Free –HighSpeed! Reunion
Chapter 8: Shocking No Breathing!
The moment we returned to the lodge Miss Ama-chan went off for a massage using the coupons she got earlier today. Leaving just me and Gou we decided to try out the baths here since they are supposed to have a great view.
As we were getting our stuff ready the phone in our room began to ring I went over to answer it, "Hello?" I answered.
"Ah, hello Miss I am just calling to inform that because of the stormy weather forecast for later today the outdoor bath will not be available for use. I hope you understand." A lady at the front desk was calling to inform all the guests of this information.
"Okay, thank you for letting us know." I hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" Gou asked folding one of the kimonos that came with our room.
"It was just a clerk at the front desk saying we can't use the outdoor hot spring." I answered.
"Huh? Why not?" Gou cried
"Apparently there's supposed to be stormy weather later." I answered
"Stormy weather?" She repeated
"Hey, do you think the guys will be okay?" I asked
"They'll be fine! You worry too much! C'mon even if we can't enjoy the outdoor hot spring we can at least enjoy the view from the indoor bath whilst the weather's still clear!" Gou stated
"I guess you're right…" I murmured but there was still a little part of me that was worried.
Once we reached the bath changing rooms I got my towel ready and placed my hair in a bun. I had gotten changed first so I went on ahead of Gou. I opened the door to find that surprisingly it was empty I guess other guests would have preferred the outdoor hot spring. The walls were made of wood and the room was quite big in the centre of the room was the bath and in front of it was a plain glass window that revealed the outdoor bath and the clear night sky…I know they're trying to be careful but I hope we can use the outdoor hot spring at some point. I climbed into the bath and made my way to the far end so I could look out the window and I leaned against the side, "This feels so good~" I whispered
"Is the water good, Zaki-senpai?" I turned to see Gou entering holding her towel to her chest and she had tied her hair up into two buns.
"Yep! Hurry up and get in, Kou-chan!" I answered
"Okay, okay!" she replied and entered the bath so she was facing me, "Ah~ it feels so good~" she hummed
"I know right~" I chimed in
"Hey, Zaki-senpai can I ask you something?" Gou asked
"What, Kou-chan?" I answered
"If you don't mind me asking…how did you first meet, Haruka-senpai?" she asked
I was slightly taken aback by her question and curious as to why she wanted to know but… "Sure, I'll tell you when we get back to our room." I answered and I started to get out of the bath, "I don't think this is the place to tell that story."
Once we got back to our room we sat down on opposite sides of the table with tea, "I had been in the swim club with my older brother before Haruka-san and Makoto-san joined." I started, "I had always loved swimming since I was younger I used to hear stories about my Dad's swimming days before his accident…"
"Accident?" Gou repeated
"My dad was involved in a car accident, the damage to his leg was so severe that he had to have it amputated. That essentially ended his dreams of swimming and he had to go into physical therapy but he said he couldn't have moved forward if he didn't have my mom and his best friend…" I explained
"Who was his best friend?" she asked
"I don't know, he never really talks about him. I think he said his name was Toraichi…" I answered
"Prosthetic leg or not, it doesn't change who my dad is!" I cheered, "Anyway, at school I was in the same class as them as well, I talked to Makoto-san every now and then but Haruka-san usually kept to himself…" I continued to explain. "It wasn't until one windy winter's day that Haruka-san and I properly talked to each…"
5 years ago…
I was riding my bike on my way to the swim club from school using Mutsuki Bridge that goes over Shiwagawa River however it was rather windy that day and my scarf that I had gotten for my birthday fell into river. I sat by the edge of the bridge trying to think of ways I could retrieve my scarf but then someone was coming with their bike. It was Haruka-san and I called out to him, "Ah, Nanase-kun."
"Hey. What's wrong?" as he gripped his brakes in front of me
"Um, my scarf…" I lowered my gaze to the river; I could still see my scarf drifting along in the flow. I couldn't reach my scarf no matter which way I thought of reaching I'd probably end up falling in…
"It's impossible. You'll have to give up." Nanase-kun said bluntly
"Yeah…" I muttered, I know it was impossible but that scarf is precious to me…so I can't give up!
"I'm going on ahead." Nanase-kun stated and before I could even respond his pedals were in motion going to the swim club…what should I do? Should I go to swim club or stay here and try to retrieve my scarf?
Present…
"So Haruka-senpai, just left you there!" Gou shouted
I raised my hands, "Calm down and listen to the rest of the story!"
5 years ago…
In the end I skipped swimming club for that day, my scarf sank a little while after Nanase-kun left that's when I knew I had to give up. There was no point in me going to swim club by this point so I went home and told my mother my scarf was in my bag when she asked where it was.
The next morning, I left slightly earlier than normal riding towards the bridge with part of me hoping there was still some trace left of my scarf. That's when I saw a figure on their bike, "Good morning, Nanase-kun." I greeted him
He turned around as if startled by my sudden greeting, "Hey." He replied
I'm sorry about yesterday. For making you worry like that." I apologised
"What happened to your scarf?" he asked
I smiled, "It sank a little after you left, Nanase-kun. After that I was able to give up. I think if it had kept floating, I might have kept watching it forever." And I ended up laughing again after I stopped laughing though I looked at his face and it was slightly red, "What's wrong, Nanase-kun? Your face looks kind of red." I peered slightly at his face taking a closer look
"It's nothing. It's normal." He answered
"Are you sure you don't have a fever?" I asked slightly concerned and I tried to touch his cheek to see if he was hot or not but he instinctively pushed my hand away. We were face-to-face and it felt as though time had stopped for a second. With my other hand, I held the one that Nanase-kun had pushed away. I was surprised, why did he do that?
