So, I like this chapter cause to me half of the imagery maed me laugh...Maybe I'm just one of those people that laughs at my own jokes though~ Hope you enjoy this update!

Disclaimer: I own nothing~ This song, BTW, is my absolute favorite Lydia song of all time...and the song that got me into them...and totally just worth a listne to~

Warning: F-bomb, maybe a few times..? At least once, I don't remember, just be warned!


Now the One You Once Loved Is Leaving


Back from their warm-up jog, Rin drags his gym bag from the locker room into the gymnasium, along with the rest of the team. He sets in down, sitting beside the bag to stretch a final time before getting into the water. He slips off his tennis shoes and socks, and jacket, just as Nitori joins him, taking a seat beside him.

"Well?!" Nitori asks, trying his best to glare at Rin. Nitori doesn't have an angry-looking face at all and Rin finds it actually humorous—he'd laugh if he didn't think that Nitori was right.

"Alright, alright…I'll text Gou!" Rin mutters, driving his hand into his bag for his phone.

He's blindly trying to reach for it, wondering where it's fallen to within his bag when it suddenly starts to vibrate, giving away its position. Maybe that's Gou!

After two vibrates, Rin realizes it's not a text message but a call.

That's not necessarily a good sign, but he can't automatically assume it's a bad one either.

He checks caller ID; it's Chigusa.

That's a bad sign.

"Hello?"

"Rin. Get here now—Gou is with him."

Rin physically pales.

"Where?"

"He was outside the school again. This time, he asked her to go somewhere with him. To talk-"

"Why didn't you stop her?!" Rin barks.

"Rin?!" Nitori asks, suddenly worried by the sound of the one side of the conversation he's catching.

"I-I'm sorry!" Chigusa apologizes. Rin sighs; it's not really her fault.

"No, I'm sorry," he grimaces, "But Chigusa. Where are they now?"

"A-a café, just up the road from the school-"

Rin knows the place, luckily.

"I'm on my way."

Rin hangs up without asking Chigusa if the others are there or if she's certain Gou will be there. He makes a mental reminder of the apartment building and number to run to should Gou and the bastard not be where Chigusa says they are.

Rin throws his tennis shoes on without socks and pockets his phone.

"Oi, Matsuoka, where do you think you're going? Practice is about to start!"

Rin flinches.

"I have to go."

"Oi! Matsuoka-"

"It's an emergency!" Rin snaps, looking back at Mikoshiba, hoping he'll understand what that means. All too well, apparently.

Mikoshiba is in front of Rin in an instant, gripping his arm to prevent him from leaving without an explanation.

"Is it Gou?! What's happening?"

Rin pushes aside the fact that he's not comfortable with how concerned Mikoshiba sounds in that moment. His eyes are as on fire as Rin feels, and the surge of concern his face tenses with should make Rin uncomfortable, though he's too worried for Gou to make note of Mikoshiba's emotional investment at the moment.

"She's with him." Rin growls, low so the rest of the team won't hear.

Mikoshiba's eyes flash for a moment before he's tugging Rin forward.

"Let's go."

"C-captain Mikoshiba!" Nitori urges, still stretching from the ground. Several other team members are staring at the scene that is Rin and Mikoshiba. Some haven't changed out of their running sweats while others are stripped down, barefoot and in speedos.

"You're the captain, idiot," Rin mutters, as if Mikoshiba has forgotten. He can't just ditch practice. Rin will handle this, mind your own business, he thinks.

Mikoshiba looks torn between the two responsibilities before clapping his hands together, summoning the attention of the team.

"Right! Everyone get up! We're doing another dry drill!"

"Ehh?!"

"Come on! Don't worry about clothes or shoes. Get up, we're going now! Distance run!"

Several outcries of "Captain?" followed, but Mikoshiba had already started his pace, jogging from the gym. He didn't have shoes or a shirt, and Rin watched dumbfounded after his captain for a moment, perplexed at what he was honestly doing, until Mikoshiba called back, "Matsuoka! You're leading the run! Set the pace and lead us!"

Rin would've argued this was unnecessary, but he wanted to reach Gou first. A confrontation with his captain could wait.


The café is a quaint little shop just up the road from the school. Gou has been here a few times with Chigusa. The pastries are good, as are some of the drinks; though, the fruit is notably never any fresher than cafeteria fruit selections and the bathrooms aren't very clean.

