In pursuit of Olympic dreams

by LadyZeia

[AU-Canon Divergence/Alternate Timeline] Rin returns to Japan with one goal in mind: Rio. He's got it all planned out—kill it at the Olympic Trials, make the National Team, and—in Rio—show the world. Falling in love, though? That isn't supposed to happen… Olympic Free. Language, adult situations. RinHaru/HaruRin. Epilogue: Follow the sun / Our shining, brilliant future.

37. More than water

Chapter 37: More than water

A/N: Many thanks to Mystik on AO3 for the Brazilian Portuguese corrections!

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Sunday, August 14th, 2016

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They were awake before sunrise—not out of bed, but awake…

Haru basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking, despite overheating with Rin's sweat-slicked skin against his. Warm, golden rays of morning fell across the bed as they slowly caught their breath. Neither of them had remembered to draw the curtains last night.

Eventually, Rin lifted his head, his crimson eyes drowsy and sated, a smile playing on his lips. "'Morning, Haru…"

Haru's heart did that thing. I hope I never stop falling in love with you. He angled his head, seeking his lover's lips. "'Morning, Rin." Their kisses were soft and brief, interspersed with breathing as they recovered.

They washed up in the shower, Haru not hearing movement from the room next door, which hopefully meant they hadn't woken their flat-mates.

He dried off while Rin cranked up the water temperature and lingered a bit longer. With the towel slung around his hips, Haru wiped fog from the mirror and perused his reflection…the left side of his neck in particular. Warmth gathered in his cheeks. Could be worse. A smudge of red remained—fading but not gone—and if he looked really close, he could pick out a few darker pinpricks exactly matching the layout of Rin's teeth. Haru touched the mark gingerly. It didn't hurt and Rin hadn't broken the skin… He smiled to himself. The memories alone were worth the awkward looks they'd get today. I don't mind people knowing we had a good time together last night.

The shower shut off, the curtain snapping to the side as Rin stepped out—dripping wet and wonderfully nude—and reached for a towel from the rack. His fingers stopped short, his face turning several shades of purple. Rin's gaze was locked on Haru's shoulder. "Shit, it's still…? Sorry, Haru. I, uh… I got a little carried away. You seemed really into it last night, but, ahhh… I shouldn't have—"

Haru let his lover squirm for a moment longer. You're so cute when you're embarrassed. "I don't have any regrets, Rin. Furutani-san said he wanted a challenge."

Rin gnawed his lower lip, leaving dents like the ones on Haru's skin.

Haru turned from the sink. "If you're gonna fret, I can always give you a matching one." He wound his arms around Rin's waist, not caring if he got wet again. "Would that be better?" A fine scatter of droplets clung to Rin's skin, inviting a kiss… Haru pressed his lips to the column of Rin's throat first, slowly moving lower.

"Nm…"

You're thinking about it. Haru smiled against Rin's shoulder. "Or maybe…" He slid a hand over Rin's backside, down to his thigh—

"Oi." Rin caught him by the wrist.

Haru lifted his head, bemused.

The epic scowl on Rin's face was ruined by flushed cheeks. "Matching's bad enough." But he tilted his head to the side, presenting his shoulder.

Haru's mirth evaporated, his brows lifting as he eyed the expanse of skin Rin was offering to him. It was tempting, but… He raked slick crimson strands behind Rin's ear. "Eu te amo, Rin," he whispered, kissing Rin's pouting lower lip.

Rin let out a breath in a puff of moist air, his gaze sheepish. His arms circled Haru's shoulders tightly. "Eu tambén te amo, Haru."

A soft press of lips gave way to a languid kiss, Rin gradually relaxing. Haru smiled as they parted, draping a towel over his lover's head before drying off for the second time.

They threw on Team Japan T-shirts, sweatshirts, and warmup pants—just enough to be presentable in the dining hall. Their apartment was quiet as they left, but there was giggling coming from the atrium…

Rin hesitated with his hand on the doorknob.

Haru listened for a moment, picking out a few voices. "I think it's just the Field Hockey team."

Rin exhaled with relief, though he still cracked the door before opening it all the way.

"Matsuoka-kun! Nanase-kun!" Three members of the team were present, greeting them with loud(ish) whispers. Ishikawa, Maki, and Yukimura wore short-sleeved practice jerseys and warmup pants. Ishikawa had printouts in one hand and a tape dispenser in the other, while Maki and Yukimura—both taller—did the actual posting to the growing wall.

"Ladies." Rin scrubbed a hand through his hair as they headed over, Haru following.

"We were so bummed we didn't get any of that famous Matsuoka karaoke last night," Maki said, on her tiptoes as she tacked a photo of the women's medley relay team to a blank spot high on the wall.

"It's only Sunday," Haru said, earning a glare from his lover which he wholeheartedly enjoyed. "Sorry about the tournament."

"Eh." Yukimura scowled as she grabbed the next photo from Ishikawa. "We got to compete, that's what matters."

"And we're done. Finally." Ishikawa winked at them. "Matsuoka-kun, if your friend Ty is looking for his shirt, we've got it on the fifth floor."

"And his—"

Rin cleared his throat, interrupting whatever Maki was going to say. "I'll tell him."

The girls laughed. "Here." Ishikawa gestured towards them with the stack of photos. "Make yourselves useful."

Haru and Rin spent a few minutes helping out, posting pictures in hard to reach places. There were tons from both medley races, along with the medal ceremony afterwards. Haru smiled at a photo of Momo beaming and running towards the camera with the Japanese flag streaming over his head, with half a dozen Rio officials in hot pursuit.

"This one turned out pretty good," Rin murmured.

Haru looked over. It was a shot of the podium, the four of them standing close together and holding their silver medals. "I can't believe you got through the whole ceremony without crying."

"Tch."

"Where's that one?" Maki asked, dusting off her hands as she returned.

Ishikawa's hands were empty. "Oh, that one? We posted it already."

"Oh." Maki grinned.

Haru lifted a brow.

"We'll handle the rest," Yukimura said, taking the last photos from their hands. "You've got somewhere to be, right?"

"Just breakfast." Haru shrugged.

The girls exchanged a glance that definitely meant trouble.

"How about you go on ahead and save us seats?" Ishikawa said, tearing off strips of tape.

Haru flicked his gaze to Rin, who was eyeing the girls suspiciously.

Rin switched to an easy smile, apparently deciding to play along. "Sure. We'll see you there. Let's go, Haru." He turned for the elevator.

Haru studied the trio for one moment more before joining Rin at the west elevator. The car arrived in short order and they boarded—

Oh.

Rin flushed pink beside him.

Together, they stared at the poster on the back wall—a close-up behind the blocks from last night's relay, with Rin kissing his wrist during the breaststroke leg. The camera caught them looking at each other, the warmth and affection in their gazes unmistakable. On the lower right border, the photographer's name was printed in English: Moriko Haseda.

Squeals followed them into the car. "It's the best picture!" "So cute!"

The elevator doors closed, leaving the Field Hockey team members behind as the car began to descend towards the lobby.

Rin rolled his shoulders and leaned back, slipping his hands into his pockets as he continued to study the photo. His face was bright red.

I like it. Can we put it next to the sunset poster? Haru waited for Rin to react, to complain or…

"Guess they ran out of room on the Wall, huh?"

Haru smiled, hugging Rin around the waist from behind. He nuzzled Rin's cheek, strands of scarlet hair tickling his nose. "Let's steal it after breakfast."

"Mm." Rin was smiling as he turned his head, catching Haru's lips.

-x-

As they entered the dining hall, the first thing that caught Haru's attention was a loud mechanical cranking sound. He glanced over in time to watch an Olympian in blue and white warmups grab a packet from the neon green condom dispenser and head on his way, tucking the item into a pocket. Haru had become accustomed to the sound over the last two weeks, but it was still somewhat jarring and noticeable, just from volume alone. Rin paused briefly, blushing, and then promptly moved on, tugging on Haru's hand.

The Field Hockey team members joined them shortly after they sat down, carrying on a lively conversation that Haru mostly tuned out. Rin was quiet during the meal, but Haru was content to leave him to his thoughts as the girls chattered.

He was about three-quarters done with his plate when he found Rin staring at something on the other side of the dining hall. At first, Haru thought Rin was just zoning out, but the way Rin sucked in a breath and quickly looked away… Haru followed Rin's gaze, hearing another loud crank as a couple of athletes crowded around the condom dispenser.

Oh. A flutter of nerves and excitement woke inside Haru. He reached for his water bottle to quench a suddenly dry throat. I wanted to save that until after Rio. …And Rio's over. He swallowed a mouthful of cool liquid.

Do you want to, Rin? Heat rose in Haru's neck and face as he considered it. Taking this next step with Rin—now his unofficial fiancé—had been on his mind off and on since they first became lovers in Barcelona. (To be fair, he'd had plenty of thoughts and fantasies long before that, but it wasn't until the night of their Barceloneta Beach date that those things became real, possible, even inevitable.) He wanted their first time to be perfect and romantic for Rin, not like a pool full of sakura blossoms they couldn't swim in because of a downpour.

I wonder if the Grand Mercure hotel has any rooms available… He doubted he could match Málaga, but even a simple room would be more romantic than squeaky twin beds in an Athletes' Village apartment.

Just the notion that Rin might want that with him—that Rin was thinking about it too—flooded Haru with warmth. I want to share that with you. We just need to get some things. Then, maybe as soon as tonight… He took a longer drink of water, trying to cool himself off and calm down. It only half-worked and he lost the rest of his appetite.

Beside him, Rin was contemplating the same bit of salad that had been speared on his fork for the last several minutes, pushing it around his plate (sans dressing—Rin was too healthy to add dressing). His elbow was propped on the edge of the table, his chin resting in the heel of his hand. Rin's eyes were on his food, though he couldn't be seeing any of it. Any other time, Haru would've pegged him as brooding, but the way he was biting his lower lip meant this was something else entirely—something to match the rosy hues staining his cheeks.

"Rin?" Their arms brushed as Haru leaned over.

"Huh?" Rin jumped, his fork clattering to his plate. "Eh, sorry." He rubbed the back of his neck. "My mind was elsewhere. Yeah, Haru?"

If I asked, would you tell me? What you see when you imagine us together? Those weren't questions to voice in the dining hall. The thoughts themselves were dangerous enough.

"You're…not hungry?"

Rin drew a breath, reaching for his water bottle. "Nah, I guess not. I should've just gotten a protein shake or something."

"We can go if you want."

Rin surveyed their plates and shook his head. "We're almost done anyways. It'll be nice when we have a fridge to store leftovers again."

At home, at the apartment we're going to find for the two of us. Haru smiled as he gathered a bit of rice with his chopsticks. He lowered his voice to a whisper for his lover alone. "I want one bed, Rin. When we get an apartment."

Rin coughed, returning his water bottle to the table and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. The glare was hot and irritated.

Unfazed, Haru met Rin's gaze, lifting one brow smoothly. You'd only react that way if you were thinking bedroom thoughts.

Rin exhaled hard through his nose. "Hurry up and finish your food."

As soon as they were done, they excused themselves and bussed their trays, heading for the exit. Rin, still seeming annoyed, had a firm grip on Haru's hand as they left the dining hall. But Haru still caught one last flick of scarlet eyes towards the green dispenser.

Outside, the morning was mild with a bit of mist still burning off. Rin was aiming for their tower, but Haru stopped in the walkway. "I thought we could run an errand."

Rin glanced back, his features easing. "Oh, you need something from the Plaza?"

"We could get things there," Haru said. "But it's free at the clinic."

Rin's lips parted around an intake of breath, his face reddening.

Haru's pulse was thudding in his throat as he pulled Rin close, until they were face-to-face. "I saw you looking," he whispered. "I'm good with getting supplies. For when we both want to."

Rin blushed the color of his hair. He looked away as if mortified, but his gaze didn't wander for long, fastening onto Haru's face as though he couldn't bear to look elsewhere. His grip tightened on Haru's hand. "You want to, Haru? I mean, obviously not now, but…" He pressed his lips. "Soon?"

"I want to," Haru said, and the flash of delight and wonder in Rin's eyes melted him inside, his heart dancing in his chest.

"The fuck are we waiting for? Let's gear up," Rin muttered, starting to pull him in the opposite direction—towards the Polyclinic.

Haru resisted. "Rin."

He stopped. "Yeah?"

Haru took a moment to work moisture back into his mouth. "I want this to be…special. I'm not sure if we can find a place as good as Málaga, but—" He broke off as Rin crashed into him with a hug and kissed him square on the lips…

In front of the dining hall…still in the Village, though.

"Haru." Rin's smile was like sunrise and sakura blossoms, his eyes soft. "I don't want a big production. If you do, that's fine with me, but I just want us. We've spent two weeks here, swimming the best we've ever swam in our lives, making memories with our teammates and our loved ones. I want this memory too. I can't think of anything more special than to end our time in Rio like this."

Haru's breath caught. Rin…

"I want easy, comfortable… Hell, I don't care if the bed's noisy. It's been our place here, so…"

Our place. Haru swallowed around the lump that formed in his throat. Everywhere I'm with you is our place. He wrapped his arms around Rin, squeezing hard. "OK."

