Chapter Four:
Oh, Good Lord in Heaven above, give me strength!
I watched my tiny friend take a nose dive straight into the pool almost like a puppy plungin' in to fetch their frisbee. Her form probably wasn't the most subtle of all things, but who couldn't practice that, right?
What really scared me the most was her tryin' to swim. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the poor girl to death, but doggone it, it was as if Jaws were coming after her the way she paddled! I had to physically hold myself back from jumpin' in after her. All that time I was prayin' to God that she wouldn't drown like her last encounter with a pool and tried to cheer her on. Besides me mumbling, I could hear Ella saying something under her breath. If anything, they might have been words of encouragement, should she have been just as taken aback as I was.
I sucked in my breath through my teeth when Kasumi made the turn. She fumbled and didn't remember to flip over or push off from the wall. Instead she turned around and continued on. I thought to myself, Oh, God, it can't get any worse than this...can it?
Thankfully, it didn't. Kasumi was able to swim the rest of the way, and with a little less furious doggy-kickin' and more smoother glidin'. Even if her time wasn't the best (not by a long shot) I was glad to see her make it in one piece. But I had a hunch about her kicks. I thought that maybe she twisted it the wrong way or she started crampin' at the starting point. If that were the case, then I had to check on her.
The other team captains looked over at me when I approached Kasumi's lane. I waved to them, letting them know that I was taking care of it. They had those faces that said they were thinking the same thing as I had. But Kasumi saw me and the other girls standing above her and smiled with that cute lil' dimple in her cheeks (which was more obvious when I was looking for a twinge in it or some sign that she was in pain). I smiled back and said, "You did good, Kasumi-chan. But are your legs okay? Did you get a cramp?"
"I-I'm quite...alright...," she told me, out of breath.
Well, I don't know if she's hidin' anything. But I wanna keep a close eye on her...Even if she seems fine.
And I was almost convinced that she was just peachy. The thing that gave her away was her "sea legs" as she followed the team back to our group. Kasumi was wobbling so much that I didn't even have to look behind me to sense her. It was sad but I didn't want to say anything that could've upset her. The poor thing did all she could.
I thought it best to volunteer to go next after Kasumi since the others were still as shocked to see her swim as before. Nanase and Ryugazaki were the only ones eyeing Kasumi, making her feel uncomfortable as others were giving her pep. I had the urge to smack them upside the heads for their indiscreet ogglin'. They turned away before I thought twice about it, then I mounted the diving board as the other girls were waiting for the whistle.
The cool water was soothing as I was swimming, and I didn't have to think about the work put into it. Kind of like how someone has a natural knack for something they never knew that had, that's how I felt. Maybe it was because I was used to things like my Daddy sneakin' up behind me and throwing me into the pool when the family got together on a sunny day, or that I had that knack. Whichever it was made me like a pro. I almost didn't notice that my hands touched the finishing point until something cold brushed my fingertips. I stood tall as I took off my goggles. One other girl in a lane two ways down emerged from the water, then another almost at the same time next to her.
Did I just...?
Yep. I made it in first place...Or-I guess, I made the best time. Too bad I didn't look up at the clock to see when I started.
Everyone on our team was impressed with me and my natural talent. Of course, little-miss-Ella's ego had to push her into challenge mode. She bet that she could beat my time with a snooty attitude and did her best to look good doing it. Well, her ego and attitude were about three seconds late, as far as she grumbled. Then came in her temper on time, ironically enough.
Then went Ryuko. For some reason she was too modest with my about her athletic experience. She was spectaucular with her dive, and her time was close to the best. That right there was a sign for me to recruit her before she had a chance to look at any other club.
"As graceful as a swan, yet fast like Nanase-kun. All that and you almost came in first place! Very impressive!" I complimented her as I helped her out of the pool. At first I realized that I was holding my hand out to someone who could've gotten out themselves, but that was our connection, I think. Since the first day of school Ryuko and I were helping each other even when we didn't ask for it. Others could see it as rude, but we saw it as friendship.
