Wow finally got this sucker out. Took awhile but got it done. Borrowed a bit from the Drama CD's. Also want to thank bookdragonslayer and the guest who left reviews. It's really motivating to see those and I appreciate anyone who reads, reviews and follows. Thank you much and hope you enjoy.
I thought Matsuoka-senpai would be more excited about the upcoming events. He beat Nanase and now he can focus on regional's! He is swimming his best times ever, but he's not how I hoped he be. Now he seems more…distant. I thought going to the squid festival in his hometown would cheer him up. But that didn't exactly go how I expected…
Ai bit into her grilled squid on a stick while she weaved through the crowds. She glanced at groups of happy kids, families enjoying the festivities together, most in colorful kimono's and patterned yukata's. She leered down at her own button up yellow plaid shirt paired with a pleated black skirt and sighed.
'Maybe I should have followed him…' She thought her eyes trailing over to the direction of where Rin had taken off, but she shook her head. 'No he'd probably just get more upset.' She concluded reluctantly as she saw a familiar head of bright red hair towering above the crowds.
"Hi Captain." Ai chimed.
"Oh Nitori…. enjoying the food stands huh?" he asked before he heartily bit into a chocolate covered banana.
"Yeah they have some interesting items for sale." She replied merrily. "The curry flavored squid rings smelled really good when I was walking by and the squid paella too."
"Yeah the candy apples are my favorite so far." The Captain declared as he excitedly bit into a chocolate covered banana. Ai gave a smile as she saw two other banana's in his other hand.
"Where's Matsuoka? Wasn't he with you?" Mikoshiba questioned through his full mouth. "Did he ditch you?"
"Oh…he um….met some old friends so he was catching up with them." She lied.
"Hopefully he wraps it up soon. Last train is about to leave in a bit." Mikoshiba said. "I'm heading over to the station after I buy some cotton candy for the trip back. Want to come with?"
'He's got such a sweet tooth.' Ai thought with a grimace looking at the last chocolate covered banana in his hand. 'Hopefully he doesn't get a stomach ache.'
"Actually, I'll meet you there." Ai answered. "I think I may try those curry squid rings."
"Alright, but don't be too long. Don't want you to get in trouble if you're stranded out here."
"I won't Captain." She replied walking off with a wave. "See you soon."
'Now where were those…' Ai thought as she glanced at the stands while she walked. She almost bumped into a couple as they argued playfully over which treat to get next and Ai looked with a bit of envy at their clenched hands and joyful smiles as they strolled by.
"Ai-chan." A familiar voice broke her out of her thoughts as she spun around seeing Kou with a shaved ice in her hand.
"Kou-chan?" Ai replied cheerfully with a sunny smile. "Hi."
"Ai what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I came with Samezuka. We gave a prayer at the shrine for good luck in the upcoming tournament."
"Is my brother here too?"
"Oh he was, but he… he met up with some old friends."
Kou gave a small chuckle as she shook her head. "You're a bad liar Ai."
"Ah…" Ai murmured scratching the back of her head with a bashful smile. "Honestly he…he just wandered off. I don't know where he went…"
A disappointed gaze fell upon Kou's eyes as she gave a disheartened sigh. "I'm sorry."
"No don't be." Ai waved her hands in a dismissive manner with a forced smile. "I…I think you look really nice in your kimono. I love the color."
"Oh thanks." Kou smiled again as she took another spoonful of snow cone. "Don't you have one?"
"I do, but I didn't think to wear it."
"How about you come with me tomorrow?" Kou asked excitedly. "You can wear your kimono and we can look around."
"You're coming again tomorrow?"
"Yeah I like to observe other events of the festival that I can't really take in fully when I come here with Hana-chan."
"Su…sure."
"Oh bring your stuff over and we can get ready at my house."
"Okay." Ai glanced at her watch her eyes widening at the time. "Oh, I need to get to station to take the train back."
"I'll text you!" Kou called out. Ai took off in a light jog as she gave a happy wave over her shoulder.
Iwatobi Train Station
"Nitori nice to see you made it back." The captain answered as he popped some pink fluff in his mouth while on the train deck. "You get those curry squid rings?"
