The weekend is here! Those of you who like Boku No Hero Academia, I started writing a fanfic called All for One (villain Deku) so go check it out if you like! Now, onto the story!
I don't own the characters.
The team met outside of the swimming complex, the sun beating their backs as they strode towards it, the structure shining in the sunlight. "Wow, that's big," Riku muttered as he yawned loudly. He looked like he hadn't slept the entire night and was a bit fidgety as Nagisa wrapped an arm around his neck and dragged him over to registration. Haru sighed as she headed over to the girl's registration area when she heard someone breathing down her neck. "What do you want, Emiya-san?" she groaned as Sakura leaned in to locate her name. "This is our final year in high school so make sure you don't screw up," she growled as she slammed the pen down, shocking the volunteer a little as she headed off with the other girls.
"Sheesh, why does she care about my performance so much?" Haru mumbled when she heard some squeals coming from the Miyagi group. She scowled when she saw the Samezuka guys piling out of their bus, earning squeals from the group as their teacher shooed them into the complex, leaving Rin standing at the steps of the bus. He spotted her and gave her a wave as she felt a small blush on her cheeks. "See you later, Haru!' he called as she rejoined her team, giving him a small smile as she walked into the complex.
"Eh, captain! You know that cute girl? She's your girlfriend or something?" Momo grinned as Rin grappled him to the ground when he heard a shout, "Yo, Momo! You're here!" Momo groaned as Seichirou strode towards them, wearing his normal clothes as he patted his brother on the head. "What are you doing here, Onichan? Aren't you supposed to be at uni?" he groaned as Seichirou grinned. "I have to come and support my old team, don't I?" he grinned as Momo snapped, "That's just a reason for you to ditch class!" "Come on, guys. Let's get in and begin your stretches," Gou started to say when both brothers turned to look at her. "Gou-san!" they shouted as they tried to run after her before she was yanked to safety by the Iwatobi team. "Sheesh, what do you people see in my sister?" Rin groaned as he leads his team to the registration booth.
The place was packed as usual but the Iwatobi team was pumped, even Riku had let go of some of his nervousness once he felt the atmosphere of the upcoming race hitting him. He smiled as he watched people swimming below him, teams raising banners in the air and practicing their cheers. He clutched a hand to his chest, tears nearly forming in his eyes as Rei said, "No time to cry, Riku-kun! Let's get practicing!" As the boys headed off to practice, Haru stood at the side of the pool, dipping her foot in a little as she peeled off her shirt to reveal her swimsuit underneath. Some of the boys stopped to look at her as she tossed her garments aside and walked to the starting block to wait for her turn,
"Sheesh, I wonder what those guys see in you," Sakura growled as she stood beside her. "And I wonder why you always want to pick a fight with me," she muttered as Sakura snorted. "I won't let you win Rin's heart." "I don't care about what he feels about me. He's just a friend." "Are you that blind? Damn it, sometimes I just want to choke you…" "Go ahead and see what happens…" "Why you little…" "Come on, Sakura-san! You can save the energy for later, can you?" her teammate smiled as she broke their argument, letting Haru dive into the pool, feeling the cold seep into her. As she swam, she thought of how Riku had described his middle school life and how he felt so alone. Now… she was starting to get what he was saying.
No. Now was not the time to be thinking something like that. Be positive… be positive… "And now, let the prefectural tournament begin!" the announcer said as all the teams went wild, cheering for their teams as the first of the competitors walked to the pool. Haru stood at the stands, her yellow shirt on as she frowned a little, wondering why they still had to go with this outfit. "First up is Haruka-senpai and then you guys. The relay will be tomorrow," Gou said. "Ah, I wish I can go for it now!" Nagisa groaned as Rei nodded. "Now now, guys. Let's focus on your events today," Makoto said as Haru got up. "Then, I'm off," she said as her team smiled at her, words crossing from their expressions to her as she walked off.
