Childhood Memories (Rin Matsuoka)

Cherry Blossom

I woke up with a start, heaving for breath. Another nightmare, had it been the same one? I sighed and sat up in bed. I could hear Rin breathing gently from the mattress on the floor and I looked down at him. He was fast asleep, hugging into his pillow, the blankets tucked tightly around him, his red hair splayed across the sheets. I let myself smile at the sight. He almost looked like the little kid who left for Australia. His eyes opened suddenly and I looked away, embarrassed at being caught staring.

"Hey" he yawned, sitting up on his elbow "you okay?"

"Yeah" I smiled at his hazy, tired eyes "just had a bad dream as all"

"Oh" he said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. I shivered into the cold of my room, I watched as Rin shifted uncomfortably on the floor.

"Do you wanna switch?" I asked, he shook his head, obviously being a gentleman and I rolled my eyes. I could feel myself shaking at how cold my room was and I tucked my legs up into my chest.

"Are you cold?" He whispered and I nodded "here" he tossed me his Samezuka hoodie and I smiled. It smelled exactly like him. Chlorine but with something sweet, I zipped it up over my thin pyjamas. And settled down into the blankets, still shivering.

"D-did I wake you?" I asked, my teeth chattering.

"No" he replied, still looking concerned. He reached his arm out and I felt my cheeks instantly flush as he touched the back of his hand to my forehead.

"You're freezing" he mumbled and then sighed "don't take this the wrong way but move over" I could feel my face absolutely burning as he slid into the bed next to me, his hand sat on my waist and he pulled me closer to his chest. I felt my heart hammering, I looked at Rin and he looked totally flustered.

"God you feel like an ice cube" he muttered as I shivered into his chest, curling closer.

"H-how are you so warm?" I managed

"I'm cold blooded" he joked and I giggled but I could feel myself warming up as his body heat was being trapped in the blankets, as I got warm I felt myself drifting back to sleep.

"Sleep well" I heard Rin whisper, his hand running down my spine.

~

When I woke up Rin was gone and I felt a little sad as I slid out of bed to get ready for school. I got dressed slowly and headed down stairs for breakfast when Ren and and Ran were fighting over food and Makoto smiled as I wandered through the door.

"Morning" I managed, sitting down to breakfast

"You look tired" he commented

"Didn't sleep very well" I said

"Rin says bye by the way, he left early to get to his first class in Samezuka"

"Oh, okay" I said stuffing my breakfast into my mouth. Nothing beat my Aunties cooking. She was away for a few nights and had cooked us three days worth of meals. Also meant I had to walk Ran and Ren into school because Makoto had got into hardcore training for prefecturals this year as Kou was determined we were going to nationals. I checked the time and got up

"Better get these monkeys to the zoo" I grinned at the twins who ran off to put their shoes on. Makoto handed me their bentos and I tucked them into their school bags. I really felt like a mother as I held them both by the hands, making them wait at roads. I took a slight detour by the sea, we were walking by Samezuka and I heard my name being called. I turned to see Rin walking with an extremely tall, buff guy with dark hair. I smiled as he jogged to the fence. I hummed the jaws theme as he did and Ran and Ren fell around in giggles. He flashed his shark teeth at them. The guy followed reluctantly.