Free –High Speed! Reunion
Chapter 5: Theoretical Dolphin Kick
It's been a couple of days since the pool was finished however since then Haruka-san had apparently caught a cold which was pretty obvious considering how cold the pool actually was! Of course I was a little worried so I made some soup for him…When I arrived I rang the doorbell "Haruka-san! It's me Aki, I have some soup for you!" and then the door opened and it was Nagisa
"Ah, Zaki-chan! Come in!" Nagisa gestured for me to come inside, I did so making sure to take my shoes off, and together we headed for the living room where Makoto was and Haruka sitting at the table wearing a towel over his head.
"Hello Zaki-chan" Makoto greeted
"Hello Makoto-san, Haruka-san I brought you some soup" I replied then all of sudden Haruka-san sneezed very loudly
"Are you okay, Haru?" Makoto asked
"My late grandma used to say that you sneeze when someone else is talking about you" Haruka muttered
"Here" Makoto said as he passed him some tissues to wipe his nose as I walked over to sit down and placed the bag with the container of soup on the table
"Mackerel isn't going to cut it for a cold! Try some traditional homemade Yazaki family soup known to cure any cold!" I said proudly. Well it was a family recipe that my mother finally taught me how to make! (After I begged her)
"It must be Rin-chan" Nagisa blurted and all three of us looked at him in confusion
"No. I'm pretty sure he's sick" Makoto replied
"It's no wonder you're sick I mean you were swimming in an outdoor pool in the middle of April!" I confirmed
"I'm not a baby that gets sick from swimmi-" Before he could finish his sentence Haruka sneezed yet again
"Haruka-san you're only human." I muttered
"It's too early for swimming in outdoor pools. We'll just have to work out till it gets warmer." Makoto explained and frankly he was right
"Oh, I heard from Gou-chan that Rin-chan joined the Samezuka swim team" Nagisa said I was surprised by that, I wondered what caused the change of heart for Rin-san "Is something wrong Mako-chan?" Nagisa asked
"Nothing" he replied with a little smile creeping onto his face maybe it had something to do with the conversation we had with Coach Sasabe. "But this means we might run into him at a tournament."
"Yep we should enter tournaments! Then we can do relays" Nagisa stated
"I only swim freestyle." Haruka stated bluntly by this point we all know that by now
"Does that mean you can't swim relays?" Nagisa asked sadly
"Don't say that Haruka-san!" I scolded but he simply just kept flicking through the magazine on the table
"Come on…" Nagisa muttered
"Besides, we can't swim a relay with three people…" Haruka said
"That's true" Makoto confirmed
"Which means…We have to find one more member?!" Nagisa shouted both shocked and upset but I couldn't help but think…Did none of them realise this from the very start?
A Few Days Later…
Haruka was finally better and well enough to come to school since Makoto-san texted me last night as I cycled to school I could really feel spring in the air even if I was cycling by the ocean. It's strange though these journeys to and from school always go so quickly when I'm by myself probably because I end up getting lost in thought. But still ever since Nagisa realised we needed one more member he's been busy working on products and the mascot key chains to recruit new members. I wonder how that's going for him.
It was already the end of the day and I decided to look for Haruka-san and as expected he was by the pool "If you're not careful you'll catch another cold, Haruka-san" I said as I bent down next to him however he sneezed and looked away
"I want to swim already." He said in his usual blunt manner and I couldn't help but smile and giggle a little
"Don't worry before you know it'll be summer and then you can swim to your heart's content…" I said as I looked at my reflection in the pool water
"Wow…" It sounded like Nagisa and it was coming from the changing rooms
"We can swim here in the off season?" Nagisa asked and as Haruka and I walked in we could see Gou-chan holding up a poster "Awesome!"
"Right?" she said as she moved the poster from the view of her face, "I'm thinking that schools like us without indoor pools probably use facilities like these."
"Way to go, Gou-chan! Our super manager!" Nagisa shouted
"You're supposed to call me Kou!" Gou-chan shouted, and then she noticed, "Haruka-senpai, Zaki-senpai." But after she said that Haruka walked up to her and grabbed the poster and examined it
"How do we pay for it?" Haruka asked
"With our club budget, of course" Gou answered
"Ah, I see" Nagisa said and then I looked over Haruka's shoulder to see how much it would cost…I had never seen so many zeroes before and that was per member!
