A/N: Quick apology for the delayed update – I should have made it clear a while ago that I was working pretty hard with college and exams which pretty much consumed all my time. I'll try to update more often now that I'm free! Hope you all understand. :) As for the situation on that juicy smut: Trust me, I'm dying to reach that RinLen endgame, but I really don't want to rush Rin's return home. There's still quite a bit to cover, but it definitely involves more spicy stuff, especially in this chapter. Onto the good stuff we go!

…

The events of last night had made their way into my dreams up until morning. I've never experienced anything like it, and it's like my mind wants to constantly replay it. The bright rays spilling through my curtains put an early end to a particularly intimate dream. My eyes twitch from the blinding light, and a grumble escapes my lips. "Hmm… Good morning, Luka..." I whisper, shuffling over from my back onto my side, before opening my eyes. "Huh?"

Once my eyes are open, I'm met with the absence of the pink-haired girl. The other half of my bed is empty and I realise that it's a bit more cold than usual in the bedroom now. "I..." I haven't dreamt the whole situation, right? Luka and I definitely went to sleep in each other's arms late last night. A pout pulls at my lips until I rationalise the current situation. Perhaps she's already up and is using the bathroom. Or perhaps she wanted to leave before my parents return home – which they still haven't yet, or at least I don't think so.

I lie in bed for a few minutes in silence, listening carefully for any slight movements around the house. And… Nothing. There's nothing. My mind instantly races with regrets. I know my feelings better than I ever have. I love Luka Megurine. But now there's the possibility that she may have been lying the entire time, just so she can use me. I hate myself for even thinking these things, but a part of me can't deny what Luka is really like. For a long time, she has been a bully, and she's used people for her own personal gain. Maybe I've been a complete idiot to trust her.

"Tell me it's not true..." I sit up, pulling my knees up to my chin. Groaning softly, I reach over to my bedside table and grab my phone. I feel my heart lightly pounding in my chest as I prepare to switch the screen on. I squeeze one eye shut – it's silly, but I feel nervous to even see if there are any text messages or missed phone calls. "Ah, no..."

At the very least, I'm glad I suspected the worse… It doesn't sting as much when I see a pretty long text in my notifications, from none other than Luka, of course. Swallowing my nerves, I open up my previously squeezed shut eye and decide to get it over with. I shift up in bed to sit, running a finger through my messy hair with a sigh. I have some time before I have to leave for school, thankfully.

'I'm sorry for leaving so unexpectedly, Miku. I really hope I haven't hurt your feelings too badly. I just don't think we're a good match after all. You deserve someone better than me, and after watching you fall asleep in my arms last night, stroking your cheek… I realised I can't be the girlfriend you need. I'm too damaged, and I've caused you pain ever since I came back into your life. Please, move on from me. I'm going back to Lily and the other girls. They're not perfect, but they're all I have left in this shitty situation. If you see me at school, don't approach me, please. I love you.'

With each word I read, I feel my chest grow tighter and the knot in my stomach becomes almost unbearable. Tears well up in my eyes as I come to the realisation that Luka is right. I've been such an idiot, thinking that she and I would ever be a good couple. But still… I thought we could at least try. I sniffle, weakly wiping my tears away. I have to pull myself together. I'm just a kid, right? Things don't have to be this complicated. I'll have so many more chances at love in a few years. "But still… L-Luka…!"

More uncontrollable tears spill from my eyes. I can't fight my true emotions after all. I bury my face in my hands, sobbing into my palms and shutting out the world.

…

[Rin Kagamine's P.O.V]

"Hmm..." I lightly tap at my chin, eyes fixated on the kitchen wall opposite me. I'm lost in thought while I wait for my breakfast. There's been so much on my mind ever since I moved here, even though it's only been a couple of days. I just can't help my curiosity – I'm itching to talk to Haku and find out what kind of person she is. Same old Rin, I suppose… Always attracted to the mystery. Let's hope it doesn't turn out to be a repeat of the situation with Luka.

"Something on your mind, dearie?" A hearty chuckle comes from beside me. When I blink and snap out of thought, I look to my left and see Yukari leaning down to place a plate of food in front of me.

"Oh… Thank you, aunty!" The serious, thoughtful expression on my face is replaced with a bright grin at the sight of food. "Mmm, yummy…!"

"Thought I'd make some good old bacon and eggs for you," Yukari cheerily says. She's always so full of energy in the morning. It almost motivates me to put more effort into my own day. Almost.

"That's wonderful, it looks great!" Her cheerful mood rubs off onto me, and I find myself grinning along with her. "Oh, and uh… No, there isn't really much on my mind. Just kinda overwhelmed with school. Settling in is weird."

"Hmm, I see," Yukari hums, giving a nod in understanding. She slips herself down onto the seat beside me. "I'm glad you're making friends, though. Gosh, I'm super excited to make pizza and cookies for everyone this weekend!"

