Today all the third years were meeting with our academic advisors to discuss our career choices. After sleeping on it, I decided that I would really enjoy being an interior designer. Haru, Makoto, and I gathered outside of the private room where Miss Amakata would be talking to us.

I decided to go first; if I didn't, I would be on edge.

"So, Matsumura, I've looked over your career test. I know you are excellent at drawing — would a career in that field interest you?"

"Yes, I've actually looked up a few careers. I really liked the idea of being an interior designer. It would be fun to decorate people's homes to their liking. Just thinking about that makes me think about Yukari; she designs clothes to make people happy. I want to do the same thing but with furniture," I smiled.

"I think that would be a wonderful career for you. There will also be scouts looking at the third year swimmers. Maybe you could get scouted to attend a school with an amazing interior design program."

"I'll do some more research. Thank you Miss A!" I beamed. I stood up and bowed before I exited.

Haru went into the room next, and I pulled out my phone to text Rin.

Me: Hey, I have awesome news! I think I know what I want to do after high school. Being an interior designer would be such a fun career. I'm going to look up more about it and start practicing :)

"Do you know what you want to do?" Makoto asked.

"Interior designing. Now I just have to tell my mom and come up with a way to tell my father," I said with a sigh.

"You'll figure it out, Riku," Makoto smiled.

"Thanks, Makoto! I'm going to start practicing — it won't hurt," I laughed. Makoto and I turned our attention back to the closed door. "You think Haru will figure out what he wants to do?" I asked, biting my lip.

"I don't know. I still don't know what I want to do either." Makoto scratched the back of his head.

"I'll help you both figure it out. I promise." I crossed my heart.

Makoto smiled at me before he changed the subject to the swim club.

We chatted about what we could do to help improve our times and stamina for regionals. Haru was taking quite a while with Ms. Amakata, but once he came out, Makoto went in. It was quiet between Haru and I, so I decided to text Yukari about my decision. She was excited and wanted me to redesign her entire apartment for practice.

.oOo.

After Makoto got out of the meeting, the three of us went down to the club room to meet the others. We were going to practice at Coach Sasabe's pool. It was nice being able to practice at the place that started it all. If it weren't for Iwatobi Swim Club, I wouldn't have met Rin, Kou, or Nagisa.

When I heard Nagisa say my name, I stopped and looked at him. "What did you say?"

"That you, Haru, and Makoto should all work here after high school!" Nagisa beamed at the idea.

"No thank you. No offense to you, Coach." I got out of the pool to drink some water and check my phone. Rin had texted me back a few minutes ago.

Rin: That'll be a great career for you. I'm really happy that you've found something you want to do. Also, remember when I would talk about Sousuke Yamazaki when we were younger? He transferred to Samezuka to swim at home for his last year.

Me: Thanks, Rin! :) I'll have to come over to meet Yamazaki! It's so exciting that you guys get to spend your last year swimming together.

I put my phone down and walked back towards the pool. Rei was looking at a poster.
"What's with this?" I asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Ah! I had a print shop cook up a dozen or so of these for the grand opening! Neat, huh? Make yourselves useful and distribute them," Sasabe said, unrolling one of the posters he was holding.

We all crowded around to get a better look at it.

"Sprashu Fes?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Uh, what is that supposed to say?"

"Is it like a culture festival or something?" Kou asked.

"Well, there'll be lots of fun stuff going on here, you'll see," Sasabe chuckled.

"Give us details, Coach!" Nagisa whined.

"Well, to kick things off we'll have a kickboard race for kids who can't swim, followed by a contest to see who can hold their breath under the water the longest! Then, samurai squid-style swimming."

"Squid-style what?" Rei asked.

"I've heard of that! It's a special technique soldiers used during the Sengoku period to cross rivers in full armor! That's a great idea!" Nagisa beamed.

"Where are we gonna get the costumes?" I asked, skeptical.

"There's a big hole in the schedule for the main event, but I'm open to any ideas you might have," Sasabe said.

"It's gotta be epic! I'm sure we can come up with something!" Nagisa looked at us.

I shook my head as soon as Coach Sasabe asked Ms. Amakata about helping out. He should have known that she would say no.

We all dried off to go get changed and hang up the posters around town. We ran into a few people while we were hanging up the posters, and we told them all about the festival. I had a feeling that there would be a good turn-out.. Now we just needed to come up with the main event.

.oOo.

We stopped at the convenience store to get drinks while we brainstormed our ideas.

I sighed as I looked out at the ocean. We hadn't come up with anything feasible yet.

"We still need to figure out something for the main event," Nagisa said.

"What about a dog-paddle race?" Kou suggested.

"Could be fun." I said.

"I'll get you one better — how about a competition to see who does the best butterfly? We can call it 'Butterfly of Beauty!'" Rei pushed up his glasses with a smirk.

"A muscle contest would be pretty cool." Kou looked off dreamily.

Rei turned to her. "Oh, come on! Is there nothing you can't work your obsession into?"

"I think it would be fun. Kou should be able to have some fun too." I shrugged.