"Oh….I forgot about that." Ai murmured timidly. "I bumped into Kou-chan and I totally forgot about them."
"Kou-chan?" He asked confused.
"Kou-chan…Matsuoka-senpai's sister." She explained.
"Oh Gou-chan!" Seijirou answered excitedly. "She was here?!"
"I think she prefers to be called…" She trailed off seeing Rin running towards them in a sprint. He stopped in front of them leaning over as he took in strangled breaths with his hands on his knees.
"You okay?" Seijriou questioned concerned with a brow arched. "What the hell have you been doing?
"You made it just in time Matsuoka-senpai." Ai chimed in. "The train should be here any second."
Rin managed to get his breathing back to a normal rhythm as he stood up straight. Ai's eyes widened slightly seeing a sudden resoluteness in his burgundy yes as he looked toward Mikoshiba.
"Look Captain. I need to tell you something." Rin stated firmly.
"What is it?" Seijirou asked while Ai glanced curiously at Rin.
"I want to be on the medley relay." Ai's mouth dropped open slightly at the declaration
"What?" Seijirou questioned with a tilt of his head. "You want to be on the medley relay?"
Rin gave a few nods of his head while Seijrou ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know. You haven't been interested in any other events. Which leg did you want to do?"
"Freestyle."
"Nitori I can't recall off the top of my head. Who's' faster Masaru or Matsuoaka?" He looked over to the girl at his side.
"Ah…oh…umm….Matsuoka-senpai."
"By a lot?"
"Slightly…" Ai murmured softly.
"What's slightly?" Rin asked tersely.
".05 seconds." Ai answered as Seijriou gave a small hmm and turned his gaze over to Rin.
"Sorry. Look you're already making it to the next stage if I pull that from Masaru he's a third year and he won't have an event."
"I thought the fast one wins." Rin snapped back.
"And they do, but Masaru has been doing the relays since his first year and I'm not pulling that from him."
Rin huffed at the answer as he fought down a scowl from coming across his face. "Then Butterfly."
"Nitori who's faster on that?"
"Matsuoka's faster than Kawamara by a fair margin." She suddenly jolted to a stop as she was startled at the hiss of the incoming train pulling into the station.
"I'll think about it." Seijirou answered sternly as he boarded on once the train doors opened. "Probably the butterfly leg since Kawamura is a first year."
Rin gave a short nod as he followed behind the captain taking a seat. Ai gave a smile settling into a seat near him. "What made you want to do the relay Matsuoka?"
"Just trying something…" he muttered leaning his body against the train cars wall.
"Well I'm glad." Ai answered back. "I think with you on the butterfly leg we can't lose."
The train lurched forward and carried into a steady rhythm as Rin gave no reply, but Ai saw a sudden shift in his eyes
'Something's different with him…' Ai thought. Whether it was good or bad she couldn't be sure.
The Next Day
So I went back to the festival this time with Kou-chan….getting ready was a new experience.
"Ai-chan you made it!" Kou answered the door with a bright smile. Her hair was already up in a more playful manner than the high pony tail she usually wore.
"Yes thanks for inviting me." She took off her shoes before stepping into the house. Her blue eyes peered about curiously. "I like the home. It's modern but still has that traditional feel."
"Thanks it was my grandmothers before she passed away. What's with the flowers?" Kou asked seeing the bundle of lilacs in her arms along with a duffel bag.
"Oh my grandfather say's its rude to show up to a house empty handed so these were for your mother." Ai answered embarrassingly. "Is she here?"
"Ai-chan you're too sweet." Kou said with a giggle as she took the bouquet from her. "No, she's at work, but I'll let her know you gave these to her."
"Thank you." Ai eyes noticed a shrine in the room. She gazed over the offerings and saw the framed picture. Kou followed Ai's gave giving a soft smile as she realized what she was staring at. "That's my dads shrine.
"Matsuoka-senpai looks just like him." Ai replied noticing the sharp teeth and facial features.
"He swims like him too." Kou added. "Let me put these in water and we'll get ready."
"He likes you!" Kou remarked with a happy giggle.
