Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Matsuoka Rin is a pretty hardcore fan of romantic stuffs. He loves Love, Rosie, he loves The Last Song. He even dragged his apathetic best friend to come and watch The Last Christmas with him and cried, all by himself of course, that kind of thing didn’t affect Haru at all. Rin is sure the only thing that affects Haru is Makoto (his beloved boyfriend, his existence is a miracle for Rin) and Mackerel.

(But he knows that Haru cares for him but we’ve passed that.)

So, what was the history of Rin being a hardcore fan of romantic stuffs? Living in a world that every person will have a moment where on their wrist, a countdown, a timer. What’s up with the timer? This timer is showing that this is how many days or hours or minutes or even seconds for you to meet your soulmate.

Yes, soulmate. A noun and has a definition of: a person ideally suited to another as a romantic partner.

Haru had already found his. It was when he and Rin were still in their sophomore year of college. Rin was in the middle of his romantic movie marathon event with Asahi and Hiyori, when Haru suddenly barged to their joint apartment room with a stranger.

No, he didn’t barge while they were kissing like a familiar scene that Rin used to watch. Rin remembered his mouth was hanging open, Asahi’s face expressed that he didn’t believe what was happening in front of his eyes, and Hiyori dropped his coffee mug. That night Haru declared that this stranger, Makoto, is his soulmate. Then it suddenly became a congratulation party for both of them.

Now, Rin is in his junior year English Literature major, two months to his senior year. He was thinking of continuing his career to Australia or anywhere, as long as it’s abroad. He also did a part-time job as an English teacher and babysitter in an elementary school near his campus. His career as a competitive swimmer at college level is also outstanding, alongside his best friends.

Therefore, Matsuoka Rin’s life is ordinary enough. He just waits for his time to meet his soulmate, even though he can be honest to himself that he’s not in a rush to meet face to face with someone who will spend the rest of their life with him. So, Matsuoka Rin declared himself that he won’t fall for any girls or guys before the timer showed up on his wrist. Hiyori thought it was stupid at first but made sense.

The declaration did good for a few months after winter break. It lasts until Rin meets him.

It happened in a weird place, a vending machine between his literature and science building. The road was built to connect a building to other buildings, making students easier to approach places located outside the campus. Rin was in the middle of his walk towards a cafe to meet with the others when he met him. Tall, well-built, muscular man with a black-red striped jacket wearing a sling bag around his shoulder while his gazes were too focused on the machine in front of him.

Rin forgot how to breathe for a few seconds. Sometimes his brain did something before his heart decided, this explains the moment he stands beside the man.

“Uh,” Rin says, catching the man’s attention from the machine and now to him. “Are you gonna get anything?” somehow he hated his own voice, because he could hear it squeak at the end of his question, causing the man to give him his full attention.

"Ah." The deep voice somehow brings another reason to live for Rin. "I was just looking at these kinds of Colas," the man answered awkwardly.

Rin found himself nodding his head. Then, the man moves himself, giving Rin more space to use the machine. In silence, he moves himself closer to the man and the machine, easily choosing the drink he wanted. Lucky that he took two colas from it and gave one to the man.

"Next time, don't stand in front of it." Rin did slip the 'next time' part, acting like there is one.

The man gave him a sly smile, his teal eyes were glowing against the red ones. "Sorry about that," their eyes clash once again, "see you whenever, I guess."

Rin finds himself nodding again, looking at the man's figure before it slipped away to the crowd. He took the other way towards the pool, and didn't see the site where the teal-eyed man let himself be hugged by a pink-haired guy.

Hiyori did not expect himself to win the bet. He also did not expect to see Rin sitting on the side of the pool, daydreaming.

Yup, Matsuoka Rin is daydreaming in broad daylight. All of his friends know what is up.

"That's it, give me the money."

"We didn't even know what was up yet!" Asahi turned his attention to Rin again, "Hey Shark boy, please tell us why are you daydreaming instead of doing your usual regimen training?"

Rin looked at his friends, both of them were spookee, and smiled. "He's perfect guys," was the only thing he said. The answer explained enough to make Hiyori open his hand and Asahi put his money on it.

Haru, though, handles the situation differently.

"So, where did you meet again?"

"The vending machine. You know, the one near my building," Haru nods. Rin continues, "I didn't check his wrist. Not sure why, because I think it's a privacy for everyone."

Haru looks at him, his towel is still hanging around his neck. Rin's gaze towards the wall, it's surely one of the gaze that he uses after watching a life-changing romance movie.

Oh yeah, Haru thinks, here it comes.

"You know this kind of feeling," Rin looks at his friend now, "right, Haru?"

Haru did not expect it to come a year after his relationship started, but he nods to answer Rin's question.

"The feeling like there's a string between two people, pulling towards each other."

Yes, Haru knows that feeling. But he's afraid about witnessing Rin to fall in love. He's afraid for Rin, knowing what's going to happen. Either it will end happier than ever or worse than he ever imagined.

The last thing Haru wants is no one near him to suffer, especially because of love. The thing that Rin most waited for in his entire life.

When Haru wants to give his words, a statement against his friend's feelings. But suddenly Asahi barged into the locker room. Telling both of them about his soulmate.

Wait a minute.

"Huh?"

"Yeah! I got my soulmate!" The redhead shows his wrist, a 24 hours countdown. The day ends with the four of them preparing what will happen tomorrow.

Also, Asahi decided he will introduce his soulmate to them. They give him a week.

While waiting, the other three continue their day as usual. Rin didn't meet the man again in the following days, even though he always took a peek to the road where the vending machine is placed, making sure the man was there at first. The result was none, zero. So, Rin is supposed to not think about that.

On the following days, fourth day of the week to be exact, Asahi told them about his soulmate. They met at the bus stop near the apartment. It was nerve wracking, the redhead confessed. Even if the countdown told you the exact time two people that destined together met, it still gave you the worst and best nervous feeling in your life.

"You know, you weren't just waiting for a bus or a friend to hang out with. You were waiting for a person who you will spend the rest of your life with. A person that will stick together with you through the ups and downs of this life."

