So new chapter today, and not much else to say, enjoy.

Dapper64: That's great, it's how I start almost all my fics.

Nishikata had finished changing, and was now on his way to meet up with his friends, who had told him that they found a few chairs near the side of the pool that were vacant. "I wonder if any of the others figured out why so many of the guys from school are here." He asked as he looked around. For better or worse, there were a lot of faces he recognized from school, but thankfully, it also looked like they were trying to have a good time, and not merely looking for Takagi-san. "I wonder what her angle was for the contest … I mean I kinda want to know what she has planned, but I guess I'll have to figure that out later." He began stretching his arms as he walked. "For now, I have plans with my friends."

It didn't take him long to find them, he was the last one there, though Takao, Kimura, and Hamaguchi were still getting situated when he arrived. "Hey guys." He greeted.

"Glad you could make it." Takao replied.

"Well I didn't have much else planned." He said as he took the last remaining chair.

"So did you hear?" Hamaguchi asked. "About why so many guys from our school are coming here today?"

"I have my suspicions, I mean she told me yesterday that she was planning on going to the pool."

"Wait, Houjou told you what?" Hamaguchi asked.

"Houjou-san? No, Takagi-san told me she had plans to go to the pool today."

"Takagi-san as well huh? Doesn't matter, everyone's here mainly because of Houjou."

"Ha ha, no, they're here because Takagi-san is here."

The two of them glared at each other as Kimura and Hamaguchi looked at them with concern. "I think it's more a matter of which one they heard about first." Takao stated.

"No, they came here because those creeps wanted to see Houjou in a bathing suit." Hamaguchi retorted. "After all, she's the most attractive girl in our school."

"Um, no, Takagi-san is." Nishikata retorted. "And you're insane if you think that more guys are going after Houjou-san than Takagi-san."

"No, you're the insane one; you know, I caught someone trying to spy on her while she was eating lunch?"

"That's nothing, just the other day, someone tried to steal my phone just to get Takagi-san's number."

Kimura stood up and pushed the two apart. "Gentleman, please, neither of you are in a relationship with the girl you're talking about, so either stop your arguing, or go up to her and tell her that you love her."

Neither Nishikata nor Hamaguchi said a word, causing Kimura to let out a sigh of relief. "That's what I thought." He went back to his seat and laid down on the lounge chair as Nishikata and Hamaguchi stared at each other, not content with the outcome.

"Well … in any event … we came here to kick off the summer, so let's not dwell on it." Nishikata said.

"Yeah, even though we can't agree on the reason why so many other guys wanted to come here." Hamaguchi replied.

"Can we not start this again?" Takao asked.

"I think that's the most rational thing I've heard all day." Nishikata replied.

"Took the words right out of my mouth." Hamaguchi added. "So, is someone going to stay here first and keep an eye on all of our things?"

"I'll do it." Kimura stated. "I'd be happy to stay and keep an eye on everything."

"Thanks, I don't want someone trying to steal my phone again."

"Did someone really try to steal your phone?" Takao asked.

"Well they asked first but … I told them to ask her themself … and I don't think they liked that answer."

"I'll keep an eye on it." Kimura stated.

"Okay." Nishikata placed his bag on the last remaining long chair and turned to the pool. "So, who wants to have a race?"

"A race?" Hamaguchi asked, sounding a little excited. "Okay, you're on." He looked to the sky as he closed his eyes. "How about we bet lunch on it?"

"You mean the loser has to buy?" Nishikata asked as he walked over to his bag. "Okay, I'm in."

"Well I'm not." Takao stated. "If I compete, then I'm just going to lose outright."

"Then you have to buy your own lunch." Hamaguchi stated.

"Fine by me, I came prepared for just that." Takao said before walking off.

"Anyway." Hamaguchi turned back to Nishikata. "Are you ready?"

Nishikata pulled a pair of goggles out of his bag and smiled. "Oh, I'm more than ready."

The two of them walked up to a pool lane, which, unlike the rest of the pool, was left empty for people who wanted to swim laps. "How about we make this quick and easy?" Hamaguchi asked. "To the other side and back."

"Works for me." Nishikata said as he put on his goggles.

