Just a quick introduction for those less acquainted with the Samezuka minor characters (personal name first):

Aiichiro Nitori
Third-year. Swimming style: freestyle & breaststroke. The captain of the Samezuka Swimming Team.

Momotaro Mikoshiba
Second-year. Swimming style: backstroke. An energetic and somewhat unpredictable character. Has a crush on Gou Matsuoka.

Shouta Nakagawa
Third-year. Swimming style: backstroke.

Toru Iwashimizu
Third-year. Swimming style: breaststroke. Swam in the prefecture relay with Rin and Sousuke. Noted for his similar appearance to Nagisa.

Takuya Uozumi
Third-year. Swimming style: backstroke. Lost his position as backstroke swimmer to Momo in the prefecture relay. Close friends with Kazuki Minami.

Kazuki Minami
Third-year. Has distinguishable long brown hair. Close friends with Takuya Uozumi.

Chapter 1

"Nitori-senpai! Captain!" Nitori looked up in annoyance at the sound of Momo's all too familiar voice. The bushy haired second-year dashed through the locker room entrance, nearly crashing into someone and then barely missing an open locker door.

"Momo-kun, how many times do I have to tell you?" Nitori sighed, closing his locker door and pulling his oversized Samezuka jacket more tightly over his lean shoulders. "No running in the locker room! And keep your voice—"

"Captain, this is serious!" Nitori snapped to attention at the uncharacteristically anxious tone in Momo's voice. Momo grabbed his captain's sleeve and dragged him out of the room. "Someone started a fight at the poolside!"

"Again?" Nitori was now fully alert, keeping pace with Momo as they rushed down the hallway. "It's been the second time already! What happened?"

When they reached the pool, Nitori stopped in horror at the sight before him. There was a large crowd gathered in a flurry of movement and chaos.

Nitori gritted his teeth and plunged into the crowd. "Don't crowd around!" he hollered, elbowing his way through. "Step back!" Compared to the cacophony of the onlookers, his voice sounded thin and weak.

Nitori finally reached the center of the mess, where some third-years were restraining a struggling student. Another student was splayed on the floor, holding a hand over his nose, which was dripping blood. A puddle of red liquid was forming over the pale blue floor. The tang of iron mixed with the chlorine smell of the pool, forming an acrid smell that was sickening to the stomach.

"Are you okay?" Nitori panicked, kneeling to the floor and helping the student up. "There's so much blood! Is your nose broken? C-come here. No, don't tilt your head back like that. Hey, someone get a first-aid kit! Or something! The rest of you! Don't just stand there; move back, I said! Where's Sugimoto-sensei?"

Nitori turned back to the student in his arms; he only faintly recognized him. He was a first-year, a quiet type of person. But Nitori couldn't recall his name. There were just so many new swim team members, he couldn't memorize them all.

"It's okay," the student said dully. "It's not broken. I think." Someone offered a towel, which Nitori applied to the first-year's nose. "Lean forward a little," Nitori said softly, gently placing a hand on the student's back for support.

"Let go of me!" Nitori started in surprise and looked up at the angry student, who was still being held back. He was a second-year; Ryuki, was it? Or Ryuto? Something along those lines, anyways.

Finally, the Samezuka supervisor entered the scene, with Momo close behind. Nitori shot Momo a grateful look, and Momo smiled back in acknowledgement.

"We'll take him to the nurse," Sugimoto said, easing the first-year to his feet. Then he looked at the second-year, who had stopped thrashing and was now quietly fuming. "There will be proper discipline for their actions. Let's go."

Nitori stood and faced the sea of Samezuka swimmers. There was an uneasy air, as the swimmers stood and muttered in hushed tones. There was more than one dubious glance in his direction. It took all of his strength for Nitori to speak up.

"Everyone just sit tight for a moment," he said, trying to project his voice so that everyone could hear him. "We will still have our meeting as planned. But I need to take care of this first. Clean the area up and start with practice as usual." Nitori tapped a fellow third-year on the shoulder, Shouta Nakagawa. "Shouta-kun, sorry, but can you start the team on warm-up stretches? I'll be right back."

Shouta nodded. "Sure, Captain Ai!" Nitori smiled dimly, and then turned his back on the dubious glances to follow after the supervisor.

Nitori walked back down the hallway, accompanied by third-year Toru Iwashimizu. "Thanks again for helping us handle Ryuki-kun," Nitori said, breaking the silence.

"That was nothing, Ai-kun," Toru assured him.

Nitori's eyebrows were furrowed, and his eyes were dark with a disquiet mood. "Nothing like this has ever happened before on the swim team," he said quietly. "At least not while I've been at Samezuka."

"A lot of members still doubt your competence," Toru observed. "I think a couple of third-years are spreading rumors to the younger students. Like Shirako Takashi; he's always been an arrogant one. That's why we're having so much trouble."

Toru slapped Nitori on the back, causing him to squeak. "But hey! I think you're doing great!" Then Toru thoughtfully tapped on his chin, as poor Nitori coughed for air. "And so do a couple of other third-years, like Shouta-kun. And maybe some second-years. Don't worry, Ai-kun."

Nitori argued, "But it's ridiculous that there would be so much fighting."

"Maybe it's just part of the growth of our team," Toru said hopefully. "We used to never acknowledge each other, much less talk to each other."

"Or fight with each other," Nitori said wearily. "But I guess I see your point." He momentarily glanced at Toru. They had never spoken much to each other before, being rivals for the top position in the same swimming style, breaststroke. But now, Toru was doing his best to encourage him, something Nitori never would've dreamed of.

"That's right!" Toru said with a grin. "There'll be more squabbles, because the swim team isn't just a team anymore; we're a family now, and that's what families do. Now let's hurry back! Everyone's waiting for their captain!"

"R-right." Nitori straightened his shoulders and quickened his pace. "We've been keeping them waiting for long enough."

The two third-years returned to the pool, and were immediately greeted by third-years Takuya Uozumi and Kazuki Minami. Those two were never apart from each other.

"Captain Ai!" They waved to Nitori as he came into sight. Takuya called, "You were taking so long; we started to worry." Kazuki raised his eyebrows. "So what happened?"

"I'll fill you in on the details later," Nitori said apologetically. He stood up to his full height and called out, "Everyone, please listen up!" Nitori waved his arms, trying to get the attention of the team members, who were busily stretching on the concrete.

The chatter slowly dwindled, and Nitori moved to the center of the crowd. "Thank you all for being patient."

Someone in the back called, "Is Sho-kun okay?" Sho was the first-year with the bloody nose.

"He'll be fine," Nitori said reassuringly. "His nose stopped bleeding before we reached the nurse's office. Don't worry about him."

Nitori raised his voice again. "I only have one announcement for today. Samezuka is planning to have its first joint practice of the year with Iwatobi. As representatives of Samezuka, let's focus on our swimming and work hard today!"

There was a unanimous shout, "Hai, Captain!" The Samezuka Swimming team exploded into life and action once more.

Please look forward to Chapter 2

See you next water time. . .