Epilogue: Follow the sun / Our shining, brilliant future

A/N: This is finally done! Thanks so much for reading! *hearts*

Monday, July 24th, 2028

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the finalists in the men's one hundred meter freestyle. In lane eight…"

Rin stretched his arms above his head, grinning and sneaking a glance aside. "Your record's toast, Haru." They were in line in final call with the Los Angeles 2028 emblem on the wall at their backs, cheering pouring into the room through the entrance to the open-air Olympic Aquatic Stadium beyond.

Haru, making a final adjustment to his Team Japan swim cap, gave him a mild, simmering look in reply. "I wouldn't be so quick to assume that, Rin."

"You're both going down." The voice came from behind them, in accented Japanese. "No hard feelings, Coach."

Rin's smile grew as he turned, crossing his arms over his red and white warmups. "Someone's feeling extra sassy tonight."

The twenty-two year old clad in Team USA gear grinned broadly at them, his brown eyes quick and eager, one dark curl escaping his swim cap. "Like I'm letting you old guys have all the fun."

Haru's eyes sparkled with mirth, a smile warming his face. "I'm glad we get to swim together tonight, Luis," he said in English.

"Haruka!" Luis blushed hard, gazing at his idol with a sudden gleam in his eyes. "You always have to say something sappy."

Haru shrugged. "I just said—"

"'—what I was thinking.'" Luis huffed, flicking his eyes towards the ceiling, though there was no mistaking the delight on his face. "Come on, save it for the pool."

Rin laughed, hearing himself in the kid's words. "Haru." He reached for his husband—

(Had it really been a decade? It could've only been yesterday, the way Rin remembered the salty, tropical breezes washing over them and the feel of the sand beneath his feet. The love in Haru's eyes was the same now as it was the day they said their vows—for real—at the edge of the water, with their loved ones all around and the sun sinking into the Pacific…)

They embraced briefly—one kiss for luck, their fingers weaving together. The moment was electric as they touched, Rin feeling his elevated pulse along with Haru's, the familiar rush of energy and excitement surging inside him.

"Mr. Matsuoka, you're up." The official near the door motioned him forward, wearing khaki slacks and a white polo shirt with the LA 2028 emblem on the chest.

"Ah." He pulled away, but not before pressing one last kiss to Haru's hand—to the gold silicone ring on his husband's finger.

Blue eyes danced with pleasure as Rin finally let go, heading for the doorway. The entrance glowed like sunrise—yellows, oranges, purples, and magenta pink rippling on the screen bearing his name.

"In lane six, representing Japan…" "Dans le couloir six, représentant le Japon…"

Rin flashed a grin at the cameras, the crowd already starting to roar.

"—Rin Matsuoka."

He strode out, waving to the stands and the open skies, heading towards his block on the left side of the pool.

"Matsuoka!" "Rin!" "Captain Matsuoka!"

"Uncle Rin!" His nieces and his nephew had lungs.

Grinning, Rin whirled, waving with both hands towards the nearby bleacher section where their family was—the four Elementary-school-aged kids right up against the rail behind a large Japanese flag. Everyone was decked out in Team Japan gear. Gou and Seijuurou's daughters were on the left with their ruby curls and braids, waving stick flags. Makoto and Mikan's eldest son and daughter were on the right with rising sun bandanas on their foreheads and sharks and dolphins painted on their cheeks. Behind them, Mikan cradled her and Makoto's infant son while Nagisa and Rei managed their young, bouncing trio with Makoto's help.

…In the very center of the group, a pair of brown eyes went wide, Rin's heart melting in his chest as three-year-old Toraki noticed him, leaning towards the rail in the safety of Ran's arms. "Daddy!" He wore blue ear muffs over perpetually spikey brown hair and reached out with both arms, waving back. "Daddy! Daddy!"

Rin waved and blew kisses, warmth stinging his eyes as he grinned.

