When Rin first met Haruka, Makoto and Nagisa, he thought that he would have a lot of fun with these people. When going on the topic of swimming, the four would bond naturally, as though they have been together for ages. Rin naturally felt at home with the the trio, and the three had thought similarly, sharing the mutual love for swimming and water. The four of them bonded over little conversations and pranks played more on Rin's behalf, and the rest of them shared popsicles on a summer day. It felt warm, happy and joyful.

Rin didn't know when it happened that he felt weirdly attracted to Makoto, but it wasn't an attraction, he thought, it was the mother-hen attitude Makoto had towards everyone that really made Rin felt safe. The caring smile, the tall stature and the warm radiating from the taller boy that made him happiest when he was swimming with them. And when he shot Makoto occasional glances, he noticed the affectionate attitude and looks he had for the three of them—like underlings, but not.

Rin didn't know why the taller boy had this effect on him, but he was glad. Day after day, he would constantly imagine Makoto's face, the same smile he had on every single day, and the tender look he had on. It made his heart warm, and nobody else had this effect on him—which was strange for Rin, but he chose to accept this feeling and moved on, though still not quite sure what the meaning behind the overloading emotion was. He was only in elementary school, then.

Sometimes he wished he hadn't met the people he did, and sometimes, he felt as though he was the happiest and the luckiest person alive to have met his friends. On some days, he'd stay at home, and play with locks of his own hair while imagining a scene where everyone was enjoying themselves in the open sea, swimming freely.

The first time he felt truly scared was when Haruka drowned in the creek one day. He wasn't sure how the fear came about, but he knew the main source wasn't from the fact that Haruka was drowning (although he still felt immense fear because the raven-haired boy was one of the people he would call a friend), but because Makoto, the person who was always calm, always organized, always level-headed, had broke into a fit of tears, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't erase the image of Makoto's immense fear.

He thought that if Makoto was anything but level-headed, the world would come to an end. But at the moment, he realized, when Haruka had fallen into the creek and nearly drowned, Makoto's world did come to an end. And no matter how many times he tried to deny himself that fact, the reality stood right in front of his face, reminding him of the bitter fact that he would never set feet on the number one spot in Makoto's heart.

But he comforted Makoto anyway, and even though Makoto had dismissed any concern meant for him, Rin knew that the only thing that mattered most was Haruka's safety. Rin knew that the most. And because of that, he felt a little bitter. And still, the bitterness wouldn't subside. Yet at that moment, Rin knew that no matter how much his heart hurt, part of his heart was incredible concerned for Haruka's wellbeing.

And that was that.

Makoto's fear of the ocean was something Rin knew about. Sure, he wasn't there to witness the actual event, but he knew about Makoto's immense fear of the sea, swallowing up the people he cared about most. He never pushed the subject and made Makoto talk about it, but he could sense the tension between the two, and he wasn't insensitive enough to make Makoto get over it. Sometimes, he'd sit beside Makoto when Haruka was swmming in the indoor pool and accompany him as Nagisa and Haruka did their laps. He had heard Makoto say once,

「Haruka is like a dolphin.」

Rin had no comment for that, except to nod and agree with what Makoto was saying. He had no objections to Makoto's words, and no matter how much he wanted to deny that, he had no counter-objectives, and somewhere in his mind and heart, he knew that no matter what he said, it wouldn't override the love Makoto had for Haruka. So he did.

「Rin?」

The redhead lifted his head abruptly to the call, and twisted his head so that he was facing Makoto face-on. The green-eyed boy had a concerned look on his face, and Rin felt as his cheeks reddened slightly. Like he had been caught with something super embarrassing. But Makoto seemed to have misunderstood his embarrassment for some kind of illness and leaned over to brush his forehead against Rin's, as the worrisome face blurred Rin's vision severely.

Rin reacted violently as he pulled back, nearly knocking Makoto into the water. The red hue on his face deepened almost instantly as he slapped a hand over his forehead, stuttering his words out as he tried to question (explosively) Makoto's actions.

「W-w-wwhat was that for?」

Makoto rubbed his butt, which had helped ease his fall slightly as he climbed back on the bench to reclaim his seat next to Rin. 「I thought you came down with something...your face was a little red, Rin.」

Rin covered his face, really quick, and denied all accusations towards him. 「I—it's not—I—it's nothing-!」 Still red in the face, he managed to twist himself a little too hard and thrown himself into the pool, and Makoto jumped in after to help the other up again.

「Rin-? Are you ok...?」 All movement halted in the pool as everyone gathered over Rin, who was flushing beet red as a result. Embarrassed, he jolted from the pool and darted outside where he could get away. He was unaware of Makoto's footsteps follwing a little ways behind him.

「Rin...!」

Once they were outside, Rin crouched near a tree, tears on the verge of spilling out. Makoto had found the crying boy not soon after, and placed a gentle hand on the redhead's shoulder, soothing him as he cried. 「I'm sorry,」 Makoto said, his voice was hushed, barely above a whisper. Rin had not wanted Makoto's apology, but kept his heart buried in his arms, his shoulders shaking lightly.

And they stayed like that for a bit until Rin hesitantly lifted his head to stare at Makoto in the face. The seemingly older boy had that same smile on. It bothered him, but at the same time, comforted him knowing that Makoto would remain the same no matter how many trials of hardships he had faced. And that was how he knew the weakness hiding behind the everglowing smile.

No matter how hard it may seem, there's always a way out.

Was that Makoto's mantra? What that the only line in his life that kept him sane? Rin didn't know what to make of it, but he knew that no matter how hard Makoto tried to hide it, the past would always find a way to get them back. And he was afraid—Rin was afraid.

Afraid that Makoto wouldn't be strong enough to brave through the toughness without the rest of them by his side.

Fear—the first instillation of fear in his life. Through Makoto's distraught eyes.