Limitless (Rin Matsuoka x OC)

18. Red is the new black?

With school restarting, everyone entered in their usual routine of classes and practice. For the Iwatobi swim team though, being still February, there was no chance at swimming so they kept their training on land with jogs and muscle training.

One day, their coach made them a visit while everyone was at Haru's house, bringing them a pizza as they talked, Sasabe telling them he bought the old swim club and that he was remodeling it, planning a grand reopening soon.

"That's great, coach Sasabe! Does that mean we'll be able to swim indoors even during the winter?" Asked Makoto.

"You definitely will. Let's just hope it will all go well and I'll get members." Thought the blonde man.

"Don't worry Boro-chan! We'll help you get members." Said Nagisa in his usual cheerful mood.

"How can we help someone else get members when us ourselves can't get new members?" Said Rei deep in thought.

"You worry too much, Rei-chan. We'll get new members for sure this time! I'm sure our manager thought of the best presentation for the beginning of the year, right?" Asked Nagisa looking at Gou who nodded happily.

"Definitely! This time we won't fail. Actually, my plan might bring in enough girls so Nayna can have her own medley relay." Said the redhead happily looking at the other girl only for her smile to go away when she saw Nayna looking out the window lost in thought.

While the boys kept talking with their coach and Haru grilling his mackerel, Gou got up and walked over to Nayna.

"Hey, is there something wrong?" Asked Gou getting Nayna's attention.

The white haired girl turned to her surprised, as woken from a dream before sighing, looking out again.

"I'm fine. Just thinking..."

"About what?" Asked Gou waiting a moment for an answer. Seeing the other girl not bothering to answer, she continued. "Hey, you know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"Even if it's about your brother?" She mumbled, barely audible.

"Huh? What is it about Onii-chan?" Asked Gou a bit surprised of the question.

"During the new year...I don't know how he found out it was my birthday...And he gave me a gift-" She said meekly only to be cut off by the other girl's gasp.

"That's when your birthday was? I should have guessed. Happy late birthday I guess. Uh...Wait. Onii-chan got you a gift? That's so sweet of him." Said Gou surprised again.

"I know...The thing is... Tomorrow it's his birthday, right? What could I get him? I mean, I spent half of summer with the guy and yet, I still don't know what he likes other than swimming... And on that topic, he got a lot of stuff during Christmas..." Thought Nayna out loud, letting out a deep sigh.

Gou looked at her sympathetically then thought for a moment. As she got an idea, she let out a giggle.

"Sounds like you and Onii-chan are really good friends. He doesn't care what he gets as long as it's sentimental. He is a sucker for those kind of things." Giggled Gou again.

"I guess you're right..." Mumbled Nayna looking out again, then her crimson orbs slowly fell to her wrist adorned by a silver bracelet with a red string waving through the links.

Next evening, Nayna found herself before the gate of Samezuka, looking up at the building.

"What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I even nervous about?" She thought, scolding herself before stepping in letting out a deep sigh.

As she found herself, once again, before his dorm room door, she raised her hand to knock only for the door to open, revealing Rin, both of them looking at each other in surprise.

"Huh? Hey, fancy seeing you around here again. Been a while, huh?" He asked with a smirk.

"Uhm...y-yeah. Sure was..." She said looking away, still nervous. "Were you going out? I could come some other time..."

"Yeah, I was about to go but no rush." He said stepping out of the doorway, letting her in. "Is there something wrong? Why the sudden visit?"

"Everything is fine...Uhm...Here..." She said handing him a red box with a white ribbon. "Happy birthday, Red." She said with a nervous smile.

Rin looked at the little box surprised then at her.

"Wha- N-Nayna, you didn't have to... " He said still bewildered.

"Maybe...But I wanted to."

"Thank you." He smiled taking the gift taking a quick peek inside but as he saw it, he opened the lid wide eyed, taking out the longish necklace, on it dangling dog tags.

Rin took the silver tags and looked at the engraving on it's back. It was the Olympic logo, under it was written 'Team Japan' and his name while the other tag was similar, but instead of his name it was his father's.

His eyes widened at the engraving before they started to shine with tears. He quickly pulled Nayna into a hug whispering another shaky 'Thank you'.

"Glad you like it." She said with a shy smile, breaking the hug.

"You're kidding?" he mumbled rubbing his eyes, drying his tears. "It's the best gift ever." He said a bit more cheerful. "I really like it... Almost as much as I like-"

"Matsuoka! What are you waiting for? Everyone is waiting for you." Came Mikoshiba's loud voice, the captain entering the room only to stop when he saw Nayna. "Huh? What's this, Matsuoka, you're starting your own party up here?" Laughed the taller male slapping Rin's back, making the redhead wince in pain.

"Oi! That hurts!" He barked annoyed.

"Sorry, darling, but right now we'll have to steal him for a bit." Said the captain smirking down at Nayna.

"No problem. I was heading out anyway." She sai amused making her way out of the room, as did the two males.

They started to walk towards the opposite direction she was, Rin managing to barely crane his neck and look over his shoulder at the girl before Mikoshiba put his arm around his shoulders, pulling him with him.

Back home, Nayna threw her bag on her couch, she falling on it too, covering her face that started blushing.

"What the hell is wrong with me?! Giving him a gift like that? I could get him a mug or something..." She thought annoyed at herself as she uncovered her face that now was barely red. She sighed and rubbed her temples with one hand. "What am I even trying to do? I'm done with that kind of crap. I don't need that... Besides...What the hell am I seeing at him. He is freaking Red headed...I don't go for that...I never did... I never would... I was always after the black haired..." She thought, mindlessly, her free hand brushing Link's raven fur as he laid down by the couch. She stood there like that until the face of a black haired male came into her mind. She quickly got up shaking her head trying to throw that thought out of her head.