A/N: A quick update for you guys! Trying to write more frequently and not leave people hanging. This chapter is just a quick look into the reaction of the Sumezeka team to the day's events. We'll hear about Haru's condition next chapter!

Enjoy! ;)

Chapter 3

Rin made his way slowly back to the hotel. He didn't bother to kick off his shoes, he just collapsed onto his bed. Curling up into a fetal position, his fists clenched the sheets. He held back his tears. His best friend had nearly drowned today. Rin had stood and watched as the paramedics loaded the limp body into the stretcher and took him away. His shirt was soaked through from Makoto's tears. Makoto, who had followed the ambulance to the hospital in Ms. Amakata's car and who was probably sitting in the waiting room with Rei and Nagisa right now.

Rin knew he should be with them. But he felt like he didn't belong. It had been the same way when Haru had nearly drowned as a child. Makoto had fished him out, Makoto had called the ambulance, Makoto had ridden with Haru to the hospital. Makoto who had sat in the waiting room for hours, refusing food and comfort. Rin had stood there awkwardly, unable to comfort his friend. When little Haruka had awoken Makoto had run to him sobbing, and Haru offered a muttered comfort along with annoyance. Rin didn't want to interrupt them. He checked in with Haru really quickly and left. But this was way more serious than what had happened when they were younger. Haru had been under the water for far longer.

Maybe the reason that Rin was hiding in his dark hotel room and crying by himself instead of being there for his friends is because he didn't want to have to face Haru when he woke up. If he woke up. Because Rin had yelled at him. Rin had pushed him. What if Haru had just dropped the freestyle race? Would the boy still be lying in a hospital bed, fighting for life?

Rin's phone buzzed. Probably an update from Nagisa or Rei. He didn't want to read it, but he couldn't bear not to. He grabbed his phone, wiping his eyes with his sleeves so that he would be able to read the message. The brightness of his phone screen was blinding. He squinted and clicked on Rei's contact.

Rei: It's been five hours and 27 minutes. Still no word from the doctors other than Haru is currently somewhat alive. Will update you as soon as there is news.

Rin cursed and threw his phone onto the bed. He put his head back down in his pillow. He heard the door unlock and open. He closed his eyes, praying for Sousuke to leave him alone. He didn't want to appear weak in front of the strongest person he knew. He hated breaking down.

Sousuke entered the hotel room to find Rin curled up on his bed, fists clenched and eyes shut. He knew Rin was faking because of how tightly his eyes were closed. His cheeks were still damp, and there was a single tear trail running down his face. Sousuke paused, pulling off his tennis shoes. He didn't really know what to do at this point. He glanced at his watch. It was only around 7:00pm. The day's events had finished at 6:00pm. He knew that he should be making Rin get up and go talk to his team, evaluate the scores and times, and announce the relay decisions. If there was even going to be a relay. Sousuke's heart tightened in his chest.

He might have borderline hated Haruka Nanase, but he was no monster. He hoped that the boy was okay, if not for his sake then for Rin's. A small part of him felt guilty. He had backed Nanase up against a wall and yelled at him the other night. He was just so mad. Nanase had so much talent. He could go all the way to the top. He could do what Sousuke would never be able to. And that made Sousuke jealous. But it was even worse when Nanase started distracting Rin, because all Sousuke wanted was for Rin to live his dream, to do what Sousuke couldn't. He was just so confused!

Sousuke sighed. His glanced over at his friend's dark maroon locks, which were sprawled around his face in an untidy fashion. The dark-haired swimmer grabbed a blanket off of the chair in the corner and threw it over Rin's form, even straightening the edges a bit. The gesture felt a bit odd, as Sousuke and Rin never really did the whole 'tough-love" thing for each other. Normally they'd fight over who got the extra blanket. They fought over everything. Sousuke frowned. Rin looked so fragile right now, so unready to fight. He turned and left the room, going to rally Rin's swim team and do what Rin couldn't.

####

Aiichiro Nitori brushed his bangs out of his face and watched in horror as his captain, former roommate, and close friend crumpled on the tiled ground. Nanase was being hauled away by the paramedics, who were being chased by Nagisa and Rei. Gou dragged Makoto along behind them. His large frame seemed to cave in on itself as the tears streamed down his face.