"Hmm..." I can't help but sort of grimace at that. I'm not even sure why I feel so odd. Perhaps I'm still homesick. "School is great, honestly. But I get the feeling that..." That it's almost too perfect. That's the other thing I was thinking about. I get the feeling I'm overreacting though.

"That…?" Yukari repeats, curious and urging me to continue.

I've only just moved here. I can't jump to such absurd conclusions so soon. "Ah, nevermind," I shyly laugh, shaking my head dismissively. "I think I'm still nervous, that's all. I'll try to enjoy my time here a bit more – go with the flow, ya know?"

"Ooh, I know." Yukari giggles, probably at my rhyming.

Anyway, if I uncover the mysterious tension between Dell and Haku, I might feel more at ease. I already know it's none of my business but maybe I can help them make up again. I'll be sure to tread carefully when talking to Dell about it. The only thing that scares me a bit is approaching Haku. I have no idea what her personality is like at all. Only one way to find out, huh?

Sighing softly, I pick up a fork and start scoffing down the delicious breakfast my aunty made for me. It's not as hot anymore since Yukari and I talked for a couple of minutes; it's at the perfect temperature to inhale.

"Woah-hoh, slow down there, young lady." Yukari tuts at my bad manners, but when I look up to her, I see a light grin on her face. "What's the big rush?"

My cheeks flush in embarrassment. It's not that this food isn't delicious, but… I kind of wanted to gulp it all down so I wouldn't be late by the time Dell arrives. I can't exactly keep him waiting. Ah, what are these feelings, anyway? I feel my blush darkening as the weird thought that he reminds me of Len creeps into my mind. I drop my fork and cover my face with a squeak – Yukari's eyes are digging into me like tiny little knives.

"Oooh~" She snickers in a sing-song tone. She's just like a child…! Unbelievable! "I remember now. Dell is coming to pick you up and walk you to school. Aww, young love… Makes me yearn for my childhood."

I subtly raise a brow. Doesn't seem like her childhood was all that long ago. I slowly shake my head, starting to finish up my food. "Don't be ridiculous, Aunty," I say, with a mouth full of bacon. "Dell and I barely even know each other. Besides… All I want is a friend, nothing more."

"Mmhm..." She softly laughs. Pssh, why do grown-ups always think they know everything that goes on in a child's mind? Just as I scoop up the last bite, the doorbell rings out into the kitchen. "Oh, looks like he's early. He must be very eager… to get to school, that is."

"Oh my God, I can't believe you!" I choke, slamming my fist right against my chest to clear my airways properly. I nearly inhaled the rest of that bite from the shock of her suggestive words. I drop my fork onto the plate, swiftly jumping up from my seat at the table. Yukari just bursts into laughter as I start rushing around to grab my bag and the rest of my school things.

"I'll open the door for Dell~" Yukari calls over to me from the other end of the kitchen, while my back is turned and I'm grabbing my shoes.

"No, no, no!" I frantically exclaim, extending my arm and waving it about, while also hopping around to face the door. My pitiable efforts are in vain, as she's already at the door and pulling it open. Dell's soft smile greets me, and that causes me to lose my balance while trying to pull my shoes on. I crash to the floor, making a complete fool of myself right in front of him. "Owwie!"

Dell lets out a concerned gasp; at the same time, Yukari can't help but laugh at my misfortune.

"Grrr..." I hiss under my breath, seething as I wonder how I'm going to pay Yukari back for mocking me in front of Dell. It only takes a split second before I pull myself together and hop up from the floor. "I'm okay!" I announce, in a bright and cheery tone. Everything hurts.

"Is she… always this clumsy…?" Dell asks Yukari, while I dash over to the front door. I stop in front of the two, desperate to stop my aunt from saying anything more.

"It's a one off, I swear," I smile through clenched teeth, side-eyeing the hell out of Yukari, begging her silently to not say another word. "Anyway, c'mon, let's go!" Before he has a chance to wave goodbye to my aunt, I grab hold of his arm and yank him out of the house.

Once we're outside, I quickly walk down the path. I can feel the steam seeping out of my head – I've been here five minutes and I'm already giving my new friends an excuse to ditch me…! I can't believe myself. Taking in a deep breath, I finally slow down once I'm far enough away from the house.

"You're a bit energetic this morning," Dell's voice comes from behind me. He hurries to catch up with me, a quizzical sort of tone in his statement.

"I think the, uh… um… hot air is getting to me," I answer, tripping over my words as I try to come up with a not totally lame excuse. "It's a big change from home, hehe..."

The silver-haired boy simply shrugs. "It's okay if it's nerves that are getting to you. We've all been there at least once."

A long, drawn out sigh passes my lips. I feel relieved knowing that he understands. Not that I understand my feelings entirely myself. Those soft eyes… Why are they so similar to Len's…? I flick my glance to the side, taking in the grassy scenery to my right, so that I don't have to think about my idiot brother. I decide to focus on something else instead. "Dell, I… I hope you don't mind me asking..." My words trail off as I wonder how to approach the matter sensitively.

