Author's Notes: Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review my first dive into this fandom…onward to the second part.

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Act 2: Out in the Cold

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Well Sousuke wasn't too sure how this had happened...not sure at all…definitely not how he intended his Friday night to go. The teen currently stood in the darkened hallway, outside of his and Rin's locked room door. What a predicament this was, thought the brunette, while he lazily considered his options. They were quite poor—no bed, no dorm room key in hand, not even a damn pillow. Sousuke realized he was probably screwed.

The teal eyed teen slowly made his way down the hallway with a hand in the pocket of his sweatpants wondering how Rin's poor mood had spilled into a fight. He wore a blue tank top with an unzipped gray sweatshirt, black sweats and a pair of sneakers he had managed to secure before being given the boot.

Thanks a lot, Rin…

What the hell time was it anyways? He gave a friendly tilt of his head toward the security guard sitting in the campus office as he walked by and received a wave in response as the guard looked up from his paper.

Perhaps someone had said something to upset the red head? His logical mind began to ponder these thoughts, while his back occupied a spot along the wall next to the vending machine. He popped open the coke in hand after finding some loose change in his pocket and with a sigh took a swig…

Perhaps something in general had merely pissed Rin off? Maybe, Rin stomping into the room had been an indicator of the situation? Yet what did Sousuke care from the safety of the top bunk? Besides, he had come from physical therapy and was content with his back against the mattress.

Then Rin's head became stuck in his hooded sweatshirt after angrily trying to rid himself of the offensive object, and Sousuke couldn't stop the laugh that weaseled its way out of his mouth. The snort had only led to Rin's further irritation as a string of curses erupted as a result.

In the teen's defense, it had been rather amusing—the swearing, the flailing and then the impact of the innocent balled up article of clothing as it hit the wall with a thud.

"You know, if swimming doesn't pan out, you've probably got a future as a pitcher with that arm."

"Get the hell out, you idiot!"

"Are you serious?"

"Get down here and face me!"

Oh that's right…a rock, paper, scissors match to determine if he would be forced to leave. Why hadn't he just refused? The teen could have just stayed an unmoving lump in the top bunk instead of allowing for Rin to grab hold of his arm and egg him on. He'd never been able to refuse Rin of anything…even if it was fueled by stupidity.

Well, those matches never really worked out for Sousuke in the past. He had watched, rock crush scissors—albeit a little too eagerly—before being escorted to the door and receiving a shove. Sousuke supposed he shouldn't have too been surprised.

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Rin occupied the bottom bunk of his twin bed and angrily stared at the unpleasant light produced by his phone in the dimly lit room. His back rested against the mattress, thumb hovering above the screen of the phone, having ceased scrolling through the timeline of his social media.

Stupid, Sousuke…

The teen tossed his phone down and pursued his lips in frustration. Why was he so annoyed with his roommate anyways? It wasn't even Sousuke who had pissed him off. The crimson eyed teen released the breath he had been holding with an accompanying growl, now staring at the bottom of the unoccupied bunk above his head.

It had been some third year at today's prelim warmups that had caught his attention. They'd been stretching near the side of the pool when Rin had overheard a scrawny blond with shit brown eyes calling Sousuke a washed up has been.

Rin had opted to swim butterfly for the team and upon finding the bastard who had insulted his best friend, in the next lane, decided to make him pay. He irritably raked his fingers through his hair at the memory…

How could I lose to that shithead?!

Sousuke wouldn't have lost…

Sousuke would have kicked that blond bastard's ass…

Sou would have—

He most definitely was not crying…

The damp feeling of Rin's pillowcase sticking to his cheek as he rolled over onto his side and stared at the now blurring closed door of their room was not due to hot tears, and the sickening feeling in his gut wasn't from guilt.

Only it was—the guilt of knowing that Sousuke wasn't at today's race because of an appointment with his physical therapist. That regardless of the outcome, Sou had smiled in acceptance of his shoulder, that his dream had already come true.

"I want to truly become your friend!"

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?!"

"Because I knew you would cry…"

"I'm not crying, you idiot…"

Rin could still see that heartbreaking look in Sousuke's eyes as he regarded him that day. Even as the teen gripped a fistful of his friend's collar, his vision blurred…and how had Rin repaid him?

I'm a shit friend…

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Well, the couch in the student lounge wasn't the most comfortable thing Sousuke had ever tried to sleep on…

His feet awkwardly hung past the arm of the couch, his shoulder felt bunched up and was aching from therapy, and in his best interest, Sousuke had opted not to use the square orange pillow with its many questionable stains. Without his key card it wasn't like he could leave the grounds and later return so this would have to suffice.

No sooner had the teen closed his eyes, did his brows furrow at the sound of footsteps…but it wasn't just the footsteps, it was the familiar voice with its inability to whisper that caused for one eyelid to lift.