Sousuke walked up behind him. Nitori turned to look at him. "What do we do?" he mouthed. Sousuke turned to look at Rin and shrugged, mouth hardening. A pool worker came over and glanced at them both, silently asking them to move the broken boy away from the events. Sousuke walked over and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Yo, you're in the way," Sousuke said quietly. It may have seem gruff, but Rin dragged himself to his feet and let Sousuke lead him over to the stadium seats. He collapsed into one of the seats and put his head in his hands.

"Why why why why why," he muttered, hands curled through his hair. Nitori turned to sit next to the distraught captain, but Sousuke tapped him on the head and gestured towards the group of Sumezuka swimmers rushing over. Ai understood immediately; Rin hated sympathy and hated people seeing him even the least bit upset. Ai rushed over to turn his team-mates back around, switching his sunny persona to that of a drill sergeant as he ordered them to go and prepare for their own events. Some of them complained but they listened anyway.

Ai glanced over his shoulder at Rin. Sousuke was sitting next to him, saying something. Rin said something back, something harsh. Sousuke got up and walked away. "Leave him be, he needs to be alone," he commanded. Ai nodded and turned to follow the taller boy back to the team, where they took Rin's job for the day.

Ai ended up doing pretty well in his race, but he knew he could've done better. A lot of his motivation came from Rin and seeing the boy he looked up to so much break down like that…. It weighed on Nitori's heart. He didn't drop his race though, because he knew Rin would be pissed. Super pissed. Mega ultra super duper pissed. Sousuke didn't drop his either. In fact, he seemed to throw himself at the water with even more passion and anger than usual and creamed the competition.

At the end of the day, just as the custodians were wheeling out their yellow buckets and their "Caution, Wet Floor" signs, Nitori went down to the grandstands. He watched as a man with a whistle approached Rin and spoke to him, pointing at the door. Rin nodded sullenly and stood, shuffling towards the exit. His face looked so completely empty that it made Nitori's heart throbbed. He would take Rin yelling at him any day over this.

"Rin!" he called, hopping down the stairs and pulling alongside his friend. Rin barely looked up. "Are you going to the hospital?" he asked softly.

"No," Rin whispered in reply, his voice raw with emotion he was trying to hide. He turned and left, leaving Nitori standing there alone.

"Sir, like I told your friend I really need you to exit the building. We're about to lock up," the man with the whistle repeated, sounding aggravated. Nitori shook his head to snap himself out of his daze.

"Yes, right. Sorry sir!" he trotted towards the door and out into the parking lot, where Sousuke was climbing into his black pick-up truck. "Hey Sousuke! Can you give me a ride to the hospital? Pleeaasseee?" He gave the boy what Rin called his "oh-my-gosh-stop-why-this-why-me-screw-it-fine-you-can-have-what-you-want" puppy dog eyes. They didn't work as fast on Sousuke as they would have on Rin, but Sousuke finally gave in.

"Get in the truck."

Nitori climbed into the passenger seat and slammed the door. The ride to the hospital was silent, as Nitori really wasn't quite sure what to say to start a conversation and Sousuke was never a fan of small talk anyway. They pulled up in the hospital parking lot and Nitori scrambled out of the front seat.

"Do you need a ride back?" Sousuke asked as an afterthought.

Nitori waved him off. "I'm fine! I'll just take the bus!" he said brightly. He walked over to the hospital door and asked the receptionist about Nanase Haruka. She glanced at his school uniform, recognizing that he must be another swimmer. She told him which waiting room to go to and he took off down the long maze of corridors. He finally found the waiting room in the emergency unit.

Nagisa was curled up in one of the chairs, flicking through his phone and looking miserable. Rei was reading a National Geographic magazine, but his glasses were on the table beside him so he was really just looking at a blurry scramble of words. Makoto seemed completely zoned out, staring at the ceiling. Gou, the dark-haired woman that came to the tournaments, and the loud blonde man were sitting in one of the corners. Gou was nursing a cup of tea. Her hands were shaking a bit.

