It was a couple hours later after the impromptu relay team was officially reprimanded and disqualified that Rin found himself apologizing to his Captain rather than his boyfriend about messing up the race. That led to Ai freaking out when Rin apologized to him and Rin genuinely thinking he'd be kicked off the team for his admittedly stupid actions.

"As long as you swim for us like you did for your buddies back there, we're good." Seijuurou's face broke out into a wide grin.

"Really?' Rin breathed.

Mikoshiba barked a few orders to his vice-captain before the team set off towards the bus. The fact that Rin lingered back to walk beside him didn't go unnoticed by either the team or Seijuurou. Casually, Sei wrapped an arm around his boyfriend's shoulders. "You okay?" he asked quietly.

Rin paused his nervous gnawing on his bottom lip with his shark-like teeth for a second. "I really expected you to kick me off the team. I thought I didn't get any more chances."

Sei sighed and placed a kiss to his boyfriend's temple. "I saw something in your swimming today that made me decide to keep you on the team. There was a fire there that hasn't been there since you first joined up. You've got amazing talent, and you're not letting it go to waste again. It's my job to promote our best swimmers. You're one of them, if not the best we've got. I've got no intention of letting you get away."

The younger was quiet for a couple seconds. "Thanks."

Sei grinned. "It doesn't hurt that I'm crazy about you."

And there was the slap to his chest that signified Rin's usual attitude returning. "Fucking dork."