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Rin can only be described as a whirlwind in human form.
Haru is sure that he has known that since his and Rin’s paths first crossed, in that swimming tournament years ago. Even when they were kids Haru could tell that Rin was emotional and loud, a force to be reconded with both on land and in water. But when their new-found friendship blooms again after the relay in their second year of high school, after years of silence and hard feelings, Haru gets to know Rin all over again, in new ways; Rin is still emotional and loud, but he also finds out that Rin is extremely organized, that he runs in the mornings no matter how bad the weather is, that he laughs loudly at bad jokes and cries to movies he pretends he doesn’t like, but that he makes sure he catches on tv whenever they air.
Somewhere inside of him, Haru was scared that the years in which he wasn't a part of Rin's life had changed his friend into someone completely different, that the way he acted as he had told Haru he'd never swim with him again was who he truly was. But he's happy to find out very quickly after their reunion that Rin is still the same person, just older and affected by his experiences.
And Haru doesn’t know when and how it happens, but one day he realizes that, oh, isn't Rin pretty charming? Instead of the arm around his shoulders being a bother, it starts to feel comforting and familiar and Haru misses its weight when it's not there. Instead of keeping his distance as he used to, they both gravitate towards each other, their arms brushing while they cook up dinners in Haru’s house after practice and the heat from Rin’s body seeping through their layers of close when they sit huddled together on the subway, despite there being plenty of room next to them.
But even if there are a lot of new things to discover about Rin, there are also sides of him that he already knows. Rin is still as competitive, for one, and the same holds for Haru himself. They still argue about who kissed the other first, both of them saying they were the ones who moved the last couple of inches, on that warm spring day soon after their high-school graduation. Haru doesn’t actually remember much than his heart beating loudly in his chest and the relief he felt that he finally, finally felt the way Rin’s lips feel against his. But Haru likes to rile Rin up, it’s one of those things that reminds him so much of who they used to be, so he refuses to let Rin get the win just so he can see the familiar light shine in his eyes.
With the change in their relationship, Haru finds out even more about Rin, even when he thought there couldn't possibly be more to know. Like the fact that Rin drools in his sleep, but denies it loudly when Haru tells him in the mornings. Like the fact that Rin has a birthmark on the back of his thigh, that Haru likes to press his lips against because the sound Rin makes in return makes heat boil low in his belly. Like the fact that Rin’s ticklish, especially on the soles of his feet and he has nightmares real enough that he wakes up in the middle of the night crying. And to Haru's pleasure, he also finds out that Rin loves to go down on him. He's sure it's because Rin enjoys seeing Haru lose control, but also because Rin knows Haru will return the favor to him with the same vigor.
But most of all, Haru is surprised to learn things about himself that he didn't know before Rin became a permanent figure at his side. He likes to feel the stubble on Rin's jaw in the mornings before he shaves and he enjoys the feeling of Rin's hand running through his hair. Mostly though, he's astonished by how easy it is to be with Rin and how quickly he gets used to his loud, cheery voice around him, after so long of keeping to himself.
Their change in relationship status doesn’t stop either of them from moving toward their dreams though; Rin goes back to train in Australia in the fall following high-school graduation while Haru moves to Tokyo, enrolls in university, and moves into an apartment close to campus. He hangs out with Makoto and Ikuya in the bustling Tokyo days and spends the evenings skyping with Rin for hours on end, wishing he was there to experience life with him but knowing they both are doing just what they need to reach their goals.
They're separated for months, but when the trials for the Olympics start, Rin comes back to Japan because he wouldn’t want to represent any other country than Japan. After all, it is home. Haru is at the airport to meet him, of course, his chest light as he watches Rin appear from the baggage claim. They embrace in the middle of the crowded airport, their arms wrapped around each other tightly, Rin’s eyes glistening as he says hello, the tears falling as their lips meet for the first time in over half a year. Haru laughs and calls Rin stupid when he offers to stay in a hotel until he finds a place to stay and effectively shuts Rin up by placing a copy of his apartment key in his hand.
They leave trials with a spot on the national team and the chance to represent their country in the upcoming Olympic Games. The final weeks leading up to the Olympics are a mix of swimming until their limbs ache and taper, which Haru first thought would be annoying, because how would he possibly spend the time if not in the pool? But he soon finds that taper isn't so bad when Rin's there with him, because he has more energy to press Rin against various surfaces in their apartment when he's banned from the pool.
Nothing could've prepared Haru for the feeling of standing outside the village though, in late July. Rin's fingers are intertwined so tightly with Haru's that it feels like they might break, but Haru can't bring himself to do anything but squeeze his hand as they walk towards the entrance and the beginning of two weeks on the world stage.
The Olympics are intense and nothing like anything Haru has ever done before. He's thankful Rin is with him every step of the way, because nothing could be more calming before the race than familiar lips pressed against his, nothing could be more exciting than finding Rin's heated gaze just a few lanes down from Haru's lane. The entire world is watching, but when they swim in the same heats, the world around Haru shrinks down to just the two of them. He will always get excited to feel Rin in the water with him, racing him. The other competitors don't mean anything compared to Rin.
They both medal; Haru gets gold in the 200m free and silver in the 100m free while Rin gets silver in the 200m fly. They share a bronze medal as a part of Japan's relay team with Ikuya and a backstroke swimmer named Takeshi. When they stand together on the podium to receive the medal for the relay, Haru reaches out and grabs Rin's hand, not caring about the cameras that for sure are aimed their way or what any other might think. Rin is crying with happiness, of relief that he finally could achieve his father's dream, and Haru's so proud of all that he's accomplished that he has to spend the entire time trying to control himself, so he doesn't kiss his boyfriend on the lips on international tv.
Haru makes sure to tell him afterward though, later that night. Haru's voice is soft and low as he tells Rin about how beautiful he is, how proud Haru is of him and how happy he is to experience this with him. Rin manages to keep it together longer than Haru thought, but when Haru tells him that he loves him, the tears start falling down Rin's cheeks. It's tears of joy, and Haru smiles as he kisses every single one of them away.
It's later still, when the tearstains have dried on Rin's cheeks and when they're both fighting to keep their eyes open, that Haru breaks the silence again.
"Thank you, Rin."
Rin hums from where he's resting his head in the crook of Haru's neck. "What for?"
Haru puts his arms on Rin's shoulders and moves them so they can see each other. Rin looks curious and Haru presses a kiss to his mouth, just because he feels like it. "For showing me so many new sights."
"Haru," Rin whispers. Haru thinks Rin is going to start crying again, but instead he beams up at him, Haru's heart doing loops in his chest. "Let's see many more sights together. This is only the beginning, of our dream."
Haru feels his lips twitch into a smile matching Rin's. He moves a strand of Rin's hair behind his ear. "Yeah."