Nishikata walked up to the edge of the pool and began stretching his arms out one last time.

"Wait." Hamaguchi began. "Shouldn't we have someone to decide who wins?"

"I think it'll be obvious, and if not, we could always race again."

"You're that confident, huh?" Hamaguchi asked. "Well, I guess I have to rise to the challenge. Let's do this." Hamaguchi also stepped up to the edge as well.

"Okay then, ready?" Nishikata looked at Hamaguchi as they both got into a diving position. "Set." They both readied themselves for the jump ahead of them. "And … GO!"

They jumped in and began swimming to the far side of the pool as fast as they could, with Nishikata easily taking the lead. He effortlessly got to the other side, and turned, long before Hamaguchi, and by the time he was on his way back, his lead was staggering. 'I work out every day because of Takagi, I'm not about to let all that go to waste now.' He thought as he reached the finish and pulled himself onto the edge. "That was easy." He said as he looked to Hamaguchi who still hadn't reached the end yet.

Nishikata waited patiently for Hamaguchi to finish, before looking down at him and smiling. "Damn." Hamaguchi exclaimed. "When did you get good at swimming?"

"I work out every day, you should know this by now."

"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd actually beat me."

"Well, a deals a deal, and now I don't have to pay for lunch."

"Fine, just don't go over fifteen hundred yen, okay?"

"Wasn't planning on it."

Hamaguchi pulled himself out of the water and let out a sigh. "Thanks."

"Hm?" Nishikata began as he looked over at him. "You don't sound so happy."

"Yeah, it's just … I'm thinking about Houjou again. Why can't everyone else simply … stay away."

"You heard Kimura, if you're not dating her … no, if she's not dating anyone, then you really have no right to criticize people for being interested in her."

"Don't give me the 'thou art holier than thou' stuff, I know you feel the same way about Takagi-san."

Nishikata turned away as he began to blush. "L-lets say I do, I don't complain about it all the time."

"You would if you would just admit that you like her."

Nishikata wanted to tell him he was wrong, but the truth was, the only reason he wasn't complaining right now, was because he was still dealing with Takagi-san's confession from a few days ago. "Well … it wouldn't matter, Kimura's still right."

"Don't remind me." Hamaguchi stared off into the distance for a moment. "Say, did you see her yet today?"

"Who?"

"Houjou."

Nishikata shook his head. "I haven't gotten the chance yet."

"Well … I'm … she does look stunning, but I know that there's more to her than just her looks. Thing is, I can tell that every other guy is interested in her only because of just that."

"Now who's pretending to be holier than who? You wouldn't have been interested in her in the first place if it wasn't for just that."

"Shut up." He said as he began grinding his teeth. "I've … grown past that."

"Sure you have." Nishikata looked up as a thought occurred to him. "Hey, mind if I ask you something?"

"Depends on what you want to ask."

"Why don't you tell her how you feel about her?"

"I … think that would be obvious, wouldn't it? I'm worried that she might turn me down."

"Okay … but … what would you do … if she confessed to you?"

"Huh?"

"Right now, if she walked up to you, and told you that she was in love with you, how would you react?"

"Well it would make things a lot easier for me, that's for sure."

"Would it though?" He asked as he turned to him. "Tell me exactly what you would do, right now."

Hamaguchi opened his mouth, but didn't say anything; and after a minute of just sitting there, he closed his mouth and turned away. "I … I … don't … know."

"Then you would probably panic."

"Don't say it like that!" He hissed. "I … of course I would panic, what would you do?"

"Deny it was possible and call her out for playing a joke on me."

"That's awfully specific."

"You have no idea."

There was a long awkward silence as Hamaguchi slowly pieced it together. "No … you didn't."

"I did." Nishikata turned away and scowled. "And I've … been starting to regret it … a lot."

Hamaguchi's eye began to twitch for a moment before he pushed himself to his feet and clapped his hands together. "Well, I need to make sure that I'm prepared for something that's probably never going to happen."

"Good luck, you'll need it."

Hamaguchi strolled away as Nishikata began thinking back to Takagi-san's challenge. "If I compliment her on her, I lose … but … what could the punishment be?" He crossed his arms and closed his eyes. 'Damn, why can't I figure this out?'