rin couldn’t see him above water and his heartbeat sped up. He looked everywhere around him, turning on himself in hope of seeing a hand, a foot, anything. From the corner of his eye, he noticed bubbles forming on the surface of the water and Rin submerged himself underwater until his eyes could get used to the water. He was so used to swimming with goggles that his eyes burned from the cold contact, but now wasn’t the time to complain about it. He could feel more than he could see the other guy. His legs and arms were kicking in every direction, and he was probably trying to scream instead of staying calm because Rin could see the air leaving his mouth, forming gigantic bubbles. Rin hated that the guy was so close, but still so far at the same time. He swam against the current toward him, hoping to get there soon enough. When the boy’s body stopped kicking and moving, Rin’s blood stopped flowing, his heart dropping in its cage. Rin kicked his legs harder, moved his arms vigorously. When he was finally close enough, he got a hold of the other boy’s wrist. He tugged on him, and propulsed him in the direction of the surface. He then grabbed him by the armpits and hooked one of his arms around his torso, keeping his head out of the water, and started swimming again. Rin could see his best friend on the shore moving his arms and pushing people away to give Rin space when he would reach the beach. 

The guy was heavier than he looked like, probably due to his muscles, but Rin still fought his way to the beach. When he was close enough, Sousuke came to help him and grabbed the boy by the knees. They brought him on the sand, meters away from the water and when the guy still wasn’t moving, Rin started to look for his pulse. He pressed his ear against the boy’s torso and tried to listen to his heart beat. It was there, but really faint, and Rin looked up in panic at his friend. Sousuke gestured to his face, implying that Rin should give him the cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Rin nodded and positioned himself on the boy’s right side. He pressed his dominant hand against his torso and put his other hand above it, interlocking his fingers, just like he did a few hours ago on his friend to practice the technique. He then started compressing the guy’s chest thirty times. When nothing happened at first, Rin grabbed him by the chin and tilted his head. He opened his mouth and started breathing into his mouth, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath. He resumed the first step and repeated them until the guy started coughing and spitting water. He turned on his side and coughed some more. Rin was also out of breath, but he looked down at the boy like his own life was depending on him. Without thinking, without even realizing what he was doing, Rin put a hand on his shoulder to stabilize him.

“Are you ok?” The words escaped his mouth, his voice raspy and croaky and- 

And he froze. It was the very first time that Rin could finally say something out loud, which meant that he just kissed his soulmate. Rin looked up at Sousuke with big eyes, and even his best friend was looking as shocked as he was, his mouth agape and his eyes as round as pennies. Rin stared down again when the guy moved under his grip, and he was met with bright blue eyes.

Chapter Text

Makoto was so close, Haru was sure of it. He was swimming in his direction, surely his best friend would notice him and come and meet him halfway. The waves and current were much stronger than what Haru had expected and even though he was secretly working out in his bedroom every night, his body started to get tired. Swimming was much harder than he thought it would be, much more terrifying than what he had feared. But it was worth it, because Makoto would save him. When a strong wave carried him away, Haru couldn’t keep his head above the surface. Haru couldn’t see underwater, his vision blurred by all the bubbles and waves. He was petrified, but he kept swimming. He wouldn’t stop until he would be in Makoto’s arms at last. But when the water started filling his mouth and his nose, Haru suffocated. He tried to cry for help, tried to scream his best friend's name. But nothing came out of his mouth except for bubbles of air. Everything in him was burning - and the last thing his brain registered before blacking out was a strong hand grabbing him by the wrist. 

The first thing Haru felt when he gained back his consciousness were warm lips against his, and air filling his lungs. His body was feeling numb and the sun behind his kids felt too bright so he kept his eyes closed, but when the oxygen started filling him, it made him cough and spit the water he had swallowed while drowning. He clenched his body and turned on his side, coughing and spitting water. Haru wasn’t sure if it was the water or the coughing, but his lungs started to burn as he tried to get his breathing even. But it was fine, though. Because Makoto was there, Makoto had saved him, right?

When Haru heard those three words, his whole body seemed to come alive. His skin felt hot under the hand on his shoulder and the concern in that voice made something in his heart bloom. He was so certain, so happy to finally hear Makoto that he opened his mouth before opening his eyes. 

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Haru croaked with a small smile. 

When he looked up, he was expecting a familiar pair of green eyes and the usual soft smile that Makoto only seemed to give to Haru, but the man above him looked nothing like Haru’s best friend. Instead, his eyes locked onto red ones, a curtain of red hair falling from each side of the other guy’s face. Water droplets fell on his face, but Haru couldn’t process what had just happened. It was only when the guy opened his mouth again to say something that Haru’s brain seemed to come back to life. He jolted up and ignored his head spinning. He pushed away the red haired man’s hand from his shoulder and looked around. A small crowd of curious people had gathered around them, but Haru couldn’t see his best friend among any of these faces. Makoto was nowhere to be seen, probably still in the water. Haru could almost feel his heart breaking. It felt as if it lost its grip from its cage and fell at the bottom, shattering into pieces. 

The other boy, the one who saved him, was still hovering over him, asking him questions, asking him if he was feeling alright, but Haru couldn’t hear him. Wouldn’t hear anything this guy had to say. There was no way a complete stranger was his soulmate, not when Makoto was the only one for him. Makoto who was still in the water. Haru looked in the distance and saw his best friend finally coming his way. The thought filled him with happiness for a brief second, but he realized soon after that there was no way he could ever act like nothing happened when Makoto would look at him with his worried, puppy eyes. 

No, Haru had to leave before being confronted by his best friend. 

“I have to go.” Haru whispered much more to himself than to anyone else’s attention. 

Haru got up on his shaky legs and looked around. He needed to go, needed to escape this place and this crowd, and most importantly, he needed to run away from this guy. Haru jogged to the parasol where his stuff was still waiting patiently for him. 

“Wait!” The redhead called after him, following him. 

Haru ignored him, simply packed his things as fast as he could and stormed away. On his way out, he could see Rei and Nagisa walking back to the beach, so Haru took a different path. He didn’t have the heart to face them, didn’t know what he would even say to them - could he even say something? If Haru tried to speak, it would be such a mess. He knew Nagisa would want to know what happened, why he could suddenly speak, and all that stuff that Haru wouldn’t be able to reply to. So instead, he chose to run away from his friends. He’d send them a message later to explain why he left, he’d come up with a lie. 

Haru locked himself in his room all weekend, ignoring as best as he could the buzzing of his cellphone. He completely ignored his friends' messages because he didn’t know how or what to tell them, especially Makoto. He didn’t even have the courage to unlock the door for Makoto when the latter tried to come and see him, worried about him. Haru’s thoughts were messy and conflicting, giving him a bad headache. He couldn’t stop thinking about the feeling of warm lips against his, couldn’t stop thinking about what it all meant when his throat felt warm and alive, releasing something inside him that he never felt before. These feelings weren’t supposed to be directed toward this guy. He was a complete stranger that Haru had no intention of getting to know. Haru only wanted to spend his life with Makoto, he could only picture himself with his best friend. Haru’s world had been shattered like a fragile glass. It was as if a tidal wave - or worse, as if a typhoon came in and destroyed every little thing that Haru was certain would never be broken. He started second guessing every interaction he had with Makoto in the last few years and wondered if the great complicity between them was as big as he thought it was. All these years of pining for his best friend went to waste when a stranger stole his first kiss. 

Sure, the red haired guy literally saved his life, but Haru didn’t want to live in a world where Makoto wasn’t the one for him. Haru wanted to scream and cry, but he didn’t want to use his voice. It felt like cheating, because there was no way Haru would use his voice. This guy, this complete stranger who Haru didn’t even know the name of, had no rights on him. 

Haru decided that he’d continue his life as if nothing happened, that he wouldn’t use his voice. He decided not to try and find the guy and talk to him - he was content with his life as it was, so he didn’t want to see him ever again. Haru knew what would happen if he decided not to meet the redhead again, and he honestly didn’t care. He didn’t want anything to do with the guy who kissed him. 

Chapter Text

From up close, the guy was breathtakingly beautiful. He had deep blue eyes, just like the water, and Rin could drown in them any time. His jet black hair was stamped to his forehead because of the water, but Rin was sure that he had soft, silky hair he’d love to run his finger through. And his mouth… His mouth was plush and felt like it was made for him to kiss endlessly, even though his lips were cold. Rin felt his heart beating faster and louder in its cage, and he wanted to kiss him again, just to prove himself he wasn’t hallucinating. He wanted to make sure he truly found his soulmate, found his voice. Just as he was about to say something, the guy pushed him aside and jumped to his feet. He started running, mumbling something that Rin didn’t catch. 

Rin tried to jog after the guy he just saved, but he was running surprisingly fast for someone who just drowned and he seemed in some sort of panic. Rin wanted to tell him he shouldn’t be running, that he should stay down and wait a few minutes just in case he’d feel unwell. He kept calling after him a few times, but Sousuke ran after him and his hand gripped around Rin’s wrist. The red haired man looked at his best friend with desperation, but Sousuke didn't let him go until the other boy was out of their reach. 

Let him go, he probably needs to process everything that just happened! Sousuke signed with his hands quickly. 

“But I want to know if he’s ok!” Rin shouted. He was still surprised by his own voice, but his mind was too preoccupied to be self aware of it. His eyes started filling up with tears when he realized there was a possibility that he'd never see him again. “I didn’t even ask his name!” He added with a small pout. 

I’m sure you’ll see him again. After all, he’s your soulmate, right? Sousuke gave him an encouraging smile when he finished signing. 

“You’re probably right…” He said, looking in the direction the guy just left.

Rin sighed, defeated, and followed Sousuke back to the spot they left their things at. He was a bit surprised when he saw his phone still there, untouched. He almost expected someone to steal it, but he was glad that it didn’t happen. Rin was in such a hurry when he ran toward the water that he couldn’t even remember what had really happened. It all felt just like a dream, but the warm feeling in his chest and throat and his sudden capacity to talk proved him wrong. Now that Rin was finally able to speak, he felt like his change had changed for the better and that he could never go back to the mute world. 

Unless he never met him again. 

As weird and cruel as it was, soulmates that just found each other had to spend time together in the first two weeks in order to develop their bond and relationship. And, scientists and doctors still had no idea how, if they didn’t interact with each other in those two weeks following the loss, they would start having health issues and eventually lose their voices again. There was no reason why, and no known tactic to avoid that. It was just how the world has always been, and Rin desperately hoped that his soulmate wouldn’t abandon him. 

Rin couldn’t stay longer at the beach, even though Sousuke asked him to. He wanted to know who his soulmate was, so he went back home and spent the entire night searching on Facebook and other social media. He told his mother and Gou about the incident, telling them how he felt and every little detail he could remember. His mother seemed so proud of him and very happy. Gou mocked him and implied that now he would never shut up, but Rin knew she didn’t mean it in a bad way. After dinner, he locked himself in his bedroom and tried to look on the Suggested Friend’s page on Facebook, as well as the Friends In Common page, but he couldn’t find him. The red haired boy even dug into his classmates’ old pictures, hoping to see a black haired boy with bright blue eyes that would look like the man he just kissed, but nothing caught his attention. 

After hours of surfing on the web, he started to get frustrated. Was this guy not on any social media? Rin was almost sure his soulmate was approximately the same age as him, but maybe he wasn’t going to the same school. Maybe he wasn’t even from Iwatobi? It wasn’t uncommon for people from other towns to come to this beach. The idea of his soulmate living far away from him crossed his mind, but Rin tried to stay optimistic. He was probably just over stressing, it’s not like his two weeks deadline was coming to an end - he literally kissed the boys only a few hours ago. He still had plenty of time to find him. 

Rin went to bed with some mixed feelings that night. He was extremely relieved that he had finally found his soulmate and he was hopelessly obsessed with him already. Rin never thought his soulmate would be another dude, but he wasn’t really surprised. He had always been open to any relationship and sometimes he would fantasize about guys that his sister Gou found cute, but he would never admit it out loud. But even though he was relieved and happy, a part of him was worried, scared even. What if his soulmate never manifested any interest in him? It was a possibility, Rin knew it. Some people weren’t as obsessed or desperate as he was to find their one true love, some people even avoided it at all cost. Aromantic and asexual were terms that Rin have had heard about, but he wasn’t extremely familiar with them. Rin couldn’t imagine a world where people weren’t interested in finding love and living a happy life with their partner, but he knew that not everyone wanted to focus their entire life around Love. Rin closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep, but all his mind was thinking about was a pair of blue ocean eyes and perfect lips. 

On Sunday, Rin called Sousuke - because he could now enjoy the feeling of speaking on the phone, even though his best friend couldn’t reply - and invited him over to help him continue searching for the guy on the web. Surely, someone, somewhere knew who he was. His best friend groaned on the other end of the line, but Rin knew he could count on him and he smiled at him brightly when he showed up at his door thirty minutes later. The boys spent at least two hours on their phones, texting friends and looking up on multiple platforms, but without a picture or a name, it was hard to find any clue. It was as if he was looking for a fish in the ocean ; on multiple occasions he thought he had found him, his heart skipping a beat, but when Rin looked more attentively at the pictures, he couldn’t recognize him. Black wasn't a rare colour for hair, and he didn’t have any features that were pretty distinguishable from other guys, but nothing made Rin’s heart and body feel warm and buzzing with excitement like when he was in the presence of his soulmate. Just after dinner, they decided to go back to the beach. Maybe he’d go back there with his friends, Sousuke thought. Rin was very doubtful about it, but he decided to go anyway. After all, he had nothing to lose. 

At the end of the day, they walked back to Rin’s house in complete silence. Rin was visibly tormented by this whole game of mouse and cat, and Sousuke probably felt bad for stopping Rin from running after his soulmate the day before. Rin’s mother invited Sousuke for dinner, but the taller man politely refused and said he had to go take care of something. Sousuke left the Matsuokas’ house and gave an apologetic smile to his best friend. He knew how important the whole concept of soulmate was for Rin, and if he knew how hard it would get to find him back, he probably wouldn’t have stopped him from running after his dream. Sousuke felt bad, Rin could feel it in the way his friend was trying as hard as him, but he couldn’t get mad at him. If it weren’t for Sousuke, Rin probably would’ve never even met his soulmate since he wouldn’t have joined the Iwatobi’s Lifeguard Crew. Rin hugged his friend and promised him he’d be in a better mood the next day at school. He also promised him he’d bring him one of Gou’s cookies she cooked in the afternoon for his lunch as a way to thank him for everything. 

Chapter Text

When Monday came around, Haru decided to keep his voice a secret. He had spent almost eighteen years of his life without the ability to speak, so he didn’t feel the need to use his voice right now after all this time just because a (cute) boy kissed him while he was unconscious. Haru wasn’t a Disney princess that needed a prince to save his life and all that bullshit he didn’t believe in. These movies, along with the romantic comedies, were only targeting people who were desperate and needy. Haru didn’t need this, didn’t need the idea of love being world-changing. He just wanted to keep his life as it was, as uneventful as possible. 

Haru got ready to school just like any other day, beginning his day in the bathtub for probably too long and then cooking some mackerel for his lunch. He then got dressed and stepped outside his house. When he reached the top of the stairs separating his and Makoto’s house, he had to swallow the lump in his throat when he saw his best friend waiting patiently for him at the bottom of the stairs. Haru’s throat suddenly became tight and sore, but he tried to ignore the pain. There was nothing alarming, probably just a bite of his breakfast that didn’t go down well. Maybe it was just the stress of seeing who he thought was his soulmate for the first time since the incident on the beach. Haru hadn’t dared to look at his phone yet, so he didn’t know if Makoto or anyone else knew about him. Has Makoto seen the kiss? Was it the reason why he was swimming back toward the beach when Haru was lying down under another guy? 

Makoto looked up at Haru when he heard his footsteps and rushed the steps, separating the distance between them. He looked worried sick, his eyes already watery and his usual smile replaced by a tortured grimace. 

Where were you? Makoto mouthed as well as he signed with his hands. What happened on Saturday? I saw you leaving without a warning and Rei and Nagisa kept asking me what had happened between us! 

It’s nothing . Haru lied, trying to look sincere. I just had a sudden headache and needed to go. 