"Hmm, what is it?" He tilts his head to the side, a curious glint in his eyes.

I grip my bag a little tighter while we walk. "What, uh… what exactly happened with Haku? Why do you not get along with her?" My breath gets caught in my throat when I notice Dell's expression shift to a bitter one, with a hint of pain. I soon regret even asking at all.

"Rin, since you're new here, I'll let it slide..." Dell quietly responds, stopping in his tracks for a moment. I pause just behind him, a pang of guilt hitting my heart. "I understand that you're curious and all, but it's better if you stay out of that mess and away from her."

"I..." Is it even worth apologising? I get the feeling he's kind of annoyed with me, and telling him I'm sorry for sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong seems more like a slap in the face than being helpful.

Even so, he gives a nod and starts walking again. "I know." It's like he can read my mind or something.

I take in a light breath, walking alongside him once more, only this time silence hangs between us. All I can hear is the chirping of birds being carried along the cool morning breeze, and the squealing of cicadas in the distance. My guilt still remains but a part of me doesn't want to let this go. I fight with myself internally for a short while; should I try to talk to Haku and get her side of the story? Do I want to go behind Dell's back and get information? It could be a complete misunderstanding, and I could fix their friendship…! Being alone must be really hard for Haku.

"Anyway, did you come prepared for lunch this time?" Dell's tone is brighter now, and it's like he's back to his usual self after I overstepped his boundaries. I'm glad I haven't messed up… not yet, at least. He changes the subject to something better.

"Oh..." I raise my brows, realising what he means. Of course, I've come prepared for lunch today. Remembering how much food I put together last night, my bag suddenly feels a lot heavier than when I first left the house. I flash him a confident grin. "You bet I did! My aunty is a pro chef, you know?"

"Hahaha, I don't doubt it," Dell chuckles. "You're gonna leave all of us in the dust, aren't you?"

Relax, Rin. Don't worry about things that'll happen later… Just focus on the present, and you'll be just fine. "Mhm!" I enthusiastically hum, nodding. We continue to talk about the upcoming school day, and the once tense, almost suffocating atmosphere begins to fade.

…

Morning classes pass by rather quick. The teachers only seem to be about halfway through the syllabus for the year, which means nothing too important has come up yet, giving me more than enough time to catch up and get right on track for the rest of the school year. This also means everything is relatively pressure free; the lessons are similar to the ones I had back at home, which makes it easier.

Before I know it, it's time for lunch but this time, the others aren't making a start at pushing our desks together. I look around at the four of them, a brow raised in curiosity. They're moving to their small lockers at the back of the class, grabbing their bags. "Uh, am I missing something?" I ask, with a bit of an awkward laugh.

"Oh, we're gonna eat lunch outside today.~" Teto speaks up first, answering before the others can.

"Ah, right..." I nod. Of course, I'm curious as to why they're going outside today, but I figure they must switch it up every once in a while. It is pretty hot inside the classroom today, anyway. The fresh air will be a nice change. Rubbing at the back of my neck, I sneak a glance over to the front of the class, where Kiyoteru's desk stands. He's out of sight, but there is someone standing there, with their back turned and a stick of chalk in their hand. I recognise the long silver hair almost straight away.

"C'mon, let's get a move on, Rin!" Neru's excited voice calls out to me, and the second I turn to face her, I see a bag hurtling toward me.

"Wah-!" I gasp, eyes widening. The closer it is to smacking me in the face, the sooner I realise it's my own bag. My reflexes kick in quick enough – just in time for me to catch it. I let out a huff as it makes contact with my chest. "Geez… Thanks, Neru."

She smirks playfully as a response, sticking her thumb up. "No prob, girl."

"You should've at least given her a warning, Neru..." Fukase speaks up in his usual quiet, lecturing tone.

"But surprises are always fun, Fukase!" Teto adds, poking her nose into the conversation. I roll my eyes with a light smile pulling at my lips, throwing my bag over my shoulders.

"Alright, let's move." Dell gestures to the door, allowing Neru and Teto to walk out first. I dart my eyes between Dell and Haku's back.

"Uhh, I'll catch up in a minute – I wanna talk to Mr. Hiyama about something real quick, okay?" Without even fully making a decision in my head, I make up an excuse on impulse. I'm kind of shocked when those words slip out. Too late to go back now. Dell and Fukase momentarily exchange glances, before shrugging and accepting what I told them.

"Alright, don't take too long, though," Dell says.

"We'll wait for you to come back before starting to eat," Fukase adds, with a nod. With that, the two boys make their way out of the classroom.

I take in a deep breath to prepare myself. I wait until they close the door behind him. There are only a few other students in the class; those who've chosen to get lunch indoors, and of course, Haku scribbling away on the board. It feels wrong to go behind their backs like this, although I'm somewhat optimistic that nothing but good will come from this in the end. I head to the front of the classroom and stop just in front of Kiyoteru's desk, giving a light cough to gain her attention. "Um…" How do I even begin a conversation like this? 'Hey Haku, let me ask you all about a private and potentially upsetting topic real quick'?

