Chapter Eleven:
"Hold still, Nanami. You're as fussy as a little brat."
"I can't help feel pain when-ow-you're pushing hairpins-agh-against my scalp."
Aunt Hiroki spun me around after the last was in place, overlooking her work on my festival yukata as my traitorous cousin stood in the hallway snapping pictures with his phone. I hadn't agreed to any of it. My captain told me I needed to go to my aunt's because of something "urgent," and as soon as I had walked out of the station, Gou-kun grabbed me and hauled me off to his house. I couldn't believe he had once again gone behind my back to talk to my captain, most likely sharing information that involved the upcoming regional tournament. And above all, I was being forced into festive clothing and to walk around in uncomfortable shoes.
Another flash of his camera went off, and I threw one of my geta, which struck the wall beside his head with a "thunk."
"What the hell are you still here for, traitor?"
"Can a man not be in his own home when his family comes to visit?"
"Don't spy on a girl getting dressed!" I snapped, aiming for his mouth with my last shoe.
"You're already in your yukata!"
"Both of you! Shut up!" Aunt Hiroki adjusted my obi and continued, "Son, you've already disappointed me enough."
"Thank y-wait, what?"
"And you!" she snapped, cinching the cloth around my waist with a jerk.
"Ouch!"
"Don't throw those shoes around. They were your mother's, along with the yukata."
"They...were?"
I looked down at the rose-adorned fabric, trying to remember my mother ever wearing it from years past.
"She only wore it once during our high school years. But I'm sure if her own kid treated it with care she would'a been proud to see you wear it."
I nodded. "Sorry, Aunt Hiroki."
"I'm not the one to apologize to. Now go out and join your friends before I lecture you some more."
With a few shoves, she led Gou and me out the door, slamming it shut just as I had slipped on my shoes. With a huff I sent a loose, curled bang out of my eyes, mentally unprepared to walk around in stiff getas. I heard Gou sigh then say, "Well, I guess I'm your escort for tonight?"
"That's okay. You can go on ahead."
"And leave my pretty cousin to the wolves? No way."
"Then don't sound so put-out in the first place."
He grinned at me before we made off for the harbor, his smile trickling into his words as he started talking about school. I stared out to the sea as we walked, grateful for a familiar view and salty breeze after being cooped up at school. As he went on about his year at Iwatobi, I noticed how he stopped at parts that involved his team, or at most, about Kasumi. Hearing him talk around the details of the swim club, I almost wanted to ask if he knew about what had happened after the districts when he suddenly said out of nowhere, "So, we'll be seeing you at regionals soon."
"Huh?"
"Didn't your captain tell you? My team advanced in the relay race."
Right as I opened my mouth to say something, we'd entered the line of booths, a crowd already forming before the closest food stalls around us. Gou waved goodbye and ran off into the frenzy, leaving me to weave around others to meet my team at the shrine on the opposite end. I didn't get far into the festivities before my captain found me.
"Excellent," she said with a stick of fried octopus in one hand. "Glad to see you changed your mind."
"If by 'change my mind,' you mean being forced to meet my cousin at the train station and being harassed by my aunt."
"Don't be so down about it. You look stunning tonight, and I bet a certain someone will notice you, too."
A wave of heat spread across my cheeks. "I-I have no idea what you mean."
"You think I didn't notice how you and Matsuoka stayed after so many times together? Tsk, tsk, my young pupil."
"I-Anyway, it's not like that...Rin..."
Why am I even talking about him right now? I'm here to pray for my team's success.
"Sorry, I didn't want to pry," she said. "The shrine's up ahead. Kiyoko-chan might still be there if you hurry."
Parting ways with a silent goodbye, I turned to the direction she pointed out. I couldn't say I wasn't upset that Rin came up in the conversation, but after learning that she and my cousin were in cahoots I shouldn't have been surprised. Then there was word of seeing Kasumi again at regionals...
Stopping before the prayer line, I took in the sight. Walls of lanterns marked the area of the shrine, dimly lighting the evening crowd. The wooden memorial was placed in the dead center, its bell swinging to a still before a group of girls. I felt like I was six years old again, clutching my mother's hand before we made it to the front of the shrine to pray. When I stood before it, I was as intimidated as I had been over a decade ago, making the nostalgia all the more real. Next, I supposed I was going to turn around and see a pig-tailed Kasumi in her blue lotus yukata with her family, and then Rin running up to me-
"Nanami-senpai!"
