Free –High Speed! Reunion

Chapter 4: Memories in the Distance Part 2

"I'm Rin Matsuoka's sister. I'm here to see my brother." Gou said to the man at the front desk and you're probably wondering what we're doing here at Samezuka Academy believe me I don't know the answer to that either


One Hour Before

I was walking down the hall when I could hear a familiar voice shouting "Zaki-senpai!" I turned around to see Gou waving and running up to me and I stopped and waited for her

"Oh, Kou-chan is something wrong?" I asked

"Are you doing anything right now?!" She asked very forcefully I was caught a little of guard

"Er, no. Why do you need me for something" I replied and I felt a very bad feeling when I saw a glitter form in her eyes and she grabbed my arm and pulled me forward

"Good then come with me!" She shouted as she dragged me through the hallway

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see!"

"Seriously! Kou-chan! Where?!" I screamed


Present

The fact that she was questioning me so much probably should have raised an alarm…Oh well I'm here now anyway.

"Oh it looks like Matsuoka isn't back yet." He replied

"Really?" Gou asked she turned to me with a somewhat sad expression on her face as we exited the building. I felt bad for her she looked like she really wanted to see Rin-san then I had an idea

"Maybe Rin-san's at the swimming club practise if we look for a map maybe we can visit the pool to see!" I said to her trying to maintain Gou's positivity. Her face then lit up and we searched for a map of the campus and located where the pool was and we both ran all the way there.

Once we entered the waiting area, the sight of many handsome high school boys wearing swimsuits greeted us. "Excuse us…" we muttered as we slowly walked further inside however Gou was completely hypnotised by the sight of all the Samezuka boys but this sight only helped confirm why Samezuka Academy is called "the Swimming Powerhouse" I walked closer towards the window to see if I could find Rin-san whilst Gou was probably still in awe over the sight. I scanned the whole pool area and I couldn't see Rin-san but I couldn't help but feel like that I was not only being stared at but they probably think I'm fawning over the sight of muscles as well…

"Hey so it's you." I heard someone say and turned around to see a tall young man with red hair talking to Gou-chan and I walked back over to her. "The one who's looking for her big brother?" he asked

"Oh, yes." She answered however, his facial expression changed all of a sudden

"Hold on. You know…You're pretty cute" with a little blush coming onto his cheeks I can't believe he just said something like that out loud and I'm not even sure how to react more importantly how will Gou…

"Thank you. I'm looking for Rin Matsuoka, my brother" She replied with a cheerful tone to her voice then again I expect nothing less of Gou

"Matsuoka? There's nobody named Matsuoka on the team" He replied the moment he said that Gou and I looked at each other with both confusion and surprise in our faces

Why wasn't Rin-san a member of the swim team? It just didn't make any sense

Afterwards Gou and I walked to the train station and headed our separate ways.


Haruka, Makoto and Nagisa headed to the faculty office (again) thankfully they weren't in trouble it was to see if the Swim Club had been approved and I was waiting outside on the edge of my seat and when they came out with Miss Ama-chan I thought it was good news and they told me to follow them.

When we reached our destination…it was anything but good I looked in horror at the school's pool covered in nothing more than weeds and overgrown plants on the sides as well! When was the last time anyone used this pool?!

"Wow so much nature…" Nagisa muttered

"That might be an understatement…" I replied

"Are you saying that…" Makoto asked

"Yes, you must restore this pool to a usable state." Miss Ama-chan said calmly and bluntly just looking at that pool I didn't know where to begin. Haruka, Makoto and I slowly backed away but before we could Nagisa and Miss Ama-chan grabbed their wrists and I froze as they slowly turned around…

"You're not allowed to run away." Nagisa said with an eerie smile on his face

"You said you were willing to do anything." Miss Ama-chan said for someone so calm and sweet she could also be a force not to be beckoned with…

The boys decided to do the heavy work by pulling the weeds out of the pool and dealing with the cracks whilst I dealt with some of the overgrown plants by the fence.

We needed proper tools to help restore the pool and since tomorrow was Sunday, they decided to head to the tool store "Dolphin". Whilst at home I tried designing some posters to recruit, new members and we would show our designs off at school.