"Hmm?" She lowers her arm and spins around on her heels to face me. She's holding a textbook in her other hand. I take a couple of seconds to take in her appearance. Her expression is very relaxed but something tells me she isn't in the mood to be friendly, especially not to me, as I'm friends with Dell. "If you're looking for Mr. Hiyama to sign up to the sports club, then he won't be back for another ten minutes or so." She gets straight to the point, her tone blunt.

"I'm not looking to-" Wait. Sports club? "I didn't know there was a club here..."

"There are plenty. The sports club just happens to be holding a big event very soon," she responds. I half-expected her to give me an attitude when she answered, but… She doesn't do anything of the sort. She snaps the textbook shut, setting it down onto the teacher's desk. "Our team really needs an extra member, so if you're interested in that sort of thing, talk to Mr. Hiyama."

Well, I've learned something that I hadn't even set out to look for. If this goes badly, it won't totally be a waste of time. I suppose this is good, though. Talking casually like this will give me a better idea on what kind of person Haku is. "Oh, so what event is the school holding?" I'm not incredibly interested, but if it's an easy sport, I might be able to give it a try. I want to settle in as much as I can.

"Water volleyball." She answers so quickly that I almost don't register exactly what she just told me.

"Ah… W-Wait, water volleyball?" I can't say I've ever heard of such a thing. "And this is a… serious competition?"

Haku gives a single nod. "It was my idea, actually..." For the first time, her cold outer shell breaks, and a small proud yet modest smile crosses her features.

"That's so cool! Whenever we suggested things like that at my old school, it was never taken into account," I giggle. Hold up, why am I blabbing to her about my old school as if we're friends or something? She makes me feel like I can tell her anything.

"Wait..." Her warm smile is gone as quickly as it came on. She throws up a protective barrier around herself, immediately narrowing her eyes at me. "Why are you talking to me?"

I know exactly what she means by this. It's obvious she's seen me walking around with Dell and the others. She must think I'm trying to get some information out of her – or maybe she thinks I'm hoping for her to slip up and bad mouth them. "That's, uh… that's what I was going to get to," I answer, the awkward tension practically starting to wrap itself around my neck. "What… what exactly happened with you and Dell…?"

Her eyes reflect that of the same glare Dell gave me on the way to school this morning, although the girl looks a lot more upset and hurt than he did. She lowers her glance to the floor, unable to give me an answer. "Maybe you're just faking sympathy for me, or maybe you're not… Whatever it is you're hoping to get out of this, it's better that you just leave it. Dell… made it perfectly clear how he feels about me, as did the rest of your friends."

Those words are so vague. Literally anything could've happened between the two. But at least she doesn't appear to be annoyed at me for butting in. Still, I feel like I can't let it go. "Forgive me for sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong but… I really think it's all been a misunderstanding. Can you please tell me what happened?"

Haku folds her arms over her chest at this, narrowing her eyes at me. I can feel her scanning me, taking in my appearance. I squirm at the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. Is she trying to figure out what makes me tick? However, when she speaks, it doesn't end in disaster. "Alright. But only if you join the water volley team."

"E-Eh?" I squeak, taken back by the strange deal. Then again, if that's all I need to do in order to know more… "S-Sure, I guess. But I'll have you know, I don't think I'll be a valuable asset to the team..."

"No worries. I happen to be the unofficially elected captain of the team," Haku responds, with a light grin. She holds her hand out to me.

"Huh…?" I bite down on my lower lip, glancing down to her extended palm. I suppose she wants to shake on it. But why is my heart suddenly pounding a little faster in my chest? "Oh… Alright, you sold me." I hesitantly stick my own hand out, and take hold of hers. The second I make contact with her – when I actually touch her – my heart skips a beat. What the hell is going on with me?!

Haku snaps me out of thought a moment later, by vigorously shaking my hand. "Great! Oh, and um, it's probably best you don't mention this to your friends. Our conversation, I mean. They kinda… hate me." She lets out a sorrowful chuckle.

I pull my hand back with a quiet sigh. "No problem, I won't tell them anything," I answer. "I feel bad enough going behind their back while they're waiting for me… Oh!" I forgot, they're waiting outside for me!

"Ah?" Haku tilts her head, puzzled.

"I'm sorry, I really need to go," I squeak, becoming a nervous mess as I realise just how long I've been in the classroom for. "I'll see you later, Haku!" I give her a wave before turning around in a rush.

"Oh, Rin – we have practice after school, please be there for 5!"

I can hear her call behind me as I dash into the hallway, feeling bad for not letting her know I'll be there. But I have so much more on my mind to worry about right now, not even including the fact that I just signed up for a sport that I've never heard of in my life.

I arrive outside about a few minutes later, and after rushing around the fields, I finally catch sight of my group of friends. The most noticeable thing sticking out being Teto's bright pink hair, and Fukase's slightly less bright red hair. Although I'm running out of breath – because I'm not exactly super fit – I power through and approach the benches that overlook the running track.