As she entered the locker room, she felt her heart pounding more than usual. Why did she feel frightened all of a sudden? It wasn't like she had never swum at a tournament before so why… then she remembered Sakura's words. "This is our last tournament in high school." The words rang in her mind as she thought of how she would not be able to swim with the others again. Next year, it would be just Rei, Nagisa and Riku and she and Makoto would have to part ways… no, now wasn't the time to think about the future. She slammed her locker door shut and walked to the waiting area, catching a glare from Sakura as she plopped down on the chair.
"Girls under-18 100m freestyle heat 2, please make your way to the swimming pool immediately," the announcer said as she got up, looking at the sun shining from the entrance. She smiled as she felt her heart ease as she walked to the pool, the crowd going wild as they cheered. Her team shouted her name, pumping their fists into the air as they cheered. "You can do it, Haru!" Makoto shouted as she stood behind the starting block, fastening her cap onto her head. She smiled inwardly as she pulled on her goggles and got onto the starting block, waiting for the signal to go. This was her last summer with them… she couldn't afford to lose…
"On your marks…" the announcer said and the gun went off. The crowd roared as they hit the water, shouting as they swam. Haru paddled faster than she ever had, not caring about how her lungs were about to explode. She had to swim for the team, beat Sakura and go to the next level. She wanted to win for her team and swim with them forever. But… when did she start to care about her time? Didn't this go against her principle of being free? Why did she have this feeling so late in the game? No, she couldn't think about it now. Now she had to swim. For Makoto, Nagisa, Rei, Riku. "Rin," she whispered to herself as she gave a burst of energy, shooting off into the water. She couldn't even sense Sakura near her now as she saw the starting point ahead. Come on, almost there…
She slammed her hand into the wall, gasping as she took gulps of air. "She… she won!" her team hollered as the crowd went wild. She looked at her time, her eyes shining as the number 1 shone next to her school name. It seemed to suck all of her breath away as she saw a hand being lowered to her. "Good job, Haru-chan," she thought she heard Makoto say when she saw the face fading to nothingness. She felt a little tinge in her heart as she pulled herself up, letting her hand pick up her towel and jacket and walk into the shade to where her team enveloped her in their arms.
"That was amazing! You broke the record!" Riku shouted as Nagisa and Rei threatened to break her arms. "Now, guys! Let her have some space!" Makoto moaned but he was red from laughing and smiling at her. "Good job, Haru-chan!" he smiled as she frowned. "Lay off the –chan," she muttered but she high fived him anyway. "Come on, your turn is next, Riku so show them what you got!" Gou beamed as Riku's eyes lit up. "Hai! After seeing that, I feel motivated now!" he said as he walked to the waiting area. "Haruka-senpai, watch me!" he smiled as he walked away, leaving them to drag her back to the stands to cheer for him.
When Riku swam, Haru could feel her breath being snatched away, his form being more beautiful than before. He no longer looked like he was being held back and he looked like he was having fun. Finally free from his bounds, he could swim without any regrets. Rin grinned as he swam next to him, Riku losing to him just by a short time span but managing to pull through to regionals. "Now you're talking," Rin smiled as he pulled the other boy up before giving him a high five. Riku nearly sobbed as he was pulled to the higher ground, earning a grin from Rin who started to chat with him as they walked back.
By the end of the day, everyone had managed to make it into regionals for their respective events. Haru could feel her throat growing more hoarse by the minute, screaming without a care in the world for her team. At the end of it, everyone was exhausted but still ready for the relay the next day. As they parted ways, Haru, Makoto, and Riku walked back to their homes, the sea greeting them as it always did at that time of the day. "I can't wait to swim tomorrow," Riku sighed. "Don't worry. We'll show you a sight you've never seen before," Makoto said as Riku pumped a fist into the air. As he said those words, Haru thought of how she would never get to swim with them to see that sight and she felt her heart crumble a little as they walked down the street.