"Aoi-chan!" Mei-chan pouts, lounging on a beanbag on our floor.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"We can't work it out!" Ami-chan whines.

"Work it out?" I cock a brow.

"We don't have a clue who would be so heartless to tell Makoto that you would cheat on him."

"It's insane! You're always with us. Never out of our sight." Fubuki groans, drinking the rest of a can of pocket sweat.

"Maybe that was her angle." Kaito murmurs. "You're always with at least one of us! Maybe we should work it out by seeing who is reacting when Aoi's with only us guys."

"But what if Makoto takes that the wrong way?" I fret.

"He trusts you." Hika'-chan protests.

"He wouldn't be afraid if it was us. We were your friends last year too." Nito' pipes up.

"Shit!" Mei-chan gasps. "Hinata! Sho! Kenta! She saw Aoi with them! She goes on runs with them during free period!"

"Oh my god." I groan.

"That is GROSS!" Nito' grimaces.

"I'm sorry guys. I want to know what idiot told Makoto that I was cheating but no. I'm not just hanging out with the guys to look for a reaction." I shake my head.

"Okay Aoi-chan. Sorry I suggested it." Kaito hangs his head.

"That doesn't matter Kaito." I assure.

...

"Oi, Aoi." Rin tussles my hair as he passes me by to join Sousuke.

"Hey Rin." I smile.

"You're hereby excused from practise tonight." I am told.

"Huh?" I cock a brow.

"Something to do with your brother or something." Rin walks off.

"Hey!" I grab his arm. Great, now I'm making a scene.

"What?" Rin raises his brows.

"Is he okay?" I fret.

"Huh?" Rin looks baffled.

"Is." I pull his arm so the taller boy bends toward me. "My. Brother. Okay?"

"He's got a surprise for you." I swat his arm.

"Oi. What was that for?" he's smirking.

"You scared me baka! Don't do that!" I chide, turning away and pouting before heading toward the table that I always sit at.

"Nobody reacted except us and Yamazaki-senpai." Kaito states.

"Good to know." I roll my eyes.

"What did RinRin want?" Fubuki has adopted the nickname Rin had had at Iwatobi SC and is also using it.

"Rei called in a favour. I'm not going to training tonight. I might be able to make it for the bonus half hour." I shrug.

"What!" Ami-chan gasps.

"No relay training!" Mei-chan yelps.

"It's clearly improtant." I protest. "And it's not like we only train once a month. We could train when Nito's racing Kaito at all hours of the night."

"I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE FOR YOU KAI!" Fubuki's eyes well with fake tears.

"Seriously Fubu', draw everybody's attention to us why don't you." Kaito sighs.

"Good luck! English test this morning." Hinata bumps Nito across the bench so he Sho and Tanaka Kenta can sit too.

"You too." we exchange well wishes until our bubble of serenity is burst by an piercing ora.

"Looks like Sakura Kuruno's here." Hika-chan huffs.

"Perfect."

"Oh baby I have to go! My exam's going to start soon. Babe! If I could talk to you all of the way through the test I would." Kuruno-kun exclaims.

"When did she get a boyfriend?" Mei-chan whispers.

"He blind?" Ami-chan giggles.

"Deaf?" Hika'-chan guesses. Could be, she's speaking really loudly.

"Desperate?" Fubuki sniggers.

"Fubuki this is a bitch ring. Stop trying to fit in." my topaz eyed friend points her fork at Fubuki.

"You're so mean Mei-chan!" the theatrical clementine haired guy pouts.

...

Kou-chan is waiting for me at the school gates. I wave to my captain's sister.

"Hey Aoi-chan. Rei-kun's at the pool. Everybody's waiting for you. Swimsuit?" she spots the all too familiar swimsuit with the bow on it. I blush.

"I'm missing training. If I can get in the pool I'm getting in the pool." I explain.

"Haruka-senpai will let you in the pool." Kou states.

I grin, we walk toward the poolhouse and I hastily change into the swimsuit with the bow. Makoto won't like my choice of swimsuit but it was the first one that is 'inapproriate' for training that I produced from my drawer on my mad dash from class to dorm, to trian to Iwatobi.

"Hey!" I wave, head bowed. "Sorry I took so long."