Makoto looked skeptical but didn’t push it. Haru was glad that his friend didn’t try to force him to tell him what was wrong, but he knew it wouldn’t be the same for Nagisa. Haru readjusted his bag on his shoulders and they started walking to school. They walked in silence, though Haruka sometimes had to cough lightly because of his sudden sore throat. It almost felt like he was going to be sick, but not quite yet. He sighed in annoyance and frowned, ignoring the worried looks Makoto sent him. Haru almost wanted to tell him - really tell him - what happened, but he chickened out. He didn’t want to ruin the not-so-comfortable silence and whatever chances he had with his best friend. He simply acted as if nothing happened, as if nothing changed. He told himself that if people didn’t know about it, they wouldn’t ask. It was stupid and childish, and he knew it. But he couldn’t help but fear changes. Haru never took the leap to kiss his best friend because he was scared of changing his routine, scared of everything that it would’ve implied. 

But then this complete stranger kissed him and stole his heart. No - not his heart. But surely, a piece of himself got stolen that day, and he got given a voice in exchange. But Haru didn’t really care about his voice, all he wanted was to keep living his life as it was. 

When they walked on the school’s ground, Rei and Nagisa were already waiting for them. Haru’s shoulders and whole body tensed up in anticipation, knowing that the small blonde boy would definitely jump him over and attack him with crushing hugs and questions. 

“Haru! We were so worried about you, where were you? why did you leave the beach without telling anyone” Nagisa pouted. 

“Jeez, Nagisa. Let the poor boy breathe.” Rei chuckled at his boyfriend’s antics, coming to Haru’s rescue. 

Haru shrugged and looked to the side. He wasn’t ready to face his problems, and if he acted as cold and disinterested as usual, maybe his friends wouldn’t see any difference. He opened his phone and typed in the group chat that he was just feeling unwell and needed to go. They started walking toward the entrance of the school, Nagisa talking animatedly about the weekend and the fun they had at the beach and how delicious the ice cream he got was. By his side, Makoto was just smiling and nodding politely to whatever Nagisa or Rei were saying, chuckling silently when he recalled something funny that happened before Haru disappeared. 

In all honesty, it was just a regular Monday morning. The four of them hanging out in the hallways, waiting for their class to start, Makoto and Haru silently listening to all sorts of colourful stories from Nagisa. Nothing had changed, they were still doing the exact same thing as usual. Haru realized why he was feeling so out of it, suddenly. He noticed he was the one who changed, and this realization frightened him a little. He didn’t like how insecure and self-aware of himself he was getting, his mind worried about him accidentally saying something. Haru had to bite his tongue in order to keep his mouth shut, and by lunchtime, his throat was getting more and more itchy. 

Chapter Text

Halfway through the week, Rin was still trying to find his soulmate, or at least someone who would know him. Even if it was a distant cousin, or a neighbour, Rin wanted to find him at all costs. Every morning, he would come to school with a new strategy, though it seemed to fail every time since he still had no idea what the guy’s name was. He even skipped swimming during his lunch break, wandering in the hallways and peeking inside every classroom. He knew the swim team’s captain and their coach wouldn’t be too happy about it, but surely they would understand that for Rin, finding his soulmate was as important as breathing. His whole body was craving for the black haired boy, his skin tingling like needles and his heart hammering in its cage loudly whenever he thought he saw him from a distance. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Aiichiro sent a text message to Rin and told him he would lose his momentum and decrease his times if he didn’t come to practices anymore. Rin simply said he was pretty busy and that he had some important issues to fix first. His friend couldn’t understand the feeling because he wasn’t as interested in love or relationships as Rin was, so he just warned him to be more vigilant. Rin knew he meant well and only wanted him to keep performing amazingly in competitions, but Aiichiro wouldn’t be able to understand Rin’s struggles. 

After spending almost all the week looking and asking around school, Rin had no choice but to admit his defeat. His one true love probably wasn’t going to Samezuka Academy. As the days passed by, the red haired man started to really worry about the two-weeks deadline. Statistics showed that most soulmates found a way to spend time together and reinforce their bonds in the first week, and even though he knew there was still time, Rin wondered if he’d ever get the chance to see him again. Finding his voice was great, life-changing, even, but it was nothing compared to the feeling of being complete and mellow. Rin had always dreamed of a great love story, just like in all those romance movies his mother and sister love to watch. He longed for a strong bond with his other half, wanted to live a real-life fairytale just like his parents. Rin knew he was a hopeless romantic and probably too soppy for his own good, but he couldn’t help it. He truly thought that everyone deserved a great love story, a relationship that would shatter their world in all the best ways possible. 

By the end of the week, Rin’s throat felt terribly sore and itchy, burning his esophagus as if he threw up all night. He caught himself coughing constantly, as if his insides were trying to fight back the weird lump he felt in his throat. When he woke up on Friday, his whole body was shivering with cold sweat, and he felt slightly nauseous too. Rin rarely missed school, but that day he definitely didn’t feel good enough, so he decided not to go to school. He stayed in his dorm room and slept through the day, reading online about all the side effects of soulmates and soulbonding in the afternoon. He already knew most of the information he found on forums and weird websites, but he was still trying to see if there were stories by people who couldn’t find their soulmates after kissing them the first time. A part of him wanted to know what to expect if the boy from the beach wouldn’t manifest himself into Rin’s life. He knew he’d be pretty devastated to miss such a big opportunity, and he wasn’t sure if he would survive the loss - as dramatic as it sounded. After everything that he’d read online, Rin was more convinced than ever that he would do anything to find his soulmate again, that he’d post up on every social media and any website about missed connections.

After school, Sousuke came to visit his best friend and gave him his notes from classes. Even though his throat still felt scrapy and gravelly, Rin told him his new plan. He’d go back to the beach during the weekend and would ask around if people remembered or recognized the boy from last week, once again. But this time, he’d bring a drawing of the man he saved from the water. 

But you don’t know how to draw. Sousuke signed, looking at him with confusion. 

“I know…” Rin grinned from all his teeth.

The black haired man shot him an unamused glance, knowing where this was going and he wasn’t liking it. 

“Please, Sousuke.” Rin pleaded, joining his hands in front of him and pouting. “Not being with him is killing me!” He coughed, as if to prove his point. 

A bit dramatic, don’t you think? 

“Come on. You really want me to become mute again and be miserable?” 

Sousuke rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. Rin knew he won when the other man dropped his school bag next to his desk and picked up his sketchbook. He opened it to a blank page, but instead of starting drawing, Sousuke wrote something down. 

What do I get in exchange? 

Rin scratched his chin, thoughtfully. What would Sousuke like in return? Rin realized that it was because of him that he found his soulmate, and if he could find him again with a drawing robot portrait made by his best friend, he would definitely owe him big time. Food and money seemed pointless, it wouldn’t express how grateful he would be. 

“Good question. Is there anything you’d want? A new swimsuit, maybe?”

Deal. Sousuke nodded after thinking about it. 

Swimsuits weren’t extremely expensive, but not cheap either. And Rin knew it was something that would be useful and appreciated by his friend, opposed to a regular, meaningless gift. 

Sousuke made himself comfortable at the desk, laying his sketchbook down and sharpening his pencil. Even though his best friend was at the beach too and was kneeling down next to Rin when he did the CPR on the drowned guy, Rin described the guy to his friend as best as he could, from all the details he could remember. The shape of his face, the length of his hair, and even the little crease between his brows when he was frowning. As he remembered every feature of his soulmate, Rin smiled to himself. From the moment he looked at him from afar, when he was about to practice heart massage with Sousuke, he had felt so attracted to him, his limbs all tingly and his heartbeat faster. Before even kissing him, Rin was undeniably fascinated by his wonder blue eyes and jet black hair. Something in the way he looked conflicted with himself was weirdly charming, and Rin was almost sure he saw him blushing before turning his head. 

Yeah, Rin was already falling for him, and he wasn’t scared at all.

Chapter Text

Friday couldn’t come any faster, in Haru’s mind. He was so relieved that the week was finally over, because he felt like his throat was burning him and was getting anxious about it becoming too obvious. In addition to his sore esophagus, he was having a light fever, but nothing too alarming so he went to school anyway. He was so eager to finish the week, and to finally reach the two-weeks deadline to finally stop all that suffering - assuming that the pain would go away instantly. He wasn’t really sure how this would work, but if he could just live another week without talking to anyone, eventually his life would go back to normal when he would’ve spent fourteen days without his soulmate, right? That was the plan, at least. It sounded so easy in Haru’s mind that he didn’t expect for his secret to get out. 

Haru almost succeeded in his plan, but when he was sitting in the cafeteria with Makoto, Nagisa and Rei during lunch break, he choked on his food and got a coughing fit. Rei watched him carefully, squinting at him as if he was suspecting something. When Haru’s breathing came back to normal, Rei put down his chopsticks and stared at him. 

“Haru… Do you happen to have a sore throat and a fever?” Rei asked very seriously. 

Three pairs of eyes turned to look at Haru curiously, and being in the spotlight made him squirm in his chair. He tried not to let it show, but he had to swallow the painful lump in his throat. Rei’s scrutinizing gaze didn’t miss that, and he snapped his fingers as if he just had the biggest revelation of all time. 

“That’s it!” He practically yelled. “You kissed someone at the beach and they turned out to be your soulmate, and that’s why you left without telling anyone!”  

“What!?” Nagisa gasped. “How could this be possible?” 

“I don’t know, but it seems like the only logical reason.” The man said, readjusting his glasses up on his nose. “He left without telling anyone what truly happened and avoided us all weekend… And he’s been acting as if he was miserable and sick all week, he’s been coughing a lot. 

Rei explained to the others that he had once read in a book about soulmates and what would happen if they wouldn’t spend time together after kissing. The first few days wouldn’t be different from any other days, except that they would now have a voice. But avoiding their soulmates would indulge inconvenient pain and discomfort, especially the vocal cords and throat, but it wasn’t rare either to feel nauseous or feverish. Haru hated how Rei’s depiction of his symptoms were painfully accurate, and how Rei seemed to be reading his mind at this very moment. 

“Am I wrong, Haru?” Rei asked him. 

Haru felt like Rei’s tone was a bit provocative, though he knew his friend didn’t mean any harm, he probably just wanted to prove his point and . Haru looked down at the table, feeling too ashamed. The weight of their stares felt heavier than the pressure he felt when his parents told him they’d move for his father’s new job. His head was spinning, his thoughts stirring wild in his head and a bead of sweat rolled down his spine. He could’ve lied to them, shook his head no and just pretended like nothing happened. But Haru didn’t want to lie to them. He was more scared of their reactions, especially the brown haired boy sitting next to him. Haru cleared his throat and took a deep breath in before opening his mouth. 

“No, you’re right…” Haru finally said, his voice feeling gravelly from not being used in almost a week. 

“Whoaaa!” Nagisa yelped excitedly. “Haru, that’s so great!”

Haru simply shrugged at that, not really feeling like any of this was “great”. In fact, it was more troublesome than anything. The black haired man was so annoyed and scared at the same time, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to look at Makoto to see his reaction. When he finally got the courage to look up at his best friend, his soft green eyes seemed to be filled with excitement and confusion at the same time. Haru bit his lower lip while Makoto started using his hands to say something. 

Wow, that’s great Haru! Why didn’t you tell me? 

“It’s not like I’ll ever see him again.” Haru mumbled. 

“Him?” Nagisa repeated with a huge grin. “Your soulmate is a guy, too?” 

Haru groaned to himself, though it irritated his already sore throat more than satisfying his internal rage. He shouldn’t have said something about his soulmate, shouldn’t have said something at all. Now he had Makoto, Nagisa and Rei’s full attention on him, their food long forgotten on their food trays. Haru swore it was as if the raspiness of his voice was scraping his insides like a cheese grate. 

“You guys really want to know what happened?” He asked. 

“Yeah, of course!” Nagisa cheered. 

“Absolutely! Tell us everything!” Rei added.  

Haru looked over at Makoto again, searching for any sign from his best friend that would indicate he didn’t want to hear about Haru’s meeting with his soulmate, but he was only smiling patiently and encouragingly at him. He sighed, defeated, and started telling them how it all happened. 

“I initially didn’t want to go to the beach, because I don’t know how to swim…” Haru admitted. “But at some point, right when you two left to go get ice cream, I decided to go and freshen up myself because it was too hot.” 

“Wait, really?” The blonde boy asked. 

“Shh, let him finish.” Rei said 

“Anyway, when I saw Makoto swimming so far away and it looked so… easy. So I tried to join him, but I drowned, and this dude just… Saved me, I guess.” Haru frowned at the memory. “Next thing I knew, he asked me if I was ok, and I said yes without thinking.” 

“Did you two left together?” Nagisa asked eagerly. 

“Probably not.” Rei shook his head but was still looking at Haru. “He wouldn’t be so sick right now if he did.” 

“Oh, right.” The younger boy deflated.

The young couple kept talking, asking questions and coming up with hypotheses about how it happened, and saying it must’ve been fate - obviously. Haru frowned and tried not to snap. He really didn’t like his friends talking about him and his non-existent love-life as if he wasn’t sitting just in front of them. Makoto was still silent, of course, but he looked both a bit confused and genuinely happy for him. Haru’s heart clenched at the sight because he didn’t know how to feel about it. If Makoto was happy about Haru’s soulmate not being him, did it mean that he didn’t feel the same as Haru did? Were his feelings not reciprocated at all? 

Haru didn’t care about his voice, didn’t care about the stranger who kissed him. Haru was convinced he was in love with Makoto and would always be, so what was the point of having a soulmate if it wasn’t the boy sitting right next to him? Haru also hated the way his body was betraying him, aching for someone who wasn’t even there, longing for a specific red haired guy that he didn’t want to see ever again. 

At the end of the day, when the school bell finally rang, Haru’s fever had peaked up and it took all his energy to be able to walk back home and not just pass out on the beach. As much as he wanted to lean onto Makoto’s shoulders for help and support, his skin felt like it was burning him. The contact felt weird and unnerving, so he just stood on his feet awkwardly and painfully walked alongside Makoto in silence. When they reached the stairs between his and Makoto’s house, Haru ignored the worried look on his face and simply waved at him and climbed the stairs. He couldn’t wait to be home and just crawl into bed, rolling himself in his blankets and forgetting about the world. 

Chapter Text

Rin was woken up by someone nudging him on the shoulder. To his surprise, it was already Saturday morning and Rin wondered if Sousuke had stayed up all night working on his drawing, but his best friend assured him he only worked on it for a few hours and then went to sleep. Rin must’ve fallen asleep while Sousuke was still drawing, because he couldn’t remember when or how he got in bed, but he was probably drained out of energy because of his fever and headache. Though the headache had disappeared during the night, his fever was still running through his body, sending burning shivers all over his skin. Rin’s whole body felt heavier than usual and his mind was still foggy with sleep, but when he saw Sousuke standing above him with his drawing, Rin sat up. He coughed a few times in the crook of his elbow and apologized. He must look like hell right now, with his eyes puffy and crusty from sleeping so much, and his hair ruffled from his pillowcase. He took the piece of paper from his friend’s hands and analyzed it, trying to remember if it fit the memories he had of his soulmate. Everything from the length of hair and the shape of his eyes seemed right, and Rin smiled up brightly at his best friend. 

“Yep, it looks just like him!” Rin nodded. “Now, all we need to do is make copies of that and hand them to people.” He added, reminding his friend of the plan he had. 

Rin wanted to go back to the beach again and hand the drawing to people, asking around if they saw this guy or knew him. He was even ready to go into grocery stores and other shops on the boardwalk in case anyone ever saw him. Even though his plan seemed extreme to Sousuke, the dark haired man couldn’t help but feel guilty for his friend. It was his fault if the boy ran away without giving more information to Rin, so the least he could do was help him find his boy. 

Sousuke turned around and walked up to Rin’s desk where a stack of paper sat on it. He picked up the first sheet on the top and showed it to the redhead with a proud grin. Everything was already set up, he even added text above the picture and Rin’s contact information at the bottom so people could send him an email if they knew about the boy from the drawing. Rin’s grin grew wider, showing most of his pointy teeth. If his skin didn’t feel so sensitive and on fire, he would’ve hugged him tight right here and there, but he resigned himself from doing it. 

