Chapter Two

Date One - Bowling

"Bowling? Why?"

Haru was looking at him with clear confusion, his eyes bemused and his mouth in a straight thin line.

"Because...it's fun?" Rin replied, shrugging his shoulders as they walked the familiar route to Haru's home - Rin meeting him from swim practice and Makoto ushering a curious Rei and Nagisa away before they could ask Rin too many questions about his appearance.

"It's in the city. It's too much bother."

Rin sighed and stopped, Haru continuing his walk until he realised Rin was no longer beside him, turning and looking at him with his head cocked.

"Do you think we're a couple, Haru?"

His brows knitted, Haru shrugged. "We kissed so..."

"That doesn't mean we are a couple!" Rin said, exasperation in his tone. "We need to do more couple things... Like dates."

"Like bowling?" Haru asked and Rin nodded.

"Like bowling."

Haru thought about that for a moment. "We can go on Saturday."

Relieved, Rin caught up and they walked together quietly until they reached Haru's home. When they reached the doorstep, Haru leaned in for a kiss, a sloppier needier kiss than before with a hint of tongue. Rin pulled back, breathless, a tight feeling in his school uniform trousers as he gazed at Haru's wide blue eyes and open wet lips.

"I'll text you everything," Rin said and he dived in for one more kiss despite regretting it when he felt an increasing in the tightness in his groin.

"See you Saturday," Haru said matter of factly, opening the door and going inside him home.

Rin shoved his hands in his pockets, rocked back on his heels and contemplated a jog and a swim prior to bed to calm him teenage hormones. He and Sousuke had agreed a "no jerking off" policy in the dorm and it was an agreement he didn't want to break as there was always an unpleasant forfeit. And running through the halls of Samezuka naked didn't appeal even if he had to fight the urge to jack off thinking of how Haru's lips felt on his and how he looked after he'd just been kissed.

The train was busy with Iwatobi residents travelling to the city for shopping or entertainment. There was little to do in a small town on a weekend apart from the market and so most people regularly travelled on the train to find something to do elsewhere. Rin rarely bothered - he'd seen enough of big cities in Sydney and he knew Haru usually didn't care for the ritual. School friends would go shopping and see movies but Haru, Rin guessed, swam and Rin used the quiet of the Samezuka gym to practice weights or swim more lengths - and catch up on homework when the rest of the dorm was quiet.

He'd taken his time getting ready - choosing tight grey jeans, a tank top and dark maroon hoodie and Sousuke had still been lying on the top bunk.

"Any plans?" Rin had asked to attempt to stop any errant teasing from his long time friend.

"Ai and Momo want some coaching," Sousuke had said, peering down from his vantage point from above. "You taking out Nanase?"

Rin had huffed and glared, folding his arms across his chest. "Want to give your smart ass comment now?"

Sousuke had grunted. "Where you taking him?"

"Bowling."

"Don't be an over-competitive douche."

Rin had wanted to kick him or hit him on the arm but instead he'd flipped him off and left to meet Haru at the station. Although he didn't want to admit it, he knew Sousuke's advice had some merit as Rin could be an over-competitive jerk. So he tried to think that winning didn't matter as they sat on the train watching the world flash by.

As it didn't. It was a date not a competition.

When they arrived at the bowling complex, Rin was a little surprised - it was large, had a bar and even a vast floor of video games. It seemed they didn't need the other game centre and arcade. Standing by the elevators, figuring out their floor, Rin glanced at Haru who was taking in the chrome and neon and mirrors with his usual look of cool disinterest.

"Big place, huh?"

"I came with the Tachibana's once. The twins birthdays."

The explanation cut off any more conversation about the place and Rin pressed the call button now he'd figured out their floor. In the elevator, Rin casually leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and legs and waited as they ascended.

He'd bowled before, especially in Australia, during the few times his team mates had tried to get him involved in activities rather than when Rin was just classed as the goofy Japanese kid. He supposed those times it was less about charity and more about even numbers for the teams but still he remembered it with something akin to a good memory - rare for his time in Australia.

Rin had booked a lane online so when they got to the floor, they walked over to the counter.

"Lane for Matsuoka," he said to a bored looking guy about their age who gave them both a glance before he asked for their shoe size - passing them over and resuming his glum miserable expression once he'd done his task.

Rin grabbed his shoes, Haru following suit and they walked over to the lane, ready to programme in their names once they were ready.

