Today Class D is having its first swimming class. I'm not particularly excited about it but some of the boys from my class were, especially Ike and Yamauchi who were looking forward to seeing the girls in their swimsuits. They even arrived early for the class which never happened before. They going to ranks the girls by their breasts size. I don't understand the logic behind their excitement, I figured that must be normal high school boys things.
Seeing Ike and others excited I remember that I never saw Suzuki in a swimsuit but that's past now, I should focus on the present. The School pool was fifty meters long. The water was clear and because it's an indoor pool we don't have to worry about the weather.
Come to think of it, it's been a while since I stepped into a swimming pool. Soon girls came out from the changing room, one of them is Horikita. She looked good. I surprised that she decided to take this class knowing how much she hates social interaction. It looks like she notices that I was staring at her and now she was glaring at me. I quickly turned my eyes away from her. After some time a teacher came and told us to do some warm-up exercise.
"All right everyone, that's enough for warm-up exercise. Now I want you all to compete against each other. I will give a special bonus reward of 5000 points to the first place winner. However, the students who come in the last place will have to take supplementary lessons. So get ready" said the teacher. At this announcement, the students who confident in their physical skill cheered with joy while others groaned.
So we can get extra points like that, it's pretty surprising. I wonder if this type of reward also applied to academic activities. A sound of a whistle broke my chain of thoughts. I looked towards the pool to see that the girls are taking their starting position.
The students were sorted by gender for the swimming competition. The girls started first while the boys were setting on the sidelines. I don't know any girl in class besides Horikita so I was a little curious about how she performed in this race. From the amount of cheering, Kushida is the favourite to win. Ike was especially cheering for Kushida.
The race was a close one, I think. A girl named Onodera won easily. I heard that she had been in the swimming team before. Horikita comes in second place and Kushida games in fourth place. Now it's time for boys to start their race.
I was thinking about how should I approach this race. Should I just win the race or should I keep it easy? I want to avoid that supplementary lessons so I can not afford to lose either. In the end, I decided to keep my normal pace. There is no need to work up for this race. I also didn't need that extra points reward since I barely use my points.
I feel like someone staring at me. When I looked behind me I saw a group of three girls were pointing at me while giggling. I was confused by their behaviour. I didn't do anything which attracts attention. Once they released that I was looking at them, a girl with brown hair waves her hand at me. I don't know what I'm supposed to do in this situation, so I also wave my hand at her.
After that awkward interaction, I take my position at the starting line in the third lane Kouenji was at my left and Hirata was at my right. I can hear that a lot of girls were cheering for Hirata which Ike and Sudo didn't like as they were glaring at him.
"Let's do our best, Ayanokouji-Kun," said Hirata oblivious to the glare that he was receiving from the boys.
"Sure" I replied. At the sound of the whistle, we all dove into the pool. Maintaining my normal pace currently, I was at fourth place. In front of me, Hirata and Sudo were going neck to neck for second place and Kouenji was way ahead of the rest of the students.
Kouenji won the race by a mile, Sudo gets second place, Hirata third place and I came in fourth place.
"You were not short of breath at all, Ayanokouji-Kun," Hirata asked me after getting out of the pool. Both Hirata and Sudo were exhausted except Kouenji and myself.
"Well, I guess" I replied. I just can't tell him that I holding back, that would be rude, right. After the race, the teacher permits us to use the pool as we like for the rest of the PE period. I saw Horikita sitting on the sidelines. Even now she refused to make friends. Did she serious about spending three years of high school alone.
Other students already formed their group. It looks like I again fail to make friends. With a sigh, I walked toward Horikita and sat down beside her.
"Hey" I called her and in return, I received an icy glare. Now I took a good look at her, she someone who can be regarded as beautiful. I heard that complimenting others will help you make friends with them but I don't know how to do it, especially if it's a girl. My interaction with girls pretty much limited to Suzuki.
"What do you want?" asked Horikita in her usual cold voice.
"Nothing in particular" I replied. For some reason, I don't want to tell her the real reason why I come here.
"Lair, you here because you are unable to join any group, right Ayanokouji-Kun," said Horikita without changing her icy expression. Oh, she caught me. We sat in silence after my many attempts to start the conversation with her and every time she shot me down. I thought that I should at least befriend my seatmate but I don't think it going to happen any time soon.
"Horikita-san, Ayanokouji-Kun" a voice called us. It was Kushida who just come out of the pool. Seen her approaching us and already knowing the intention of her approach, my neighbour decided to call it a day.
"I'm leaving," said Horikita. With that, she walks towards the exit. I didn't stop her or either I have the right to stop her.
"Did I interrupt you two?" said Kushida upon arriving as she watches Horikita leave.
"Huh, no it's nothing important" I replied. Although she didn't believe it but decided to leave the topic. It looks like she has some other topic to discuss.
"Um, I want to ask you something, if that's alright with you, Ayanokouji-Kun," said Kushida. She took my hand in hers and close the distance between us. I somewhat feel uncomfortable from this sudden advance from her.
"You can ask me anything, Kushida-san," I said trying to gain some distance between us.
"Are you and Horikita-san dating. Did you two know each other before coming to this school" asked Kushida. For few moments her expression change but quickly change back to her usual self. That was strange.
"No, we not dating and I only meet her here at the school for the first time. Why you ask?" I answered honestly but she didn't seem fully convinced. Although I was curious to know about what made them think that we are dating.
"You see, you two were always seen together. Some students saw you two at convenience store and she only talk to you in whole class. So I thought that you two know each other before coming to this school. Sorry for amusing things on my own" said Kushida while apologising.
"Don't worry Kushida-san, you didn't need to apologise. Horikita and I at most are just neighbours," I said. She still not fully convinced but she decided to let off my hand. After that, we talked a bit about some random stuff. Then she said goodbye and returns to her group. As soon as Kushida leave Ike came at with an angry expression.
"What are you doing with Kushida-chan, Ayanokouji-Kun," asked Ike, no more like he interrogates me. His tone of voice was cold.
"She was asking about Horikita," I said. After hearing that his expression return to normal. He then wrapped his hand around my shoulder and whispered to me.
"I'm aiming for Kushida-chan, so don't you dare get in my way, Ayanokouji-Kun," said Ike with a threatening smile. After giving me a threat, he left. I just want to make friends and spend my time here as normal students. I didn't plan to get in anyone's way.