"Oh, there she is," comes Neru's teasing voice. The group all fix their eyes on me with welcoming smiles.

"Sorry! Sorry I'm- haaah… I'm late..." I stop in front of the bench, pressing my palms against my thighs and heaving to catch my breath.

"What were you doing for so long?" Teto wonders. She pulls herself up from the bench, and the others follow a few moments later.

"Aha, funny story, actually..." I scratch at my cheek with a finger.

"Well, tell us all about it during lunch," Dell replies, before leading us over to a patch of grass in front of the benches. There are some students not too far down, doing warm ups and such. It must be for the event Haku mentioned.

Fukase slides his bag off his shoulders and kneels down to unzip his bag. He digs deep into the bag, tongue slightly sticking out and one eye squished shut.

"Need a hand?" Neru offers, although there's a teasing hint in her words.

"I got it..." Fukase grumbles, cheeks flushing pink.

"Uhm, got what, exactly?" I pipe up. I feel so out of the loop, but I guess that's only natural.

"Got… this…!" He finally pulls his arm out of the bag, and in his hand he reveals a small, folded up piece of cloth. Of course, he starts to unwrap it before our eyes, which soon reveals a picnic blanket big enough for the five of us.

"Ooh, it's pretty and pink!" Teto points out the obvious, her eyes all starry at the alluring colour.

"Wow, Fukase. Don't tell me you borrowed Cul's blanket," Dell says, clearly straining to stop himself from snickering.

"H-Huh?" The red-head's eyes grow wide, and the blush on his cheeks becomes about ten shades darker. Figuratively speaking, that is. "Ahhh, I packed this in the dark… I thought it was a nice red…!"

"A nice red, just like your face right now," Neru remarks, which causes Dell to lose his composure and begin to double over laughing.

"Aww, poor Fukase..." Although I say that, seeing the others giggle and laugh away at his clumsy mistake kind of makes me want to join in. I've made my fair share of dumb mistakes though, so I resist the urge.

"I want the biggest share of your food today, you damn monsters..." Fukase hisses under his breath, setting the picnic blanket up. He shuffles onto the blanket first with a light huff.

"S-Sorry, Fukase. I just… Wow, how does that even happen?" Neru isn't going to let it go that easily, it seems. She sits down with the rest of us.

"If it makes you feel better, I love the blanket..." Teto's bubbly tone is intended to make him feel less embarrassed, but I imagine it just makes him feel so much worse.

"You're all going to pay for this, I swear," Fukase huffs again, sticking his cheeks out in a childish manner.

I can't help but quietly giggle. These guys are incredibly fun to be around. I just hope it lasts once the truth starts to unfold itself. I place my bag down in front of me and pull my extra large lunch-box out, setting it onto the blanket. "Well, what do you all think?~" I slyly grin, knowing I've outdone them this time.

"Woah. You really have blown us all out of the water," Dell says, with a raised brow.

I look around the circle at the others' lunch-boxes. They're as big as yesterday and packed full of the same food, but mine is clearly the winner here today.

"Wooow, Rin…! Did your aunt make all of that?" Teto gasps, staring at it in awe.

I'd be lying if I said I made the majority of the food. "Well, I kinda helped out here and there. But yeah, she did it all."

Neru eyes up the lunch-box, giving an impressed whistle. "Let's not waste any time then, huh? It may look good, but let's see if it tastes good!"

With that, we crack open our own lunch-boxes – a mixture of different food scents hit my nose, making my mouth water in anticipation. There's rice, bright veggies, small cuts of meat and more. It all looks so delicious. I don't even want to think about dessert. If I get too ahead of myself, I won't be able to enjoy all this food here. There's some silence as we take the first few bites, picking out of each other's boxes, and a few 'mm' noises in delight.

Once we've settled the hunger in our stomachs, conversation starts back up. I figure I should speak first, letting them know about my new place on the sports team. "So, uh… I heard some students talking about the sports event that's coming up, so I decided to ask Mr. Hiyama about it."

"Uh oh." Teto is the only one who responds, and it's not a good reaction.

"Rin, you… didn't sign up for water volley, did you?" Neru reluctantly asks.

Why are they all staring at me like that? Is it because Haku is on the team? I hold my breath for a moment. "W-Well, I just wanted a club to join, to try and settle in a bit more..."

"You know that she's on the team, don't you?" Dell emphasises 'her' very bitterly, almost like he refuses to utter her name.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Rin," Fukase quietly says.

"Well… Maybe… maybe if you guys just told me what the deal with Haku is rather than hiding it…!" I don't fully lash out but I do end up raising my voice, making it clear that I'm offended about being kept in the dark. I don't even mean to be so childish and demanding, but I know that keeping secrets just fucks everything up. Despite all this, no one gives in.

The silver-haired boy lets out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. "Rin, please just forget about it. You can do whatever you want – join the sports team if it's your passion. But please don't try to get any info out of Haku."

