After school…
Well, that was boring. I guess I am stupid for transferring. I studied that stuff ages ago. Oh well, I guess it's good revision. But who even cares? I'm not here for that, nor does it matter to me. I'm only here for the pool. I hit up Makoto and Haru as they pack up all their things. I turn to the backstroker. "So, club captain. Is it okay if I join the swim team?"
He laughs in that odd little way he has. "I was going to ask you if you'd be okay with filling out the paperwork. It sounds a little dumb, between our history and your calibre, but we have to, I guess." He shrugs, and I notice his shoulders are as muscular as they were at the end of the season.
"You've been keeping in shape, Makoto? I'm impressed."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" I just laugh. It's been too long, really. I can't believe I'm saying something as ridiculously sappy as this, but I missed these two.
"Just what it sounds like. Now, you, Haru, I'm not so impressed. Was the pool cheating on you or something? Normally poor old Makoto needs chains and handcuffs to keep you out of the water." They both swallow conspicuously at the chain comment, and Makoto starts pulling at his collar awkwardly. These two should really buy a clue. Are they really the only two in the universe who don't see it? "Well, is the swim club meeting today?"
"Given the number of posters your sister has been painting counting up to the prefecturals, I think we're meeting every day." Haru finally opens his mouth. He's stoic as ever, but there's kind of a catch in his voice. I chalk it up the chain comment. Was it really that discomforting?
"Ah, Gou. She can be overenthusiastic. She's been that way for a long time. But, it's weird, you know. You two probably know her better than me. I haven't been at home for years."
"Ah! I never even thought about that! You've been at boarding schools since middle school, haven't you?" Makoto's nice enough, but can he ever be slow.
"So what? My family sells off my room? It's difficult to do that, you know. And if my sister can make it here each day, I shouldn't have too much trouble."
"Why are we still here?" Haru chips in in his abrasive little way. "We could be at the pool by now." He says it like normal, but for some godforsaken reason, he's looking me up and down as he does.
Rin can be so insensitive sometimes. Did he really have to go on about chains? Surely in all the time we've known each other, he would have figured out that it's not like I haven't imagined some chains from time to time. I'm not really into the whole affair, but haven't all adolescent boys had fantasies? Well, having said that, you've got to say that most of them are nothing like mine. Most don't involve swimsuits. Or rather, removal of. Most don't involve your childhood friends. And, most don't involve other guys.
Rin's even more insensitive than he was before. Did he really have to mention chains? It doesn't take a genius to guess that I've pictured chains around someone's wrists more than once. But the comment's all the more awkward when that someone is in the room. I guess everyone has fantasies, but has Rin really not guessed mine were about him?