Chapter Text
Sousuke knows he hasn’t exactly been the best friend over the years. Hiding secrets from Rin isn’t something he likes to do, but here he is. True, maybe Rin has made some mistakes too: not contacting him at all for years, for starters.
But right now, Sousuke feels like he’s the worst friend in the world. Like he’s betrayed the trust Rin has placed in him over the years. Like simply by falling in love with his best friend, he’s committed an atrocity against nature. Then again, maybe it was inevitable. Sousuke feels like Rin understands him, and he knows that he understands Rin. Even the years where they didn’t see each other didn’t take away from that.
All Sousuke knows is that lately, every time Rin casually leans on him or touches him in any way, he feels sparks fly. It’s not an ideal feeling for two people who spend a ton of time together and see each other half-naked all the time. Swim practice has definitely been a little awkward recently, considering Sousuke’s been sitting on the sidelines and watching.
Watching Rin, in his very fitted swimsuit.
With the transparent patches on the thighs.
It’s a good thing Rin’s too busy bossing the rest of the team around to notice Sousuke staring at him. Unfortunately, Nitori doesn’t have the same obligations and therefore has time to pay attention to Sousuke.
“Sousuke-senpai, could you watch my form?” Ai asks one day during the middle of practice.
“Yeah, sure,” Sousuke answers. Ai launches himself off the starting block, but too bad Rin’s a few lanes over, correcting a first-year as he crouches on the starting block. Sousuke doesn’t even realize that he’s been staring at him as he demonstrates the ideal starting position until Ai swims all the way back to him.
“See something you like?” Ai asks. Sousuke jumps.
“Shit, I’m sorry Ai,” he apologizes sheepishly. Ai grins.
“It’s not a big deal. Your secret’s safe with me,” he winks. “As long as you actually watch me this time, that is.”
This time, Sousuke actually does what he promised and gives Ai some feedback when he returns. He climbs out of the pool, and restarts. Sousuke notices some improvement. At the opposite end of the lane, Ai looks to him for reassurance and Sousuke gives him a thumbs up. Sousuke can see his grin from where he’s standing.
It’s Friday night when Rin suggests they go into town for dinner, instead of eating in the cafeteria. Considering the weekend usually leftovers from earlier in the week, Sousuke’s happy to agree. He’s looking forward to some time outside school with Rin.
But then Rin invites Ai along. Sousuke doesn’t mind, not really, but as they all walk to a local burger restaurant he can’t help wishing the younger boy weren’t there. Rin and Ai are chatting happily and Sousuke imagines that it’s him that just told Rin a joke and made him laugh.
Almost as if Ai can read his thoughts, he turns around and notices that Sousuke is trailing slightly behind them. He beckons Sousuke forward and just when Sousuke thinks that all three of them walking side by side is going to be awkward, Ai slips slightly behind them.
Was that on purpose? Sousuke wonders. As they enter the restaurant, Sousuke holds the door open for Rin but Ai nudges Sousuke before he can wait for him too. Sousuke and Rin end up in line next to each other, so Ai may have planned that. Huh. He’s sneaky.
After ordering, they find a booth together. Ai sits on the opposite side from Rin, allowing Sousuke to sit next to Rin. It’s a pretty good meal, all things considered.
Of course, Sousuke forgot that good times don’t always last. On their way back to school, they run into the entire Iwatobi swim team. Sousuke clenches his fist when Rin immediately runs to Haru and throws an arm around his neck.
“Oh, Ai-chan! Sou-chan! Rin-chan!” Nagisa greets. “What are you guys up to?”
“We got burgers for dinner,” Ai responds. “Are you guys out for dinner too?”
“There’s a movie playing at the local theater that we all agreed on,” Rei answers, adjusting his glasses.
“Doesn’t Haru fall asleep in movies?” Rin teases, nudging Haru. Haru looks away, trying to shrug Rin’s arm away.
“I can stay awake when I’m interested,” Haru grumbles.
Makoto smiles. “It’s a movie about the ocean,” he adds helpfully. Sousuke realizes that he still hasn’t contributed anything to this conversation, but he can’t think of anything relevant to add. Words such as “stop” and “get off him” rise in his throat but he keeps them buried. How strange it would be for him to yell at Haru for Rin draping his arm over his shoulder.
With all of his energy on Rin and Haru, Sousuke doesn’t notice Ai. To be fair, Ai isn’t exactly the kind of person to stand out (Ai always tells himself). He considers himself average, painfully so, and the kind of person you only notice when he inserts himself into your life. He hates that he had to latch himself to Rin until he considered him a friend, and that he’s doing the same thing to Sousuke. He actually is aware when the other swim team members are just humoring him; he’s more observant than others give him credit for.
Not that noticing Sousuke’s crush on Rin was especially hard, and it’s not hard to see how jealous Sousuke is now.
“A movie sounds nice,” Ai suggests. “Sousuke-senpai, Rin-senpai, maybe we could join them?” Nagisa nods enthusiastically at the idea.
“Sorry,” Sousuke responds gruffly. “I have things to work on. I only had time for dinner.” And he turns and walks away with his hands in his pockets.
“Aw, Sou-chan’s a party pooper,” Nagisa pouts. “But Rin-chan and Ai-chan could stay!”
“Yeah, I’ll stay,” Rin says. “You guys don’t mind?”
“Of course not, Rin-san!” Rei says. “Aiichirou-kun? Will you be staying as well?”
Ai thinks about it for a minute. Of course, he could stay and plant himself in between Haru and Rin, for Sousuke’s sake, but he also doesn’t want Sousuke to walk back to school alone when he clearly has a lot on his mind. “Sorry, I think I’ll head back with Sousuke-senpai. It was nice to see everyone though! Have fun!” He waves as he turns and runs to catch up with Sousuke.
Ai can still see Sousuke not too far ahead. He’s careful not to slip on the street that’s wet from a recent rain. “Sousuke-senpai!” he calls. Sousuke stops and waits for him. “Thanks!” he says as they begin walking. Sousuke hums in response, but is silent otherwise.
“I know this area is small, but it’s always surprising running into someone you know!” Ai says to break the silence. “Maybe we should go on a team outing soon, of course we have more team members than they do, but we could still invite Gou-kun, and maybe even Mikoshiba-buchou, if he’s in town…”
“Ai,” Sousuke says abruptly.
“Yes?” Ai sounds nervous, as usual.
"How long has Rin been into Nanase.” It’s not a question. Sousuke’s voice is even and cautious.
“Um,” Ai starts. “A while,” he whispers. Sousuke’s tension is visible, even in the fading autumn sunlight. Ai isn’t sure if he should continue, but he hates the silence. “He only joined the swim team last year because of Nanase-kun. He wanted to race with him. Well, not with him, against him,” and now Ai realizes he’s rambling out of nervousness. “It’s complicated, I think.”
“Do you,” Sosuke starts. “Do you think Nanase feels the same?” Sousuke seems to be speaking to the ground more than to Ai. Ai thinks he hears his voice crack.
“I don’t know,” Ai murmurs. “Rin-senpai and Nanase-kun seem drawn to each other. But Nagisa-kun thinks Tachibana-kun may have feelings for Nanase-kun.”
Sousuke is silent for a long time. They reach the dorm building in silence, and Sousuke only waves to Ai as they part ways to go to their rooms.
When Ai gets to his room, he finds that Momo’s not in. He sits down on his bed and puts his head in his hands. Little does he know that in his own room, Sousuke is doing the same.