Free! Falling

Silence - Matsuoka Rin x Reader

Note - One-sided!Rin x Reader
This might be a slight AU, since the story is supposed to occur in Rin’s senior year (or Free! Eternal Summer which has not been completed at the time this fanfic was written), so some events will probably not be canon.
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You know, it really hurt Matsouka Rin that you weren’t there to hang out with him as much anymore. You used to be his best female friend in elementary school, but now… The redhead certainly was not a clingy person, but he missed you. He missed your smile, your laugh, your eyes, your hair, your voice. Darn it, Rin was in love with you, full-heartedly in love.

Because he had gone to the all-boys high school, Samezuka, Rin rarely got to see you as his companion enrolled into another. Most of the times you were too busy with your studies or your social life to meet outside of school. He was always occupied with swimming, especially since he had become the captain of the club. Your lives were especially busy now that you both were seniors. You were a very popular girl, friendly and fair to all. It didn’t help that you were incredibly beautiful with your flowing (h/l) (h/c) hair and deep (e/c) eyes. You had many other admirers, ones that were more deserving of a goddess like you than an emotionally detached man like Rin.

It was one of the few times when both of you had some free time to spare. High school was finally coming to a close, literally, and you found yourself on a walk with the shark-like boy. It was a bit awkward because you hadn’t spoken to Rin in about three months. The silence between the two of you was unsettling. 

“Rin?” You asked with your sweet voice.

“Hm?” The boy’s crimson eyes stared into your own. He flushed a bit at your cute, confused expression, before looking away.

“Is there something you wanted to talk about?” You gave that heart-stopping smile, trying to break the tension. Although you hadn’t been able to interact with the boy for a while, you could still tell when there was something weighing on his mind.

“I uh, was just wondering how you were doing...” Rin let his sentence trail off. To tell the truth, he wanted to ask about so many things. Were you keeping up your grades - did you overstudy again? Were you getting enough sleep? Even as a child you were very immersed in your school work, and often stayed up late to work on homework and to memorize the information. He really worried about your health sometimes. Were your parents doing well? What about your pet? Rin had heard from you a few months ago that the animal had gotten sick. ...Did you have a lover?

“Oh, I’m doing pretty good. Got all A’s and won an award for the musical piece I composed.” 

“Huh, cool.” Rin said, trying to keep all the questions from bursting out.

Your eyes sparkled, causing his breath to hitch. “Oh, forget about me! I heard that you’ve been scouted! Looks like you’re finally going to become an Olympic Swimmer!”

“Yeah, I’ll be moving back to Australia again, but this time I don’t know if I’ll be coming back.” It was bittersweet - he finally achieved his dream, only to realize that you weren’t going to be apart of it.

“Aw, I’ll miss you Rin.” You said with a sad smile, but patted him reassuringly on the back. 

“However, I know you’ll be fine! You’re a strong man, Matsuoka.” Your smile dropped though, as you questioned, “When will you be going?”

Rin’s eyes widened. He’d almost forgot that he was taking the one-way trip to Australia within a few weeks. This was probably the last time he’d ever get to talk to you, considering how you guys probably won’t be able to schedule another meeting. This was the last time he’d see his best friend, the girl he was also madly in love with.

“Hey, you okay?” You asked. Matsuoka Rin had become painfully silent.

Ignoring your question, Rin breathed out almost in disbelief, “...two weeks later, on Monday.”

Your mouth opened in a soundless gasp. “Oh, that soon?” You grinned at him, playfully nudging his shoulder and saying, “Hey, these words we’re sharing right now are probably going to be our parting words, so don’t mess up! Have anything else to say to me before you go?”

“I love you.” Rin stated, as he attempted to look at your eyes. Only you refused to meet his gaze as soon as you heard his confession. The atmosphere grew rather uncomfortable and heavy. You said nothing.

This silence was the most painful of all.