"Everyone, line up. Today we've got some new members joining." Natsuya tells the second and third years.
"Yes!"
You look around and notice Haruka staring at the pool will visible hearts in his eyes. You stifle a laugh as you stand next to him.
"I'm guessing the second and third years may know, but we have a practice tournament with Sano Middle School. After that there's a real tournament. So, don't slack off!" Natsuya told the club members in a serious way.
'Sano? Kisumi came from that elementary, As did Rin." You thought to yourself.
"Now these are the new club members. Go on, introduce yourselves." Natsuya gestured to us.
"Shiina Asahi. I'm a first year." Asahi says as she takes a step forward.
"We already know you're a first year."
The entire club laughs at this.
"Ah..I transferred here this spring! I swam in my old SC and I'm good at butterfly. I plan to become even faster, nice to meet you all." Asahi bows as the members clap for him.
It was then Ikuya's turn.
"Ikuya, introduce yourself." Natsuya quietly told the boy.
"I'm Kirishima Ikuya. I swim breaststroke."
"I'm Tachibana Makoto. I swam back at Iwatobi SC."
"I'm (Last Name) (First Name). I know how to swim all the strokes, but I prefer swimming Free and Breaststroke in actual tournaments. It's pleasure to meet you all."
"I'm Nanase Haruka. I only swim Free."
"Polite speech.." Makoto and (Name) nudge the boy.
"Desu." Haruka sighed.
"Hm? Your strokes are balanced well. The 5 of you will be able to enter the medley relay in your year group." Natsuya pointed out.
"I will only do solo events (desu). And I'll only swim Free." Haruka announced.
"Huh?" The club was surprised.
"Haruka." Natsuya said in a stern voice.
"Don't call me by my name."
"What are you mumbling about?" Natsuya asked as he started to approach the first year.
'This doesn't look good.' You thought.
"As your club captain, I can't allow you to do only solo events. You refuse, no matter what?"
Haruka nodded as Natsuya suddenly got a dark look in his eyes. He started to step even closer to Haruka.
"Haruka. Don't be so full of yourself." He glared at the boy.
You gasp as you stand in front of Haruka, arms spread.
"D-Don't hurt him." You tell the captain.
'Always protecting him.' Makoto slapped a hand to his forehead.
'No way, are they dating or something?' Asahi and Ikuya thought.
"Get in the pool. Come on. Race me for 50m. In freestyle." Natsuya ignored you and directed his sentence to Haruka.
The two of them then started to take off their shirts.
Haruka threw his shirt to the ground as Makoto picked it back up, placing it in his hands. Haruka gave you a reassuring nod of the head as he made his way to the pool. You were worried about him.
"Hold on..!" Makoto said only to be cut in between by another third year.
"Our captain doesn't give up. He won't listen when he's like that." He told Makoto, who sighed.
The two then started their race at the blow of the whistle.
The two boys ended up with a tie. You look over at Ikuya who had his eyes wide.
"Hey? Are you alright?" You asked him as softly as you could.
"Of course I am. Why would I not be?" He glared.
"Just checking.." You flinch.
You then look over at Asahi who was amazed with Haruka's swimming.
Makoto pulled Haruka out of the pool.
"You're fast."
"You're amazing, Haru! You surprised me!"
"I'm normal."
The first years made small talk with each other.
"Come on, first years. Over here." You hear Natsuya call for the five of you.
"This is Serizawa Nao, he's primarily the manager of the club. I'm putting him in charge of you. Let him teach you."
You all nodded.
"Nice to meet you, Asahi, Ikuya, Makoto, (Name), Haruka." Nao smiled at the first years.
"Calling me by my first name again.." Haruka frowned.
"All the members are called by their first names. So, bear with it." Natsuya tells him.
You all then practiced.
"Should we do a full 200m exercise and call it a day after that?" Nao asked the first years and got a nod in reply.
You all then started to swim freestyle. You slip on your goggles and cap and swim.
"Hey..she's pretty good too." Asahi suddenly said at a loss of words.
"(Name)...she's a good female swimmer." Makoto smiled at the boy as he watched you swim.