Next to little Toraki, two-year-old Sierra popped her thumb out of her mouth, blinking bright blue eyes, her red earmuffs nestled in soft black curls. "Daddy!" She joined Toraki's chorus, stretching for the rail with arms too short to reach, making grabby motions with her hands as she squirmed in Miyako's lap.

The race didn't matter in that moment; Rin's entire world was his family in the bleachers and—

"In lane five, representing Japan… …Haruka Nanase."

Deafening applause filled the stadium as Haru walked out, taking the lane adjacent to Rin's.

"Nanase-senpai!" "Haru-chan!" "Uncle Haruka!" "Daddy Daddy!"

Haru joined him, smiling, an ocean of affection in his eyes as they waved to their babies. Toraki and Sierra wiggled so much that Ran and Miyako had to stand, holding the kids against the rail so they could see.

I love you. Rin blinked back the moisture in his eyes as he kept waving.

(The moment he opened the door and heard the baby's cry, Rin had the wind knocked out of him, emotion lodging hot and tight in his throat. He'd been around plenty of crying infants over the last few years…but it never hit him like this. Slow steps brought him into the room, his eyes already filling with tears. Mikan was resting now, her eyes closed, a few wisps of hair stuck to her cheeks while Makoto sat beside her, holding her hand. The midwife hovered nearby. Haru was at the window, standing in the blue pre-dawn; the healthy crying was coming from his arms. "Rin—look." Haru's voice was soft, just above a whisper. His eyes were shining with awe, the tiny infant wrapped in a white blanket and held against his heart. "We have a son.")

Rin thought he knew what love was before, but from the first moment he held Toraki in his arms, he realized that everything he felt prior was only a taste, a hint, a sliver. The love he felt now filled oceans, the sky above, and all the starry heavens. He'd move the world for his babies if only they'd ask.

"In lane four, representing the United States of America… …Luis Hernandez."

Thunderous cheering and the rattling of a zillion cowbells drew them back to the race and towards the blocks. Luis strutted out in red, white, and blue warmups like he owned the place—grinning at the cameras and waving to the rafters—like nothing and no one could touch him—

"Good luck, Luis!" Ran called from the stands. "Ganbatte!"

—No one except Makoto's sister, Ran. Luis turned bright pink, waving at her shyly with an awkward grin on his face while Rin and Haru shared a smirk.

The start blocks sat on a ribbon of sunrise colors—deep indigo violet on the left blending into pink for the center lanes and into pale sunny yellow on the far right. Rin and Haru shucked off their warmups, stripping down to matching black jammers with slashes of blue and red and tendrils of gold. At the four-pulse whistle, they approached the blocks under warm, twilight skies, ten lanes and fifty meters of aqua water glowing in front of them.

Amidst all the cheering and shouting, Rin could still pick out their children's voices; he was sure Haru could too. As the long whistle sounded, Rin stepped up, setting his feet and centering himself with a breath. Closing his eyes for the briefest moment, he lifted his hand to his lips, kissing the ring on his finger—the silicone imprinted with all four of their names. He was swimming for his dream—for Haru, Toraki, Sierra, and himself. Swimming was no longer the dream—it was the means to get there.

"Take your marks."

Rin snuck a glance at Haru as they bent down in unison to grip the blocks. Haru was looking at him, too. He grinned, Haru smiling back, his eyes eager and ready—

At the start, they leapt forward together.

Four months prior – Sunday, March 26th, 2028

It was a cool, early spring day with the sun poking through puffy white clouds and a gentle breeze rustling their kimono. Rin's and Haru's garments swished as they walked, their pace slow enough for tiny legs. Haru was up ahead with Toraki, the sunlight glinting off the gold crests on Haru's black haori coat and the pattern on his traditional hakama pants. Toraki wore a miniature version of the same clothes, only his haori coat was blue with waves and swordfish in white and gray. Instead of the formal sandals, Toraki wore sneakers like the rest of them, his were black with silver velcro straps. His hand reached up into Haru's as he chattered non-stop, pointing out the world and asking questions. Haru smiled down at their son, patiently answering each inquiry.