Rin got up from bed and didn’t even bother asking Sousuke to wait outside or turn around while he changed his clothes. They’ve had swimming lessons together for so long and always changed in the locker room together, so there wasn’t anything Sousuke had never seen of him, probably. The other boy was nice enough not to stare anyway, he just occupied himself with putting the drawings in two folders - one for him and one for Rin. He put the two folders in his bag just as Rin announced he was ready to go. They left Rin’s house and made their way to the beach. They both packed their swimsuits, just in case they decided to go for a swim, though Rin wasn’t particularly in the mood for that, which surprised and worried the other boy. Rin had never backed down from a friendly race in the water, had never said no to jumping into the big blue. They walked side by side in silence, Sousuke because he couldn’t talk, and Rin because his throat was actually hurting and he wanted to manage his voice until he was at the beach.

Rin and Sousuke spent most of the day at the beach and in the surrounding areas, handing out the piece of paper with Rin’s soulmate drawing. Most people took the sheet with a polite smile, some of them cheered him up and told him not to give up, but there were also some pessimistic pedestrians who didn’t want to help, walking past them and avoiding their gazes. There was even a girl who picked up a sheet and purposefully threw it on the ground and stepped on it, out of spite. Rin tried not to be too pissed at her, but he couldn’t ignore the crushing feeling it procured him, seeing the picture of his soulmate all rumpled on the ground. When he noticed his friend struggling to keep his composure, Sousuke crouched down, picked it up and threw it away. 

Just ignore her. He mouthed, trying to help him stay calm. 

“I’m not mad at her.” Rin growled after taking a deep breath in. “I’m more mad at myself, because I should’ve asked for his name earlier when I had the chance.” 

Rin held the stack of paper in his hand closer to his chest, his free hand running through red strands of hair. He closed his eyes and tried to even out his breathing through his nose, just like he does before a swimming competition to calm himself down. Maybe it was the sun, maybe it was his fever. Maybe it was simply this whole situation being so frustrating and exhausting, but Rin felt like he was about to snap. His head was hammering, the heat making his hair stick at the nape of his neck with sweat. Rin was getting pretty annoyed by the situation. Not knowing his name was a thing, but the guy didn’t seem to be on any social media, and no one - literally no one in his circle of friends and relatives seemed to know who he was. It was as if the guy vanished from the city, or as if he never even existed, but Rin knew it wasn’t possible. His body wouldn’t be in such pain, his voice wouldn’t be there in the first place. Rin never took drugs in his life, but he was pretty sure his body was in some kind of withdrawal. Just a little before dinner time, he decided he had enough for the day and they headed back home. At this point, not only his throat was sore, but his entire body. Even after intensive swim practices, Rin had never felt this miserable and weak. 

Before parting ways, Sousuke asked Rin if he wanted to try and go back to the beach the next day, but Rin shook his head. He had homework to complete and some studying to do for upcoming tests. He knew he had pushed these aside in the last week, but if he wanted to graduate and get into a nice college with a strong swim team, he also needed to keep his grades up. He had been behind schedule all week long with his homework because he was too busy searching the web for any hints he could find, but there weren’t any conclusive results.

* * * 

The next day, Rin knew he’d be too distracted and tempted to just take a nap if he stayed home, so he went to the library to study. He could’ve gone to his school’s library, but when he searched for a specific book he needed for an essay and learned they didn’t have it on the shelves, he chose to go to the Iwatobi’s public library. The old lady at the front desk was nice and very sweet, and she guided him through the aisles to the right part of the place. Rin took the book from her and thanked her with a nod. He then walked a bit further between the shelves until he found a little study nook that wasn’t too crowded. Only a few other students were there, reading and typing silently on their laptops. Rin sat at one of the desks next to a big window with a view on the street. He started studying, but since the fever and his headache hadn’t lifted up yet, he was dozing off more than he would’ve liked it. 

Rin’s head was resting on one of his arms on the desk in front of him, and the relaxing ambiance of the library almost made him drift off to sleep. He was close, so close to fall asleep at the desk, but then some whispers piqued his interest. 

“Shouldn’t we be worried?” The first voice asked. “He’s been avoiding us all week and doesn’t pick up the phone.” 

“Well, he’s always been a little bit distant to begin with…” A second voice said. “I’m more worried about his throat.”
“What do you mean?” 

“I’ve read that in some cases, soulmates who don’t spend time together within the two weeks following their first kiss, it might damage their vocal cords and esophagus. Haruka’s been suffering all week from a sore throat, even though he tried to hide it, I saw it.” 

“But if he doesn’t find his soulmate again, won't his voice and the pain just go away? That’s what my doctor told me.” 

“I’m not sure…” The guy said, his voice very serious. “Depending on the compatibility of the soulmates, being separated after the kiss can be harmful in the long run. Most people will just love their voice again and continue their lives, but in some cases, the people got really sick. That’s what happened to the swimsuit model Marin-chan. She got so sick that she had to quit her job because of her depression and sickness.”  

Rin kept listening to them gossiping about the gravity of not being with one’s soulmate. He didn’t really care about the swimsuit model, though he’d heard about it a few years ago when it happened. The story had been mediated in every magazine and newspapers, and even on daily news on TV. Rin’s attention only got caught again when the two boys talked about what had happened last weekend. Something about ice creams and coming back to the beach only to find one of their friends had disappeared. 

Rin sat straighter on his chair, ignoring the aching pull of his muscles, and looked around in the direction of the voices. His eyes fell on two boys sitting across from each other, their textbooks opened in front of them and looking very concerned. At first, he didn’t really recognize them because the last and only time he saw them, they were only wearing swimsuits, but the blonde hair and red glasses couldn’t lie. The accuracy of the description of what happened at the beach, and the familiar traits filled Rin with hope. The young couple kept discussing between them, their voices hushed because of where they were, and they didn’t seem to notice him staring at them. 

Rin opened his bag and searched for one of yesterday’s drawings. When he found one neatly folded piece of paper with his soulmate’s face printed on it, he got up from his desk and walked up to their table. They both looked up at him at the same time, puzzled. To be honest, Rin would probably be intimidated too if a complete stranger came next to him out of the blue. 

“Uh, hi.” He croaked. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’ve heard you talking about something that happened last week at the beach and couldn’t help but wonder if you were talking about this person…?” Rin said, handing the guy with red glasses the drawing Sousuke did. 

The moment he saw his eyes illuminating, Rin knew he had found someone who would be able to help him in his quest for Love. He swallowed the aching lump in his throat and tried to explain the events from his point of view, and how desperate he was to find his soulmate again. The blonde guy told him his soulmate’s name was Nanase Haruka, and that they were attending Iwatobi High School. Rin should’ve known that, should’ve tried to look for him there too, but his mind was so obsessed by bright blue eyes that he couldn’t think straight. 

“He has a phone, right? Do you think you could maybe give me his number, so I can finally talk to him?” Rin asked, his heart beating faster in its cage. It was the first time in a week that he felt so alive, so close to achieving his goal. “I’ve been thinking about him all week and started worrying that I’d never see him again.” He admitted. 

“Sure! Though he doesn’t reply to his messages very often, he’s a bit of an introvert and he’s not really interested in modern technology that much.” The blonde boy said. 

Rin handed his own cell phone to the small boy so he could add his soulmates in his contacts. The red haired man could feel his body buzzing with excitement and anticipation, thrilled by the turn of events. He was already picturing himself calling Nanase every night before going to bed and sending him good morning messages. When the blonde guy handed Rin his phone back with his soulmate’s contact information, Rin handled his phone carefully, as if it was the most precious thing in the world. And, to him, it kind of was. He bowed politely and thanked them multiple times, still not believing how lucky he got to be here that day and eavesdropping onto their conversation accidentally. 

Rin walked back to his table, packed his things in his bag and picked up the book he borrowed in one hand. He jogged through the shelves toward the exit, and gave the book back to the lady at the front desk. He gave her his best smile and walked out the door with the biggest, stupidest grin on his face, feeling his heart as light as a feather.

Chapter Text

On Sunday, Haru felt a little bit less sick, so he decided to clean up the house. Not that it was dirty or chaotic - after all he lived alone and barely made any mess, but he felt like he needed something to do. He had surprisingly finished all of his homework the day before, and Makoto was busy babysitting the twins so he couldn’t come and hang out. He started by opening all of the windows in order to make the rooms’ air circulating, and headed to the kitchen. Most people he knew liked to clean up with some music in the background, but Haru enjoyed the silence more. He plugged his phone in to charge it on the countertop, and got the vacuum, cleaning products and sponges out. He wanted to make the kitchen shine like brand new and so he scrubbed every corner of the room possible. He did the same with the bathroom and living room, which took him a few hours to get all the house cleaned up. 

Haru just finished cleaning the house and was about to run himself a bath when his phone pinged with a new notification. It wasn’t unusual for him to ignore his phone, knowing it must be either boys in the group chat or maybe one of his monthly messages from his parents to check up on him. Haru’s parents had stopped worrying after him and asking him constantly how he was managing living on his own when they realized their son didn’t bother to reply to them outside of a simple I’m ok . 

Haru almost decided to ignore the message, but for some strange and unknown reason, curiosity got the best of him and he walked up to the counter where he left his phone charging. He set the towel he was holding on the side and picked up his phone and unlocked it. There were a few messages that dated from over the weekend and he didn’t want to answer them, but the most recent one caught his attention and his pulse quickened when his thumb clicked on it without him thinking this through. As he read the few words on his screen, Haru’s thoughts got blurry like a foggy morning. 

Unknown Number : Hey, this is Nanase Haruka’s number, right? I’m the guy who saved your life from the beach. I was hoping we could maybe meet up and talk, since we’re soulmates. 

Haru stared at his screen in complete shock, unable to move. A few seconds later, his phone pinged again in his hands and a picture filled the small screen. Haru dropped the phone on the counter as if his phone just burned his hands, his breathing faltering. Just under the message, a selfie of the guy appeared. Haru couldn’t tear his eyes from the screen, both hypnotized and terrified by what he was seeing. The guy’s maroon hair and red eyes definitely belonged to the person who saved him, and the smirk he was doing at the camera made Haru’s insides warmed up and churned in an unpleasant way, making Haru feel things he never felt before. The guy was wearing a light grey tank top and had one hand in the air as if he was tucking some strands of red hair behind his ear. Haru noticed the way his biceps were flexed and immediately hated the whole picture. Or maybe he didn’t really hate it, but he wasn’t ready to admit that to himself yet. He had been so confused and panicked the last time he saw him that he didn’t even notice how he looked so attractive. The way his skin had a peachy tone that complimented his hair colour so well, and the slope of his nose had such a perfect shape that Haru wondered for a second if it was photoshopped. The guy was wearing a golden chain around his neck, and a part of him wanted to know if there was a pendant at the end of it, but the picture was cropped before he could see more of it. Haru’s eyes travelled up and down the picture, analyzing everything he could. Somehow, his eyes returned to that damn smug smile of his, his thin lips curving in an impossible smirk and revealing pointy, shark-like teeth. Haru wondered if they felt as sharp as they looked like, but he soon interrupted his own thoughts when it became too much. The black haired boy wanted to swallow the lump in his throat but noticed that it wasn’t there anymore. He only felt his Adam’s apple bobble up and down, but he didn’t feel the annoying yet familiar pain he had felt all week. 

He almost unplugged his phone and threw it at the wall when the little grey bubble with three dots moving appeared at the bottom of the screen. Haru held his breath in, dreading what the guy wanted to add to this. 

Unknown Number :  Oh, sorry I forgot to introduce myself! I’m Matsuoka Rin, by the way. :)

Unknown Number : So, what do you say? Are you free tomorrow night?

Haru read and reread the messages, so much that even when he closed his eyes he could still see them burned at the back of his retinas. He mouthed his soulmate’s name first, then mumbled it to himself to know how it sounded and felt on his tongue. His head got dizzy and Haru had to remind himself to breathe. 

When he snapped his eyes open again, his stare was cold and distant. He didn’t like the way he felt so mushy and somehow vulnerable moments ago. Haru couldn’t understand why he felt that way, why he felt as if the ground beneath him was opening up and swallowing him, while in reality he was just standing alone in his kitchen. He tapped out of the messages app and turned off his phone entirely. It was the only way he could go back to normal. He left his phone on the counter and walked away. 

He went upstairs where the bathroom was and ran hot, boiling water in the tub. He got rid of his clothes quickly and submerged himself in the water, feeling both the pain and the relief of the warmth surrounding him. As the water filled the bath, Haru tried to calm his racing heart and the numb feeling in his fingers. His thoughts went back to when he first saw his soulmate at the grocery store. Haru wasn’t sure if the man had recognized him or not at the beach, but his flashy hair and peculiar teeth sure did leave a mark on Haru’s brain. Haru could still feel the ghost of his lips on his, even after a week. Haru hated that he could still picture him perfectly in his mind even though he wanted nothing to do with him. As far as he knew, they had nothing in common. They didn’t go to the same school - Haru would’ve noticed him in the hallways if he went to Iwatobi High School - and the man was basically a lifeguard while Haru didn’t even know how to swim. When he remembered the events of the beach, Haru groaned in embarrassment. How could his soulmate be so different from him? From Makoto? 

If anything, Rin probably had more in common with his best friend than him, since they both appeared to be good swimmers and were good looking. Makoto was beautiful in the way the morning light would enter a room through the curtains and caress someone’s cheek to wake them up. Makoto’s beauty had this comforting, safe bubble feeling to it that made Haru feel home. And as much as he hated it, Haru knew that Rin’s features were undeniably attractive like a flame attracting moths. His ruby eyes were cutting deep in Haru’s flesh and his smile was like a scorching flame burning Haru’s eyes, as bright and explosive as a firework. They were both very different from each other but handsome in their own ways, and the fact that Rin was occupying more space in his mind than he’d like frustrated him. 

Haru took a deep breath in and submerged his head under water, hoping the water would help block all his thoughts from going places he didn’t want them to. He tried really hard not to think about anything, but all he could see behind his closed eyes was red. Red hair, red eyes. Red engulfed all of him and Haru sat up, gasping for air. All the confusion and frustration and other weird feelings he was having had migrated between his legs. His erection was throbbing and borderline painful, and Haru groaned. Instead of taking care of his problem, Haru got up and emptied the tub. Haru wasn’t unfamiliar with sudden boners, he was a teenager after all, but the fact that his thoughts were filled with a complete stranger infuriated him and he didn’t want to give in. 

Instead, he dried himself up as fast as he could and put on sports clothes and his running shoes. He decided to go for a run, hoping the fresh air of the evening would clear his mind.

Chapter Text

Rin was staring at the screen of his phone nervously. He had spent the remainder of the afternoon asking Sousuke what he should do or send to his soulmate. His first instinct was to actually give him a call and be able to talk to him, but Sousuke had suggested that he send him a message and a picture first to see his reaction. It wouldn’t give him the instant satisfaction he hoped for, but he had to concede that it was the safest option. He didn’t know anything about Haruka and maybe he was busy and couldn’t even pick up the phone.

Rin got back to his dorm room and grinned to himself when he noticed that his roommate wasn’t back either. So Rin had hurried to his closet and picked his favourite shirt, brushed his teeth, and even comber his hair, though it looked ridiculous and definitely staged so he ran a hand through it. When he was satisfied enough with his look, he excitedly posed and took a picture, though the result wasn’t looking as good as he had hoped. He took about ten different selfies before giving up. Why was taking pictures so complicated? He wasn’t sure which one looked best, so he sent a few options to his sister. As much as he appreciated and trusted Sousuke, he knew the only person he knew who would expertly pick the best one was Gou. She had an eye for what looked good, and she always had a somewhat good opinion about beauty standards for men. 

Rin : Help! I wanna send him a picture but don’t know which one looks better? 

Gou : Who?

Rin : My soulmate, duh! 

Gou : Ohhhhh! Ok, gimme a sec.

Rin waited for her to finally choose a picture that looked decent enough and would make him look good without it being too self-conscious. It felt exciting and Rin was so thrilled to finally have a way to communicate with his soulmate. When Gou had pointed out the best one out of those he had sent her, Rin deleted the others from his gallery and opened a new message to the newest contact in his phone. Rin knew it was a bit excessive, but he had already renamed his contact to Soulmate <3 in his phone and started typing. 

Rin : Hey, this is Nanase Haruka’s number, right? I’m the guy who saved your life from the beach. I was hoping we could maybe meet up and talk, since we’re soulmates. 