Rin's smile broadened. "OK?"

Haru nodded. "Yeah." He grabbed Rin's hand. "Let's go."

-x-

The Policlínica was just east of the long hangar-like dining hall—two massive tents with colorful banners and a white cross symbol. The walkway took them past glass partitions before they got to the doors in the center; inside, Haru could see a row of folding plastic chairs arranged as a waiting area and other stations. He got the door, Rin falling quiet as they went inside. Do all medical facilities make you uncomfortable, Rin? If so, he should've picked the Plaza.

There was a check-in desk on the right draped with a red Rio 2016 banner. Beside it was a refrigerated Coca-Cola case of bottled water. Staff wore red, orange, and purple Rio polos—reminding Haru of sunsets and Rin's eyes. Tall partitions divided the rest of the space from the front waiting area. There were several people around—athletes and team doctors in addition to the staff. Just inside the door was another green dispenser proclaiming, Celebrate with a condom! in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

"Tch." Rin frowned, his face reddening as he looked around. "They couldn't just leave a box out or something?"

Oh, you're just embarrassed. "I guess we have to ask." It was Haru's first closeup look at the machine. He read the small English text below the dial. "Natural latex from the Amazon. Responsible use of natural resources."

"Haru…" Rin made a strangled noise, pulling him away.

They got in line for the check-in desk, where three staff members were helping other athletes and handing out paperwork.

While Haru waited, Rin fidgeted. Every few seconds, Haru caught his lover doing something else—rubbing the back of his neck, massaging an elbow, tugging on the zipper of his sweatshirt. Haru rolled his eyes. It's not a big deal, Rin. This is a normal thing that people do.

When it was finally their turn, Haru went up to the woman who had called them over.

"Bom dia! How can I help you today?" She had a bright smile and wavy black hair pulled into a ponytail.

"Bom dia," Haru said. "We would like condoms and lubricant packets, please."

"Certainly! I can help you with that. For both of you?" She twisted in her chair, pausing before getting up.

Haru glanced over. Rin was more behind him than beside him, blushing like a tomato with his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Yes."

"Just a moment, please." She disappeared behind a nearby partition and came back seconds later with two colorful Rio 2016 bags. "Here you are. Will this be enough for now?"

Haru peeked inside the offered bags. Each had maybe a dozen emerald green packets alongside twice as many half-sized white and silver packages. This is plenty. Haru nodded. "Yes, thank you." He handed Rin a bag while he took out one of the white packets, scanning the tiny silver text that was mostly in Portuguese.

"Haru."

Haru tuned out his lover, not seeing in the text what he was looking for. He held out the packet. "Is the lubricant water-based?"

There was a muffled expletive behind him, an arm hooking around his neck and dragging him from the desk. Rin's Obrigado to the clinic staff was strained.

Nn. Haru pressed his lips, reluctantly accepting the fact that they were leaving. He managed to dip his head to the slightly confused staff member. "Obrigado."

"De nada." She smiled back with a little wave. "I believe so, by the way."

Rin didn't let him go until they were outside and beyond sight range of the clinic's windows. "Haru, damnit." His face was purple again.

Oh, you think— Haru blushed. "Not that, Rin. I read in my research—oil-based lubricants can cause latex to break, so it really has to be—"

Rin's glare shut him up in an instant.

Haru quietly returned the lubricant packet to his bag.

"Hmph." Rin massaged the back of his neck, looking away. The motion was subtly sensual. "You can't fool me, Haru. You were thrilled when your internet surfing turned up that detail." Rin's flick of eyes was lethally hot, Haru's mouth going dry.

He clutched the plastic bag. "I was…OK with it."

Rin turned, his approach stealing the air from Haru's lungs. It only got worse when Rin slid an arm over his shoulder, fingertips curling into Haru's hair and scraping lightly against his scalp.

Haru shivered with pleasure—

"I guess I can forgive you," Rin murmured, his voice low and laced with the tease. "As long as you still want me more than—"

"—I love you more than water, Rin." The words tumbled from Haru's lips in a rush. So much more.

Rin's eyes widened momentarily. He laughed, slipping both arms around Haru's shoulders for a proper hug. "You're forgiven," he whispered, his lips finding Haru's cheek.

Haru's face was hot as Rin drew back. Do you have any idea what your smile does to me, Rin? I'd trade whole pools just for one glimpse…

Rin—maybe oblivious, maybe not—treated him to a grin and grabbed his hand. "Come on."

They were heading up the steps towards the lobby of their tower when Haru's phone buzzed in his pocket.

The text was from Director Kaya. [Slight change of plans, Nanase-kun. No speedos. Bring your tech suits instead. Everything else in the instructions is the same. Can you tell Matsuoka-kun? See you guys soon!]

Haru showed Rin the text.

"Thank God," Rin muttered. "My legs are less pale but not by much."

Nn. It's too bad. Haru returned the phone to his pocket.

Rin quirked a brow. "You're disappointed?"

He shrugged. "Haseda's poses would've been good, I think."

Rin flushed pink. "Tch."

They entered the lobby, passing several hungover teammates. For their greetings, they only got half-hearted grunts in reply. Haru followed Rin onto the elevator—the one with their poster tacked to the wall—with a few guys from athletics.

"Nice pic." The sprinter gave them a thumbs-up.

The color in Rin's face deepened. "Thanks."

The guys got off on the third and fourth floors, leaving them with the elevator to themselves. Haru carefully pried the poster from the wall of the car. "We'll have to pack these up."

"Huh? The posters?"

Haru nodded. "We're not leaving them here."

"But what are you gonna do with them at home?"

"Hang them in our apartment." What else are you supposed to do with them?

"Haru! You can't hang those where people will see!"

The elevator arrived at the eighth floor. Rin dug his key from his pocket as they headed for their door.

Haru carried the poster. "We're on a billboard in Shibuya."

Rin glared at him over his shoulder as he unlocked the door. "You know which one I'm talking about."

I like that picture of us. They toed off their shoes in the entryway. "I wasn't suggesting we hang it in the kitchen, Rin." In their bedroom, Haru contemplated the different walls and the lighting. "This one's OK by the beds?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

Haru hung the picture on the wall across from their beds, beneath the AC unit. It looked nice with the daylight coming in from the balcony; the blue of the Aquatic Centre shimmered like water. That done, he sat down on the edge of his bed, placing his bag from the clinic in the drawer of his nightstand.

Rin's face was red as he rounded the beds, doing the same. He straightened, rubbing the back of his neck. "You, uh…wanna play it by ear for later? Tonight or…whenever."

Haru's heart picked up at the thought, warmth gathering in his cheeks. "That sounds good."

Rin swallowed and looked away, nodding.

Haru twisted on the bed, facing his lover. "It's OK, Rin. I'm nervous too."

Rin looked at him in surprise, his eyes widened. "You are?"

"It'd be weird if we weren't, I think." For our first time together.

"Haru." Rin's face softened, his eyes shining with love as he climbed onto the bed—

Haru's back hit the mattress, his arms full of Rin as they went down in a heap.

"Love you," Rin whispered into his hair.

Haru's breath hitched. Rin… He slipped his hands beneath Rin's sweatshirt, holding his lover close.

Rin initiated the kiss; it lingered sweetly against Haru's lips when they broke apart to breathe. Above him, Rin was smiling, his cheeks still stained pink.

"I can't wait to be with you," Rin murmured.

Haru exhaled hard. He tightened his arms and rolled them, putting Rin underneath. "Let's skip the photo shoot."

"Haru…" Rin laughed, prodding him in the side with a thumb. "Aren't you the patient one?"

"How am I the patient one?"

Rin's hands threaded into Haru's hair, carding warmly through the strands and sending pleasant shivers down Haru's spine. "With everything but water, I guess."

"That's right." Haru ducked his head, working his mouth lightly along Rin's jaw. He could feel Rin's steady, slightly elevated pulse against his lips. "You're better than water, Rin. How do I stand a chance when you say you want me?"

Rin hummed in his throat beneath Haru's kisses. "Fine with me, Haru. Will you be giving Tsuchiya-san our regrets?"

Damnit. Haru lifted his head, meeting the mirth and pleasure in Rin's eyes.

"There'll be time," Rin murmured, cupping his face and coaxing him to another kiss.

-x-

Japan House was at the Cidade das Artes, in the heart of Barra da Tijuca. As the bus pulled into the parking lot, Haru stared wide-eyed out the window. The open-air structure had three floors—a contrast of sharp, jutting angles and gentle curves with ramps, staircases, and thin columns—all situated on a diamond of grass with reflecting pools that sparkled in the sun.

Rin leaned against his back. "I bet that Architecture degree is looking pretty good right now."

Mn. Haru pressed his lips, not denying it. He reached for his camera case as Rin chuckled, kissing him on the cheek.

As soon as they got off the bus, Haru headed for the reflecting pools, framing the building with the rippling water in front. It would only be better with waterfalls. …Or filled with water. Haru inhaled and snapped a couple of shots. A three-story pool—

"Haru, we gotta go." Rin jabbed his thumb towards the entrance, where the rest of the team was headed.

Haru reluctantly lowered his camera. "Rin, of all the pools I've ever imagined, I've never been free until this moment."

"Oh boy." Rin flicked his eyes skyward, taking Haru by the arm. They were both wearing short-sleeve Team Japan T-shirts with their black warmup pants. Rin carried a backpack, the strap slung over one shoulder, for the items Director Kaya had asked them to bring.

"Why can't I add glass walls and fill that with water?"

"That's…a lot of water. Probably Physics."

Nn. I hate Physics. Unless it's water physics.

The entrance was on the first floor in the shadow of the building, marked by a white and red banner that read Tokyo 2020 Japan House with the Tokyo 2020 emblems for the Olympics and Paralympics. Left of the banner was the Japanese flag, two JOC flags, and a flag bearing the green gingko leaf symbol for Tokyo Metropolis.

Off to the right, they went through a security checkpoint on a walkway between two shallow pools. Haru tugged on the neck of his T-shirt, suddenly parched. I haven't gotten to swim at all today. Why didn't I at least sit in the bath this morning?

Rin poked him in the arm with a water bottle.

Thanks. Haru gestured with a tilt of his head, accepting the bottle and opening it.

Rin smiled as he drank.

They trailed their teammates, coming to wall-sized display boards, the first of which bore the header Descrição dos Jogos Olímpicos de Tokyo 2020. In Portuguese and English (with French and Japanese in smaller text below), the display welcomed the world to Tokyo 2020 with the Games Vision:

[Sport has the power to change the world and our future.

The Tokyo 2020 Games will bring positive reform to the world by building on three core concepts:

Striving for your personal best (Achieving Personal Best)

Accepting one another (Unity in Diversity)

Passing on the Legacy for the future (Connecting to Tomorrow)]

The space beyond opened up to an exhibition hall. To the right was a Hina Matsuri display well over two meters tall and several meters wide, filled with colorful Girls' Day dolls and flowers. Past that, volunteers were handing out bags of tourist materials while a few of Haru's teammates snuck towards the line for the sake tasting station.

In a large glass case, there was a miniature to-scale model of the new national stadium to be built in Shinjuku. Haru could already imagine standing under the fireworks with Rin at the opening ceremony four years from now. If only they'd included a model of the new Olympics Aquatic Centre that was supposed to be built near Tatsumi. He'd tried to get a glimpse of the place months before—one of those times he was by himself, thinking of Rin—but there was nothing to see except a white temporary wall surrounding the construction site.

"Oi, Haruka!" Takara waved him over from another exhibit. She was standing on a map of Tokyo in front of a large video screen. There was a row of green squares on the floor with place names like Asakusa, Shibuya, Odaiba, and Tokyo Skytree. "Here." She maneuvered him by the shoulders until he was standing on the Shibuya square.

The screen switched to a video of the Shibuya crossing under pristine bright blue skies. On the left, atop one of the main buildings, was his billboard with Rin.

Rin sighed behind him while Takara laughed.

"What? You're famous. Enjoy it."

Seeing home made Haru nostalgic, a lump forming in his throat. I've been gone for so long.

"Maekawa-sensei, can I eat these?" Momo was one exhibit over.

"It's plastic, Momotarou-kun."

Haru left the video, joining Momo in front of a tall display case of clear glass, filled with life-like plastic replicas of all kinds of Japanese foods. His mouth started to water just from looking. When he found it, he almost pressed his nose to the glass. The miso-glazed saba taunted him; it was a thick cut, perfectly golden brown, with flecks of julienned ginger… At the end of this week, he'd be home. He could make all the saba no miso ni he wanted, and he could paint again, sit in the ofuro, see Makoto, and use a civilized toilet.

Haru knew when Rin joined him. Even with all of their teammates around, he could pick out Rin's footsteps. Haru tore his eyes from the fish, meeting Rin's gaze…and the smile on Rin's face—small and warm—was a reminder of Rin's promise, that if he didn't want to go to Paris for the World Cup, it was OK. But with the reassurance came turmoil.