As Asahi entered the pool, he noticed that he couldn't swim freestyle. He pulled his head back up to the surface of the water.
"Asahi, stop playing around." Nao told him.
"I'm not."
He then tried swimming again only to fail.
"Asahi?" You let out in a worried tone.
"I can't swim freestyle anymore?!" Asahi exclaimed loudly.
______________________________________
You stood outside the boy's changing room, already back in your school uniform.
'I hope Asahi's feeling okay..'
"..And when I tried to swim freestyle I couldn't!" The redhead explained.
"All of a sudden?"
"It's probably a mental problem..why don't you borrow some metal training books from the library?" Nao suggested as Asahi nodded.
"It's okay. You were able to swim before so you'll be able to instinctively do it again." Natsuya consoled the boy who gave a smile.
Ikuya then had a flashback.
Ikuya gritted his teeth as he grabbed his bag, full of rage.
"Ikuya-" Natsuya tried calling him but he had closed the door already in haste and anger.
Natsuya sighed.
You saw the door open and it closed almost immediately, revealing Ikuya who was in distress.
"Iku-Uh..Kirishima-kun? Is something the matter?" You ask him as you grab a hold of his hand, gently giving it a squeeze.
The boy's eyes widen at the contact.
"Shut up." He said as he shook off your hold from his hand and started to run away.
"Kirishima-kun? H-Hey! Wait a second!" You run right after him.
Since it was after school already, the school and hallways were empty.
"Stop following me!"
"Then stop running away!"
"Go away!"
"Why are you running?!"
"It's because you're following me!"
"Then don't run away!"
Ikuya suddenly stopped and turned around to face you. You didn't notice as your body hit him. Sending the two of you to the ground. You on top of him.
"That hurt, idiot."
"Why did you stop so suddenly?"
"You just told me to!" Ikuya facepalmed.
"Are you okay?" You ask him.
"Of course I am." He gritted his teeth.
"You don't look like it."
"What's it to you, (Last Name)?!"
"(Name)."
"What?"
"Call me (Name)." You whisper to him.
Red-brown orbs met e/c orbs, that trembled gently.
"I'm not okay." He breaks the eyelock.
"You're not." You confirm.
He faces you once again only to gasp quietly as he looks at the smile on your lips, a blush adoring your cheeks. He was sure he had a blush by now as well.
"You'll be okay. Ikuya, I hope you find someone one day, whose presence is enough to soothe your pain." You smile at the boy, squeezing his hand.
His mouth opens slightly and his eyes were half open. He opened his mouth to speak only to see you get off of him. He didn't notice how close you were. You shivered at the loss of heat.
You pull a hand out in front of him, motioning him to grab hold of it.
Ikuya 'tched' as he slapped your hand away, getting up on his own and running away once more.
"Kirish-"
"Don't follow me, (Last Name)." He yelled as he ran away.
This time you didn't run after him.
______________________________________
"I wonder if Asahi is okay.." Makoto sighed as he looked at Haruka and (Name).
"Don't know."
"I'm sure he'll be okay."
"I wonder if Natsuya senpai and Ikuya don't get along.." Makoto wondered out loud.
"Don't know."
You hit Haruka's shoulder.
"Haru, you're too uncaring." Makoto said.
The three of you reached the Iwatobi SC. After changing into your swimsuits, you all head to the pool where Nagisa notices you arrive and gives a big smile.
"Hello! Haru-chan, Mako-chan, (Nickname)-can! You're late!" The blonde haired boy waved as he made his way to them.
"Yeah..we joined the school's swimming club." Makoto told the boy.
"Swimming club..?"
"Our school requires everyone to join a club." You told the short boy.
"Hmm.."
"We're still going to come here as often as we can, Nagisa." Makoto assured the boy.
"Yeah! You better promise! Oh, and a while ago, coach told me that in the next tournament, I'll be in the 50m and 100m breaststroke races!"
"That's great!"
"Yeah! What about you three?"
"Our school has tournaments, I'll probably join those instead."
"I don't know yet."