Kiyoko and a group of teammates came to greet me, but my eyes weren't on them. By the entrance, his head of maroon hair stood out amongst the others, his hands in his pants pocket as he slipped into the booth area. Seeing Rin, I wanted to chase after him, try to talk to him, but it was an awkward inkling. I tried to forget it, even as it kept arising. Maybe it was because of our time apart that I felt hopeful...or because the last time I went to a festival he was there by my side. Either way, I couldn't not think of him.
But the race is over now, isn't it? He beat his friend at the tournament, so can't I do something now? Would that be selfish?
As I stared on at his figure disappearing into the crowd, I felt myself split into two arguing sides. On the one hand, I could leave him be, let him carry on so that he could enjoy his time by himself, or I could think of myself and get his attention...
I mean, it can't hurt to ask if he's staying...right?
"Hey, Kiyoko, I'll be right back!" I said as I started after Rin.
I didn't stay to hear her response, guilt hovering over me briefly until I ran into a crowd heading towards the shrine. Forced next to a food stall, I waited for the people to pass, then turned around to bow apologetically to the middle-aged couple offering samples of their takoyaki. In all that time Rin seemed to have vanished, his figured no longer in the lane of booths I quickly shuffled down for what appeared to be hours.
This is useless...I'm just an idiot for chasing after him this long.
But more importantly, where am I?
Somehow I had made it to the boardwalk, few people nearby and scarce lighting to guide me along. It felt humiliating to find myself going out of my way for him like a loyal dog. If I could've, I would've smacked my head at my behavior.
Turning back to what I assumed was the way I came, I caught a glance of a passerby looking at me from the corner of his eye. I didn't think anything of it at first, but when I noticed the suit and tie, I stopped and turned back. The man vanished, no trace of him left on the boardwalk, causing more concern.
Wasn't he around the locker rooms at the race?
With haste, I went back to the security of a crowded area. After that odd moment, I urged myself to look around to forget about it. Most of the festivities were dying down, but the shooting game I stopped at caught my eye. There, on the middle shelf, sat a colorful squid plushie, dead-eyed but staring on in my direction. A smile creased at my lips. All those years ago I'd wasted all of my savings over the chance to win one of those, but up to that point, I'd come to work on my aim.
With a yen from my purse at my wrist in the stall master's hand, I held the toy rifle up close to me, closing one eye as I sucked in a breath. My peg bullet went soaring but didn't make a difference to the fish.
Damnit!
"You're doing it wrong."
A coin was placed on the counter of the booth next to me, and a familiar pair of enormous hands took my rifle. I glared at Rin as he wordlessly glanced at me, then turned and fired, his aim far from the center of my target. The squid flipped onto its side without hesitation, landing in the netting with a soft thud.
"Are you trying to show off?" I asked, irritated.
"Proving my point. You have to shoot at the top, not its center. It won't fall over like that."
Rin was handed the fish, but without hesitation, he passed it to me and started walking down the lane. I trudged after him, already feeling the chafing in my sandals taking over my feet.
"Would you stop for a second, Rin?" I demanded.
He turned to me, both of us surprised I used his first name out of context. I knew that was a bad move, but I continued as if it hadn't happened.
"Thank you...for winning him."
"'Him'?"
"Him, her, it. Does it matter?"
With a twitch of amusement on his lips, he said, "I guess not."
"Are you...going back soon?"
"Not right away. But you know your team was looking for you earlier?"
"What for?"
"They all wanted to go back to the campus together. And it's almost ten, anyway."
"Are you kidding me?"
"You really didn't know the time?" he scoffed in disbelief.
"No," I answered, feeling even more insulted as he chuckled. "Take me back then, if you're going to laugh at me."
"You know the way back."
"And you need to make up for being rude."
He clucked his tongue, sending a wave of heat across my cheeks. "What a pain," he answered after a pause.
Rin stepped beside me, his hand pressing into the small of my back as he began walking me to the end of the lane. Everything in me went up in sickening flames, my skin tingling where his fingers brushed. I rushed to keep up with him as my mind went blank. We passed dozens of booths in a rush, some that I wanted more than a glance.