"You're pretty quiet. Any ideas floatin' around in there?" Makoto asked Haru.

"We could do a relay," Haru suggested.

We all looked at Haru in unison. That was a brilliant idea!

"People would lose their minds!" Nagisa brightened up immediately.

"I believe we have ourselves a winner!" Rei smiled.

"It'll give everyone a taste of how we'll kill it at regionals!" Kou pumped her fist in the air.

"True, but we still need a team to race against," Makoto added.

"Riku-chan can ask Rin-chan if he'll swim against us!" Nagisa smiled.

"Why do I have to ask him?" I sighed.

"He won't say no to you! Please, Riku!" Nagisa gripped my arm.

"Fine." I took out my phone and dialed him.

"Hey, babe. What's up?" Rin answered

"Hey, I wanted to know if you and a few of the Samezuka boys were doing anything this Saturday."

Nagisa grabbed the phone from my hand, putting it on speaker.. "We wanted to ask if you could race us in a relay for the main event at Sprashu fes!"

"Why are you calling it that?"

"We're holding it at Iwatobi SC—"

"Returns!" Nagisa finished Rei's sentence.

"Well, at least that would make sense," Rin said.

"Uh, hey, Rin." Makoto gently took the phone.

"Is that you, Makoto?"

"Yeah, hello," Makoto said.

"So, the big event is a relay, and you want us to swim against you?" Rin asked.

"You cool with that?" Makoto asked.

"Dude, I don't know." Rin sighed.

"Pretty please?" Nagisa and Kou said together.

"Fine," Rin sighed.

I took back my phone and took it off speaker, "Thanks, Rin. I'll see you Saturday."

"I'll see you then, Riku. I want you to tell me all about interior designing when I see you."

"I will!" I beamed as I hung up.

"This is going to be so exciting!" Nagisa jumped up.

I looked down at my phone to text Yukari about the festival.

Me: Hey! We're gonna be doing a relay against Samezuka for the main event at Sprashu Fes this saturday. It's a festival celebrating the reopening of Iwatobi Swim Club Returns.

Yukari: OMG! We should have a sleepover! I'll meet you at school and I can make you a little cheerleading uniform for Samezuka! We'd look so cute!

Me: You don't have to do that. I'll tell my mom you'll be coming over :)

Yukari: It would look pretty unfair if Iwatobi had two cheerleaders, so you're going to be a cheerleader for your boyfriend's team. No if, ands, or buts about it! :p

I sighed. There was no way I'd be able to convince her, but at least Yukari would come up with a really cute outfit.

Nagisa's head on my shoulder got my attention. "You're going to be a cheerleader Saturday?" he asked.

"Yes, but not for Iwatobi. Yukari thinks I should be Samezuka's cheerleader," I answered, not bothering to scold him for being nosy.

"I bet Rin-chan would be super happy if you dressed up for him." Nagisa nudged me.

"Nagisa." I twisted around to glare at him.

"I think that's a great idea. Mikoshiba even said you were an honorary member," Makoto praised.

"I'm excited to watch you and Samezuka swim a relay. After the students see that, I bet you they'll want to sign up."

"We can only hope," Kou sighed.

I stood up and stretched."I should probably get going if I want to be home before dinner."

"Can I come too?" Nagisa asked.

"Not tonight. I want to talk to my mom about my future plans. You and everyone else can come over for dinner soon," I smiled at him.

"We should get going too. Haru and I will walk you home, Riku," Makoto said as he stood up.

Soon, we all went in our separate directions. I was both excited and nervous about talking to my mom. There was no way I was ready to tell my father about my decision. I knew my mom would help me tell my dad when I was ready, but it was still nerve-wracking. If only I could read his mind—it would make all of this a lot easier.

.oOo.

When I got home, my mom was preparing dinner, and my dad was on a conference call. This would be the perfect opportunity to talk to her.

"Hey, mom, today we talked with our advisors about our future career plans," I started.

"Did you make a decision?" She looked up at me, eyes questioning.

"I want to be an interior designer." I let out the breath I was holding. It was nice being able to tell one of my parents.

"That's awesome, sweetie!" My mom wiped her hands on her apron before giving me a hug.

"Thanks, mom. I'm still not ready to tell dad though."

"I'll be there when you're ready to tell him. I'm proud of you." She kissed the top of my head.

"Also, can Yukari sleep over this Friday? There's a festival for the grand opening of Iwatobi Swim Club Returns."

"Of course. Is Iwatobi participating?" she asked.

"Yeah, they're going to swim a relay against Samezuka. Yukari wants me to be Samezuka's cheerleader while she'll be Iwatobi's cheerleader," I explained.

"That sounds exciting. Tell me how it goes and take pictures, okay?"

"I will!" I beamed before starting to help her cook dinner.

During dinner, my father was going on about another project he wanted me to look at. Of course, I had no choice but to look at it before bed. As always, he showered me with praise and told me he would send the design to the contractor. When I plopped down onto my bed, I started getting excited. I was really looking forward to Saturday. It was going to be fun.