The cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Spring was in the air. Rin and Haruka were standing by the entrance to Iwatobi Middle School, watching as those who were to become their fellow students were walking around and talking.

"Are you nervous, Haru?" Rin asked while looking at Haruka. The two of them were wearing identical uniforms and to Rin at least, it felt like they were entering a new phase of their lives.

"Not really," Haruka answered truthfully. As if to underline his point he took the first step into the school campus and let Rin follow him at a running pace. He had no intention of waiting until Rin pulled himself together.

They went to the entrance ceremony held in the grand hall and listened to the principal's speech and then to speeches made by some of the students. Rin caught a glimpse of Rei, who was sitting near the back with his own class. It didn't seem like he noticed them though. They didn't even exchange a single word later on. Haruka hadn't expected it, but Rin had at least expected a sign of recognition.

Rin and Haruka were in different classes. It didn't matter much to Haruka, but Rin was not so sure about it. He was sure he would be all right. Of course it would have been better if Haruka had been there too but that wasn't the biggest concern of his. Seeing as Haruka had been bullied until only a few years ago, Rin was worried that it might happen again, and he didn't want that.

The first week went by. Rin was getting fine along with all his classmates. He had found a couple of boys whom he got well along with. When he had introduced them to Haruka, they had accepted him easily too. Haruka still wasn't making any friends in his own class but that was because he didn't work much for it in the first place.

So about a week after they had started middle school, Rin was gathering his friends in his own class when a 9th grade student knocked on the door and peeked inside.

"Excuse me!" he called.

Everyone turned their heads and fell silent. It was the first time a 9th grader came to their classroom and this was sudden. They hadn't even started club activities yet, so no one had any idea of what a 9th grader would be doing here.

"What is it?" the female class representative asked politely.

"Is there a Matsuoka Rin in this class?" the 9th grade boy asked.

The girl hesitated and looked around. She wasn't very good at remembering names and therefore wasn't sure if she should answer yes or no. She sort of remembered there was a student by the name Matsuoka, but that was all she could remember.

"That's me," Rin answered while standing, claiming everyone's attention.

"Can I speak to you for a moment?" the student asked.

"Sure," Rin answered and walked out in the hallway. To his surprise, he found that Haruka was also standing there, next to the 9th grade student.

"What are you doing here?" Rin asked, slightly surprised that Haruka had been called out too.

"How would I know?" Haruka asked back, slightly irritated.

"That's what I'm about to tell you," the 9th grade student answered the both of them. "I am the captain of the swim club of Iwatobi Middle School," he said. "I saw you at most of the swimming tournaments the two past years."

"Why is that important?" Rin asked, curiously.

"Why?" the student smiled widely. "Because you are some talented swimmers. You are both really fast but you also have a lot to learn to become even faster. I have been watching for you guys, to see how you improved over the past year, and I wasn't left disappointed." the student smiled at the both of them.

"You're trying to recruit us," Haruka concluded.

"That's right, Nanase," the student said. "I want you two to swim with us at the school's swim club. You will be some very important members to us and we would gladly have you."

"I'd love to join!" Rin said.

"Amazing!" the 9th grader said.

"I only swim free," Haruka answered.

The 9th grader looked slightly surprised at that, and then he smiled. "I see. If that's a condition, I'll gladly meet it if it means you'll join us."

"So, where do we swim?" Rin asked.

"The school only has an outdoor pool, so we can't start swimming until it gets a little warmer, until then, we are working out to keep our bodies strong and in good shape," the student explained to them.

"That sounds like fun!" Rin exclaimed. However, Haruka didn't look half as optimistic.

"I only swim free," he repeated.

Rin now also turned to Haruka and sighed. "You can swim at the SC in the off season, but I've read that it's good to work out during winter. It's good for you to do something other than swimming anyway."

Haruka turned his head away. He didn't want to listen to Rin, but the other could tell that he was giving slightly in, and therefore turned to the older student in front of them.

"We'll both join you, when's the first practice?" he asked.

"This afternoon," the 9th grader answered. "Meet up by the poolside and I'll introduce you to the rest of the team.

Rin and Haruka met up and were introduced to the rest of the swim team. There were a lot of students, both from the 8th and 9th grade. They would also be taking in more 9th graders starting the following day, but for now, Rin and Haruka were supposed to show what they could do, and no one were left disappointed.

Nagisa was disappointed though. Rin and Haruka learned this as soon as they came home.

"I thought you promised to be at the SC this afternoon!" Nagisa whined.

"We did," Rin said. "But we were offered to join the swim club at the school starting today, so that takes priority. We'll be coming at the SC when we have the time, but that's all," he informed.

Nagisa pouted, but said nothing more. Next year he would be joining the swim club at Iwatobi middle School too, that's what he decided. He turned to Rei instead.

"Rei-chan, did you know that Rin-chan and Haru-chan would be joining the swim club?" he asked.

"The captain is in my class, so I'd heard of it, yes," Rei answered.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Nagisa asked.

Rei hesitated. "I didn't think about it that much," he said. "I didn't know he was serous about asking them until he asked me for what classes they were in earlier today."

"So you told him our classes?" Rin asked, a bit surprised.

"It was easier and quicker for him to just ask me for your classes than go to the faculty room and ask for it," Rei answered. "It is no secret that we are family,"

"At any rate, I'm proud of you," Makoto said as he came in with bowls of rice. "Not even I was asked to join the swim team when I started middle school. I had to be accepted like all the others."

"Could I be asked to join once I start middle school?" Nagisa asked.

"Probably not," Rei said.

"Rei-chan, you're too realistic!" Nagisa complained.

"Set a few records this year and you might get lucky," Rin said with confidence shining from his entire body.

"Could I really do that?" Nagisa asked.

Rin nodded with a wide smile. "Just train really hard and you should be fine," he said. Then he looked to the food and smiled when he saw all the meat. "Can we start eating? I'm so hungry!"

Makoto let out a laugh and nodded. "Go on ahead," he said.