As much as Haru knew he needed space and quiet and a break from traveling… I want to go to Paris with you. Of all of the World Cup locations, Paris was the place he most wanted to see with Rin. –Not because of any swimming venue or event, but because of a phone call Haru took while gazing at the departures board at Charles de Gaulle airport…when you first told me you dreamt about our family. That moment opened his eyes to a whole new dream and set of possibilities, waking a longing inside him that was fiercer than his homesickness. A few days in Paris wasn't going to further that dream specifically, but it was a city famous for love. How could he pass up the chance to romance his sort-of fiancé, especially with the rule not in play?

Rin quirked a brow, scarlet eyes flicking over his face. He smiled and poked Haru in the forehead. "There's a lot going on in there."

Haru nodded. "I need water time."

Rin's face softened. He brushed a section of hair from Haru's eyes. "After this? We can go to the pool or you can sit in the bath. Whatever you want, Haru."

Rin… Haru drew a slow breath.

The sound of a shutter diverted their attention. Haru looked over, not surprised to find Haseda on the other side of the lens.

"Hey guys." She lowered the camera and waved. Haseda's reddish-brown hair was tamed behind a sports headband. She wore a black athletic top with white lines and slashes of gray over black pants. "Gorgeous day for a photo shoot."

"Ah." Haru dipped his head.

"Sorry to change everything up at the last minute, but Director Kaya will explain when she gets here. She blames me of course." Haseda winked. "See you soon!" She headed off, searching for new victims for her omnipresent lens.

Haru exchanged a glance with Rin. They kept going, wandering from one exhibit to the next. There was a station offering water from the Ogouchi Reservoir in Tokyo, a cutaway of a vibrant blue Toyota car powered by a fuel cell, a display of Ajinomoto food products for athletes, and mannikins wearing the different variations of their Rio uniforms.

A few minutes later, Maekawa and Akagi started rounding up the team. The pathway narrowed again between two shallow reflecting pools, bringing them to a stage with the Tokyo 2020 symbols for a backdrop and a seating area out front.

Multiple video cameras were aimed at the stage; Haseda was towards the front and to the side, taking test shots. Members of the Japanese media were present, Haru and Rin getting roped into impromptu questions, much like in the Mixed Zone last night.

At promptly 10am, with all of the team gathered, the screens to either side of the stage came alive, showing a replay of the medley heats from Friday morning. Haru squeezed Rin's hand as they watched, listening to the cheering and the excited announcers' voices in English and Portuguese covering Team Japan's prelim race with Momo on back, Captain Ikehara on breast, Kawamura on fly, and Rin bringing home a first-place finish as anchor. Rin got a little misty-eyed, Haru smiling. I loved watching you swim that race.

As the replay concluded, Kawamura was led onstage by JOC and JASF officials. The team cheered, their applause and whistles filling the cavernous room. Kawamura smiled, looking a tad emotional as he nodded in acknowledgement of the accolades.

Saeki, from the JOC Executive Board, took the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is the privilege of the Japanese Olympic Committee to award the silver medal in the Rio 2016 men's four-by-one hundred medley relay to Kawamura Ryouta-kun, for his extraordinary contribution in the preliminary round."

The JOC President and the JASF Director came onstage to loud cheering. A JASF official held the tray as the JOC President lifted the gleaming silver medal and looped the multi-colored lanyard over Kawamura's head. They shook hands, Kawamura blinking as though on the verge of tears as he clasped the medal. He got the Rio emblem from the JASF Director, then posed for pictures with the officials.

"Kawamura-kun!" "Ryouta!"

Otani was waving a small Japanese flag in the front row and likely crying given the way she was leaning on Sada's arm. "Kawamura-kun!"

Saeki returned to the microphone. "At this time, I'd like to welcome to the stage the rest of the men's preliminary relay team. Mikoshiba Momotarou-kun, Captain Ikehara Yoshino, Matsuoka Rin-kun."

"Damnit," Rin muttered.

Haru grabbed Rin's silver medal from the backpack, slipping it over his lover's head. "You got this."

Rin blushed, but headed off towards the stage, leaving Haru with the backpack.

As the relay team members gathered on stage, exchanging handshakes with the JOC President and JASF Director, Haru took out his camera. He snapped a few test shots, adjusted his settings, and took a few more. Even with all of the daylight flooding in and shadows from overhead structure, the stage was lit perfectly. Rin glowed through Haru's lens, grinning as he posed with his teammates. And people wonder why I'm always looking at you in all the pictures when we pose together… Haru smiled to himself, snapping frame after frame.

After the official photos, media flocked to the stage to interview the four medalists and the JOC and JASF personnel.

"Haruka."

Haru lowered his camera as Takara came over, fastening herself onto his left arm.

"You're not jealous? Being down here instead of up there?"

Haru shook his head. "I had my moment last night." He lifted a brow, looking at her. "You're jealous?"

Takara sighed, laying her head on his shoulder. "So jealous. I don't have a single medal to take home and Kawamura's got two."

"Medal counts weren't stopping you from kissing Yamazaki the other day."

She chuckled. "True. I just—" Takara stopped abruptly and smirked. "Haruka. There's a shark in your bed, hmm?"

Haru's face heated. He shrugged her off, tugging the neck of his T-shirt to cover the not-quite-faded mark.

She laughed musically, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "I won't tell," she whispered, her eyes warm with mirth as she scampered off.

Haru pressed his lips. Can we get to the makeup part already?

-x-

Haru carried the backpack as they rode an escalator upstairs. Team obligations were done for the day with the ceremony's conclusion. An optional reception was to be held in the hospitality hall on the second floor; afterwards, he and Rin were due to meet Director Kaya and Haseda for their photoshoot. The sign at the top of the escalator read Sushi. Haru followed the arrow.

The sushi bar was closed, but he smelled mouthwatering aromas coming from propped-open glass doors nearby. Inside, the hospitality hall had seating with white tablecloths and stunning views of Rio through floor-to-ceiling windows. Haru headed straight to the buffet, where several of his teammates were already gushing over familiar foods from home.

Rin tugged on the backpack. "I'll go find us seats."

Haru nodded, catching the smile on his lover's face before he turned back to the food.

At a table near the windows, Haru ate his first authentically Japanese meal since May, complete with hot green tea. The grilled fish melted on his tongue, the white rice was perfectly cooked, and the pickled vegetables were bright and sour.

Rin, his plate already finished, watched Haru eat with a look of mild envy as he swirled the remaining tea in his cup.

Haru lowered his chopsticks. "What?"

Rin smiled, sipping his tea. "Would you and the food like to be alone?"

Haru cut another sliver of fish, gathering a bit of rice from his bowl, and ate both together. "I'd rather eat your cooking, Rin. Or have you eat mine."

"Nn." Rin glanced away, blushing faintly. "Wanna make a date of it? Sometime next week, before Paris?"

"Sure. You cook dinner. I'll cook breakfast."

The color in Rin's cheeks deepened. "Deal." He sat back, his expression thoughtful. "We'll probably have to save the serious apartment hunting until September. With Sousuke's surgery on top of everything else, it'll be pretty busy right when we get home."

"Fine with me. We can take our time and find a good place." Haru traded his chopsticks for his tea cup. "Did you like the realtor you used?"

"Yeah, it was an easy company to work with."

Good, because I didn't like mine. "Let's use them."

"Sure. I can at least start them looking. We should make a list."

"Oven, separate toilet room, one bed." List done.

Rin laughed. "Close to campus, or at least to a pool."

"That's implied, Rin."

"Space for your painting."

"I can use the studio on campus if I have to."

Rin lowered his voice. "Not if you're painting me…"

Haru choked on a sip of tea. He set the cup down, wiping his mouth with a napkin. I can't handle you being frisky, Rin. Not even a little.

Rin's smile was sly as he returned to his tea.

Haru had just finished eating when Director Kaya and Haseda found them.

"Morning, guys!" Director Kaya stifled a yawn as she sat down, a mug of coffee in hand. She was dressed in street clothes rather than company apparel, oddly chipper for the dark circles beneath her eyes. Her strawberry-blond hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail.

"Director." They dipped their heads in greeting.

"Sorry to completely change the plan. I'm sure you were looking forward to being waxed and coated in bronzer, so I know this must be a disappointment." She winked.

Rin coughed lightly.

Kaya pulled a tablet from her bag. "It's all Haseda's fault. When she sent this over last night—" she pulled up the photo of Rin kissing Haru's wrist behind the blocks "—I had to scrap the whole thing."

Next to her, Haseda shrugged.

"Which brings me to a key question—are you opposed to the world knowing you're in love?"

Haru blinked, feeling the pleasant weight of the bracelet on his wrist. He exchanged a glance with Rin, who looked equally puzzled.

"Isn't it a little late to be shy about that?" Rin asked.

After Barcelona, Málaga, everything here in Rio…

"What we have in mind is more emotional and editorial rather than commercial," Kaya said. "Tsuchiya-san gave us the go-ahead, but you two have the final say."

I still don't understand the question. There's already pictures of us kissing in the stands… "Nothing…weird, right?"

"No, no, of course not!" Kaya waved a hand. "Believe me, Tsuchiya-san will have our heads if we come back with more sunset shots. We'll show you what we mean, and you can decide after you've seen the proofs. We'll take normal shots too."

"That's fine with me," Haru said.

"Sure." Rin was blushing faintly.

"Great! Are you ready for makeup? We'll head downstairs."

Director Kaya led them back to the first floor. They turned the opposite way from the exhibits, towards another narrow walkway framed by shallow pools. A sign read Authorized Personnel Only in English and Portuguese, with a security guard standing nearby.

Director Kaya presented credentials and they were waved through. They rounded a corner and Haru inhaled at the sight of lights, reflectors, and other equipment aimed at one of the water features.

"We'll be in the water?"

Kaya winked at him. "I knew you'd approve, Nanase-kun. While we do the final prep work, we'll leave you in the very capable hands of Furutani-san and Arita-san."

Their makeup artist and hair stylist from Málaga were standing outside of a temporary cabana adjacent to the makeshift studio.

"Hi again," Arita said. "Ready for haircuts?"

"Ah." Haru nodded.

Haru got his hair trimmed while Furutani worked on Rin's eyebrows. I forgot about that fun part… They switched, Haru enduring the plucking while Arita evened out Rin's hair.

When Furutani finally got out his makeup case, Haru's face grew hot. "We'll be shirtless, right?"

"Definitely for some of the pictures."

One chair over, Rin flushed bright red.

"Can you, um…?" He turned his head, pushing the neck of his T-shirt aside.

"Sure thing, Nanase-kun." Furutani was completely unfazed. "Go ahead and take off your shirt. Any other concerns?"

Haru stripped off the garment, relieved. "Don't think so."

Thirty minutes later, they were made up and powdered, their hair sticky with plenty of sea-salt hair spray. Haru headed out first in his sakura jammers, Rin following in his leg skins.

"Oh, you both look great!" Director Kaya met them at the edge of the shallow pool.

"Do you want us to take these off?" Haru asked, lifting his right wrist to show her the bracelet.

"No, those'll be fine for today. We'll start with the jackets."

An assistant brought over their white sakura jackets, freshly steamed.

"Haseda-san?"

"Ready." Haseda waved them over. "I want you there." She pointed at the middle of the pool. "Give me straight on so I can test the lighting."

Haru slipped his arms into his sleeves and waded out into the ankle deep, cool water. It felt heavenly on his toes. The bottom of the pool had a rough non-slick surface like a start block.

"Here?" he asked. Behind them was another walkway and pool, then daylight and Rio.

"Yup, right there." Haseda snapped a couple shots, checked them, and had her assistants make a few adjustments to the lighting.

When she finally seemed satisfied, Haseda gave Director Kaya a thumbs-up. "Music please."

"You got it." Director Kaya tapped her phone and music came on—instrumental, flowing, and airy—from nearby speakers.

"Sweet and easy, guys," Haseda said. "This is just a warmup."

Haru relaxed as Haseda directed them through a series of poses. He especially liked it anytime Rin's arm was around his shoulder, or their fingers were interlaced, or when he was allowed to look at Rin instead of the camera. It was different from Málaga. Haseda didn't ask for fierce or irritated. It was still sexy, but in subtler ways.

Rin's fingertips were along the edge of his jaw, Haru looking over his shoulder at his lover when Haseda called it.

"Alright, we got those."

Nn. I could look at you like this all day.

Rin smiled.

"Director?" Haseda adjusted settings on her camera.

"Yup." Kaya reached into her bag.

"The next shots will be sitting down. Nanase-kun, your left side to me, Matsuoka-kun, your right. Facing each other, knees bent, legs in front. Oh, and lose the jackets, please."

An assistant waded out to take their jackets.

Haru and Rin sat down in the shallow water.

"A little closer. Your legs can be tangled. As far as over or under, whatever's comfortable."

They were almost close enough to embrace when Haseda was done positioning them. The music changed to the sound of steady falling rain. Haru, unwillingly, flashed back to São Paulo—to a kid's pool and tears. He sobered in an instant, swallowing hard. The look on Rin's face wasn't much different. Haru rubbed his left wrist absently. Rin reached for his hand—

The flash startled them both.

"Sorry, guys," Haseda said. "Props, please."

"Right here." Director Kaya handed something to an assistant.

The man waded out, handing the object to Rin.

Haru went cold at the sight of the roll of tape in Rin's hand. An entire month's worth of painful memories gathered in his chest.

Rin closed his eyes, a tremor going through his body as he gripped the tape.

