We mated. Rin thought to himself. He couldn't believe how it happened. Honestly, a part of him wanted them to be a mated pair long before this night. Ever since Haru's text and the night talking to Rei on the roof, he was sure he wanted Ai to be his boyfriend. The thing was—he couldn't think of five good reasons Ai would reciprocate these feelings.

Ai was a virgin, male omega. That was about as rare as they came.

Haru took Makoto the nigh he presented, maybe even before that. There were omegas like Ai auctioning off their virginities for millions of yen.

Yet, Ai saved himself this long and gave it all away…for Rin.

Hearing the shower on full blast, Rin sighed again into the sex-scented sheets once again.

I must have been a saint in my past life, Rin thought, to have gotten this lucky.

It wasn't even Ai's novelty that made this relationship so mind-boggling.

Rin has done nothing but think of himself his entire time at Samezuka. Once Ai presented Rin has been nothing but pushy, manipulative, and overzealous.

If he really thought about it, he tried to rape him twice…

And he almost got himself expelled today…

And the foreplay to their first time was a load of shit and unwarranted criticism spurn on by jealousy and insecurities…

I must be coming back as a snail in my next life, thought Rin as the door opened. Ai was in his warm-ups, a reminder that they still had swim practice. "Ando's not here with the med-kit, yet?" he asked, skin still pink from the hot shower

"Not yet" mumbled Rin

"Ai, listen" as he started to speak, Nitori came to sit by his legs on the bed. "—no, don't come closer…" warned Rin "I won't be able to say it if you're too close" Confused, Ai backed away.

"I think this was a mistake" as the words fell from his lips, he saw Nitori's expression turn to panic and immediately regretted it

"No! It's not that I didn't…like..it. Yeah, no! Holy shit, Ai. Oh my god! Dude, I could live to be 400 years old on just the memory of it… It was…oh my god." Rin carded a hand though his hair, and chuckled nervously.

He saw Ai blush a bit, relaxing slightly.

"I mean. I don't think I've been very good to you. I know—" he started

"You haven't." Ai interrupted, his face as deadpanned as Haruka on any good day.

This response caught Rin off guard.

"Wait…what? Um yeah…I guess I've been kind of a dick…" Rin had no idea what to think or say.

To be honest, he thought he would try to break up with Nitori for his own good then Ai would cry and beg for Rin not to, all the while reaffirming that he was the greatest alpha that hero-worship could make.

"You're temper isn't from being an alpha. You can't blame your violent or jealous nature on your wolf class. It's just you, not your testosterone surges. That's just who you are." Ai continued

"When things don't go your way, you get ugly really fast. This is my first year of knowing you, and I've already saved you from getting expelled six times. And even when I try to help, you still lash out at me. Some of the things you said to me really hurt." He said, obviously directing that last line on all the horrid accusations Rin spit out earlier.

Rin wanted to crawl under a rock. His heart hurt with every word Ai spoke and he knew it was all too true.

"So…why…tonight. You—" was all Rin could choke out for fear of his voice cracking.

No, I am not going to cry…. Rin thought, his throat already stinging with the coming of tears.

"Because I believe in you" Ai said, smiling just a little.

"I know you could be so much better if you had incentive. You're so strong and so passionate. I believe you could get to the places you want to go if you just had a little help." The usual full-sounding awe returned to Aiichirou's voice.

"And you…" Rin started

"I'll be your help…your guidance…your assistance…the incentive to keep your temper down and your spirits high. Honestly, you would have either gotten kicked out of the competitive circuit in Japan or quit due to pride if it wasn't for me." He said, as he raised his hand to Rin's knee while scooting closer.

Rin welcomed the closeness.

"Although the timing was…unfortunate." Ai started "I wanted you from the very beginning. I'm actually quite relieved to see you wanted it, too. And don't think you forced me into anything because you're an alpha and I was in heat. I know how to control myself and I know how to refuse wolf commands. You've seen me do it."

Rin was blind sided by the memories of his omega showing competence and strength, a control Rin himself had lacked…

"And I thought you were an omega…" he teased, feeling the blood return to his face.

"I am. That's why I'm doing this." Ai said, "That…and I love you."

He rested his head on Rin, who pulled him in tight with both arms.

"Ai, I will never act like that again. And sex, next time it'll be done right. There'll be candles and romance and I'll take you out stargazing…" he whispered into Nitori's hair.