"I can walk myself like a regular person, you know?" I huffed before making it out of the lane of booths.
"You would've taken your time looking around, idiot," he snapped back in monotone.
"What are you, my-"
Before I could finish my sentence, I spotted an ice cone stand, one run by a familiar old man bending over to check his stock. Without a word, I started walking towards him, cut short when Rin grabbed me by the arm.
"We're supposed to head back."
"In a minute," I whined, retrieving my arm from his grip.
A groan escaped him as he stomped towards the vendor, me right on his trail with childish glee. When the wizened man greeted us, I smiled and said, "Cherry, please," surprised to hear that Rin replied the same.
"How did you-"
"That's the flavor you got all the time here, " he said.
"You're such an idiot," I muttered while the butterflies in my stomach stormed through me.
The old man handed over two cones with a chuckle under his friendly smile, saying over the hum of festival goers, "You two have grown over these years. I always knew you rascals would make a great pair."
"Oh no, we're not-"I started to say before Rin interrupted with:
"Sour apple?"
"Don't think this old geezer doesn't remember what you bought as a boy. You and your brother used to get the same thing."
It was Rin's turn to blush. After saying goodbye and carrying on, he chomped into his cone, flustered. Seeing him react like that, like he would've as a child, I suddenly burst into a fit of giggles that ended in an embarrassing snort into my sleeve. He looked at me oddly like I'd grown another head, but said nothing. From the corner of his lips, I caught another twitch, another crack in the wall between us. My hopes fluttered awake, but I forced myself to shove them back down. It could've been a trick of the eye.
We made it to the sidewalk before the train station when I stopped Rin. Throwing our empty cones into the trash can, I took the chance to try and talk to him about swimming.
"Are you okay?" I started as he turned to me.
"Do I look sick right now?"
"I mean, do you feel better after racing your friend?"
There was a long pause before Rin answered. Exhaling through the nose, he said, "The train will be here soon."
"But-"
"I'm not talking about it with you right now."
"Then-then what about after regionals? When all of this is over?" I added, my heart racing as he looked back at me.
"What do you mean?"
"I...I want to talk to you-about-about something...something important."
The train came to a stop while the two of us stared at each other, holding the other's gaze to see who would falter first. I knew I wasn't lying. After a month of recovery and practice, I'd denied the aching feeling in my chest from being away from Rin. I was scared to keep his gaze on me, afraid to open up when he had the right to refuse me after I did him. But I needed him to know the truth before my feelings were crushed. With no experience to these emotions, I couldn't contain them much longer. They were pesky like flies, but soaring like birds when I was with Rin. And that's what he needed to hear.
Silently, he rushed me inside the train just before the doors closed. Rin gripped the railing tight through the ride, his knuckles white like snow. I stood opposite him, our wrists exposed before the other. I wondered what it was like if our skin touched, quickly dismissing the dirty thought when his eyes fell back on me.
"Tell me after regionals," he said so quietly I thought I'd imagined it.
I nodded slowly, feeling relieved and anxious as I thought of confessing to Rin. At least I have a little longer until then...
Three awkward days had passed between us, and three more awaited before regionals. I had to balance both last minute homework and to cram for finals on top of swim practice, making for restless nights a norm once again.
Thursday afternoon, I was ready to keel over during warm-ups outside. I could practically feel the bags under my eyes sagging even further. Kiyoko looked even worse, what with her hair askew in a poorly made tail and eyes beady with exhaustion, jumping back and forth at people passing us. It made me feel even more guilty for letting her stay up with me to study.
"How're you holding up?" I asked her as we rounded back to the natatorium.
"Huh?!" she exclaimed. Finding only me beside her, she sighed and said quieter, "Sorry. I'm fine, senpai. I'm just..."
She stared at something behind me, her squirrel-like behavior getting even more concerning.
"Is...something wrong?"
"The trees are moving-I mean, what did you say?"
"'The trees are moving'?"
"U-u-hum-hum-hmm-n-no! No! Oof,...my stomach..."
"O-okay...Remind me not to let you stay up with me again."
"But, senpai-"
"No 'but's."
As I stopped with the rest of the girls' team to catch a breath, I looked into the natatorium windows, wondering if Rin was there. The sound of the side doors shutting echoed off the walls, then I caught movement in the brush.