"Matsuoka-kun, I'd like you to tape Nanase-kun's wrist. No further direction. Just let it flow."

Rin…

"I…I haven't done this in a while," Rin said quietly.

"I know." Haseda's voice was gentle. "Trust us on this, alright?"

"Rin," Haru whispered, reaching for his lover's face, makeup be damned. "It's OK." If you don't want to do this…

"Haru, I've never been so glad this was over…" Rin lifted the roll, drawing out the required length and tearing it with his teeth. He split the tape down the center. "Gimme."

Haru offered his left wrist, his gaze held captive by the raw emotion in Rin's eyes as he positioned the first strip. In comparison, the flashes were barely noticeable.

Rin smoothed the tape into place, working carefully around the joint. He exhaled. "Not too tight?"

"No."

Rin started in on the second piece, below the first.

Haru swallowed. "You know…"

Rin glanced up at him.

"The longer we compete…it's almost inevitable we'll have to do this again." How many athletes retire because they want to? Versus, because their bodies can't take it anymore?

Rin drew a slow breath. "I know." He finished the second strip and went back to the roll of tape for another piece.

The cool water rippled around their hips and ankles.

"I'm not scared, Rin," Haru whispered. "I was the first time, but…" I thought I'd lost everything, in an instant.

Rin met his gaze.

"I'm not anymore." Because we got through it. "I know what's fragile and what's not."

"Haru…" Rin's eyes started to gleam.

"So next time—" Haru clutched Rin's fingers, the piece of tape still dangling from his hand, "—I know we'll get through that, too." We can handle anything together.

Rin sniffed hard, his eyes awash with moisture. "Damnit. Let me do this before you make me cry."

Haru smiled, letting Rin cover the two strips on his wrist with the final, wider piece—

Then Rin was pulling him closer, pressing his lips where Haru's pulse throbbed against the tape. Haru's heart did that thing in his chest, warmth gathering in his eyes. Thin trails spilled down the curve of Rin's face as he lifted his head.

Haru laced their fingers together, using his other hand to thumb away a tear. He leaned forward until their foreheads were touching. "You're the one shining now."

"Oi! Do not make references to my sixth grade essay—"

"Too late," Haru murmured, kissing him lightly.

Rin kissed him back, his sigh hanging in the air between them as they parted. "You picked a hell of a time to tell me all that," he muttered. His hand curled around the back of Haru's neck, holding them together.

"I just said what I was thinking."

"I know." Rin's eyes softened. "And that makes it so much worse."

Haru's smile grew. "Love you."

"Love you," Rin whispered.

They stayed like that, holding each other's gazes for a moment longer—

"Perfect. That's a wrap," Haseda said.

"Oh thank God," Kaya said. "Where's that tissue box?"

Haru wrapped both arms around Rin, sagging into his lover's arms. "Haseda-san's kind of evil."

Rin chuckled, hugging him back. "Yeah, no shit."

After another kiss, they untangled themselves and got up. Haseda was the only dry-eyed member of the crew. Everyone else was clutching tissues or passing the box around, including the assistants coming to them with towels.

Haru waded to the side and stepped out, drying off.

Director Kaya joined them, dabbing at reddened eyes. "You guys, that was… Wow, I—"

"She would like to say that you surpassed our wildest expectations," Haseda said. "I whole-heartedly agree."

Haru glanced around at the sniffling crew and back to Haseda. "Everyone else is…"

"I've trained myself not to get emotional when I shoot. Crying is for the editing room."

That's really great advice.

"Alright, alright." Kaya fanned her face. "We'll get this packed up. You guys change and take a break. You brought your square legs and street clothes like I asked, right?"

They nodded. "Yeah," Rin said.

Haru inhaled. "Does this mean we're gonna be shooting in a real pool next?"

Kaya smiled. "Not exactly shooting. Swimming, though? Yes."

-x-

Haru scrubbed his face clean in the bathroom with the makeup remover Furutani provided.

"It was waterproof on purpose," Rin muttered from one sink over.

"I was the one crying last time."

"True."

Haru dried off with a towel. He wanted to wash the sea-salt hairspray out of his hair, but Director Kaya promised there would be showers when they got to the pool. He was wearing his blue and green square legs under straight-cut black pants. His T-shirt was blue with an iridescent mackerel on the front. If he got cold later, he had a light gray jacket tucked into their backpack.

Rin, meanwhile, wore slim pants in gunmetal gray, a maroon tank top, and an unbuttoned overshirt with a gray and white checkered pattern and the sleeves rolled up. He leaned towards the mirror, fixing a couple strands of hair.

Haru pressed his lips, perusing his lover. You look good with clothes; you look good without clothes...

Rin caught him looking and quirked a brow. "Hm?"

"Nothing."

Rin smirked. "A picture'll last longer, Haru."

I'm drawing you in my head. Haru finished up, Rin shouldering the backpack as they left the restroom.

"How long do we have?" Haru asked.

Rin checked his phone. "Twenty minutes? Director Kaya said to meet them out front." He shrugged. "Guess we can check out some of the exhibits we missed?"

"OK."

They wandered back towards the main hall. It was early afternoon and Japan House was open to the public and crowded. Even here, it was easy to blend in wearing street clothes. Most of the people were curious about Tokyo 2020, rather than die-hard Japanese fans.

Rounding a corner took them by the stage. An interview was in progress, three people seated with microphones clipped to their clothes. Coach Maekawa was on the left in her Team Japan warmups. On the right, Haru recognized the two news anchors—one man, one woman—from the internet sports program Takara found. The man wore a black polo shirt and slacks while the woman wore a red sheath dress.

"Coach Maekawa, thanks so much for joining us today," the woman anchor said in English.

"Absolutely my pleasure. Thanks for having me," Maekawa said.

On the edge of the crowd, Haru spotted Natsumaya Mizuki, Maekawa's significant other.

Natsumaya noticed them immediately, waving them over. "Hey, you guys." She smiled broadly, light dancing off her earrings and necklace. She wore leggings with ankle boots, a fiery red tunic, and a short-sleeved jacket, her black hair long and loose.

Haru dipped his head as they joined her. "Natsumaya-san."

"Congrats again on the relay! How was your photoshoot with Moriko?"

"Thanks. It was…good," Haru said.

Natsumaya laughed. "Sounds about right." She checked her watch. "She was just with you, right? Have you seen her since?" She tugged on a length of hair before flipping it over her shoulder.

"It's been a few minutes," Rin said.

Natsumaya drew a deep breath, taking out her phone.

"Mizuki!" Haseda appeared breathless, camera in hand. "Sorry, sorry."

The two women embraced tightly, kissing each other's cheeks.

"You're not late. I'm just, ahhh." Natsumaya stepped back, smoothing a non-existent wrinkle from her clothes.

"Understandably." Haseda smiled. "You ready for this?"

"Ready? I've been ready for a decade and I still can't believe I'm doing this."

The pair hugged again.

"You got this, babe," Haseda said.

"Thanks for being here."

Natsumaya broke away, waving at them with a giddy, anxious grin before she threaded her way towards the stage.

Haseda winked at Haru and Rin, moving along the edge of the crowd towards the right side of the stage.

"I thought she was acting weird," Haru murmured.

Rin caught his hand. "We can probably see better from over there." He nodded in the direction Haseda went.

They headed over as the interview continued.

"It's been amazing working with the team in the leadup as well as here in Rio," Maekawa said. "I've been privileged to focus on our first-time Olympians; as you know, we've had a stellar group of swimmers this year. It's really exciting to think about the possibilities four years from now."

The woman anchor shuffled her talking cards. "Speaking of Tokyo 2020, what are your plans, Maekawa-san?"

"My contract with Koutei University extends through 2020 and I'm hoping I'll have the opportunity to renew it further."

Maekawa and the sports anchors chatted about Koutei and Coach Fujino for a couple questions and answers.

"Alright, enough business talk." The woman shifted forward in her chair. "On the personal front, I—we—" she nodded at her fellow anchor "—understand you have someone special here with you."

"Yes, my partner Mizuki." Maekawa had been smiling before, but she lit up as she waved to Natsumaya in the crowd. "It wouldn't feel like the Olympics without her here with me."

The news anchors glanced at each other. "Natsumaya-san, won't you join us?" The man waved her up, the crowd cheering as Natsumaya strode up the stairs and across the stage.

Two assistants trailed her, one with an extra chair and the other with a microphone to clip onto her collar.

"Crashing my interview again, Mizuki?" Maekawa asked in Japanese.

Natsumaya leaned down towards her, kissing her cheek. "You know you wouldn't have it any other way."

The women grinned at each other as Natsumaya sat down and adjusted the lapel of her jacket.

"Natsumaya-san, you took silver in the marathon in Athens and gold back in Sydney."

"That's right," Natsumaya said.

"And what have you been up to since?"

"I coach track and field at Todai. I couldn't be that far away from Kotone. It's an incredible job—the students and faculty are wonderful to work with. I'm thrilled that the team's well-represented here in Rio."

"Her English is really good," Haru murmured.

Rin nodded.

"Natsumaya-sensei!" The shout came from the crowd, followed by cheering.

Natsumaya waved.

"Sounds like they agree!" The woman anchor switched cards again, settling back in her chair. "Now, if you don't mind a sensitive topic… The two of you have been together since Sydney, but only made your relationship public well after London."

The crowd quieted, Maekawa nodding. "The world was a much different place sixteen years ago. There were too many risks, back then."

Natsumaya took her hand. "It's exciting to see how things are slowly changing—and there's still a long way to go—but every small step is something."

Maekawa's face was full of warmth as she looked at her partner. "Some things we've been hoping for have finally started to take shape." She returned her attention to the sports anchors. "We're not holding our breath by any means. But, even the next four years could bring some incredible changes."

Natsumaya drew a deep breath. "That said, we've done enough waiting, Kotone." She got up.

Maekawa's eyes went wide. "Mizuki…"

The crowd went wild with cheering as Natsumaya got down on one knee and pulled a small box from the pocket of her jacket.

Haru was barely breathing and Rin was squeezing his hand so hard his fingers were going numb—

"Kotone, I can't imagine a single moment of my life without you. We've talked about this before; let's finally do it."

Maekawa had one hand over her mouth. Tears were already streaking down her cheeks.

"Let's have that wedding we always dreamed of. I know Shibuya isn't everything we want yet, but until then... Koto-chan, will you be mine and let me be yours for the rest of our lives?"

Squeals, whistles, and loud cheers came from the crowd, drowning out whatever Maekawa said, but her nod was unmistakable as she got up, pulling Natsumaya to her feet. The applause surged as the couple embraced and kissed, grinning at each other through their tears. At length, they separated enough for Natsumaya to slide the ring onto Maekawa's left hand.

Beside Haru, Rin was blinking back tears. Haru tugged him close, kissing Rin's knuckles—his ring finger in particular. Someday…

Rin crashed into him, hugging him tight. Haru squeezed back.

On stage, an assistant brought out a box of tissues that the anchors made use of as Maekawa and Natsumaya finally settled back into their chairs.

"Now that's what I call a rock. You'll be lighting the whole city with that ring." The woman anchor offered the tissue box.

Natsumaya grabbed tissues for her and Maekawa. "When you've been planning for ten years, you can buy a big rock."

Rin sighed, his breath warm and moist against Haru's neck.

Haru kissed his cheek. "That fit your idea of a proper proposal, Rin?"

"Tch. Don't you dare, Haru."

He smiled. I'd better get going on that ring.

-x-

Haseda was on-time to their curb-side rendezvous, despite Haru and Rin last seeing her trapped in a bear hug with Maekawa and her fiancée. She arrived with her camera case slung over one shoulder and her eyes slightly red. "Breaking my own rule," she said, smiling as she loaded her equipment into the back of the van.

"Great, we're all here!" Director Kaya clapped her hands together. "Alright, Nanase-kun, Matsuoka-kun, let's get going. I'll explain along the way."

Haru and Rin climbed into the back seat, sitting together with their hands interlaced.

Director Kaya and Haseda took the seats in the middle while the driver started the engine. The vehicle pulled out of the parking lot and merged onto the Av. das Américas, heading east.

Kaya twisted in her chair to look at them both. "About your water platform, Nanase-kun. I wanted to take you behind the wall—remember I sent you those articles?"

Haru nodded.

"Well, the JOC said no for safety reasons—partly because I refused an armed police escort."

"Nothing says yoroshiku like an armed guy in a bulletproof vest," Haseda said.

Kaya winced. "Yeah. But, I did get clearance to take you to Rocinha, one of Rio's largest favelas. We'll start out at the Complexo Esportivo da Rocinha. It's a sporting complex that was just finished in 2010. They have a twenty-five meter pool—"

Pool. Haru perked up immediately.

"We're meeting up with the local swim team. You'll be able to swim with the kids—sort of like what you did back in Mesa, Nanase-kun."

"Really?" Aside from muddling through the language barrier, he'd had a lot of fun swimming with Luis and the other kids in Arizona. But Haru's eagerness was tempered as he felt the way Rin stilled beside him through their joined hands.

"Our guide will be there, too. She'll interpret for us, though it'll be English and Portuguese. We'll spend about an hour at the pool before heading up into Rocinha. We only have until nightfall. I promised the JOC we'd head out before dark."

