For the purpose of this story, I'm making the team relays 5 person events. The front crawl starts, backstroke, breast, butterfly, then freestyle. The first person would have to dive down as they return to the start area, allowing the backstroke swimmer to dive backwards and over the first swimmer.


Night Before the Medley

Kagome was not impressed.

With a harsh glare towards the celebrating red head, she turned and set off after Haru, ignoring the concerned calls from her teammates. Unlike her teammates, she had not chosen to compete in the individuals trials. Instead she had stated the only way she would compete would be if they entered the team events. Unfortunately they had not decided to participate in the group relay.

And though losing the events did not damper their fighting spirit, Rin practically spitting in Haru's face and watching Haru take off broken seemed to be the last straw on the camel's back.


Haru stepped out of the locker room, absentmindedly rubbing the damp towel against his hair. His thoughts were frantic, grasping at straws, attempting to fill the void that now resided on his mind and heart.

A flash of yellow forced him to stall and look up.

Standing in front of him, dressed in their tacky yellow Iwatobi-chan shirt and blue/white school jersey was his only female teammate.

Blue eyes regarded one another.

And without a word, they left together.


Please leave your name and a message after the tone.

"Haru-chan? Where are you right now? Is Gome-chan with you?" 'Nagisa-chan'

"Please hurry home, we're all worried!" 'Rei-kun'

"I'm sorry, Haruka-sempai! Kagome-chan! I signed up for the medley relay!" 'Oh, Gou-chan'

"Yeah, so let's swim together tomorrow, Haru-chan! Gome-chan!-"

"I'll be fine! I'll have the theory memorized by tomorrow!-"

"Rei-chan! That's a sure sign tha you'll fail!"

"I just have to memorize the theory for how not to fail, also!"

Your message has ended.


Haru swam through the water slowly, his arms moving languidly to propel him across the water on his back. He lost himself in the water, stroking without a drive, randomly changing direction to prevent any collisions with the edges of the school pool. Eventually he lost the will to move his arms, allowing himself to float aimlessly. He wasn't sure how long he remained lost in his thoughts before he felt fingers ghosting across his arms.

Blinking away the lonelier thoughts, Haru looked to the side and spotted his companion floating beside him. He must have floated near her. Staring at her serene face he finally felt the strain on his shoulders relax. He followed her eyes to the night sky and joined her stargazing, his hand absently reaching out to grasp hers.

Her fingers curled around his.


"Haru usually doesn't carry his phone around with him," Makoto informed the confused trio with a small smile.

A collective sigh of defeat.

"Oh! Kagome-chan! Wait! Does anyone have her phone number?"

"Eh?! I don't!"

"I don't either."

"Kagome-chan doesn't have a phone," Makoto once again informed.

"EH?!"
"THOSE TWO ARE HOPELESS"


It was late into the night before the two decided to head back.

The summer evening heat warmed them instantly as they walked in comfortable silence. Haru held onto Kagome's hand, their touch never breaking as they made their trek back to his house.

The cicadas were a welcome sound, a lullaby for an already dozing Kagome. An occasional yawn broke the silence.

As they returned to the familiar sight of Haru's house, the light filtering through the screen door had them pausing in their step. For one, Haru held the only keys to the house and it was less than likely that his parents were back. That meant-

"Is that-?" Kagome whispered, her head first peeking in as Haru opened the door.

"Makoto?" Haru finished, spotting the slumbering boy on step.

A familiar object grasped firmly in Makoto's hands drew Haru's attention.

Kagome watched quietly as Haru reached down with his free hand to take the blue cellphone from Makoto. On her toes, she could see Haru accessing his voicemail.

He lifted the small device between the two, he felt Kagome press against him, leaning closer to hear the message.

Frantic voices filled the air between them.

One by one, the voices worked to pull a scattered message.

And with each clipped message, Haru's eyes widened, Kagome's eyes teared, and their hands tightened around one another.

These guys...my teammates...

Sniffling, struggling to pull back her tears, Kagome kneeled before the brunette, releasing Haru's hands in order to place both of hers on Makoto's shoulders.

"Makoto," She tried to call, the tears breaking her attempt as she gently tried to shake him awake.

"Makoto," Haru called for her, kneeling as well.

And seemingly agonizingly slowly, he woke.

"Haru? Ka-gome?" Makoto rubbed the sleep from his eyes, slowly taking in the sight of Haru and...a crying Kagome. Suddenly all traces of sleep left him as he instinctively cupped one of her damp cheeks, rubbing his thumb against her skin, willing the tears away.

"Kagome-chan, are you okay? Why are you crying," He worried as she fell forward to embrace him.

"Haru, did something happen?"

Haru watched them, the faintest of smiles forming on his face.

"We have a relay to swim, right?"

"!" Makoto gasped in surprise, his hold tightening around the bundle in his arms.


"Uwuooo Gome-chan you cried for us?!~~" Nagisa hugged the blushing girl tightly, rubbing his cheek against her lovingly, "But you and Haru-chan really had us worried!"

"A-Ah sorry about that...b-but don't go around telling people I cried!"

"Ehhh why not?! But it's so cute!"

"No! No it's not! Makoto-chan! Why did you tell him!"

"Sorry Gome-chan," He did not look sorry at all, that smile of his.

"Eehehe It is really cute Kagome-chan!"

"Not you too Kou-chan!"

"You should not be ashamed Kagome-san, I am deeply touched that you were moved by our message! And as I promised, I studied very hard on medley racing!"

"Neehhhhhh Rei-kuuunn."

"Haru-chan! Help me!"

"Don't add -chan to my name."

"HARU!"