Haru nods, Rin glances towards his friend. Wishing he knows that feeling too.

"So, how did it go?" Hiyori sips his coffee.

Asahi curves the widest smile and sighs a relief noise. "He's the perfect bubblegum reincarnation ever. I think I met him once, at my sister's cafe. But I just let it pass because, you know," he points at Rin, "all the fuss about Rin's promise before he met his soulmate, I kind of took that personally too."

Hiyori slips a laugh, Haru hides his small smile, and Rin widens his eyes. Then he uses his big dictionary to slap Asahi on the back of the head.

"YOU TOLD ME IT WAS STUPID!"

"BUT IT MADE SENSE SOMEHOW!" Caressing his head, Asahi looks at the floor, "I just don't want to get hurt."

No one wants that, Haru thinks. He looks at Rin who is now busy bombarded Asahi with questions, no one wants to see their best friend hurting with something they waited for since the day they believed.

Asahi told them to meet at his sister's cafe in the evening, because it's the time where everyone is free. Rin decided to bring his homeworks there, looking at a pile of books on their regular table that belonged to Hiyori's. The two of them are famous for their determination in study so, it's not weird to see them compete in staying alive in their respective majors.

Haru arrived ten minutes after Rin started his homework with Makoto. Both of the students gave them a hands up before continuing their homework.

Around ten minutes later, they heard the clanging of a bell. Telling them there are other customers. When Rin lifts his head, the new couple greets him with a smile. But they are not the reason why he widens his eyes.

The person who stands behind them is his reason. The man, the cola man, is here.

Asahi introduced his soulmate to the other guys and learned his name is Shigino Kisumi. Then Kisumi points to the man standing beside him, as his friend. Rin swears he heard the pink haired man whispers 'introduce yourself' while hitting the other man's elbow. The man, why is Rin always delivered him as the man, was still putting his flat expression before opening his mouth.

The teal eyes and red ones met once again. "Sousuke," it's like he introduced himself to Rin, not to all of them, "Yamazaki Sousuke." 

Knowing Rin, he was currently writing another scenario about his future. Now with an additional cast, maybe a long awaited another main character, Yamazaki Sousuke.

Chapter Text

The conversation that took place in the cafe went on blurry for Rin. Because he’s not the one who was taking charge of the talk show, surprisingly. It’s not like he was not in the mood at all, he was really in the mood. Especially with a new face sitting not very far from him, right beside Kisumi who was busy sipping his cold fuzzy cola he ordered a few minutes ago.

Rin’s world suddenly revolved around his other main character, Yamazaki Sousuke, when this guy suddenly popped in front of him for the second time. When the first time happened, Rin didn’t feel any fuzzy-buzzing feelings inside his heart, like he was falling in love for the first time because of the first sight. Maybe, this is what people talked about falling in love at second sight. Rin really thought he would fall in love with Sousuke later on when they met under any random circumstances again, the thing he’s not expect was that the circumstances came this soon.

The stealing glances were not happening not only from the one side either. When the red head was busy getting asked by his friend, Sousuke took a chance to look at Rin. Somehow the talk session passed by and Sousuke demanded himself to go back to reality. Where he excused himself because he needed to do something more important, give a little nudge on Kisumi’s head, before he headed off to exit the cafe.

From that day, Rin didn’t crosspath with the latter again. Even though he sometimes walks around the campus buildings, taking some glances to the place where the vending machine was located, thinking maybe he would find Sousuke there. The result came out unpleasantly defeated for his sake and Rin gave up. He decided to take a detour to not pass the vending machine every time he needed to go to the refreshing area of the campus.

One day, Rin cheated on his daily detours. It’s been two weeks since the cafe rendezvous and somehow only that vending machine provided his favorite cola. After exiting the literature building, without missing a beat while stepping on the little stairways, Rin walks fast to where the vending machine is. His feet were stopped when the wanted man he’s been thinking of since day one finally appeared.

Sousuke was holding on to his usual cola can, the opening was already opened, and he was looking straight directly to where Rin stands. Rin can hear his own heartbeat when he walks closer to the man and sniffs the other’s cologne, his feet trembling. “Hey,” Sousuke greets him and Rin was trying hard not to fall over his balance. “Didn’t see you around here since the cafe meeting,” Rin replied to the greetings with a nonsense tantrum.

Great, he ruined his only chance. Rin didn’t see, but Sousuke looks like he’s guilty. The redhead picks up the cola he got and opens the can on his own. Sipping through the fuzzy black drink into his throat while trying to find another topic to talk to.

When Rin opens his mouth to talk again, Sousuke speaks first. “Do you— uh—” the taller man was struggling and Rin’s here for it. He’s hiding his little smile behind the cola can while Sousuke trying to find his words, “—do you want to hang out in the park?” his hand points on the open green field besides them. Without thinking and he’s ready for whatever lies in the future for them, Rin nods his head, “Lead the way.”

With Sousuke, Rin forgot all of his morals. About the cheesy love thing he loves, about the tick-tock soulmate on his wrist, he forgot all of that. It’s only with a man who surprisingly talks about what kind of food he needs to cook later that night. With the way he laughs out loud, tossing his head backward when Rin told him the current story folded in one of his literature classes.

For a split second, Rin hopes he doesn’t live in this timer soulmate world. In the other universe, he could fall in love easily with Sousuke without giving any fucks to whose his soulmate really is. His cloudy narrated mind of how handsome Sousuke now was interrupted with a buzzing sound came from Sousuke’s pocket. The teal eyed man picks up the ring and talks for a few minutes.

“Oh, hu-uh, okay. I will get it on my way home. Yeah, see you. Love you too,” Sousuke hung up the call, “It’s Kisumi.” Rin nods his head while taking a sip on his cola can again. “Are you two friends before college?” he asked with a careful tone, afraid if his question would offend the latter, “I mean, like since childhood?” Sousuke drinks his cola before answering with a frantic nod, “Yeah, since childhood. He was all I got back then until now. I guessed he was also my first crush.”

