i.

Makoto had a long-standing date on Tuesdays with his parents, Ren and Ran for dinner. Now in middle school, they were always desperately excited to see him, even if they didn't act on it the way they would have a few years prior – or at least, tried not to. Accordingly, and without much thinking about it, he checked his phone once school had let out, saw there were no urgent notifications, and turned it off for the evening. He didn't anticipate anything urgent coming up that night, and he wanted to be able to focus on his family.

He set off towards his parent's home, and easy walk from the elementary school he taught at. In the early fall, with the raininess of the last few days over and a pleasant chill left behind in its wake, the oft-trod path was surprisingly refreshing. The leaves weren't falling yet, but some early bloomers were starting to change colour and he thought that they soon would begin to detach. This time of the year made him a little introspective, and he continued to play over memories from his high school days that he hadn't thought of in a while. So occupied, the short distance passed.

Ren and Ran were waiting for him at the end of their street and Makoto smiled widely when he saw them. On closer reflection, though, his smile faded a bit. Ran looked pretty unhappy, and as he approached she took his arm with a clinginess he'd thought she'd grown out of years ago.

"What's wrong, Ran-chan?" he asked, holding her hand just as tightly. She had officially declared herself "too big to be picked up" last year, but Makoto gave some thought to doing it anyway – she looked that upset. Ren snorted unkindly.

"Her boyfriend broke up with her."

Makoto's jaw actually dropped for a second, and he looked at Ran in surprise. She sniffed, but did not refute the allegation.

"…Ran-chan, you're too young for a boyfriend," he finally managed, returning to the walk and pulling Ran along with him. She let go of his hand, looking frustrated.

"I'm not," she said after a few steps. "Natsuki-chan already has a boyfriend. And Ai-chan"

"I get it, I get it," Makoto said. He spied their house ahead. "Hey Ren, why don't you run ahead and let mom and dad know we're on our way?"

"I don't want-"

"Ren," Makoto said. His face was no less pleasant, his voice no more stern, and yet somehow, Ren found himself a few paces ahead.

Makoto pulled Ran off the sidewalk and onto the grass, kneeling down beside her so he was just a little shorter than his little sister.

"I won't say you shouldn't have a boyfriend," he said slowly, almost thinking aloud. "Especially if your friends do, I know you won't listen to me." He grinned at her. "But I will say that you shouldn't take him too seriously."

"Too seriously?" Ran asked. She bit her lip. "I don't understand."

"Too seriously," he repeated solemnly. "I know you don't want us to treat you like a little kid anymore-"

"Because I'm not a little kid anymore," she interjected under her breath, but Makoto just smiled and continued.

"-But remember that the world is a big, wide place. There are big things out there for you, Ran. All different kinds of adventures. Having a boyfriend is just one kind of adventure. So if he did break up with you… look on the positive side. You've had that adventure and now you can go forward and have others."

"There isn't a positive side," Ran said, looking upset again, and Makoto winced. He hadn't meant to come off so lightly.

"There really is though." He considered the subject a moment, trying to figure out an example that could cheer her up. "Say – let's see, what were you doing, boyfriend and girlfriend?"

She blushed bright red. "Nothing weird!"

"Well, I hope not," Makoto grinned again. "No, that's not what I meant. I'm just so old, I can't really remember my middle school days…"

"Don't be silly," Ran said, hitting him lightly on the bicep. "We just, you know, hung out at recess and stuff. And sometimes at lunch, but not always, because he likes to play soccer."

"Ah, so you'll have more free time!" Makoto said brightly. "I mean, your friends must miss you, if you've been spending all your time with this crazy, soccer-obsessed madman." He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she rolled her eyes – but smiled.

"That's true," she said grudgingly. "But he's not obsessed. Maybe – just a little." Makoto thought that was probably progress enough for one conversation and stood, offering her his arm.

"Shall we go in for dinner, m'lady?" he asked grandly, and she smiled fondly at him, taking his arm and loudly muttering about what a dork he was. Makoto didn't mind.

ii.

When he stepped out of his old home it was dark and Makoto didn't have much on his mind beyond sleepy contentment. He was absently reaching for his phone to turn it back on when he was interrupted by a shadow seemingly detaching itself from the wall ahead of him. He jolted and took a step back, fists clenched and heart pounding, when the shadow spoke, abruptly resolving into the figure of a person.

"Tachibana?"

"Mm?" Makoto peered into the gloom and tried to decipher who it was. His heart was still pounding, but the voice was vaguely familiar – he stepped forward, still squinting, and saw that it was Rin.

"Rin?" He asked in frank astonishment. "Is that really you?"

"No, it's the tooth fairy," Rin snorted. "Yeah, it's me." It could hardly be anyone else, but as Makoto's eyes adjusted to the gloom, he saw that Rin had changed. It seemed like this was a pattern in his life – Rin disappearing and returning in the gloom with a new form that was harder, sharper. This time, the real physical perfection of his body, the languid grace as he walked over to Makoto, was almost – frightening. Makoto had to resist a strong urge to step back. "Where's Haruka?"

"I – what?" Makoto said. His head felt thick, like it was stuffed with cotton candy, or like his connection to this conversation was time-delayed by thirty seconds. He had literally no idea what was going on.

"Ha-ru-ka," Rin repeated as though Makoto was being purposefully obtuse. "Where is he."

"I don't know?" Makoto replied, and thank God, was rescued.

"Makoto? Is that you out there?" Light spilled out from the doorway that was still just behind him as his mother called out. "Why are you standing around there, did you forget something?"

"Good evening, Tachibana-san," Rin said politely, throwing Makoto off again. He stepped into the light and was less menacing for it, but looked no less strong. Makoto had the fleeting thought that it was unfair for Rin to look every inch the Olympian even in jeans and a hoodie. His connection to the conversation was catching up: he was starting to remember why he actually kind of disliked this guy.

"Good evening," his mother replied, obviously puzzled. "Excuse me – do I know you?"

Makoto smiled pleasantly through his irritation and confusion. "This is Rin Matsuoka, mom. Don't you remember – from elementary school? The swim club?" It took her a moment, but then, sure enough:

"You're the one who went to the Olympics!" she exclaimed. She actually seemed to flutter in excitement, but Makoto kept his smile on somehow. "Please come in!"

"I really can't, but thanks, Tachibana-san-"

"Don't be silly." Makoto's mother replied, breaming.

"Who's out there, mom?" Ren called, and Makoto's smile finally slipped. He had to stifle a tiny groan as his little brother's head popped out from behind his mother. "Oh? Makoto? Are you…" But then he spotted Rin and went quiet.

Ren idolized Rin. He could quote you all of Rin's records and most of his personal bests. He was fond of reminding them that, before Rin, Japan hadn't had a podium finish at the Olympics in the men's 100m freestyle since 1952. The fact that his big brother had actually been friends with Rin before he'd taken off around the world to hone his swimming skills made him mythical, like a hero from a martial arts movie or something. Somehow, he had obtained an actual poster of Rin, which hung in place of honour above his headboard.

Ren looked at Makoto, eyes wide, pleading, and Makoto gave up in defeat. Alright then.

"You should come in, Rin. It's been a long time, my family are big fans of yours." He fixed a smile back on his face, every inch the old friend. Rin sort of glared at him, but when Makoto showed no signs of caving, gave up himself.

"Alright, I'll impose on your hospitality for just a little while."