"I guess the school's tournaments?"
"I see.." Nagisa said as he hung his head low.
Haruka noticed the boy's sad expression and felt bad.
"We'll come cheer for you." Haruka told him.
"Really?"
"Of course we will."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"Really?! Yes! I'll do my best!" Nagisa said as he ran towards the pool.
"Hey, Nagisa! I told you not to be loud!" The coach scolded.
"I-I'm sorry!"
You let out a giggle. Nagisa was so cute.
______________________________________
Elsewhere, Asahi got some mental training books by a boy with red glasses, who recommended the books for him.
"I'm a genius, I'm a genius, I'm a genius, I'M A GENIUS!" Asahi yelled at the mirror only to get yelled at by his older sister.
______________________________________
It was lunchtime at school. Kisumi's desk was placed with Haruka's as the three of you ate together.
"I thought I was gonna die of hunger.." (Name) tells Haruka as she opens her bento.
"I can say the same for myself. I'm starving!" Kisumi tells her.
You see Ikuya get up from his seat, bento in hand.
"Ah, basketball training is really hard." Kisumi tells the two of you as he sighs.
"You must be pretty great at it. I'll come watch you play one day, when I don't have swimming practice, of course."
Kisumi smiles at the girl.
You took a glance at Ikuya one more time, he stood near Haruka's chair as he stared outside the window.
"You'll be okay. Ikuya, I hope you find someone one day, whose presence is enough to soothe your pain." You smile at the boy, squeezing his hand."
You blush, recalling yesterday's events.
'Since when am I so bold?' You thought as your cheeks flush even more.
"Kirishima, you want to sit with us?" Kisumi asked the teal haired boy.
"Huh? Not really.." Ikuya says unsure as he looks over to Haruka.
"Come on. I want to talk to you too, Kirishima!"
Ikuya looked over to Haruka who nodded at him, telling him it was okay to sit.
"Then I guess I have no choice.." Ikuya states as he sat down, bringing a chair to the table where you all sat.
"Are you going to tell us what that look is about, (Name)?" Haruka asks the girl as she chokes on her juice box.
"(Name)! Are you alright!?" Kisumi says as he stands up to rub at her back.
"O-O-Of course I'm alright! Why wouldn't I be alright? Is there a reason not to be alright? I-"
"(Name)." Haruka cuts her, telling her that she was talking too much again.
Ikuya had a tiny blush on his cheeks as he looked away, opening his bento.
Kisumi looked at the two slyly.
"Food, Food. Ah! What is he doing here!? That's my seat!" Asahi pops out of nowhere.
"I can sit wherever I want, can't I?" Ikuya tells the boy.
"Asahi, sit here." Kisumi motions to his lap.
"No way!"
"Asahi, you're so interesting!"
"Oh, well.."
Asahi ended up taking a seat next to Ikuya.
"You're such a nice guy, Asahi!"
"Shut up, you."
"Have you gotten better since yesterday?" Haruka speaks up.
"Did something happen?" Kisumi asks.
"This guy can't swim freestyle, anymore." You answered Kisumi's question.
"I borrowed some mental training books. So, I should get better in no time."
Everyone gets sudden hope in their eyes.
"...Is what I want to say. I'm in a pinch." Asahi completes.
"Why?" You ask him.
"The first step says, 'find your own weakness.' But I don't have any weakness, I'm perfect. That's the problem." Asahi tells the group.
"I think your weakness is that you're an idiot." Ikuya tells the boy.
"You are." Haruka agrees.
"Asahi is an idiot." Kisumi nods.
"100%" You grin.
"I'm going to punch all of you!" Asahi growls.
"You can't hit a girl, Asahi." You tease the boy.
"Anyway, the book says to think positively. I decided I'd stare at a mirror and call myself a genius." Asahi smiles proudly.
"..Is that really training?" Kisumi asks.
"Why, you..!"
"That's good, though. There's something to raise your spirits."
"That's true!"
You munch on a rice ball and you couldn't help but notice Ikuya trying to copy the way Haruka ate his lunch.
"What?"