He then opened his gallery pictures and selected the one he wanted to send him, hoping it would make the guy react somehow. If the description of how they met wasn’t clear enough, at least a selfie of him would probably stirr something in Haruka, right? There was no way the guy wouldn’t recognize him after the proximity they had shared - even though it was only for a brief moment. After he hit send, Rin realized he hadn't even introduced himself yet, so he quickly added another message to fix this. And then, because really this was all he wanted to do in the first place, he asked him out. 

Rin then waited. And waited. He waited for an answer that never came. He saw the little seen notification at the bottom of the last message he had sent, but nothing came from the other recipient. The excitement and anticipation was eating him alive, but when it had been almost an hour since he sent him the last message, Rin wondered if Haruka would ever reply. Or maybe he had a busy evening and would only reply in the morning. That’s what Rin was hoping, at least. 

Rin heard the jingles of keys from the other side of the door and knew that his roommate was back from his weekend at home. He sighed deeply and set down his phone against his will on his desk and got up to greet him. They started chatting - or Rin chatted while his roommate was only using his hands - about their weekends. Rin was happy for the distraction, though a part of his brain was still focused on someone else. He nodded his head compassionately when his roommate rambled about his siblings and how annoying they were. Rin was low-key grateful that he only had one sister and that she was actually pretty decent. She wasn’t too annoying, and even though they didn’t talk much lately, they had a nice complicity, which didn’t seem to be the case for his roommate. 

When Rin’s phone buzzed with a new notification, he jumped to it and unlocked it so fast. His excitement died when he realized it was just an alert to remind him that there was a swimming practice in an hour, and not a reply from Haruka. He excused himself and grabbed his things to go to the pool. He clenched his fist around his phone all the way to the locker room. He was hoping his soulmate would, by miracle, finally send him something, but he was forced to come back to earth when he opened the locker room’s door. 

The familiar perfumes of chlorine and strong male’s scent filled his nostrils instantly and he walked up to his locker, greeting other members from the swim club with a simple nod. Most of them were staring at him like a wild animal, some looked like they were admiring him. He wasn’t sure if it had to do anything with him finding his soulmates or if it was because he hadn’t been to swimming practices a lot lately, but he chose to ignore the funny looks he got and just started changing into his jammers. A few minutes later, Rin was standing next to the pool with Sousuke and their crew mates, waiting patiently for the team captain to give them the plan for the evening. 

* * *

When Rin came back to his dorm after his swimming practice, it was already past midnight. He had decided to stay longer in the water, pushing himself to his limits because of all the practices he had missed during the week. He tried not to make too much noise, since his roommate was sleeping on the top bunk bed, his light snores filling the room at a regular pace. He unpacked his bag, hung his swimsuit and towel on the back of his chair and changed into more comfortable clothes to get ready to sleep. The familiar, burning feeling in his muscles felt nice, and Rin knew he’d be a little bit sore in the morning, but that wasn’t anything he hadn’t experienced in the past. If anything, he enjoyed the feeling, knowing that it meant that his body had been pushed to its limits and that it would make him stronger and faster. 

Before going to bed, he glanced at his phone curiously, wondering if by any chance he had received a reply from Haruka, but there were no new notifications. Rin was still hopeful, though. Surely, the guy would send him a message in the morning, or during the day. Maybe he had been busy. Rin fell asleep quickly, a small, fond smile stretching on his lips as he thought about bright and deep blue eyes, his new favourite colour. 

His lovey-dovey smile disappeared during the next day, when he still had no answer from his soulmate. He had tried to convince himself that it wasn’t a big deal, that it wasn’t the end of the world if he didn’t get a reply instantly. But a part of him also yearned for it. He had been searching for his other half pretty much all of his life, and now that he had finally found him, Rin couldn’t wait any longer before hanging out with him and learning every single thing about him. Sousuke had to convince him not to be too pushy, because it might make the other guy run away, and that was the very last thing Rin wanted, so he -not so patiently- waited for the next day to send him another message.  

When a few more days passed and Rin still didn't have any answer yet, his mood soured and his health started getting weaker again. His throat was itchy and gravelly, as if he was about to catch a cold or as if he partied way too hard the night before. The sudden ache made him realize that, somehow, the pain had slightly lessened at the beginning of the week when he had sent Haruka messages.  On Thursday night, Rin was bored out of his mind - or more like he didn’t want to study anymore - and decided to try again and call Haruka. 

As expected, Haruka didn’t pick up the phone, sending Rin straight to the voicemail. The red haired man almost hung up in frustration, but his ears caught up on the automatic message and everything around and in Rin stilled. It was very brief, only a few seconds really, but it was enough for Rin to feel like his heart was fluttering in its cage. It felt as if he was underwater for so long, and he finally broke the water surface and he could finally breathe. He was so focused on Haruka’s voice on his voicemail that Rin’s brain registered a few moments too late that the beeping sound announcing he had to leave a message had rang, and now he was just sitting in silence. 

“ Shit .” He mumbled to himself, blabbering in panic. “Uh. Hi. It’s me. Rin. I uh… I just wanted to make sure you got my texts… Since you haven’t replied to me yet.” 

His voice still felt a bit raspy, but it hurt a little bit less than before. Rin looked over his shoulder to make sure he was alone in the room. He mentally let out a relieved sigh when he remembered his roommate saying he was going out with friends that night. Rin looked down again at his textbook, though he couldn’t see the text, his mind fogged with so many emotions at the same time. 

“So hum… As you probably know, we don’t have much time left before we lose our voices again.” Rin gulped and ignored the uneasiness in his chest at the thought. “I don’t know about you, but I’d really like to see you and spend some time with you. I would like to think that we’ve been destined to each other for a reason, you know? So yeah… If you could just… Give me a sign, or something. Please.”

Rin pressed his thumb on the red button to hang up and let his phone fall in front of him on his desk. He was feeling strangely more breathless than before, his heart pumping so loud that he could hear it over the deafening silence of the room. He could still hear the distant voice of his soulmate resonating in his head, and even though Haruka’s voice was monotone and slightly bored, Rin wanted to, needed to hear more. He had to resist the urge to call him back again, just so he could rejoice in the feeling of his hair dressing on his arms and the tingling sentiment he had felt the first time. 

Rin let his head fall forward, his arms folding in front of him and he hid his head in the crook of his elbow. He let a low, desperate growl escape his mouth as he understood how infatuated with the guy already. He couldn’t believe himself just how much he was into him already - and he hadn't even seen him for more than five minutes! This crush was ridiculous, but also not really because they were soulmates. It was only natural for Rin to get all excited, he thought. 

If only Haruka would answer his texts or calls.

Chapter Text

Haru and Makoto were walking back from school on Friday afternoon, and as usual, they had to walk near the beach. Haru couldn’t help but feel anxious whenever they would get past the place where he almost drowned, especially on days where there were lifeguards keeping an eye on the water. His eyes were scanning the area, searching for a flash of red hair. It’s not like he wanted to see the guy - far from it, actually. The more days that passed, the more Haru got eager to finally get rid of his voice and his invisible bond with the other guy. Whenever Haru’s phone had rang in the past few days, he didn’t even have to look at the screen to know who was trying to call him. The voice in his head was louder than any ringtone, and the way his heart was clenching couldn’t be ignored. It took everything in him not to pick up the phone, and he almost turned his phone off completely after the fourth voicemail that his soulmate had left. Haru had a weird, tingling feeling at the pit of his stomach, and he instantly knew what was coming up. 

A light but persistent buzzing sound emanated from the pocket of his school pants. Haru tried to ignore it, as if it wasn’t even there at all. After the vibration stopped, Haru sighed, relieved that the caller probably got sent to the voicemail. When he turned around to look at his best friend, Haru noticed that he was already staring at him with curious eyes. He pointed at Haru’s pocket in which his cellphone was tucked in, and cocked his head on the side like a puppy, silently questioning him. Haru rolled his eyes and lifted a hand and moved it in the air, as if he was trying to chase an annoying fly around him. 

Makoto knew that Haru’s soulmate had his phone number - Rei and Nagisa had asked the black haired boy if he got any message from him, and when he had asked how did they know, they admitted that it was them who gave him his contact info. Rei even showed Haru the drawing of him, and Makoto had been shocked at the accuracy of the robot portrait. Haru had almost wanted to strangle them, but he just shrugged and went back to his i don’t care about the world state of mind. But as the week went by, he realized just how bad it was that his soulmate could send him messages and try to call him whenever he wanted. They were now so close to the two weeks-deadline, and it probably was making Haru’s soulmate a little bit more clingy and desperate for attention or something. Haru didn’t really care, if anything it was irritating him. 

Haru still felt uneasy, expecting his phone to ping soon with a new voice message alert. Rin had left him a voice message every time he had called, and Haru had to fight the urge to listen to them. He just let them sit in his voicemail box, untouched. Haru was walking as if he had big weights in his pockets instead of his cellphone, his body heavy and slow. Without realizing it, Haru stopped walking altogether and was just staring at the ground. It was only when Makoto’s shoes came into his view that Haru lifted his head up and blinked in surprise. 

Why don’t you give him a chance? Makoto signed with his hands. 

There was no trace of judgment in his soft, green eyes; only genuine curiosity. Haru groaned and looked to the side awkwardly, exhaling heavily through the nose. He considered lying to him, or coming up with some shitty excuses, but he knew Makoto would see right through his lies. He always had. 

“It’s complicated…” Haru mumbled like a child being reprimanded. “I just… I don’t want him to be my soulmate, that’s all.” 

Because he’s a guy? 

Haru chuckled, though it was humourless. Being with another guy has never been a problem for Haru - he’d never been attracted to any girl. Ever. But of course, it’s not as if he and Makoto had really talked about it, about their crushes or anything. In all honesty, they never really talked about serious stuff that much. They simply enjoyed each other’s company, and where Haru lacked social skills, Makoto completed him by introducing him to new people - even as few as Rei and Nagisa. Whenever Haru tried to picture his future, Makoto always had a huge part in his life. 

Haru lowered his gaze, not able to face his best friend when he let out the next words escaping his mouth in a shaky breath. 

“Because he’s not you.” Haru confessed, his heart hammering in his torso, his mouth dry.

Haru was waiting for any sign that Makoto would get shocked, or angry, or even disgusted. He was expecting to hear a sharp inhale, or for Makoto to push him or- or anything, really. But there was only silence and stillness around them, not even the wind was blowing. When the pressure became too much to handle, Haru tentatively looked up at his friend. Maybe he had left without him hearing it. Maybe he was so shocked that he couldn’t move or make any sound. 

Makoto’s features were painted with a soft, compassionate smile, his eyes looking so warm and full of emotions Haru couldn’t name. From the look on his face, it looked like he wasn’t even surprised by Haru’s confession, like he had just been waiting for him to finally say it out loud after all these years. Which could only mean that Makoto probably had known for a while now that Haru had a crush on him. Haru frowned.

“Are you… not surprised?”

Makoto only shook his head no, but not in a rushed way. Everything in him was elegant, poised. Makoto could’ve picked up his phone and typed in a message for Haru, just so no words would be lost in translation, but he knew Haru didn’t like using technology much. Instead, he lifted his hands and started signing. 

Not really. I think I’ve always known how you felt about me. I’m so sorry if I ever led you on, or gave you the impression that we were meant for each other. I really care about you, Haru, and I will always only wish for the best for you. 

Haru’s eyes started to burn, just like his throat and all of his insides. He wanted to scream, wanted to tell him to shut up. Knowing that his best friend knew all along and didn’t say or do anything? If Haru had kissed him earlier, would things between them have changed? Would it have made things between them awkward when they’d realize they weren’t soulmates? Haru’s heart and whole body was aching, as if a giant hand was squeezing like a slice of lemon.  

Makoto paused, searching for the right words to use. 

I think we both knew we weren’t meant for each other, and that’s why we never dared to cross that line. 

“N-no. I really wanted to… I almost did.” Haru stammered. “I almost kissed you.” 

I know. But you didn’t. You were scared, weren’t you? You were scared of the outcome, scared of what would happen if we weren’t soulmates.

Some burning tears pooled at the corner of Haru’s eyes, and the teenager had to look up and blink rapidly to chase them away. Haru hated how Makoto could read his mind so openly, even his deepest secrets and hopes. Makoto’s gentle hand pressed against Haru’s shoulder in a comforting way, but it only made him jump back as if he just got electrocuted. Makoto’s hand drew back instantly and he looked as pained and saddened as Haru. 

It hurts when other people touch you, right? 

“Y-yeah.” Haru croaked a bit stunned. He didn’t know that people around him noticed that.

That’s because your body wants your soulmate’s touch. You need him, Haru. It’s one of the side effects of not spending time with him.

“No, I don’t want him.” He repeated stubbornly. “I don’t want anything to do with him.” 

Haru started pacing, walking in circles and Makoto gently tugged on the sleeve of his shirt and pointed to a bench. They sat there and Makoto waited for Haru to calm down and to have his full attention before continuing. 

I know right now you think I’m the only one for you, and that you don’t like to open up to strangers. But he’s your soulmate. You should be thrilled to have found your partner so early, and from what Nagisa told me, he’s dying to meet you. The guy has been desperately searching for you all over the town for weeks, and when he thought he finally had a hold on you, you’re ghosting him? 

Makoto was clearly looking at Haru’s phone in his pocket. 

It’s ok if you don’t like him at first, it doesn’t have to be love at first sight. But you should at least give him a chance. Have you thought about him, about what he might want? Denying him his right to own a voice is kind of selfish and cruel. And if he is and looks as miserable as you do right now, it’s going to be harmful for the both of you. 

One thought was still hovering over Haru’s head, one he feared to say out loud. 

I won’t leave you. Makoto mouthed, reading his best friend’s mind once again. I promise I won’t ever stop caring for you, and that I’ll always be there for you just like I always have. Nothing will change between us just because you start hanging out with someone new. But if you don’t give him a chance, if you don’t allow yourself the right to be happy and in love, then I would never forgive myself for letting you think I was the one. 

Haru stayed silent, letting the words sink in. They both stayed there, in silence, contemplating the horizon. Haru was definitely lost in his thoughts, and Makoto was just happy to be able to be next to his friend. He knew it would take a moment for Haru to accept his own feelings and to face the truth. Even if he wanted it, really really wanted it, they weren’t soulmates. Sure, their friendship was stronger than any other bonds he had ever known or seen, but they weren’t tied up by an invisible string like Haru and Rin were. 

At some point, Makoto had to leave because he had to head home and get dinner ready before the twins came back from school. He left Haru alone on the bench, but sent him a pleading look. He picked up his bag and started walking. Haru stayed there, immobile like a statue, until his phone pinged in his pocket. 

For the first time that day, he looked at it and read the newest message that just popped in. 

Makoto : Call him.

Haru sighed, looking at the waves in the distance. The sea was restless, constantly brushing the sand with its ripples. Some parts of the water were so deep and dark, but the sun was reflecting on its surface like a disco ball, millions of tiny reflective lights dancing across the surface. The ocean had never made him feel so scared yet relaxed at the same time. 

Haru scrolled through his notifications and stopped on Rin’s latest voicemail. He didn’t even bother listening to it, he knew it would sound as raw and full of despair as his previous messages. His thumb pressed the call button instead, and Haru held up his phone to his ear.

Chapter Text

Rin kept staring at his phone in utter shock. His hair was dripping from the shower he just took after his swim practice, small droplets of water falling onto his shoulders and on the ground. His white towel was hanging low on his hips as he stood in front of his locker, holding his phone in one hand. 

1 missed call from Soulmate <3 

It looked like Haruka had called him while he was still in the pool. Rin tapped on his screen and opened his voicemail box and clicked on the most recent voice message. He wasn’t sure if his fingers were shaking from anxiety or excitement, maybe a little bit of both. He held his phone to his ear and listened to the voice he had been yearning for all week. Haruka’s tone was as devoid from emotion as he remembered, but it made Rin’s heart beat faster. 

“Hey Rin, it’s Haru.” Rin noticed the shortened name and wondered if it was because he didn’t like to be called by its full name. “Sorry for ignoring all of your texts and voicemails, I’ve been acting like an ass and you probably hate me by now, but If you’re willing to give me another chance, we could meet up tomorrow at the beach. You know which one. I’ll be there at one.” 

Rin listened to it again just to make sure he heard it right the first time, and then opened his Google Calendar application to make sure he didn’t have anything the following day. There was another swimming practice in the morning, but if he was lucky enough and timed his after-swimming routine right, he could definitely make it to the beach in time. Maybe he could even ask his soulmate if he ate and then go to a take-out restaurant or something. 