Gou chooses a table in the center of the café, directly under a light. She sits opposite of Kent, with her back to the door. The tension between them is thick and the hair on the back of Gou's neck stands on end. Her fists are so clenched that her nails are digging into her palms, but she ignores the pain and stares directly at Kent.

Kent tries to smile at her but she just glares, warning him.

"I won't stay long. Say what you have to and then I'm leaving."

"Then I'll start," Kent nods.

He looks at his lap. His pale hair isn't very long; it doesn't cast a shadow over his eyes, even when he looks down, and Gou can still make out the pale color of them. His nose looks a little crooked; did Rin break it?

His hands are on the table, fidgeting.

"I'm sorry."

"I don't accept." Gou snaps with no regret.

He cringes at this, but he's still smiling. Gou can't imagine him with a truly apologetic face. On some people, it's endearing to always smile. Mikoshiba has one of those faces.

On Kent, it's disturbing.

"I shouldn't…I shouldn't have done what I did to you…"

That's right, Gou agrees.

"What I did was wrong…" He recites, like he's reading from some list, some order, of the phrases to say when apologizing when you don't mean it.

"I-"

"-I've heard enough." Gou cuts him off. She feels her chest swell because they aren't finished, but she's done listening.

"I lied. I do have something to say to you. And, I'm going to speak now." She inhales, gathering her courage.

"I'll forgive you for assaulting me," she decides. "I'll forgive you for physically hurting and approaching me, but I won't forgive you for blackmailing going after my brother to get to me.

I won't forgive you for causing that fight with my friends, or for instigating my brother into hurting you, though you deserved it! And I won't forgive you for making Hanamura cry! You upset me, and I can forgive you for that, but I cannot forgive you for upsetting Tachibana, or Nanase or Rei or Nagisa! And Mikoshiba! And my brother!" She doesn't mention Miss Amakata or Coach Sasabe, but in her head she adds them, too. She just thinks that's enough names for Kent to mull over.

Gou's voice has risen but she doesn't care if other customers are looking at the two of them, or what kind of ideas they're forming watching the pair of them. She's only looking at Kent, making sure he understands her perfectly.

Kent watches her lecture him with wide eyes; his smile had faded a little, but now it's returned, except not so severely, so harshly, as she's used to seeing. He bows his head, nodding slowly.

"You're remarkable…I certainly picked one with you, huh, Kou?"

Gou flinches but doesn't say anything. She's still waiting for him to agree to her terms.

"Is it Kou? Or Gou? I heard that girl-" he starts to explain.

"You call me Kou." She defines for him.

He nods, "alright then, Kou."

It grows quiet between them before Kent finally lifts his head, except he doesn't look at Gou. He looks at his hands, which he can't quite seem to decide if they're better staying on top of the table or down in his lap.

"I am sorry…" he starts, but shakes his head, "No, that's not enough. You said you forgive me? You shouldn't…you really shouldn't. I'm fucked up—look how I hurt you. I saw you…you were so pretty. I had to have you."

Gou feels like she swallowed something sour but keeps her face straight, keeps her eyes on Kent.

Is it strange that they're in this café, and haven't ordered anything? She hopes the staff doesn't get mad at her. She likes this spot. She and Chigusa come here so often. She should bring the team here. Maybe Mikoshiba and her should come here Friday?

"You shouldn't forgive me. And I understand, I really do, how mad you are at me, for making your friends worry. You have good friends," at this, he does look up at her, smirking, "Some of them have a good arm, too, to boot."

Gou straightens proudly at this.

"You'd know," she counters.

He rubs his jaw like it's still sore, nodding.

"The other day, I came after you because…it wasn't enough. I had to have you—I had to kiss you. Th-that's all I wanted! Was one kiss…"

Gou doubts that but doesn't voice as much.

"And when your brother took you away, I realized…I realized I didn't want you like that. Terrified; forcefully. That's not…"

"Then you should have tried to get to know me first!" Gou suddenly yells, irritated. "You don't just grab a girl, force yourself on her! Have your buddies hold her against her will!? You ask her on a date, you get to know her. Learn what she likes, share to her what you like!"

Kent sighs, "I suppose it's too late to ask you on a date now, then, huh?"

Gou wants to tell him 'it's never too late' because in all honesty she is beginning to feel bad for him. She wasn't sure she meant it before when she said she'd forgive him, except now she thinks she really could.

But she could never date him. No, she could never go on a date with him.