They had to quickly put their clothes back on, as Ando was impatiently waiting behind their dorm door.

Next time, Rin promised himself and he slipped his sweat pants up, there'll be candles and romance and stars and shit…

Ai opened the door for Ando, then zipped passed him to shower the sex off his skin…for the second time that night.

"God damn, it smells in here!" joked Ando, as he set the med pack down onto Rin's desk.

"Yeah, yeah, just hurry up. We're late for practice…" Rin inwardly thanked Ando for being such a decent guy.

"I had a surge… I'm sorry, it won't happen again." Rin said nervously, bowing his head to his Captain. Rin swears he could still smell sex off Nitori, even after he practically scrubbed his skin off in the shower. After Ando came to the room and awkwardly bandaged Rin's scratches; they realized there wasn't much to be done to Ai. There were too many bite marks—had they tried to dress each wound, the omega's entire torso would be wrapped up. Ando just cleaned the wounded areas, shot him with a fast-acting heat suppressant, and handed him a drag shirt.

He said he would wear one to practice as well. He'll tell captain that some the endurance swimmers were going to be resistance training to make sure Ai doesn't stick out. I owe you, man. Rin thought. "I know. Living with an omega class always makes alphas more testy" laughed Mikoshiba, "things'll get easier next year when you switch rooms."

Rin grew a little down cast at that remark. "Put a drag suit on, apparently we're resistance training!" Seijurou winked, obviously aware of Ando's scheme. They walked out of the lockers towards the pool. People were already in the water. Ando and Ai was still stretching. They had arrived an hour late. For the remainder of practice, the only tension seemed to lay between Rin and the new guy. Lucky for them both, the captain refused to let anything escalate beyond a scowling contest.

Just as Rin and Ai began exploring the full expanse of their relationship, the semester ended and they were forced to move to new rooms. The former captain allowed Rin to move in with Sousuke, his childhood friend who presented as an alpha right before Rin switched grade schools. Seijurou attended a swimming powerhouse university a few hours away. Five hours away by car. Despite the distance, Rin still had to put up with him every time he went home on holiday (due to Gou's relationship) or during competitions (due to his brother's presence on the team). Rin never liked the idea of Ai rooming with the former captain's brother. The beta seemed to tire out Ai quite a bit. However, it did do Ai well to have someone around that looked up to him. Despite being of a higher wolf-class, Momo seemed to always be in awe of Aiichirou—whether it be his study habits, his concentration, his dedication, or the fact that he could hold real conversations with Gou without shitting himself. Having Sousuke around helped, too.

Sousuke's long-term shoulder injury prevented him from every competing on the world's stage. All his energies now lay with helping others do what he couldn't. It started with coaching Ai, then Momo, then eventually half of the team in conditioning and physical training. Somewhere during the semester, Ai convinced him to apply to a few schools that offered pre-PT degrees.

"You know, you have to respect me. I'm a doctor, too." Sousuke grinned, lightly knocking Rei sideways on the bench. "Although we have both achieved some sort of terminal doctoral degree, I do not believe that they are equal in the eyes of an academic. You have an occupational doctorate from an America post-baccalaureate program. I received a doctorate in scientific research from a Japanese graduate institution. My SciD is as equivalent to a PhD in America, which is clearly superior to your DP—" Rei was interrupted by Sousuke's chuckling

"Okay, fine, you're dick is bigger. Go check if Momo's awake yet." Rei rolled his eyes as he walked off from the hallway to the waiting room.

Sousuke went to a junior college to take pre-physical therapy classes while working at his father's business. He slowly picked up English then went abroad for two years, coming back with an American degree and Japanese license to train and rehabilitate competitive athletes.

Rei went all the way through school. Picked up a doctorate in experimental biophysics on top of a degree in biochemistry. He worked for several pharmaceutical companies before settling down and opening up his own research lab.

He was now living with Nagisa in Kichijouji. Nagisa became a highly celebrated interior designer after a long an bumpy road of many different careers in vastly different fields.

"Its amazing that you're here for this" said Rin, walking from the other side of the hallway to Sousuke, two cups of coffee in his hands. "If she were a day early, you'd still be on the plane. Two days and I still would've been in the States" He continued. "I'm glad that things worked out." He sighed as he took one of the coffees from Rin.