Rin usually loves hearing another person’s first love story. However, hearing Sousuke's story made his heart clench for no particular reason. Rin had been honest with himself that his first love was Haru, he even admitted it to his best friend and got the expected reply from the latter. Makoto also knew about this and unexpectedly the taller guy clapped for him!

He’s jealous, especially with the way Sousuke addressed Kisumi. It was like the pink haired man was his everything. “And now he’s with one of your friends. No offense, he’s a good guy. It’s just, you know, realizing that your best friend now has to make time for a more important person. You know those feelings, right?” Sousuke’s a smart guy, he knows who Rin's closest friend is only from attending one meeting from the cafe. Rin found himself nodding, looking back at how often Haru took his quality time with Makoto now they are bonded mentally and physically, “Yes, kind of.”

Rin doesn’t hate Makoto, he can’t, not in the slightest. That man is too pure for this reality if he’s being honest. Other than hate, Rin wants to have what Haru and Makoto have; a lover. Rin believed he was born to be loved, to love someone, hence that’s why he’s invested with these soulmate things.

“Sousuke—”

“Oh, shit. I gotta go, need to run some errands for Kisumi.” Rin zipped his mouth immediately while Sousuke stood up, collecting his trash and sport bag. “I’ll see you next time, Rin. Glad hanging out with you,” the redhead smiled at the compliment and bid Sousuke goodbye with his little wave hand gesture. Sousuke replies to the hand wave with a bigger one while running backwards to the pedestrian walk when he turns his body around and runs faster to the nearest convenience store.

Drinking the last bit of his cola, Rin decided to lay on the grass for a little longer.

Rin woke up on a gloomy Wednesday with a buzz notification from his phone. The sun doesn't shine like it used to be, maybe because of the rain that was currently dropping in Tokyo. Rin also just realized it is kind of cloudy in front of his dormitory building. He opened up his phone to read the most recent text that he got.

Haru

me and asahi are already went to class

hiyori's still sleeping. knock his door if you need anything

the tournament is near. don't forget to do training today. we will follow you later on

Yes, the tournament, Rin a little bit forgot about that. Blame on his non-stop literature review projects and a certain man named Yamazaki Sousuke. He typed a quick yes mom to reply to Haru's text before getting up from his bed. Rin grabs one of his hair ties on the top of his shelf, tying his hair into a little bun, and walks out from his room.

The clock was telling him it's only 9 AM in the morning. Meaning there's a lot of time to kill before he spends the rest of his days training in the pool later. Rin cooked two egg sandwiches for Hiyori and served their respective favorite morning drinks for the two of them. After putting the plates and glasses on the table in the living room, Rin knocked on Hiyori's room, telling him that breakfast was ready.

A few minutes later, Hiyori walks out with messy, horrible, bed hair. In quick movement, Rin took a picture and he was faced with an angry polar bear wearing specs. They both watched the morning news together. Rin even let himself hear Hiyori memorizing some weird science words that he should have learned last night, but instead of studying, he cheated on his daily routine to just pass out on his bed.

"I'm going to leave at 10. Are you okay being alone?" Hiyori asks while flipping his notebooks. Rin nodded his head, resting it on Hiyori's shoulder. It's kind of his way of saying he's comfortable around people he prioritized more than his own life. Hiyori still found that habit fluttering for him because he came into the circle far behind from the others and he was an outsider; he still felt like one somehow.

After the morning news ends, Rin fell asleep again on the couch. Before leaving for his test, Hiyori covers his best friend's sleeping figure with his blanket. Leaving his moral support shark plushie beside him and took a picture of it for revenge. He sent it on their group chat afterwards.

Rin woke up exactly one hour later at 11 AM sharp. He lazily stood up from where he sleeps to his room, preparing his gym clothes like usual. His heart screams to just sleep around in his dorm but at the same time, he really needs to do the training. It's not the first time Rin wishes to be a normal college student, not some infamous college athlete who, like everyone said, has a promised future ahead.

What's so good having a promised future when you don't have a promised future partner? Rin closes his wardrobe loudly to shut the thoughts in his head. Don't fucking exaggerate it, Matsuoka, Rin thinks to his own before dropping the blanket on his sheets and walk into the bathroom. After showering, Rin made sure he didn't leave any important things, checking all of his friend's room doors, thinking maybe one of the idiots left it unlocked. When he makes sure all of it is locked, Rin is good to go.

He decided to eat lunch at the campus area. Might as well call his parents while waiting for his orders. He checks his phone to look at his friends' group chat. His eyes widened when he saw the sight of him sleeping on the couch, sent by a certain polar bear.

hiyori look at the group you bitch (4)

 

IM IN UR WALLS

@hiyori

 

hiyori

yes i washed the dishes. yes i covered you with a blanket. ur welcome

 

asahi

i'm going to be with kisumi for a while

 

hiyori

we know

 

we know

 

asahi

hehe love you

 

love you too

haru? @haru

 

haru

with makoto. its almost the twins birthday

 

okay. be safe

Rin let out a sigh when he closed his phone. It didn't bother him much when his soulmate friends were with their respective lovers. Again, he just wants to have what they have. When his orders are served, Rin decides to call his mom through his lunch.

Finishing his lunch, Rin continued his daily routine. With both earbuds comfortably placed on both of his ears, blasting music from his comfort playlist. His mind wandered to the library of his fake scenarios. Rin is very careful choosing which scenarios he should be thinking on the way to the campus pool.

For today, it’s nice to think of a certain tall, muscular man, with teal-green eyes waiting for him every time he comes home. Additional information about how Sousuke loves to cook puts the cherry on top. Rin also loves to cook, someone has to cook in his circle dormitory life or else they will die because of eating too much of mackerel fish. The most important thing was how Sousuke talked about cooking, it’s like he gave his all to each of his plates.

Shivers ran through Rin’s body when he stepped into the locker room of the swimming pool. Not because he’s cold, it’s because he’s horny. When was the last time he masturbated? It’s been so long, he’s sexually frustrated. Rin closes his locker to bring his towel, goggles, and a bluetooth speaker.

He puts his blasting speaker on the bench while stretching his limbs. Wearing his goggles, Rin was so ready to dive from the podium. His posture is great, his eyes are focused on the blue water in front of him. All of it crashed down into pieces when a familiar voice rings into his ears.

