Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club
Finally! I thought I would never get the chance to update any of my stories again. However, I managed to sneak in three hours to write this chapter. College has kept me busy like crazy. When I'm not doing homework, I'm studying and when I'm not studying, I'm too tired to do anything.
Anyways, I would like to thank all my readers, reviewers, followers, ect.! I can't thank you all enough and I am terribly sorry for the long wait. I will try to update as soon as I can. I promise. So, please ignore my grammatical errors and I hope this chapter meets your expectations!
Oh, I still can't believe that Free! ends this week! What am I going to look forward on Wednesday?! Knowing myself, I will probably won't watch the ending until like a year or two. I always do that. I can't tell you how many animes I have failed to see the last episode (Say I love You, Kimi ni Todoke, Kaichou wa Maid sama, Hellsing, FMA, Vampire Knight, ect.)
Taking Chances
Chapter 4 - Confusion
A part of him couldn't believe what he had just heard. He didn't understand where she was coming from. Never in all their years had she told him something like that and maybe that was the reason why he was having such a hard time digesting her words. Snapping back to reality, Rin watched as his sister walked away. He called her back millions of times, but she only turned around to give him a small smile along with a cheery wave.
What the hell had she just told him anyway? There was only so much his brain could process and everything seemed like one big blur. First, he catches her with the captain, a guy that was known to be a big flirt. He couldn't exactly see what they were doing at first, but once he got closer, he realized the captain had his arm around his sister. Anger immediately boiled inside and a part him wanted to punch the hell right out of the captain.
Then, the look in her sister's eyes troubled him. She clearly wasn't being herself and she seemed too serious for her own nature. At first he didn't get it and he figured the captain had done something to her. Just when his mind was getting to the conclusion that he should have pounded that bastard, his sister dropped the bomb on him; she had confessed to someone and that someone rejected her on the spot.
Smacking his lips, Rin turned around angrily and started walking back to the academy. There was no use pressing the issue since it was already clear that his sister wasn't going to tell him anymore. Still, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. There were so many things he wanted to know and yet, he knew his sister was going to keep her mouth shut. He wanted to know who she had confessed too. He wanted to know if he, by any chance, knew that person. He wanted to know if he was actually worthy of her.
Rin placed his hands inside his pockets as he annoyingly rolled his eyes to himself. This was really all he needed. Now, instead of worrying about the stupid tournament that was going to take place in a week or so, he was worrying over his dumb sister. He never liked butting into her business, but sometimes he felt it was necessary to do so. She was too trusting and even gullible at times. If people used the right words, they could probably convince her to do anything. Pushing his hair away from his face, Rin stopped for a moment to look up the dark starry sky.
He didn't need this. He had enough trouble thinking about Haru and the others. He didn't need his sister's problems. He needed to focus on what lay ahead of him and that was the tournament. He needed to beat Haru, so he could just move on with his life and leave everything behind. He didn't want to be tied down by him or his father's memory anymore. He was tired of that. Once he beat Haru, he would finally be free of that burden that was weighing him down.
How could he do anything now that his mind was suddenly preoccupied on his little sister? Cursing silently to himself, Rin continued walking down the sidewalk until he saw the academy again. His sister was crazy if she thought he was going to let go of the topic that easily. He was determined to find her and pressure her for answers. He was ready to find the guy she was crushing on and have a serious talk with him. He wasn't about to forgive a guy that had made his sister cry and suffer. No one was allowed to do that and no was around to fool around with her either. She was the only one that actually understood him and she was the only one that could see through his feelings.
Rin walked passed the indoor swimming pool and headed to the dorms. He was so tired from all the swimming the captain had made them do and his nightly jog had just added to his exhaustion. He was ready to sleep out his worries and forget about everything that was troubling him. However, the minute he stepped inside his dorm room, he was greeted by Nitori's annoying voice and annoying smile. He didn't understand where he would get all his excitement and enthusiasm from.
"Senpai!" He exclaimed, walking toward him as happy as ever. Rin, on the other hand, failed to even look at him. He quietly closed the door and headed for the closest to change out of his sweatshirt. "You're back a lot quicker than I expected. Did everything go okay? I mean, why did your sister come all the way over here for? It doesn't really seem like something she would do."
"Yeah," Rin simply replied without bothering to look back at him. He took off his shirt and threw it on the floor before he grabbed a new clean one. He would normally shower before hitting the bed, but he decided he was too tired for that and, knowing Nitori, he probably wouldn't bother to go to bed until he did. Unfolding a newly clean shirt, Rin slowly put on and when he turned around, he was surprised to find Nitori standing right behind. "Everything's fine, so stop worrying about it."
"But, Senpai," Nitori continued as he followed him toward his bed. Rin sat down on top of the mattress and grabbed a nearby towel that was laying about. He quickly placed it over his head, hoping it would block away Nitori's annoying voice. He just wasn't the mood to deal with him or his enthusiasm. He had too much going on inside his head and Haru and his sister were partially responsible for that. "Are you sure everything's okay?"
Letting out a sigh, Rin watched Nitori's feet from underneath the towel. He was always liked that. Whenever he was troubled with something, he always tried to encourage him. He always tried to make him feel better. During practice, he would always cheer him on and he would always try to keep him stay positive. A bit like his sister, Nitori could almost tell what he was thinking and that creeped Rin out to no end. Then again, it was own fault for telling Nitori everything about his past and about his experiences with old friends.