"This gym is pretty expensive to join." Makoto stated
"Um, Kou-chan I don't think our club budget will really cover this…I mean it's showing the price per member!" I explained
"That's probably what you're thinking." Makoto directed that commented at Haruka but knowing him it's probably that he really wants to pay for this…
"Shut up." Haruka said and he turned away which clearly meant Makoto had hit bull's eye
"This means we can swim all year round!" Nagisa shouted
A Few Minutes Later…
"That's not happening" Miss Ama-chan put bluntly. The only reason we came here was to run this whole idea past Miss Ama-chan and there was our answer.
"What? Why?" Nagisa asked
"The school isn't going to give that much money to a brand new club with no accomplishments" Miss Ama-chan explained "There is an aphorism from the bible. He who does not work neither shall he eat." She then recited and I don't think she used that phrase in the right context
"I don't think you're using that correctly." Makoto said and clearly we were thinking the same thing
"You can't eat a pool" Nagisa complained
"So we'll get the money if we deliver some accomplishments?" Gou asked
"I suppose" Miss Ama-chan replied, "That's the best way to secure lots of money for your club"
"Accomplishments…" Haruka muttered
"So what if we can get a place in a summer tournament?" Makoto asked, I could sense everyone was getting excited this just might the spark of motivation we need to get this club in action!
"Your request might be approved at the second term budget review meeting. But you'll need at least four swimmers to bolster your case" Miss Ama-chan confirmed
The race was really on now for that extra swimmer I wonder what we could do to convince someone to join? Posters and key chains aren't really cutting it…I put my hand to my chin to think "Swimmers…" I turned to see Haruka muttering to himself again maybe he had an idea, "One more…" he kept muttering and began loosening his tie not that I'm complaining but for some reason I have a bad feeling about this…
Finally, everyone turned to Haruka "Huh?" Makoto, Nagisa and Gou said in unison and he ran out the staff room
"Haruka-san?" I shouted to him
"Haru-chan sounds motivated now!" Nagisa said with an excited tone in his voice we all ran out the staff room after him all curious as to what he was up to, "Oh he stopped." Nagisa muttered as Haruka stopped in front of two boys
"Hey. I'll give you this. So join the swim club." Haruka not only interrupted their conversation but tried to bribe them…with a key chain nobody wants!
"No thanks" the boys replied
"Ouch" Nagisa whispered and to be honest bribery isn't the greatest selling pitch for a club
"That's the best Haru can manage" Makoto groaned
"Don't let it get to you, Haru-chan!" Nagisa cheered
"Should we really be encouraging him?" I muttered
The school day was over before I knew it and I headed to shoe lockers on the way there I saw Nagisa's poster and I smiled a little I could see and feel how much this meant to him and I kept walking. Then I saw Nagisa talking to another boy he looked like a first year but a really tall first year with Dark blue hair and purple eyes covered by red glasses…however the boy brushed Nagisa off and left the building.
I walked over to Nagisa "Nagisa-kun!" I shouted and he turned around
"Oh, Zaki-chan!" He looked surprised
"What's wrong? It's not like you to glum. Who was that boy you were talking too just now?" I asked I couldn't help it I was curious
"That was Ryugazaki…" He then made a thinking face
"Don't you know his first name?" I asked he nodded in response to my question and then looked past my shoulder to the locker and then his face lit up "Huh? Nagisa-kun?" What was the matter with him but then he grabbed my wrist and dragged me back inside the school "Nagisa-kun?!" I shouted in surprise
"We need to get the others I think we have our final member!" He shouted as he dragged me who knows where!