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Shit.

Rin had started a text message, quickly backspaced the sentence, opted to try once more and then with a growl had settled on,

You can come back before you get busted for curfew…

Crimson eyes watched the screen of his phone, waiting for an instant reply, but nothing came.

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"Sousuke-senpai!?" Momo half whispered-half yelled, as he banged his head on the nearby table, ceasing his actions in the process.

Sousuke spared a glance at the digital clock in the dimly lit lounge and frowned at the neon yellow lights displaying 11:02pm. He was going to regret asking why Momo was currently crawling on his hands and knees under the student lounge table at this hour.

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Sousuke…don't be an ass. I said you could come back…

The blinking cursor stared back at Rin as if in challenge.

Where the hell is he?

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Yup…he regretted his decision almost immediately. Momo had quickly crawled over to the couch, apparently keen on the idea of someone there to listen to his tale.

The younger boy currently held onto the side of the couch cushion, his hands trembling and troubled eyes boring into the brunette's.

"I took my Pyunsuke for a walk before bed time and now I can't find him!"

Oh God, it was going to be a long night…

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Sousuke?

Angry tapping…

I'm getting pissed…

Rin currently sat cross legged in his tank top and sweats, hunched over the phone in his hand.

A few minutes passed…

Okay…I'm not angry at you. Just respond, alright?

The teen raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. A sudden thought entered his mind and his eyes widened in alarm.

Had Sousuke left campus? No…he wouldn't do that, right?

Rin's breath hitched—was Sousuke lost and currently wandering the streets of the city?!

How long had he been gone? The red head leaned closer to the phone to view the time…over an hour...

With those legs of his—Rin held his chin in hand and then gasped—how many miles could he be away by now?!

He dramatically held his head in his hands and groaned trying to rid his mind of his roommate, lost on the streets, occupying a park bench for the night.

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Sousuke held out his arm, pushing his co-conspirator's back against the hallway's white wall. Teel eyes narrowed, leaning forward and cautiously peering down the hallway.

"It's clear," whispered the older teen.

Momo's mouth opened, and he managed,

"Sousuke-senpai is so coo—

The upper classman quickly shushed Momo, placing a hand over his mouth. Did Momo seriously want to get caught or was he just incapable of stealth mode?

Campus rules were pretty strict; unless you were going to the bathroom, you were to abide by curfew, and if you got caught…

Sousuke wasn't sure how compatible his shoulder and scrubbing toilets were…but he had an inkling that he was better off not finding out…

Besides, if they got caught, he was going to give Momo one hell of a swirly.

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Rin was currently pacing back and forth in the small area of their shared room. He had recently stood up and discovered Sousuke's cellphone and key card on the empty top bunk and had mentally cursed himself! The teen had sent his best friend out…into a cruel and unforgiving world…with what? A hoodie and sweats?!

The red head paced even faster—what was the current temperature?! Had Sousuke even eaten?! Was he currently freezing on a park bench?!

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Is he trying to be some sort of ninja?

Sousuke merely blinked, his mouth opening a little in awe, fixing his attention on the younger boy. He watched Momo curl into a ball and quickly roll to the other side of the corridor's entryway as a campus guard turned down the adjoining hallway.

The older teen deadpanned as Momo gestured for him to assume the position and follow in his footste—er—rolling?

The middle aged guard with black hair paused and suddenly turned with a candy bar hanging from his mouth, blue eyes just missing sight of Sousuke's figure.

Not to worry, the brunette hadn't been caught mirroring a ball.

Sousuke's breath hitched as he heard a loud, hmmm coming from the guard…

Oh shit, where they busted? He didn't want fucking toilet duty!

God…I can already hear Rin laughing at me…

However, as if by some miracle he suddenly heard footsteps receding down the hallway.

The teen let his shoulders slump forward, releasing the air he had been holding. Momo occupied a spot on the other side of the entryway, crouched down with a grin and a thumbs up for his companion.

And yet, still no Pyunsuke…

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He needed a plan of action. Rin knew he couldn't blindly head out into the night! First, how would he get off of campus without being detected? He was certain an escape from the second story window would be unsuccessful.

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"Is there anywhere you didn't walk tonight, Momo?" he questioned with a loud sigh escaping past his lips, observing another empty hallway.

Momo slunk against the walls, humming what appeared to be a poor delivery of the Mission Impossible theme, his exaggerated strides resembling a pinball ricocheting here and there, as teal eyes followed his actions.

Sousuke placed a hand to his eyes and shook his head.

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Why the hell had he even bothered?

Nagisa: Wow! You had a lover's quarrel?!

Rin: A what?!

Nagisa: You and Sou-chan are on the outs? Oh RinRin, you are so coy!