Besides, she has someone else in…

"Gou! Gou, get away from him!"

Gou jumps at the sound of someone shouting her name, both herself and Kent whipping around to watch the captain of the Samezuka swim team come crashing through the glass door. Even more so surprisingly is that behind him trails the entirety of the Samezuka swim team, mismatched-ly dressed if dressed at all.

"Mikoshiba..?"


Hana bites her lip the whole way back to the pool. She'd dragged her feet the entire way there, trying to walk as slow as she could.

She was praying Rin got to Gou in time. She didn't trust this white-haired fellow. Why'd he have to keep bothering Gou? Leave Gou alone! Find someone else to creep on!

Gou rounded the clubhouse, the swim team coming into view. Rei was clinging to the floating device he always had. Nagisa was splashing nearby, causing a raucous and irritating Rei who repeatedly shouted his need to adjust his goggles no thanks to Nagisa's antics. Haru must be underwater, for Chigusa didn't see him anywhere, while Makoto was the only one presently out of the pool with a clipboard in hand-Gou's clipboard.

"Oh, Chigusa! Huh? Where's Gou?"

Chigusa squirmed nervously. She'd promised Gou she wouldn't tell the boys…

"She…had something to take care of…"

"And the drinks?" Rei asks. Chigusa flinches. She'd forgotten about those.

"Ah, no worries!" Makoto offers, waving it off.

Nagisa, however, cries, "No drinks? This practice is terrible…"

"Maybe if you were actually practicing instead of playing like a kiddy pool!" Makoto pouted back.

Chigusa normally would have laughed at Nagisa's expression, but her mind remained on Gou. Was she really okay? Rin, please, get there…

"Where is Gou again?" Rei suddenly asks and Chigusa physically shies away from him and his question.

Haru has emerged, sure enough from under water.

"Chigusa..?" Nagisa swims to the edge of the pool, throwing his arms up over the side.

All their eyes are on Chigusa now and she feels her will weaken.

Makoto has dropped the clipboard to his side, his smile faded, "Chigusa. Where is Gou?"

Sorry, Gou!

"She went with the white haired boy! He was here, again, and wanted to talk with her so she took him to the café up the street-!"

All three boys were out of the pool as fast as Haru can strip. Makoto was already past the pool gate by the time Chigusa even thought to look for him.


Nitori is running in his swim trunks and open jacket. Beside him, another fellow freshman has one shoe on and no shirt.

A second year behind them is only in a speedo, and his friend beside him is fully dressed, with tennis shoes and socks and a shirt and shorts.

Rin has on his shoes and a shirt and sweat bottoms.

Mikoshiba is running in bottom sweats only, though, unlike the barefoot second year, isn't making one complaint about it.

Nitori tries to keep up in pace with Rin, wanting to beside his friend, but he's practically sprinting in the road towards Iwatobi. Mikoshiba is just the same, only a step behind Rin as the younger swimmer leads.

Several members of the swim team are falling behind, complaining and shouting as to where exactly is their destination—we're so far from the school, why are we running this way, why aren't we having swim practice?

These complaints fall on deaf ears; Mikoshiba is only looking forward, saying nothing.

And once they turn on the street where Iwatobi is, Mikoshiba breaks off into a full sprint that no one knew he had the energy for, Rin included.

He sees his target, the café, and is gone, far ahead of the others.

Rin tries to catch up, but even he is left somewhat in the dust. Others begin to jog it off, slowing their momentum because this is ridiculous, but Nitori picks up his pace the best he can. He understands what's happening; Gou is in trouble, and Mikoshiba wants to be there for her.

But so does Rin.

Nitori wonders when exactly that confrontation is going to take place.


And the moment Mikoshiba can make out Gou's figure through the window, he's forgotten completely about his team and slams into the glass door, throwing himself inside the café, "Gou! Gou get away from him-"

Except a waitress steps in his way, angrily pointing her finger towards a sign at the window.

'No shoes, no shirt, no service!'

Mikoshiba tries looking over her, but a fellow waiter has come to her assistance so Mikoshiba sighs, throwing his hands up in surrender before whipping his head back towards the door.

It's by now that his team has caught up to him, cramming in the doorway to look inside.

Mikoshiba quickly scans the crowd before eyeing two freshmen.

"You! And you, there! Give me your shoes, and you give me your shirt!"

The freshmen gawk at him.