Rin was already imagining numerous scenarios of how the day could turn out, he was as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve. His whole body was trembling, though it might have been because of the cool air surrounding his damp body. The red haired man put his phone down on the bench and finished drying himself properly before getting dressed. When he was done with tying his shoelaces, he picked up the phone from the bench and his backpack from his locker. Rin put his earbuds in his ears, blasting some music to keep him in a good mood. He shut the metallic door and locked it before walking out of the locker room, ignoring the other swimmers who were still in there. He headed back to his dorm room so he could pack his bag for the weekend, humming to the rhythm of the song. He didn’t have much things to pack though. Only a few clothes and his laptop and school textbooks for homework. He also put his pillow in his bag, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to sleep properly. 

As he made his way to the bus stop, Rin looked at the clock on his phone and he couldn’t stop grinning at the prospect of finally meeting his soulmate - for real this time. The silky black hair and deep blue eyes of his soulmate have been on Rin’s mind ever since he had met him and he couldn’t contain his patience any longer. The ride to his mother’s house was short but seemed endless, since he was excited to share the news with his sister and his mother - though it probably would have to wait until morning since they would probably be asleep by the time he’d get home.

As expected, Rin’s mother was already sleeping when he finally got home. The lights were all out, except for the front door’s lantern. Ever so caring and loving, she had let the light on for him for when he’d come home. Rin’s heart swelled at the thought, even though it was the same every week. He tiptoed out of his shoes, setting them aside at his regular place. He then walked in the hallway toward his room and noticed that his little sister’s bedroom door was closed. Rin could see the light from the crack under the door, which meant she was still awake, so he decided to stop and say hi. He tapped lightly on the panel and waited for her to come and open the door. 

Rin! She mouthed with a huge smile as soon as she slid the door open and saw his big brother standing in front of her. 

“Hi Gou.” He smiled at her. 

A moving shadow between them caught his attention and when Rin looked down, their cat Steve was purring loudly and rubbing himself against Gou’s legs. Rin crouched down to pet him, but as soon as he lifted his hand close to Steve’s head, the fat cat walked away and jumped on Gou’s bed. Rin sighed. He knew this would happen but still hoped that the feline would warm up to him for once. When he looked back to Gou, she was smiling at him but had a questioning gaze. 

“Can I crash in for a minute?” He asked, pointing at the table in the middle of the room where Gou was seemingly working on some homework. 

She nodded and stepped aside, letting him in her room. She slid the door shut again and they both sat down around the table. Rin let his bag fall from his shoulder and set it down next to him and sighed happily. It’s been a while since he had to use a pencil and paper - or his phone - to communicate with someone, but since they didn’t want to make too much noise so as to not wake their mother up, he opened one of her notebooks and started scribbling on a blank page. He asked her how her day was, and if anything interesting happened this week while he was gone. Steve got up from the bed and came onto Gou’s thighs and rolled himself in a ball to sleep. The two siblings exchanged news for about ten minutes, giggling at whatever the other one would say about a funny event or a joke one of their classmates had made. After a while, Rin couldn’t stop grinning and Gou asked him why he was in such a good mood. Rin fidgeted with the pencil in his hands and bit his bottom lip. 

“I’m going to see my soulmate tomorrow.” He said, his voice in a whisper but loud enough for Gou to hear. “He finally called me today after ghosting me for a week, and told me to meet him at the beach.” 

Rin’s sister gasped, her eyes shining with a new light to them and she squealed in her seat - though the sound was muffled by the obstructing lump in her throat. Rin wondered if he sounded like her when he didn’t have a voice yet, if his laughter and mumbling were enveloped in a blanket like hers. Instead of writing down, she used her hands and started signing because it was faster and she was so excited for him. She asked him more questions, though Rin couldn’t answer any of them. 

When Gou tried to hide a yawn behind her hand, Rin took this as his cue to leave. It was getting late, and he needed to wake up early for his swim practice so he decided to go to bed too. As he was lying down on his bed, he realized he didn’t respond to Haruka’s message. He picked up his phone and even though it was almost midnight, he decided to send his soulmate a message to let him know he got his message and to confirm he'd meet him at the beach the following day. 

Exhausted from the stressful week he had and from today’s swim practice, Rin fell asleep in no time, clenching his phone against his chest and his dreams were full of hypnotizing blue eyes and wild currents of water.

Chapter Text

Haru woke up to the sound of the door opening and closing. He must’ve forgotten to lock it before going to bed last night, and now someone got inside his house. He sat straighter in his bed, staying still and holding his breath in, and waited for any other sound that would follow, indicating to him if it was a burglar or maybe Makoto. Haru wasn’t scared per say, he was mostly just curious. He was tall and strong enough to defend himself if needed, but he was just trying to see who would walk in at this hour. It wasn’t that early, but still oddly early for random people to come in. 

From where he was, he could hear some footsteps and two voices muffled by the walls, but he couldn’t decipher if it was someone he knew or not. Chances were that he didn’t know who the people were because not many people in his circle of friends or family had found their soulmates. He got up as silently as possible and put on some shorts and a t-shirt. He didn’t want to make any noise, but the hardwood floors decided otherwise and creaked under his weight when he reached the hallway. The sounds from downstairs stopped as if they were all waiting for someone else to move or say something first, but eventually a shadow moved and then a familiar face came into sight. 

“Oh! Good morning Haru!” His mother said enthusiastically. “I’m sorry if we woke you up.” She added, turning her head to where Haru’s father must be standing. 

“Mom? What are you doing here?” Haru asked without thinking. 

Haru’s still sleepy mind was too slow to realize he just spoke to her out loud, but he could pinpoint the exact moment his mother registered that he just used his voice for the first time in almost eighteen years when her eyes lit up. His mother let out a gasp escape her mouth, her head snapping up and looking straight at him with big, round eyes. Haru regretted opening up his mouth instantly and mumbled something to himself when he saw the way her face illuminated and she gripped the stair railing. 

“What was that? Did you just talk?” She smiled and turned her head toward the hallway again. “Honey, come here!” She yelled at her husband.  

“What’s the matter?” A deeper voice asked, coming their way. 

“Haru just said something out loud! He found his soulmate!” She beamed. 

Haru wanted to smack his head on the wall - or maybe drown again just so he didn’t have to face his parents and explain the whole situation to them. The last thing he wanted to do right after waking up was to try and explain to his parents that someone gave him CPR after he drowned at the beach. That was probably one of the most embarrassing things that ever happened to him, and he was still too stunned by their presence to care about his own gossip. They asked him how he was doing and what was new - obviously they wanted to know more about his soulmate and every other important stuff that had happened in his life recently. There weren't many things to say, the obvious being the sudden ability to use his voice. His daily life was still the same as before ; going to school, hanging out with Makoto, studying hard for his tests. College applications had been sent out a few months ago, and Haru hoped he had a shot in some important universities in the country, but he was also very ok with the prospect of staying in Iwatobi if things didn’t turn out the way he wanted. 

Haru’s parents headed to the kitchen and he followed them. His mother picked up a pan from the cupboard and started making breakfast. Coffee cups to go were already on the table, meaning they already had breakfast on their way back home from the train station, but it seemed like she wanted to catch up on all those months she and Haru’s father were away. Haru fought the urge to stand next to the stove and cook for himself just like he had done every day since they left, but he let her enjoy the illusion of being a good parent. He sat down at the table and tried not to feel too scrutinized by the expectant looks his parents were giving him. He cleared his throat when the pressure felt too much and looked at them tentatively when Haru’s mother set down a plate in front of him. 

“You never really told me why you’re here.” Haru picked up his chopsticks and started eating, grateful for the distraction and not feeling like he had to talk about himself. 

“Your father had another promotion, so we’re going to stay a little bit longer in Tokyo than intended.” His mother told him. 

“So why are you here and not over there?” Haru asked, his tone sounding bitter than intended. He winced and apologized quickly.

“We decided to spend the weekend here, before things at work get crazier.” His father said. “Aren’t you happy to see us? We thought we could spend the day together and do something fun.”

“Yeah, no. I’m happy to see you two.” Haru urged, not wanting to be the ungrateful child they probably thought he was. “I’m just surprised, that's all. You didn’t even call or send me a message to warn me about your visit.”

Haru’s father gave him more information about his job and his mother talked about their apartment in Tokyo. She said she’d love to have him there someday, but that it was definitely smaller than their house and that they were afraid he might not have a place to sleep if he stayed for a longer period than a day. Haru assured her it was no problem, that he was fine by staying in Iwatobi for now and that the house was his safe space. He was responsible enough to cook for himself, to do his laundry and to keep the house clean. As long as they didn’t have any problem with him staying here, he was fine on his own. 

“I hope you didn’t invite your girlfriend over to sleep.” Haru’s mother said with a stern look. “This might be your soulmate, but you’re still too young to become a father.” 

Haru almost choked on his bite when he heard her. 

“What?” He said, shocked. “God, no. First of all, it’s only been two weeks since we kissed. We haven’t even met properly.” He looked down hesitantly at his plate before continuing. “And hum, my soulmate isn’t a girl…” 

Haru didn’t really know what to expect for their reactions. He was sort of expecting his mother to be more understandable than his father, but he couldn’t be so sure. She had always been attentive to little details about him, as if she could feel and understand his pain when he was younger. Though, things got a little bit more complicated when he got older and became a teenager. He wasn’t secretive in any way, but it felt sometimes more difficult to hide who he was and who he liked to his parents. It wasn’t easy, especially since he wasn’t able to point it out out loud. Haru’s father came from a more conservative family, but he still hoped that he would accept him as he was. After all, soulmates weren’t something that he could have a say in it, or power over it. Sure, he could decide to ignore it and never see him again, meaning he would lose his voice, but even then he would still have a bond with Rin, whether he liked it or not. His parents knew it too, and so he was hoping they would understand his situation. 

His mother was the first one to break the awkward silence. 

“O-ok. Then, as long as the neighbours don’t complain to us… I just hope you’re happy.” She said softly after recovering from the new information. 

“It’s a bit confusing, but I think I’m ok.” He admitted, both to his parents and to himself.  

Haru’s father’s face seemed a little bit tense, but he tried to smile nonetheless and congratulated him for finding his soulmate. It was a big event in someone’s life, and the tradition in his family was that his parents should throw a big dinner party with both sides of the families for the new couple. Haru told him he didn’t want any kind of party, and that in fact he would like to take things slowly and not be over the top. He didn’t even know his soulmate much yet, so throwing a big party seemed definitely out of the way.   

Haru and his parents kept talking for way longer than the black haired teenager would’ve liked. They asked him some questions about his soulmates, how they met and what would happen next. He admitted that he went to swim with his friends to the beach and the incident about him almost drowning - though it was embarrassing to death. His mother was the most vocal about it and said he should’ve told them earlier. In reality, Haru only wanted to forget it even happened, but he could understand her worries. He was an only child living on his own, and they were in another city. If he had died that day, it would’ve been devastating news for them. He told them almost every detail about the last two weeks since they accidentally met - omitting the part where he had an erection in his bath, and the fact that he was too stubbornly in love with his childhood best friend to even think about giving his actual soulmate a chance. Some things were better left unsaid. He just pretended they hadn’t exchanged phone numbers and that his friend happened to have run into him the other day, which wasn’t exactly a lie. 

“I’m meeting him today, actually, so I should probably go get ready.” Haru announced after a while.

When he finally got out of the table, he realized it was almost two in the afternoon, meaning he was already late for his date - was it a date? - with Rin. He excused himself and ran upstairs. He picked up his phone from the nightstand to send a quick apologizing text to Rin, but he realized with horror that his battery was dead. He forgot to plug it in before going to sleep, and now his phone was completely dead and he had no ways of contacting his soulmate who was probably pissed at him for not showing up on time. He plugged his phone in but knew it would take a few moments before it would have enough juice to power up. 

Initially, he wanted to take a bath before meeting up with Rin, but his eventful morning had changed all of his plans and Haru had no time to lose. He changed his clothes quickly and only grabbed his keys and wallet before bolting out the house. 

Never in his life Haru had run this fast toward the unknown.

Chapter Text

Rin got off the bus just a little before one in the afternoon, pulling on the visor of his black cap to block his eyes from the blinding sun. He couldn’t believe he was finally here, right on time. He had such a long morning, and the swimming practice had been very intense and all of his muscles already felt sore but he was so excited about his day with Haruka that he didn’t mind the pain he was feeling. He had run out of the pool and took the fastest shower of his life, got dressed in a hurry and headed to the bus stop in a record time. The bus was jam packed since it was the middle of the day and a lot of people had the idea of going to the beach to enjoy the nice weather. Rin readjusted his backpack on his shoulder and walked toward the steps leading to the beach but stopped in his tracks. 

Where exactly was he supposed to meet him, again? Rin fished out his phone and looked at his messages and even listened again to Haru’s voicemail but the other boy hadn’t specified a place. Rin lifted his head and looked around in case Haruka was already there but he couldn’t see him anywhere. Maybe he got there first and Rin didn’t need to worry about it. He scanned the area quickly and when he was sure that Haruka wasn’t near, Rin decided to go to the pier quickly and buy something to eat. The last meal he had that day was his breakfast at five thirty before his swim practice, and he was starving . He didn’t want to go too far though, so he could keep an eye on the entrance of the beach in case the black haired boy showed up. Rin found a small food truck that sold a variety of meat skewers and he opted for them over the standard hotdogs stands where there were longer beelines. When he received his meal, he walked back to a strategic area where he was sure he would either see Haruka come, or that Haruka would see him. Rin put down his backpack at his feet and leaned against the seawall to eat his skewer. 

When Rin’s food was long gone and there was still no trace of Haruka in sight, Rin started to worry slightly. It was almost twenty past one, and Rin still had no idea of where his soulmate was. He looked at his phone to see if maybe he had sent him a message to let him know he’d be late or something, but there were absolutely no new notifications from the black haired boy he was waiting for. Considering the time, Rin decided it was a decent time to send Haruka a message to see if everything was alright. 

Rin : Hi, I’ve been waiting for 30 minutes near the stairs. Where are you?  

As the minutes ticked by, Rin started to get more and more anxious. His throat had started hurting again, and even though the sun was burning his skin, Rin felt shivers running through his body from head to toes. He looked again at his phone, wondering if it would be too much if he called him. Maybe he had an emergency and couldn’t come? Or maybe he was on his way and that he was just running late for some reason. Or maybe, just maybe this was some cruel joke from Haruka and that he didn’t want to see Rin? Rin’s thoughts spiraled down as the fever started to wash over him. He felt an uncomfortable pain at the pit of his stomach, and he wondered if it was due to the anxiety or if the food he just ate didn’t sit well. Rin sniffled in annoyance and pressed the green button. Instead of ringing a few times as usual, Rin instantly fell on Haruka’s voicemail. It could only mean two things ; either his phone was dead, or Haruka had blocked him. Rin could feel his heart squeeze in his chest, the sensation crushing. 

“Uh, hi. It’s Rin.” He hesitated for a second, thrown off by the immediate voicemail. “Where are you? I hope you’re ok. I’m waiting near the stairs, in front of the red shack. I’ll stay here until you show up, but the beach is already filling really quick, so please hurry up.” 

There was only a few hours left before the ultimate two-weeks deadline after their first kiss, and Rin was panicking. What if all of this was a joke? Was Haruka making him wait for so long on purpose? Was he trying to mess up with him? Slowly, the anxiety turned into frustration, and even desperation. What if Haruka didn’t show up? Rin would lose his voice, that he knew. But then what? Would the pain in his throat and the hypersensitivity go away? He would have to go back to his old life, using his hands, notebooks and text messages to communicate with others. After being able to express himself freely for two weeks, Rin didn’t want to go back to being mute. But most importantly, he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life without a partner. The whole purpose of being soulmates was to be together through thick and thin, and Rin wanted to experience this kind of epic love story, especially now that he had found his other half. He was almost sure he dreamt of finding the love of his life more than achieving any other life goals. 

Rin waited another full hour, his nerves on edge. His skin was so sensible, as if every inch of him was on fire. His lungs and esophagus were contracting in his chest, making his breathing uneven and wheezing. His head was spinning from all the thoughts running in circles in his mind, and from the rising headache. He clenched one arm around his middle and with his free hand he tried to call Haruka once again. It must’ve been the fifth time he tried to reach him in the last hour. 