Ryuko rose out of the water and ducked down on her knees. "Thank you, Mueller-senpai. But I'm afraid I haven't bested your time, or performed much like you."
"You say that, but times like yours are much needed for our team."
I smiled at her, trying to work my friendly charm on her. If no one could tell that I was aching to see a miracle happen to the team, then that was the moment that it was most tangible. Ryuko could practically smell it on me for all I knew.
She hesitated at first, thinking about my underlying offer with a ghost of a smile on her mouth. A little piece of me sank in disappointment when she did that. It looked like she wasn't so sure about swimmin'...Her eyes wandered off to the side. I pressed my lips together and went for Plan B: back off. I had been too abrasive to lure her in.
Everyone was finished for the day after Ryuko's turn. The girls' team split off to change in the locker rooms, Gou having to be tamed like a feral dog so he wouldn't take his camera out. I swore to myself that one day that boy would have a boot to the behind if he couldn't control his weird habits. He was lucky that I was pooped by the end of practice. So was just about everybody-except for Kasumi. She had a sad cloud hovering over her head ever since I got out of the pool and was more quiet as she watched the others swim. I didn't think too much on it, but when she and I were back in our uniforms I couldn't help but ask her what was wrong.
"What's gotcha' so down, hon'?"
"O-oh,...it's nothing..."
Bull-honkus. Anyone can tell by her eyes that she's upset. Poor thing can't even lie well...
"You sure? You've been as meek as a mouse since we got here."
"Gomen..." She looked down at her feet, ashamed.
"You don't have a thing to be sorry for."
I should've stopped there but then everything else after that became a big gob of word vomit.
"You were good today. It's okay if you didn't make the best time or synch your kicks with your arms or...or..."
Shut up, Sam! Are you trying to make her feel bad?
"I'm not makin' this any better, am I?"
Just when I was trying to make up for my failure of a pep talk Kasumi flopped onto the bench underneath her and sobbed into her hands.
Oh, dang! I really blew it! This makes me feel so pitiful...like I kicked a puppy in the gut...
C'mon, I gotta cheer her up fast before she starts to cry.
I tried playing it off with, "Heey, c'mon, you're not that upset about it? Don't cry, hon'."
But Kasumi was far off from worse when she cried, "I promise not to be terrible again, so don't kick me off the team!"
"Kick you of-hey, I wouldn't do that to you! Kasumi-chan, look here." I became more serious after hearing her say that. It was almost insulting to think that she couldn't trust me as a captain or a friend. Kasumi was a timid soul but I knew that she could do just as good as anyone else if she gave enough of herself to the sport.
"I'd never kick someone off because they thought they were terrible at their first practice. I believe that if you have the motivation and the heart, you're as good as anyone to be here with the team."
She seemed to have calmed down some, so nothing stopped me from rambling on about her main issue.
"Kasumi-chan, you gotta have some confidence in yourself. You did wonderfully out there and you should be proud. This is a big step for our team to come together. And you being a part of it makes it all the better."
My friend managed a small smile for me, nodding her head before twiddling her thumbs shyly.
"Kasumi-chan, is there something you haven't told me? Something that would be good to get off your chest?"
Her face grew pale in a ghostly shade, her eyes slightly wide. I hit the nail on the head.
"I...I'm just..I haven't been swimming in a long time. So I'm...not as good."
Wait...That's the problem?
"Really? You haven't even been to a public pool? When's the last time you've gone swimming?"
"Umm...a couple of years ago..I guess...?"
She settled into her seat much more comfortably after spillin' her beans. I couldn't imagine how something that simple was her problem. She was too balled up in anxiety to let loose. Such a quiet and fragile lil' thing needed Ella's and my help bad to work on her social skills. And the team to help her relax in the water.
Speaking of the devil, Ella picked that time to bark at us, "Hey, are you two ready or not?"