"I don't know…" Ai replied unsure.
"I've known him for a long time. He really likes you." Kou affirmed.
"You think so?"
"Trust me he's not like that with a lot of people." Kou replied firmly as she scratched the top of the cats head. "Isn't that right Steve?"
The oversized cat gave a contented meow as Ai continued to stroke its broad tummy. "He's so chunky!"
"I know!" Kou said with a laugh. "But that's just more to love…" Steve gave another meow before he rolled over and stood up. The girls watched as he lumbered off leaving the two girls alone in the bedroom.
"Is this your kimono?" Kou asked as Ai pulled the garment from her duffel bag.
"Yes."
Kou reached for it and held it up examining it. "I love the color." She commented as she held it up against her frame. The rich purple color was decorated with white daises through out the fabric.
"Thanks. My grandma made it." Ai replied as pulled a brush from her duffel bag and began untangling her hair. "Yellow and purple are my favorite colors." She added motioning to the yellow obi on the bed.
"And let me guess the daisy is your favorite flower?" Kou asked coyly as she noticed the daisy stud earrings Ai set on the vanity.
"Yeah…" Ai stated with a smile. "Let me just put this on and we can go." She reached to take the kimono before Kou pulled it out of her grasp.
"Hey there's no hurry." Kou answered setting it on her bed, her eyes suddenly excited. "Are you going to do anything with your hair?"
"Oh umm…" Ai glanced at herself in the mirror as she fiddled with he lavender locks. "I don't know….It's kind of short. You can't really do anything with it."
"Hmmm." Kou came over and fiddled with her hair. "Your hair is really soft." She messed with her hair a bit pulling it in various ways and styles as Ai glanced up curiously.
"Thanks. It's a hair treatment Mitz came up with so the chlorine doesn't dry out my hair."
"Mitz?"
"My older brother."
"It is short…oh but!" she opened a drawer rifling through before pulling out a headband with a white flower. "This will go really cute with your outfit."
"Okay." Ai murmured slipping it on.
"Do you ever wear make-up?"
"No. I hardly ever do. Only for special occasions."
A smirk fell across Kou's face as she opened another drawer pulling out a box. "I think a festival is definitely a special occasion."
"I don't know…"
"Oh come on! I know what I'm doing. Just a bit of shadow and maybe some color on the lips."
"O…okay."
Kou opened an eye shadow palette as her burgundy eyes surveyed the array of colors before she glanced at Ai and then to the palette again. "This one!" she stated taking the eye shadow brush in her fingers. "Close your eyes and wait till I tell you to open them."
Ai took in a deep breath and shut her eyes as she tried to recall the last time she wore make up. She felt Kou bring the eye shadow brush across her lids with deft strokes before she gave a hum of approval. "Now purse your lips!"
Ai obeyed pushing her lips out giving a slight flinch at the feel of the brush tip against her mouth. She felt the smear of gloss spread across before Kou clasped her hands together. "Alight you can open your eyes!"
Ai opened them and they immediately widened seeing her reflection in the mirror. "Wow…Kou you made me look nice."
"Ai you always look nice. You have pretty skin and a cute face you don't need a lot of make up." Kou replied as she began putting some eye shadow on her own lids.
'This is…exactly how I pictured it.' Ai thought watching as Kou put on some light gold eye shadow and a pink tinted lip gloss on her lips. The Iwatobi manager turned her gaze over to the Samezuka swimmer.
"What's up? You have a weird look on your face."
"It's funny but this is exactly how I imagined it would be." Ai softly replied.
"Imagined what would be?" Kou asked with a tilt of her head.
"Living with a girl roommate."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought Samezuka became co-ed so I was excited to board with a girl. I had shared a room with my brother for so long I was excited for something different."
"You shared a room with your brother?"
Ai gave a few nods. "I never saw it as weird though growing up with all brothers and sharing a room with one. But I always wanted to see how it would be to live with another girl my age."
"It's so weird that you ended up at Samezuka." Kou replied with a laugh. "Almost ironic actually."
Ai shrugged with a smile. "It worked out. I got my first place ever in the prefectural's so the training is helping. Even if most days I feel like I'm about to die."