“Please Haruka, pick up.” Rin pleaded, his voice strangled by the pain and sadness. He looked down at his shoes and tried to swallow back the tears in his eyes. “I don’t know if this is some sort of cruel joke to you or something, but I-I don’t want to lose my voice. I don’t want to lose you. I’ve been searching for you my whole life…”  

“Rin!” A voice shouted a few meters away. 

The red haired man lifted his head back up in a second, scanning the crowd of people walking by, and he let a small gasp escape his mouth when Haruka ran toward him. Rin hung up and got up to his feet. He made a few steps to meet him halfway, and they both stopped at a respectable distance between them, both of them a little bit out of breath and definitely looking like a mess. Rin desperately wanted to hug the other boy in front of him, just to make sure he was truly there, to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. There was something bigger and stronger than him that pulled him closer to his soulmate, and before he knew it, Rin was engulfing him in arms. Haru tensed up at the sudden proximity, but he let him close his arms around his shoulders and hid his face in the crook of his nose. 

He wasn’t hallucinating ; his soulmates truly showed up. Rin’s insides melted and it felt as if a bath plug had just been removed and all of Rin’s mixed emotions from the last two weeks overflowed. All of his pain faded away and Rin let out a shaky, relieved breath.

Chapter Text

As soon as Rin’s arms surrounded him, Haru’s chest suddenly felt less tight and he could almost feel the serotonin pour out of his skin. He stiffened in his embrace, his breath caught in his throat. There was a subtile scent of chlorine emanating from Rin’s skin, mixed with shampoo and something that Haru couldn’t describe but appreciated nonetheless. A part of him hated how comfortable he felt in Rin’s arms because he was still convinced that he wanted to spend his life with Makoto, but the logical part of his brain told him it would never happen even if he really wanted to. Rin was his soulmate, not Makoto. Haru closed his eyes and tried to relax his racing heart.

After a few seconds, Rin pulled out of the hug and tried to wipe some tears away without Haru noticing. When Rin’s gaze travelled back to Haru, the black haired boy looked him straight in the eyes and apologized for being late. 

“I’m sorry.” Haru said. “I had an unexpected event happen to me this morning, and when I noticed I was late, my phone was dead so I couldn’t warn you.” 

“I was starting to get worried that you wouldn’t show up.” Rin confessed. “I thought that maybe you changed your mind and didn’t want to see me at all, or that maybe you wanted to prank me or something… But you came! I’m so relieved, you have no idea.” 

Haru’s eyes dropped to the ground as guilt engulfed him. There was still a part of himself that was hanging onto Makoto, but his hopes were getting thin and he didn’t want to disappoint his best friend by shutting Rin out of his life without even giving him a chance to prove he could be a good partner for him. Haru felt uneasy, knowing that he had avoided the boy in front of him for two weeks, depriving him from what normally should be the most wonderful event in someone’s life. Rin’s finger grabbed Haru by the wrist gently and pulled him toward the wall where his backpack was. Haru could feel the static between their skin, his hair on his arm dressing up in a light, uncontrollable goosebump. Rin picked up his bag and turned to Haru with an excited and hopeful smile. 

“Alright, so what do you want to do? Did you bring your swimsuit?” Rin eyed him, noticing he wasn’t wearing a swimsuit and that he didn’t bring a bag. 

“Wait, can we talk first?” Haru said, his voice quivering. “There’s something you should know.”

“Uh, yeah I guess.” Rin’s excitement took down a notch. 

“Maybe we can sit.” Haru sat down on the short concrete wall separating the boardwalk from the sand. “You’re probably wondering why I avoided you all week, right?” 

Rin nodded his head as an answer. Haru took a breath in and linked nervously his hands together, staring at his fingers instead of looking at Rin. 

“At first, I didn’t want anything to do with you…” He breathed out. “I’ve been in love with my best friend for as long as I can remember - or at least that’s what I thought - so when I found out that he wasn’t my soulmate, I got really upset. I still am, to be honest.” 

Haru glanced tentatively in Rin’s direction, expecting him to interrupt him or say something, but his red eyes were simply looking back at him, waiting for what would come next. Haru couldn’t ignore the slight pain in his eyes, but he continued. He owed him an explanation.  

“I ignored the pain and fever for almost a week before one of my friends noticed what was wrong with me. When I told them, they were all super excited for me, but it was killing me because my soulmate was a complete stranger. It made no sense to me that a random person was my soulmate when I already had someone I cared for, if it makes any sense. I’ve always had a strong connection with my friend, and I was certain that it was reciprocated. Yesterday, I had a discussion with him and he told me I shouldn’t shut you out, that I should get to know you and give you a chance…” 

Haru looked at Rin again, but this time, he wasn’t looking back at him. Rin was staring at the ground or his feet - Haru couldn’t tell. The red hair under his cap was hiding his face like curtains, and his hands were clenching at his knees like he was trying to keep his composure. Haru felt bad, but he still needed to clarify things between them. 

“Just because I came here today doesn’t mean that I’m ready for a relationship with you.” He said, hoping it didn’t come out as rude or dismissive. “I’m willing to spend some time with you and get to know you, but I’m mostly doing it because I don’t want to disappoint my friends and family. Usually, I’m someone who doesn’t like making new friends or talking to strangers if not necessary, so it’s hard for me to open up to new people. It’s nothing against you, I just-”

“Haruka.” Rin interrupted him, finally breaking his silence. He looked up at Haru with teary eyes and somehow the red of his irises seemed more vibrant. His bottom lip was trembling almost imperceptibly when he opened his mouth and spoke again. “You don’t have to twist the knife in the wound, I get it. You’re not convinced that we’re made for each other, and that’s ok. Not everyone believes in soulmates or accepts their soulmates at first. I totally respect your opinion, even though it hurts. I’ll be whatever you want me to be. We’ll take all the time you need. As long as you accept me in your life, I’ll take it.” The redhead added, one of his hands cupping Haru’s forearm. 

Haru didn’t know when exactly their faces got so close, but the sudden proximity made Haru gulp. They were inches away, Rin’s fiery red eyes looking at him with determination and another softer emotion that Haru couldn’t name. He could feel his hot breath against his skin, and he noticed the way Rin’s eyes travelled lower to his mouth for a brief second. 

“Can I just… hug you again?” Rin asked in a small voice. “I’ve been dying to hold you close all week.” 

Haru nodded because he didn’t know what else he was supposed to do or to say, and when Rin smiled at him, he was glad he was already sitting down because otherwise his knees probably would’ve given in under him. Strong arms engulfed him again, and the new yet already familiar scent of Rin surrounded him. The hug felt nice, the pressure of Rin’s body against his was just the perfect amount, and Haru’s insides warmed up as if he just drank a comforting hot chocolate during a cold, snowy day. Haru closed his eyes and let himself enjoy this new sensation.

* * * 

Haru spent the rest of the day and even the evening with Rin. Being in his company wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be, and even if Rin had the tendency to talk for the two of them, it felt nice. Rin apparently liked talking a lot, moving his hands in every direction when he was explaining something about swimming. He clearly was passionate about it, and Haru understood better now why Rin wanted to join the Iwatobi Lifeguards Club. Rin expressed the desire to compete into swimming tournaments, and maybe go international if the occasion presented itself. 

When the beach cleared up around dinner time, Rin had insisted on buying him dinner as a thank you for accepting to meet up with him. They ordered some takeouts and they ate on the beach. Rin had a spare blanket in his bag, so they each had their towel under them, displaying their boxes of food between them. Haru learned a lot about Rin, including his favourite food and hobbies, as well as his family. He learned that Rin had a sister that was also going to Iwatobi High School, though she was younger than him and he didn’t recognize her at all when Rin showed him a picture on his phone. Rin asked a lot about Haru too, but most of the time he dodged the question because it felt too personal or he straight up didn’t know what to say. Especially regarding his dreams about the future ; Haru still wasn’t sure of what he wanted to do as a career. They talked a lot - or more like Rin talked a lot, and Haru listened - until the sun went out and that the fresh air of the night replaced the comfortable warmth of the day. 

Rin got up first, and Haru imitated him not long after. They cleared up their space and picked up their litters to throw it away in a trash can on the boardwalk. 

“Well, that was nice.” Rin smiled. “Thank you for coming.” 

“Yeah.” Haru agreed with a nod. He surprisingly had a good time. 

“I’m heading over there, I have a bus to catch.” Rin pointed at the bus stop a few meters away. “Are you taking the bus too?”

“No, I’ll just walk. It’s not that far.” 

“Oh, ok.” 

They stood there silently, awkwardly looking at the other without moving. Rin looked like he was debating if he should hug him or not, and Haru had mixed feelings. Even though his parents were home for the first time in months, he surprised himself by not wanting to go home just yet. Spending the day with Rin had been a full adventure ; he didn’t know at all what he was getting himself into, but he didn’t want it to end already. Rin wasn’t as annoying as he thought he would be ; even though he talked a lot and cried too easily, he was also a good listener and somehow understood what Haru was too afraid to say out loud. When Haru had admitted he was still hanging onto his feelings for Makoto, Rin had seemed a bit sad but told him that their friendship and love for each other must have been really strong and that in any case, he would never want to steal Makoto’s place in Haru’s life. Rin couldn’t replace Makoto in Haru’s heart just because he had kissed him, he was well aware of that, but he wanted to prove to Haru that he was patient and that he’d wait for him to reciprocate his feelings, as long as Haru would give him a chance.

Chapter Text

The day went by so quickly that Rin hadn’t realized it was getting this late until they were almost the last person on the beach. The sky was getting darker and there was a small group of friends a few meters away that were hanging out around a bonfire. 

They walked back to the boardwalk, where Rin’s bus stop was. Rin looked at Haruka hesitantly. He was dying to hold him in his arms, to kiss away his shy pout. The other boy looked just as conflicted as him, but Rin didn’t want to pressure him to do anything he didn’t want to, especially after what he had said earlier that day. Rin knew it would be hard not to get as physical as he would like to, but he really wanted to be patient and prove to Haruka he’d wait for him for as long as he needed to. Rin looked in the distance and saw his bus at the corner of the street, so he had to break the silence and leave. 

“That’s my bus.” Rin cleared his throat and nodded toward the vehicle approaching them. “I should go. Thanks again for meeting up with me, Haruka.”

“You can just call me Haru.” He said. 

“Haru…” Rin repeated softly, trying the name on his lips. “Have a good night, Haru.” He added with a bright smile.

“You too, Rin.”

The way his name sounded in Haru’s voice made Rin’s heartbeat speed up. Rin was just about to turn on his heels and climb on the bus when he looked back at Haru, his cheeks turning pink. 

“Would it be ok if I call you sometime this week?” He asked nervously, almost expecting a refusal. 

“Uh, yeah.” Haru blinked in surprise. “Sure.” 

“I’ll talk to you later, then.” He said with a blooming feeling in his chest. 

He waved at the black haired boy and climbed on the bus, heading back home feeling way lighter and happier than he had in the past two weeks. Even though a part of him was still thinking about what Haru had told him about him being in love with his best friend, he was still hopeful that things might change for the better. If he was patient enough and considerate of Haru’s feelings, if he showed him just how much this bond between them meant for him, maybe Haru would change his mind. When he took a seat at the back of the bus, Rin plugged in his earbuds and fished out his phone from his pocket. He opened his music application and played a random playlist and then sent a few messages to Sousuke to let him know how his day went. He was excited to tell more about it to his sister, but he knew he’d be home in only a few minutes so he could wait until then. 

* * * 

As the weeks go by, Rin and Haru exchanged a lot of text messages. Rin always wished him a good night and good morning, and if Haru seemed to be annoyed or ignoring him at first, after a few days he had started to reply to these daily messages. Haru’s friend - Nagisa - had warned him the first time that Haru wasn’t really into technology and social media so he wasn’t expecting him to reply to all of his messages, but he still wanted Haru to know that he was thinking of him sometimes. 

They started hanging out more often after a few weeks. Most of the time, they would hang out at Haru’s place since there would be no parents or siblings to interrupt them. They either studied together for their finals or simply sat on the couch and ate take-outs together and caught up on each other’s lives even though they talk on the phone almost every day now. Sometimes they would watch a movie and these evenings were his favourite because Haru would often fall asleep, his head resting on his shoulder. Rin had always been a physical guy ; he needed the proximity and constant physical touch, and Haru’s cold and distant temper contrasted violently with his desire to be close to him. So whenever Haru would let his guards down and lean into him, Rin’s chest felt full of love and about to burst with happiness. 

They spent most of their Friday evenings together after school when they realized it was pretty much the only free time they had in common. Saturdays were the busiest day for Rin, and Haru had his study “dates” with Makoto on Sundays. It worried Rin at first to know that Haru was spending every Sunday with him, but Haru promised him there was nothing between them and Rin believed him. Rin had swimming practices on Saturday mornings, and then he had his part-time job as a lifeguard for the Iwatobi Lifeguard Club in the afternoon. He got the job easily, especially when the team learned about the incident at the beach and how vigilant he had been. He was mostly assigned to the Iwatobi Swimming Center since it was closer to his home than the beach, but sometimes he had to work at the beach and Haru would come with his friends - though Rin noticed he never went in the water. Rin wondered if it was because Haru was scared from the last time, or if there was something else stopping him from going swimming with his friends. 

When Rin asked him why Haru never went back swimming after he saved him, Haru confessed that it was because he didn’t know how to swim. Rin had been pretty surprised by the news, though he had his suspicions. He remembered how tense Haru was moments before going into the water and the stiffened way he tried to fight back the waves. Rin proposed to him to teach him how to swim, but the other boy seemed stuck on the idea of not wanting to. Rin didn’t push it at first, but somehow he really wanted Haru to learn how to swim. It didn’t have to be on a professional level, but just the basics so he could enjoy being in the water like his friends.  

About two months after they started hanging out, Rin decided to invite Haru on a proper date. He was nervous that the black haired man would say no, but Haru accepted and Rin spent a whole week  trying to find the perfect activity to do. They didn’t have much in common, but he still wanted to do something fun that Haru would enjoy too. He knew that Haru liked mackerel and reading, but he didn’t know what else would interest him. It was only the night before their date that Rin tried to find one of Haru’s friends on Facebook and contact them to know what would make Haru happy. The small blonde boy had been the first to give him an answer that satisfied him enough. 

Rin was waiting for Haru in front of the main entrance to the building. They had agreed to meet there on a Thursday afternoon after school since it would be less crowded due to the fact that most people were still working. Rin went back to his dorm as fast as he could after school to change into more comfortable clothes for the date. He had decided to wear something casual but still stylish ; he wore a pair of black, ripped skinny jeans that he knew made his long legs look good, with a white tee, and his red plaid was tied around his waist in case the air conditioner would be too cold inside the building. Luckily, the location wasn’t too far from his school, so he still made it before Haru showed up. He looked down at his phone and scrolled through his Twitter feed while waiting for Haru. He knew he would be there soon ; Rin was just too eager to see him and had left his place too early. There weren't many things happening on his feed, most of the posts he saw were pictures of food or cats, and selfies from people he didn’t really care about. Minutes later, Rin heard footsteps coming his way and when he looked up, he saw Haru walking toward him. Haru’s gaze was looking above Rin’s head, reading the giant sign indicating the purpose of the building. When Haru’s eyes fell on Rin’s, the red haired man stepped forward to meet him halfway. His legs felt jittery, Rin’s entire body was buzzing with excitement. 

“Haru!” Rin smiled from ear to ear.

He hugged him quickly, careful not to go against Haru’s consent too far. He knew Haru wasn’t as physical as he was, but some days Rin had more difficulties to contain his happiness to himself and this day was one of these. From up close, Rin noticed that Haru was still wearing his school uniform and he wondered briefly how someone could look so good in a uniform. It was the first time he saw him wearing his school uniform, and it made Rin weak in the knees. The clothes were well adjusted to his body and embraced his broad shoulders, the green tie loosened up a little and Haru must’ve unbuttoned the first few buttons of his blouse because all Rin could focus on was Haru’s throat and the faint beginning of his collar bones. 

“You look good.” He complimented him, running his eyes appreciatively along the outfit. 

“It’s just my uniform.” Haru shrugged, dismissing Rin's praise. 

