"What? Isn't there anyone who can beat me?" A red-headed Seijuro Mikoshiba exclaimed, proud that even as the almost retired-captain, he still commanded a lead against his team.

What was left of the team was littered across the multiple seats, some even opting to lay on the floor. The appearance of the rival Iwatobi swim club did not cause the confident captain to hesitate. If anything, he held a new vigor at the prospect of having his precious Gou-chan watching him defeat every single person. Filled with friendly competition and hope for the next season, Seijuro reminded himself that this was not a sad day. No, it was just the opening of the door for the next year of Samezuka swimmers.

However, it had to come to an end and a new captain had to be established. Seijuro started, "All of you have really worked hard. Today marks the retirement of us third-years. All of us leave here with no regrets." Messing with the team one last time, he continued, "Your peaceful days won't continue long! This April, a fearsome new face will enter this club! So enjoy your lives while you can."

Taking note of the many mortified faces, Seijuro laughed for a final time before taking a more serious note, "Matsouka!"

"Yes, sir." He replied with a thin-lined frown.

"Starting tomorrow, you are the new captain. Take good care of my team." While the applause should have marked the happy occasion, Rin was anything but pleased.

How was it fair that a transfer student become captain? What if he can't train the others? Samezuka was known to be a powerhouse for swimmers, what if he can't live up to that? These questions flew through his mind in an instant, but one glaringly obvious question soon burned itself into his mind.

Why, of all people, did that Mikoshiba choose him?

xxxxxxxx

"In order to join the swim club, your time needs to be better than the Samezuka standard. We'll time you now, so swim using your fastest stroke." Rin explained to the first-years. However, it was clear that his focus was elsewhere.

From across the pool, Aiichiro Nitori could see his previous roommate deep in thought. It was obvious from the start that the red-head was against being captain. Ai knew of the man's skill in swimming, but being captain was another thing.

Putting on a smile in hopes of cheering up his friend, Ai neared him and asked, "Is something wrong, captain?"

Looking away and placing a sheepish hand on his neck, Rin replied, "Can you not call me that?"

"Huh?"

"Just call me what you did before." Ai nodded in agreement, sad that he was basically in denial over his position as captain.

However, that denial did not last very long. Ai could see a slow shift in Rin's attitude. After scouts began to call, Rin understood the depth of his position. If him or the team were to fail, it would all be a reflection upon himself. And Rin would not allow anything to stand in the way between himself and his dream. The sudden appearance of a certain Yamazaki Sousuke added to this, his childhood best friend helped sober up his reaction.

Rin was slowly accepting that he was the captain. But once he really did, all hell broke loose.

"I said do another five laps!" The new captain commanded Momotarou with a sinister grin, still exacting revenge on the poor first-year for attempting to flirt with his sister.

With a small evil laugh, Rin gazed upon the pool to see if there was anyone else who deserved torment.

Looking over to a sitting Sousuke, Rin was about to order him to do another five laps. But, being his best-friend, he beat him to it.

"No."

"Bitch, I'm the captain." Rin sauntered over with a smirk.

"Still no." Frustrated, the red-head could only snarl before looking back to the other team members. He'll get him back, Rin connived.

Deciding who was competing and in what event, was the true problem for Rin. How was he supposed to judge other people's potential? Enlisting help from Gou, she sent over a list of local tournaments that would help him critique the new members. Trying to focus on the overwhelming stack of papers – he signed up to swim not fill out forms damnit – he ignored Ai's shouts to gain his attention.

Feeling a shake on his shoulder, Rin looked up to Ai pointing behind him. "The dean of the school is here." Sure enough, the dean followed by two other people were on the other side of the pool, approaching the swim team's captain.

"Why is he here?" Sosuke asked discreetly.

"He knows that the school advisor, Mr. Sugimoto, wouldn't be present simply for practice. So he must be here to see us." Ai explained.

Panic slowly filling his insides, Rin could only think of a master list of all the rule-breaking things that he and his team has done before. Cursing in English, he let out a, "Shit."

