In the end...

"Nagisa,"

The teen in question looked up from the goggles he had been adjusting.

Staring down with a serious expression was the other first-year whom had joined the club. With his scowl and deeply furrowed eyebrows, he seemed very conflicted. What could be on his mind?

"Is something the matter, Rei-chan?" Nagisa asked without a grin. Perhaps he happened to be picking up on the mood Rei was emitting.

Ryugazaki's eyes drifted to the side.

"Are you... May I speak with you after practice?"

I decided the best way was to be direct. The worst case scenario is me quitting the swimming club because of this. If he tries to bring it up, I can always say it never happened.

Nagisa stopped for a moment, eyes searching for a confused expression. A thought seemed to click in his mind for a moment before he smiled for the first time. He nodded, laughing.

"Of course, Rei-chan! We can stay as long as you'd like."

Rei mirrored the expression, though his was a bit more meek.

At least he's cooperating. This makes my job a bit easier. Now to get through practice without leading him on to what I'll be saying.

Rei's eyes shifted downwards in embarrassment.

If only I knew exactly what I was going to say.

"Goodbye Haru-chan and Mako-chan! We'll see you tomorrow!" Nagisa's dark pink gaze of happy pupils watched as Makoto's hand waved a solemn and smiling farewell. He didn't need to have any gesture from Haru to know that the teen issued his most sincere goodbye as well. Though his friend didn't show it, he was quite emotional. Perhaps Nagisa could just sense it.

With the duo gone, Nagisa turned back to Rei. The teen had been very quiet during practice, and even now he stared to the ground, spacing out. Nagisa frowned.

"Rei-chan!" A loud shout awakened the spark inside Ryugazaki, causing him to jump several feet. He shot his pupils up to Nagisa and his confused expression.

"Ah! Oh, I'm sorry.. I just wasn't paying attention."

Despite his excuse, Nagisa wasn't sold. He was quite suspicious of the strange demeanor of his new friend. He figured the teen should be a little embarrassed over the situation, but not this much. He seemed to be going a little overboard.

"Let's go to the locker room and talk. Okay, Rei-chan?" Nagisa asked, hoping to gather the purple pupils. However, he received no such eye contact. Only a shameful nod and starting stride showed him the little interest Rei was giving. Nagisa could only watch from behind as the swaying body moved forward, not paying the least bit attention to the worried expression on the blonde's face.

I'm acting like a child about all of this. Why can't I at least look him in the eye!? Rei stood in the middle of the floor, the concrete of the ground in his sight. He could sense the dark pink pupils staring at him from ahead, but he couldn't find any strength to lift his head. He closed his eyes.

If I don't do something soon, then there won't be any way I'll be able to ask him... Just do it quickly...

He tookd a deep breath.

"Nagisa, there's something I want to ask-"

"It's alright, Rei-chan." A hand stopped any words Rei had willed the courage to speak. It was a gentle and reassuring hand that landed on his shoulder and opened his eyes.

Nagisa stood in front of Rei, smile pointed upwards to his friend.

"You don't need to say anything. I know exactly why you're here." He laughed suddenly, shrugging a little.

"You seemed to be having a bit of trouble, and anyone would get embarrassed from asking, so I wanted to stop you and just answer. The answer is yes, Rei-chan." These words soared through the sky, turning the pole vaulter's cheeks red. He gasped suddenly, lost in the deep pink eyes that conveyed a deep understanding that he would have never thought could be there.

"Nagisa..." A smile appeared to Rei's face, sending the message of his sudden joy in the words.

Stepping away, Nagisa gave Rei a chance to recover.

This is... This is better than I could have ever imagined. I was completely wrong about him.

Snapping back into the situation, Rei realized Nagisa had approached the nearby bench of the locker room. There he stood alone, hands unzipping his jacket. When he had finished with this article, his hands gripped the bottom of his shirt. With a quick motion, the plain t-shirt was whipped to the bench. It revealed his bare chest to the world, and had Rei's eyes widening in surprise.