"This way!" Nagisa shouted as he lead the rest of the swim club to the track team field and dragged Haruka-san most of the way
"What is it?" he asked clearly annoyed
"I found the perfect person!" Nagisa declared pointing at the track team
"The track team?" Gou asked
"He can't join us then" Makoto pointed out
"Look. Over there." Nagisa pointed towards him. That was definitely the boy I saw with Nagisa earlier so he's Ryugazaki…, "It's his fate!" Nagisa shouted
"Was he on the swim team in middle school?" Haruka-san asked and that was surprisingly good question that I didn't expect to come from him
"Does he hold a record?" Gou asked
"It's his name!" Nagisa continued to shout
"His name?" I muttered is that why he was so surprised earlier by the shoe lockers?
"Yep" He replied, "It's Rei Ryugazaki! He's the same as us! A boy with a girly name!" He said that with such enthusiasm I didn't know whether to be angry or not
"That's your reason?!" Gou shouted and he nodded, "But I have to agree. Look at those deltoids…" and as usual Gou continued ogle as muscles
"That's your reason?!" Makoto stuttered, "You really think those reasons are enough?"
"My reason is very good!" Gou declared
"Picking someone by their name or muscles doesn't necessarily mean they fit the bill!" I shouted
"That's right Mako-chan, Zaki-chan. Go with your gut on these things." Nagisa tried in vain to reassure us
"Hey it looks like he is about to jump." Haruka-san pointed out to us, we all turned to look, and it looked like he was muttering something to himself. Then he began his sprint and when he jumped…it was so precise we were all amazed by it.
"His form was beautiful." Makoto said, "He's probably a great diver."
"Absolutely! And his biceps are beautiful!" Gou exclaimed
"Would you stop rating people's abilities based on their muscles!" I shouted but in the corner of my eye I could see Nagisa looking awe at the sight of Ryugazaki's jump…He really wants this guy to join that badly?
The following day…
"No luck. He wouldn't say yes. I don't think Rei-chan likes water" Nagisa complained
It was clear, Nagisa would not be giving up on recruiting Rei Ryugazaki…
"We don't need anyone like that. Don't let him in the water" Haruka put bluntly clearly annoyed by the water comment
"If you say that, nobody will join!" Nagisa scolded Haruka "We'll have to spend all winter lifting weights and jogging! Are you all right with that Haru-chan?!" I could see Haruka-san go pale at the very thought.
He turned away "No" he replied
"Look we could try holding an assembly or do a pitch for first years" I suggested and they looked at me as if I suggested they jump of cliff
"I think we need Ama-chan to strip down for us." Nagisa muttered
"And you thought my idea was bad!" I was annoyed not only about how they blew off my idea but then they suggested such a ludicrous thing!
"Besides that won't happen. She said that she won't wear a swimsuit" Makoto agreed with me
"Then we should reverse it!" Nagisa said
"Reverse it?" Makoto muttered
"If you join, you get to show off your swimsuit to Ama-chan!" Nagisa explained
"Would anyone want that?" Makoto and I muttered in unison
"Wait, don't write that down!" Makoto had stopped Haruka from writing that on the poster that was currently in progress and then she appeared…
All three of them looked up to…to…Miss Ama-chan "Excuse me, boys and Miss Yazaki" in such an eerie voice
"We're sorry!" Nagisa and Makoto screamed in fear whilst I couldn't help but sigh…
On my way home, I couldn't help but think…when we get our final member Haruka-san will be able to race Rin-san again. But does Haruka-san truly want to beat Rin-san again? I sighed I realised that this isn't my place to pry besides I better hurry up and get home and I continued to cycle in the sunset.
"We have good news for everyone today." Gou announced but to be honest it was all Gou "Amazingly enough I was able to schedule a joint practice with Samezuka!" she said proudly
"What? Really!" Nagisa asked everyone looked so happy to be honest when Gou-chan texted me last night I was just as surprised
"Did you ask Rin?" Makoto inquired
"My brother won't listen to me, so I went straight to their captain." Gou explained and with the way their captain acted meeting Gou for the first time it made absolute sense. After all when they met he called her "cute" right off the bat and ignored I was there too!