"We're comin'! No need to get your panties in a twist!" I hollered back.
"It's 'knickers'. 'Knickers' in a twist!"
"Americans say 'panties', dangit!"
"Yeah, what other phrases haven't you already screwed up...?"
There went that dang mouth of hers.
I stood up in protest, rounded the corner demanding, "You do know that I can hear you mumblin' back there!"
"Maybe I wanted you to hear t-hey, don't look at me! I don't have my shirt on!"
"Yeah, and you're the one wanting to rush us out of here!"
"Oh, bugger off!"
She and I broke into giggles at that last part. Someone close by, like me, could've heard her voice crack like a fifth grade boy, and it was hysterical. For a person like Ella to goof up her harsh demeanor, I didn't think she'd be able to laugh at herself. But I guess that day was full of surprises for me.
Later, when we thanked the Samezuka team for inviting us over and our group rode the train home, everything had died down to simple chatter that Nagisa was the center of. I gave up my seat to Kasumi so she could get closer to the action, but partly because I wanted some solace to think. Ryuko left earlier to ride with her "uncle" home, looking flustered when she was saying goodbye. I had my problem with recruiting members, and then Kasumi's confidence in her swimming. And, of course, Gou who needed to pull his "manager" act together.
Ugh, there's a lot that I need to keep control of. I didn't think of how much responsibility I'd be taking when I agreed to become the captain...I'm not giving up on it...I just don't know where I should go from here...
"Is everything okay, Samantha-chan?" a gentler voice spoke to me.
Makoto had been standing next to me. I couldn't help but wonder if he had noticed me thinking to myself, making weird faces all through that.
"Uh, y-yeah, I'm fine. Seems like everybody's pumped up after our joint practice." I turned away from him so that he couldn't see my nervous grin and that the conversation would go steer clear of me.
"Yeah. Thank goodness...I almost thought Ryugazaki-san would've left when he told us that he couldn't swim."
"What? Because I thought that he was hooked onto Nanase-kun's form."
"Mm, yeah, there's that. But I think the new environment was a bit much for him."
"Oh, I see..."
Ryugazaki was blushing at something that Nagisa mentioned to him, causin' a bout of laughter from the rest of the group sitting down (minus Nanase). I smiled as Kasumi giggled with Kou, happy to see that she was relaxing.
"You seem happy that Kasumi-chan is doing better," Makoto stated.
"Yeah," I sighed, "I'm just worried about her since she told me she-"
When I looked back at him I realized that I slipped too much detail than I should've.
Makoto curiously glanced at me and asked, "Is she alright? Some of the others thought that maybe she had a leg cramp."
"U-Umm..."
I can't tell him, can I? Kasumi would probably want this to be kept between me and her.
"Er, it's just a personal matter," I answered, mentally patting myself on the back for that good one.
"Oh..."
Great, he's got that depressed good-lookin' face. Why in all of God's creation does he have to have a handsome face no matter what expression he has?
"It's nothing against anybody. I just think that Kasumi-chan would be embarrassed if anyone else knew that-"
"-she's not confident in herself or to swim with us?"
"H-how-?"
"When you swim with people like Haru-chan, you can easily tell what they're thinking without having them say it. Kasumi-chan is an open book like him, I guess."
Well, how 'bout that?
"So, it was that obvious that she was scared?"
"Not for everybody. But for captains like us..."
I sighed, feeling a little bit better that he understood but a little more cautious about Kasumi's secret going elsewhere.
"Ano, sa-"
As he was about to say something the car doors opened after the train stalled on parking. The rest of the group swarmed the exit like a school of fish, any other stranger right behind them. I'd lost sight of Makoto when everyone gather closer to my side. A random businessman strided by me, bumping my shoulder. The guy had enough strength to shove me over and not so much as blink, especially when I was leaning through the exit.
And I suppose that I'll hit my head on the railing and pass out? Or the much more cliche approach where someone will-
Cliche approach. I was on top of the game when I should've been that way with practice. How does that luck work out on my part, anyway?