"I heard Nagisa drove her here in a stolen car." Sosuke started

"Nah, it's just Momo was the only one around with a car. But he was so anxious that he couldn't steer properly." Rin said "Yeah, Rei said he was freaking out." He continued

"Nagisa had to slap him in the face to calm down. Stuck him in the back seat with Gou and just drove the car himself with Rei directing him to the hospital." Rin laughed

"It wasn't a stolen car, but even if it was…it wouldn't be the first time Nagisa broke the law to drive Gou somewhere." Added Nitori, coming up behind Rin and hugging his waist

"Momo is conscious now, Rei and Nagisa are with him. It would be a shame if he missed the birth of his first niece." He added

"Kou went into labor and Momo fainted." said Sousuke.

The elevator around the corner dinged and two sets of rushed footsteps were heard from the hallway.

"Did it happen? Did we miss anything. Is Kou-chan alright? Sousuke-kun said Nagisa stole a car!" Makoto said, still rushing, pulling his alpha by the hand.

"Yep, he totally stole a car and we have to bail him out after this." Sousuke joked, Ai shaking his head in response

"He's in the waiting room with Rei, Momo fainted but he's alright. Seijurrou and Mom are in the delivery room. We're just happy you guys made it!" Ai said "What took you two so long. Waiting for the kid's first birthday?" Rin laughed

"Haru had to close the shop, pick up me up from work, then pick up take Adai and Shichirou from school then take them to Ran's dorm! I'm just glad we made it before the baby!" Makoto chirped.

Haru nodded a silent greeting to the other two alphas in the hallway, which was reciprocated.

After winning a gold medal for Japan, Haru retired and used some of his commercial money to start up a small bakery in Iwatobi. Its popularity grew and grew, until it became a very succesful franchised restaurant.

Haru gave the original store, Splash!Pastry, to Ren, who ended up presenting as a Beta like his sister.

The older couple moved to Yokohama so Makoto could take a position teaching at Jochi University.

Haru now owns and operates the biggest store of the entire franchise, Splash!Cuisine. Between that and having two kids, Mako and Haru have been quite busy lately.

Gou became a nutritionist and health consultant. Seijurou became a swim team recruiter, working for the university sircuit that fed the Japanese National swim team.

They lived surprisingly close to Momo's apartment. Momo stated working at a local high school as a biology teacher, promising to keep all the bugs and snakes at in their terrariums at work.

Which was good, since Sousuke is set to move into his spare bedroom after returning from studying abroad. The alpha would not tolerate being chased down by a muddy toad.

Nagisa popped his golden head from the waiting room.

"Mako-chan, Haru-chan! You're here! Hurry, Sei-chan said we can come in soon!" he said.

As everyone filled out of the hallway, Rin took a moment to hold Ai tightly and inhaling deeply.

After Rin left for Australia, Ai finished his senior year as Samezuka's swim team captain. He was accepted to Rin's university and double majored in math and kinesiology.

He became Rin's team's data analyst, and eventually Rin's personal manager.

He got him to the Olympics four years earlier than Haru, winning gold.

While Rin still retains sponsors to swim competitively, he's semi-retired now that Aiichirou secured a position as a financial officer at a large investment firm.

Rin still has temper tantrums and Ai still does a spectacular job at calming him down. Rin promised Ai that this year would be big for them…

Ai think they're getting a cat.

Extra Scene

SENDER: SYamazaki231

TEXT: Dude, I got your mail. This hasn't happened since high school, what's up?

SENT COPY: MatsuokaRin22

TEXT: I couldn't send it to our address, just keep it and I'll pick it up tomorrow.

SENDER: SaiichiAcadamy_MikoshibaMomotarou

TEXT: OMG THIS IS A RECIEPT FOR A WEDDING RING! WHEN ARE YOU AND SENPAI GETTING ENGAGED?!

SENT COPY: MatsuokaRin22

TEXT: Wtf, Sou… This is a surprise thing.

SENDER: SYamazaki

TEXT: Sorry, I couldn't stop him. He recognized the print as a jewelry store and read your mail. Congrats, man. You guys are perfect for each other. Wait, a 'surprise' thing? This isn't a shotgun wedding, right? You didn't get him pregnant or anything, right...?

SENT COPY: MatsuokaRin22

TEXT: NO! HE'S NOT PREGNANT!