“I didn’t know we could bring a speaker in here.” Rin darted his gaze to the side of the pool and found Sousuke leaning there, his lower body still in the water. The next moment, he found himself diving into the water without any preparation. He was brought to the surface not on his own, because Rin can feel another pair of hands lifting him up so he can breathe some air again, “Oh God, I am so sorry. I didn’t know I scare you that much.”

Rin shakes his head, telling the other man that he’s okay (he’s not). He was holding Sousuke’s both biceps like his life depends on it (he is).

“What are you doing here?” Rin asks when the water covering his sight is already gone. Taking the full glory of a few inches separated his lips and Sousuke’s, their bodies are so close to each other. “Uh, swimming? Got no class today. Decided to just dive in. I thought no one would be here because the university swimming club is nowhere—” Sousuke’s words suddenly falter into void when he realizes something. Previously at the cafe meeting, Asahi did introduce his friends as the regular members of the campus swimming club.

Their relay team had gotten medals since they were formed. Sousuke was there at the cafe meeting, he knew this information.

“I thought there won’t be any training from them. Yet you’re here.”

“I’m here,” Rin chuckles after he sees Sousuke when the realization hits him. They were both then leaning against the cold wall of the swimming pools tiles, with the blasting music still playing from Rin’s bluetooth speaker in the background. “I didn’t know you swim. I thought you were also in the basketball club like Kisumi,” Rin commented. Sousuke was in the middle of letting the caporite liquid through his fingers, “I swam since elementary school. I just met Kisumi through it and he suddenly dragged me here and there to play basketball.”

From the angle where Sousuke turned his right wrist to the side, showing his pulse to Rin’s eyes. He didn’t see any timer or there’s been timer printed there. In conclusion, Sousuke doesn’t have any soulmate yet. Rin’s eyes sparkle in a second.

“Do you want to race? What stroke do you swim?”

“Butterfly.”

“Perfect.” Rin slipped out that comment like he didn’t just make Sousuke confused. He didn’t even say the usual words (“Take your marks, ready, go!”) before swimming in the butterfly stroke to the other end of the line. Sousuke squeaks, he doesn’t believe what he just saw! “Oh you menace little thing,” Sousuke grinds his teeth, smirking, and catching up to the pace of Rin’s swimming.

Both of them stay in the pool until the sky turns a little bit darker. Evening said hi and Hiyori walk into the swimming pool to see his best friend laughing with another man. Because he’s a little bitch, Hiyori took another picture and sent it to their friends group. Rin noticed him and chased the specs man until the end of the world.

Chapter Text

After the two rendezvous continues from their usual vending machine meeting up to the accidental swimming reveal, the relationship went through from there to one week full of seeing each other’s face. Either they were hanging out at the campus park or at the cafe when they learned each other’s name. One time Sousuke was found in front of Rin’s faculty building with his usual reason – he’s lost. Rin parted his lips in shock and thought he’s not real but he is! Healthy and muscular standing in front of his faculty’s building with those big whale shark puppy eyes – he doesn’t know if that even exists but he’s short circuited at the moment.

Realizing that, Rin’s feeling soars and falls deeper to the cupid hole. Everytime Sousuke raises his right eyebrow when he finds out something odd from whatever Rin said about his obsession for romantic movies. Or every time Sousuke parted his lips to find an interesting thing from what Rin said about his professors. Other times they were just laying down on the grass, quoting they were touching grass for a while before going insane because of college, which was a mood.

The symptoms of Rin’s falling in love are obvious to be observed. Because it’s not different from his daily personality and routines. The difference is, maybe, he became more dreamy and talked like he’s in a Disney movie. So, who are the people that got the side effects? Yes, his roommates.

This morning, Rin cooked a special breakfast for the three of them. They found out surprisingly when the three of them came out from their respectives rooms altogether to witness the once and a lifetime event.

“I made breakfast!” Rin cheered for the first time in the morning while ignoring the horrified look from his roommates. Asahi peeked on the three plates on the kitchen bar for a few seconds before looking Rin in the eyes, “Are you high?” Then he cups Rin’s face before the other man protests to give him a reason, “You watched too many romantic movies. You really need to put your eyes forward and start swimming butterfly for the competition.”

Rin protests he’s not high and he has enough evidence to prove that. While Haru checks on his breakfast with hesitation in his eyes, making sure there’s mackerel in it (there is and he sighs in relief). Hiyori was in silence since he came out from his room, witnessing the exchanged arguments between Rin and Asahi, which from his perspective is pretty interesting. Taking one munch from his plate into his mouth, Hiyori speaks for the first time in the morning.

“Are you finally going to talk about the Sousuke guy to us?” The question made Rin stop his movement and surprisingly Haru took his glances from his mackerel to look at Rin himself. Asahi, as usual, he’s stupid so he doesn’t connect the dots yet. He will though, maybe, soon – I don’t know. “Sousuke guy? Do you mean that Sousuke? Kisumi’s childhood crush?” Then he got an iced sharp glance from Rin who’s enough to cut anyone’s jaw to bleed, “Wow, calm down, man. Me and Kisumi already passed the heart to heart session. He told me about it himself.”

Before Rin talks again, Haru stops him with a quick glance. It’s a silent warning that can be understood by chosen people, the three of them understood it.

Feeling guilty because he somehow broke the domestic bliss that was happening earlier, Hiyori claps his hands to get their attention. “How about we eat this breakfast together in front of the TV? We can talk there like normal young adults.” The others nod in agreement and bring their plates in synchronization to where the TV and sofa resides. Asahi turned on the technology so their breakfast session won’t be too awkward or else – it’s just the morning news channel though.

For a few minutes, there’s no one talking. It’s just a munching sound coming from four young adults living together while having swimming as their hobby and somehow earned money from it. Rin and Haru were exchanging glances towards each other, with Haru prefer sitting on the carpet rather than on the sofa. Haru then gave him a quick nod, telling him it’s the perfect time to start the topic.

