To clear things up a bit, I go from last name to first. And I also use suffixes such as -chan and -kun but feel free to correct me if I improperly use them.

Disclaimer: Free! Iwatobi Swim Club and its characters do not belong to me

Beta: ravenreux

Amakata-sensei touched her fingertips together. "So under the staff's careful selection, we have decided on you, to be the new student council president."

My brows shot up and my eyes widened. "What?!"

"Well... it's more like I recommended you." She stuck her tongue out, winked, and gave a cutesy giggle.

"Please don't teehee me! Amakata-sensei, this is serious! Aren't there supposed to be elections involving the students instead of a unanimous vote by the school staff?"

She pointed a finger up as if proving her point. "That's the kind of attitude a president should have! As said by a famous writer, 'Those who want power and get it live in terror of losing it. That's why we have to give power to those who do not want it.' "

My mouth was agape. This was unbelievable. She hadn't even bothered asking me beforehand, she just decided it on her own. "But I'm only a second year. Are you saying that each member of the student council was randomly selected and the people who were actually planning to run will never get the chance?"

She sighed. "Not randomly. This was under the staff's careful selection," she placed her hands on her hips, "We aren't as irresponsible to allow any student to have the position. We check your grades, your extracurriculars, what you've done in junior high... we believed this to be the most efficient way to run the student body. That way there would be no drama with the campaigning and such. It's a tradition that's been going on at this school for years! ... Although I'm still new." She then pondered this for a moment. "Tezuko-chan, are you a transfer student?"

I shook my head.

"Really? Because I thought you knew how the student council works, so I figured you would be thrilled to know that we had handpicked you."

I gulped. "I... I guess I never really paid attention," I admitted.

She laughed. "Really? Well, I guess it's okay if you decline the position, but I really, really wish you would accept this, Tezuko-chan. You would make a great leader. Give it some thought." She was speaking as a teacher now.

The old man who had been patiently sitting behind his desk finally interjected the conversation. He was a thin old man with a bristled mustache, and his eyes were as calm as a still lake. He had wrinkles and his graying hair was carefully combed to the side. His office smelled of medicinal herbs. This was Fujibashi-sensei, the soft spoken principal of our modest, unrenowned, school.

"Yes, we don't want to force you to make a decision," he glanced at Amakata-sensei, "but we truly want you as president. I believe you would do a fine job. But I also understand that you may have other commitments outside of school so you may not have the time for more responsibility. But again, as Amakata-sensei and the staff have put it, we beseech you to at least think about it."

I pursed my lips together. Even the principal wanted me as president. There was really no reason for me to decline, but this was too much for me to process at the moment. "..Then please give me some time to think about it," I replied.

He nodded, satisfied with my answer. "Very well then. You may tell Amakata-sensei your answer within two days' time."

Today was a very eventful day.
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The following morning, just as I finished locking my door and headed toward the concrete stairway, I noticed my neighbor who lived across from me leaving his house as well.

The strange ordeal that had happened yesterday left me feeling awkward.

Avoiding him, turned and took a step down the narrow stairway when I spotted another unexpected individual climbing the steps. I inhaled sharply through my nose. His soft, emerald eyes looked at me with surprise.

"Ohaiyo Kaori-san."

I smiled politely. "Ohaiyo gozaimasu, Tachibana-san."

He waved his hand in front of him. "Maa maa, no need to be so formal."

"Oh." Did he think the events of yesterday made us more familiar? Well I suppose so. "Then... Tachibana-kun."

"I'm actually on my way to meet Haru-chan."

"You come here every morning?"

"Yeah. Ever since we were little I would come to Haru-chan's and then we would walk to school together."

A faint smile graced my lips. That was the kind of friendship that I admired. "Why do you always call him Haru-chan?"

He stopped two steps below me and scratched at his cheek, looking embarrassed. I observed the manner in which his lips curved and teeth flashed. "Ehe... yeah. Haru always tells me to drop the -chan," he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, "but it's out of habit."

"Makoto."

Tachibana-kun shifted his weight to the right. "Ohaiyo Haru-chan."

I turned and saw a silhouette standing at the top of the steps. Squinting and blocking the sun with my right hand, I found the silhouette to be Nanase-san. His expression was impassive. "I told you to lay off the -chan."

"Right, right."

Nanase-san's gaze shifted to me. He bowed slightly and I did the same.

Tachibana-kun clapped his hands together as an idea came to him. "Hey! Since we're all here why don't we go to school together?"

I was caught off guard by this sudden proposal. It wasn't in my nature to really interact with people, and I still felt uncomfortable around the two. So, thinking of all the lame conversations and awkward silences that would surely fill the long walk to school if I were to go with them didn't particularly interest me. I shook my head. "Oh, no, it's okay."

"Why not?"

"I actually have an errand to run," I lied.

Tachibana-kun frowned. Nanase-san shrugged. "Let's go, Makoto."

"Well then, we'll see you in class, Kaori-san," he glanced at the plastic watch on his left wrist, "but you should really hurry with your errand or else you'll be late."

I nodded. "Thanks for letting me know."

With a wave, they disappeared around the corner.

I inwardly groaned. This means that I have to take a detour through the backwoods if I want to avoid them on my way to school. I pivoted my body, stormed up the stairs, and began my trek on a beaten path.

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I approached the school gates tired and out of breath. Resting my hands on my knees, I gulped in air. My thighs were burning and my feet were cramping. I had forgotten how tiresome the detour was. Instead of walking down the steps and along the seashore as I normally would, the detour consisted of many twists and turns along the hills. And if I had wanted to make to school on time, I would have to run all the way here.

