A song I would suggest for this chapter.

Home, by Gabrielle Aplin.

(optional)

"What's it like?"

"What's what like, Rin?"

"Swimming!"

"Ah! It's only the best thing in the world…"

"The bestest in the world?"

"But of course. There's nothing else like it."

"Woah…"

"I tell you what, Rinny. When I get back from my next trip, I'll teach you how to swim."

"Really?!"

"Sure thing. I'll make you the best swimmer in town!"

"Were you the best swimmer, Dad?"

"Ha, well, I sure liked to think I was. 'Was gonna be an Olympic swimmer…"

"Olim..pic… Did you become an Olimpic?"

"No, no. That's an old dream, kiddo. I became a fisherman, like I am now, so I could take care of two very precious people."

"But swimming is cooler…"

"Haha! That it is. But it will never compare to you and your sister. Remember that."

He quickly patters over to the source of the sound he'd heard from his bedroom. His mother is hunched over on the couch with a worn looking tissue balled in her hand.

She looks so fragile.

"Mom? Why are you crying?" Another sob shakes her form.

"Rin, I- It's just—" She closes her eyes tight.

"Don't worry, Mom. When Dad comes back you'll feel better. You can come swim with us when the storm goes away, ok?"

She opens her eyes then and stares at her son in shock. Fresh tears fall down her cheeks and she pulls the small boy to her, hugging him as though he'd float away if she let go.

He feels the heavy sobs vibrate through her chest.

"S-Sweetheart, Daddy isn't coming back."

Don't blow this, Rin. You're gonna start over, and you're gonna start over good. He takes a breath, "Hello, everyone. My name is Matsuoka Rin. I previously went to Sano Elementary School." He points to his name on the chalk board behind him. "I have a girly name, but I'm a boy. Looking forward to being in this class!" He bows.

The class stares at him, surprised by his blatant yet enthusiastic attitude. He chuckles and flashes them a wide grin.

I'm gonna start over good.

Rin gives him a sideways glare as they walk side by side, still trying to figure out how to approach the subject in a way that will change the boy's mind.

"Y'know Haru... you really are a wonderfull swimmer. You're such an inspiration to me, really! You're so-"

Haruka won't let the nonsense continue. "I know what you're doing, Rin. Schmoozing me up isn't going to make me swim with you." Rin groans at this.

"Why the hell not!" Although he already knows the answer. He mouths the words as the other boys says them, in that same monotone voice, for what feels like the hundredth time.

"I only swim free."

"It's just ONE relay! It won't kill you to swim with me! I just want to be like my-" He stops abruptly.

"Rin?"

Before he has a chance to question, a gleeful screech sounds behind them. "HARUUU! RINNN!"

Both boys turn to the blonde now running in their direction. He tends to yell like that even if there's nothing to be excited about. Makoto trails behind with a soft smile, something he also tends to do for no particular reason. Rin uses the diversion to reel away from his current situation.

"Can one of you get this loser to swim with me?" He laughs.

Nagisa giggles and continues to cling to Haruka's arm while Makoto responds, "I don't think anything can sway Haru."

Rin turns to Haru, "One of these days, I'll change you're mind!" But he doesn't laugh with the others at the challenge directed towards him, only looks at his friend with concern.

Rin's diversion didn't work, and as Makoto said, nothing can sway Haru.

His heart breaks more with every push the words make as they sink further into him. His eyes get wet and he tries to blink the tears away, but some slip down his cheeks despite his efforts.

"Sweetheart, I know this is hard." She reaches for his wrist but he jerks away.

"Why? Mom, what about my friends? And Dad? Dad's here!" He's shouting now.

His mother struggles to come up with answers, "You can make new friends, and kids swim there too so you can still do that. I-I just need to get away for a while, Rin."

"What about dad?" The words are barely audible.

"Sweetie?"

He balls his hands, "What. About. Dad."

She stares at him, then blinks a few times as if recovering from a daze. Her tone gets stern.

"Rin, that's enough. Your father would have wanted us to move on."

He tries to hold his icy gaze, but the battle's too much. His lip wobbles and his eyes well so much that his surroundings blur together. Even when his little shoulders start to shake, he tries so hard to stand tall, to look defiant.

His mother pulls him into an embrace before he can object. "You don't need a wall in front of me. I know it's hard, but it's for the best. Please trust me."

The gates collapse and the floodwaters crash through. She whispers and pets his hair while he sobs, hands tangled in her shirt. He cries for leaving his home and his friends, but most of all, what it always comes down to in the end, he cries for his father.

They did it. They won the relay together, all of them. Rin told them he was leaving and about his father. He'd convinced Haru to swim too. But he didn't want to leave them feeling worried, so he put on a good face, used wanting to be an olympic swimmer as an excuse for leaving. It was one of the best moments of his life so far, winning that race.

It's been a few weeks since then. His mother packed everything up and they left staight away; no goodbyes. Australia's nice, but it's not the same.

He joined the swim team at his school and it's a lot bigger than back at home. Being an Olympic swimmer really is his goal, he's decided, to live out his father's dream; make him proud. But even with that in mind, it's very, very hard. His friends are constantly on his mind. In all honesty, he's never felt so alone until now.

He swims on a team, but it will never be his. It gives his motto less meaning, but he says it anyway, just to feel even a sliver of what he used to have.

"For the team."

Hey Readers! Sorry for the wait. My computer died! Like, forever. But I got a new one and I wrote this as soon as I could. I hope it's worth the wait. Anyway, this chapter had a specific focus on Rin's past so that his point of view could be better understood.

Also a HUGE thanks to those who reviewed, followed, favorited, ect. It really does motivate me ^_^

Please continue showing support, and I hope you enjoy! ^3^