Sousuke snaps at Rin and makes it his mission to make Haruka feel better. This is more friendship Souharu, just a little something.

Sousuke was watching the ocean tide as it pushed and pulled against itself, just like a certain redhead, pulling him in then pushing him away. Sousuke had finally had enough, another argument had the butterfly swimmer snapping back at the redhead. Haruka, always about Haruka Nanase. As much as Sousuke despised the boy, the ravenette didn't need Rin dragging him into the pull and push force that he had over Sousuke. The teal eyed male was tired of Rin's one-sided control, Haru was his own person, that the redhead didn't understand. After every practice Rin would vent to him about the ravenette and Sousuke would listen, patient at first but slowly losing his tolerance for the redheads need for power. Rin treated Haruka like a puppet, like something he had full control over and he was frustrated that he was losing control. Sousuke watched how Rin treated Haru, softly at first turning more forceful before exploding if Haruka blatantly refused. When the freestyle swimmer choked in his heat race, Rin had burst out in anger. The redhead made it out about himself of course and Haru had finally defended himself, only to push Rin harder at him. Rin had taken Haruka to Australia and they had both returned in high spirits. After the tournament, Haru had a small one-sided heated conversation with Rin who ended up seething through his teeth. The two swimming teams had parted ways soon after and Sousuke had to endure another of Rin's rants.

"What is he thinking? He could have a great career as a swimmer. We could be Olympians. You know he finally told me why he choked in his heat race." Rin turned to face Sousuke. "He was afraid. I mean what bullshit."

Sousuke crossed his arms, clearly, Haru had told him in confidence and was now being ridiculed by the one person he told.

"He told me about the dreams he had and how they controlled him. He's got so much potential and he's throwing it all away because of a dream."

"You have no idea if that's the reason why he wants to stop," Sousuke grumbled watching his friend pace.

"It's the most obvious, running away when things get tough." Rin narrowed his brow.

"Nothing would, no, nothing is stopping me, let alone nightmares or injuries."

Sousuke flinched slightly at the word 'injuries' hand unconsciously found his shoulder but Rin didn't seem to notice and continued.

"I mean you can forget a nightmare easy and injuries." Rin snorted in derision, throwing his hands in the air. "You heal."

"Well, sometimes it's permanent." Sousuke snapped, forcing himself to stand head on and confront the redhead. "Have you ever thought about how Nanase feels?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You always end up making everything about yourself." Sousuke barked out angrily. "Nitori's swimming getting better, you think it's because of you. Momo joining the swim team, because of you. Haruka swimming, because of you. Injuring my shoulder, because of you."

"How aren't they because of me?"

Sousuke growled low at the responded question and clenched his fist too tightly his nails dug into his palm.

"Nitori wanted to improve to keep up with everyone, not just you. You may have planted the idea into his head but it was Momo's final decision and you know for a fact Haruka loves swimming. He swims with and for his friends and I injured my shoulder because I pushed myself too hard. You need to get off your high horse and stop thinking about yourself all the time."

Rin for once was speechless. His red eyes widened and anger flittered through them.

"You're one to talk." Rin snorted rising a brow in ridicule. "All you think about is yourself and you mellow in your misery."

"At least I don't make people feel like shit."

Sousuke stormed out, leaving Rin to plant himself on his bunk. Sousuke let his feet take him to the train station, unconsciously getting off at a familiar stop and found himself at the beach. He grasped his shoulder tightly and gently massaged the growing knot, stress and Sousuke didn't mix. The sound of the ocean began to calm his nerves, the dull ache fading as each wave crashed against itself. He ran a hand through his hair, narrowing his brow and sighed heavily, letting the anxiety out in one fell swoop. Sousuke heard footsteps and glanced over his shoulder to see someone passing by. Raven coloured hair, Ocean blue eyes, jogging.

"He was afraid, what bullshit."

Sousuke frowned, why would Haruka lie? He hasn't before, well from what Sousuke knew. The ravenette was blunt and to the point. That was just Haru. Sousuke watched the boy turn a corner and disappear from his sight, reluctantly turning back to the ocean and let his eyes slide shut.

"Yamazaki."

Sousuke jumped in fright and growled down at the raven-haired teen beside him. "What the fuck?!"

"What are you doing here?" Haruka ignored the rude comment.

"Enjoying the view," Sousuke grumbled staring out at the ocean, fixating on a set point.

"It's nice."

"What are you doing here?"

"Thinking."