"That's our super manager, Gou-cha-" Nagisa said only to be cut off by Gou
"It's Kou" She interrupted by this point I would have given up calling her Gou well I call her "Gou" in my mind but when I address her I call her "Kou" just to avoid an awkwardness of being corrected
"That means we have permission to swim in Samezuka's indoor pool now." Makoto confirmed
"But…" Gou muttered, "Since it's a joint practice, we need to bring four members at a minimum"
"That means we have to recruit a new member before the practice" Nagisa realised, "Especially since Gou-chan used her sex appeal to get us this chance."
Gou blushed at the moment she heard that comment "I didn't use sex appeal" she shouted trying to defend herself
"Huh? You didn't use appeal?" Nagisa asked
"Of course not!" She retorted
The next day, I was cycling to school the next morning when I saw Haruka-san and Makoto walking down "Haruka-san! Makoto-san!" I shouted and they turned around as I stopped my bike, "Good morning!"
"Good morning, Zaki-chan" Makoto replied
"Morning" Haruka muttered and then we walked all the way to school and then when we arrived Nagisa was out of breath and in his tracksuit, "What are you doing?" Haruka asked
"Haru-chan, Mako-chan and Zaki-chan" Nagisa muttered and then he looked surprised, "Oh, Rei-chan." We all turned to see Ryugazaki-san walking up to us.
"Are you Haru-chan-san?" He asked Haruka-san
"Don't put –chan and –san on my name" Haruka said with an annoyed tone in his voice
"Is something up?" Nagisa asked
"I'm willing to participate in your joint practice as a trial member." Ryugazaki replied we were all taken aback by his answer…I wonder what changed his mind? Did Nagisa manage to convince him?
"What? Really?!" Nagisa asked he was ecstatic by Ryugazaki's acceptance
"But only on one condition." He answered and fixed his glasses, "I won't do any swimming"
The time had finally come for our joint practice with Samezuka and even though I had seen, it before I was still taken aback by their indoor pool not only was it big but the water looked amazing!
"Indoor pools are nice!" Nagisa exclaimed whilst to my left I could see that Gou was ogling at all the Samezuka swimmers and I gave her a quick nudge to grab her attention
"The captains coming!" I whispered
"Hey, thanks for coming." He greeted
"Thank you very much!" we all replied after all it was so kind of them to be willing to host a joint practice with us. Most people would probably brush off the request or say it's a waste of time!
"Sure." He replied, "You're Nanase-kun, right? You won a bunch of regional tournaments in grade school"
"Yeah" Haruka answered then just behind the captain I could see Rin-san…he really has changed over the years his hair is still as messy as it was back then but he's taller and more muscular…What am I thinking?! I'm sounding like Gou-chan! I could feel myself turning red I had turn around and calm myself down!
"What's up Zaki-chan?" Nagisa asked tilting to see my face
"N-Nothing! I'm just feeling a bit hot in here!" I replied and began to laugh awkwardly…what is the matter with me?
Meanwhile, Gou had ran up to Rin-san "Oh, Big Brother!" she shouted. The least I could do was go greet him after all he is a friend so I walked up to him along with Nagisa and Makoto
"Rin-chan! We get to swim together again!" Nagisa greeted, "Let's have fun today!"
"Together? You guys are a waste of my time." Rin replied brushing Nagisa off
"Long time no see, Rin-san!" I greeted he then sighed as he continued to walk away that was definitely not the Rin-san I remember…he's changed…a lot
Once everyone completed their stretches, they lined up and listened to what Captain Mikoshiba had to say "I was thinking you could practice with our first years today. Okay!" he instructed, "Let's start with individual time trials. You there." He was pointing at Ryugazaki-san, "Get in your swimsuit."
"Uh, I'm not…" Ryugazaki-san tried to explain but then…
"Sorry! He forgot to bring his swimsuit!" Nagisa tried to justify to Captain Mikoshiba
"What? Why is he here then?" he looked annoyed, "You can use our spare swimsuits, so go get changed!" And that's when the bombshell dropped…
Gou and I looked at each other and then back at the scene before us. What do we do? This was Ryugazaki's one and only condition and before we knew it hew was being rushed off to go get a swimsuit…I feel guilty now!
"The deal was that I wouldn't have to swim." Ryugazaki complained
"I'm so sorry, Ryugazaki-san!" I apologized
"Don't worry!" Nagisa said trying to reassure us, "These time trials are just for practice, so it doesn't matter if you're slow!"