"Samantha-chan!"
Makoto caught me in a dip like he and I were ballroom dancin'. A flutter in my chest had me giddy as a schoolgirl while I praised, "Hey, nice catch!" despite the awkward situation.
"Uh..no-no problem. A-Are you okay?"
"Yeah." I stood up straight and smiled, proving to him that him touching me hadn't fazed me in the slightest. He brushed it off like me and walked with me to the others outside the station, much to my delight. We split off to form with our own teams until it became just him, me, and Nanase.
I was roundin' the corner to go home when Makoto approached me before I said goodnight.
"About earlier..."
"About...Kasumi?"
"Yeah. I was going to ask if she's still willing to swim or if she's too afraid. Maybe she'll come back and try again."
Our biggest fear about getting recruits has him on edge like me. If Kasumi is too afraid, then she'd quit...
"I have confidence in her. She's a fragile little thing, but I know that she aims for her goals with a lot of determination."
"I'm glad to hear that."
When he glowed with his sweet smile, I felt sure of myself like I knew that everything was going to be okay. And a little nervous like the times before. I had to make sure to keep myself calm the next time he did that.
"Well, I'll see you later."
"'Kay. Bye-bye!"
I tossed and turned in my bed thinking about what he had mentioned. With me being a team leader for the others it was hard to think of ways to help someone out when you just couldn't tell what they were thinking. Makoto may be good with that but for me I was wranglin' too much for my team. Kasumi's confidence, Ella's problems with Gou, Gou's managerial front...couldn't there be a way to put them all together and talk out a compromise?
...Hold the phone...
Sam, say that again.
"Couldn't there be a way to put them all together and talk out a compromise?"
Okay. Now that doesn't sound too bad.
Ella and Gou would finally be able to talk out their issues, but Kasumi...Kasumi needs someone who can teach her how to handle her fear...Someone who knows how to swim without even-
I sat up in bed, coming up with the perfect solution.
Eureka! I found the answer!
While walking to school the next morning I had gone through my entire plan again. First I'd have a group meeting with both teams and make up an excuse for everyone to talk to each other, Ella would mention something insulting and would want Gou to react, then I'd settle them down and have them talk out their issue. Second of all would be to talk to Kasumi and ask her if she wanted someone to coach her on her swimmin' technique. Then I introduce her to my brilliant idea and become a great captain for getting the team together. Done-and-done.
Kasumi met me by a street corner and walked with me to school. I babbled on about the team and how our practice went yesterday, and she quietly listened. She was in a better mood than earlier, all wide-eyed and bushy tailed for the morning. I was happy to see her back to her regular self that I kept talking until something caught in my eye in the courtyard. She stopped to see if I was okay, and when I told her that it was probably my eye liner she cocked her head to the side like a confused puppy.
"Samantha-chan? You...you wear makeup?"
"Yeah. I've worn it since I hit puberty. What's wrong?"
"Oh-oh..n-nothing! It-It's just that-"
"It's that not a lot of girls here wear makeup at school." Of course, Ella arrives on time to make her appearance right here.
"Really? They don't wear it here?" I asked.
"I don't think it's against the rules here, 'cuz I've worn mascara since day one and still get away with it. But there's also a sort of girl-code that says we don't wear makeup unless there's a guy involved."
"What? Like a crush?"
"Yeah, I guess...but don't take it from me seriously. I'm only in on half the stuff here anyway..."
Or they must like the natural look. So, maybe anyone else like me would be labeled "painted whore" for wearing something noticeable like eye shadow. Doesn't sound much different from my old high school...
Tempting as it was to wash my face in the lil' ladies room after hearing that, I couldn't help but turn to Kasumi to hear what she wanted to say. She stared into space unaware that Ella and I were thinking mischievously on how to tease her.
"I think Kasumi-chan would look so adorable with a little lip gloss on!" I said with a nudge to Ella.
