Yo guys! I'm back with a new Free! fanfic! This was a request among a bunch of requests from Shiranai Atsune and since I'm almost done with my other stories (and also I need an outlet to release all my fangirl desires on the Timeless Medley movies), I thought I could give this a try. I have some ideas on how this would go but for now, I would be updating on a weekly basis until further notice.

So in this story, Haru is a girl but the rest are still guys. I did some checking and found out that there are mixed medley relays that have been added into swimming competitions but since the rules are that there have to be two guys and two girls, lets see how it goes with this story.

Drop any comments on this story. I really appreciate it when you tell me how you felt about it and I would really love to hear from you guys!

I don't own the characters.

The water is alive. Once you dive in, it will bare its fangs and attack. But, there is nothing to fear. Thrust your fingers in and create an opening. Then, push your body through. Your arms. Your legs… yours chest… Those words went through Haru's head as she dove into the water for what may be the fifth time that day. "Wah! Haru-chan is such a smooth swimmer!' Nagisa squealed as he bounced on his toes, watching the young girl swim through the water. She was like a dolphin and her best friend, Makoto smiled as he watched her swim, his green eyes shining with happiness and admiration when a boy caught his attention.

The other boy had red hair and shark-like teeth, making the young boy shudder a little when he cracked a grin. He looked at Haru like she was a prey to him, his teeth ready to tear her apart when he entered the water. Makoto opened his mouth to shout to Haru when he realized he was just being really stupid. Or was he jealous? No way he would be jealous… Haru's his best friend and he would never do anything to hurt her…

"Oh, who's that?" Nagisa chirped as Makoto came back to his senses to give him a small smile. "Oh, that's Matsuoka Rin. He transferred from Sano SC last week," Makoto started when the boy dove into the water, barely making a splash as he started to swim freestyle. He was fast and the two boys watched as he eventually caught up with Haru, both of them kicking off the wall at the same time to swim back. Haru snorted in her head as she saw the disturbance next to her but at the same time, something else bubbled within her that made her want to go faster…

She kicked out as she paddled, faster than normal and she began to feel her body power forward. However, the boy next to her seemed to have the same idea as well and he was soon neck to neck with her. "What a pain," she thought to herself as she swam faster, both of them neck to neck until the end where she sent out a burst and hit the wall first. She emerged from the water, pulling off her cap to reveal long, black glossy hair that fell into the water. As she panted, a hand reached out to her and Makoto smiled, "Good work, Haru-chan!"

"Lay off the –chan," Haru muttered as he shrugged, "Well, you are a girl so you should just stick with it." "Makes me sound girly." "You are a girl, Haru!" "Yeah, Mako-chan." "Haru!" "Haru-chan! You were so fast! I really want to swim like you one day!" Nagisa chirped as he bounced on his toes, his voice so high pitched that he could pass off as a girl. Haru had to admit he was really cute and she wanted to reach out to pat his head when she heard a voice. "Wow! You're really as fast as they say!" the red haired boy from earlier grinned as he leaned on the buoys floating in the water, a smile on his face as his red eyes twinkled with excitement. He didn't look the least tired from the swim.

He got out of the pool and extended a hand to Haru, a smile on his face as he said, "I'm Matsuoka Rin! Nice to meet you, Haru-chan!" He then looked her dead in the eye, red meeting calm blue as he said, "Say! Would you join me in a relay?" Those words hung in the air as two words floated into Haru's head. Annoying. Idiot. "Uh, Rin. We don't have relays with boys and girls in them," Makoto sighed as Nagisa chirped, "Wah! We're doing a relay?! Let me join!" Rin laughed as he clicked his fingers against the younger boy's head, making him squeal a little as he smirked, "You heard him. No way we can do a relay together."

He sighed as he walked to the pool to stand on the starting block, his eyes filled with mischief as he turned to face Haru. "But I can race you," his grin was so off-putting that Haru couldn't help but walk over and pull her cap on her head. "Hey, we're really doing this?" Makoto squeaked as Rin ordered, "Time us!" Makoto didn't complain as he ran to grab a stopwatch while Nagisa stood at the side, watching as other kids began to come over to watch them.

"Wow, that kid really has the guts to go against Haru-chan!" "She's the fastest! No way he can beat her!" "Really? She's a girl and he's a guy so guys are faster right?" As they bickered among each other, Rin turned to the side and smiled at Haru. "Check it out. You're a celebrity here. Wonder why you're not aiming for any of the national competitions at the rate you're going," he said as she shrugged, "I don't care about my time. I just want to be free." He cocked his head to the side as he giggled, "Wow, you're a weird girl." He snapped his goggles against his head and put his arms forward, fingers curling against the starting block.

"Oi! What are you guys doing?! Get back to swimming!" Goro shouted but the kids remained glued to the scene unfolding in front of them. Makoto looked a little pale for having gone against the coach's orders but Haru's determination to do this made him smile, wondering how Rin had managed to catch her attention even though they had only met five minutes ago. "On your marks!" he shouted as he placed the whistle in his mouth. He blew it and both of them plunged into the water.

The swimming pool filled with shouts and cheers as both of them swam, both at equal pace and speed as one another. "Wow! Haru-chan is so fast!" "Come on, new kid! Show them who's boss!" As the kids shouted, Haru felt the usual pain in her chest as she swam, the normal feeling of having all the air sucked out of her lungds. But being in the water gave her the energy she needed to power on. And there was a certain annoying red head in the water who might just be able to beat her and she couldn't allow that.

Both of them made the turn and headed back, swimming with all their might as their friends cheered. "Haru-chan," Makoto whispered as he watched her swim, her movement so precise and graceful it was like watching a dolphin weaving in and out of the ocean. As she passed by him, he felt his heart thump a little harder as he shouted, "Go for it! Haru-chan!" Haru heard his voice pierce through the water and she gave a cry as she reached out and slammed her hand onto the wall at the same time as Rin.

The pool erupted with cheers and applause as both of them broke the surface, panting as Goro stared at them. "Incredible, Matsuoka-kun! You might actually do pretty well in the upcoming competition!" Rin smiled as he rubbed his head, his goggled and cap in his hand as he turned to look at Haru. "Hey, great job, Haru-chan!" he grinned as he lifted a hand for her to hit. She scowled but high-fived him anyway as she thought, "What a pain." "Actually, Matsuoka-kun. There is a mixed relay that you guys might be able to join. You up for it?" Goro asked as Rin grinned widely, "Of course!" As he turned to face Haru, she thought that for once in her life, someone seemed to be peeking an interest in her.

Now that its a gender-bent story, I can go all out with the RinHaru ship! Hehe.