It's been a whole week since I've heard anything from Sosuke.

I've known Sosuke since we were eight years old, and this is the longest I've gone without hearing from him, besides the five years stretching from my transfer to Iwatobi to the end of our junior year at Samezuka, where we reconnected. Since then, even after graduation, we've texted about every day, even the time when I had to go to a competition in Melbourne for a week.

To make things worse, lately I can't think about Sosuke without my thoughts going in the same direction they used to when I thought about Haru. Then I realize that both Haru and Sosuke have dark hair, and the two of them, plus Ai, all have blue eyes. I guess I have a type.

Why does he have to be so attractive?

Why did he have to be 6'1" and buff with such a sexy, commanding presence? I hate thinking about him that way, but I can't really help it. I wonder if Haru was ever this confused when he started dating Makoto. Probably not, though- all he thinks about is water. I'm sure he doesn't think about how weird it really is to date someone you've known since you were five.

I'm on the phone with Makoto and Haru. I try to talk with them a couple of times a week if I have time. We should've done this from Australia the first time as well, at least once. I'm sure Russell and Lori would've let me.

"So, Haru, do you still suck at swimming?"

"I don't know, Rin, do you still want Yamazaki to suck-" What? What made him say that? So Haru finally picked up dirty locker room talk- at age 19. Not that there would have been any to pick up in the Iwatobi locker room, except maybe from Nagisa.

"Do we really have to say it like that?" Shit, even Makoto knows? I guess it's nice that he hasn't said anything, but it's kind of patronizing at the same time.

"Oh, like you can talk, Haru! I bet right before this, you two were fu-" It sounds like Makoto slams his hand down on the table, but there is no other response, and my suspicions are confirmed. I can imagine them doing that telepathy thing. Oh, gosh, he knows! My reputation of most innocent 18-year-old in the world is ruined! Then, Whatever. I only sex free.

"Can we be done talking about sex, please? No more vulgarity, or I am ending this phone call! Am I clear?" When did he grow a spine? I will definitely have to watch out for him in the future. But I guess this kind of discipline is to be expected of a future teacher.

There's a moment of silence. Then, "You're pretty sexy when you're angry, Makoto." The dial tone is heard. I am alone once more. Those two probably fuck again.

I think I'm starting to regret telling Sosuke I'd wait for him. What happens if he can never swim again and never comes back? I'd be waiting forever for something that's never coming, making everything else feel hollow and meaningless. And then, what if by the time I'm, say, 30, and it's getting to the point where I want to retire, I go looking for him, and he's moved on without me? What do I do then? I'll have wasted my time then, right?

It's these kinds of thoughts that keep me up at night.

Another day, another phone call. I'm just leaving the locker room when I hear my phone ring.

"Hello?"

"Big brother! It feels like it's been forever! How are you?"

"I'm fine. Just leaving practice now. And yourself?"

"Pretty good. Promise you won't be mad at this next part."

"What is it? You aren't pregnant, are you? I knew you hanging around a bunch of boys was a terrible idea!"

"What? No, of course I'm not pregnant. But it is kind of related to that."

"Who deflowered my baby sister?"

"Nobody. But it's not that weird. Most girls in my year have done it already. I went out with Mikoshiba, and he's my boyfriend now."

"It doesn't matter what the other girls are doing- what did you say about Mikoshiba?"

"I'm dating him. He's my boyfriend now."

"You're dating Momo? Why? You know he tried to give me a stag beetle named Pyunsuke to give to you, right? Thankfully, Sosuke got rid of it."

She laughed. "What are you talking about? He's visiting his cousin in Tokyo. I was talking about Seijuro, anyway. He took me on a picnic, and I had fun, even if the sandwiches had too much mayo and I had to bring dessert. He loved the protein powder cake. Even if we got caught in a thunderstorm, I still had a good time. I could tell he was trying."

"You're still in high school. Why do you need a boyfriend?"

"You dated in high school. Why can't I?"

"Who did I date in high school? I would love to know."

"Nitori and Sosuke, right?"

"Nitori is… complicated. He confessed to me, but that was when I still had a lot of issues to deal with, and I said I'd accept his feelings, but then we ended up deciding not to date after all. And why does everyone think I'm dating Sosuke?" Probably because I want to.

"Is this a real question? He told me he liked you once. I'm not going to pretend I don't notice how you feel about him. Even mom thought you were dating him. She was all like, 'At least my son and daughter have good taste in men. I think I understand where those cougars are coming from.' I really hope she was kidding." And now I have the horrifying image of Sosuke dating my mom.

From: Sosuke Yamazaki

What's your address? I need it

I woke up and found this message in my inbox on my phone. Is he trying to give me false hope?

To: Sosuke Yamazaki

So this is all I get after a week of you ignoring me? I don't know if you deserve to know where I live.

From: Sosuke Yamazaki

Come on, please?

I decide to mess with him a little.

To: Sosuke Yamazaki

Why, are you sending me a present?

From: Sosuke Yamazaki

Something like that.

I suppose I have to give it to him now. I wonder what "something like that" means. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.

You will, Rin, you will. There'll be 4 chapters in this total, each from a different point of view. I did something similar last year, and it went over pretty well. Next week will be Haru's POV in Tokyo. Hopefully his, Makoto's and Sosuke's will be better, since Rin's is more for intro and exposition. Rin is away from everyone else, too, so I feel like it makes sense.

Rin's mom claims that if he didn't man up and start dating Sosuke, she would. She was joking, but Sosuke is pretty hot. Also should probably mention that this story is a year after the end of Eternal Suffering. So it's October 2015, Makoto and Haru are having cute autumn times in Tokyo, and Rin is having "cute" spring times in Sydney. And Sosuke is... doing things. You'll see.

Thanks for reading!

~Aurora