"What?" Ikuya questioned Haruka.
Haruka ignores what he says and continues to eat his lunch. He began to drink the milk from the small milk box. Just as you thought, Ikuya grabbed his as well, only to find out it was almost empty. He then sucked through the straw with all his might, only to end up coughing.
"What have you been doing?" Asahi questioned his actions.
"What is it, Ikuya?"
"What do you mean?!"
"Don't imitate me." Haruka told the boy.
"I'm not!"
"Are you sure you're feeling okay, Ikuya?" You ask him.
"Of course I am!"
"You're pretty interesting too, Ikuya!" Kisumi laughs.
"Don't lump me in with this guy!" Ikuya points at Asahi.
"What was that!"
Kisumi laughs even harder. You couldn't help but laugh to their antics as well.
"And don't call me by my name so casually!" Ikuya warns.
Haruka looks at the door to find Makoto standing at the door with a sad expression on his face. Makoto smiles at him before getting pulled away by one his classmates. Haruka sighs.
"What is it, Haru?" Kisumi asks.
"Nothing."
"So.. (Name), how long have Haru and you been dating for?" Asahi asks.
"H-HUH?" You shriek.
"We're not dating, Asahi." Haruka answers the boy.
"You're so stupid, Asahi." Ikuya shakes his head as he tries to drink from his milk box again.
"Could it be that you're dating Ikuya?"
"I noticed that there was something between them, too!" Kisumi adds.
Your eyes widen as a massive blush appears on your face. You choke on your juice box, denying all the claims by waving your arms in the air.
"We are not!" Ikuya confirms as you noticed a blush dusting his cheeks.
"Yet." Kisumi winks at the two.
Haruka frowns for half a second after seeing the face you were making and then returns to his usual stotic face, no one caught him smiling.
"K-KISUMI!"
______________________________________
"Ikuya didn't say anything about quitting, did he? Natsuya asks Haruka as he helped him carry the box full of supplies.
"He didn't. But you should ask him that yourself (desu)"
"You should fix your polite speech. You're going to run into problems in the future." Natsuya tells the boy.
"Why don't you get along with Ikuya?"
"Probably because I pushed him away. He has hated for two years." Natsuya states sadly.
"I don't think that's the case."
"Really? Well, here we are. Don't drop anything." Natsuya hands Haruka the box.
"Thank you." Haruka tells the captain.
______________________________________
Makoto looked over at Ikuya and Haruka, who stretched at the exact same time, with the same stretches.
"Ikuya..why are you imitating Haru-"
"I am not!"
"Well, Asahi, you think you're going to be okay?" Natsuya asked the boy who nodded at him in reply.
Natsuya and Asahi talked to each other. Natsuya was giving Asahi an extra push. You stood next to Ikuya, who clenched his fist as he glared at his older brother. Your expression faltered as you put your hand on Ikuya's, freeing his hand from the pressure. Ikuya looked at you with confusion.
"Don't..you're going to hurt yourself like that." You tell him.
Ikuya locked his eyes with yours.
Natsuya looked over at the two of you and smiled a bit.
"Well. I'm leaving the first years to you, Nao." Natsuya said as he walked away.
"Then, shall we start?"
"Yes!"
You all practiced and did some exercises along the way.
"Now, everyone, get ready." Nao told the first years. You all swam a practice relay, according to your turns. Haruka's swimming was a bit unstable.
"Why is it that during relays, he breaks down?" Nao asked Makoto and you.
"Well.."
Makoto then told Nao about the relay you guys were in.
"I see. Are you two okay?"
"I'm a bit lonely. But Haru and (Name) are swimming with me."
"As long as Haru and Makoto are with me, I have nothing to worry about." You answer.
"I see. Do the two of you like swimming?"
"Eh? Yes."
"Of course we do."
"Are you sure it's not because Haruka and (Name) are with you?" Nao asks Makoto, who had his eyes wide.
You look at Makoto in worry. He was in shock.
'Makoto..?'
"(Name)."
"U-Uh, Yes?"