"I love my brother, but there are times I wonder how it be to grow up with a girl too…" Kou trailed off her eyes widening at the clock. "Oh, we really need to get going if we want to get to the events."
"Right!" Ai responded as she clumsily popped in her daisy earrings.
"What events were you talking about?" Ai asked as they walked through the crowds festival crowds.
"Oh well there's one event I really want to check. Squid grabbing heaven!"
"Squid grabbing heaven?" Ai repeated. "Is that exactly what it sounds like?"
"It's even better!"
"What exactly is it…"
"I did not say that!" One voice sputtered out embarrassingly.
"That voie sounded familiar…" Kou commented.
"Now, don't say that! Look! They're slipping all over each other!" an eager voice broke out in reply. The girls looked seeing the four swimmers of Iwatobi all donned in yukuta's within a crowd.
"Oh they came again today too! Good evening, everyone!" Kou called out walking with Ai in tow.
"You're here too, Gou-chan?" Makato asked happily before his olive eyes wandered over to Ai. "Nitori-san right? Congratulations on making it to district."
'He's so sincere.' She thought while Ai nodded a smile on her face. "Th…thank you. And congratulations to you too in the relay!"
"So you came again today Gou-chan?" Nagisa asked Kou giving some nods before his magenta eyes went over to Ai. "And Ai-chan! Why are you here again?" Rei's eyes widened as he lightly smacked Nagisa with the back of his hand.
"Again? You saw me yesterday?" Ai questioned confused.
"I mean…Why are you here? Sorry I added the again." He bopped his fist lightly against his head as he stuck his tongue. "All this squidsanity has me all jumbled up."
"Oh Kou-chan invited me and I was excited to wear my kimono." Ai then saw what the rest of the crowd was looking at as two men wearing fundoshi were in a large tub of water. Their hands would break the surface cursing as they came up empty handed.
"Is this what you were talking about? Squid-grabbing heaven?"
"Yes." Kou added with a sigh. "Since Hana-chan was with me yesterday, I didn't get to feast my eyes.
"You really like muscles, don't you…" Nagisa teased. Ai smothered a giggle with her hand as Kou gave a flustered look.
"No, I didn't mean that! This is, um, how do you call it– an observational learning experience on the squid festival." She explained while waving her hands.
"You can get a learning experience from the squid festival?" Rei asked disbelievingly.
"Yes!" Kou stated confidently putting her hands on her hips as she looked over to the megane swimmer.
"Don't you know, Rei-kun? Squid-grabbing Heaven is not a sport for commoners. It's an event where men in fundoshi intertwine with a live squid as they grab at each other." She gestured to the two men. "In fact, it all began as a plan to correspond with the Ukiyo painting "The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife" made by Kakushita Hokusai during the Edo period."
"Oh my…." Ai added a slight blush tinting her cheeks. "I didn't know it had that kind of connection."
"I don't see why anyone felt the need to do that in the first place…" Rei muttered pushing his glasses up his face.
"I know!" Kou eye's became bright as she looked to her team excitedly. "Why don't you all participate too?"
"As long as there's water." Haru declared his ocean eyes glancing at the tub hopefully.
"Me, me!" Nagisa added hopping up and down. "I want to join, too! Rei-chan, come on!" He grabbed his friends sleeve trying to drag him closer to the water.
"No!" Rei furiously shook his head as he dug in his geta trying to resist his overly enthusiastic friend. "Intertwining with a squid while wearing only a fundoshi… It's just not beautiful!"
"What are you talking about?! It's very beautiful! Right Ai-chan?" Kou asked looking over to the girl who had an overwhelmed look at the antics of the rival team.
"Uh….sure." Ai responded. "I'm sure you all have great muscles perfect for squid grabbing." She added timidly.
Kou nodded excitedly before gasped turning back to the boys. "And if Rei-kun joins, there will be squid, glasses, and muscles! A new collaboration! There's not a chance this won't be beautiful!"
"Squid, glasses, and muscles?! That makes no sense to me!" Rei dramatically replied.