Part of me wants to challenge him and interrogate further. Though the rational part of me knows not to push it any further right here. This still doesn't mean I'm going to give up talking to Haku. Silence falls once more, but this time, no one else starts a new conversation for the rest of the lunch period.

…

A loud whistle echoes through the building. "Alright everybody, into the water!" The whistle is soon followed by Haku's booming orders, which makes me feel increasingly uncomfortable. I don't know any of these students. It's going to be difficult to jump right into the deep end. Both literally and figuratively.

Since I don't own a school branded swimsuit, Haku graciously pulled a spare from some dusty old locker in the changing rooms. Perhaps that's part of the reason why I feel so fidgety right now. The swimsuit is just a plain old black with some school and event related prints on the back.

I follow the rest of the team toward the pool, hanging at the back of the line. They're all in their own pairs; at the front there's a girl and boy with brown hair, behind those two there's a girl with short black hair and a boy with light pink hair, and at the back there's little old me. Of course, someone is walking alongside me – a boy with messy blonde hair, and what sticks out the most straight away is the large bandage wrapped around his right eye.

"You all know the drill. Move it!" Haku shouts out again, hurrying us into the pool. Dang, she's scary when she's in bossy leader mode.

I watch silently as everybody dips themselves into the pool. The boy at the front with the brown hair dives in from the side, whereas the others walk down the steps. When he surfaces from his dive, another sharp whistle echoes out as a way of telling him off. It finally comes to my turn; I anxiously grip the metal rail as I descend into the water, hoping I don't make a fool of myself and slip face first in.

I gasp under my breath as the chilly water makes contact with my bare legs at first and then the rest of my body. I can't remember the last time I went swimming except for leisure back at home. Drifting toward the others, I slowly spin around to look up at Haku, who is now standing by the edge of the pool. She's also wearing a swimsuit but it doesn't look like she's going to be joining us in here just yet.

"First of all, I'd like you all to meet your new teammate – Rin Kagamine," Haku announces, pushing the spotlight onto me. I lightly roll my eyes before giving everyone a small wave. "Let us keep Mayu in our thoughts, however. Her accident was truly tragic. If fate hadn't betrayed her that day, she'd still be here to win the event for us."

I awkwardly glance around at the others, whose expressions are all serious. It's almost comedic. I'm left wondering who Mayu is and just what the hell happened to her. And wait, did Haku imply that we're going to lose because I took the star player's spot?

Haku brightens up after wiping away a fake tear under her eye.

Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into? This is… a group full of freaks…! Ugh, right, I can't really judge them after everything I've done.

"Rin, I'd like you to meet your teammates." Haku begins to point to each of the members casually bobbing in the water. She starts by gesturing to the two brown haired kids: Clara and Bruno. They appear to be bright and full of energy, pumped and ready to play. She then moves to the duo that had been walking in front of me on the way into the pool: Mizki and Yuuma. These two seem far more reserved, yet I catch a glimpse of determination in their eyes. Finally, she points to the boy with the bandage around his eye: Oliver.

"Wow, uh..." I rub at the back of my head, wondering if I'll be able to remember so many names at once. "It's nice to meet you all. I gotta give you guys fair warning, I've never heard of water volleyball, let alone played it." Honesty is the best policy, right?

Clara lets out a sort of snort laugh, and when she talks, she comes out with a strong Spanish accent, something I hadn't really expected. "Don't worry, dulzura, none of us knew what the hell this game was before Ms. Team Leader here introduced us to the crazy concept." She gestures her head to the left, obviously referencing Haku as 'Ms. Team Leader'. Cute.

"It's true," Mizki softly says, with a sly smile as she agrees with Clara.

"But of course, we're true pros at this now!" Bruno has the same strong accent as Clara, except his words are more accentuated due to his apparent large ego.

"We'll help you get the hang of it, basically," Yuuma adds, with a shrug.

"I'm still kind of struggling myself, so we'll learn together, Rin." Oliver admits in a low, bashful voice, flashing me a smile.

"Now that we're all acquainted, let's do less talking and more playing." Haku finally brings the chit-chat to an end, just like a teacher would regain control over a noisy classroom. Her natural talent to be a leader is incredibly admirable. Although I suppose she still has a hint of childishness, as she blows into the whistle to make it squeak out and get our attention. She begins pointing once more, this time to give her orders. "Rin, Mizki, Yuuma – on the left side of the net! Clara, Bruno, Oliver – other side!"

When I turn around, I finally notice the giant net in the centre of the pool. Man, I must really be dumb. I hadn't seen it when I had first come in from the changing rooms. Not entirely sure on where to position myself, I swim after Mizki to our side of the net and await more instructions. Suddenly, before I turn around to look at Haku, a rather loud 'heads up!' comes from behind me, followed by a pelting sort of noise.