“Please, I’m trying to compliment you.” Rin groaned, but his smile was still tugging at his lips. “Just take it.”

“Ok. Thanks.” 

Rin put an arm around Haru’s shoulders, and turned his body to look at the doors. Haru looked at the doors too and back at Rin’s profile.

“Why the aquarium?” Haru asked, genuinely curious. 

“Your friend suggested it to me, and I thought it would be nice. I know you like fishes, and I like swimming, so it’s the best combination of things we both like. And maybe it’ll make you change your mind about learning how to swim.” Rin explained, walking in the direction of the big glass doors. 

Haru followed him inside, and Rin bought tickets for the two of them. Haru wanted to pay for himself, but Rin insisted that he wanted to pay for him, since he had asked him out on a date. Haru’s cheeks turned flushed when he was reminded that this was a date, but he nodded his head and let him pay. The lady at the ticket booth asked them if they wanted the guided tour or if they just wanted to wander around the place, and they chose to do it on their own. The aquarium was still open for a few hours, and they weren’t in any rush so they wanted to take their time. Rin and Haru explored the place at their own pace, giggling together when two fishes were seemingly throwing sand at the other. One of Rin’s favourite exhibitions was the jellyfish tank because the LED lights at the bottom of the tank made them look colourful and amazingly graceful. Haru was looking at them in amazement, his face so close to the glass, that the lighting was reflecting on his fair skin. Rin admired him more than the jellyfishes, but the sight was just as majestic and breath-taking. Every inch of his body screamed for more physical contact, and Rin fought really hard his selfish desire to break the distance for a full minute before giving in. 

He pulled lightly on Haru’s sleeve and waited for the other guy to look back at him. The blue light casted an eerie veil around them, and Rin’s throat felt suddenly dry. Haru gave him a curious look, and Rin’s pulse doubled in speed. How could someone be so beautiful, yet not being aware of the effect he had on him? Rin tilted his head and slowly, very slowly, leaned into him. He stopped a few inches away from Haru’s lips, his gaze searching for a sign that he didn’t want this ; Haru’s consent was extremely important to him, he didn’t want to break the progress he made in the last few weeks. When Haru didn’t step back or push him away, Rin took it as a green light. The hand he was still holding onto Haru’s sleeve found Haru’s hands and they intertwined their fingers together. Rin lifted his other hand to cup gently Haru’s cheek and angled his head in the right position. He wetted his lips with his tongue and looked one last time into Haru’s eyes for a confirmation before breaking the distance between their lips.

Chapter Text

Haru stared at one of the sharks in the huge tank in the middle of the exhibition. The room was in a darker area, the only source of light coming from the huge aquarium in the middle.  The black haired teenager was hypnotized by the majestic sways of its tail whenever it would swim away, and Haru knew he should probably be scared of his massive mouth and razor-like teeth, but he found it somehow… intriguing. The shark was pretty huge and was impressively imposing, as if it was the king of the place - and maybe it was, Haru thought. The other sharks and fishes in the tank always moved away, going in the opposite direction whenever it would approach them. Haru wondered how it felt to be feared by the others, if the shark felt lonely or rejoiced in his supremacy. 

They kept walking a few exhibitions further until they reached one of the biggest tank in the place. The basin was three stories tall, with a huge, round glass. The tank was filled with an incredible variety of fishes and other sea creatures. Something caught Haru’s attention when he saw a cloud of bubble coming from behind a gigantic coral. Rin pointed an employee who was scuba diving with the fishes. 

Rin’s fingers squeezed Haru’s hand, and the pressure of Rin’s hands in his made him slightly jump, his mind coming back to the present. He almost forgot he was still holding his hand since Rin had kissed him in front of the jellyfishes. Haru’s entire body and soul was humming in content, even though his mind still wasn’t sure how he felt about it. The way Rin’s eyes had been so gentle yet hungry had made him feel breathless, and even though he knew deep down that he wasn’t in love with him (yet), it was as if his body knew better than him what he really wanted. What he needed . At first, it felt awkward because Haru was too stunned to do anything, but eventually he leaned into the kiss and let himself get guided by Rin’s lips. Kissing Rin had been like a dream, his soft and plush lips brushing against his, his hand gently caressing his cheek and jawline. Every inch of Haru’s body was tingling with warmth and overflowing feelings. The kiss was the perfect balance between chaste and intense, making Haru lose his mind. He could feel the urgency in Rin’s kisses, though he was never too pushy or intrusive. 

“See how peaceful the water is?” Rin smiled, his eyes following a silver-blue fish. “Swimming can be such a wonderful thing to do. I usually train for swimming races, but it’s nice from time to time to just… Relax and let yourself become one with the water.” 

“Hm.” Haru mumbled, not knowing what to say. 

Haru was impressed by the agility the person in the tank had, and how much fun they seemed to have. A part of him envied that person, but he knew he could never swim freely like that. Not after the events of the beach. Rin must’ve seen the mix of amazement and fear in Haru’s eyes, because he squeezed his hand lightly in a reassuring way. 

“Maybe we should go swim together, sometime.” Rin suggested. 

“I don’t know how to swim.” Haru huffed. 

“Yeah, I know.” Rin said. “I know you’re scared of the water, but would you let me teach you how to swim? I promise I’ll never let you drown. I just want you to experience how relaxing and amazing swimming can be.”  

Haru looked at Rin’s tentative smile. He didn’t look like he wanted to push boundaries, more like he wanted to show you a part of his world, his passion. Haru wasn’t ready to take the leap, the deep water and unpredictable and reckless currents still traumatized him, but his heart sped up at the idea of spending more time with Rin. He had to admit that he was starting to enjoy the other boy’s company more and more, and even Makoto had noticed how happier and more relaxed Haru was after spending time with Rin. 

“I’ll think about it.” Haru shrugged. 

“Sure, take all the time you need.” Rin replied, beaming.

It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a no either. Rin’s grin grew bigger, revealing those shark-like teeth that Haru was growing fond of. Rin was extremely attractive, Haru knew that since the moment he had bumped into him at the grocery store. Just because he had been in love with Makoto for all those years didn’t mean Haru couldn’t recognize beauty when he saw it. Rin was the kind of person to attract people, both for his outstanding beauty and for his personality. There was something about this man that made his stomach feel funny, and his heart beat uncontrollably. Wether it was his charming smug, the fierce look he always wore, or the way his hair looked so soft. His body frame was slightly bigger than his, and even though Rin was wearing a loose shirt, Haru could easily picture how fit he was - or maybe the fact that Rin was pretty often shirtless at the beach was  the reason why Haru enjoyed going to the beach more and more with his friends. Rin was beautiful inside and out, and Haru was starting to understand why Rei and Nagisa were always staring at each other as if they were the most important person in the world.   

Haru wasn’t in love with Rin yet, but he knew he was slowly falling for him. 

“Are you hungry?” Rin asked after a moment, looking at the time on his phone. “It’s about to close in like thirty minutes anyway, so we could head out and go eat somewhere if you want.” 

“Yeah, I’m starving.” Haru nodded, realizing he hadn’t eaten since lunch. “Can we actually go to my place? I’m kind of tired of wearing these clothes.” 

“Absolutely.” 

They quit the aquarium with matching keychains as a souvenir of their first date. Haru found this quite useless, but he let him convince him that it would make great memories for later, when they’ll be old. They bought a dolphin and a shark acrylic keychains that they each hung on their bags. Makoto would probably make fun of him if he ever learned about that, but for once, Haru couldn’t care less about Makoto’s opinion. Just this time, Haru let himself enjoy the silliness of Rin’s ideas. 

As they walked outside the building, Rin lifted his hand between their bodies and presented his palm up, silently inviting Haru to hold his hand. Haru knew that Rin wouldn’t be offended if he didn’t take his hand, but he found himself pulled by an invisible force, his body acting faster than his thinking. So he laced his fingers with Rin’s, and they headed toward a restaurant where they could order take-out and eat on Haru’s couch.

Chapter Text

Rin was lying on the couch, reading one of Haru’s books while the other boy was finishing his homework. He had just finished cleaning the dishes they used for dinner - much to Haru’s dismay. He had insisted to do it while Haru studied since they didn’t use much plates anyway, and he was now relaxing. He should probably go back to his dorm soon because he had school the next day and didn’t want to come back too late, but he enjoyed Haru’s presence too much to leave already. Rin wasn’t invested in the book, reading wasn’t really his thing, but he didn’t want to disturb Haru who was sitting at the coffee table just in front of him. So instead, he pretended to read while in fact, he was throwing glances at his soulmate. 

“Stop staring.” Haru said without looking at him. 

“I-I’m not-” Rin stuttered. 

“You know I can feel your eyes on me, right?” Haru turned his head in his direction. 

Rin’s mouth opened and shut repetitively, but nothing came out of it. Was Haru really able to sense his eyes on him? Maybe it was one of the side effects of developing their bond, but Rin didn’t remember his mother talk about that kind of things or hearing about it in movies. Rin would have known, if it was a “super power”. Maybe Haru was just really perceptive or something. Rin sighed. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you.” Rin put the book down. “I just like watching you, you’re so captivating.” 

Haru looked away and mumbled something that Rin couldn’t hear, his cheeks turning pink. He closed his textbook and let his head fall on the table. 

“What was that?” Rin grinned. 

“Nothing…” He mumbled, his face hidden into his arms. He looked up at Rin again, his eyes hesitant. “I just don’t understand what you find so interesting in me. We don’t have the same hobbies, you’re always so easy-going and extrovert with people while I’m the exact opposite of that.” He said, reminding him of one time when they went shopping and Rin talked to five different person while Haru was just standing next to him silently. 

Rin’s grin faltered, softening into a more sympathetic smile. He had realized that Haru wasn’t exactly the outgoing type of guy, that he enjoyed being in his own bubble most of the time. He also seemed to have an easy routine that he liked to stick by. Was Haru really concerned about why Rin was sticking by his side even if on paper they were polar opposites? Rin’s chest tightened at the idea of Haru not being aware of how refreshing it was to be with him. His calmness evened out Rin’s outburst of energy, remembering him that not everything in life has to be a competition. Sure, at first Rin probably had been more obsessed with the idea that Haru was his soulmate than being actually interested into him, but the more time he spent with the black haired boy, the more he wanted to know about him. 

“Seriously?” Rin lifted a brow in surprise. “Haru, you’re a wonderful person. Even if you don’t talk a lot, sometimes your actions speak louder than words. And you’re so patient for putting up with me. I’ve been told my whole life that I could be sometimes overbearing and too energetic, but somehow you just… Calm me, I guess?” 

“It’s true that you’re a bit too much, sometimes.” Haru deadpaned, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

“Always straightforward.” Rin chuckled. “I like that, too. You’re not scared of hurting people’s feelings with your words.” 

“But aren’t you scared that you’ll get bored of me, eventually?”    

“No.” Rin replied instantly, without hesitation and sat straighter on the couch. “I could never get bored of you, Haru. Being with you is like breaking across the surface and breathing in a wind of fresh air.” 

Haru eyed him, analyzing his every words. If Rin wasn’t so scared to cross Haru’s boundaries, he’d definitely jump on him and prove him just how much he liked him already, just how much he wanted more from him. But he knew Haru would probably feel overwhelmed or trapped, and it was the last thing Rin wanted. So instead, he just scooted on the couch and tapped the empty seat next to him. 

“Come here.” He said softly, offering him an arm to help him get up from the floor. 

Haru accepted his hand and climbed on the couch next to Rin, the cushion dipping under his weight. Rin put an arm around his shoulders and held him, his head resting on top of Haru’s. 

“You don’t need to be the most adventurous, energetic and colourful person for me to find you interesting. When I noticed you the first time on that beach, I was already hooked on you. It was like I was hypnotized by you.” Rin explained. 

“... the grocery store.” Haru whispered. 

“Huh?” 

“We bumped into each other at the grocery store a few days prior the beach events…” Haru said. 

Rin’s brain froze for a moment, his muscles tensing and his heart stopping. The memory seemed vaguely familiar, but he wasn’t sure. How did he not noticed him earlier? Rin would’ve remembered him, if he had seen him. Or at least, that’s what the red haired man was telling himself. Rin asked him what happened that day, asked for more details. Haru told him he went grocery shopping with Makoto and that when he was picking up lemons, he had bumped into him. He knew it was him because of his pointy teeth and vibrant red hair. He had recognized him instantly at the beach and had been too embarrassed to tell until now. Even though it must’ve been only for a few second, Rin couldn’t believe that they had crossed path before without him knowing about it. 

They stayed on the couch for almost an hour, snuggling and talking about anything and everything, before Rin muffled a yawn. It was getting late, and he still had a long walk back to the dorms, so he got up against his will and followed Haru to the front door. He thanked Haru for accepting to meet him up on a school day’s night. Haru told him he had a good time, and it was all that it took for Rin to smile brightly and make his heart flutter. 

“Are we still seeing each other tomorrow?” Rin asked hopefully. 

“Yes, if you want.” Haru nodded. 

Had it been any other person, Rin would’ve think that he wasn’t interrested, but he was starting to understand Haru’s undertone and the tiny smile tugging at one of Haru’s mouth corner couldn’t lie. He seemed just as excited as him to see the other again, and Rin felt so suddenly so emotional. It felt both frustrating and exciting how Haru was falling for him - ever so slowly. He was definitely getting more comfortable around Rin and trusting him more and more, opening up about himself and his past. Rin was so overwhelmed with love that he wanted to kiss him right here and now. He could still feel the ghost of his lips on his since the aquarium, and now that he had tasted the delicious taste of his mouth against his, Rin could only think about it. When he approached Haru to hug him goodbye, he brushed his mouth against his ear.

“Would if be ok if I kissed you?” He asked in a small voice. 

Haru froze in his arms, and Rin feared that he might’ve pushed his luck too much - maybe two times in one evening was too much for the other boy - but to his surprise, he could feel Haru’s shy nod against his cheek. Rin tightened his arms around Haru’s waist before pulling out of the hug only to press his forehead against Haru’s and look into his eyes. He hoped that Haru could read in his eyes how much he was happy to be here, how much he wanted this relationship to work. Rin wetted his lips and waited for Haru to meet him halfway. Haru looked like he was fighting some internal, intrusive thoughts, but eventually he closed his eyes and pressed his mouth again Rin’s waiting lips. 

Rin could feel his insides do a happy dance, could see the fireworks behind his closed lids, and could feel his lungs forgetting how to breathe. Kissing Haru was like the spark that ignited a burning desire in the pit of Rin’s stomach, and he had to stop himself from getting too excited. The fact that Haru lived alone was putting some ideas in his mind that he knew he shouldn’t have - at least not right now. It was still too soon. 

“Hmpf.” Haru whimpered when Rin bit his bottom lip. 

“Sorry.” Rin apologized quickly, his mind getting out of the clouds. “I’m sorry. I got carried away. I’ll go now.” 

“It’s ok…” Haru’s voice was low and wavering. “Good night, Rin.” 

“Good night, Haru.” 

He turned his head to the side to hide his flushed cheeks, but Rin could still see it. Rin ran a hand through his hair and backed up. He opened the door and stepped out in the fresh air of the night. He waved goodbye at Haru before heading back to his school’s dorms. Rin probably could’ve taken the bus, but he needed the fresh air and the peaceful alone time with his thoughts. 

He took a deep breath in and then started walking, a big stupid smile plastered on his face.

Chapter Text

Three months had passed since Haru had agreed to hang out with Rin. Things were sailing smoothly at a nice pace. Rin had been extremely patient and respectful of Haru’s boundaries and Haru was really grateful for that. As the weeks went by, he realized just how much this whole soulmate thing meant to the redhead, and how impactful it was on his moods. The red head teenager always seemed cheerful, even though he had to train more and more for swimming competitions and that his coach was putting a lot of pressure on him. Haru could feel the other guy being tense because of the competition as the days went by, and the end of school approaching really fast didn’t help either. They both got really busy with studying and working on school papers, so they didn’t have much time left to simply enjoy a nice sunny day at the beach or lazily cuddling on the couch. But whenever Haru looked up from his textbooks and stared at Rin, it was as if all the tension in Rin’s shoulders disappeared and the concerned crease between his brows was replaced by a soft grin tugging at his lips. 