"Is it that dangerous?" Haru asked.

"The JOC's always going to be conservative, especially with their gold medalists," Haseda said.

"The short answer is 'not right now,'" Kaya said. "The longer answer is complicated. But we'll abide the JOC's wishes. Other questions?"

Haru shook his head, glancing at Rin.

"None here," Rin said.

"Alright, it won't take long to get there." Kaya swiveled forward again.

Haru looked down at their clasped hands. You froze up when you saw that picture of me with Luis, too. Does it remind you of swimming with your dad? He lifted his gaze. "Rin?"

Rin answered with a small smile, squeezing Haru's fingers. The tilt of his head was a wordless, I'm OK, Haru.

Haru sat back, exhaling, his concern only half-assuaged.

-x-

The Complexo Esportivo da Rocinha was a little more than halfway between Barra da Tijuca and Copacabana. The AutoEstrada Lagoa-Barra cut through a valley between green hills, with the sports center on the south side of the highway—in front of a concrete archway that provided a pedestrian bridge over the road. To the north, Rocinha climbed the slopes in a sea of colorful, closely packed buildings.

The driver pulled off to the right, parking underneath a curved blue roof bearing the center's name. A woman in jeans and a sunset orange shirt was waiting, her hair falling in tight black spirals. They spoke briefly in Portuguese before the driver turned to Director Kaya.

"Obrigada!" Kaya waved to them in the back. "This is us!"

Kaya and Haseda got out first, then Haru and Rin extracted themselves from the backseat. They climbed out into warmth and sunshine, the day heating quickly. I wish I had my sunglasses. But they were tucked into the backpack Rin carried and it was silly to expend the effort to get them out when they were about to go swimming.

While Kaya and Haseda shook hands with their guide and exchanged pleasantries in a mix of Portuguese and English, Haru glanced at Rin. He looked a little more at ease now, but Haru couldn't tell what Rin was thinking or how much of it was effort rather than effortless.

In front of them, a wide staircase led up to the entry gate. Haru could already hear splashing water and kids' squeals. He drew a breath, tugging on the neck of his T-shirt.

Rin rolled his eyes, smiling more naturally.

"Nanase-kun, Matsuoka-kun." Kaya waved them over. "We'd like you to meet Marcela Alves. She'll be our guide here in Rocinha."

Haru went first, offering his hand. "Boa tarde. Meu nome é Haruka Nanase."

Marcela gave him a warm handshake. She had a scatter of freckles across her nose and both cheeks, sparkling brown eyes, and plenty of smile lines in glowing amber skin. "Muito prazer em conhecê-lo, Senhor Haruka! Welcome to Rocinha."

Haru dipped his head. "Obrigado."

Rin held out his hand. "Rin Matsuoka. Prazer em conhecê-la, Senhora Alves."

"Likewise, Senhor Rin." They shook. "Please call me Marcela."

Rin nodded.

"Thank you for coming today. The kids are going to be so excited that you're here."

"You left it a surprise?" Haseda asked.

"Yes." Marcela's smile was genuine if pained. "It's better this way. Plans can change very easily around here."

So no one gets disappointed if we don't show up. Haru sobered at the thought.

"If you're ready, we can go. You'll meet the coaches upstairs."

They followed Marcela up to the entry gate where Director Kaya took care of the paperwork and payment. Past the turnstile, a curved walkway ran between the pool on the left and a soccer field on the right, leading to a white and blue building. Through the fence on the left, the five-lane, 25m pool shimmered in the sunlight. Girls and boys of various ages in practice suits were in and around the pool, some swimming laps, others stretching. Several of the kids used flotation devices.

Near the entrance to the building, they met the coaches, Marcela translating. An assistant took them to the locker room.

"Don't forget your sunscreen and insect repellent." Director Kaya waved as they headed inside. "I promised the JOC."

Haru and Rin got a few wide-eyed stares and whispers along the way, especially from the kids they passed.

The locker room was fairly empty, Haru undressing next to Rin and taking out his cap and goggles.

Rin, stripped down to his black and red square legs, fit their backpack into one of the narrow lockers. "Shower first?"

Haru followed. "Rin."

Rin exhaled, glancing back at him with a small smile. "I'm OK, Haru. This'll be fun. You liked swimming with the kids in Arizona."

Yeah, but…

Rin looked away. "Maybe I wouldn't have picked this, but I can't run from everything that reminds me of my dad. So let's do it." His eyes were flinty with determination when their gazes met.

Rin…

Rin's face softened. "You didn't forget already, did you? I said I wanted to be part of this with you."

Haru remembered the conversation—at the restaurant in Málaga when he spoke with Director Kaya about clean water. I wouldn't even be here without you, Rin. You're already supporting me, just like you promised.

Rin reached for his hand. "OK?"

Haru squeezed back. "Yeah."

They washed all the sea-salt hairspray and styling products from their hair, applying sunscreen and insect repellent before heading outside to the pool deck where they met Marcela and the coaches. Haseda was already moving around with her camera, Director Kaya trailing behind her. Assistants were gathering the kids—maybe thirty or so—behind the start blocks on the opposite end of the pool.

Haru and Rin followed the coaches to the same location, excited whispers in Portuguese starting up all around them. There were plenty of parents in attendance as well, hanging out on concrete stands on the south side of the pool, backed by palm trees and other foliage. Haru couldn't understand what was said, but several of the adults were pulling out phones and snapping pictures.

The main coach—a man with short black hair and a green and white Rio 2016 T-shirt—stood them in front of the kids. Haru looked out at a sea of stunned faces as the coach spoke in Portuguese. He only caught their names and medalhistas and Japão, the rumble of murmurs amongst the kids escalating in volume and becoming loud cheers by the end. It took a minute or so for the coaches to calm the star-struck kids.

The main coach said something to Marcela.

"You can introduce yourselves," she said, gesturing towards the kids.

Haru nodded, facing the group. "Meu nome é Haruka Nanase. Eu só nado livre."

Puzzled looks appeared on many of the kids' faces.

Rin sighed before propping a hand on his hip and offering the kids a smile every bit as dazzling as the best Damien Andrews could come up with. "Meu nome é Rin Matsuoka. Eu nado borboleta e estilo livre. Prazer em conhecê-los."

The kids beamed in return, responding to Rin in excited Portuguese. Show off. Haru smiled.

The coach turned to the kids again, Marcela hovering close by to translate.

"He's asking what they'd like you to demonstrate."

The answers came back in shouts— "Relé! Relé!"

Relay? Haru and Rin exchanged a smile.

"Livre ou medley?" Rin asked.

"Medley!"

"In that case…" Rin stretched a little, donning his cap and goggles. "I'm first." He tossed Haru a grin.

Haru drew a long breath, warm throughout. "Ah."

They headed for the blocks, surrounded by the kids.

-x-

The hour passed swiftly. After several rounds of relay and a few 50m races (to which Haru and Rin took massive time handicaps but still won), Haru swam free with one group of children while Rin worked with the older kids on fly with the main coach and Marcela's help translating.

Rin seemed back in his element now, demonstrating the stroke motions, giving pointers, chatting with the coaches, and cheering the kids on. He had quite the audience with the moms in the stands, too. It made Haru happy—watching Rin engaged and enjoying himself, slipping effortlessly into captain-mode and coach. Several of the kids with Rin were high school aged; Haru felt like he was seeing a piece of their future dream already coming true.

"Senhor Haruka!"

He turned his attention back to the group of girls, waiting behind the blocks, and climbed out of the pool.

They ended the hour with Q&A by the start blocks, Marcela translating while Haseda snapped pictures.

The first question was shouted by one of the little boys. "Senhor Haruka, você gosta do senhor Rin?"

The group of kids 'ohh'ed and giggled.

Do I love Rin? "Sim," Haru said, smiling and glancing aside.

Rin smiled back.

As another round of giggling subsided, a girl in the back asked, "E vão se casar?"

"Estas não são perguntas sobre a natação!" Marcela sighed. "They are not asking swimming questions. They ask if you will get married."

"Someday," Rin said, the warmth in Haru's chest growing.

A boy in front asked the next question. "Por que você queria nadar?"

Marcela translated. "Why did you want to swim?"

Haru looked at Rin, who gestured for him to answer first. "I love the water. I always have. I've been swimming as long as I can remember. For competition, though, it was my friends who got me into it and inspired me to keep going."

Rin's gaze sweetened with pleasure as Marcela translated.

"Senhor Rin?"

Rin drew a breath. "For me, it was my dad. He was a swimmer too. When I was a kid, he was the one who first taught me how to swim. I always wanted to be like him."

The words took effort—it was obvious to Haru. He was glad. You talked about him, even though it's not easy for you.

Marcela translated Rin's reply, the kids watching rapt…except for one boy towards the back of the group. He was one of the younger ones—maybe eight or nine years old—with blue and white swim shorts. His face clouded as Marcela spoke, as if all the brightness and life were sucked out of him. Haru noticed and saw that Rin did too.

They answered several more swimming questions before the coaches rounded up the kids to continue their swim practice.

"Obrigado!" "Obrigada, Senhor Haruka, Senhor Rin!"

The kids headed back towards the pool, still chattering on excitedly, except for the one boy. He was over by the fence, by himself.

"Senhora Marcela, can we talk to him?" Rin asked.

"Yes." Marcela led the way over, Haru trailing Rin.

The boy turned when Marcela called to him. His face was red and he quickly rubbed his eyes, sniffing hard.

"Como é teu nome?" Rin asked.

The boy pressed his lips, looking up at Rin hesitantly. "João."

"João, will you tell me why you're upset?"

Marcela translated.

João's eyes filled with fresh liquid. He replied in a whisper of broken Portuguese.

"He says he doesn't have a father."

Haru had the air knocked out of him. Rin…

"It's not uncommon here—single-mother families."

Rin knelt down, eyelevel with the boy. He drew a breath. "My dad died when I was a kid. I was your age when it happened."

As Marcela repeated Rin's words, João blinked, wiping his face as he looked at Rin. The smallest glimmer of hope entered his eyes. He responded in Portuguese.

"He says, 'You're an Olympian and you won a gold medal, even though your father died?'"

A hot lump formed in Haru's throat.

Rin nodded. "Sim."

The boy's face brightened like the sun, his gaze beaming with hope—

Haru could see the emotions piling up in Rin's eyes. He kept it together, though, smiling. Rin pulled off his goggles and grabbed his swim cap from the waist of his square legs—it was one of his black caps with SHARK in red on the side. He put the too-large cap on João's head, placing the goggles around the boy's neck. "You'll grow into them, João."

As Marcela translated, João's eyes grew huge. He broke into a beautiful smile. "Obrigado, Senhor Rin!"

"De nada. Do you want to join your teammates now?"

"Sim!" João ran off with a grin, holding the cap on his head.

As Rin got back to his feet, Director Kaya came over. "We'll meet you guys out front," she said and started a conversation with Marcela.

Across the pool, João was the center of attention among the boys and girls his age, proudly displaying his new cap and goggles.

Rin looked on silently, his expression pleased, but Haru could only imagine what was going on in his head and in his heart.

"Rin?" Haru nodded towards the locker rooms.

Rin inhaled. "Ah."

Getting back to the building was a process—waving at the kids, shaking parents' hands—but finally they made it to the locker room, to the last row of lockers—

That was when Rin fell apart.

Haru held the one he loved close. Rin shook in his arms, warm droplets landing on Haru's shoulder.

"You did great, Rin," Haru whispered.

"I…didn't think there was anything I could do. Not like you and the water." Rin's voice was broken, labored. His breath came in hitches between silent sobs. "I didn't think I had anything to give."

Haru's eyes filled with liquid. "Dummy," he said, tightening his arms.

-x-

Fifteen minutes later, they were showered and dressed—and freshly coated in insect repellent. Haru carried the backpack and Rin had a firm grip on his hand as they headed for the exit. The afternoon was bright, sunny, and clear, and they paused to dig out their sunglasses before joining Director Kaya, Haseda, and their guide Marcela.

"We're lucky it's such a nice day," Rin muttered, sliding the tinted glasses over his still-reddened eyes.

"We could just be pretentious." Haru flipped a bit of hair back, donning his shades.

Rin snorted with amusement. "Haru."

Instead of another van ride, the five of them headed up a sloping pathway to the footbridge over the highway—the Passarela da Rocinha.

Halfway across, Haru stopped to pull out his camera. Rin held the backpack while Haru attached the lens and checked his settings. Hanging his sunglasses from the neck of his T-shirt, he took a few test shots from the bridge, then lifted his sight to the city climbing up into the hills under a perfect blue sky.

"You're a photographer also, Senhor Haruka?" Marcela asked.

Haru lowered the camera, meeting the woman's curious look. "I'm studying."

Haseda gave him a thumbs-up.

Marcela's smile broadened. "This way. I'll show you my city."

They stepped off the ramp onto a busy sidewalk, crowded with tiny shops and bars. Street vendors sold everything from fresh eggs to umbrellas, while people zipped by on motorcycles and scooters. Laughter and music spilled outside from the storefronts, along with live feeds from Olympic events.

