Disclaimer:I do not own any characters from Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
"She will be staying with us from now on, children. Please make her feel at home." Mother called out as she patted [name] on the head with affection. [name] had a dark look in her dark ocean blue eyes, and it was obvious that she had been crying lately due to them being swollen. [name] hesitantly opened her mouth to introduce herself;
"M-my name is [L/N] [name]."
"Hello, [name]-chan! I'm Hisamatsu Hana!" a girl with short dark red hair spoke cheerfully as she stood in front of [name] with a soft smile.
"I'm Ishida Mika!" a girl with slightly longer dark green hair spoke as she stood beside Hana.
"I'm Kagawa Nana, a pleasure to meet you!" a girl with short blonde hair spoke.
"So, [name]-chan!" Hana called out, and [name] pout slightly at the way Hana had called her.
"How old are you?" Mika asked.
"8…"
"Same as Hana-chan!" Nana called out, and Hana smiled softly at [name].
"The both of us are 7!" Mika cried out, and couldn't help but giggle as [name] had on a soft smile on her face.
"[name], what do you like to do?"
"Swim…"
"Really?! You should join the swimming club!"
"Ne, Hana-chan! Why won't you join the swimming club? You love swimming, don't you?"
"Etto…" Hana mumbled as she turned to look at her friend who was seated at the back corner, just next to the window.
"If [name] isn't going to join, I won't too." Hana spoke with a soft smile as she gathered her books.
"Mou, you're missing out! Next year is going to be your last year in High School; are you sure?"
"If [name] is there, then I will join." Hana spoke with a soft smile as she grabbed hold of her bag and headed towards [name]'s desk, realising that she was deep in thoughts.
"We're counting on you, Hana-chan!" [name] called out as Hana got into position in the swimming pool; the medley race was just about to begin.
"Count on me!" Hana giggled out, and [name] could only roll her eyes at her childish side, and then she stood beside the other two teammates of hers; Mika and Nana.
"I'm glad that I'm swimming with you in this relay, [name]-chan!" Mika spoke out as she walked towards the platform, getting into position.
"Hana-chan is in the lead!" Nana cried out as Hana came back and touched the wall; signalling to Mika that it was her turn to swim; the breaststroke.
"Nana, after this relay; we'll swim more together, alright?" [name] spoke as she pushed Nana towards the platform, telling her to get ready.
"Heh, hai!"
"Come on, Mika!" Hana called out as she saw the swimmer in the lane next to theirs catching up to Mika; who just barely made it in time and touched the wall, allowing Nana to start swimming.
"Let's go, Nana!" [name] cried out and all of a sudden she was ushered to the front;
"Come on, [name]!"
"Time to get into position!"
"Seriously… Nana made the turn first!"
"Come on, Nana!"
"[NAME]-CHAN, GO!" Nana cried out as she surfaced from the water, being able to see [name]'s starting dive.
"[name]-chan!" Mika cried out, and Hana stared in awe along with Nana;
"She's fast!"
"She made the turn already!"
"She's coming back!"
And [name] swam freestyle at her fastest pace, enjoying the breakthrough she was going through. She was definitely in a slump before; she just swam for pure leisure. But thanks to the girls she met who shared similar interest, [name] went through a breakthrough. One she will never forget.
"[name]-chan!" and [name] surfaced from the water, looking at the scoreboard;
'Ryoutei Junior High; First Place'
"WE WON!"
"[name]?" and Hana shook [name] roughly by the shoulder, causing her head to bob up and down. [name] then blinked a few times before looking at her childhood friend.
"Time to head home, Nana and Mika are waiting for us at the entrance." Hana spoke again, and [name] nodded; gathering her belongings and soon walked out of the classroom, with Hana following closely behind her.
The silence between Hana and [name] was never the awkward silence. Hana had gotten used to [name]'s sudden change in personality and behaviour. She used to be the very loud and out-going kind of girl, who will take up any challenges that was thrown to her. But ever since a certain incident; she changed. She became quiet, and hardly speaks. She makes little to zero actions of wanting to socialise. But one thing that didn't change about [name]; was that she still loves swimming. She loves to just let her body float in the water.
"[name]-chan! Hana-chan!" and the duo looked up to see their younger housemates waiting for them. The younger duo then ran up to the older duo, and tackled them in a hug.
"You're both late!" Nana cried out, and Hana smiled softly.
"Sorry about that, [name] here was daydreaming about some stuffs." Hana spoke as she gestured her thumb towards [name].
"Don't blame me…" [name] mumbled out as she made her way out of the school's gate, with a Mika clinging onto her arm.