"Here Aoi-chan you can sit next to me." Nagisa moves up so I can join him on the bench.

"Thanks Nagisa." I smile at him.

"Thank you for waiting!" Rei poses. I roll my eyes.

"At long last, the time has come for me to reveal my magnificent new form!" Rei states seriously, still posing on the starting block."Please try not to be too surprised." he fixes his goggles.

"And away we go." with that my twin brother leaps into the pool. Dive perfect as usual. My eyes widen as I see him in the pool.

"Oh my GOD." I gasp.

"Rei's swimming freestyle." Haruka muses.

"He's not sinking!" I squeal, clinging to his boyfriend's arm.

"That's amazing Rei-chan! You've learned to swim all of the strokes!" Nagisa's magenta orbs are sparkling.

"This isn't good enough, guys. We need to look more surprised!" Kou chides. Huh? They knew?

"Whoah! How can this be!" Nagisa exclaims almost robotically.

"When did he learn to swim like that!" Makoto gives it a go. I giggle at their attempts, not hiding my awe. Rei's swimming.

"What's going on here?" Haruka tries.

"You guys are hopeless." Kou complains.

"Look Shizu'." I glance up at the sky. "He's swimming your stroke."

"Aoi." Nagisa puts his hand on my shoulder. I shake my head.

"I'm fine." I assure.

"Maybe we should tell him the truth?" Nagisa suggests.

"No, we can't do that." Makoto shakes his head. I cock a brow.

Rei surfaces. He's smiling so innocently.

"What did you think everyone? What did you think about my swimming?" Rei takes off his goggles. "Honestly, you cannot help but be amazed can you?" he starts to laugh.

"Rei." Haruka speaks up.

My eyes widen. He's smiling. Nanase Haruka is smiling! I haven't seen him smile in years!

"You've worked really hard, haven't you?" he asks.

"Yes!" Rei's eyes brim with tears as he beams.

I shrug off all ounces of dignity that I hold and leap into the pool. I swim toward my brother and hug him.

"I'm so proud of you!" I enthuse.

"Thank you!" he hugs me back.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

"Kou-san." Rei groans.

"Kou-chan!" I pout.

"You're really impressed?" he asks.

"I'm still in shock!" I admit.

"It's all thanks to Rin-san." Rei declares.

"Rinrin helped you?" I muse. "That's why you were at Samezuka on Friday!" I gasp.

"You saw him there?" Kou asks.

"I gave him Rinrin's number." I nod.

"mmm." he nods.

"Oh Rei!" I exclaim.

"Rei-chan!" Nagisa leaps into the pool, clinging to his boyfriend.

I climb out of the pool.

"Going so soon?" Kou pouts.

"I have to." I hang my head. "I have the relay to train for. The girls are waiting."

"Relay!" Makoto cocks a brow.

"We're competing in both girls and unisex. We'll be in a different heat to the main team. But if Rin keeps up with Sei'-san's method I'll be in both. Fastest swimmers." I roll my eyes.

"I bet Mei's regimen is tough." Makoto muses.

"She runs her team her way. Its her team. Nobody would dare challenge Sei'-san's word. Her brother gave her a gils team so she has it 'til graduation. Our graduation."

"That's the way to do it, tell Mei she's doing amazingly."

"Hai!" I beam. "Alright, I'm off then. Bye guys! Bye Kou-chan! Rei! Rub Aki's nose in this!" and with that I head into the changing room. I put my uniform back on and go back to Samezuka. I'm changed and ready ten minutes before the bonus starts.

I brush past Hinata, Sho and Kenta. I shrug off Hika'-chan's wave and ignore Nito's greeting. I avoid eye contact with Fubuki and Kaito and approach the male dominated side of the pool, opposite Mei-chan and Ami-chan.

I head toward my captain, he and Yamazaki Sousuke are stood watching Momo. Rin keeps on shaking his head, looking morose.

"Rin!" I wave, racing toward him as fast as I can and hugging him. I feel eyes on me but I ignore them.

"I guess you just got back from Iwatobi." Rin chuckles.

"Thank you! I've never thanked you Rin! Thank you! Thank you for everything last year. Especially on the cliff." Sousuke cocks a brow.

"Thank you for the support and thank you. THANK YOU! For teaching Rei how to swim. Thank you." I beam.