"Are you really okay with this? I don't mean to be rude but you know how girls are slower than boys, right? What would you do if you lost the relay because of you being too slow? This is one of the reasons why people don't preferably choose girls to be on their teams." Nao stated as a matter of fact.
You felt your heart skip a beat as you let out a shaky breath.
'Lose because of me..? Slow? Not being chosen?' You battled with the demons inside your head as you recall a memory.
"They have a girl as their fifth member? Don't they know that girls are relatively slower. It's only a fact." You heard some club member say.
"Shh! She'll hear you!"
"I'm sorry! I almost lost that race and it would've been all because of me! If I just didn't flustered when my goggles slipped off I-"
"(Name). You won the race easily. Don't be so hard on yourself." Rin placed a hand on your shoulder.
"But I-"
"(Name). It's fine, really." Makoto tells you.
"I'll make sure to not take things hard on myself!" You tell the team who smile at you.
You look down at your feet.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to ask something so harsh." Nao blurts out as he noticed Makoto and (Name)'s expression.
"Haru, good job!" Asahi compliments the boy.
Haruka looks around and noticed that (Name) and Makoto weren't here to pull him up.
"Ah..Haru, good job."
Haruka wondered what was wrong.
Practice ended and Haruka noticed his two best friends were spacing out.
______________________________________
"Well, I'm sure we'll improve soon." Asahi tells the group as you all walked back home together.
"We don't have to worry about our exchanges. If we're fast individually then there's no problem." Ikuya replied.
You were walking next to Ikuya. Asahi in the front while Haruka and Makoto were walking together, though there was a small space between them.
"Makoto."
He didn't listen.
"Makoto." Haruka called again.
"Huh?"
"Did something happen?" Haruka asks.
"Makoto, are you worried about the relay?" Asahi guessed.
"Eh..Yeah."
"It's fine. We still have plenty of time." Asahi assured him.
"That's true.."
Ikuya looked over at you. You looked down to the ground and you gripped your skirt tightly, making your knuckles white.
"(Name)."
"Mm?"
"You're going to hurt yourself." He told her and pointed at her hand.
"What? O-Oh." You let go of your skirt. Ikuya was about to ask if she was feeling okay but closed his mouth instead.
"Well, Ikuya and I are going this way." Asahi said as they parted from the group.
Makoto, Haruka and Name walked back together just like always. Only thing was there was a lot of spacing. Haruka was in front. Makoto a little behind him while you walked behind the two quietly.
You all finally reached at the steps.
"See you two tomorrow.." you told the boys as you started making your way up the steps.
Makoto was about to turn to the direction of his house.
"Wait." Haruka grabbed your hand.
"What?"
"Makoto, (Name). What happened." Haruka asked, feeling a bit worried.
"Nothing." Makoto gave Haruka a smile.
"Don't lie!"
You jumped at Haruka's raised voice as he pulled you down the steps a bit.
"It's true. Nothing happened."
"Makoto..?"
"See you tomorrow, Haru, (Name)." Makoto then went up the steps, walking to his house.
"Haru.."
Haruka turned his attention towards you.
"Don't worry so much."
"(Name)-"
"Haru. Have a good night. See you in the morning."
Haruka left go of your hand as he watched you leave.
"How long will you be gone?" Haruka asked his mother.
"About a week."
"I'll be okay on my own."
Makoto recalled the events that occurred today. He remembered what Nao said to him.
"No.."
You entered your house.
"I'm home." You called out.
"Oh, wait. Mom left already." You say.
Your mother and father lived in (country's name). You didn't want to move away from Japan and so they let you stay here. Your relatives came to see you often, it wasn't really a problem. Your parents visited you from time to time too, of course.
'Slow..'
You threw your bag to the floor as you slumped down to the floor.
'Why do they swim with me?' You wonder.
The next day, Haruka got ready in his uniform. He went outside only to find no trace of Makoto or (Name). He then saw you run towards his house.
"Sorry I'm late."
"It's okay."
You two went to Makoto's and found out from his mother that he had class duty and that he left a little early. You two then walked to school together in silence.
Chapter 4 is up.