In the last few weeks, Haru’s favourite moments became those when Rin was lying on his couch comfortably or helping him cook along, as if doing mundane things with him was the most natural thing in the world, as if they did that together their whole life. Rin was somehow getting himself “at home” pretty quickly, and Haru wasn’t sure if he was more annoyed or glad about it. Rin being familiar with him and so carefree was both really unnerving and soothing at the same time. Rin had started to be more touchy toward him, whether it was the constant need to be close to him, or holding his hand whenever he had the chance. Since their date at the aquarium, he could feel Rin’s repressed desire to kiss him nonstop, and the tingling feeling at the bottom of his stomach made him nervous. Haru knew his soulmate was waiting for him to open up even more, to fall in love with him, but he wasn’t ready yet. He was definitely more comfortable around the redhead, but there was still a part of him that was unable to unlock the little keylock around his heart and let it free. 

He was close, though. He could feel it, the way his heart sped up whenever those ruby eyes landed on him, the way his body was silently screaming at him for more physical interactions. All of his thoughts were filled with red hair and red eyes, shark-like teeth and big smiles. The overwhelming images of Rin in his mind were driving Haru crazy. 

It was on an extremely hot Saturday afternoon that Rin pushed his book further on the table in front of him and let his head fall with a thud on the wooden surface. He groaned exasperatedly and wiped the sweat from his forehead. 

“Haru, I can’t stand this heat anymore.” Rin complained. 

“Summer is almost here.” Haru shrugged, though he could almost feel the headache creeping in from the high temperature. “You can go take a cold shower if you want.” He suggested. 

“No, I have a better idea. Let’s go swim.” Rin lifted his head with conviction. 

“But I don’t know how to sw-” 

“I’ll teach you.” Rin insisted. “Please, trust me.” 

Haru shut his book and put it aside, looking at Rin with a frown. How many times did they have this conversation already? Rin’s cheeks were turning red - Haru didn’t know if he was blushing or if he was just overheating - and his eyes were full of determination. 

Flashbacks of his grandfather drowning before his eyes when he was a kid came back in his mind, adding to his most recent experience when he almost drowned himself not so long ago. Water had always seemed like an hypnotizing force of nature, luring in people and swallowing them in its waves. Haru still couldn’t understand how so many people liked to go swimming, especially those like him who didn’t have a voice to shout out for help. Next to him, Rin sighed and put a gentle hand on his knee. 

“Please?” 

“Rin.” Haru sighed. “The only time I went swimming, I almost drowned. As much as I trust you, I can’t trust myself for not panicking again and not being able to move a finger.”

“I promise we won’t even go deep and I’ll stay right next to you the whole time. You won’t drown. I’ll be there.” 

“But the currents… They’ll carry me away.” Haru’s memories of the wild currents under water made him shiver despite the warmth around them. 

Rin turned on his seat, his whole body facing Haru, and he took both of Haru’s hands in his. His thumbs were drawing soothing circles on the back of Haru’s hands, and his eyes were both expectant and reassuring. 

“Would it make you feel safer if we go to the pool instead of the beach? That way, there won’t be any unexpected current and we can stick to the less deeper area. You’ll be able to touch the ground at any time.” 

Haru looked down at their intertwined hands, processing Rin’s suggestion. Haru knew there was a public pool in Iwatobi, but he never thought about going there. He never intended on learning how to swim, never understood the appeal of it. Even when Makoto or his other friends invited him, he always pretended to have other plans or too much studying to do. But judging by the way Rin was looking at him so expectantly and his eyes full of promises, Haru felt his defenses breaking down. If he knew he’d be able to touch the ground at any moment and that Rin would stay by his side the whole time, then maybe - just maybe - it would be ok. Maybe it wouldn’t feel like the world was swallowing him down in a spiral of darkness just like his grandfather. 

And Haru couldn’t lie ; the weather was truly becoming unbearable. Fresh water on his sticky, burning skin would be nice. 

“Ok fine. But only if you promise we can leave whenever I want.” Haru mumbled. 

“Of course!” Rin replied with so much enthusiasm tha Haru wasn’t sure if he ever saw him this happy. “Do you have a swimsuit?” He added, remembering he’d never seen him wearing one at the beach. 

“Uh… No.” 

“That’s ok, we can stop at my place and I’ll lend you one of mine.” 

Rin was already packing his things in excitement, and Haru looked at him with renewed panic. In all those months, Haru realized he’d never been to Rin’s place. He had been stubbornly too comfortable in his habits that it never occurred to him that they could spend time at Rin’s place. Part of him knew that it was probably because Haru’s parents weren’t home so they could make any noise without other people complaining, but it still felt weird to realize that he’d never been to the other guy’s home… Of course, he knew that Rin mainly lived at his dorm during the weeks and only came back home during the weekend - though he was constantly busy with swimming practices and hanging out at his place, so he wondered how Rin managed to live such a busy life. 

“Don’t worry, my mom works on Saturdays and I’m pretty sure my sister is out with her friends.” Rin said with a soft grin, reading into Haru’s mind. “I won’t introduce you to them yet if you’re not ready.” 

Haru didn’t reply, but he was pretty sure that Rin noticed the relief on his face. They finished packing their things, Haru neatly placing his notes in his binder and tidying the living room before leaving his house. They walked side by side, their hands brushing whenever they’d stand too close. At one point, Rin gave in and straightforwardly laced their fingers and kept talking passionately about swimming techniques and stuff that made no sense in Haru’s mind. The only thing Haru could focus on was the feeling of Rin’s hand in his, and the apprehensive thoughts about swimming. When they reached Rin’s house, Haru initially planned on staying in the lobby but Rin insisted he had to try on different swimsuits to find one that would fit him nicely. Trying on Rin’s clothes felt awkward, especially since the swimsuits were all so tight it felt like a second skin, but eventually Haru found one pair that felt nice and looked good on him. 

“I think these ones are ok. What do you think?” Haru  asked.

When he turned around, Rin glanced quickly at Haru, taking in the whole result, but he had to do a double-take. He couldn’t help devouring him with his eyes as he looked up and down. His eyes travelled Haru’s surprisingly toned body, staring awkwardly too long at his narrowed hips and the way his swimsuit was kissing his body. The fabric was hanging low on his hips, revealing the beginning of his V line and Rin had to force himself not to look lower where it led. Rin had never been jealous of a piece of clothing before, but he found himself wanting to be this close to Haru too. He coughed and looked away, his cheeks turning as red as his hair. 

“Y-yeah. They look good.” He cleared his throat. 

Haru blushed lightly from his reaction. He wasn’t used to being looked out the way Rin just did, wasn’t expecting him to be fucking him with his eyes. Haru had to move, to do something, or else the tension between them wouldn’t be the only growing thing. He shuffled in the room, turning his back to Rin so he could try and hide his excitement. He put his clothes over the swimsuit and sat on the bed, looking at the pictures on the walls instead of back at Rin. Rin who, himself, was trying to make himself busy and was looking for another swimsuit he’d wear himself. When they were both ready - and that Haru’s problem seemed less visible, they quit the house and headed over to the Iwatobi Swimming Center. In the locker room, they stripped down to their swimsuits and put their bags and belongings in the same locker. Once they were ready, they walked around the pool and Rin guided him to the area of the pool that was the least deep. Rin took one of the floating boards that was lying on the side and set it near the ladder.

Rin jumped in the water first, instantly freshened by the water. He turned around and waited for Haru to come join him, but the other boy was standing on the side of the pool, looking at the water hesitantly. Rin could see the tension in his shoulders and the way his hands were bawled to his side - just like the first time he saw him at the beach. Rin approached the side of the pool and looked up at Haru. The black haired boy seemed so lost in thoughts he didn’t even notice him. 

“Haru.” He said softly, not wanting to startle him. 

When Haru blinked in surprise, coming back to this very moment, he looked down at Rin. The other guy was handing him one of his hands, inviting him to sit on the edge of the pool. He said something about doing it little by little, step by step. Haru did as instructed and sat down, his legs dangling in the water on each side of Rin’s waist. If Haru wasn’t so petrified, he’d probably be self aware of how close they were and how vulnerable this position made him feel, but the reassuring hands on his hips and the comforting look in Rin’s eyes was all Haru could focus on. Rin was holding him in place, just like he needed him to. Haru needed to feel like he was still on the ground, like he still had control. 

This was ridiculous, Haru knew it. If he wanted to, he could just jump in the water already and he would still touch the ground, water not going higher than his hips, but he needed a minute. How he managed to swim toward Makoto at the beach was still a mystery to him, considering the way his hands were shaking and his heart running wild. Luckily for them, not many people were at the pool that day - most of them enjoying the warmth and the sun outside instead. 

“Whenever you’re ready.” Rin said in a reassuring tone. 

Haru took a few deep breaths in to calm himself and focused on the sensation of the water around his legs. He looked further at a family who was swimming and saw a mother with her child. The toddler was using floaties but seemed like he was enjoying himself and was  giggling as the water splashed around him. Haru looked at the toddler for a moment, analyzing the situation. If a small kid with no voice could swim so carefree, why was Haru still so scared? He reminded himself of where he was, of the fact that he could touch the ground at any moment and that Rin was there for him. 

When he felt ready, he nodded silently and Rin pulled him in the water and Haru followed him.

Chapter Text

Rin was swimming as fast as he could, trying to improve his time. He had a big competition coming up, and even though he practiced a lot with his swim team on an almost-daily basis, he felt like he should push himself to his limits even more. He really wanted to perform the best he could since coaches and recruiters from prestigious universities across the globe would come see the competition. He desperately wanted to get a scholarship and go to a nice university with a great swimming team. His ultimate goal was to perform at the Olympics, but he knew he still had to prove his worth to the world. So it was only natural for him to dream of the best swimming program and wanting to give his best. 

He could feel his heartbeat racing as his body was pushing against the current, his face coming out of the water only to breathe from time to time. Everything stroke was meticulously calculated, every breathing a necessity to boost his energy. It’s only when his hand touched the wall that he broke across the surface and gasped for air. He looked up only to find Haru smiling softly at him. 

“1:47.” Haru announced, looking down at the chronometer in his hand. “Not so bad.” 

“Heh.” Rin shrugged, trying to even his breathing. “Not my best either.” 

He took off his goggles and cap, set them aside on the concrete and lifted himself up to sit next to Haru. Haru’s legs were dangling in the water and he looked as comfortable as ever. He had his swimsuit on - the one pair they bought a few days ago together - and a white t-shirt which contrasted with his pitch black hair. He scribbled Rin’s time on a little clipboard that was on his lap. 

Rin still couldn’t believe how fast Haru had improved since he started teaching him how to swim a few weeks ago. He had been very hesitant at first, even resilient. But he put all of his trust in Rin and now he was able to enjoy the water like everybody else. Of course, he wasn’t as fast of a swimmer as Rin, but he was able to swim a few meters on his own without needing the red haired man to be next to him in case he drowned. Rin had watched him go from totally helpless and petrified to being independent and (almost) confident. Rin’s heart was full of admiration for this boy, and he wanted to kiss him just right there on the side of the pool. He had to refrain himself, because he knew Haru wasn’t very comfortable with public displays of affection that much - holding hands was ok but anything else went a little bit out of his comfort zone, and Rin wanted to respect that. 

Instead, Rin ran a hand through his own hair and  cleared his throat. 

“I’ve been meaning to ask you this a few days ago, but I was too nervous…” he started, looking at their feet kicking the water in front of them. The clear water reminded him of Haru’s eyes, and he felt his shoulders relax. 

“Hm?” Haru looked up from his notepad. 

“You know I have this big competition coming up this Saturday… I was wondering if, maybe, you’d like to come and see it. I’d love to have you cheer for me from the bleachers.” Rin admitted, a light blush painting his cheeks. “It’s totally fine if you can’t come though, you don’t have to.” He added quickly.

Rin looked anywhere else but at Haru. It’s not like he was asking him out or anything, they’ve been hanging out more often than not in the last few weeks even though they had exams and papers to do, but the competition was making Rin extremely anxious and it would mean a lot if his soulmate would be there to root for him. He felt like if Haru was there, he would be invincible and would do his best. 

Haru patted the top of Rin’s head with a towel to dry his hair. When Rin finally looked back at Haru, his expression was soft and warm. 

“Of course, I’d love to be there.” He said, lifting his hand and tucking a strand of red hair behind Rin’s ear. “I’ll try to bring my friends too. I’m sure they’ll want to come and support you too.”

“Awesome!” Rin smiled widely, revealing all of his teeth. 

The red haired man noticed the way Haru’s gaze lowered to his mouth and for a brief moment he was almost sure Haru would kiss him, his head ever so slowly closing the distance between them. But a few meters away, two friends started laughing loudly and splashing themselves in the pool, breaking the magic bubble they were in. Haru jumped slightly and looked back at the notepad in his lap. He cleared his throat and reset the timer. 

“Alright… Want to try another 100 meter?” 

“Sure.” Rin said. 

His heart was still pounding, and he wasn’t sure if it was because he still hadn't recovered from his previous lap or because Haru was the first one to make a move, even though they didn’t kiss. 

Rin put his cap and goggles back on and stood up on the little jump. He looked down at Haru who nodded back at him. Rin took a deep breath in and then he dived in the water.   

* * * 

Right before the competition began, Haru texted Rin a few pictures of him and his friends in the crowd, and one of the pool, which indicated Rin approximately where they were seated. Rin appreciated the thought, but he probably wouldn’t have needed it because as when he walked out of the locker, he looked up at the bleachers and saw his soulmate almost instantly. It was as if his body knew where he was before Rin himself had the chance to even look elsewhere. He waved quickly at Haru and his friends, promising himself to meet them after the race. Rin also searched the crowd quickly to see if his family came to support him as well. Once he recognized the flamboyant red of Gou’s hair, he grinned at her and his mother and kept walking.

Rin followed Sousuke to the side of the pool and stepped onto one of the diving podiums. He waited for the instructor to give his speech, his heart racing in anticipation. He looked at the VIPs section where multiple coaches from around the globe were and Rin’s heart sped up when he saw one in particular. He had heard a lot of good reviews about the Australian’s multi-national team and dreamt of being a part of it someday. He couldn’t imagine leaving all of his life behind, but he wanted to prove himself and the world that he had the potential. And even if he wouldn’t make it to Australia, at least he hoped he would impress a few coaches. Rin was confident in his strokes and techniques, and he had worked so hard to get there. 

When the instructor was done with introducing the swimmers and explaining the competition to the crowd, Rin and the other competitors bent down and took position. He took a deep breath in, ready to jump. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to calm himself, and then shut them open right before the beeping gun detonated, indicating the beginning of the race. Rin and the others all propelled themselves into water to the sound of the gun. As soon as his skin touched water, Rin felt like a fish ; completely in his element. He swam vigorously but strategically, breaking the surface only when he needed to breathe. Rin couldn’t see the other swimmers, but he could most definitely hear people cheering in the crowd. From what he could hear whenever his head was out of the water, it looked like he had a good start. It only took him half a minute before he reached the other side of the pool and turned on himself, pushing himself against the wall with his feet and propelled himself toward the other side again. 

* * * 

The competition was a blast. The bleachers were full of people, mostly friends and family members coming to support the swimmers. Rin swam for the medley with three of his classmates and swimclub’s partners, but he also had a solo race against other contestants for the 100 meters butterfly race. Rin was excited to see that all the efforts in his practices had paid off, because his team won the medley and he also won his solo competition. To celebrate, he invited everyone to the restaurant. 

Once Rin, Sousuke and their teammates showered and changed clothes, they all stepped outside the building where Haru, his friends, and the other guys’ friends were all waiting for them with big smiles. Rin couldn’t help but run towards Haru and hug him tightly, even though everyone else was seeing them. At the moment, he didn’t mind the public display of affection because his mind was only filled with happiness and love. Haru grumbled in his shoulder, less enthusiastic about the physical attention, but he hugged him back anyway and Rin took this opportunity to nuzzle his face in Haru’s hair and plant a kiss on top of his head. When they separated their bodies from each other, Rin quickly replaced Haru’s hair in order, as if nothing happened. He turned around to look at everyone else and beamed. 

“Shall we go?” Rin asked the group. 

Everyone nodded - most of them not having found their soulmates yet. Rin slid his hand into Haru’s, intertwining their fingers together before walking towards the nearest bus stop. And even though Haru usually wasn’t too fond of being physical with him, especially not in public, he let Rin hold his hand and it made Rin’s heart feel full. He squeezed his hand lightly, showing him his appreciation.