Rocinha was an explosion of color and sound. Everywhere, there was something else to see; Haru couldn't frame the shots fast enough. They dodged compact trucks and motorcycles as Marcela led the way up a narrow road with a steep pitch. First floors were given to restaurants and stores with residences rising above in three-to-six story apartments in mint and pastel blue and pale yellow. No two buildings were alike; each looked like it had been designed and built—or built and then added to—for the exact location where it stood. Satellite dishes and laundry hung out of windows, while power and telephone lines crisscrossed the alleyway right over their heads. The utility poles were jumbles of intersecting wires and junction boxes.

"There are no underground utilities?" Rin asked.

Marcela shook her head. "Rocinha was built without infrastructure, like other favelas here in Rio. The founders were freed slaves, soldiers, and others who didn't have enough money to live in the city. They built their own homes here instead. In these hills." She gestured towards the emerald slopes rising above the neighborhood. "Paved roads, electricity, and other services were added later. Specific to your question, Senhor Rin, it's very difficult for us when the rains are heavy. The streets flood and it's not uncommon for homes to be damaged by storm water."

Because the water is alive and untamed. It isn't safe. Haru clutched his camera as he caught up, internet and news pictures swirling in his head. "What about the water supply and sanitation?"

"Rocinha is more fortunate in that regard, compared to other favelas. But there's still much to do."

They crossed a larger road that switch-backed up the hillside. The concrete retaining wall on the north side of the street was covered with vibrant ads, murals, and graffiti. Haru's eyes went wide at the sight—at whole stories told by spray can and paintbrush by different artists with infinite variations of style. It was chaotic, organic; it had flow and depth. He stopped in the middle of the busy sidewalk. Why did I ever constrain myself to a small, square canvas?

Rin draped an arm around his shoulders. "Your brain just shut down, didn't it?"

Haru's awe came out in a whisper. "It's so…free…"

Rin chuckled.

The group paused to let him take pictures, Haru moving from one section of the wall to another, capturing layered expressions. Possibilities formed in his mind—of pools filled with art, of different artists coming together, their styles blending and merging into something entirely new, sparkling beneath crystal clear water. It's loud, I guess. Haru smiled to himself. But as much as I claim not to like noise… He couldn't help but remember a certain bossy, know-it-all sixth grader who turned his life upside-down. You took me from my safe and sterile life to this adventure. I thought I was free before, but I've only really taken flight since I found my dream with you.

Haru lowered the camera, glancing behind him. Marcela and Director Kaya were chatting further down the road, while Haseda was across the street taking her own photos. Rin wasn't far away, perusing the artwork with his hands in his pockets, his frame at ease. As Haru took Rin's picture, he felt that stirring again—a yearning he'd first felt on the blocks in Sydney. Ever since then, he'd encountered it often—at the pool in Norway, stepping off the plane in Casablanca, dancing samba in São Paulo, during the 200 meter free, and now here in Rocinha… He wanted to see more, experience more—even if that meant forgoing saba and his ofuro, even if he had to be doused in insect repellent and sunscreen to do it. There were too many sights to see, too many pools he had yet to swim in… He could handle busy days because Rin's arms holding him at night were better than water—more soothing and satisfying than hours spent in the bath.

Since Thursday, he'd agonized about this decision, but his heart was no longer torn. Every bit of him was focused on what he wanted. I didn't need the water to help me decide this time. "Rin."

"Hm?" Rin glanced over, brushing scarlet strands aside as the breeze tugged at his clothes.

"Show me Paris too."

Crimson eyes blew wide at first, then Rin's brow knit, everything about him softening. "Tch, Haru." Rin came to him, slipping his arms around Haru's shoulders. "Why do you always pick the oddest times to announce things like that?"

"I just—"

"'—said what I was thinking.'" Rin smiled. "I know."

-x-

Haru's fingers were laced with Rin's as they returned to the group, turning off the main road into a narrow alley and then climbing a set of stairs between several close buildings. They stopped in front of a brick building with a red door and one window. While Marcela rang the bell, Haru tried to coax a cat sitting on the seat of a parked motorcycle to look at him for a picture (without success, though he still got a couple of decent shots).

The door opened; a man in a fluorescent green Brazil football jersey answering. He and Marcela greeted each other in warm voices and conversed briefly in Portuguese.

"Senhor Haruka, Senhor Rin?" Marcela waved them over. "This is Daniel. He runs this guest house."

"It's a pleasure," Daniel said in English, extending his hand with a grand smile. "From the swimming this week! We've been cheering for Brazil, of course, but congratulations all the same. Please come in!"

Haru and Rin were ushered into the house. The TV was on in the main room, showing one of the Olympic boxing matches.

"We've been very full with the Olympics going on. But you can have a look." Daniel showed them bedrooms with bunkbeds, the kitchen, and the shared bathroom.

All of the rooms were well-lit with daylight and overhead lamps and there were tile floors throughout. The kitchen had a mid-sized fridge, combination stove and oven, and a microwave; the bathroom with the toilet and shower was adjacent. The only thing that caught Haru's attention was the curtain beneath the sink in the kitchen, but he felt awkward asking to look.

"It's alright. You're curious. Many of my guests are." Daniel drew the curtain aside, revealing the plumbing for the sink and the gas tank attached to the stove. "The pipes go outside, but that's where they stop. The government promised funds to help us with proper infrastructure, but budget cuts threaten those plans. Plus, they want to spend a third of the money on a cable car to the top of Rocinha—money that would be better spent on sanitation problems like these."

"Daniel and I are part of a residential council," Marcela said. "Our group meets often to discuss these situations and we visit the Ministry to raise issues with them directly."

Daniel straightened, letting the curtain fall back into place. "I'll show you from the roof. The smell won't be bad from there."

"And the view can't be beat," Marcela said with a smile.

-x-

It was cool and breezy on the concrete rooftop, the buildings of Rocinha blanketing the hillside down to high-rises in the valley with the beach beyond. Haru could see the ocean, as well as the pool where they'd swam with the kids earlier. The roof itself had a small table with chairs, a place for hanging laundry, a satellite dish, and several round blue tanks with a network of tiny white pipes.

Daniel went to one edge of the roof and pointed down. "You can see it here. The pipes only go that far."

Haru peered over the side with Rin next to him. In a shadowed alleyway far below, he saw snaking pipes from several nearby buildings come together and simply end in an open sewer.

"People get sick easily here because of the sanitation issues. The kids especially," Marcela said.

Daniel nodded. "We're hopeful the funding won't be cut and that the government will change their mind about the cable car. We haven't given up."

"This is our home. We'll fight as long as it takes."

When I first heard about the water issues, I felt so helpless. Haru thought back to that morning at training camp at the NTC in May, hearing the warnings, seeing the pictures… The news articles made the problems seem insurmountable, but it really wasn't like that at all. Difficult and impossible aren't the same thing. The strength and passion with which Marcela and Daniel spoke inspired him, filling him with hope and possibilities.

Haru lifted his eyes, looking out over the buildings, all the way to the sea.

Rin took his hand. "You weren't kidding about the view," he said to their hosts. "It's beautiful."

Rin. Haru met his lover's gaze. It means so much that you're here with me.

Rin's eyes softened, as if he knew Haru's thoughts.

There was that shutter sound again—Haseda with her omnipresent lens.

Haru cleared his throat. "What are these tanks?" he asked, gesturing to the ones on the roof. The same circular blue tanks were on every flat roof as far as he could see.

"Ah. Our water supply," Daniel said, patting the cover of the nearest tank. "The water is pumped in weekly. It's pure at the source, but too many minerals build up going through the pipes, so it isn't good to drink. But we use it for all of the plumbing, for the showers, and washing clothes."

The warmth faded from Haru's limbs as he looked at the tank. "That's all for a week?" he said in Japanese.

"Does it run out?" Rin asked in English.

"I keep reserves—whenever it rains I stock up. It wouldn't be good for a guest house to not have water."

"But it happens," Marcela said. "Families not having water for part of the week. That's when you go see your neighbors. Everyone helps everyone else here. We have to."

A sour lump formed in Haru's throat. The tanks were a little over a meter in diameter, larger than a bathtub, but still… I've lived my life in water. Suddenly the bath on their apartment balcony seemed like a luxurious waste. Just because I 'needed' to sit in the water. Couldn't I have gone to the pool downstairs? The guilt settled heavy in his stomach.

Rin carried the conversation for a while, asking about other things. Haru stared out across the city. Some buildings had several tanks, some had one or none at all. In two baths, I can use the same amount of water that has to last an entire family a week? Captain Ikehara tried to tell me in France. Why didn't I get it?

He didn't realize how long he'd been standing there in the swirl of his thoughts until Rin touched his arm.

"Haru?" They were the only ones left on the roof.

Haru inhaled slowly through his nose and turned, walking into Rin's arms, burying his face in Rin's shoulder. "I might never take another bath."

Rin was quiet for a moment, wrapping him up and holding him. "OK," he said finally.

Haru lifted his head. "OK?" You're not gonna argue with me? Or try to talk me out of it?

Rin nodded. "I can tell when you're being serious."

I am serious.

Rin's expression was soft with compassion, his gaze so warm Haru felt like he could sink in and let go, his heart laid bare.

Haru slipped his arms around his lover's waist. As Rin's hands carded through his hair, he exhaled, some of the tension leaving his body.

"I'm gonna find you sitting in an empty bath in your swimsuit, aren't I?"

Haru pursed his lips. "Probably."

"Maybe your other water can take up some of the space?" Rin cocked a brow. "Would that help?"

"Rin—" Haru hugged Rin fiercely, emotion surging through him. "I love you."

"Love you." Rin squeezed him back, just as tightly. "We'll figure it out, Haru. It's a promise."

He could only nod, words failing him.

-x-

They visited with Daniel for a bit longer, even meeting a few of his guests before saying their goodbyes and heading back out into the city. Haru felt better just holding Rin's hand. The support, the promise of working things out together made him feel so much stronger than on his own.

Marcela led the way down a steep staircase, back towards the main road. They passed another mural, the colors immediately capturing Haru's attention.

"Rin, wait." He lifted his camera.

Rin smiled. "Your battery's not dead yet?"

Haru checked. It was getting low. "I have a spare." He framed the art in his viewfinder, backing up for the right lighting.

"Senhor Haruka! Senhor Rin!"

Haru took the shot, straightening as a teenage girl waved from across the street. She wore a yellow and green T-shirt with a short black skirt and patterned sneakers. Over one shoulder, she carried a drawstring bag and there was still a faint goggle line around her eyes.

"From the pool?" Rin murmured.

Haru thought hard for a moment. "Gabriela?"

"Vocês lembraram!" She broke into a broad smile and dashed over to meet them. A long string of excited Portuguese followed.

Haru only recognized a few words. "Casa?" He glanced at Rin.

Rin rubbed the back of his neck. "Casa…família?"

"Sim! Sim!" The girl pointed towards a nearby alleyway leading to a set of brick houses painted in brilliant pastel colors.

Marcela came to the rescue, Director Kaya and Haseda in tow. "Gabriela."

"Dona Marcela!" The two conversed briefly.

Marcela smiled. "She's inviting you to her house. She wants to introduce you to her family."

"É aqui perto," Gabriela said.

"It's close by."

Haru glanced at Director Kaya, who checked her watch.

Kaya nodded. "We've still got time."

Haru turned back to the girl and dipped his head. "Por favor."

Gabriela let out a muffled squeal and grabbed their arms—one of Haru's and one of Rin's. "Por aqui, por aqui!"

With Gabriela leading, they entered the narrow alleyway, the path uneven stone and concrete with a bundle of cables running the same direction. It was only wide enough to walk single file, with buildings hemming them in on either side and birds chirping overhead. Haru stepped around a cat that was making off with table scraps from a torn trash bag.

They eventually came to a powder blue building with three floors. Voices and laughter came from the roof, with laundry drying on taut lines overhead. There was a half-wall surrounding the front porch and entryway, with an orange and white cat perched on top.

Gabriela went running inside. "Mãe! Pai!"

Haru stayed on the porch with Rin and the cat, since it wouldn't be polite to just barge in. As they waited, the cat got up and stretched on its tiptoes, sashaying along the top of the wall towards Haru.

"Boa tarde," Haru murmured, offering a hand.

The cat sniffed his fingertips. Apparently he passed the inspection, for the cat pushed its cheek enthusiastically against Haru's knuckles.

Haru smiled, gently scratching the cat's ears.

"You've made a friend," Rin said. "Or it's the saba you ate earlier."

The cat turned to the new voice, heading over to Rin.

"Olá." Rin lifted a hand.

There was another moment of sniffing…and the cat withdrew, returning to Haru and giving Rin the butt-end.

"Tch."

Haru smothered his laughter as Rin scowled.

"Senhor Haruka? Senhor Rin?" Gabriela appeared in the doorway, waving them inside.

"Com licença." Haru went first, crossing a colorful woven rug in the entryway. He paused. "Rin, what's the word for shoes?"

"Haru, I'm not a dictionary."

Haru pointed down at his feet, noting that Gabriela hadn't taken off her sneakers. "Está bem?" It's OK?

Gabriela glanced down, then back to Haru with a puzzled look.

Rin came back, looking over Haru's shoulder. "Marcela says it's 'sapatos.'"