"She already looks like a doll. Her lashes are so long that she doesn't need any mascara," Ella teased.
Kasumi blushed when she heard us. Our little friend avoided looking at us as she cowered back.
"Aww, she's getting all shy! That's so cute!"
"Y'know, I think I have some balm in my bag that we can put on her lips."
I didn't think that she would take it that far...But she backed off as soon as our manager caught us.
"What's this about lip balm?"
"Not you..."
I thought he'd be uninterested if I told him that it was "girl stuff", but instead he replied, "Are swimsuits involved? Because I can offer a lo-"
"Please, for-the-love-of-GOD, do-not!-talk..."huffed Ella.
"But it qualifies as-"
It was obviously going to turn into a fiasco, so I stepped in to quell the tension.
"Sorry, guys, but the bell just rang."
So I lied. What else was I going to say to stop them? It worked, anyhow. Ella ran for the entrance as quick as a hummin' bird and Gou went on his way with his guy friends. The fact that they bought it was surprising, but I wasn't going to complain.
My morning had been lookin' better after that. Class was a breeze and I didn't have gym to wear out my already-tired muscles. I'd call that a win-win if I hadn't noticed that Kasumi was soaring towards Cloud-Nine every time a new class began. So far it was normal for her to zone out, but that time she was hot in the cheeks and her eyes were twinkling with some random thought. I made a mental note to let her copy my notes when we went home for the day, seeing as how she didn't get a single one down in her notebook.
Once the bell rang for lunch our other classmates dispersed into their own groups. Makoto and Nanase asked for Kasumi and me to gather 'round their desks to talk, which I thought was a great idea considering that I needed to let them know about my plans for the team later. So I turned to Kasumi to ask her over, and there she was. Staring at the board with glossy eyes with the expression of a squirrel spotting a nut on a neighborin' tree.
"Kasumi-chan? Oh, Kasumi-chan?" I softly sung in her ear.
Seeing her jump a mile into the air almost had me in tears rolling on the floor. She faced me as I laughed, "Looks like someone was off in Lala Land. Have a nice nap?"
"I-I-I-"
"I'm just teasin' you! No need to be so bashful. C'mon, all of us are talkin' about our next practice!"
I scooched my desk closer to the boys before she did the same. Makoto looked at me as if he wanted me to say something first.
"So," I began, "we'll met the others at the pool after they buy lunch?"
"Hai," he answered back. "I think Nagisa-kun mentioned something about 'a challenge' that he wanted to take care of."
"Alrighty, then." I let that sink in before I had came out clean with my "suggestion". "Well, I think there should be a meeting after school today. Everybody should talk to each other about what they want to see in the near future for the club and what they'd want to do on their teams."
"That sounds great!"
"Thanks...I think because of yesterday that we should work together to build team trust. It's always important to rely on each other."
"Hai. I know that Haru-chan, Nagisa-kun and I have been together since childhood, but it's still necessary to have trust between each team, especially since we're going to have to share the pool."
"Yeah."
And just to humor Kasumi I added, "And, y'know, I think everybody did excellent yesterday, don't you think so?"
"Of course!"
"What do you think, Nanase-kun?"
To make sure she knew that I was proving my point to her, I winked in Kasumi's direction and turned to Nanase. He didn't answer me straight away, but there was a pause while he moved his lips then glanced at Kasumi.
All of a sudden she whimpered, "I'm sorry I'm so terrible at swimming! I know I'm not th-that good..."
"Hey, Kasumi-chan! What's wrong?"
Then it hit me: Nanase was mumbling. But mumbling about Kasumi?
"Were you mumbling about her?"
"What're you talking ab-"
"That's not nice, Nanase-kun! The poor girl tried her hardest yesterday."
"I don't know what yo-"
"Oh, good. Kou-chan! Will you take Kasumi-chan down to the cafeteria?"
A friend of hers tagged along with the same concerned face as Kou's. She asked if everything was alright, so I lied, "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to take Kasumi-chan down myself, but apparently I have to have a talk with the boys."