He swore he wouldn't be competitive, promised it to himself but as soon as Rin saw Haru with that expression, clear and focused, Rin knew he couldn't help wanting to win. It was part of his nature - part of who he was and so when Haru walked over, him going first, Rin saw him select a blue ball and line up his angle, swinging the ball back and releasing it with a curving arc that knocked down all the pins.

The screen proclaimed "strike" in large flashy letters and Haru only turned, walking back towards the seats casually, flicking his hair out of his eyes in a way that Rin thought was reminiscent of a model in a shampoo commercial.

Smirking, Rin got to his feet seeing the gauntlet had been thrown. As while he hadn't intended to be a competitive asshole, well Haru had started it and so he was not going to not join in.

"Let me show you a sight you've never seen before."

"Less talk, Matsuoka," Haru said, brushing Rin's shoulder as he passed. It was as near as a display of public affection Rin reckoned Haru did but he still felt tingly about it despite the layers of clothing.

Picking a red ball, Rin aligned his angle and then attempted to bowl with some spin, aiming so the ball would swerve and hit the middle pin bringing them all down in one swift motion. He did just that, his bottom lip between his teeth as the ball was released from his grasp, rolling down the waxed wooden surface. It rolled where Rin intended and even curved where he had intended. And it knocked down pins. Nine of them.

Rin didn't swear or act childishly. Or he tried not to as he sent the second ball down, knocking down the stray pin for a spare, gritting his teeth as he walked back, seeing Haru's cool expression.

It went downhill from there. Rin hadn't wanted to be competitive. He had wanted it to remain a "date" - some friendly competition, some lingering glances, maybe even some subtle touches and gropes as they switched positions. He didn't intend for it to become a rivalry - a battle - something that always seemed to happen between them. Whether it was about who could strip the quickest or who could swim 50m freestyle the quickest, it seemed competition was a part of who they were. Even if they were as Haru thought they were, a couple.

The competition was a fierce one, a test of dedication, nerve and focus. Haru smacked Rin's ass at one switch over, Rin nearly forgetting where he was when he felt a hand touching him in a way that was far too intimate for their fleeting touches. Yet it was all a trick, Rin losing some focus and getting a spare rather than a strike that round and Haru sending a perfect ball down for a strike.

Rin tried a tactic too, removing his hoodie and using the pretence of stretching to show off his sleek and powerful physique, Haru's eyes narrowing. True, Haru had seen it before but Rin was being blatant and teasing, flexing like he wouldn't at the pool as he knew a particular set of blue eyes were on him.

After a close fought competition, there were only a few points in it as the end approached and Rin knew he could win and he would win. Haru had gone before - getting a spare and seven. Which in itself made his score more than respectable but Rin still knew he could beat him. Steeling his nerves, gritting his teeth and narrowing his eyes, Rin used his final turn, a strike, followed by another strike and finishing in a six but Rin didn't care. Haru had scored 184. Rin's final score was 190. And when he turned back towards Haru, Rin knew he had a triumphant look on his face and his hands in fists. And maybe he had gloated, jumped due to his success but it was only a slight celebration.

"Showed you a sight, right?"

It seemed he had by the slightly sour expression on Haru's face after Rin's celebrations.

"Yeah," Haru said, glancing away.

"Want another game? I booked the lane for an hour."

Haru shook his head and Rin scratched at the back of his head realising he had done exactly what he'd intended not to.

"Want some food?"

"Let's go home."

The rest of the date was silent and Rin kept looking over at Haru as he realised it wasn't about losing, no, it was about the way Rin was a bad winner - over reacting and celebrating and acting like a child. No wonder Haru was pissed at him as they waited at the station. As they rode in silence on the train. As they parted at the station in Iwatobi without even a hint of a good night kiss. Haru's only action was wave and a nod and Rin knew he'd been an over-competitive douche and he growled in frustration as he travelled back to Samezuka.

When he got back to the dorm, Rin sincerely hoped that Sousuke was still with Momo and Ai but unluckily he was on the top bunk, some low music on and a laptop open on his lap.

Rin wanted to sulk in his bunk and wallow in self pity but with Sousuke there it would be more difficult.

"How did your date go?" Sousuke asked, peering down from his usual vantage point, his arms folded and his head resting on his hands as he looked over.

Rin kicked at the bunk enough to jolt Sousuke and his friend only made a noise that said he understood and went back to his laptop and put his headphones on to listen to the music without disturbing Rin.