"I'm your captain, do as I say!"

Without protest, Mikoshiba is tossed two shoes and a shirt, which he quickly throws on before presenting himself mockingly before the waitress, awaiting her approval.

Hesitantly, she nods.

"May I ask how big is your party-hey!"

Mikoshiba pushes straight past her. All eyes within the café are on him, but his are only on Gou.

Mikoshiba already is on thin ice with the café, but this café and its staff and customers be damned as he lifts Kent by the collar from his seat, pointing a finger defensively in the boy's face.

"You stay the hell away from Gou, or did we not make that clear both times we kicked your ass?"

"Mikoshiba," Gou warns.

"Hold on, Gou. This guy just doesn't know when to quit! You think 'cause we haven't called the police on your ass yet that we won't? You keep trying to mess with Gou and-"

"Mikoshiba!"

"-they won't ever find your body! I'll swim to the bottom of the ocean and chain your remains there myself-!"

"Seijuro!"

That shuts him up. He's never heard Gou call him by his first name and had the circumstances been any different, he'd have melted right there and then. He pulls his eyes off Kent for the first time and Gou looks flustered, blushing but holding her ground.

Everyone in the café is quiet, watching the trio.

"Kent wanted to talk to me. I came with him willingly, to hear him out. And he's heard me out. I forgave him-"

"You did?!"

Mikoshiba hears himself echo from back at the entrance of the café and realizes Rin is standing there, but he isn't stepping forward. Does Gou even realize her brother is here too?

Gou nods slowly, her eyes still on Mikoshiba. Guess not.

"I did. He won't bother me anymore. Any of us," she emphasizes and Mikoshiba understands.

Slowly, Mikoshiba releases Kent's shirt, stepping beside Gou.

"Good." He nods. "I'm…glad ya'll came to that agreement."

Kent, for the first time since being threatened, smiles, glancing between Gou and Mikoshiba.

"So you're Mikoshiba?"

"I am," Mikoshiba declares defensively, crossing his arms over his chest.

Kent shakes his head, chuckling to himself, "I should've, I should've…" he mutters, before glancing to Gou and motioning to Mikoshiba with a nod, "-he did?"

She seems to understand because she nods slowly.

Kent nods, too, and then turns to leave, stopping only to give parting words to Gou, "I meant it. I am sorry, and I wish I'd gone about things differently."

Gou can't say things would have turned out differently. She'll never know.

"Mikoshiba, huh? I'll be seeing you."

Mikoshiba still hates the bastard, but he smiles at the thought of a challenge involving swimming, clean and simple.

"Aye."

The Samezuka swim team parts like the tide when Kent reaches the door, though he stops in front of Rin, "the brother," nods, then leaves.

Mikoshiba inhales a deep breath before exhaling, shaking his head, and turning to face Gou.

"You scared the hell out of us!"

"us?"

"-Don't go anywhere with that guy by yourself again, alright?!"

"That's my line."

Gou and Mikoshiba both cringe as Rin steps forward.

"Brother..?"

"We need to talk." Rin is fuming.

"Oi, it's over now, Matsuoka. Gou doesn't need any more lectures-"

"You stay out of this! Actually, why are you involved anyway?" Rin angrily throws his attention to Mikoshiba. "What are your intentions towards my sister?!"

"Intentions," Mikoshiba muses.

Then, he smiles, "We're dating."


A/N: One of the earliest scenes of this story I'd imagined was of Mikoshiba being racing after to save Gou, but cause of his captain responsibilities, has to have the team follow him, and the funniest thing to me was the image of Mikoshiba and this half-dressed team running into a place only to be told no shoes, no shirt, no service so he starts demanding clothes off freshmen (What else use are they? haha jk) Anyway...

There's a lot about Gou and Kent's conversation that I'm both proud and disappointed in; I'll just never be satisfied that I did that storyline justice~ I think Mikoshiba is easy to win over forgiveness (Jus tlook at Rin swimming for Iwatobi's relay); he obviously isn't going to ever like Kent, but Gou tells him that Kent is going to leave her-and, msot importantly to her, her brother-alone and Mikoshiba's just like "Well, if that's good enough for you, it's good enough for me~!" Rin not so much...

Speaking of which, Are ya'll really dating Mikoshiba? You didn't exactly ask Gou whether you were or not...that all gets resolved in the next chapter~! I'll post prlly sometime this weekend, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoed this chapter~!