I handed her some of my pocket change and told her that Kasumi could use it to buy food. My little friend bowed to us at the desks before sulkily trudging away with the ginger-head and company, holding back a few tears from the sudden surprise.
When I looked back at Nanase and Makoto, the only one who seemed affected by the situation was the other captain. Nanase glowered at the door.
I pressed my lips into a thin line, and then said, "Walk with me."
"So, let me get this straight. You didn't actually say anything about her. You just happened to mistake her for another person while you were thinking about it?"
Nanase nodded as all of us waited by the pool for the team.
"Ugh...Okay...Oookay...I get it."
"Thank goodness we could clear this up," Makoto sighed.
"Well, for me, yeah. But Kasumi-chan somehow assumed that you were picking on her, Nanase-kun."
He frowned to the side.
"I'm sorry for getting upset with you. That was a big mistake on my part.
"But you'll have to come clean with Kasumi-chan soon before she takes it too much to heart."
Nanase grumbled an agreement like a stubborn child. I turned to Makoto as his friend stepped away and confided, "I had some of it under control, but now that Kasumi-chan's heart's been crushed..."
"I'm sure that we'll figure something out."
"Yeah...do you think we should ask him to explain it after school at the meeting?"
Makoto looked behind me and greeted, "Oh, Ryuko-san."
"Good afternoon."
I made my way towards her thinking, I don't think I have the heart right now to hear she doesn't want to join, but smiled all the same to hide my doubts. "What can I do for you?"
"Mueller-san, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to hand in my club application form."
Lemme put this together...
"Oh! Does this mean you're interested in...?"
"Hai."
She better believe that made my day better. I lit up like the fourth of July sayin', "Thank you so much! We will be very happy to have you!"
I quickly passed off her form the Ms. Ama who was sunbathing on her lawn chair with her dark-colored umbrella. Makoto breathed a sigh of relief to Nanase about finding another member for my team. It was great and all, but it left his to find one more quickly.
"Yeah, but that Ryugazaki guy was your last hope for keeping your team from disbanding or something, wasn't he?"
"Ah..I guess. It isn't necessarily going to disband us as it is putting our team in a bind. We can't collect money to train somewhere or go to competitions if we don't have the minimum members...But it's all up to him to want to join."
"Oh...huh..."
My back was turned but I could sense the others from the cafeteria coming towards us. From the corner of my eye I saw Nanase's gaze flicker at them. It wasn't hard to see that he was looking at Kasumi, but whether he wanted to apologize or not remained unspoken between him and Makoto and I.
However, my plan to have someone coach Kasumi sparked a candle light in my mind. An idea so great and opportune came to me.
Hey, Nanase-kun?"
"Hmm?"
"Y'know, there is a way to make it up to Kasumi-chan."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, you'll see..."
"Why are you smiling?"
"Don't worry about it."
And for once, Nanase actually showed emotion on his face. Fear.
Both teams gathered by the poolside in an almost circular shape after school. Kasumi stood close to me on my right, Makoto on my left. I took a single breath as I thought of how I could initiate the meeting.
"Thanks for gettin' together with us, everyone. I don't think we've been able to have a proper meeting until now, but we won't begin training until next time.
"So, guys, Makoto and I wanted all of us to meet here to start out with a few simple things. One, that we talk about strengths and weaknesses, two, what we feel that we can do as a team, and three, if there's anything we can do in the near future.
"But, Nagisa-kun recommended that we see Ryugazaki-san at the track. While we're still waiting for his response on joining the team, it would be nice to cheer him on while he's practicing with the track team."
"So," Makoto finished, "is there anything that anybody would like to say first?"
Crickets...that's all I could hear. And depression bubbling inside me...That too...
"I wonder if Ella-chan and Michi-chan are going to take long..." Nagisa pouted.
That's..not a part of the conversation...
