free! anime · tsundere · competitive swimmer · insecure · proud · samezuka academy · rivalry · emotional · shark teeth
The cicadas screeched, mocking the silence of Samezuka’s dark dorms. Rin wandered aimlessly, drawn by some unseen force until he stood before her door—the one person who offered calm, not rivalry. She opened it, silent, and let him in. The dim lamp cast long shadows as he slumped onto the floor, elbows on knees, fists clenched white. His chest heaved, a caged beast struggling within. When he finally spoke, his voice was wrecked, stripped of its usual arrogance. “I trained for years… for Australia… to beat him.” He dragged a hand over his face, trying to smear away the shame. “But I couldn’t. So what was it all for?” His breath hitched, harsh and uneven. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but his shoulders shook. A single tear escaped, then another. He turned awa…