Rin Matsuoka tensed as he felt the plane ride on the turbulence, gripping at the handles either side of him warily. He wasn't afraid of flying, hell he'd made the trip from Japan to Australia and back again plenty of times to know that turbulence was normal. That didn't mean that every time the plane rocked her felt uneasy though.

Aiichiro Nitori was sleeping peacefully in the seat next to him, his head leaning over the gap separated their seats and resting his forehead on Rin's shoulder. The older teen had attempted to bounce him off when he first used him as a rest but it only ended with the younger teen grumbling unhappily in his sleep. Rin decided there was no use in getting him upset and just let him be.

In the seats in front of him was the rest of his team from Samezuka, Captain Seijuro Mikoshiba snoring loudly as his head rocked slightly with each bounce of the plane. Rin scowled slightly before looking across the aisle to the other team that was accompanying them. Iwatobi Swimming club, they'd won a competition to join Samezuka on a two-month swimming trip to Australia. Rin had been hesitant about going along, but after both Nitori and his younger sister Gou had demanded her go, he had relented.

It wasn't like the trip was going to be a holiday either. They would be studying during the day and swimming in the afternoon only to have to study again at night. Rin shifted uncomfortably but settled that on the weekends at least they would be having some time to themselves.

"Hey Rin-Chan!" Rin winced as he heard his childhood nickname before flitting his eyes back over the aisle. He tried not to jostle Nitori too much as his eyes met dark pink ones. Nagisa Hazuki was leaning over his sleeping friend, a guy called Rei Ryugazaki, his eyes almost brimming with excitement. "The school we're training at is the one you went to, right?"

Rin frowned, wondering how Nagisa might have known that before his gaze fell on the sleeping form of his little sister. No doubt she had been chattering excitedly about the possibility of seeing the school Rin went to during his time abroad and immediately he regretted giving her that piece of information.

"Yeah, it is."

"You excited about seeing your old friends? They must be missing you, huh?" Nagisa chirped excitedly, accidentally waking Rei up. The younger swimmer grumbled unhappily, shoving Nagisa back into his seat before trying to settle again. Rin never thought he would be so happy for Rei's interference, chuckling as he shrugged himself back into a comfortable position. Nitori let out a small whine before snuggling his face into Rin's shoulder before letting out a content sigh. Rin raised one eyebrow, considering trying to bump him off before looking out the window.

His old friends? Rin might have laughed. They probably had forgotten about him already. He kind of wanted them to have forgotten about him, his sudden leave from the school wasn't exactly the best of partings for most of them. He winced slightly, wondering if it would hurt more if he was yelled at or not recognized in general. Still, there was a part of him that really couldn't wait to see them again, despite how he left them. Rin closed his eyes and pressed the back of his head into the seat, begging sleep to come for him.

Rin woke with a start, looking up to see Nitori shaking his shoulder gently. Those big blue eyes were looking at him with a slight amount of worry before he broke out into a grin, making them sparkle. Rin looked around, his gaze focusing out the window. They were on the ground. They had landed. They were already in Sydney?

"We've landed Matsuoka-Senpai! I'm so excited, I've never been out of Japan before!" Nitori chattered excitedly and Rin looked around. Everyone was still seated so he figured they must have just landed, but all the teens on the plane were chattering beyond excitedly. The study abroad trip had been in plan for six months and now, for most of them, the excitement of being in a different country was overwhelming.

"You could have woken me when we're actually getting off," Rin yawned as he unbuckled his seat belt, leaning forward and rolling his shoulders. He rest his forehead on the seat in front of him, letting out a sigh before pulling back. There wasn't much more time left before he would be back at that school.

"Onii-Chan, we're here, I'm so excited!" Gou's yell seemed to travel straight to Rin's ears and he straightened up, looking around for her. She was swaying excitedly in her seat and Rin wondered how she had managed to convince their mother to let her come along. Sure she was the managed for Iwatobi but it wasn't entirely necessary for her to join them, was it?

"We're still on the plane Gou, just wait until…" Rin was cut off when the captain's voice came over the speakers, informing them that they were now free to file out of the plane under the air hostesses instructions. Rin let out a sigh, looking around and seeing that everyone had looks of excitement on their faces, even Haruka Nanase. The boy's features were usually blank unless it involved the mention of swimming, although lately he seemed to opening up a fair bit. Rin grinned; he couldn't wait until some of the Australian swimmers saw him.

"Come on Rin-Senpai, they're letting us go. Come on, come on!" Nitori chirped, his voice growing higher and higher as he tugged on Rin's sleeve. Rin rolled his eyes, waiting for the younger teen to clamber out of his seat before standing and walking out of his own. He reached up, pulling down both his and Nitori's carry on bags, throwing both over his shoulder as Nitori shuffled excitedly in front of him.