"That's not the issue!" He retorted
The trials were beginning and Makoto was going first because he was our team captain. Gou had a clipboard ready to take note of the times as managers this is the best opportunity to evaluate our members' skills and help them develop them! Therefore, I was timing everybody with the stopwatch.
After Makoto it was Nagisa and then…Ryugazaki-san who is absolutely against this! However, as Ryugazaki stood on the podium ready to dive in. Nobody was ready for what was about to happen next…
Ryugazaki-san couldn't swim! On land, his form was so beautiful! Yet here he ended flopping like a fish we were all in pure shock however, he wasn't returning back to the surface…
"U-Uh…He hasn't come back up." Makoto muttered
"Um this looks bad…" Gou whispered
"Nagisa-kun go help him! Somebody help him!" I shouted and kneeled by the side of the pool however I felt a strong breeze push past me and I could see it was Haruka-san…
"Is he okay?" Captain Mikoshiba asked we all kept our eyes glued to the pool and finally they rose back to the surface with Ryugazaki-san's arm around Haruka's neck gasping for air. We all breathed a sigh of relief that he was okay…but now I felt even more guilty not only did we drag him here but now I understand why he was completely against swimming.
Soon, Ryugazaki-san was taken out the pool and sat on the side with a towel on his head looking down in shame…He must have felt embarrassed by the fact he couldn't swim. "So Rei-chan…you can't swim?" Nagisa asked
"Yeah…" He answered, "Are you saying it's my fault?! I told I wasn't going to swim!"
"You should have said something earlier" Nagisa explained
"I wasn't going to admit I couldn't swim." He retorted, "That would go against my sense of beauty!"
"I'll go clear things up with Samezuka" Makoto said, "Sorry about forcing you into this situation" whilst Haruka was getting ready for his trial
"Um, Ryugazaki-san?" I knelt down next to him as I addressed him and he turned to look at me, "I'm sorry about what happened. But here you go." He looked down at the water bottle in my hand and took it of me and turned his head away again "By the way, try watching Haruka-san swim" as I stood up again I couldn't help but watch the sight but then I noticed Ryugazaki-san looked just as amazed as everyone else
"Is something wrong?" Makoto asked
"No, it's just…" He whispered
"See? I told you so." Nagisa exclaimed, "Haru-chan's an amazing swimmer!"
A Few Days later…
We all headed to the track field after school well it was mainly Nagisa's idea he still had his heart set on recruiting Ryugazaki-san.
"You still haven't given up?" Makoto asked
"Of course not!" Nagisa replied we all sat on the bench watching Ryugazaki-san, "But it looks like Rei-chan…"
"Ryugazaki!" the coach called
"Yes" Ryugazaki-san replied
"…is feeling much better" Nagisa finally finished we all watched as Ryugazaki-san prepared to jump but something seemed different about him today…and soon as he dissented as he jumped over the pole he formed a starfish position?
"What?!" we all shouted in shock however the moment didn't last long and he hit the pole and crash landed on the matt. Afterwards though he began to walk over to us
"Huh? He's coming over here." Nagisa pointed out and once he reached the bench
"I want to be like you, Nanase-senpai." He declared
"What do you mean?" I asked
"I want that kind of freedom." He replied
"It's not freedom. It's freestyle." Haruka-san explained
"F-Freestyle…Anyway I would like to formally join the swim club!" He requested and bowed in front of us…we were all shocked by this only a couple of days ago he was completely against the idea but now…
"What? Really?!" Nagisa shouted and Haruka for once was surprised as well
"If you want to swim, go ahead." Haruka-san turned his head away after he said that
"That's that, then!" Makoto finished
"Yep!" Gou replied
"Welcome to the swim team!" I shouted
"However, you were the one who initially invited me to join. I expect you to take responsibility, Nagisa-kun" when Ryugazaki-san addressed Nagisa, he looked a little embarrassed but Nagisa was over the moon.
"Sure! You can count on me!" Nagisa said as he pounced on top of Ryugazaki-san and we all laughed away.
At last we found another member!
