The sun was high in the sky. Waves lapped the shore with increasing intensity. Pelicans screeched overhead. Gou exhaled angrily into a shiny whistle which hung from her neck.
"Alright, just because we're at the beach, that doesn't make this any less of a serious training session! If we want to make it to the top the whole team needs to push themselves to the limit on a regular basis. I want to see those bodies moving non-stop! Work your muscles like your very lives depend on it because…" her voice dropped to a threatening tone "they do."
Makoto smiled and nodded agreeably. Rei rolled his eyes and peeled off his skin tight tank top.
"The team you say? And I suppose you're about to explain how sun bathing is your way of 'pushing yourself to the limit?'"
Gou scowled and crossed her arms over her bikini clad chest self-consciously.
"For your information, I happen to be supervising." She surveyed the area with confusion before casting a quizzical glance in Makoto's direction. "Where's your boyfriend at anyway?"
Makoto laughed and rubbed his shoulder.
"He dove in about ten minutes ago."
Gou pinched the bridge of her nose and breathed in deeply.
"As if I even needed to ask… He could at least pretend to listen to my pep talks…and what are you doing?"
Gou pointed an accusatory finger at Nagisa. He had formed a pouch in his tee-shirt to hold something and was waddling over to Rei in a penguin-esque fashion. He giggled.
"I was hunting for treasure under the pier. I found some sea glass, Rei-chan!" Nagisa offered him the colorful objects with excitement. Rei turned them over in his palm and ran his fingers across the smooth surface. Not a single imperfection to be seen. His eyes widened and he adjusted his prescription goggles.
"These truly are beautiful."
Nagisa beamed.
"I knew you'd say that! I'll go find you some more."
On that note he took off running.
"You get back here! This is not what we're here for! We're training, not hunting for treasure like pirates!" Gou continued to shout at Nagisa's back. "Fine! If that's how you feel, you should just quit the swim team and go look for the One Piece."
"Who's quitting?"
"Ugh, of course that would be the one thing that does get your attention."
Haru grasped Makoto's wrist and stared into his eyes. His hair was dripping since he had just climbed out the water.
"It's not you, is it?" His tone was full of concern and fear.
Makoto smiled and brushed his lover's bangs out of his eyes.
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."
"Good. I brought lunch."
Haru thrust a wriggling fish into Gou's hands. She froze and yelped.
"Why are you giving me this? When did you even have time to go fishing? What did you use for bait?" Haru simply shrugged. "That's not an answer!"
As the others continued to bicker amongst themselves, Rei's eyes scanned the water under the pier. Nagisa had vanished. Why do I feel so wrong inside? Rei didn't like the thoughts forming in his head. A moment later he felt his head spin and his stomach pitch. A head of hair broke the surface of the water…water that was stained a deep red.