kalopsia

(n.) the delusion of things being more beautiful than they really are.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Matsuoka seems... different." Captain Mikoshiba observed from afar as Rin finished another set of laps for practice.

Nitori, who accompanied him watching the team train, followed his line of sight. It's true that Mat--Rin-senpai has changed since that relay incident. But it wasn't this drastic since his trip this weekend.

Rin never revealed where he went or whom he went to. Even to the Iwatobi guys and even his own sister. In fact, no one even knew Rin left for a weekend getaway.

He just returned early Monday morning, a big smile on his face.

"Did he tell you anything?"

"Eh? Uh--no," Nitori stammered, remembering Rin's infatuated smile when he answered Nitori.

"I got abducted by a mermaid." 

Nitori doesn't know what that means but one thing's for sure: "I think whatever's going on with Rin-senpai, it's good for him." He beamed. Now Nitori's got this smile that replicates his roommate's.

Captain Mikoshiba heaved out a deep sigh. "Guess you're right." He shrugged.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"R-Rin-senpai!" Nitori's outburst almost made Rin fall over.

The second-year ambushed him at their door just as when he came back from the shower. "Wha--Ai!" He steadied himself. "What's gotten into you?"

"Senpai! Um--" Nitori hesitated, eyes casting down Rin's tanned arms. "Did you--did you perhaps... visit Mikoto-san?"

Rin blinked down at him. "Yeah, why?" He answered plainly.

"Oh!!" Nitori's eyes shone.

Rin furrowed his brows. "Why'd you ask anyway?" He entered his room, flopping down his bed. Nitori closed the door.

"Well, you've been... um, how should I say this... blooming?"

Rin was taken aback. "Blooming?"

"I'm sorry! Um, not blooming but--I--uh--" Nitori was having a hard time picking his words. What's worse is that Rin's staring at him as if he's grown another head. "RI-RIN-SENPAI, I WAS WONDERING WHY YOU LOOK SO HAPPY THESE DAYS."

Once again, Rin was toppled over by Nitori. He rubbed his ears, checking if they're still working. "Pipe down! You're disturbing other people!"

"I'm sorry!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Ehhh, so you did visit Mikoto-san!"

"That's what I said."

"R-Right!" Nitori stared at Rin for a few good minutes before the latter's had enough.

"Alright, what is it?" Rin snapped, buff arms crossing in front of his toned chest. Nitori froze from where he sat and tried his best to avoid his roommate's glare. "You've been giving me weird looks ever since I--"

"I-It's nothing! I-I just--was wondering. About you and Mikoto-san." Nitori admitted bashfully.

Rin raised an eyebrow, questioning what he meant. "What about me and Mikoto?"

Nitori flinched and looked the other way again. Rin was starting to feel annoyed. What is up with Nito--Ai and his stammering. He looks like he's about to combust with the topic they're discussing.

Which is ironic since he's the one who brought it up. Rin's not the one spreading the news about his crush on Mikoto. Yeah, he has a crush on the girl, what about it?

He's aware of his infatuation towards her, and doesn't put the slightest effort in hiding it.

He'll just leave it to the others whether they're curious about it or not.

In this case, Ai is curious.

And embarrassed about it.

"Why are you so shy in asking?" Rin asked.

Nitori flinched again. "Well, I..." he casted his head down. "Rin-senpai, you're not the type to share things about yourself... and I--uh--" Rin watched as his kohai struggled with his words. "I'm scared that if I ask too much, I'd be overstepping my boundaries."

Ah, so that's where his concern lies. Then, "I don't mind you asking." He cleared out. Nitori looked up at him with widened eyes.

"R-Really?" The younger stuttered out.

Rin shrugged. "Yeah. Ask whatever. You're not insensitive, Ai. So I trust you in asking the right questions." He says that, but whatever came out of Aichirou's mouth a few seconds later left him taken aback.

"So you're dating Mikoto-san now?"

"Wha--No!"

"I'm sorry!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The first person Rin admitted his crush on Mikoto to was his roommate, Nitori Aichirou.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The spring break before high school starts, Captain Mikoshiba take the swimming to a cherry blossom viewing in Iwami town. It wasn't a long time ago when Rin went to visit his old town.

Last time, his heart was full of longing. Last time, he was depressed. Last time, he haven't met Mikoto yet but this time -

He was content. He was happy.

And he as he strolled through Iwami's park filled with trees blooming with cherry blossoms, there he saw her, in a white dress again,

Mikoto Kishimoto, all dazzling and beautiful, enjoying the beauty of spring.

At first Rin thought he was dreaming. He went to rub his eyes for a clearer view of the maiden.

Right there, Mikoto stood perfectly, dark hair swaying with the breeze.

It's really her.

Rin stopped in his tracks to stare at the girl. His team went ahead of him, only Aichirou being the one to notice Rin's sudden halt. The former followed his senior's line of sight and there he saw her too. "Mikoto-san!"

Mikoto's head snapped over to their direction and her face lit up.

Nitori made a move to approach, but Rin's still frozen in place. "Mikoto-san, hey there!" Nitori greeted the girl, smiling happily.

"Oh! Nitori-kun, hello." Mikoto presented her whiteboard to the ash-haired teen. She erased the sentence after Nitori read it, then wrote on it again. "It's nice to see you again."

