I almost forgot to update but then I didn't. Enjoy the chapter!

10 – substitutes

Her grip was firm, ensuring both haste and compliance.

Against a force such as Ayaka was, however, Satsuki had never bothered to resist. She was full of wild schemes, driven by passion and a destructively creative mind. Also in play was the possessiveness within Ayaka that refused the thought of any friend being without company. It was no surprise to Satsuki to realise that she never stood a chance in the first place.

"Keep up, Satsuki!" cried the blonde, "We're late!"

"Don't blame me! I'm only here because you're dragging me along!"

"Not like you had anything better to do." Ayaka retorted loudly.

Their mad dash across the school grounds slowed to something more manageable. Though she would probably deny it, Ayaka was only stumbling to walking pace out of consideration for her friend. At the very least, if Ayaka were determined to focus on the positives of it, it was a lot easier to speak when not starving for air.

"Thank you!" Satsuki gasped, "And I could've been checking up on Gou instead."

"She's only sick – don't worry so much, Suki-chan!"

"Only?" Satsuki snapped, pulling her hand away. "What if it turns out to be worse? And she dies?"

Ayaka flashed her a playful grin over her shoulder. "Uh-huh, you're right, that's so plausible."

"Shut up, Aya-"

"Just relax!" Ayaka interrupted hastily, before Satsuki had the chance to lecture her, "Your inner mother is consuming you."

"My inner mother?"

"That's right."

"Whatever, crappy Shibata. Don't we have somewhere to be?" Satsuki pointed out, eyes steadfastly averted.

"Oh, yeah," Ayaka brightened at the reminder, "The pool!"

"And they called you a genius…!"

For whatever else Satsuki thought of her friend, she had to admit she was prompt. Ayaka wasted no time recovering her grip and tugging the two of them into the locker rooms of the Iwatobi Swim Club. It was a little dark, though it was but a fleeting observation given the speed with which Ayaka pulled her along. A second later and the sun smiled down on them once more.

Satsuki was released then, and only for Ayaka to strike a theatrical, imposing stance. With an embarrassing lack of shame, she also found it necessary to announce, "Your saviour is here at last!"

Though there was but a small collection of people gathered, Ayaka had secured the attention of them all. The team had assembled, despite the absence of their manager, for their regular swimming practise. Nagisa and Rei looked on in shock, Makoto managing a stare only a little less obvious.

Surprisingly, it was Haruka who broke the silence. "Why are you here?"

His arms were folded against the pool edge, hair still dripping from the lap he had just swum. His gaze was fixed on Satsuki, who could only roll her eyes in exasperation.

Ayaka, contrarily, pressed a finger to her cheek. "Miss Ama didn't tell you?"

The young teacher, who had been sitting idly by, smiled apologetically. "Oh, sorry Shibata. I must've forgotten."

"No problem, Teach! It's more mysterious this way."

Satsuki slammed her hand across Ayaka's shoulder, shutting her up before she said anything further. "Stop mucking around." She reprimanded, sidling past.

Ayaka leaned in before she could get too far away, proclaiming with lucid annunciation, "In-ner mo-ther."

Satsuki's expression grew dark and glowering, and remained that way as she stomped over to find a seat near the Miss Amakata – who, as she saw it, was the only one with any sense of maturity around there.

It left Ayaka in the spotlight, under the attention she had always revelled in. She began her explanation in the most roundabout way, stating, "Kou-chan is sick."

"Ayaka-" Makoto attempted to speak but was quickly thwarted by a louder voice.

"Patience, Tachibana," Ayaka ordered, "Anyway, with Kou away you're without your manager – well, you would be, if you didn't have me."

"Are you saying you're our manager now?" Nagisa wondered, smiling at the thought.

"I don't know I feel about that." Rei muttered lowly.

Ayaka ignored them both. "Of course, Kou will be back and you won't need me then, but for now I'm acting manager. I mean," as she talked, she drew herself upright with pride, "I'm practically an assistant manager anyway."

Making his way over to her, Makoto asked, "How come Gou didn't mention it before?"

Ayaka's hand waved dismissively through the air. "We only decided this yesterday."

