Free –HighSpeed! Reunion
Chapter 11: Hesitant Loosen Up!
Haru-kun was getting ready to dive, Ryugazaki was approaching the edge of the swim pool in that moment it felt as though time was moving slowly waiting for Haru-kun to dive…at last Ryugazaki touched the edge and Haru dove into the water.
He was barely in the water for a few seconds and he already passed an opponent! He's in fourth now! I was gripping the railing tightly watching in anticipation; Gou and Miss Ama-chan were holding each other's hands. We watched as Haru passed another swimmer, "And another! He's in second! Second!" Gou commented
"C'mon Haru-kun!" I shouted he was dead even with Samezuka…
He reached the end of the pool…first….first….we came in first! It took a second for the reality to sink in…they won! Miss Ama-chan and Gou hugged each other jumping for joy!
"They did it…" I muttered
"Zaki-senpai!" Gou cheered leaping on me from behind, "They won!"
"I know!" I cried turning around to hug her back, this felt like a miracle…
A few days later…
All students were called for an assembly as the principal wanted to announce the club's achievements to the rest of the school, "Despite being a brand new club, our swimmers placed in the top 8 at prefecturals and qualified for regionals." The principal announced, "We hope that they're able to advance to nationals. That is all."
There was also a sign on the side of the school building saying "Congratulations to the Swim Club on making Regionals."
"They were really ready for this." Nagisa commented
"It's obvious they reused an old one." Ryugazaki commented, now that he mentioned when the wind blew you could see judo club written underneath swim club, "But it's finally starting to sink in that we won."
"Yep" Nagisa agreed, "They'll treat us like heroes when we enter the classroom."
"We won?" Haru muttered and begun to walk away, Makoto and I looked at him and then at each other slightly confused.
Classes that day seemed to fly by and before we knew it, it was after school, "Where's Haruka-senpai?" Gou asked
"He wandered off." Makoto answered
"Did he go home?" Ryugazaki asked
"Well he does this all the time." Makoto answered
"Anyway, we've accomplished our objective of placing at the tournament, so they should give us a bigger budget. And we can use the budget to swim at a gym all the time!"
"Yep." Makoto agreed
"How can you say that?!" Gou shouted
"Huh?" Makoto and Nagisa said in unison
"Weren't you listening to the principal?" Gou asked, "Our next objective is to make it to nationals! Always aim high!" as she pointed towards the sky
"Okay!" Nagisa shouted, "Let's do our best to make it to nationals!"
"Yes! Fly..." Ryugazaki begun
"…high!" the three said in unison
"Fly high?" Makoto and I repeated
"I'll be the first one to the club room!" Nagisa announced running on ahead
"I don't think so!" Gou retorted running towards the club room
"You think you can beat a former track and field athlete?!" Ryugazaki asked racing with Gou and Nagisa to the clubroom leaving Makoto and I behind
"They're certainly full of energy." I commented
"Yeah" Makoto replied
"We should follow their example!" I cheered jogging after them, "C'mon! Us upperclassman can't lose!"
"Okay!" Makoto answered following after me
"We'll mainly be running drills for now." Gou announced, "Rei-kun, you'll work on your kick. You'll be training to develop a faster and stronger kick."
"Yes." Ryugazaki answered
"Nagisa-kun, you'll focus on strengthening your crawl stroke." Gou instructed
"Okay." He answered
"Makoto-senpai, you need to work on making your acceleration more even." Gou concluded
"Got it." Makoto responded
"Let's start warming up then!" Gou shouted, "Er…" There was some activity in the pool and Haru was climbing out
"Haru!" Makoto cried
"You were already here." Nagisa commented
"Here you go." I was carrying the towels and I passed him a blue one at the top of the pile
"Thanks." He replied
"How long have you been swimming?" I asked
"Not very long." He responded
"It's hot out today, so I brought ice to keep your drinks cold." I added
"I appreciate it." He replied
"It's good to see you so motivated, Haru-kun!" I stated
"I'm not." He replied, "I was swimming because I didn't know what to do." I wasn't the only one surprised by Haru's answer, we all were. "I figured I should ask the water about matters involving the water."
"What do you mean?" Gou asked
"Well, everyone's here now. Let's start practice." Makoto intervened
"Yes, you're right." I agreed
"All right, everybody should start by warming up!" Gou instructed
"Yes, ma'am!" Ryugazaki replied
"Roger." Nagisa answered
"Hey! No running!" Gou shouted
"Yahoo!" Nagisa dived into the pool
"Nagisa-kun!" I shouted, "Be careful!"
After practice was over, I headed towards the bike shed to collect my bike and my phone started ringing, "Hello?" I answered
"Ah, Zaki!" the voice replied
"Sa-chan!" I replied, Satomi Nii was one of my "sisters" from the Iwatobi Swimming Club, we had been together through elementary and middle school but we ended up going to different high schools.
"Zaki, I heard that you guys made it through prefecturals. Congratulations!" she stated
"Thanks, Sa-chan! Your school made it through prefecturals as well, didn't it?" I responded
"It sure did!" she replied
"Oh Sa-chan, are we still on for the Hachiman-sama Festival with Gin-chan as well?" I asked, Gin-chan or Ginko Amemori was another one of my "sisters" from Iwatobi Swimming Club, she went to the same high school as Sa-chan.