"Come on Rei-chan! Let's do this… plus…" Nagisa tugged Rei's collar and whispered something in his ear. Rei's eyes briefly darted over to Ai and then down to his feet as his blush deepened. "I highly doubt that will work the way you think." He muttered as Nagisa gave a disappointed whine.
"Now, now." Makato broke in. "Why don't we go grab squid and take it as a chance to make memories about our summer?"
'He has such a different energy than Mikoshiba-senpai.' Ai thought looking at the taller swimmer. 'So much more calm.' Although as she stared at Kou trying to get the team in the tub with energetic Nagisa and embarrassed Rei she realized his calm presence was perfect for the Iwatobi team.
"Not you too, Makoto-senpai…!" Rei sighed in defeat.
"Right? You tell him too, Haruka-senpai!" Kou added with an excited clap.
"Rei." The group quieted as Haruka spoke in his serios stoic manner to Rei. "Don't try to catch the squid. Be the squid. Let the squid accept you."
Rei blinked a few times before put his hands in the air. "What would I even gain from being accepted by a squid?!" He asked exasperated.
"Okay then, it's decided!" Kou put her hand in the air finger pointed. "Go catch as much squid as you can!" she dug into her kimono before she pulled her red digital camera out with a bright grin. "I have my camera ready!"
"Unfortunately, you can't." Another voice broke in causing all the teenagers to turn to see a brunette woman with a warm smile dressed in simple green kimono.
"Ama-chan-sensei!" Makato asked shocked.
'Oh this is their advisor!' Ai thought as she glossed over the woman strolling to them. 'She seems nice…calm….another voice of reason probably in their craziness.'
"Why can't they participate?" Kou asked with a frustrated tone.
"Because you're underage." She stated to the boys with an apologetic smile. "The rules have gotten stricter this year, and the combination of squid with underaged persons mixed together is forbidden."
"That's a strange rule." Ai mentioned.
"Agreed." Rei added.
"Aww…it would have been perfect!" Kou put away her camera with a huff. "At least we can enjoy looking at those who can participate."
"Well we're going to check out the food stands!" Nagisa stated.
"Have fun Gou-kun. NItori san." Makato said waving as the rest of the Iwatobi team wandered off.
"Be safe." Ama-sensei called out to the boys. "You girls too. Remember as the great Greek writer Aeschylus said 'Obedience is the mother of success and is wedded to safety'."
"Who are we obeying?" Nagisa asked confused as they walked away.
"I'm going to watch squid calligraphy." Ama added as she strolled away giving the girls a small wave.
Kou and Ai watched the men struggle as they tried to catch the squid while Kou pointed out well toned details on the various bodies. As the even finished Kou gave a happy hum of approval.
"Let's go eat. All these observations are making me hungry."
"Okay can we go to the bathroom first?" Ai asked.
"Oh go ahead and we'll meet at the Ikameshi booth." Kou responded. "My treat."
"Okay." Ai strode over to the portapotties giving a small whine as she saw the line of people in front of them. As she reluctantly headed over to wait for a stall a sudden small bump at her back caused her to stumble. She brought her hands up to brace for impact before a pair of hands on her shoulders stopped he and then brought her upright again.
"Ah…sorry." Ai spun around seeing Rei as he nervously pushed his glasses up his face. "Somone…" his purple eyes glanced back with a slightly angry glare. "Must have pushed me accidently."
"Oh that's…that's okay. Thank for letting me not fall."
"It's only right…." Rei mumbled pushing his glasses up his face to hide the blush on his cheeks. Ai blinked a few times as she glossed over his kimono. "Your yukata is a nice print."
"Oh. Thank you." Rei replied.
"It's interesting. I think I've seen someone wearing something similar be…" her eyes glanced up seeing Rei's eyes who widened in worry and Nagisa's previous question came into her head.
"Were you following me yesterday Ryugazaki-san?" she asked accusingly remembering seeing someone behind her and Rin yesterday with a similar print trailing them with a robot mask. She realized she also saw the same man when Matsuoka had left her behind at the festival.
"N…no we were following Matsuoka-senpai!" Rin replied hastily.
"You were following Matsuoka-senpai?!" Ai asked with an angry glare.
