Forever (Rin Matsuoka X Reader)

Chapter One: Welcome to the Team!

       Breathe in. Breathe out.
       I give myself a once-over in the mirror. The brown uniform skirt is a little shorter than mid-thigh. The grey sweater and black blazer with the Iwatobi school crest are almost longer than my skirt. The white button up is barely visible between all the layers and the green second-year bow adorning my neck. My H/C hair is mostly down, with two braids on either side connecting on the back of my head, keeping any loose strands from falling in my face.
       "You got this," I say to my reflection. Shouldering my backpack and swiping my lunch from the countertop I walk out the door, locking it behind me. It's odd not having my mom kiss my cheek on my way out, wishing me a good day.
       As though she could read my mind, my phone rings in the pocket of my skirt. "Hi honey," her chipper voice says. "I just wanted to call and make sure you were on your way to school."
       I skip down the stairs from the second floor of my apartment building, opting to jump over the last two. "Did you install cameras in my apartment or something?" I laugh.
       "My mom senses are just that good," she quips back. "I'm sorry we couldn't get you there at the start of the year."
       I roll my eyes. She's apologized for that for the last month and a half. "It's not a big deal, starting a month into the start of the school year isn't the end of the world. The only thing that matters is that I'm back and I couldn't be happier."
       "And you're sure you don't want me to have Mrs. Matsuoka tell Gou that you're starting today?"
       I shake my head. "No, I want my return to be a surprise." A ball of fear forms in my gut. "You don't think they won't recognize me, do you? Do you think they forgot about me?"
       My mom stifles a laugh. "You're the most unforgettable person I know."
       "You're supposed to say that, you're my mom!" I stomp my foot.
       "Y/N, honey, relax. I honestly don't think that will be the case. Sure, you've gotten taller and your body looks more womanly, but you've got the same kind eyes and an unforgettable presence about you," her voice is as sincere as ever.
       The off-white building of Iwatobi High School is in view. The walk from my apartment to the school is only about ten minutes. There aren't many students around yet, I had to be here early to meet with the principal.
       "I hope you're right," I sigh. "Alright, well I made it. I'll call you after school and let you know how it goes. I love you, mom."
       "I love you too."
       I tuck my phone back in my pocket. My fingers subconsciously wrap around the oval-shaped locket tucked underneath my cardigan. Soon. I smile at the thought.
       I sit and talk with the principal for thirty minutes, the entire time watching through the window as more and more students flood the campus. The first bell rings and the principal leaves me alone his office while retrieving my homeroom teacher.
       A couple of minutes later the door opens and my teacher introduces himself as Mr. Yoshida. When we reach the classroom he introduces me and has me stand in front of the class. My eyes scan the rows of students, but I don't see any familiar faces.
       "I'm F/N L/N. I just moved back here from Tokyo." After an approving nod from Mr. Yoshida, I take my seat in the back corner by the window.
       Classes fly by, I take notes, but I don't really pay attention to any of the lessons. Lunch rolls around and even though a few of the girls in my class invited me to sit with them, I decided to find a spot outside. Settling next to a sports equipment shed I pull out my phone and text my mom, letting her know that my day is going well. When she asks about the boys I leave her on 'read'.
       A girl with familiar maroon hair walks by with a girl with red-brown hair messily piled on top of her head. The first girl does a double take but keeps walking, confirming my worst fear. They don't remember me.
       The warning bell rings and I swallow hard, forcing the lump in my throat down.
       I try my best to take notes in class, but my mind is blank. At some point, I put my pen down and replace it with the locket. I roll the silver pendant between my fingers, wanting to look inside, but choosing not to. If I open it now then the waterworks are guaranteed to follow.
       "Miss L/N," Mr. Yoshida says after the last bell. "It seems most of the other students noticed that Mr. Makabe was slotted for cleaning duties after school and left early. Since he was absent today Miss Ikari will need help with clean-up, would you mind?"
       Honestly, I just want to go home and cry. "Not at all," I force a smile, putting my bag down on my desk. 
       After about thirty minutes Ikari asks to leave while I'm mopping the floor. There's no reason for her to stay, so I let her go.
       "So you guys really didn't see her?" A girls voice carries to my ears from outside the classroom.
       "Are you sure you even saw her?" A monotone male replies.
       "Even if you did, there's a good chance she's already left for the day," another boys voice replies.
Damn it. I look at the wet floor and the corner I've mopped myself into. Sitting on the windowsill, I listen to the voices coming closer.
       A boy with messy blond curls and magenta eyes peers through the doorway. His cheerful high pitched voice cries out, "Guys, I found her!"
No way. It can't be. Nagisa?
       Behind him appears a boy with eyes bluer than the ocean that contrasts perfectly with his darker-than-black hair.
Haruka?
       A taller boy pops up behind them. His perfect mushroom brown locks pair wonderfully with his green eyes.
Makoto?
       "Y/N?" The girl I saw during lunch asks. "Are you really back?"
       Forgetting about the wet floor, I grab my bag and walk over to them, stopping ten feet away. "You mean, you guys remember me?" A familiar prick hits the corner of my eyes.
       "How could we forget!?" Nagisa practically shouts. In two swift hops, his arms are around my torso.
       "Why are you crying?" Haru asks, unconcerned.
       I shake my head and use my sleeve to dry my eyes. "No reason."
       "Are you still swimming?" Mako asks.
       "I actually quit swimming when we moved to Tokyo," I admit.
       "Why?" Haru sounds offended.
       I've never actually admitted the full truth to anyone. When my mom asked me why I wanted to quit I said it was because I didn't want to swim anymore. She thought it had to do with the time I almost drowned when we first moved to Tokyo. Of course, that did make me hesitant of the water and might have contributed to my decision, but it wasn't the full reason. "It didn't feel right if I wasn't swimming with the four of you." While that's another reason I didn't want to join the middle school team, it still wasn't the complete truth. Suddenly I notice that even though there are four people in front of me, only three of them are the ones I'm talking about.
Mako takes notice of the change in my expression. I guess some things don't change, he's always known me better than anyone. "Rin doesn't go here. He's at Samezuka."
All I can manage to do is nod my head. My hand flies up to the locket while my heart sinks.
       "We have a joint training session with the Samezuka team tomorrow," Gou says. "You should come with us. I'm certain big brother would be excited to see you."
      "Are you sure? We thought he'd be happy to see us and he was a total jerk," Nagisa says while moving his arms around dramatically.
       Haru brings his hand down on the blonds head. "Rin and Y/N always got along. He has no reason to be a jerk to her."
       Mako grabs my silver locket and gives me a knowing smile. "Y/N was always special to him. I think if he sees her then maybe he'll finally open up and the old Rin will be back."
       "Don't I have to be a member of the swim club to be allowed to go to the practice?" I ask. "I'm not sure I want to swim anymore." I give Haru an apologetic shrug of my shoulders.
       "You can help me manage the club!" Gou jumps up and down. "Let's go tell Miss A right now!"
       "Yeah, she and Rei are probably getting concerned that we aren't at the pool by now." Nagisa taps his finger against his chin.
       At the pool, the boys and Gou talk to with a woman sitting in a beach chair with an umbrella opened above her head. A boy with glasses stands near-by. I'm standing a little ways off with my phone pressed to my ear.
       "You're joining the swim club?" My mom asks excitedly.
       "As a manager," I correct her. "I still don't want to swim."
       "I understand, but if you change your mind I would love to come and watch you compete," there's a slight sadness behind her words.
       We say our goodbyes and I walk over to where the others are.
       "Welcome to the team!" Gou says, handing me a white Iwatobi swim club jacket.