At Samezuka Academy
"So, what do you want?" Rin asked Rei.
"I have two questions for you." Rei told him.
"What are they?" Rin asked.
"Here is my first question." Rei said, taking a moment to push up his glasses. "Why did you suddenly decide to swim in the relay?" He asked.
"I changed my mind." Rin answered. "Did you just come hear to ask me that?" He questioned.
"That answer doesn't convince me." Rei stated. "You've been fixated on racing Haruka-senpai all this time. Your reason was that you couldn't move forward until you defeated her."
Rin didn't say anything.
"And in the last tournament, you beat her." Rei continued. "Doesn't that mean you achieved your goal?" He questioned.
Rin gritted his teeth together. "My goal isn't to beat Haru." He said. "And it's not to win in this tournaments in this country. I'm aiming higher. My goal is the world."
"The world?" Rei repeated. "Very well. Moving on to my second question." He looked Rin straight in the eye. "How do you feel about Haruka-senpai?" He asked.
Rin's eyes widened slightly, taken aback by the question.
"In grade school, you and Haruka-senpai were close rivals." Rei remarked. "I saw old pictures of you guys when we were at Coach Sasabe's house. You used to smile all the time. With Haruka-senpai, Makoto-senpai, and Nagisa-kun. The four of you were always together and having fun. So what made you change after going to study abroad? Why didn't you contact Haru-senpai or any of the others after you returned to Japan? What happened while you were aboard?"
Rin said nothing, his fists clenched tightly.
"You used to be good friends, so why?" Rei asked, his voice getting slightly louder. "You swam in a relay together, so why? You must have been thrilled about swimming in a relay with them! Aren't you the one who understands more than anyone how great that relay was?"
"Shut up!" Rin yelled, causing Rei to flinch a bit. "I let you talk, and you think you can say all the stupid logic you want?! Why should I explain myself to you?!"
"Because I'm a victim." Rei replied, pushing up his glasses. "I was originally on the track team, but I ended up joining the swim club. After watching Haruka-senpai swim, I wanted to swim like her. Practice was hard at first, but it started to grow on me. Eventually, I was having fun swimming with everyone. At prefecturals, I finally swam in a relay with them. That was the first time I really understood relays as more than just theory. I realized how fun they can be!"
Rin didn't say anything as he stared at Rei, his eyes slightly wide.
"I can still remember how it felt." Rei continued, clenching his fist. "We were finally united as one! We felt like a real team! But they all keep talking about you! Rin-chan! Rin-chan! Rin-chan!"
"That's not my problem!" Rin shouted.
"Like hell it's not!" Rei shouted back.
A second later, Rei grabbed Rin by his jacket collar and pushed him against the wall.
"Bastard!" Rei yelled. "Get over yourself and take responsibility for once! It's your fault that Haruka-senpai stopped swimming!"
"What you talking about?!" Rin yelled back.
"Oh, come on! Do I have to spell it out for you?! Haruka-senpai felt guilty about beating you in middle school!" Rei told him.
Rin's eyes widely slightly when he heard this.