"You too!" Nitori then noticed Rin standing there like a statue. He decided to call Rin over, and that's when Mikoto met his gaze. "Rin-senpai! What're you doing there, still standing?"

"Wha-" Rin flinched, his cheeks burning red. "I'm going!" he approached the two, Mikoto's eyes trained on him. He regarded her silently, eyes slanting to her direction, his head giving a curt nod of acknowledgement.

"Rin." Mikoto smiled at him.

"Eh? Mikoto-san, you're using your voice now?" Nitori wondered, gaping at Mikoto curiously.

Rin harrumphed awkwardly, interrupting them. "She just does that out of habit," he covered up. He doesn't Mikoto telling Nitori the story of their cave promise. Nope. No way. "Anyway-" his finger made its way to poke Mikoto's cheek. "Why're you here anyway? Have you already enrolled in that music school?"

"Music school?" Nitori blinked.

Rin turned to him. "She's planning to pursue a music career here. She sings remember?" he supplied.

"Oh! Yes! I remember! Good luck, Mikoto-san!" Nitori encouraged her with determined eyes. "I'm sure you'd be able to get in the school you applied for! You worked hard for it after all!"

"Thank you!" Mikoto presented again. "Papa actually brought me to Iwami today so we could visit aunt."

"I'd be living with her starting this school year!"

"That's amazing!" Nitori beamed as began to feel excited. "That means we can meet up whenever! That's great, isn't it, Rin-senpai?!"

"Y-Yeah," Rin agreed in a mumble. Mikoto eyed him.

"Is there something wrong, Rin?"

"Huh? What? No." Rin stuttered out. He avoided Mikoto's suspicious eyes, and went to eye Nitori for help. Because who would talk normally to the girl he just admitted he liked the other night. Seriously, what timing this is.

"Matsuoka! Nitori!" God bless Captain Mikoshiba's entrance. Mikoshiba made his way towards his kohais before noticing Mikoto looking up at him with curious eyes. He took a second to scan her face, and then paused. "You... you're pretty-" okay maybe not bless his entrance. Rin takes it back.

"Hey, Captain! Weren't you going to take us to our spots now?" Rin interrupted before his captain miserably starts to flirt with his crush.

"Sure." Mikoshiba glanced at him then back at Mikoto. "Would you like to join us...?"

Mikoto blinked and scribbled something on her whiteboard. It read: "Actually, is it okay if I borrow Rin for a minute?"

"WHAT." Rin's whole face blushed. What in the world is this girl--aaaand, Nitori's giving him a look. A look that says 'Good luck senpai! GO CONQUEST HER!', and really, that doesn't make him less embarrassed.

"I see." Great, now Captain Mikoshiba is smirking at him. "We'll catch up with you later then, Matsuoka." he clasped a hand on Rin's shoulder before leaving with Nitori.

"Do your best, Rin-senpai!" Nitori gave one last cheer.

Rin face palmed, ignoring the way Mikoto was eyeing him. He felt her poking him. "Rin." She used her voice.

"Stop talking unnecessarily." he berated her.

Mikoto pouted. "I wouldn't have to use it if you looked at me!" she shoved her whiteboard at Rin's face.

Rin backed away and snickered. "I get it. I won't take my eyes off you, I promise." he said, gazing at Mikoto's cobalt eyes. It took him a second to realize what he just said, and his face grows beet red again. Damn it.

"Good." Mikoto gave him a smile. "I want to show you something." she took Rin's hand in hers and led him out of the crowd.

As promised, Rin's eyes were glued on Mikoto the entire time.

He loved the way her hair swayed with the breeze. How her floral dress fitted her perfectly. It didn't matter how skinny she was or chubby. You can actually gather some of her fats when pinching her but that didn't matter.

Mikoto looked perfect right now. Under these cherry blossom trees. Her hands weren't the softest, but Rin felt like it was made to fit into his perfectly.

Damn it, now Rin's just being a large sap, isn't he?

Damn this crush of his. He never had one before, now he doesn't know how to deal with it. Would one of his friends know? Would Haru? Or Makoto?

Well, Makoto, most likely, but he feels like if ever he and the big guy ever share stories about their crushes, they'd end up as big ass guys blushing to death. Yep, not gonna happen.

Rin felt Mikoto tug his hand. "What?" he asked, glancing down at Mikoto. She was a few centimeters shorter. But tall for a girl.

Mikoto pointed upwards, her finger directed at a branch where a nest of eggs was located. Rin followed the direction and saw what she wanted to show him. Just in time, the eggs' mother bird returned, sitting on its unborn offspring.

"Looks like she's a mom." He smiled. "Is this what you wanted to show me?"

Mikoto shook his head that got Rin wondering. The girl tilted her head up and closed her eyes. She started to hum.

And the birds chirped back.

She giggled.

"They answered," Rin spoke, amazed. He grinned down at her. "They answered to you!" It was simple, childish but here's Mikoto, making all things - all life forms - beautiful.

Rin wondered if it's possible for things to be more beautiful than they really are. Maybe he was looking at things wrongly before.

"Wow, you're great." Rin's eyes gazed into Mikoto's once more. He held his breath. Mikoto was dazzling. Under the cherry blossom trees, under the sunlight. She was above everything.

"Beautiful." Rin exhaled. "You're beautiful."

A/N:

Rin's a sap pass it on