Nagisa glanced up. "Oh hey Ai," he greeted, trying to smile a bit. Nitori immediately felt awkward. He hadn't really thought this through. He was planning on going to the hospital for Rin so that he could see if Nanase was okay and report back to him. That was Rin wouldn't have to step foot in the hospital or find out through text.

"Oh, um, hello Nagisa," Ai responded, foot scuffing the ground. "I don't suppose you've heard anything about Haruka?"

"Nope," Nagisa sighed. "But he's gotta be okay right? He's gotta… He's Haru! He's just gotta…" Tears welled up inside of the boy's bright eyes and Rei glanced over at Ai in annoyance, clearly upset that the gray-haired boy had made Nagisa upset again. They were all trying to avoid the mention of whether or not Haru was going to be okay.

"Of course he'll be okay Nagisa. He's strong! He'll make it through!" Rei put his glasses back on and went to sit next to Nagisa, putting a hand on the smaller boy's shoulder. Nagisa clung to Rei's arm likes a life-line.

"It's been hours!" Makoto suddenly spoke, sitting upright. Ai blinked. "Why has it taken this long? Why?"

"Well if Haruka was…. Not…. Um…. You know, they would've told you by now right?" Ai asked nervously. "So he has to be fighting. He's a really strong and determined person! I know he'll make it through!"

Makoto mumbled something and turned away from them, probably crying again. Ai sat down. "So, why are you here?" Nagisa asked, trying to distract himself.

"I just thought I'd wait for information…"

"Where's Rin?"

"He said he wasn't going to come… I don't think he could bear to sit in a hospital and wait for news…"

"What about his duties as captain?" Rei chimed in.

"Sousuke'll take care of it. Samuzeka doesn't have a swim team vice-captain but if they did Sousuke would be it. They'll listen to him…" Nitori smiled faintly.

"Yamazaki?" Rei questioned.

"Yeah him… I knew I could come wait here with you guys because he'll take care of Rin. I'm sure news will come soon! Just five more minutes, you'll see!"

Nitori pulled out his phone and double checked his texts. He blanched when he saw the small red "57". He bet most of them were from Momo. The kid did not know how to not spam people.

Momo: dude were r u

Momo: why weren't u on the buss

Momo: buss*

Momo: bus*

Momo: im bored

Momo: is rin oka?

Momo: okay*

Momo: sousk just came ur nit with him

Momo: are u good dude

Momo: souske says your at the hopital

Momo: r you waiting for news about nanase?

Momo: us he okay

Momo: is*

Momo: Sousuke says to leave rin alone

Momo: were supposed to go out and have fun 2 clebrate a good day

Momo: probly to make us go away

Momo: cmon duddddeeee no fun without you

Momo: AIIIIIII

Momo: fine I see how it is

Momo: text me when you have news about nanase : (

Sousuke Yamazaki: Nitori please contact me when you have news about Nanase. And please come to our hotel room when you get back. #782. You're better at comforting that I am.

Nitori rolled his eyes at Momo's texts and frowned when he saw Sousuke's. He shot them a couple of texts back.

"To Momo": Chill man. Your grammar is horrendous. I'm at the hospital. No news yet. Have fun! ;)

"To Sousuke": How is he?

He put his phone down and picked up a sports magazine. Two minutes later, his phone buzzed. He opened his message from Sousuke. It was a picture of Rin, lying in a bed underneath a blanket. He appeared to be curled up and sleeping, but the area around his eyes was puffy and he was gripping the blanket a little too hard. Nitori's teeth clenched. He stared at his phone for a few minutes.

"To Rin": *cat meme*

He turned his phone off and picked up his magazine, ready to faithfully wait until news arrived. It was gonna be a long night.

###

Rin opened his eyes as soon as Sousuke left and stared at the cracks on the ceiling, trying to reconcile with himself. Suddenly his phone buzzed. He reached over and was again blinded by the light emitted by the screen.

Ai: *cat meme*

He let the corner of his mouth tilt upwards ever so slightly.

"To Ai": Thx