in the way. | yandere!rin matsuoka

"Nice work out there today, cap'n." Sousuke said to his best friend, rolling his shoulders after an intense hour long session.

Rin nodded. "You too, Sou." He replied, giving him his usual smirk before reaching into his duffel bag for a can of soda. "So tired..."

"Better not get outta shape there, Rin." The larger man sat next him, letting his shoulders relax. "Joint practice with Iwatobi's next week. I hear [Name]'s gonna be there."

Rin felt his chest tighten at the mention of your name.

[Full Name].

He didn't know what it was about you, but he always had this strong attraction to you. Maybe it's because he knew you so long or maybe that you were always a beacon of light in his life. Perhaps it's that sparkle in your eyes whenever he stared at you. 

From the moment he met you as a kid, he was enchanted by you. The idea of love at first sight was something valid back then and he firmly believed that you were his first love. Rin grew up with you, he knew of your love with the arts and you supported his dreams of being in the Olympics. 

Rin had been in love with you since forever but circumstances made it difficult for him to express his feelings. His leave to Australia and the fallout he had only pushed aside his plans to confess.

When he finally found the time, he was already too late. 

"Yeah," Sousuke confirmed. "Nanase is there after all."

[Name], his lovely angel that plagued his thoughts was dating Nanase Haruka. 

Apparently, you were in the same class as he was, and when Makoto was absent from school one day, you talked to him and immediately hit off.

Everyone was surprised, at first, but they were really supportive of the couple. Makoto congratulated the couple with a smile as did Rei, albeit in a more theatrical way. Gou gushed on and on about how perfect the two of you were together; Nagisa immediately jumped at the idea of marriage. Sousuke scoffed as if it was nothing to him but the look of shock was present on his face for the longest time. 

But it was Rin who was most shock. 

Rin couldn't fathom why you chose to love Haruka, of all people. He was weird and far too quiet in his opinion. You, in contrast, were bubbly and sweet, like a ray of sunshine after a storm. There's no why you two would be compatible with each other. 

“Huh,” Rin barely replied. He clenched his soda can at the thought. "Haruka and [Name]." The image of you and Haru was burned beneath his eyelids. 

Sousuke nodded. He, again, didn't notice the sullen look on his best friend's face. The ebony haired man stood up, "Well, I'm heading back to the dorm. See ya in a bit."

"See ya," he replied. When Sousuke left, Rin was left alone to wallow in his dark thoughts. Rin can't forgive Haru for taking away his precious love. He'd rather skin the raven alive than let that happen. He was awful for wishing harm on Haru, he knew that, but there was no way he would let Haruka have you. Never. You were his and only his. 

'Haruuuu! You left your towel in the locker room!'

'Did I? Can you bring it along when you come over?'

You smiled at your phone. Haru never put any feelings in his texts but he replies fast. It hasn't been a full minute since you sent him that text. You put it aside to resume cleaning the locker room. It wasn't messy or anything but you felt like it could use a good sweeping.

Everyone thought it was weird that you were dating the quiet boy but he turned out to be a great boyfriend, more so than you expected. He wasn't the kind of guy who'd publicly hold your hand but he was really kind and affectionate when the two of you are alone.

Your phone vibrated again.

'I'm making spaghetti for you. I know you like it.'

You giggled at the text. You loved Haru's cooking and the fact that he's willing to put aside his usual mackerel diet to make you your favourite Italian cuisine gave you butterflies in your stomach.

'I like you too, Haru~'

Haru didn't reply but you know he read it. You giggled again, and then you heard your name being called, "[Name]?"

You turned your head. Rin stood at the door, leaning against the frame with a blank stare on his face. His hair was disheveled and he wore his Samezuka jacket with his hands shoved down the pockets.

"Rin? When did you get here?" You asked the redhead, standing up from the high stool. "There's no joint practices today, is there?"

Rin pushed himself off the door frame and entered the locker room. He stared at the room momentarily. "There's no swim practice today so the others aren't here, huh?" He stated, ignoring your question. 

