I don't own free!
Rin walked past his room and towards the pool. He needed to clear his head before he could sleep, and swimming was the one thing that really calmed him down. The night had started well, but it had gone downhill quickly, and he felt as though he was minutes away from snapping and going on a rampage. He snarled. Stupid Ai for acting so sweet and kind and wonderful on the walk home, stupid weather for raining and forcing them to walk, huddled close together under one umbrella, and stupid Haru for making him think about all this stuff in the first place!
He reached the deserted pool area and stripped off his outer clothes (hanging out with Haru so much had had its affect on him; he was wearing his swimsuit underneath), feeling the tension he had been carrying in his shoulders abruptly release as he dived into the water. Swimming the length of the pool, he let his mind wander back to the events of the evening.
He had sat down next to Haruka after dinner and began to talk about training techniques he was using at Samezuka, interested in the freestyle swimmer's opinion. But no sooner had he began to speak than Haru raised a hand for silence. "What is it?" Rin asked. Haruka turned slowly and stared at him for a moment or to, before saying in a rather uninterested sounding voice "You like Nitori." Rin gaped at him. After he had recovered from his state of shock, he through his head back, laughing a little too loud. "Of course not!" he said with a grin, hoping his ears weren't as red as they felt "That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I don't like him at all. Well, I mean I like him, but not like that. As a friend. I like him in a friendly, platonic way. I mean, how did you even come up with something like that? It's just so insane. We're just friends! I don't..." He stopped his ramble, unable to continue under the pressure of his friend's stare. "Would you stop giving me that look?!" He said, crossing his arms and sending Haru his best death-glare back. Unfazed, the Iwatobi swimmer simply nodded and said "You like him."
"No I don't!"
"Yes you do."
"I don't!"
"Do."
"I don't!"
"Do."
"No. I. DON'T!" Haru said nothing, again fixing his eyes on Rin's. They continued this staring contest for a minute or two, but soon Rin couldn't handle it anymore. He hunched over and looked to the side, grumbling "So what if I do?" Haru sighed and looked over his shoulder towards Makoto and Ai, who appeared to be deep in conversation. Rolling his eyes, he turned back to Rin and said "What are you going to do about it?"
"Huh?"
Haru huffed in annoyance "You like him. What are you going to do about it?"
"Nothing." this response prompted another huff and an eye roll. "Well, you have to do something. The way you're acting is annoying. Just tell him and get it over with."
Rin growled "Listen, Haru. I-"
"Rin, I really don't care about whatever stupid reason you have not to talk to him. It's obvious you like him and he likes you, so just do something!" The redhead froze. "He- he likes me?" another eye roll
"Obviously."
Rin looked over at Aiichirou, and their eyes met. Embarrassed, he looked away, feeling blood rush to his cheeks. "He doesn't like me back." he said, more to himself than to Haru "There's no way he could like me back. And even if he did, what could I do? How would I tell him?" Haru thought for a moment before responding "Buy him some mackerel."
"Haru! That's not a good answer at all! How would mackerel help?" A serious expression on his face, Haru said "Mackerel always helps." The two argued back and forth until Makoto calmly stepped in, announcing that Rin and Nitori needed to leave now if they wanted to get back to Samezuka Academy before curfew. They said quick goodbyes (each receiving a long hug from Nagisa) and began the walk home, when of course it started to rain. And of course Rin had forgotten to bring an umbrella, causing Ai to offer to share his, which led to Rin stuttering and blushing the entire way home, nervous because of the close proximity.
Floating in the pool, he let out a long, heavy sigh. He was getting tired of feeling stupid and embarrassed. Maybe he should just tell Ai and get it over with, whether his feelings were returned or not. And besides, maybe Haru had been right about everything (except the mackerel) and Ai really did like him back. As he hauled himself out of the pool, he nodded to himself, deciding that he would tell Ai first thing tomorrow.
They will be getting together soon, I promise! Please leave a review, and thanks for reading:)