"You probably were too embarrassed to say it in front of Haru-chan and Mako-chan, right?"

The situation shifting so suddenly had Rei thrown for a loop. His pink face grew three shades darker as he faced the stripping teen.

What is he doing!? Why is he taking off his clothes!? I may have never been in a relationship before this, but don't couples get closer or at least go on a few dates before they...

Rei cleared his throat, feeling no saliva in his mouth.

"Y-Yeah, I was. But don't you think this is rushing it just a bit? I mean... Shouldn't we wait until we've gotten more adjusted?"

Nagisa's fingers skimmed his belt buckle. He began to pull on the brass, but his confused smile rose to face Rei.

"Hold back? Just because you're a beginner, I'm not going to go easy on you, Rei-chan! You better be ready!" He laughed.

IhavenotreadaboutthiswhatdoIdo. Thoughts swirled in Rei's mind as he watched the leather belt drop with a sick thud. Though the two were across the room from each other, it seemed as though not an inch separated them.

I can't do this. Rei closed his eyes as Nagisa's delicate fingers unbuttoned his jeans. Though he hadn't been able to look away when he had seen the boy strip the first time, this seemed to be a much more delicate area. Rei braced himself as he heard the pants fall to a heap in the floor.

"Are you ready, Rei-chan?" Nagisa's shout willed a decision to come to mind, however, with the sudden pressure, Rei found himself whispering back a surprising answer.

"Yes."

A still silence shook the room for several seconds as the two awaited the others' words. It was only when Nagisa approached Rei that the teen took a step back. He raised his hands, moving them fast in the air as if to defend himself. It was as if his courage disappeared with his deep breaths.

"I'M SORRY, NAGISA! I CAN'T DO THIS! I NEED TO PROPERLY RESEARCH BEFORE I CAN EVEN HOPE TO DO THIS!"

"What are you talking about, Rei-chan? I thought you already researched the swimming techniques."

I told him; I don't understand a single thing about the whole procedure! Exactly what goes where and how does that fit in there—WAIT.

Rei's eyes flashed open, his hands lowering to allow him vision of the friend standing directly in front of him.

Standing before Rei was Nagisa, however, his appearance was not as what had been expected. While it was true he had been stripping, a dark pair of swim trunks clung to his lower half. This made Rei pause for a moment to recollect the situation. His gaped mouth and widened eyes felt a shame and embarrassment that burned a deep hole into him.

"You're talking about... Practice..?" He asked slowly, as if the entire situation needed to be explained in childish terms.

Nagisa nodded curiously, crossing his arms as if it helped his brain try to make sense of it all. He squinted his eyes in deep thought.

"Of course. What were you thinking, Rei-chan-"

"Nothing! I wasn't thinking anything else!"

This couldn't have turned out worse. Why do I always have to have these types of misunderstandings..?

Rei turned on his heel, sights set towards the door in the distance. All he wanted to do was go home and explode. He began to storm out, hand touching the knob of the door.

"I'm sorry, I just remembered that I have other obligations. I have to-"

"Rei-chan, wait!" Nagisa yelled out. He grabbed Rei's swinging wrist, succeeding in stopping the freshman mid-stride. It was here that they paused, Rei still facing forward, as he couldn't find the courage to show his red face.

Nagisa smiled, laughing to himself as he spoke.

"Rei-chan, what did you think I was talking about..." His words trailed off slowly as a dark realization of his wording and actions dawned on him. Nagisa's smile faded. As did Rei's. He faced forward, indifferent expression hiding pain.

Now he knows. It seems my mastering of the butterfly was for nothing. I still have pole-vaulting to go back to. Perhaps it's better this way.

"Let me go." Rei's harsh orders were met without complaint, but as he felt the strength fading from Nagisa's grip, a sadness flared in his eyes only to be replaced with a film of blank pupils and feigned thoughts.

It's not as if I even love him.