“I think I’m in love with Sousuke,” Rin confessed to his friends. The other three exchanged glances in silence, thinking about how they would react to it. “I mean, maybe it was very obvious to see that I’m attracted to him but –” he looked down to his fingers, “– I like him so much. It made me think that he’s the one.” It really sucks when he knows falling in love with someone while living in this kind of world – he’s not the one, but what if he is? Rin stares at three pairs of eyes of his friends, all of them looking at him, “It’s nice to feel this way again.”

There’s another silence filled in the living room. The people sitting in this apartment, each of them know the consequences of falling in love with someone else’s soulmate. Those pain can’t ever be taken away from you and it hurts – it hurts so much. Before Haru and Asahi found their soulmate, the four of them had known each other since freshman year, they only had each other before with only Rin and Haru who had history together.

Asahi asks a question, “Do you know the consequences if he’s not the one? It’s not like I don’t want him to be your one, Rin. It’s just –” I don’t want you to get hurt by the most important thing in your life. It was left unsaid but Rin knows what Asahi meant. Unexpectedly, Haru shares his piece of thought, “You understand what Asahi meant. We know how this soulmate thing really plays an important role in your life. That’s why we were just trying to make sure that you’re really okay with it.” Rin’s visions are full of his tears right now, especially with how Hiyori finished their statements together, “You’re the one who’s going to walk on your path which you have already chosen. If anything happens, we are right here at this apartment to be your place to come back home.”

The dam can’t be held again and it lets the water stream down from Rin’s red orbs. It’s one of those days when Rin let down his guards and just put all of his masks on the ground in front of his friends. He’s been waiting for this – at least for the feelings and knowing your friends approved it? It’s enough for him. All four of them tangled up on the sofa together – not all by the way, Haru was still sitting on the carpet, he just put his head on Rin’s lap to comfort him and he thinks it’s enough.

“There wasn’t any timer mark on his wrist,” says Rin. “Well, maybe he also has not yet found his soulmate. Kisumi didn’t say anything about it either,” Asahi replies while changing the television channel. The corgs inside Hiyori’s brain were suddenly working when he thought of a solution, “How about we invite him to the swimming pool?” The boys turned their heads in sync towards the spec man, “I mean, it’s been a long time since we met him together. You guys also know he swims too.” Hearing the solution, Asahi disagrees at one important point, “It’s not we who know that Sousuke also swims. It’s you who knows about it, you polar bear.”

Then they got into their usual heated useless arguments. Rin was considering the option and glances towards Haru who has his eyes focused on the screen.

“What do you think, Haru?” Rin asks for another confirmation.

Haru was still looking at the screen when he answered, “I’m waiting for it.”

It’s unusual for the campus swimming pool to be packed on weekends. Learning from the athletes schedule, they prefer to do their training regimen after their classes are finished. On weekends, they either choose to rest or do another training, it’s up to them. As long as it won’t damage their muscles and else, their coach gave them the permission.

So, it was the major reason to hold the swimming date with the others on Saturday! Rin asked Sousuke if he was willing to go. Knowing Kisumi automatically will go, because everywhere Asahi goes, he goes (didn’t imply to their respective class schedules because they came from different majors). When Sousuke replied okay i’m coming, Rin fell from his bed and crawled to sleeping Haru on the other bed in the room. Haru unconsciously lets his body get shocked aggressively by his best friend and flops on his bed a seconds after, continuing his dream.

On Saturday, everybody moved from their own places. The relay team arrives first and they immediately put their belongings in the lockers. A few minutes passed and Makoto finally arrived at the place. He brings a bunch of snacks for the athletes because he knows none of them bring any food for their health.

“Are you not going to swim, Makoto?” Rin asks. He knew about Makoto being an ex-backstroke swimmer back in high school then stopped in college. His reason is valid, knowing there should be more health instructors to support the athletes on the field – what they did is on par with the athletes they’ve worked with. Makoto shook his head and Haru looked horrified for a sec, “Calm down, baby. I’m going to stay on the side because I need to see how you’ve been doing for these weeks of your training. Someone needs to watch your back.”

Then Makoto bops Haru’s nose with his index finger. That’s a first, everyone knows how affectionate Makoto can be with his PDA. Then, they witnessed Haru’s bright red cheeks after his boyfriend’s PDA. That’s – That’s new, no one ever saw that even though they’ve been nth wheeling their relationship since Haru introduced Makoto to their circle.

Rin parted his lips in shock, Asahi widened his eyes, and Hiyori let himself drown into the water. So, the swimming date goes perfectly fine.

Haru and Makoto were busy with their own bubble while the others were starting their stretching. After finishing stretching, Haru was called to their usual briefing together. They talked about how their latest match’s result went, how they will improve from there, and how they were doing since then from their training regimen. Hiyori kept their time track in one PDF – he willingly did it because he knew no one’s going to do it.

“Let’s try our timing, I guess?” Hiyori suggested after reviewing the result on his hand. The other three agree and start standing on their lines. “Asahi, you really need to work on your breaststroke speed. It’s somehow slowing us down if you keep it at that speed based on your report last week,” says Hiyori while he’s in the water. Asahi chuckles and salutes to the spec, “I probably should ask for some advice to Ikuya, am I, Hiyori?” The question made the other man turn his eyebrows downwards in annoyance.

Makoto will be in charge of their time. For a few seconds, there’s silence filled in the swimming pool. It’s their usual tradition, especially for Hiyori who’s going to be their starter, to prepare before the whistle is blown. Haru gives him a quick glance and Makoto gets it.

“Take your marks,” Hiyori settled on his position and Makoto blew the whistle. For a few minutes, it’s only the sound of water filling the space of the swimming pool area. All eyes are on which swimmer is in the water, blocking other distractions as they could. When Hiyori’s already swam back to where they stand, Asahi’s already in his position.

It took each of them almost a minute or even fewer than that to finish their turn. Haru finished only with 30-40ish seconds, which was impressive.