"Ah…not for any nefarious reasons." Rin explained seeing a face like when he first met her and he refused to put on a speedo. "We…We were trying to avoid a confrontation for Haru. We wanted him to forget about what happened at the swim meet."
She remembered
"I understand…the last time they met didn't go to well either."
"Last time?" Rei questioned.
"At the mall." Ai explained. "They bumped into each other and it didn't go well either."
"Ah okay." Rei sighed. "I have to ask this Nitori-san and I'm sorry but do you know their history?"
"History?"
"Between Matsuoka-senpai and Haruka-senpai and the others."
"Oh….not really. I know they did the all were on the same relay team when they were in elementary before Matsuoka-Senpai left. And I know Matusoka-senpai sees Haruka as a rival, but that's all I could really tell you."
"I see." Rei softly replied, his eyes becoming pensive.
"So you followed Matsuoka-senpai after he left me." Ai asked curiously.
"Ah yes…" Rei answered breaking out of his thoughts.
"Where did he go?"
"To the Iwatobi elementary school. I lost track of him after that."
"Alright." She noticed a stall had become unoccupied and she gave a bow of her head to Rei. "Thank you Ryugazaki-san. Enjoy the rest of the festival."
"You…you too." Rei replied.
"Oh these are good." Ai commented happily as she popped a squid curry ring into her mouth while her and Kou were sitting on a bench. "I'm glad I got to try them out. I didn't get the time to yesterday."
"I can't believe Rin ditched you." Kou stated before she blew on her yakitori to cool it down..
"It's okay." Ai replied although she did feel sad that all her attempts to get him to partake in the festival activities were rebuffed, rejected or just plain ignored.
"Do you know where he went?" Kou asked.
"To the Iwatobi elementary school."
"Really?" Kou asked as she leaned back on the bench. "That's where he went to school with Haru and Makato before he left for Australia."
"Ah…that makes a bit more sense what happened afterwards."
"What happened afterwards?"
While we were all waiting for the train to get back to Samezuka and then he said he wants to be part of the medley team."
"WHAT?!" Kou exclaimed dropping the hold on her stick. The girls watched as she fumbled trying to grab it before it fell into the dirt.
"Damn….but wait what did he want?" She asked again shocked.
"He said he wanted to be a part of the medley relay team."
"What leg?"
"He originally wanted to do freestyle, but the captain told him butterfly."
"That makes sense that is his better stroke…" she murmured. "And it's for sure?"
"Probably." Ai answered. "his times are better than Kawamara-san."
"I wonder why…"
"I think seeing you guys in the relay brought out something in him. I can't describe it, but I think he…I don't know...I think he misses being part of that…."
"He did see us at the meet?" Kou asked stunned.
"Yeah…"
"I'm glad." Kou responded with a warm smile. "You know when he first became interested in the relay all those years ago he was so excited. That was his only event and he convinced the others to concentrate only on the relay too."
"Seriously?" Ai questioned. 'How did things get so different?' she thought.
"And he was so convinced that they were going to win. He even made me bring over a tin case before the meet so they could use it as time capsule for the trophy after they won."
"That's actually kind of sweet." Ai replied.
"Ai what are your brothers. We talk about Rin, but you haven't told me much about your family."
"Oh well out of the three, the one I'm closest with is…"
The two girls chatted as they checked out more events for the festival, food stands and played some games all the while talking about family, swimming, clothes, movies and music. After months of living, studying and practicing with the boys at Samezuka, Ai was happy for the refreshing change.
"Thank you Kou-chan I had fun." Ai said while they were waiting for the train.
"Me too! You and Hana should come over to my house for a sleep over some time." She added with a grin.
"I'd like that." The train had pulled up and Ai boarded giving a wave before it took off.
'It's late' Ai thought as she glanced at her watch while she walked along the dorm hall. She made it back in time before curfew but she knew Matsuokas schedule by now to know that he would probably be asleep. Ai was surprised when she peeked under the door to see the hue of the light. She softly opened the room and popped her head into the room to see Rin asleep at his desk. She gave a tilt of her head as she slipped off her shoes and walked over giving his shoulder a gentle shake.