"Ah…sorry." He apologised. If he didn't want to be touched then he could have moved his neck to avoid it or lightly blocked my hand with his own. Honestly pushing me away was slightly mean.
"Oh, no, I'm the one that should be sorry." I replied
The conversation had ended there and we continued to head towards school keeping our heads down and not looking at each other once…
That morning our homeroom theme was "Creating Memories for Graduation." All of the classes had been brought together to contribute ideas and then those ideas were narrowed down to just one. Once it had been decided that all of the graduating students would work on it together, there were many varied opinions, even just within our class.
Things that could be done quickly, things that were impossible to realize, laughable things, things that leaned heavily toward certain hobbies. Then, when it seemed that all of the ideas had just about run out, my hand went up.
"Um, I've been thinking this for a while now, but the only flowers that bloom around this school are from the cherry tree, right? In the spring there will be lots of flowers, but right now it seems sort of lonely…" I began to explain
Between the school building and the pool stood a large cherry tree. There was no other tree as imposing to be found in the area. It had an overwhelming presence that didn't let anything come near; the trees, the grass and the flowers all stayed away as if daunted by it.
"So I was thinking, what if we planted a flower bed around the cherry tree? I thought it would be wonderful if there were lots of bright-coloured flowers blooming happily with the cherry tree in the spring." I finished
"I'm in favor of planting a flower bed, too." The one, who spoke, advancing my idea, was Tachibana-kun. "I think it would be nice if we planted flowers that would bloom right around the time we all graduate."
My idea had general support; and so the class voted overwhelmingly in favour of the flower bed.
After homeroom the day seemed to fly by but I couldn't help but be worried about Nanase-kun and I think even Tachibana-kun noticed as well.
On my way home from school I rode my bike over the bridge as usual but then something or someone caught my eye. It was Nanase-kun down by the bank, is he okay? Maybe he really does have a fever! I gripped my brakes and Nanase-kun turned around to look at me, "What's wrong, Nanase-kun?" I asked
But he stretched his back and contained his breathing it looked as though he couldn't say anything at all; I looked past him and saw something white floating up on the surface, "Ah!" I gasped
"I'll go get it now." Nanase-kun stated
"You don't have to, it's too dangerous!" I replied plus I don't think he is in any condition to be going into the water especially if he has a fever. But, he turned his back to me…
He was about to step onto the riverbank when all of a sudden his feet rose from the ground and he was tumbling towards the embankment and he fell in…I ran towards him "Nanase-kun! Nanase-kun!" I screamed his right hand had gripped the dry grass of the bank whilst his left was clutching onto my scarf…
"Haru! Haru!" I turned to see Tachibana-kun and Matsuoka-kun running towards us… they hauled Nanase-kun onto the bank.
"I'll go call an ambulance!" I stated and I ran towards the nearest payphone, I called an ambulance, the swim club and Nanase-kun's house. Then I ran back to the three of them and waited until the ambulance came…Tachibana-kun said he and Matsuoka-kun would go with Nanase-kun to the hospital but Tachibana-kun gave me my scarf…I couldn't help but worry and think was this my fault?
Present…
"Even after that day…I still continued to wear that scarf. After all it was a precious present but it was filled with memories as well!" I smiled
"Zaki-senpai, thank you for sharing that with me." Gou said then the door opened and Miss Ama-chan came in wearing her kimono from the lodge.
"Oh, the two of you are still awake?" She asked and closed the door over.
"Actually, we were about to go to sleep. Right, Kou-chan?" I asked
"Oh, yes!" She replied
"Great! Then let's set up the futons!" Miss Ama-chan suggested and we set up three futons. Miss Ama-chan took the one on the right, Gou was in the middle and I was on the left. I drew the curtains and noticed that the wind began to howl…I hope the guys are okay.
Gou turned the light off, "C'mon, Zaki-senpai." She gestured me to go over to the futon.
"All right, I'm coming." I replied as I lied down on the futon pulling the sheets over myself, "Good night, Kou-chan. Good night, Miss Ama-chan."
"Good night, Zaki-senpai. Good night, Miss Ama-chan." Gou murmured
"Good night, you two." Miss Ama-chan murmured as well all fell asleep.
The next morning…
After waking up and getting dressed, we decided that we would make breakfast with the guys so we made our way down to the beach. Hopefully they had a good night's sleep considering the stormy weather last night.
When we got to the beach we found them asleep on the sand, "Oh dear…" Miss Ama-chan murmured
"What are you guys doing?" Gou asked, "Hung out to dry overnight? Okay, okay. Time to start practise!" Gou shouted
"No good! I think they're out like lights." I stated and Gou and I ran over to them to see if they were okay.
"Wake up!" Gou shouted
