"Just because we aren't in the same room," Rin said said between kisses, "Doesn't mean we won't see each other . We'll still have practice, and you can come to my dorm whenever. I'll kick out Sousuke."

"Mhm," Nitori hummed, running his hand through Rin's hair bringing him closer to him.

"Ai, you're gonna make it hard for me to leave."

"That's the point." Rin laughed and placed his hands on Ai's ass, giving it a squeeze, and backed them up against Nitori's bunk.

"Nitori-senpai, Nitori-senpai! We're roomm- oh."

Nitori looks up from his position on the bed, "Momo, what are you doing here?"

"Did I forget to tell you? He's your new roommate." Rin smirked, getting off Nitori. He patted Momo on the back, "Take care of him, yeah?"

"Yeah!" Momo smiled and waved as Rin left to go to his own dorm, "So...you and Rin-senpai?"

Nitori blushed and buried his head into his pillow, "Maybe,"

Momo laughed and then started to go on about Gou.

You don't want to be surpassed by a first year

The words that Rin said to him haunted him; it was true that Nitori wasn't the best swimmer on the team, and even when he did try his hardest it was never good enough.

Swimming with Rin was something that he wanted to keep doing, but there was no way he could continue it if he didn't improve his time. There was no way Nitori would let a first year surpass him.

Still, the thought of letting that happen made his chest tighten. Things had gotten better for him, his new medicine doing what the other couldn't, but there were still some instances that still made him lose his breath and press his head in between his knees until his tears stopped and his breath evened out.

And the side effects...sometimes Nitori thought the medicine wasn't worth it. There were days where he didn't want to get out of bed. He would rather sleep then face the outside world; Rin would have to coax Nitori out of bed with soft pecks and promises of going out on a date or doing other things together, and half the time that didn't get Nitori out of bed. Nitori was surprised Rin didn't leave him.

"You should be with someone who has their mental health intact." Nitori had said to Rin one morning.

"I'll be here for you for whatever you go through," Rin placed a kiss on his forehead, "You're stuck with me."

"I like the sound of that."

"Yeah, me too."

How was he supposed to talk to Rin about this? Rin was busy with his captain duties and preparing for college, and the last the thing Nitori wanted to do was bother him.

I could always ask Momo? Asking a first year for help wouldn't look good... What about Yamazaki-senpai? He's kinda scary though...

"Maybe I should just quit swimming." Nitori mumbled to himself.

"Did you say something, Nitori-senpai?" Momo looked over at his roommate.

"Oh, no, I didn't say anything. I'm gonna go out for a jog." Nitori quickly grabbed his swimsuit and hurried out the door before Momo could say anything back.

Nitori hadn't realized how long he had been swimming, and he didn't care, either. He didn't care how many laps he had done or how his legs were just a ache a little; all he cared about was improving his time and proving to the team (mostly Rin) that he could be a great swimmer.

"You should probably call it a night ."

Nitori stopped swimming when he noticed Rin sitting on the edge, "I'm almost done. Just a few more."

Rin shook his head, "Momo called me and said that you went out for jog almost an hour ago, and he was starting to get worried. C'mon, let's go."

"Let me just swim a few more laps and I'll get out."

Rin sighed as Nitori started swimming again, "You're gonna overwork yourself ."

Nitori didn't care. He'd pass out from exhaustion of he had too; he just needed to prove to Rin that he could make the relay team. Maybe if he made the team the anxiety would go away. He wouldn't have to be looked down at, and Rin wouldn't be stuck with someone weak. He'd become strong so Rin wouldn't have to baby him all the time. Maybe the fear of losing Rin and being replaced by Momo or some else would go away and everything would be okay.

He was doing this for Rin, and he didn't care what it did to him. Rin was more important anyway.