You raised an eyebrow at him. "Rin, what are you doing here? School's out for the day but I'm pretty sure you have swim practice."

"Can't I come when I feel like it?" he raised his voice. The anger hinted in his voice caught you off guard. Why is he angry? He closed his eyes and inhaled slowly before softly saying, "I...I came to see you."

You stared an him in bewilderment. He was suddenly in front of you, smiling gently at you. "I missed you so much, [Name]," he muttered. The swimmer brought his hand up and gently caressed your cheeks as you stood there frozen. 

No, this was wrong. Rin was your childhood friend. You had Haruka, your loving boyfriend. You put your hands on his chest and pushed him away as gently as possible in order not to offend him.

"[Name]?"

"No, I can't, Rin," you said, turning your head away, "You're my friend."

Rin's face darkened. "Is that all I'll ever be?" he asked. You turned to face him again, confusion written on your face. "[Name], I want to be more than that. I want to be more than friends..." 

You felt your stomach turned. He...Rin confessed to you? You liked him, but you didn't see him as a boyfriend. To you, he's your friend, a best friend. You were in love with Haruka and you don't think that will change anytime soon.

Smiling sadly, you stared into the man's mahogany eyes, "I'm sorry, Rin...But I love Haru. You're a very special friend to me—"

"That's all I ever am?" he snapped. Rin lunged towards you and grabbed your arms tightly. "Why? Why Haru?" he asked, voice raising as he spoke. "I loved you long before Haru ever met you! Why won't you choose me?"

Your heart sank. So he did loved you. You wrapped your arms around his neck. "Rin, I can't. It's Haru who I love. I'm sorry—"

"Don't!" he snapped, pushing you away. "Don't say you're sorry. Don't apologize to me. I don't want apologies." The Samezuka captain slowly sank to the floor, his eyes hidden behind long maroon bangs.

You knelt beside him, guilt filled your heart. You had never seen him so anguished. He held his head, breathing laboured and teeth clenched tightly. "Rin—"  

"Ah, I see." he suddenly came to a realization. His gaze snapped up and he gave you a smile. The way he smiled sent a shill down your spine. It wasn't the usual toothy grin you came to know but it was more of a dark, twisted smirk. "No, [Name], you don't have to apologize." 

"Rin...?"

"Because it's not your fault." In a sudden move, he stood up, startling you in process. "It's not your fault. It's Haru's. He got in the way. He always does." Rin sounded awfully chipper, too giddy for the current situation. He smiled at you again. "Don't worry, [Name], I'll take care of it." 

"Rin, what are you planning?" you asked slowly, frozen in your spot, holding your phone close to your chest. The [colour] mobile caught his eyes, and Rin gingerly took in from you, clenching on it in an ironclad grip. He frowned, staring at your phone wallpaper. It was Haru and you. Damn him, Rin thought. "R-Rin! What are you—!"

"In order for us to be more than friends, Haru will just have to disappear, right?" He gave a sharky grin, but it lacked the usual cheeriness it once held. The redhead turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving you, shaking on the floor. You moved to stand on your shaky legs and raced towards the door.

"Rin, wait—!"

But it was too late. Rin shut the door, and locked the door from outside, trapping you in the dark empty room. "Rin! Open up! Please!" you yelled in desperation. There was no escape; no one was around to help, school was long over. You slammed your fists on the wooden door. "Rin! I beg you, listen to me!"

"No, you listen to me; you stay there and be good, while I pay visit Haru-chan a visit." his voice was steely, and devoid of emotion. This was not the Rin you know. This was a different person. The sheer coldness of his tone sent shivers down your spine.

"Please, Rin..." you called weakly as you slowly sank to the floor. You hand still held the door handle as if it would magically unlocked itself.  

Through the door, you faintly heard Rin chuckling darkly. 

"Don't worry, [Name], I'll take care of Haru. He'll never get in the way of us again. Ever."