Then they heard clapping sounds after Makoto stopped the timer. “Wow, that was impressive,” they turned their head to the sound direction to find Kisumi and Sousuke standing side by side. Kisumi smiles widely, “It was my first time seeing you guys swim together! Man, what a view that I saw.” Asahi blinks a few times, asking himself if the person he sees is really his half. Then he let out the loudest screeches in an indoor place, “SINCE WHEN DID YOU STAND THERE?” and rants for the rest of the sentence.

Hiyori goes back to swimming while Haru walks out from the pool to sit beside Makoto. They literally left Rin and Sousuke to stare at each other. Looking at Sousuke's attire, he already changed from his daily clothes to his swimming trunks. Probably he was standing there long enough to witness Rin’s swimming earlier.

Sousuke walks closer to Rin, a small smile curved on his lips. “That was a killer stroke you had back there,” he complimented him and got Rin giggling like a high school girl – no, it didn’t happen explicitly, it was just an expression. Rin didn’t know how to react to that to be very honest, so he changed the topic. “Asking the same question as Asahi, since when did you arrive?” Sousuke seems to think for an answer, his little hmmm gives Rin a smile and chuckles, “For a few minutes. I was here already when Asahi swam back.”

That was pretty long, Rin thinks. He want to start a conversation again before Sousuke cuts him off.

“Oh yeah, Nanase –” Nanase? Rin turns his head to Haru’s direction and his best friend is already standing, “– still up for the challenge?” Wait what? He looked at Makoto who let out a heavy sigh when Haru stood on the podium. The merman fixes his glass, ignoring the scandalous stare from his best friend, “What am I, a pussy?” and a shocked face coming from all the people who are present in the place, “Let’s get into it, Yamazaki.”

Sousuke let out a light chuckle before joining to stand on the podium on Haru’s right side. Rin was really lost in shock this time, he even got ignored by Makoto who’s in charge for the time again this time. When the whistle was blown, both of them dive to the pool at the same time and Sousuke swims freestyle. Rin knew about Sousuke being an all-arounder but he never saw him swim other strokes other than butterfly – maybe he thinks it’s their thing or else, he loves being delusional for a second to boost his ego up.

“He was trying to prove something,” Kisumi says when he stands beside Rin. Asahi already joined Hiyori to witness the sudden competition from the other side of the pool. “Prove what?” Rin thinks it’s stupid for Sousuke to prove something, especially his swimming because as Rin remember, he always compliments the taller guy’s swimming since the first time they met at this pool. Kisumi smirks like he knows something and Rin’s scared for his life – because it really means Kisumi knows something behind all of this, “or someone.”

The universe didn’t let Rin try to think about what Kisumi meant because the competition suddenly ended with Sousuke coming out as the winner. Haru was dejected, even though he put on an expressionless face every time, anyone knows he’s upset. Makoto sits on the side of the pool and lets his boyfriend rest his head on his lap. Haru stares at Sousuke who was still standing a few meters from him in the water.

“There will be a second time, Yamazaki.”

“I know, Nanase,” Sousuke nods in a supportive manner and Haru lets his head rest on Makoto’s lap for a few minutes. He then calls out Rin for him to only pull the other man’s into the pool again. Rin was shocked of course, he didn’t understand the motive of Sousuke and Haru’s challenge – it’s still fucking him up until now.

But then he looked at the green teal orbs of Sousuke’s in front of him. The big grin Sousuke gives to him this second, this minute, this exact hour – it makes his knees weak.

“Hi,” Sousuke greets.

“Hi,” Rin replies.

They were in their own bubble while Hiyori leaned his body against the pool’s walls – witnessing all the lovey dovey couples in the swimming pool right now. For a split second, he wants to drown himself. Especially knowing there’s a possibility of one of his friends going to find his soulmate in a short time and he’s going to be alone again. A lonely kid since little – always, right?

“You’re not going to join them?”

Hiyori chuckles, “Shut up, Asahi,” Then he realized Asahi was with Kisumi right now. He never turned his head this fast before – but he is, right now, turning his head to the sound direction to find the two people he wishes to meet or never meet at all (not in this particular situation to be exact). In front of him, there are Kirishima Ikuya and Kinjou Kaede – or you can say, Hiyori’s crushes – standing.

The one who asked him the question earlier is Kaede and this time is Ikuya’s turn to speak.

“You’re free, then?” 

Chapter Text

Since the swimming sudden rendezvous and how Sousuke is fast enough to have his own conversation with Rin’s friends, both of them often meet up in front of the vending machine. Yes, the first place they met up in random circumstances. They both also exchanged LINE ID, whereas Rin found himself cooped in his room just to wait for Sousuke’s reply on his text. His life suddenly became a real life romance comedy movie he always watched growing up, he just didn’t want to admit it out loud even though Asahi and Hiyori kept pestering him about it.

They met up in a different location depending on the other wanted. When Rin wanted to finish one of his undergrad thesis reports, they would meet up in the campus library. Sousuke’s not that fond of the library, he prefers to do all of his academic things in his room or at a cafe if he wants a different environment. But Rin’s an exception, he would do it by heart even though he only spent it dozing off for an hour.

It’s been a month since they met each other. Rin was not exaggerating when he thought of it as the best one month experience he ever had. Aside from being with his friends, expanding his circle to meet more genuine people who respect how he sees this soulmate thing was also really great, never had he imagined he found people like that except for his little circle. Kisumi had been helpful to give him much advice about the topic, both in soulmates and Sousuke.

The pink haired man also provided Rin with a lot of Sousuke’s childhood pictures. A little grump boy was shown with his shining green teal eyes. Some of it was Sousuke trying to play his guitar, the next one was when his feet were dangling from a jungle gym. He’s pretty fit for a middle schooler though, it made something inside Rin shivers.

Even though Rin felt he saw little Sousuke somewhere at the back of his mind. He wanted to ask Sousuke about it but the man often ditched the topic and moved on to the next one. Rin himself doesn’t want to touch an area that is privacy for some people, especially in this case was Sousuke. So he also decided to ditch the question and ask more of what little Sousuke did back in his school days.

Today, they decided to meet in a cafe that Sousuke suggested the night before. Rin had been resting for a few days, his schedule now is only attending his meeting with his professor about his undergrad thesis topic. Then he would spend the rest of his day practicing for his swimming competition next week. Sousuke decided to celebrate the day he felt more relaxed by taking him to the cafe.