Rin was a few steps back with their daughter. Kanzashi swayed and sparkled in Sierra's glossy raven hair; her kimono was red with whorls of lime green, yellow, sherbet orange, and white, and a pattern of pink sakura blossoms. Her tiny fingers fit snugly in Rin's hand as she toddled along in red sneakers, taking in the world with wide blue eyes and her thumb in her mouth, quiet except for the occasional question.

The pool was on their left as they strolled, blue water shimmering in the sunlight on the other side of the fence. Their destination was just up ahead; the old sakura tree at Iwatobi Elementary was in full bloom—every branch covered in pale pink blossoms. Petals shaken free by the breeze were scattered on the ground beneath the tree and floated on the surface of the water. The brick garden was still there—two decades later, the paint fading but still readable, Rin's 'For the Team' next to Haru's 'Free.'

Haseda was waiting with her camera, snapping pictures of the tree. At their approach, her lens shifted towards them. She got in a few frames before Toraki noticed her.

"Haseda-nee-chan!" He broke from Haru's hand and ran over. "It's picture day?"

Haseda dropped to one knee, accepting the boy's hug. "That's right, little one! Look at you, all dressed up in your kimono."

"It's swordfish!" Toraki grinned, pointing to the pattern on his clothes. "I picked it."

"It's the perfect choice, Toraki-chan." Haseda smiled, straightening Toraki's haori coat.

"Nn." Sierra pulled away from Rin, trotting over to join her brother. "Hase-nee."

"Ohayou, Sierra-chan." Haseda fixed a few black curls that had come loose during their stroll. "Did you pick your outfit too?"

"Hai!" Sierra beamed. "It's red."

"I knew it'd be red. You look lovely." Haseda touched the tip of Sierra's nose, making the girl giggle. "Are you ready for pictures?"

"Hai!"

"OK, then!" Haseda ushered the kids back towards Rin and Haru. "Just like always, pretend that I'm invisible."

Toraki took Sierra's hand, the two of them returning to the tree. "Daddy," Toraki whispered loudly to Rin. "I can still see her."

Rin winked at their son. "You have to pretend, Tora."

A puzzled look creased Toraki's brow, Rin and Haru both smiling. As usual, though, their son recovered quickly. "Why pictures here, Daddy?"

"This is the school your Daddy and I used to go to," Rin said. "You might get to go here, one day."

The boy's eyes widened. "I can? Can I go now?"

Rin laughed. "When you're older."

"But I wanna go now." Toraki pouted.

Rin laid a hand on the boy's head, ruffling his hair fondly.

"This tree is very special," Haru said, drawing the children's attention.

"Why, Daddy?" Sierra asked, toddling over and reaching up with both arms.

Haru scooped the girl up, setting her on his hip. "A long, long time ago—"

"Haru! It wasn't that long ago—"

Haru's eyes glittered at him over their daughter's head. "A sort-of long time ago, under this very tree, your Daddy promised to show me a sight I'd never seen before." Haru's voice softened, his smile full of warmth and affection. "Ever since that day, my life's never been the same."

"Haru…" Rin drew a slow breath around the lump that formed in his throat, absently touching the sakura ring on his finger.

"I wanna see!" Toraki tugged on Rin's sleeve. "Daddy, show me too!"

Sierra twisted in Haru's arms, one tiny hand clutching a fistful of Haru's haori coat, the other reaching for Rin. "Me too, Daddy!"

"Ah." Rin blinked back the moisture in his eyes, sweeping their son up into his arms and moving in to catch their daughter's hand. He met the love shining in Haru's gaze as a gentle breeze stirred through the limbs of the tree, sending a shower of sakura petals to land on their clothes and in their hair. Smiling at his family, Rin made them a new promise—one for forever. "We'll see it together."

-x-

A/N's:

The kanji for Toraki is 虎輝. 虎 = tora (tiger, from Rin's dad's name) + 輝 = ki (shine)

"Follow the sun" is a tagline for Los Angeles 2028