(Rei has entered the conversation)

Rei: Rin-senpai…it would appear that you are in need of some real assistance for this dilemma!

Rin: Ah, Rei…a voice of reason…

Rei: I have developed a map of the surrounding area and based upon the time that you stated Yamazaki-san left your dorm room, have determined these calculations!

(Rei has sent an attachment)

Rin scowled at the intricate map on his laptop's screen…

Eyes followed a red line, (obviously Sousuke's path), before widening.

Rin: Rei, this says that Sousuke is now 10 miles away?!

Nagisa: That's our Sou-chan! Working hard!

Rei: Nagisa-kun… (sigh) Of course Rin-senpai, that's if Yamazaki-san was walking. Now if he's running…based on his height, build and endurance levels…

(Rei has sent an attachment)

Rin's jaw hung open…

Nagisa: (whistles) 19, 3/4 miles? Rei-san…this is uh…

Rei: Of course that's based on the time I calculated this…(pushes glasses up)…Yamazaki-san's probably closer to—

Nagisa: (talking over the calculations), Well I guess the good news is that Sou-chan won't freeze on a park bench, RinRin!

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"Sousuke-senpai," they had come up short once again in the search, "why were you in the student lounge in the dark?"

Sousuke looked up, walking alongside of the younger boy, "Oh," he rubbed the back of his neck and continued, "Rin needed some time alone."

Momo appeared to be thinking deeply; he laced his fingers and cradled the back of his head, elbows propped as they quietly moved.

"It's probably because he lost his individual race today."

Sousuke's eyes widened and in disbelief questioned, "Rin…lost?"

No one could win every race, but for some reason Rin just seemed untouchable.

"Yeah," honestly remarked the ginger haired boy, "He swam butterfly instead of free today. "

The teal eyed boy found himself unconsciously rubbing his shoulder, his fingertips tracing the edges of the brace.

"That's probably why he was so wound up…" he quietly voiced his thoughts. He felt something he hadn't in a long while as Momo's words entered his ears.

"We really missed you, Sousuke-senpai," announced the enthusiastic boy, "you're a part of our team. I'm sure Rin-senpai missed you too."

Sousuke's eyes softened and for a moment he had left himself unguarded, fingers tightening around the fabric covering his shoulder. The upperclassman quickly regained his composure and sincerely said, "Where else could you have left Pyunsuke?"

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…This was a lame ass idea too…

Makoto: Hmmm…so you were upset because you were beaten at today's race and—

Haru: You took it out on Sousuke.

Makoto: (gasp) Haru! Uh Rin, I'm sure what Haru meant was—

Haru: (flatly) I know what I meant. (eating what appears to be mackerel)

Rin: (growls) Yeah, whatever…so I don't know where Sousuke is right now.

Makoto: (finger to chin in thought) He has no key card or phone?

Haru: (looks stoic) Maybe he didn't realize that until after he left, so he could be outside right now.

Makoto: This is true…but where would he go?

Rin: Sousuke doesn't really have the best sense of d—

Haru: I've got it. I know where Sousuke went.

Rin/Makoto: What? How?

Haru: He went to a food truck that sells mackerel at this late hour.

Rin: (groans)

Makoto: (laughs nervously) Haru…that's what you'd do…

Rin: I'm not even sure that Sousuke likes mackerel…

Haru: (looks very serious) Then you're better off without him, Rin.

Rin/Makoto: (sigh)

Absolutely useless…

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Oh no! He had been so certain that this is where Pyunsuke had been left.

Sousuke opened the door to both the refrigerator and freezer in the student kitchen to spare Momo the shock, had someone put Pyunsuke on ice.

Nothing but a freezer burned tub of ice cream and a container housing what appeared to be mystery meat stared back at him. Momo released the breath he had been holding, his hand covering his rapidly beating heart.

"That means someone had to have found him!"

Yes…but who?

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Rin had taken the plunge…

No other options….

His resolve was unwavering…

He crossed the hallway feigning going to the bathroom…

It was now or never…

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Momo and Sousuke—well mostly Momo—were working on a possible suspects list when a noise rang out from down the hallway.

Shit!

Their eyes widened!

Sousuke reached for the nearest door, found it unlocked and pushed them both forward before quietly closing it.

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Shit!

Rin had taken out a recycling receptacle, and lunged forward, but it had all been in vain as the thud echoed down the empty hallway.

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Footsteps quickly approached as the brunette peeked through the slits of the door but all he could make out was a dark figure as it ran by.

He felt something dangling near his face and batted at it, at first thinking it to be a cobweb, yet when he grasped the object and pulled a dim dust covered lightbulb turned on.

Momo occupied a spot in a yellow wheeled mop bucket, legs dangling over the sides, and a mop end resting on top of his head. He blew upward and Sousuke had to place a hand to his mouth, as he took in the sight of his companion, appearing to have grown gray dreadlocks.