"Sapatos?" Gabriela's face lit. "Está bem!" She took Haru's hand and pulled.

Haru stepped over the threshold onto blue and white tile with an intricate pattern. The room had a sofa and a trunk, with a stairway against one wall and a small kitchen adjacent. Most of the light came from the windows and upstairs, but there was also a strand of tiny blue and green lights along the edge of the steps that led up to the second floor.

Haru heard voices and looked up, just in time to meet the curious gazes of a boy and a girl. The pair grinned shyly and immediately scampered off. They looked like younger versions of Gabriela.

"Beta! Davi!" Gabriela charged up the stairs, still tugging Haru by the hand.

He only caught a glimpse of the apartments on the second and third floors before they were climbing onto the roof, into daylight. The boy and girl—Haru placed them about eight and five, respectively—peered out from behind a woman in navy blue shorts and a rose-pink blouse. There was a half-full basket of folded laundry by her feet. At a small table and chairs nearby, a man in a T-shirt and jeans was bottle-feeding an infant.

The couple looked bewildered as Haru appeared from the staircase behind Gabriela. He dipped his head. "Com licença."

The confusion on their faces intensified when Rin came up next. Fortunately, Marcela was with him. A flurry of Portuguese followed, the awkwardness of the moment vanishing with warm handshakes and greetings.

Gabriela made the official introductions. "Meu pai e minha prima." She gestured to the man. He was on his feet now, the babe still tucked in the crook of his arm. "Minha mae e meus irmãos." Gabriela touched the woman's arm, then hugged the young duo who continued to grin up at them. "Esta é a Beta." The little girl giggled. "Este é o Davi." The boy squirmed in his sister's grasp.

"These are her parents and younger siblings," Marcela said. "The baby is Gabriela's cousin."

Haru nodded. "Meu nome é Haruka. Este é o Rin." He introduced Kaya and Haseda as well, as best he could. "Estamos visitando do Japão."

Gabriela dropped her bag, getting down eyelevel with her siblings. She mimed the front crawl while speaking rapidly in Portuguese. Haru heard olímpicos and medalhas and that was about it.

"She's telling them about swimming today and about the medals you won this week."

"Ah." Haru took the backpack from Rin. "Do they want to see?" He opened the bag, taking out their silver medals from the medley relay.

Three pairs of eyes got huge, the children crowding around to look, but keeping a polite distance.

Haru smiled as he crouched down. "It's OK to touch it. Do you want to try it on?"

Marcela translated.

The little girl—Beta—was the first to reach out with one tiny finger. She gave the medal the most tentative poke.

Haru lifted the lanyard. "Está bem?"

The girl's eyes were giant as Haru lowered the medal over her head. She held it with two hands. "Pesado!"

"She says it's heavy."

"Posso tirar sua foto?" Haseda asked, coming close with her camera.

The girl broke into a gigantic smile with one baby tooth missing as she posed for the picture. Then it was Davi's turn and finally Gabriela's. Haseda posed the children individually, together, and with Haru and Rin.

"Senhora Marcela, would it be possible to get the address so I can mail prints later?" Haseda asked.

"Yes, of course." Marcela went to speak with the parents, who were watching and looking happy if a little overwhelmed.

As the adults talked, Beta took Haru's hand, leading him to a corner of the roof where there was a crate of toys. She showed him a doll in a pink dress. Meanwhile, Davi pulled a soccer ball out of the same crate.

Rin smiled, rubbing his shoulder. "I haven't played since elementary school."

While they kicked the ball around, Beta showed Haru each toy in the crate, explaining in one endless Portuguese sentence. He nodded as she handed him each item, turning it this way and that in his hands before she took it back. Gabriela joined them after a bit, carrying a pad of sketching paper and a set of colored pencils. She set to work immediately with a bright blue pencil.

"You like to draw?" Haru asked in English. He mimed with a gesture and pointed at her sketchbook. "Como se diz isto em português?"

"Desenhar."

"Desenhar?" Haru tested the word.

Gabriela smiled. "Isso! Senhor Haruka, gosta de desenhar também?"

Haru nodded. "Sim." He opened the backpack again, pulling out his sketchbook and a pencil.

"You brought that, Haru?" Rin asked, the soccer ball running into the wall nearby with a tap.

Haru shrugged. "I thought I might want it."

Rin's eyes warmed. He gathered the ball and gave it a gentle kick back to Davi.

Haru opened to a fresh page and started sketching Gabriela's portrait. He put her in her swim cap, with her goggles on her forehead and her eyes sparkling.

Beta played nearby and watched them work.

Gabriela was done first. She held out her sketchpad. "Senhor Haruka, pra você e o senhor Rin."

Haru put down his sketchbook, inhaling slowly as he looked at the drawing. She'd put him and Rin on the top step of the podium, with Haru in a blue T-shirt and Rin in red. Gold medals hung around their necks. Gabriela had drawn herself on the second place podium with silver and her siblings standing together with bronze.

This is beautiful. "É lindo," he whispered, his voice hushed. "Para nós?" For us?

She nodded enthusiastically, a broad grin on her face.

"Will you sign it?" Haru hunted for the words. "Es… Escreva nome?"

Gabriela's eyes lit. She took the sketchpad back, writing her name on the picture. Then she peeled the page off the pad and gave it to him.

Haru ducked his head. "Obrigado." He glanced up. "Rin?"

Rin passed the ball back to Davi and came over, taking the page. His eyes widened. "For us?" Rin's face softened. "Isto é lindo, Senhorita Gabriela. Obrigado."

"De nada." The girl beamed, her cheeks aglow with pride.

Haru finished his sketch. Para a Gabriela, he wrote in the corner with his name and the date. He carefully withdrew the page from the book. "Para tu, Senhorita Gabriela." Haru handed her the sketch.

Gabriela held the paper reverently in both hands, her eyes growing wider and wider— "Obrigada, Senhor Haruka!" She bowled into him with a hug, Haru nearly falling over. Excited and rapid Portuguese followed as she got up and ran over to her parents, displaying the picture.

"We can hang this in our apartment," Rin said, handing Gabriela's drawing back.

"Mm." Haru nodded, tucking the picture into his sketchbook.

Rin moved to go, but stilled abruptly. He crouched down instead, touching Haru's arm. "Haru…" His voice was quiet, his face suddenly sober.

Haru followed his gaze. The pages fluttered on Gabriela's sketchpad, leaving a different picture visible. This one was also done in colored pencils. Against a background of Rocinha's vibrant pastel buildings, there was a faceoff between two groups of people—one group in blue and black uniforms, one group in street clothes. Both had rifles pointed at each other. In the center was a pool of red, a child, and a crying mother. At the top of the page, in Gabriela's handwriting was, Parar a violência!

The feeling drained from Haru's body, leaving him cold and numb. He recalled fragments from articles Director Kaya sent him weeks ago about favela drug lords and pacification. In one heartrending second, it all became real, not just words in a news article.

Haru cleared his throat with effort. "Senhora Marcela?"

Marcela came over.

"Is it OK to ask about this?" Haru gestured to Gabriela's drawing.

Marcela looked at the picture and nodded. "Yes. Gabriela?"

The girl came trotting back, still holding Haru's sketch.

Haru drew a deep breath. "Gabriela, can you tell us about this picture?"

Marcela translated.

Gabriela crouched down, smoothing her skirt against her knees. Her explanation came in a quiet voice.

"She says this happened a couple years ago, when the gangs and the police were fighting. Now, when there's gunfire, everyone stays home and they can't go to school."

Marcela paused as Gabriela continued speaking.

"She says she loves Rocinha and she wants her city to be peaceful. She prays to God for the fighting to end."

Gabriela sat back on her heels and turned the page on her sketchpad. The next picture looked like a classroom. Gabriela's voice picked up again as she spoke.

"This is Gabriela's school. She says she enjoys her classes, especially Portuguese."

She switched pages again.

"This is a picture of her family in their house. Her grandmother lives on the first floor, while her aunt and uncle and her baby cousin live on the third floor…"

Haru silently reached for Rin's hand. Rin's grip was firm and immediate; in one brief shared glance, they gave each other the strength they needed. Able to breathe again, Haru turned his attention back to Gabriela and her drawings.

-x-

The air was cooler and the sun was noticeably lower in the sky when Haru and Rin said goodbye to Gabriela and her family. Gabriela's relatives had returned from the market by then, the whole household gathering on the first-floor porch to see them off. Haru and Rin were almost out the door when Gabriela's mother stopped them, pressing a small cloth-wrapped package into Haru's arms.

"Oh, we couldn't…"

Gabriela's mother wouldn't take it back, her Portuguese insistent.

"She says it's nothing much, and thanks you for visiting today," Marcela said. "It would be rude not to accept, Senhor Haruka."

"Ah." Haru dipped his head. "Obrigado." He glanced at Marcela. "Should I open it now?" he asked, unsure of the local custom.

"Yes." Marcela smiled.

Haru carefully unwrapped the package. Inside were two T-shirts, one golden yellow and one brilliant green. Both said BRASIL across the front and had different patterns—the green one had a palm tree and waves while the yellow shirt had a sea turtle graphic. These are amazing.

Rin nudged him, chuckling. "Haru, you stopped working."

"These are incredible." He bowed to Gabriela's family. "Obrigado."

"Green or yellow?" Rin asked, shucking off his overshirt and tucking it into the backpack.

Haru looked from one T-shirt to the other, back and forth—

"Tch, we'll be here all night." Rin plucked the yellow shirt from Haru's hands and pulled it on over his tank top. "Arms."

Haru cooperated as Rin slipped the green T-shirt over his head. He smoothed the fabric over his saba T-shirt, enamored with the color. "I love it."

Rin smiled. "Now we look official."

"I need pictures," Haseda said, corralling them into photos with the whole family. Gabriela and her siblings loved having their picture taken. Haru didn't mind having Davi on his back while Rin carried Beta. Gabriela was in the middle, with Haru's left hand and Rin's right.

"Alright, I got it." Haseda lowered her camera, giving them all a thumbs-up.

After two rounds of goodbyes and a lot of waving, they were out in the narrow alleyway, heading back towards the main road.

Haru's heart was a jumble of emotions and thoughts; he wondered if he'd ever get them all sorted out as he followed Rin through the maze-like passageway with Marcela ahead of them. Rin had the backpack for now, the golden yellow of his T-shirt and the scarlet of his hair reminding Haru of sunset. There was one thing he was certain of—if I never found my dream; if I hadn't left home with you to come here…I wouldn't have gotten to live this day. The sights he'd seen—both heartwarming and heartbreaking—were treasures stored up in his memories that would last forever.

-x-

They descended Rocinha's slopes, Marcela taking them through the Sunday market on their way back towards the sports complex. The market was full of music, mouthwatering smells, colorful fruit, and huge fish. Haru could've spent all day there, but Rin kept prodding him to move on—especially at the fish stall. He had to settle for pictures.

The sun was just touching the western hills when they arrived at the footbridge over the AutoEstrada Lagoa-Barra. They said goodbye to Marcela before ascending the ramp; this also felt too soon.

Their guide's smile was warm with emotion as she clasped their hands. "Thank you for visiting us today. Especially on behalf of the children."

Haru inhaled. "But, we hardly—"

Marcela shook her head. "They'll talk forever about how the Olympians came to see them. It means much more than you think. Obrigada, Senhor Haruka, Senhor Rin. Tchau. Vá com Deus."

"Tchau, Senhora Marcela," Haru said. "Thank you for everything." Hugs followed; it felt like saying goodbye to a dear friend, not merely their guide for today.

Haru and Rin waited on the footbridge ramp as Director Kaya and Haseda took their turn to say goodbye.

"Holding up?" Rin asked, taking Haru's hand.

He nodded, lacing their fingers together. "You?"

Rin smiled. "Yeah."

The four of them waved as they headed up the ramp and around the bend until Marcela was no longer in view.

"I wish she would've let us give her more," Director Kaya said. "Especially with all the translating she did in addition to showing us around."

Haseda nodded.

They crossed the footbridge over the highway as the daylight started to fade.

"Alright." Kaya pressed her hands together. "I promised the JOC we'd be out of Rocinha by sunset. So I saved this for now. You can't swim there, but…you guys want to see the beach?"

Beach? Which way?

Kaya smiled gently. "I thought so. São Conrado is only a kilometer's walk from here."

They started down a broad, tree-lined street between high-rise apartments. Soon, Haru could hear and smell the ocean. They passed two resorts before the road opened up to palm trees on a patterned sidewalk above a wide stretch of white sand. Haru gripped Rin's hand as they crossed the street, watching the white-tipped breakers crash along the shore.

Unlike Copacabana, there were very few people here. The most notable group was several kids with surf boards, under the watchful gaze of an instructor in a Rocinha Surfe Escola T-shirt.

"Tourists don't come here?" Rin asked.

Director Kaya shook her head, her expression sober. "Not much, according to what Marcela told me. This beach is frequented mostly by the residents of Rocinha. Those same residents are the ones campaigning in support of cleanup efforts."

From here, the water looked idyllic, especially with the sun slowly setting. But if Haru looked closely enough, he could see stray plastic bottles caught in the sand. "Because of the pollution?"