"Matsuoka-senpai that's not good for your back." She commented. He jolted up before he blinked a few times as the drowsiness left his eyes. "Nitori…" he mumbled, as rubbed his eyes the drowsiness leaving them as he gave a quirked brow at the kimono she was wearing.
"Where have you been and why are you dressed like that?" He saw the white flower on her head band, the kimono and the purple eye shadow that brought out her bright blue iris and the light pink gloss still decorated her lips giving her a nice pout. 'She actually looks like a girl…' he thought noticing how the obi tied around her waist brought definition to the curve of her hips.
"Oh I was at the festival." She explained.
"Again?" Ai nodded as Rin eyes wandered to the top of her head. "With Gou?"
"Ye…yes." Ai stammered. "How did you know?"
"That's her headband." Rin commented.
"Oh!" Ai's hand went up to her head. "I forgot to give this back…" She pulled it off and slipped it into the drawer.
"I'm heading to bed." Rin mumbled, but he stopped before he slipped into his bunk. "Where you at my house?"
"Yes…it's a really nice house. And steve is so sweet. I'm just going to change and head to bed myself."
Rin blinked a few times as he sat down and then saw his phone. He flipped it open seeing a message from his sister.
Kou to Rin: Hey big brother sorry to bother you. I know Ai's phone died while we were out and I wanted to make sure she made it back safe. Did she?
He sighed as he typed in the one worded reply of 'Yeah.' He thought that be the end of the conversation till another one popped up.
Kou to Rin: Doesn't she look nice?
He rolled his eyes as he laid down pulling the covers over. The bathroom door opened and Ai hung up the kimono in her closet before she walked over to the bunks.
Rin noticed her face was bare again as she flashed him a smile.
"Okay…night Matusoka-senpai."
"Night…" he muttered as the girl clamored up the ladder. He realized that the girl sleeping above had somehow managed to literally be a part of his everyday life and now was a part of his family. 'Is it bad if I think they're getting close?' he wondered before he shook his head with a sigh and let his eyes shut.
Omake
Back at the squid festival
"You should be thanking me Rei-chan!" Nagisa replied to his glowering friend.
"For what?"
"Well I know you like her!"
"I don't like her!"
"And she looked nice today ne?" Nagisa commented. "She looked really pretty in that kimono and with her makeup huh?"
"I am not doubting that she looked nice." Rei replied. "As did Matsuoka-san."
"Yeah but you don't look at her the way you do Matsuoka-san." Rei's glare only deepened to the Iwatobi blone.
"Come on Rei-chan you should be happy. You followed her yesterday to make sure she wasn't dating Rin-chan."
"I was following Matsuoka-senpai so he wouldn't bump into Haru by providing intel on his location."
"And I tried to make a meet cute today."
"Meet cute?" Rei asked.
"What I tried to make happen."
Earlier during the festival
"We should hurry and get back to Nanase and Tachibana-senpai." Nagisa said as they were walking from the portapotties.
"Yeah…" Rei eyes then stopped seeing Ai waiting at the end of the line.
"Oh Rei it's Ai-chan." Nagisa remarked excitedly. "You should go talk to her since you have a crush on her and all."
"I don't have a crush on her." Rei denied but the red on his cheeks told him otherwise. He pushed the glasses up his face as he continued on. "I just admire her passion for swimming and dedication to the…"
A harsh shove from the smaller swimmer caused him to stumble right into her and he thanked his quick reflexes that he managed to keep them both upright. He didn't know how he managed to keep his composure as she glanced up at him with those bright blue eyes.
"I'd really thought that work." Nagisa stated.
"Nearly knocking her down in front of the restroom stalls. Yes very romantic." Rei sarcastically implied.
"Well we can always try something else Rei-chan." Nagisa elbowed him with a teasing smile and a wink.
"Try what else?" Makato asked catching their conversation as the group came closer together.
"Ah…some more food!" Rei covered.
"I wish there were mackerel." Haru commented as he glossed over the food stands. "I'm getting tired of squid."
"Yeah too bad there isn't a mackerel festival." Makato said with a chuckle.