The next day, Nagisa showed us, his which was certainly unique with the bright use of colour meanwhile Haruka-san's poster, was very vivid that's probably the best way to phrase it…to the point the Art Club attempted to kidnap him…

On the way to the pool I had met up with Gou-chan who was holding a plastic bag and we headed there together "Wow it's all cleaned up" Gou exclaimed

"Great job you guys! Keep up the hard work!" I shouted hopefully keeping them motivated

"Ah! Are you here to help us, Gou-chan and Zaki-chan?" Nagisa asked

"I told you to call me Kou! Otherwise, you don't get any of this" Gou-chan scolded

"What? You can't be serious!" Nagisa exclaimed

"What do you need us to do?" I shouted back and until school ended Gou and I dealt with the plants near the fence and in the end we finally decided to pick the poster I designed and the next day whilst Nagisa made pitches to other students I helped put up posters all over the school.


After School

I got my tracksuit on and decided to help with the pool the more hands helping the better right? I painted one wall whilst Nagisa and Haruka did the other. Across from me Makoto was painting the fence and talking to Gou…probably about Rin-san or Haruka-san then again I'm still questioning why Rin didn't join the swim team…it didn't make any sense.

That's when I overheard Makoto say "I mean, he just raced Haru and…" Makoto muttered they must be on about Rin-san. Nagisa mentioned something about Rin-san challenging Haruka-san to a race but nothing was mentioned after that like who won or what happened next…

"I mean when they raced that night…" Makoto then went on to describe what happened when they snuck into Samezuka, which resulted in a race between Haruka-san and Rin-san and that…,and that…Rin-san won.

"My brother won?!" Gou shouted and I stopped painting and walked over

"So Rin-san really won?" I asked and they turned to see me "Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to eavesdrop!"

"Yeah, didn't Rin tell you?" Makoto asked

"He didn't respond, so I thought he was upset about losing." She muttered

"He didn't seem very happy about winning." Makoto replied

"Why wouldn't he be happy about winning? Hasn't he always been determined to beat Haruka-san since Elementary School?" I asked

"In fact, I'd say that Haru was more…" Makoto went onto to describe the scene at the pool when Haruka-san "congratulated" Rin-san who only got angry…but why? It doesn't make any sense!

"That was when we were found by a teacher who heard all the noise." Makoto explained

"I don't get why he would say that after losing." Gou stated and then Makoto smiled

"Haru just wanted to swim. He's back to his old self" Makoto stated

"Back to his old self" I muttered and turned to look at Haruka-san and Nagisa…

"Haru was never one to care about winning or improving his time." Makoto continued

"Will my brother also go back to his old self?" Gou muttered under her breath, "We still need one more member, right?" Gou asked, "Please let me join!" she pounced the moment she said that causing Makoto and I to both be surprised. "You're the only ones who can change my brother. If you're willing to have me, I can serve as your manager and help out!"

"Me too!" they both looked at me "I wouldn't be here if I didn't care and I'll gladly help Kou-chan as a manager as well!"

"Ooh, ooh. What's going on?" Nagisa asked

"Kou-chan and Zaki-chan offered to join the swim club!" Makoto answered as we turned to look at Nagisa

"What? Really?!" Nagisa replied almost shocked by our offer "That means the swim club is officially open for business! Yay!" as usual Nagisa was cheerful but also loud!


Later that day…

It was nighttime and we actually got a lot done with the pool! I had just finished my dinner and was doing my homework in my room and I changed into something more comfortable which was a simple pink t-shirt with white spots and beige pants and black socks with a black jacket. I also decided to wear my hair in a small braid. Suddenly I got a text of my brother:

"Did you hear about the old swim club being knocked down? Could you do me a favour and go down there to say goodbye for the both of us. I know it sounds stupid but you loved that place too!"

Shota

He was right though…If it was going to be torn down I should at least say goodbye. I ran down downstairs and got my shoes, my mum ran out the kitchen "Aki where are you going?"

"To say goodbye to old swim club" I replied as I ran out the door, grabbed my bike, and peddled there as fast as I could and when I arrived I could see someone. It was Makoto! "Makoto-san?!"