For the rest of the day, I had decided to avoid Amakata-sensei, Tachibana-kun, and Nanase-san. I knew that as an adult, Amakata-sensei wouldn't continually pester me about the subject of being president, and I could assume the two best friends were probably over the whole falling down piggyback thinf, but I was still wary.

The lunch bell had rang. Today, I had a larger stack of books with me. They were mostly textbooks I needed to study for my cram school. I carefully placed my obento on top of the pile and slid open the classroom door with my foot.

"Hey, Kaori-san."

I jolted, almost causing me to drop all my books. This was one of the voices I was trying to avoid.

"Gomen! Gomen! Here, let me help you."

White slippers with green soles - the same as my own - approached me. Gentle hands brushed against mine as they lifted the books.

Looking up at the kind person who offered their assistance, I identified this person as Tachibana-san.

"Oh, thank you Tachi- er... Tachibana-kun."
The suffix felt strange on my tongue.

He smiled a bit but ignored my slip-up. "It's really no problem. So, where are we heading to?"

"Umm... the library."

"Library? Do you always eat lunch in there?"

I nodded. We began walking. The halls were bustling with students walking to and from the cafeteria or classrooms. Some were walking up to the roof.

I stole a glance at Tachhibana-kun. He was quite tall. His clothing was crisp and his scent was nice - the smell of soap still clung to him. He wore a pleasant expression on his face. He then caught sight of me gazing at him. I felt my cheeks grow red. I started, "Ah... umm... did you need something from me?"

"Hmm?"

"Well, you called out to me as I was leaving the classroom."

"Oh! Well, I saw you with quite a few books so I wanted to help."

"Really? That's it?"

"Yeah," he said with a smile.

My cheeks grew a shade redder. I was surprised by how selfless he was. "Th-Then at least let me hold one of the books! I don't want you to carry them all."

I reached for the book at the top of the stack but he just swerved it away.

"It's fine! Really."

I lowered my hands. "Are you sure?"

He smiled, supposedly to give me reassurance.

I frowned, "Okay then..."

When we reached the library he carefully set the books onto a table. I started rearranging my stuff. My obento on top of my chemistry book. My mathematics in its own separate pile to the right-

"Eto..."

I looked up. Tachibana-kun was scratching at his cheek. "I heard that the school wants you to become president."

I was surprised to hear that. So it's already gotten around? I sat down at the table and sighed, being reminded of the topic that's been pestering me in the back of my mind. I was still uncertain. If I were to accept, I didn't know if I would be able to balance all my new responsibilities and cram school, but I was mostly unsure about my capabilities of being a good leader. Sure I may have good grades and extracurriculars but I'm not so sure if I could make the right decisions for the school and actually lead the students.

He pursed his lips together and made a short humming sound. "Are you feeling hesitant about it?"

I paused before answering, "Yes, I am."

He pulled a chair out across from me. "May I?"

"Oh, go ahead."

He sat down and rested his elbow on the table. "So you are feeling hesitant. Why?" I told him about all the troubles I was facing. Tachibana-kun crossed his arms and leaned back, thinking.

A moment of silence passed. I decided to speak up, "Ano-"

"Maybe you should trust their judgment."

"Eh?"

"Maybe you should trust their judgment," he repeated, then paused. "This might not mean much since it's coming from me, but I think you'd make a great president too, Kaori-san." He smiled.

A feeling of warmth began to bubble inside of me. "Th-thank you," I said softly as I stared at my hands in my lap.

He then leaned over the table and said just as quietly, "Actually me and my friends want to start up a swim club."

"Really?" I raised my head to meet his emerald eyes.

"Yeah, and they want me to be captain. So if I become captain, then you should become president." He stuck out his pinky finger. "Sound fair?"

I was taken aback by his deal with a pinky promise. It was strange, yet cute. I tentatively extended my arm and wrapped my finger around his. "Let's both do our best," I promised.

He repeated after me, "Issho ni ganbarou."

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I met Amakata-sensei after homeroom to tell her the good news. She clapped her hands together. "Really? How wonderful! What convinced you to finally take the reins?"

"...A friend."

"Ahh a friend. As stated by C.S. Lewis in the Four Loves, 'Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.' "

I didn't know how to respond to that, and she could probably read the confused expression on my face.

She quickly changed the subject, "Well then... shall we tell Fujibashi-sensei?"
I nodded.

Together we ventured to the principal's office and notified him of my decision. He was quite pleased.

A few days later a paper was tacked onto the bulletin board, letting the whole school of the authority's judgement; there was also an announcement during homeroom about it. Amakata-sensei read the names aloud, "The new members are President Tezuko Kaori of class 2-B, Vice President Kunnagi Ayame of class 3-A, Treasurer Nashimoto Takashi of class 1-C, and Secretary Shihara Yukimaru of class 1-D." She then looked up from the paper and smiled, "Congratulations Tezuko-chan."

I stood and bowed. The class applauded me along with a few polite congratulations. I also noticed an exceptionally happy person at the back of the class, with a gentle smile and emerald eyes.

So while I was waiting for my editor to get back to me about chapter 4, I decided to revise chapter 1, which also led me into changing chapter 2. I did this because I felt that chapter 1 wasn't dynamic enough and it didn't do justice for the entire story as the starting chapter. But trust me, 1 and 2 are so much better now and I'm extremely proud of myself. :)))

And I'd like to thank you all for the follows, favorites, and especially the reviews. I feel so loved. :)

Random yet interesting facts:

It is believed that Shakespeare was 46 around the time that the King James Version of the Bible was written. In Psalms 46, the 46th word from the first word is shake and the 46th word from the last word is spear.

Karaoke means "empty orchestra" in Japanese.

The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching TV.

Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least 6 feet (2 m) away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.

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