The ginger haired boy took it all in good strides, as they occupied the dimly lit broom closet, "Sousuke-senpai…" he began with a grin, "I think that's the first time I've seen you smile in a while."

The brunette's lips curled upward before he pulled the string once more to douse the light.

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Rin wasn't sure how he had narrowly escaped, but by some miracle he had…he hadn't found Sousuke and there were only a few other common areas to look. One just so happened to be in enemy territory…

His back occupied a wall as he cautiously peeked around the corner. The teen could see the security office up ahead and a guard occupying a seat near the window. As luck would have it, the guard was holding up a newspaper, covering all but his hat and brown hair from view.

He could do this…

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"Momo you need to hurry…" urged Sousuke, he didn't sound too certain about this plan, and the idea of toilets was rearing its ugly head.

"I'm looking, I'm looking!" frantically replied the younger boy.

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Of all the things Rin had done in his life…he wasn't sure how he would live this one down if he got caught.

The red head quietly crawled on his hands and knees slowly nearing the window of the security office. If he stayed close to the wall, he was certain to bypass the window, so that even if the guard did lower his newspaper Rin wouldn't be detected.

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"Pyunsuke!"

Sousuke turned to find Momo rubbing a glass jar against his cheek and cooing to the captive stag beetle.

Thank God.

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Rin felt the vibration of a chair rolling back, heard it's wheels let out of a groan and the sound of someone standing.

Crimson eyes widened. Live or die?

He got into a starting position, as if getting ready to run a race. He could do this...

No way was Matsuoka Rin cleaning fucking toilets! Not today!

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Sousuke arched an eyebrow after hearing a noise, which oddly resembled something hitting a wall, "Did you hear something?"

Momo stopped rubbing the jar against his cheek and blinked, "Hear what?"

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Running in sneakers, no problem.

Running on a tile floor in stocking feet…

Walls can be quite unforgiving adversaries as Rin had just learned…

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Sousuke and Momo quietly made their way down the hallway leading to the younger boy's dorm room. They walked in amicable silence, after Momo had offered to house Sousuke for the evening in return for finding Pyunsuke. The brunette had been resolved, yet after passing a clock which revealed it to be almost 1am, he had relented. A bed sounded pretty good right now over a couch.

They turned the corner and nearly jumped at the sight of another person in their path. Momo held Pyunsuke's jar in a death grip, the scream that would have erupted from his mouth having been silenced by Sousuke's warm hand.

"Oi…you two?!" the hiss of their accuser rang out, a hand going to their heart in emphasis.

Sousuke kept his hand over Momo's mouth for a moment longer—what sounded to be a gurgled but cheerful greeting escaped from his companion.

"Rin, what are you doing here?" Sousuke whispered suspiciously as he arched an eyebrow.

"Me?" Rin placed his hands on his hips and looked annoyed, "What the hell are you two doing out this late?"

Momo pushed Sousuke's hand down and grinned, "Sousuke-senpai was helping me find Pyunsuke!"

Both upperclassman immediately hushed him.

Rin deadpanned, "You were helping Momo find his beetle?"

The brunette looked uncommitted in the current situation, as his hand rubbed his tense shoulder, "It was something to do."

Rin's eyes narrowed as the captain in him took over, "If any of us get caught it won't be good for the swim team." He pointed toward the hallway which led to the boy's dorm room. "Momo, bed. Now."

Momo gave a mock salute and did as he was told. "Thanks again, Sousuke-senpai."

Sousuke ruefully watched as his housing opportunity went down the drain…back to the couch…

"Oi, where are you going?"

Sousuke tilted his head back toward the redhead who held a look of frustration on his features. He furrowed his brown brows in contemplation and pointed his thumb toward the student lounge.

"Bed?" he offered with a frown.

Rin grabbed hold of his classmate's arm and gave him a tug.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

Rin growled in annoyance, "To bed obviously."

"You told me to get out," flatly remarked Sousuke, quickly falling into step with his companion.

"Shut up," he appeared to be pouting, and almost inaudibly mentioned, "I might have changed my mind."

Now Sousuke looked amused, "Did you come looking for me, Rin?"

The crimson eyed teen felt his face warm and gaped, "Like hell I would do—

"Ah…but you're out here past curfew…" Sousuke lazily drawled, hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt, as they neared their room.

"Shut up, you idiot…"

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As Rin stared up at the bottom of the mattress above his head he let out a sigh.

"Sousuke?"

"Yeah?"

"Let's do something fun this weekend, alright?"

He felt Sousuke turn onto his side, while awaiting a response, he closed his eyes.

"That wasn't fun enough for you?"

Rin heard the snort escape and grinned in response, "Shut up…"

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