"Hana-chan isn't like that!" Mika cried out as she huddled together with Nana; surrounded by the other swimmers of their swimming club.
"Tell me, why didn't you want to participate with us in the relay? Why did you choose Hana and [name]!" one of the swimmers yelled out as she roughly pulled Mika away from Nana.
"Do you know that we lost so badly, because you're not in our team?!" the same swimmer spoke with venom in her voice as she gripped Mika's wrist tightly.
"That's your problem." A voice was heard, and the swimmer immediately let go of Mika.
"[name]-chan! Hana-chan!" and Mika immediately grabbed hold of Nana and ran towards the older duo; and hid behind them. Hana then patted their heads as they cried due to the fear that had risen in them.
"Don't get so high and mighty just because you won the nationals."
"I'm not. But clearly it isn't about winning or losing." [name] muttered out as she clenched her fists, and Hana noticed it; patting her on the back to calm her down.
"I can't fucking stand your attitude!" and [name] was roughly grabbed by the collar and out of defence, she kicked the swimmer in front of her harshly, causing the swimmer to let go of her and stumble. Her foot ended up losing balance, and she fell into the pool, hitting her shoulder hard against the edge of the pool.
"Kirimi!" and another swimmer dived in to help Kirmi to surface.
"Are you alright?"
"What's going on here?!" the coach yelled out as he made his way towards the chaotic group.
"[name]-chan hurt Kirimi!"
"It hurts…"
"[L/N] [name]; you're officially out of this swimming club." The coach spoke as he stood beside Kirimi, who had her shoulder wrapped up in bandages.
"W-What…" [name] mumbled out.
"But!" Mika cried out, and was immediately silenced when Hana covered her mouth.
"You heard me. Now leave."
"Coach, then with all respect. I, Hisamatsu Hana; am quitting from the club as well."
"Ishida Mika, is also quitting as well."
"Me too; Kagawa Nana."
"I got… Kicked out…" [name] mumbled to herself as she grabbed hold of her belongings in the locker room. All of a sudden she felt a pat on her back, and she couldn't help but let Hana see her face.
"There, there…"
"I'm sorry… But why did you girls quit as well? You girls love swimming!"
"But what's the point when you're not there? [name]-chan."
"[name]-chan! Mother is calling for you!" Mika called out as she stood by the doorway of [name]'s room; where [name] was just lazing in bed, staring up at the ceiling.
"Eh…" [name] mumbled out as she got out from bed and headed towards where mother was waiting.
"Ah, [name]! Come sit down!" mother called, and [name] quickly took a seat opposite of her in the living room. That's when she noticed a stack of papers that had the title: Transfer; and also a house address.
"We're transferring and moving?" [name] asked as she picked up the stack of papers to take a look at where the girls and her were transferring to; Iwatobi High School.
"Yeap, but this time; I won't be there with you girls though. I have to take care of the younger children in the orphanage; I'm sorry about that, [name]." mother spoke as she handed [name] a small paper that had an address on it.
"But, why? Aren't we doing well here?" [name] asked as she looked at the address; somewhere far from the place that they were currently residing at.
"Etto… A little fight broke out? Heh." Mother chuckled, and [name] could only roll her eyes.
"Mother, you're not a teenager anymore. Stop getting into fights; we need you."
"Hai, hai! Mother will listen to you alright? Now hurry along and tell the others."
"Alright."
"I'm sorry though, [name]. The girls wouldn't listen to me; so…" mother trailed off.
"I know."
"Eh? Isn't Iwatobi High School where Nanase Haruka is attending?" Mika asked as she took a look at the transfer papers that [name] had handed to them while they sat on the floor in her bedroom.
"Nanase Haruka?" Nana asked as she looked confused.
"The swimmer who supposedly swims free only." Hana spoke with a soft smile on her face. She then turned to look at [name] who was seated on her bed, looking out of the window with a dull look on her face. She shook her head and stood up; heading over to [name] on the bed.
"[name]? Are you alright?" Hana asked, but no response.
"[name]?"
"[L/N] [NAME]!"
"Huh?" [name] responded, and Hana pouted.
"[name]-chan! Let's join the swimming club! I heard that its newly op-." And Mika immediately shut her mouth at the dark aura that [name] was clearly giving out.
"If you want to join, go ahead. It's your choice." [name] snapped out, and walked out of the room.
"S-Sorry…" Mika mumbled out, and Hana patted her on the head lightly; while Nana hugged her.
"[name] will come around soon, don't worry."
"I'm never going to swim. If it ends up hurting someone, I'll stop swimming."