“Are you going to buy me something then?” Rin asked when they were on their daily video call agenda every night. Yes, they have their own scheduled video call every night and Rin thought it was fucking romantic. On the screen, Sousuke was chuckling while holding his pen with his right hand. “I never suggested this cafe, even to Kisumi. Let’s say this cafe is like the campus swimming pool for you, but instead it’s for me. It has various kinds of cakes, cheap ones, and maybe I will buy one for you tomorrow.”

Rin was laughing like a high school girl. He’s sure that his laughing could be heard from outside of his door, because Hiyori keeps telling him to shut the hell up.

“Is that Hiyori?”

“Yes.”

“He’s still bitchy about Ikuya and Kaede?” Rin nodded, “He’s just in denial. Keep the polar bear in his area, he will return to normal in a few days.” Sousuke shakes his head, there are a few inside jokes between Rin’s friends that he couldn’t comprehend further even though he tried to spend a whole hour thinking about it. “Why would all of you call him a polar bear? Polar bears don't wear any glasses,” he says. Rin shrugs his shoulders, “We have the odd one then.”

At the cafe, Sousuke arrived first and let himself wait for his guest in front of the cafe. Rin didn’t let him wait any longer because he was prepared for this date (can he call it a date? He’s skeptical to be honest, but this planned rendezvous really sounds like a date) an hour before the time they planned the night before. He even lets Haru pick out his clothing, Hiyori suggesting what he should bring, and Asahi scribbles the topic for their future conversation that possibly won’t make Sousuke feel bored through it. In conclusion, they were idiots and screwed at the same time.

Arriving at the cafe, for Haru’s final decision featuring his own intervening about what the heck was Haru’s fashion sense went, Rin decided to wear a long sleeve shirt and jeans. Never needed advice for that in the first place.

“Hi! Sorry that I’m late. There are few things needed to be done at home,” Rin said, reassuring Sousuke when he found the latter still standing outside the cafe. Sousuke shakes his head and chuckles lightly, “Let me guess, Nanase’s being difficult on how you dress?” He had enough information about Haru being a voice of reason for his friend's fashion sense that all of them neglected his advice because it didn’t give so many logical reasons. Makoto’s an exception, he loved the mackerel too much, he could do everything to please him. Rin nods his head, confirming the guess Sousuke has given.

For a split second, they took their time to look at each other's eyes. Rin needs to tilt his head a little upwards knowing their height differences are more visible when they stand in front of each other. He thought Sousuke would be the type of person who will break the split moment they have together. But Sousuke only stands still in front of him, both of his green teal irises move on their own, searching for something from Rin’s bright red ones.

It’s like he was trying to remind Rin of something. Nonetheless, Rin didn’t quite catch the intention.

“Shall we go in?” and Rin was the one who broke their longing gaze. Sousuke replies with a nod, still looking at those bright red irises in front of him, “We shall.”

Sousuke bought Rin a strawberry cheesecake and a chocolate tiramisu for himself. He decided to buy them only a glass of cola that is allowed to be refilled if it's empty later on. Rin himself didn’t know if he’s fond of strawberries added on a cheesecake. But maybe even if he doubts it at first, looking at how Sousuke spends a few seconds in front of the glass, thinking whether he would like a strawberry cheesecake or not.

Boy prefers longing in front of the cake rather than ask the man himself if he would like one. Rin didn’t think it would matter that much, he likes it now. Sitting near the glass that faces the pedestrian, looking at different people passing by for their own business. Rin took one bite of his cheesecake and swallowed it, humming to compliment how it taste.

“Is it good?” Sousuke asks, right hand still holding the spoon for his own bite. Rin nods in reply enthusiastically, “You need to try it.” He then took another spoonful of his cheesecake before offering it to the other man, letting him take the bite from the spoon. Sousuke munches the cheesecake inside his mouth, thinking how he will comment about the taste, “Sweet and sour. Perfectly blended with each other, even though you thought it was impossible in the first place.”

Rin just keeps falling into the groundless hole full of affection towards this man. They both hopped into the conversation about academics, Rin’s swimming competition that will be held next week at the central city olympic pool. It will be a national level competition between campuses across Japan. Rin and his friends relay team had been winning the relay division since they were in their junior year, whilst each of them had chosen to be the representation for their own strokes since freshman year.

“Kisumi is probably going to be there. It is his first time seeing Asahi swim in a big competition like that,” Rin comments on his best friend’s relationship. Sousuke hums, sipping on his cola, “It was not his first time.” The statement made Rin blinks in confusion. “Kisumi had his own crush towards Kisumi from long ago. Destiny just toyed them with the soulmate things, not knowing they were each other’s soulmate in the end,” Sousuke continues.

Rin was too stunned to speak. Anyway, when they were on the topic.

“And how about you, Sousuke?”

“How about me?”

“Yes. How’s your soulmate doing?” Rin was so impulsive with this question, he didn’t think twice on how this scenario would occur for the future. On how he would react if it’s the other way around, that Sousuke probably had someone on the back of his mind. Then the memory when they were at the pool, Rin looked at the other man’s wrist and it showed nothing. The next thing he saw was a small smile curve on Sousuke’s lips.

It looks like he was falling in love.

Sousuke nodded his head, Rin still didn't understand the gesture because of the silent weight hanging in the air between them. Sousuke turns his head to the right, looking at Rin’s bright red eyes.

“I met them already,” Rin’s breath hitched, “and it was perfect.”

Rin shouldn’t do this if he cares about his sanity. He’s well aware of how this soulmate thing works and how it would affect the rest of his life. Because he loves it so much and he wants it to happen to him too. He shouldn’t do this if he cares about himself, if he cares about his feelings towards Sousuke.

But no, he kept asking about who Sousuke's soulmate is.