He turned and looked at me in surprise "Zaki-chan! What are you doing here?" he asked

"I was about to ask you the same thing!" I replied as I got off my bike

"I came here to say goodbye…" He trailed off as he walked a little closer to the building

"Me too." As I lowered my eyes and walked closer

"Hurts, right?" We both looked at each other in surprise and turned around to see a man with golden hair and brown red eyes riding a…a pizza delivery vehicle. "It's not easy to watch as your memories are destroyed. Were you two lovebirds part of this club? Well you can't go against the times," He asked

"Lovebirds?" I muttered in confusion

"W-We're not a couple! We're just friends!" Makoto stuttered in confusion waving his hands in the air but the man continued anyway…

"It's sad." I felt like we knew him from somewhere I could see it in Makoto's face and then we remembered

"Wait are you…" Makoto trailed and then it hit me like a flash of lightning

"Coach Sasabe?!" We said in unison and he tilted his head in confusion

"It's Makoto and Aki! Makoto Tachibana and Aki Yazaki!" Makoto explained and slightly over excited and in the Coach Sasabe recognised us

"You got real big, Makoto! And you got really pretty, Aki!" he said as he cackled away

"It's been too long, Coach Sasabe" I replied

"Well I work as a pizza deliveryman now." Coach Sasabe said as he patted his vehicle "Did you two come here for one last glimpse?"

"Is that why you're here?" Makoto asked

"I thought I'd drop by on my way back from a delivery. Are the other boys doing well?" He asked

"Yes. Zaki-chan and I go to the same school as Haru and Nagisa" Makoto replied

"Are you still friends with Rin?" Coach Sasabe asked

"Yes…" Makoto reluctantly answered

"He goes to a different school though" I finished for him

"Rin's back from Australia, right?" He continued asking, "He looked pretty glum when I last saw him, so I was a little worried"

"Glum?" Makoto muttered

"Haruka didn't mention it?" He asked in surprise, "I think it was during the winter of your first year in middle school. I was closing down the place for the end of the year and Haruka and Rin showed up. Apparently, they ran into each other while Rin was back home." Shock had filled our faces. Why didn't Haruka mention any of this?!

"Did they have a race?" Makoto asked in a desperate tone

"That's right. And Haruka won easily. Rin was pretty upset about it. Can't blame him. He went to a swimming school abroad, and it didn't make a difference. Is something wrong?" Just upon hearing, that story I couldn't help but feel sorry for Rin-san and that might explain why Rin-san felt so angry to winning against Haruka-san. Who hadn't practiced since middle school and was rusty at swimming…Haruka-san wasn't giving that race his all.

"No." I replied and I looked at Makoto who looked just as sad, confused and shocked as I was afterwards Coach Sasabe had another delivery to make and left. Then Makoto and I went our separate ways.

As I cycled home everything Coach Sasabe told us kept going through my head, I decided to stop, and look at the sea with the beautiful night sky reflected in it…I had so many questions but with no answers and it was driving me insane but for now I need to focus! Focus on getting this swim team together with everyone.


The following day…

"Okay. Here's to the establishment of the new swim club!" Miss Ama-chan cheered and we all couldn't contain how happy we were and none of us could stop smiling

"Cheers" We all shouted and raised our cups

"It's not warm enough to start swimming, but we filled the pool as a test run." Miss Ama-chan explained as some of us drank our orange juice, "All that's left is to toss these in together"

"There!" we all said in unison as we each tossed that into the pool

"The swim club is finally all ready to go!" Nagisa exclaimed

"Well, we can't get into the pool yet…" However just as Makoto said that Haruka ripped off his tracksuit "Wait, Haru! You were wearing you swimsuit again?!"

"I can't get enough of those triceps!" Gou said in complete awe whereas I couldn't help but turn red

"What? Triceps?!" Makoto shouted confused

"Haruka-san! You heard what Miss Ama-chan said! It's too cold to go in the pool yet!" I shouted

It was too late Haruka-san was already swimming around in the pool. Something's will never change until…

"Wait! His lips are turning purple!" Gou shouted

"Get out before you catch a cold!" Makoto, Gou and I shouted

"I'll go find a net!" Gou shouted

"Do we seriously need to fish him out?!" I shouted

This was just the beginning of the Iwatobi Swim Club…


Sorry I know it's really long but that's just to make up for time and I didn't know what they threw into the pool near the end of the episode so I call those things "That" I know that's a terrible excuse for a writer! Sorry for my appalling writing!