"It's only April, and you boys have already started such rigorous training." The dean started once he was closer to Rin, "What an impressive team you have here." He motioned over to the others around the pool.

"Thank you." Rin replied before bowing his head, a look of worry evident on his face.

The secretary only smiled at the group, trying to ease the obvious tension. Ai returned the smile, albeit with a much smaller one, and gazed over to the other figure draped in a large sweatshirt with the hood over. Before getting a closer look, the dean pulled back focus, out of his train of thought.

"No need for that look," The dean tried to alleviate the conversation, before continuing, "Unless there's something I should know about." He purposefully narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the three one at a time.

Sousuke only looked away while Ai, unable to handle the pressure, sat down next to his captain and kept his face down to the floor. Rin, not one to back down, stared directly back at the dean.

Laughing at their mannerisms, the dean finally decided to explain his appearance. "I hope it's not too late to give you an additional member."

"Try-outs ended last week, but if this guy is that special we might as well have a look at him." Rin skeptically answered, since that would mean redoing a lot of the already surmountable paperwork.

Seeing the reaction, the dean offered. "How about a race?"

"Right now?" Ai asked apprehensively.

However, Rin yelled immediately, "Nakagawa! Get your ass over here." The brunette ran over, not wanting to later face the wrath of his evil captain. "You're racing, right now."

"What? We just got back, I'm not ready—" However, his ails went ignored and he was slowly ushered over to the pool by his captain.

In the lane next to him, a person who he could not recognize plopped in. Hearing the get ready, Shouta attempted to get a closer look, however reminded himself to adjust his goggles. Not having anymore time, the swimmer simply dealt with not knowing a single damn thing about his opponent. Arranging himself into the starting backstroke position, Shouta only hoped that this strange person was not a great swimmer.

Hearing the opening beep, Shouta set off quickly. Whoever it was in the next lane, he could hear the violent, rapid slaps against the water, and knew he was being surpassed. Not wanting to get humiliated in front of his team, he swam with a new vigor, channeling the inner need to win.

Iwashimizu and the other second-years were cheering for their friend, however it was evident that the other person was gaining speed. The cheers were slowly becoming silence, and the hasty blows on the water coupled with the loud, rapid breathing permeated the air. Shouta was swiftly giving up to the point where he was more concerned with his lunch than the current race.

The loud smack against the wall signaled the stranger was done, and Shouta simply stopped and looked over to the other person.

"Looks like we have a winner." The dean proudly smacked Rin's shoulder, before slowly walking away with his secretary trailing not too far behind him. It was clear his job was done, it was all up to the students now.

Picking up the remnants of his pride, Shouta swam over to the mysterious person to shake hands. The stranger simply shook hands, not acknowledging him with a name.

Immediately, a certain enthusiastic first-year assailed the stranger excitedly, "Ah! How were you able to do that? What school do you come from? That was so awesome!"

The stranger's face soon showed a small smirk, and it was at this moment that Shouta realized the swimmer was wearing a full racerback swimsuit as opposed to legskins. Hoping his conclusions weren't true, and that he wasn't in fact beaten by a girl, Shouta watched the person simply lower his goggles and smile.

Just my luck, Shouta thought, waiting for his impending doom for when the rest of the team realized.

"Do racerbacks give better flexibility in the water after all this time?" Momotarou continued his tirade.

Rin could only thank whatever gods that were out there that blessed him with such a strong team right at the start of the schoolyear. Sousuke, a prodigal swimmer in the national top ten, suddenly appearing in Samezuka. The previous captain's little brother who was already known for his backstroke. And now another, what he could make-out as a first year by the small build, already surpassing those in the year above.

Rin simply pushed the young Mikoshiba aside and offered a helping hand out of the pool to the stranger. Instantly, the collective gasp was overwhelming.

Were those, boobs?

Knowing there was no reason to keep the swimming cap on any longer, the girl allowed her long pink hair to flow past her shoulders.

"Who are you?" Rin asked without further thought.

"The dean's daughter, of course."

Author's Note:

LMAO i don't know why i wrote this - or why i will continue writing this - but here ya go.

There has to be a straight couple somewhere, right? xD