"By the way, Senpai," Nitori continued on, despite the fact that he was ignoring him. He sat next to him, but he knew to keep his distant. Rin lifted his head to find a puzzled look on Nitori's face. "I think Captain Mikoshiba feels something for your sister. I mean, it's kind of hard not to notice. I don't know if you've realized that already though. It's just the way he looks at her, I guess. I don't know. I could be just imagining it. Please don't pay attention to what I'm saying. I could be wrong."
"You don't say." Rin gritted his teeth as he curled his hands into fists. He didn't need someone pointing the obvious. It was already clear to him that the captain was going after his sister, his only sister. Despite all his mixed up feelings, he managed to keep his voice smooth and calm. "What else makes you say that?"
"Well," Nitori began, placing his hand over his chin before he turned to look at him. He was taking too long to answer and it was making Rin grow impatient. "I don't know. It just seems like it. But, whether he likes her or not, I think they suit each pretty well. I mean, she's a really nice person and the captain is a really nice person too. It seems to me like they might really get along well and I -"
"Nitori," Rin interrupted him mid-sentence as he grabbed the towel that was laying over his head. He threw on the bed before he gave his roommate a death glare. Nitori immediately jerked back in fear, forming a nervous crooked smile. "Stop saying idiotic things. I don't think it's funny."
"Right! Right, of course!" He stuttered, standing up from the bed and stumbling toward the light switch. He chuckled nervously before he changed topics completely. "Anyways, it's getting late and we have to wake up early tomorrow, right?! I guess, it's best if we just head to sleep now?"
With that being said, Nitori quickly turned off the lights and climbed up to his bunk bed. He mattress creaked above him, but it wasn't long before it laid completely still. Despite the sudden silence, Rin didn't make an effort to undo his bed. He just sat there, staring out into the dark room. The wind was rustling violently against the window and it almost seemed like a storm was about to hit. Still, he figured that nothing could be worse than the feelings that were eating him inside.
Rin let out a small silent sigh before he grabbed a picture from underneath his pillow. He stared into it even the darkness blinded the colors away. He didn't have to see to know it was a picture of his father standing behind the swimming pool after winning the relay. He wasn't alone, though. He was standing with all his friends that had helped him win. Holding the picture tightly in his hand, Rin scooted himself on the bed until his back hit the wall. He leaned his head against it as well before he slowly shut his eyes.
Where would he be if his father was still alive? Would he still be with Haru and the others? Would he even have gone to Australia? What would have been his fate if his father would have completed his dream of being in the Olympics? The only thing that concerned him in that moment was beating Haru. Nothing else seemed to matter. He just wanted to beat him and put him in his place. He wanted to show him that he was the better the swimmer. He wanted to show him that all his swimming wasn't meant for nothing. He didn't swim in vain like he did; he swam with a purpose.
But, now his sister had showed up in the picture. She came trampling into his world with complete nonsense. Snapping his eyes open, Rin sat up and growled at the thought of his sister being with the captain or with any other guy with that matter. He knew how the system worked. He knew what guys like the captain thought of. He wasn't blind to that and in fact, he could already picture what would happened if the captain were to go out with his sister.
First, he would take her on a series of dates like he would with all the other girls he had probably dated with in the past. He would win his sister over easily with his manly charms and his somewhat impressive muscles. Once that happened, there would be no hope for his sister. Rin trembled angrily at the thought of his sister being touched by the captain's filthy hands.A guy like the captain was only attracted to cute girls and it disgusted him to think that he was now after his sister. There were millions of cute girls throughout Japan and the captain just had to pick his sister. It pissed him off to no end and he felt like stomping over to his dorm to give him a piece of his mind. Still, he managed to stay calm because he knew that his sister didn't like him back. Rin doubted she would ever pay attention to him that way.
Aside from that, his sister was too busy managing the swim club, so she clearly didn't have time to date the captain or anyone. Then, she was also interested in another guy, another guy he was ready to beat for breaking her heart. He needed to make sure that something like that never happened again. As far as he was concerned, the world was full of perverted guys that were ready to snatch a girl's virginity at any moment and he wasn't about to let his sister fall victim to that.
"Senpai?" Nitori's voice suddenly creaked, snapping him from his swirl of thoughts. Rin stayed quiet, not bothering to say a single word. It was better to make him believe that he was asleep because if he knew that his eyes were peeled open, he would probably come down from his bunk bed to talk him. Rin definitely didn't want that. He had enough to deal with already. "Senpai? Are you asleep?"
Silence followed for the next few seconds or so and it wasn't long before he heard Nitori shifting around in his bed. He had probably given up or he probably figured that he just wanted to be alone. Leaning his head back against the wall, Rin closed his eyes for the second time, but as exhausted as he was, he knew that sleep wouldn't come to him so easily. His hands slowly let the picture fall on top of the blankets and it wasn't long before his mind started thinking about the past again. There was no doubt in his mind that he would be stuck in the same moment until he beat Haru. He would never be able to move forward until he beat Haru.
In the end, Rin ended up having a sleepless night since his mind kept jumping back from Haru to his sister.
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