"I got it, I got it-!" Bruno jumps up in the water, waving his arms around. That's when I see a ball fly over my head. All I can do is watch its movement, turning my head while dumbfounded. Bruno's hands miss the ball, causing it to create a pretty big splash radius.

"Pff-!" Clara coughs, throwing her arms up instinctively to cover her face, but it's too late. "Aughh, idiota, you got water all over my face."

I snicker quietly under my breath at the entertaining sight before my eyes. Dell really was telling the truth. Everyone at this school is super nice, and it's been so easy to fit into my new club. I feel like I've been part of it forever.

"Alright, Rin. Ready to learn the basics?" Haku grabs my attention, snapping me out of thought. "We'll run through a simple set so you can get the hang of it. Show her what you've got, guys. And don't go easy on her!"

Gulping, I face the three on the opposite side of the net. Wait, please do go easy on me. I don't wanna get smacked in the face with a ball. With a scream of the whistle, my suffering begins now.

…

The session lasts for around an hour and a half. Quite possibly the worst hour and a half of my life, in fact. By the time the set finishes, I'm left soaking wet and miserable, having made only a fraction of progress. Even Oliver has shown improvement by the end, and he was in the same position as me. A final whistle signals the end of the session, and Haku begins shouting out her orders for everyone to get out of the pool, praising our work for the day. It's funny… At the start, I felt so confident and like I was part of the team… Now I just feel like a sort of burden on them.

"Wait, Rin. Stay in the pool for a sec there, okay?" I'm about to clamber up the steps, until Haku cuts my movements short with a strange request to stay behind. I puff my cheeks out, groaning quietly to myself. She dismisses everybody else, who head toward the changing rooms laughing and chattering all about the fun they had. I rest my arms against the edge of the pool, grumbling to myself.

Once everyone has cleared off, Haku walks over to the steps. "I couldn't help but notice you aren't exactly getting the hang of this..." Way to be blunt about it and straight to the point. "I know it's all new and confusing, and I don't wanna be a bitch about it, alright? But you gotta stick in just a little bit more than you did today."

Ugh, now she really seems like a teacher. Lecturing me about 'sticking in more' and pressing me to 'do better'. "C'mon, it's only day one," I sigh.

"Yes, and there's only seven days until the tournament," Haku retorts, slightly stern but also remaining calm. "I'm gonna teach you a few pointers. It'll only take an extra ten minutes or so."

It must be some time past 7pm right now. When I texted my aunty earlier, I told her I'd be home before 7. If I stay any later, she might get all worried. "Can't we do this in our next practice session?" I raise a brow at her, trying to compromise or something.

"Nuh-uh," she hums, shaking her head. She slips into the water beside me, and before I can say anything, she grabs my wrist and pulls me along to the centre of the pool. A mischievous chuckle escapes her lips. When we arrive at the centre, she twirls me around so that my back is facing her. I look ahead to the net with uncertainty. "First of all, your techniques of hitting the ball are all off."

"Is this some sort of critique session?" I raise a brow, resisting the urge to look over my shoulder at her in annoyance. I'm met with a 'shush' from her, so I simply grin and bear it.

Haku floats along to the left of me, reaching an arm around me to place her hands on my shoulders. What is she doing…? "Let's start with the way you move when hitting the ball," she says, in a sort of quiet tone.

"Is there really a wrong way to hit a ball?" I can't help but question her logic, but she shushes me once more.

"You gotta get your arms like this..." She traces her hands down from my shoulders, controlling my position by gently lifting my arms so they're only just out of the water. The way she traces her smooth fingertips over my body sends a light shiver down my spine. She moves forward slightly again, wrapping her palms over my hands. "And sort of join your hands together..."

I find that my breath gets caught in my throat – the exact same thing I felt with Dell. I allow her to shift my hands into the correct position, which ends up being some weird thing where my fingers are linked together. I keep my eyes forward, feeling far too awkward to actually look at her. I hear the gentle splashes of water to my left; she shifts herself behind me. My heart is pounding a bit faster, knowing she's right behind me. I bite down on my lip, waiting to see what comes next.

"And finally, you have to straighten yourself out… Like this..." She slides her hands down, resting her palms right against my waist, holding me loosely in place. She doesn't even need to fix my posture; I jolt upright practically as soon as her hands touch such a typically intimate area.

"H-Haku…?" I whisper, getting the feeling this isn't just a lesson for volleyball. I feel her breath tickling against the back of my neck, causing a blush to sneak up on my cheeks. I lightly shut my eyes, trying to gulp but it's no use – my mouth has gone dry. I can't be imagining this tense atmosphere. She must know what she's doing to me. My heart… won't stop pounding…

"You're so interesting, Rin," the silver-haired girl hisses from behind. Am I dreaming? Am I hearing this right – is she really speaking in such a… a… suggestive tone…?! A shaky breath passes my lips as her fingertips slowly trace up and down my hip. "You're the first person who's been nice to me in such a long time… I know you aren't doing it just to be friends."