"The trees are moving, huh?" I wondered as I snuck closer to the building.
The closer I got I could make out two figures talking beside the side exit: a boy I recognized from the joint practice, and, of course, Rin. As soon as I saw him, I jumped behind the closest tree, hoping none of them saw me. Then I realized, what would an Iwatobi guy want with Rin?
I have to hear this, I thought, sneaking a peek around the tree. Then I stopped. No, this isn't right. If that's Rin's friend from the race, then they should talk in privacy.
I wanted to walk away, even started lowering to a crawl under the bushes to sneak away, but out of nowhere, a pair of hands grabbed me, one on my arm and the other muffling my surprised shriek. It was like the pool incident all over again, the fear from before coming back to haunt me, save for being pinned against a tree. I should've realized it earlier. The man from the festival, tailored suit and all, had been spying on me. But why?
I thrust my knee up to hit him in between the legs but struck nothing.
"I suggest you cease thrashing so, madam," he said closely, his cologne faintly wafting towards me as he shifted in his suit. "I promise I mean you no harm."
When he let go, I threw my arms out, trying to get him to back off with little success. "Grab me again, and I scream, jackass," I threatened.
"Such inappropriate language coming from a young lady is truly disheartening. How I wonder why my lady makes company with such uncouth peers."
"You have five seconds to tell me what the hell you-"
"What is the meaning of this?" someone said behind him.
From the shadows came a familiar girl, one with round glasses and teal hair. She greeted me with a low bow, apologizing three times over for what had happened.
"Are you here with that other guy?" I asked, sticking my thumb back to the building.
"Yes. I knew Rei-kun wasn't sick and...followed him to make sure that he is alright," she answered, adjusting her glasses as she stood up straight.
"So, you're with Iwatobi...on Kasumi's team?" I asked, already knowing where the conversation was going.
"Yes...I wanted to talk to you as well, ironically."
I looked her up and down. Her prim features and formal-like stature didn't come off as threatening. Although, jellyfish have as much grace as her before their tentacles shock you into next week. It still didn't change my mind.
"No offense, but you're better off going back to your school campus without saying anything. I'm not in the mood to hear about Kas...Misuzu's issues with me."
Before I could turn back, she stopped me with, "I'm not here to start an argument, even though it was upsetting that your last encounter with Kasumi-san left her devastated."
"'Devastated'? She's the one who gave up so quickly after the freestyle race!"
"I can't say for sure, but I have a feeling it was because of her hearing about yours and my teammate's last race."
"You mean Rin and his friend Haruka?"
At that, we looked back at the boys. The other boy grabbed Rin's collar and said something inaudible. The man with us stepped up to intervene but was stopped at the girl's arm outstretched. She watched the two as if she were waiting for something to happen. Soon the two guys backed off each other, careful not to cause attention from my team now switching out from swimming and laps around campus. I had little time left to stick around, but I wanted to hear the girl out. She was weird, what with her grabby partner, but sincere and was offering insight on Rin and his friend that I couldn't pass up.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Michiko Ryuko," she said with a dip of her head. "But you need not introduce yourself, Mio-san."
I nodded. "What did you come here to say to me?"
"Truthfully,...I decided some time ago that whatever issue between you and Kasumi-chan was yours alone. But seeing as how my teammate took some time to come around to swimming, you and I are as bonded to her as a team would be. And if somehow, someway, that you feel connected to her, then please,...watch her swim. If you at least do that, there might be closure for both of you."
Why ask me that? Kasumi was great and all...but what about her swimming was so important?
"Ryuko-san," I said. "Thank you-I think? I'm sorry I misunderstood you, even though your...?"
"Butler."
"But-huh?"
She smiled apologetically at me. "I'd explain it all, but I think your teammates are looking for you."
Hearing my captain call my name, I cursed under my breath. My team was looking for me, but I wanted to ask Michiko more about Kasumi. But when I turned back, they were already sneaking out into the brush. The two didn't hear my whispered calls, cutting my chances of getting an answer down like a dead tree.
After that, I had no preparation for the next race. There was swimming, of course, but then there was pressure put on me to watch Kasumi swim. How could I face her after all that was said? And after that, how was I going to keep a straight face when Rin hears my confession and turns me down?