Sousuke let out a hum and crossed his arms, gandering a quick look at the ravenette to see him gazing peacefully at the ocean waves. "About?"

"Everything, I guess." Haruka glanced at the butterfly swimmer, smirking at the unconvinced look on the teens face.

"Cryptic."

"Very." Haruka let a small smile grace his lips and caught Sousuke's eye for a moment too long and flickered his gaze around them. "Is Rin not with you?"

"No." Sousuke let the anger pass through his voice. Haru rose a brow but didn't push. They didn't speak for several moments just standing in compatible silence until Sousuke finally spoke. "Congratulations on winning Nationals, by the way."

"Thanks."

The silence returned, thoughts buzzing through both their heads. Sousuke heard a sniffle and a small catch of someone's throat and glanced beside him to see Haruka wiping his eyes.

"Nanase?" Sousuke spoke a little alarmed, hands flexing in hesitation. To comfort or not to comfort?

"Sorry." Haruka sniffed, staring at the floor for a second before giving the butterfly swimmer his attention. "Sorry."

"Hey no, it's okay. What's wrong?"

"Are you sure? Because I know we don't exactly see eye to eye."

Sousuke just nodded and sat, patting the place next to him for Haru to sit. Rin had been a shitty friend and the butterfly swimmer felt the need to fix it. "Is this about not wanting to swim competitively?"

Haruka rose a brow in surprise before realising it was obvious Rin would tell Sousuke, he was the redheads best friend after all. "Yeah, it is."

As Haru sat down Sousuke asked the question that had been floating in his mind since Rin had told him. "Why don't you want to swim competitively?"

A question no one had bothered to ask him Haru noted. Expect now, from the one person he thought was coarse and unrefined.

"I enjoy swimming, you know that everyone knows that. It's just I swim because I enjoy it not because I like to race. I don't care for times and I know I have a lot of potential for this kind of thing it's just not what I want to do." Haru rambled, closing his eyes letting his other senses overtake, the saltiness of the air calmed him and he waited for Sousuke to speak.

"What do YOU want to do?"

That made Haru falter, another question no one had asked. What did he want specifically? It was always decided for him, he rarely had a choice of his own. Haru shrugged.

"I enjoy cooking, drawing."

"You know even if I hadn't injured my shoulder I'd probably still not swim professionally either."

"Really?" Haru gently wiped away a tear that had fallen turning his gaze to the butterfly swimmer who was grasping his shoulder with a pained expression.

"Yeah. As much as I love swimming, I know that I'm at my peak. I mean sure I was top ten but once you're on top the only way is down."

"Sousuke..."

"Oh, it's okay." The teal eyed male smiled lightly at the ravenette. "I've accepted it."

"I should apologise to Rin."

"You have nothing to apologise for. He's the one that assumed you'd follow him. You are your own person. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Thanks, Sousuke."

"It's nothing." The butterfly swimmer waved him off. "I know a thing or two about Rin's ability to control people."

"Thank you for listening. No one would understand."

"Not even Tachibana?"

Haru shook his head sighing heavily. "Me against the world."

"When did you decide it wasn't for you?"

"I guess it started last year when Rin came back. He beat me at a prefectural meet and that was the first time I really thought about my time. About besting the other swimmers. The water felt tight like it didn't want me there." Haru explained using gestures glancing to see Sousuke watching him. "And I know it sounds stupid-"

"-It doesn't." Sousuke shook his head.

"-Well I didn't like how I felt. I didn't care that Rin bested me or that he announced he wouldn't swim with me anymore. It wouldn't matter if the water rejected me. At nationals I pushed the time from my mind, imagining that we were at practice but it didn't help, I choked in that heat race remember?"

Sousuke nodded for him to carry on.

"Well, I'm sure Rin spoke to you about the dream. Well, it wasn't just that. The pressure of being the fastest, the best, it isn't me. I swim because it calms me."

"So why did you join a competitive swim club?"

"Other than the fact I was promised to swim? Pressure. It's a lot you know?"

"Yeah, I do." Sousuke frowned leaning back on his hands, "I have a daily reminder."

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean-"

"-it's okay." Sousuke smiled, lightly nudging the boy beside him. "So, a chef huh?"

Haruka let a sniffed chuckle pass his lips and smiled up at the butterfly swimmer. "Who knew you were so compassionate?"

Sousuke was taken surprised by Haru's comment and flushed in embarrassment before he smiled at the cheered up ravenette. "What can I say? Prince Charming at your service."