Shit, is my love of girls really that obvious? Have I been giving off those signals the entire time? The fact that Haku wants me makes me feel incredibly good about myself, but something inside me gets the horrible feeling that this is wrong; that I'm betraying my friends for doing this. "H-Haku, I… All I wanted to know is..."

My words get all tangled up and I can't say any more than that. Taking in a breath, I turn around to look her in the eye. The expression on her face is breathtaking. Her eyes full of mystery, begging me to uncover all her hidden secrets. I'm really not imagining this. I'm floored, left utterly speechless after one look at her.

"Please, let's not talk about that," Haku softly requests, pulling a hand away from my hip and instead trailing it up to rest on my cheek. Water drips down my face but that's the least of my concerns right now. My mind goes back to the talk we had earlier. She said she'd tell me if I joined her team, but still nothing… However, it doesn't even seem important right now. All that matters is this moment and nothing else. "I feel the same way as you, you know. You are truly innocent, I can see that… Your empathy for others is so strong and it makes you so beautiful."

All the doubts that Dell and the others filled my head with earlier start to fade away. Now I'm more sure than ever that there's been a misunderstanding between them, and it can be fixed, somehow. And Haku is right. Something drew me to her, something unexplainable.

I'm left unsure on how to answer her compliments. I really want to grab this chance at a possible romance, but I'm apprehensive due to the string of failures I've left behind. But, the way she looks at me and gently caresses my cheek… I find myself believing every word she tells me. She's the only one that matters to me in this moment. No Dell… But for some reason, I still have Len at the very back of my mind. The way she's holding me close with an arm around my waist gives me the feeling of deja vu; back to my birthday, when my brother held me…

"Honestly, I was going to try and avoid you. Not let myself get too close, in case you ended up hurting me like Dell hurt me," Haku sighs, a look of pain and sadness overcoming her. "But something is telling me you'd never do that."

Completely hypnotised, love-struck… I slowly shake my head, affirming that I'd indeed never do such a thing. After all, my purpose the entire time has been to get to know her and let her know she's not alone, and that this can be fixed. Just not in this moment right now, but maybe later. "I understand how you feel… It's lonely, isn't it?" I finally speak, a frown pulling at my lips.

"R-Rin, I… There's something special about you..." Haku seems to be at a loss for words now, stuttering. I can see the pink in her cheeks now. In the blink of an eye, she dives forward and crashes her lips on top of mine.

My eyes grow wide in shock. I didn't expect her to be so forward… and I barely even saw her move toward me…! She wastes absolutely no time at all – a moment later, while I'm still trying to process it, she yanks me closer to her, so that our bodies are now pressing against each other. My eyelids grow heavy as a sensation of passion and lust overwhelms me. I can feel the warmth of her lips. I can't resist any longer. My eyes finally slip shut, and I slowly move my arms up to rest around the back of her neck. Her hand finally falls from my cheek and takes it place back against my hip. This is unbelievable… The fiery lust is too much for me to handle already…!

"Mmh," she mumbles, pulling back from my lips after a good few seconds. She only pulls back a small bit; when I open my eyes, I'm in a sort of daze, breathless from it. "I'm sorry for that, but..."

I guess the only thing I can do is convince her that I want this. I close my eyes once more, this time being the one to initiate a kiss for the first time. I return the burning passion she passed onto me just a few seconds ago, sliding my hand up the back of her neck to her hair. I fumble around a little bit, distracted from the deepening kiss, before loosening the bun she's wearing and allowing her hair to fall freely over her shoulders. I then start to run my fingers through her hair, tilting my head slightly to the side with a soft groan of what can only be pleasure.

After remaining locked at the lips for at least a minute, Haku and I slowly pull away from one another, unable to handle going any further. I open my eyes, this time truly breathless from such an intense kiss. I've literally never felt like this before. My entire body… it's like I'm numb and weak, after giving into my feelings. And to think, I've only been at school for a couple of days.

Haku softly laughs, untangling our bodies. She swims back a pace or two, giving me some personal space again. She grabs her hair bow which is floating beside her. She looks pretty cute with her hair down like that. "Now my hair is all wet..." she playfully pouts.

"Long hair problems. Can't relate," I remark, giving a casual shrug with a slight smirk. "We… better get out of here, right?"

"Yeah, I'm starting to freeze my butt off," Haku snickers, nodding in agreement. We make our way over to the steps and when I exit the water, I immediately begin to suffer from the cold. "C'mon, let's get a towel over you, you poor thing."

I'm still slightly dazed from what just happened. This is the first person I feel like I'm able to fully trust, on an intimate level. It's different with Meiko and Miku at home. I've trusted them ever since we met. But, to finally feel like I've been successful in the intimacy department… It's a huge relief, and it's making me giddy. I can't jump to conclusions, I know that. One step at a time. But still… Damn, she's such a good kisser. The two of us make our way to the changing rooms.

My mind suddenly jumps to Yukari. Oh man, I'm going to be home so late. And Haku is the cause of it this time, not Dell. I wonder how I'll explain this one to her.

...