"Look at that, it's so pretty!" Gou squeaked as she pressed her face against the window, Nagisa doing the same in the seat in front of her. Rin let out a yawn, looking out of the corner of his eye before sniffing. He had forcibly sat down next to his little sister just before Mikoshiba had a chance to, glowering at his captain to warn him off. As usually Mikoshiba just laughed and sat down next to Nitori, both chattering happily about swimming in a new country.

"Sydney Opera House."

"What was that Onii-Chan?" Gou questioned and Rin looked to her before pointing out the window to the strange shaped building. He had to admit, the first time he saw it himself he thought that it was gorgeous, and when he had snuck out of his dorm to see it during sunset, he knew he had seen something really beautiful, especially with the Harbour Bridge behind it.

"That's what it's called. Sydney Opera House."

"Sydney Op-Era House," Gou repeated slowly, attempting to mimic his English, her face pressing against the mirror again as she watched the building slowly disappear from sight. She slumped into her seat, letting out a yawn before turning to her brother, smiling happily. "I can't wait to meet your friends Onii-Chan."

"Yeah," Rin sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. Gou blinked twice up at her brother, wondering why he suddenly seemed so closed of. She grabbed his arm, leaning up to him more and tugging on his shirt.

"What's wrong? Aren't you excited too?"

"I am, I just don't know if they'll be."

"What did you do?"

"Why is it always my fault huh?" Rin growled, glowering Gou. The latter leaned back against the window, putting her hands up defensively as she shrugged.

"Do you really want me to give you a list?"

"Shut up." Rin slumped against his seat, glowering at the fabric in front of him swearing in both English and Japanese in his head as he contemplated what had happened since he had returned. Had he been that sour before he left or had hi poor attitude started after returning to Japan? He sunk into his seat a little, wondering if he would be able to face them before he heard Nagisa gasp. He straightened, looking out the window as he caught sight of the school he had once been so excited to attend.

"It's, it's huge," Gou gasped as the bus pulled into the long drive, bringing the students up to the front entrance. Rin felt his breath catch in his throat as his eyes shifted to where the swimming centre was, a large building that was well equipped to handle both swimmers and divers alike. He had to admit, he was looking forward to swimming here again. He stretched up slightly as the bus came to a stop, realising that everyone's attention had turned to the school before them.

Rin was the first to recover from seeing the school, mostly because he had been taken over by nostalgia and nothing more, and he glanced towards the doors that would bid them welcome with a friendly smile from the woman behind the desk. Wait, did she still work here or had she finally retired? Rin could remember her mumbling something about getting a well earned holiday.

Standing at the front of the door was a face that he knew all too well. Joshua Matthews, tall, broad shouldered with an easy grin, a crop of short black hair and green eyes that matched his sisters. He wasn't one of Rin's friends but they managed to get along pretty well during his time here. Rin pulled away from the window, running his hand through his hair. Why was Josh standing at the entrance looking like he was their meeting party?

"All right, all right, everyone calm down!" Mikoshiba shouted, standing up and putting his hands on his hips. Their coach was on the other bus with the rest of Samezuka and Mikoshiba had been instructed to keep an eye on these students. "We're going to get off the bus starting with everyone as the back and working our way down from there."

Rin could feel his heart pounding ferociously against his chest. All he had to do was step out and catch Josh's eye and then everyone would definitely know he was back. He didn't know if he was ready to see them all in one go, and his eyes slid back to the teen standing out by himself, arms over his chest and grinning ruefully almost to himself. Shouldn't there be more people to greet them, why was it just him?

"Onii-Chan, get up." Rin was brought back to reality when Gou shoved his shoulder, almost pushing him out of the seat. Rin nodded, standing and grabbing her bag from the overhead compartment, gently handing it down to her. He had learnt when he'd tried to pick up her suitcase for her at the airport that she wasn't going to let him do anything for her and settled to let her carry her own things. Easier for him anyway. Gou shoved past, scurrying down the aisle before Rin even had time to tell her to wait for him. He scowled before yanking his bag down but hesitated before walking off. There was a small group forming at the entrance of the bus, everyone chattering and looking to Josh in interest. He should be able to slip into the crowd without being noticed.

Rin threw his bag over his shoulder and started down the aisle before he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned, seeing Mikoshiba looking him in the eye, a slightly worried expression painted across his features.

"You all right Matsuoka?"

"I'm fine," Rin snapped, pulling out of his grip and stalking off the bus, keeping his head bent low and making sure not to make eye contact. Mikoshiba sighed, shaking his head, knowing that answer usually meant Rin wasn't.