I sat in the same seat as yesterday behind Makoto. He smiles at me, but I don't return the gesture. "Kaito, can you come to the pool today?" he asks.
"The pool I showed you yesterday?"
"No, the school's pool. Haru will be there and some of our other friends too. We want to introduce you to them." Is he reaching out to me? I suppose going won't hurt. Then again, they might just pick on me...
"Sorry, I can't."
"Why not?"
"I just can't, alright."
The gentle smile on his face turned into a small frown. He looked like he was about to say more, but Ms. Amakata called him out.
After school I decide to check out what they are doing at the school pool.
"She said no," Makoto says, shaking his head. He looks concerned and confused.
"Really?" a boy with wavy blonde hair asks. Makoto nods his head.
"Yeah, but it was weird. At first she seemed like she wanted to before second guessing herself."
A girl runs out with some type of pamphlet in her hands. "You won't believe this! I found something amazing!"
They turn towards the girl. "Iwatobi High School Swim Club Summer Training Camp from Hell on a Deserted Island…" A boy with dark blue hair says. "Sounds fun!" The blonde leans closer to the pamphlet.
"This place was used when Iwatobi still had a swim club!"
"So what's your point?" The dark blue one pushed his red glasses higher up on his nose and leaned in.
"We should steal their training methods and use them to work up our stamina!" She points towards me and I freeze up. Did she see me?
"Too much work." Haruka finally spoke up.
"This is no time for complaining!" I sigh in relief and lean on the fence of the pool. I stand back up and hop on my bike. I ride straight home, not wanting to risk them seeing me. What am I thinking? I'm not seriously going to go to that camp with them, am I? I reach the house and run in. "Wha?! Kaito, why aren't you going to the pool? Do you feel sick?" Kayoko runs up to me and puts her hand up to my head. "I'm fine Kayoko. Quite pestering me." She puffs up her cheeks, making me laugh. "I was just worried, that's all. You always visit the pool." I wave her off and drop my bag on the floor.
"I know, I know. Don't get so worried all the time. You'll get frown lines." She gasps and runs past me to the bathroom. Silly Kayoko. Always worried about her appearance.
I walk to my room and sit at my computer, searching up where the islands are. I tell myself that I'm only interested in swimming, but I'm pretty sure I'm lying to myself.
I made sure to tell Kayoko where I was going before heading out. I sigh and pull my bag higher up on my shoulders. What are you doing Kaito. You barely know these people, heck, two of them you haven't met yet! I walk up to the dock that will provide the boat that is taking me to one of the islands. I wave over to the man taking me out, one of Kayoko's friends. "Hey, Kaito," he says. I nod my reply and we set off.
I'm dropped off at not the second, but the first island. I look around and decide to set up camp behind a few trees. After I'm done setting up I start to take off my clothes and put on my bathing suit. Taking a deep breath of the salty air, I run into the ocean and jump in. After I get far enough I dive down and search around the bottom of the ocean floor. I pick up a few beautiful shells before resurficing and putting the shells by my camp.
Alright, enough playing around. Time to really swim! I jump back into the water and start to swim my way.
How I swim. I've always swam this way. I go all the way to the bottom of the pool and lie still for a while. Eventually I forget that I'm even in the water. Then I plant my feet on the floor and push off before arching like a dive. I put my arms in front of my body like a triangle, go up and down, then let my body follow behind.
I go up for a breath of fresh air, then dive back into the water.
I swim for hours before noticing that it's getting really late. I go back to the island I'm staying at and get under my tent when a storm starts up. I get in my sleeping bag and try to sleep, but can't with the storm. I sigh and go outside the tent. Water is water and water never bothered me. I sit where the waves barely touch my feet when I notice the outline of someone in the water.
Nobody should be out at a time like this! They'll drown! I have to save them! I run into the water and start to swim towards the body. "Hey! You need to get out of the water!"
"H-Help!" It's that blue haired boy! I go under the water and get a mouthful of salt. Taking hold of the boys legs, I push him up out of the water and turn to swim towards an island. Before a large wave can hit us I use all the power I can to get out of the way.
I am starting to run out of air and the boy isn't helping. I have to get him to the island! With the last of my strength I manage to make it to the surface for a breath. I-I don't have enough strength! My legs fail me and I let go of the boy. Hopefully he'll be able to get to the island by himself. I close my eyes and let the water take me where it wants.
Is this it? Maybe I can just… fall asleep here?