Her gaze perused the surroundings once more. Haruka had already returned to the water, Satsuki to a book relevant to the literature class taught by the very same Miss Amakata present. The young teacher offered her student an approving smile before returning to her own engrossing novel.

After a moment's hesitation, Ayaka moved around the pool and dumped her bag beside Satsuki's feet. The brunette hardly reacted, leaving Ayaka to feel the chill of such inattention.

"Makoto," He wouldn't ignore her, at least, "Come here for a second, please."

The taller boy arranged his features in such a way as to convey confusion. Ayaka payed no heed, and already began marching over on her own accord. Makoto met her halfway, complying out of simple curiosity.

It took but a moment for the answer to become obvious. Her arm was around his shoulders, dragging him down to a height that better matched her own. Her grip on her phone was so loose that it left Makoto wondering how on earth she managed to keep ahold of it.

"Smile." Ayaka ordered happily.

Makoto's lips tugged upwards with all the awkwardness of a forced smile, though he did throw up a peace sign to compensate. Once the photo was taken, their proximity dwindled.

"What was that for?"

"To send to Gou, right?" Nagisa guessed. He had wandered around behind Ayaka, now peering over her shoulder with a little difficulty.

"Correct," the older girl confirmed, "So she knows I didn't forget."

After some scrutiny, the blonde haired boy beside her added, "You look cute here, Ayaka-chan."

"Thanks," she replied, her tone without even a trace of modesty, "You know, I think I'll send it to Rin as well; just to annoy him."

"Uh, okay…"

Without looking up from her phone, Ayaka offhandedly remarked, "Shouldn't you be swimming or something?"

"Yes." Makoto agreed.

"Then lead by example, Captain."

At the splash of water falling back against itself, all eyes were turned in attention. Even Satsuki glanced up, for once finding a reason to stop reading – and upon noticing Haruka pulling himself out of the water, she felt her attention was justified.

He moved with deliberate, unwavering purpose. She almost turned away, and would have if not for the intention in his cool gaze. Satsuki, for a split second, also wished for longer hair that might hide her blush better. The point was void, however, given Haruka was well aware of just where her attention lay when he swam.

She hoped her narrowing gaze, the illusion of unapproachability, would protect her as Haruka loomed over.

Water ran from the bridge of his nose to the end, dripping down from his hair and onto her lap. "You're getting my book wet." She pointed out.

He knelt so that their faces were level. "Sorry." The word fell before either of them knew it.

Satsuki sat up to better look at him. Though his blue eyes conveyed sheer intensity, her critique remained unwavering. She had always possessed the right kind of resolve to be around Haruka Nanase, and a nature accepting of his own had only bettered her chances with him. After a moment, she exhaled slowly.

His intentions hadn't changed towards her – an apology had been on his lips from the moment he approached her.

"It's fine." Satsuki muttered.

"Good." As discreetly as he could – quick to hide the blush – Haruka kissed her.

A shrill wolf-whistle pierced the air, and the tension between them dissipated. Satsuki's narrow gaze turned to the intrusion, a blonde girl with a terrible lack of manners.

"You sure are noisy today, Aya-chan," Satsuki accused, "Why don't you harass someone else?"

"You're blushing!" Satsuki enthused, ignoring her question.

"I am not!" Her hands slapped against her cheeks, despite the effect being rather the opposite of concealment.

Ayaka laughed lightly. "You are! Don't you think it's cute, Haruka?"

He cast his eye on the two girls, before turning away to the pool. "Yes."

Satsuki's skin began to glow an even more impossible shade of red. In hopes of pursuing a new subject, she replied snappily, "Don't you have something to be doing, Manager-chan?"

The reminder brightened Ayaka considerably, reawakening her senses. "Oh, right." Ayaka was on her heel, spinning in a full circle at a speed not entirely appropriate for a pool area. A cool mist of water pressed against her skin, chlorine filling her nose.

Makoto offered her a steadying smile, but in Ayaka, his reassurance was ill-placed.

"Um, what exactly does a manager even do?"

I hope everyone is in character - I'm not sure if I get carried away when I write out scenes like these. Maybe you guys could tell me what you think... (like, in a review maybe?).

Otherwise, thanks for reading and favouriting!