"Hai. There are places here where sewage from Rocinha flows into the water."

Haru closed his eyes, not wanting to remember the pictures he'd seen on the internet, especially of Guanabara Bay.

"With your passion for clean water, Nanase-kun, I could've just brought you here," Kaya said. "But the more I looked into it… For most of the world, polluted water is the only thing they'll see. That's what the news covers; that's the big concern for the sailing and open water Olympic events. I wanted you to see more than that."

In his mind, Haru saw faces—Gabriela and João and their coaches at the pool, Marcela and Daniel, Gabriela's family, and the shop owners at the market where Rin wouldn't let him buy fish. He saw artwork, houses built by hand, and water tanks… He heard the live music, the friendly greetings shouted across the market square, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Rocinha kids racing for the waves with their surfboards. It's about so much more than just water.

Haru inhaled slowly, looking at Rin. Like my life, ever since I met you.

Rin was studying his face. There was a faint furrow to Rin's brow as the wind swept strands of crimson hair across his cheeks. The care and concern Haru read in Rin's eyes filled him with even more emotion, adding sweetness and overflowing affection to the fullness in his heart.

"Hai," Haru whispered.

"You guys can have a look around and hang out for a bit," Director Kaya said. "Meet us at the Gávea Beach Club—" she pointed up the beach to the west "—when you're ready to go."

"Or when you get hungry," Haseda said.

The women parted from them with a wave, heading up the sidewalk and leaving Haru and Rin alone.

Haru blinked slowly. He needed this time with Rin, but there was so much inside him he didn't know where to begin—

Rin sighed, the sound resonating with everything Haru was feeling. "Wanna just…sit on the wall for a while?"

Haru's breath came out in a rush. "Yeah."

-x-

They perched on the edge of the walkway with their feet dangling over the sand. Rin's arm was comfortably draped around Haru's shoulders, their sides touching as they sat together. The sinking sun scattered golden rays across the water while palm fronds swayed over their heads.

"I…feel like I've lived a year's worth of emotions in one day," Haru murmured.

"Me too."

Haru glanced over. "It didn't bother you? Spending time with Gabriela's family. As far as…memories, I mean."

"Nah, that was fun." Rin smiled. "I was reminded a little about growing up—you know, before he died." Rin leaned his head against Haru's, his gaze focused on the ocean. "They were all good memories."

Haru fell quiet, relieved.

"Na, Haru."

"Hm?"

Rin's face smoothed, his expression wistful. "Next time we're back in Iwatobi, would you…" Rin drew a breath before continuing. "Would you come to his grave with me?"

Haru reached up, taking Rin's hand. "Yeah, of course."

Rin half-smiled, the look sad and affectionate all at once. "I wish he could've met you."

I wish I could've met him too. I wish I could've seen how happy you were; how he taught you to swim…what your life was like back then.

Rin exhaled long and slow, closing his eyes. "I didn't want people to know. I didn't want their pity or their sympathy. I didn't want to be treated differently as a swimmer, as an Olympian, just because my father died."

The breeze carded through their hair as Haru waited, listening to the crash of the surf.

Rin's voice was softer when he started again. "I never thought there were kids out there who needed to hear my story. I didn't think that anything good could come out of what happened." Rin's arm tightened around Haru's shoulders, moisture gathering at the seams of his eyelids. "I wanted to pretend the pain didn't exist; I wanted it to go away. But it's only getting better because I'm facing it. If just by saying something I can help kids like me to heal…" Rin looked at him, eyes glistening. "Haru, I want that."

"Rin—" Haru wrapped his arm around Rin's waist, holding his lover close. The emotion was hot and thick in his throat. I want that for you, too. To think that, just two months ago, they were sitting on another beach having a much different conversation… Rin, you've come so far. Every day, you heal a little bit more.

Rin exhaled, like a huge weight had fallen from his shoulders. "Not that I've got any idea how to go about it, but…" His smile was rueful but genuine as he pushed his free hand through his hair. "I'm sure I'll figure it out along the way. We'll figure it out."

Haru nodded, squeezing Rin around the waist. "Yeah. I'll be there, Rin. I promise."

Rin leaned in. Their lips met gently as the waves lapped against the sand.

"Tch, Haru." Rin was smiling as they parted. He reached over, ruffling Haru's hair affectionately.

"Nn." Haru tilted his head away from Rin's fingers. I liked the kiss better.

Rin's smile grew. He set his chin on Haru's shoulder as they both looked out at the water.

This is nice. Haru brought Rin's hand to his lips, kissing Rin's knuckles.

"…You really want to give up your baths?"

He frowned. It's not really a matter of 'want.' "I'm not sure I can stomach it. You saw those tanks."

"Yeah. I'm not trying to talk you out of it. You have to do what you can feel good about. It's your choice."

Haru sighed. At the same time, the idea of never taking another bath…

"Haru, how often do you change the bath water really?"

What? "I change it regularly."

"But not daily."

Haru pressed his lips. "Not…always." Draining and filling the tub takes too long. "I add chlorine or salt if I don't."

Rin chuckled. "That's what I mean. You probably use less bath water than you think."

Nn…

"You could always try half-full baths."

Oh. Haru straightened. That's true.

Rin's lips found his cheek. "Or just save baths for special occasions."

"Like sharing?"

"Mm-hm."

It's not as bad if multiple people use the bath. Like at Makoto's house. Instead of it just being me. "When the kids are little, we can do family bath time." You don't fill the tub as much then, anyways.

"Yeah, exactly."

Haru leaned against his lover, feeling lighter. "I like that idea."

"In the meantime, we can make sure our apartment's close to the pool," Rin said, hugging him. "Or a public bath."

Haru smiled, filled with warmth. "I love you, Rin."

"I love you."

For a while, they held each other quietly, watching the sun continue to sink behind the hills. The surfers gathered their boards and started heading up the beach.

"Did you ever try it, Rin?"

"Hm? Surfing?"

Haru nodded.

"Eh…" Rin raked a hand through his hair. "Russell and Lori always offered to send me to lessons, but…" He shrugged. "I was pretty focused on swimming." Rin quirked a brow. "Why? You wanna try, Haru?"

"Maybe."

Rin smiled knowingly.

"What? It looked fun. We could try it together."

"Where's this sudden adventurous streak coming from?"

You. "I guess I'm braver now."

Rin snorted. "You being braver and free is a dangerous combination." He leaned back with one hand braced behind him. "Between Iceberg's club, naked drawing, and surfing lessons, our Sydney agenda's getting pretty full."

Haru perked up. "Naked drawing?"

Rin blushed. "Er…yeah, I was going to surprise you. Damnit."

Surprise me? How would that work? "You mean like…you get naked and tell me to draw you?"

"I was gonna do it better than that!"

Haru smothered a laugh. "OK. Surprise me, Rin. But don't hold it against me if I can't finish the sketch."

"Well, obviously that's the goal…"

-x-

As the sunlight was fading in fiery red streaks, they wandered up the beach hand-in-hand, picking their way around the occasional ribbon of litter that had washed onshore. The Gávea Beach Club was right on the sidewalk—two yellow roofs over a kitchen and server area with all of the seating outdoors under white and blue umbrellas. Candles in jars on each table provided light.

Director Kaya and Haseda waved them to their table for four. The women were relaxing with highball glasses of some kind of pale liquid with thick wedges of lime.

"Hey guys! Hungry?" Director Kaya offered them the menu. "They have cavalla, Nanase-kun."

Where? Haru flipped through the menu.

"You guys want something to drink? Or just water?" Haseda asked.

Haru glanced up from the page. "What are you drinking?"

"Caipirinha." Haseda winked. "It's the drink here in Brazil—sugarcane liquor, sugar, and lime."

"You're old enough here. I'll buy one round if you want," Kaya said. "As long as we all agree not to tell Tsuchiya-san."

Haru studied the glass, curious. This is what you meant about my being brave and free and dangerous, huh? He glanced at Rin, who looked slightly wary, but wasn't saying anything.

"Can they make it without alcohol?" Haru asked.

Rin relaxed.

Haseda flagged down a server. "Duas caipirinhas virgens por favor. Sem gelo."

Haru went back to the menu.

They put in their orders—grilled cavalla for Haru, grilled meat for Rin—and their drinks came in little glasses like Kaya and Haseda's.

"Cheers." Haseda lifted her glass.

They all clinked glasses. Haru sipped the sweet, slightly sour, slightly fizzy drink. The fresh lime really popped. He drank more, looking askance at Rin.

Rin was wincing a little as he sipped. "It's more sugar than I've had in months."

"I'll drink yours if you don't want it."

Rin reeled in his glass. "I didn't say that."

Haru smiled.

"Should we talk a tiny bit of business?" Director Kaya asked.

Haseda made a show of sighing. "If we must."

Kaya elbowed her in the arm. "Nanase-kun, we're purposely not talking next steps out of today. That'll be for tomorrow. I'll find you guys on the beach at Copacabana, after the women's 10k."

"OK." Haru sipped more from his drink.

"Did Tsuchiya-san tell you about your interview on Tuesday?"

Haru blinked. "No. But I haven't checked my email lately." He looked at Rin.

Rin shook his head. "Me either."

"Well, it was just finalized. It'll be at Japan House in the afternoon—after the men's 10k. Same anchors from today—Nishida Riko and Tanabe Kenji. They've been asking to interview the two of you forever." Kaya shrugged. "Since Barcelona, anyways. You can expect some personal questions, but you'll have an opportunity to name any off-limit topics when you meet them tomorrow, so don't worry."

"…And if there's specific things we want to talk about?" Rin asked.

"Absolutely. Water and your experience today in Rocinha would be obvious topics, but as you saw from what Natsumaya-san arranged this afternoon, you can really steer the conversation in any direction you'd like."

"If there will be any question-popping, let me know in advance so I—and my camera—can be there," Haseda said.

Haru glanced at Rin—who was blushing—and shook his head. No embarrassing public proposals. I promised.

"You're going to be busy anyway." Kaya glared mildly at Haseda. "Tsuchiya-san arranged for the Mikoshiba brothers to do the speedo shoot with us, so we're going to have our hands full."

"Mikoshiba's good at posing," Haru said.

Rin sighed.

"Yeah, he's not the one we're worried about."

"It's going to be ridiculous. And by that, I mean it'll be great." Haseda tipped back another generous swallow of her drink. "I'll have some photos for you by Tuesday morning at the latest. From our outing. Not the shoot. Assuming I can choose. There are so many good ones, especially of you guys with the kids."

Director Kaya lifted her glass. "Here's to more all-nighters."

"Yup."

Then the food arrived—sizzling hot and mouthwatering—and Haru's entire world became grilled cavalla and sneaking warm looks at Rin as they ate.

-x-

It was fully dark by the time Haru and Rin arrived back at the Athlete's Village. Even though it wasn't late—especially considering their competition schedule, Haru was dragging. He stifled a yawn as they rode the elevator together.

"Damnit, don't—" Rin interrupted himself with a yawn.

Sorry, Rin. "This is when we'd usually get up from our nap."

"Yeah, don't remind me."

"And we were up early this morning."

Rin cocked a brow as they left the elevator. "Whose fault was that?"

"Yours." Haru reached into his pocket for the apartment key.

"It was not!"

Haru smiled.

They got to their door. A sign was posted, announcing new quiet hours from 9pm to 7am in support of the open water swim events Monday and Tuesday.

"Fine by me," Rin muttered, yawning again.

Haru unlocked the door and they went inside.

"Perfect, Momotarou! Hold that!"

"Like this, Nii-chan?" Momo—in his speedo—was standing on top of the couch with his hands on his hips and one foot braced on the couch's arm.

Photographer Mikoshiba—also clad in a speedo and nothing else—was lying on the floor, taking the shot.

—Haru and Rin went straight into their bedroom and closed the door.

"I'm good with turning in," Rin said.

"Yup. Me too."

They set down their stuff and headed into the bathroom.

Halfway through undressing, Rin turned around, rubbing the back of his neck. "Na, Haru…about the, uh…"

Haru paused with his T-shirts off. "Oh, that…"

"—I'm kind of tired," they said in unison.

As their gazes met, they laughed together. Haru reached for Rin at the same time Rin was reaching for him. They hugged half-clothed, their foreheads touching.

"Good, because all I want in the world right now is curling up in bed with you," Rin said.

"Same." Haru smiled.

After the briefest shower, they tangled themselves beneath the covers in their underwear.

"Oyasumi, Haru."

Their lips met sweetly in the soft glow of Rin's reading lamp.

"Oyasumi, Rin."

Haru laid his head on the pillow, warm in his lover's arms, and fell asleep before Rin turned off the light.

---

A/N:

I've tried my best in this chapter to provide a glimpse of Rocinha during the Olympics as gleaned from my research. I recommend this video, published in August 2016, for background: Inside Rio's favelas, the city's neglected neighborhoods by Vox on YouTube

For more information, history, and current events in Rocinha, please visit Rio On Watch (dot org) for their articles as well as translations of articles written by Rocinha residents, or their Facebook page.

I highly recommend the Life in Rocinha blog (blogspot) by the owner of a DJ school in Rocinha.

I'll also have a few things on my tumblr, #rocinha.