There weren't any other takers on my excellent team-building strategy. One minute it was fool-proof, the next it was flyin' out of the window like a live turkey runnin' away from a Thanksgiving dinner.
Plan B...
"Well, I feel that as a team we should be able to establish trust between one another. We don't have to be friends, but it's important to have each other's backs, no matter what.
"Now,...Nanase-kun. Is there something you'd like to say to Kasumi-chan?...Specifically about something she heard you say before...?"
Kasumi glanced at me as if I challenged him to a duel. I eagerly waited for Nanase to spill his guts, not wanting to think that something would pop out so that I'd jinx the whole thing. But I guess writing it down here counts.
"Nanase-senpai did something to upset Kasumi-chan, didn't he?" Gou asked. "I thought I heard you all talking about something like that."
When was he there to hear us talk about it?
"I never said anything like that-"
"If you like making girls cry maybe I need to teach you a thing or two!"
Seriously? ...Seriously?
What would you do to Nanase-kun?" Kou countered him.
"Uh-I..well, I'd-I-I'd push him into the pool!"
"Gou-kun, that's more of a pleasure to him than a threat," I pointed out.
"Okay...then I'd empty out the pool!"
The weak little runt couldn't even take a punch from a girly girl. How on Earth could he manage to do something that needed arm strength when he doesn't even have flab?
He proved my point when he backed away from Nanase's death glare like a wimp. I'd had enough of the shenanigans that I jumped the case with, "Okay, I take it back. I'm just stepping back and letting him say what he needs to say to Kasumi-chan!"
I had Kasumi step up to him to hear it. She was scared to face him, but after hearing him out she apologized for her behavior with a bow. So grateful that the worst was over, I thought I could address my Plan A again with the group before seeing Ryugazaki at the track field.
"Awesome! Now that we have that-"
"I'm going to go look for Ella-chan and Michi-chan!" our little Goldilocks said as he dashed for the exit.
I wasn't able to stop him or get to hear a civil conversation between any team members. We left to go find the three chased Ella down after finding her shoving Nagisa away, watched Ryugazaki fail to fling himself over a pole at the track, then him bow and ask to join the boys' team. I had to accept after dealing with a huffy Ella that Gou and she would have to talk some time later, and that sometimes I had to let things ride out on their own. It was a downer, but I didn't have to try so hard. Whether I was a good captain by being myself was going to work or not would answer itself later, whenever that'd be. The team being able to celebrate their new member joining made me forget about trying to be a leader. Having friends around to be with you was what truly mattered to us.
As the sun was setting the team broke off to go home. The last of us, Makoto, Nanase, Kasumi and I stayed behind to get our outdoor shoes on and talk about one final act as a team for the day.
Kasumi was curious about what we were wanting to talk to her about, so I explained, "Well, all of us were talking about a few things. Specifically,..we were talking about your confidence in swimming."
Makoto offered, "We feel that we could help you, if you'd like, with your technique."
Kasumi quivered in her shoes, but she asked anyway, "H...How would you do that...?"
"Since Nanase-kun is the most experienced, and he promised to do it after that whole mix-up earlier..." I took over.
"No, I di-"
"How would you like to pair up with him after school to learn a few tricks to boost your morale, Kasumi-chan?"
She stood still and gazed at Nanase with her cheeks burning red. On the inside I wished that she wouldn't faint, but I had a good feeling about the offer.
That, and she wasn't growing pale with nausea.
A/N: I am so so so so so sorry for updating so late. Nearly three months into this story and I've been backed up in my schedule. I'm going to try to get more done faster so that I can finish by Christmas (or at least New Year's Eve) for you guys.
On another note, I wanted to let you all know that the feedback has been good. So far FAtW has reached over 200+views, and for the three followers thank you so much for your support so far. I greatly appreciate anything and anyone I come across as I'm writing. It gives me a lot of courage to keep going with the story and as a writer to practice everything I've got to make it big as an author later on. Again, thank you very much!
See you all in the next chapter!