“How was she?” Rin blurts the question without even thinking twice. Sousuke’s right eyebrow raised slightly, questioning the question that just asked. “Oh, sorry,” he revised the question, “He?” another smile was shown across Sousuke’s lips. “He’s perfect. It happened a long time ago, when I was in elementary school,” Rin’s knuckles turned white because of how he grips the edge of the table too hard. Sousuke didn’t realize it, he was too focused on telling his story, “Crazy, right? I didn’t know a damn thing about that countdown soulmate thing on my wrist. It just showed up around two days before I met him.”

Rin was nodding, letting himself sip into the coke that was still filling the glass in front of him. Kisumi never told him this, the man has already told all of the childhood secrets relating to Sousuke to him. Everything, except for this one. Does Kisumi know about this? He should’ve– for God sake, their relationship is very similar to what he and Haru have.

“Kisumi knows about this,” Sousuke states like he could read each sentence that had been written inside Rin’s mind, “He met him already.” The way Sousuke tells the story somehow warms Rin’s heart. He was still feeling weird from the inside, heart has been broken so many times if he wanted to dramatize the situation, but the way Sousuke’s eyes soften everytime he mentions his soulmate it’s how Rin imagined his soulmate would act if they talk about him to someone. “Where is he right now? Is he studying at the same campus as you?” so I could back off right at this time, Rin thinks.

There was a silent hanging in the air between the two of them. An invisible string, not that visible, but it tightens between the two men. It is tugging Rin closer to Sousuke, but he’s trying to tug it harder and wishes it to be broken by tomorrow or forever. He couldn’t be in love with someone else’s soulmate, it hurts his pride and also Sousuke’s soulmate for sure.

Sousuke took his time to answer the question, as he empties his glasses filled with coke first, swallows it through his throat.

“Yes,” then he answers Rin's question. On the other hand, Rin shows a faint smile on his lips. “Oh, that’s good,” right hand gripping on the table. That’s when Sousuke finally realizes it. A concern and confused expression was shown on his face, “Uh, Rin, why were you–”

“Oh, no. It’s fine– I just–” Rin stands up from his seat, “I need to go home right now. Asahi’s been loud about his undergrad thesis topic, he wanted me to help it before giving it to his professor.” Sousuke opens his mouth to speak but Rin cuts him off immediately, “It is really nice to spend another time with you, Sousuke. I wish you a very happy relationship with your soulmate. Whoever he is, he’s so lucky to have someone like you.”

The last part of his sentence was blurted out without planning. Judging from how wide Sousuke’s eyes were when he heard the compliment.

“At least let me take you home,” Sousuke insists.

“No need, Sousuke. I’m fine with my own.” I always have been on my own, Rin didn’t say it out loud, but he’s well aware he’s alone for the longest time. Giving the taller man another quick smile, patting his shoulder with his trembling hand. “I’ll see you whenever, Sousuke,” then Rin was off for his journey to go back home; realizing he’s alone in this world.

The ride back to where his dormitory resides was not that awful. Rin was trying to hold on his tears in the train, going back to the nearest station near where he and his friends live. He was too busy thinking about how stupid he is to declare he’s in love with Yamazaki Sousuke. The most gorgeous man he ever laid his eyes on, to only know that he already met his soulmate.

How stupid he is to think that he would be the green teal eyes man’s soulmate. To spend the rest of his lives with him, to grow old together, and have fun playing family in their own little world. On how Sousuke literally makes him feel good, physically and mentally, sometimes sexually but not that often. Rin grips the edge of his long sleeve shirt, trying to keep himself warm while the world is too cold around him.

When he arrived home, Hiyori was the one who opened the door for him.

“Wow, you came back earl–” he stopped mid sentence when he realized the state Rin’s in right now. Hiyori’s face was sleepy at first and it turned into a concern. “Rin–” Hiyori let Rin walk closer to where he stands, putting both of his hands around the glasses man's shoulder and taking him into a sudden embrace. The door was left wide open, allowing Haru and Asahi who were in the living room to witness the scene.

All hell breaks loose when they hear Rin’s sniffling sound.

Rin was taken to custody as known as their living room, surrounded by multiple blankets on his body to keep him warm. Hiyori made warm tea, Asahi played one of his favorite romance comedy movies that he knew the dialogues line by line, and Haru sat by his left side. All three of them were in silence, trying not to ask the reason why Rin came back with such a facial expression like that. It has been awhile since they witnessed Rin’s like this, especially with the kind of world they live in.

“Rin, I want you to know that you’re not obliged to tell us what happened,” Asahi says on the floor where he sits. Haru nods and Hiyori caresses his best friend’s back, “Anytime you want, Rin. We’re here just like we promised.”

“Sousuke met his soulmate when he’s in elementary school.”

Then there's silence, a heavy one. The fact was inevitable. Haru rubs his face with disbelief, Hiyori still trying to process the information, while Asahi’s mouth is left hanging open. Rin wanted to laugh, but the time was not right.

“I– Wha– How?” Asahi asks and Rin scrunches his forehead, “What do you mean how?” Asahi wanted to speak but his rights got stolen by Haru, “He meant, how? How did you know that? Are you sure about it? Yamazaki didn’t have the countdown on his wrist the last time we met in a group.”

“Is that important now?” Rin sighs, clutching the tea on his hands, “He told me the story. I’m a fool, I know,” his body sinks more into the sofa, “He’s just too good to be true.” Asahi nods in an agreement, “Yeah, he is.” The red head suddenly got a slap on the behind of his head. It’s Haru’s turn to let out a low sigh, “Okay, I know this would hurt you in many ways. I understand that and I don’t blame you. Fate’s a bitch, but you’re more bitch than it.”

Rin blinks, Hiyori is too stunned to speak, and Asahi claps his hand. In the end, the four of them decided to watch a superheroes movie together. They decided to meet up at the swimming pool tomorrow for their daily regimen training. The competition is next week, Rin is self aware he did not have time for coping up with his heartbreak. 

It's just another day in his life. Since then, Rin tries to detour his path to not pass the vending machine. Sometimes he found Sousuke standing in front of it for a few minutes, like he was waiting for someone. Rin also did not show up when Kisumi invited him to meet up in Asahi's sister cafe.

It went smoothly for the most part. Until two days before the competition, a 48 hour countdown started ticking on his wrist.

All hell breaks loose.