"Of course, Gin-chan has been saying how excited she is to see you in a yukata." She answered and I couldn't help but giggle at her response
"All right then. I'll see you later." I stated
"Yes, I'll see you later, Zaki." I ended the call and got my bike ready and headed home to get ready.
My mom helped me get ready for the festival, I had tied my hair half-up with two braids creating a bun and I left some hair out so it touching the nape of my neck. I was wearing a pale blue yukata with sunflowers on it and my mom was tying the purple obi for me.
"You look lovely." She commented
"Thanks, Mom." I couldn't help but blush a little as she finished tying it and stood up to look at me in the mirror.
"Reminds me of when my mother helped me put this yukata on." She muttered
"Doesn't this yukata belong to Grandma?" I asked
"Yep" my mother nodded, "She gave it to me to wear at the Hachiman-sama Festival as well. I remember your father taking me to the festival when I wore this as well…" she trailed off, "Hopefully someday, you'll have a daughter to give this yukata to as well."
"Mom, isn't it a little early to think about that kinda stuff?" I asked
"You're right." She replied, "Oh, I need to get a picture of you in it before you go! You're grandmother will be dying to see you in it!" she ran out of the room to grab her camera and I walked downstairs, my dad noticed me from the living room and walked out.
"Wow…" he mumbled, "You look just like your mother did back in high school."
"Dad…" I replied
"Aki look this way." My Mom instructed and I smiled whilst she took a picture with the flash of the camera nearly blinding me, "All right, have you got your phone and enough money?"
"Of course! I'm not a little kid." I replied
"Damn it! I can't let you go alone looking like that!" my Dad cried, "That's it I'm coming with you!"
"Honey! She's not going on her own, she'll be with her friends!" my mother scolded him
"Ikumi! She looks so pretty what if some horny teenage boys try to hit on her?!" he retorted
"Don't use such foul language and Aki can look after herself!" she shouted, I felt embarrassed to watch this conversation and the two of them bickering
"I'm heading out now." I announced
"Wait, Aki!" I could hear my Dad calling my name, when I was halfway through the front door…
I was walking towards the festival along the main road, I looked to my right and saw the ocean, the lights from the festival were reflected on the water, it looked so pretty. I was too absorbed in looking at the ocean that I wasn't watching where I was going and bumped into someone, I was about to fall until they caught me, "Ah, I'm sorry!" I apologised
"No, I wasn't paying attention either...huh?" I recognised that voice and looked up to see…Rin-san, he was the last person I wanted to see after what happened between us! "If you're alright, I'll see you…" he let me go and begun to walk past me but my body moved before I realised it
"Wait!" I clutched onto his arm, what was I doing?!
"What's wrong?" he asked
"Um, could we talk a little?" I asked
"About what?" he responded
"What happened back at prefecturals…" I answered
"Oh that…" he mumbled
We sat down by the edge of the road looking out into the ocean, "I'm sorry about what I said, I think I was shocked about what happened and I took it out on you but…" I rambled, "Rin-san did something happen in Australia?" I think I touched a nerve, as I saw him twitch at my question
"It's none of your business." He replied
"It is my business!" I retorted, "We were once part of the same swim club and I thought we were friends! That's why I want to know!"
"I'm sorry for what happened at prefecturals but I'm not saying anymore." He stated and stood up…I couldn't bring myself to stop him that time that conversation didn't make me feel any better, it still didn't answer my questions.
Just then a young man ran past me with blue hair wearing a black yukata, was that Ryugazaki-kun?
As I was about to shout out to him; my cell phone begun to ring, "Hello?" and I answered
"ZAKI!" Gin-chan yelled down the phone, I'm pretty sure other people could have heard her, "Where are you?!"
"Sorry, I'm still on Main Street I got held up." I answered, "I'm on my way!" I hung up and ran towards the festival.
"ZAKI!" Gin-chan cried as she hugged me. I finally met up with the two of them inside the festival.
"Sorry to keep you two waiting." I apologised and Gin-chan let go of me, she looked as though she had been crying nearly.
"Gin-chan, you look really pretty!" I stated Gin-chan had her wavy teal hair tied into a bun on the side of her head with some strands free, with a peach coloured flower hair clip and her yukata was various colours: yellow, peach, white, black and teal with a spotty pattern on it. She wore a peach coloured obi with it as well.
"Ah, you think I look pretty!" she cried
"Ah, so do you Sa-chan." I added. Sa-chan wore a black yukata with a white and lilac square pattern on it and she had her long lilac hair tied into a bun.
"Thanks, Zaki. Your yukata suits you." She complimented
"Thanks…" I answered as I felt my cheeks turn slightly red.
"The fireworks should be starting soon…" Sa-chan noted, "How about we get some candy apples to eat." She suggested
"Good idea." I replied
"I'm up for candy apples!" Gin-chan cheered
We spent the night, walking around the stands eating and playing games…but my conversation with Rin was still playing at the back of my mind…
The next day…
The guys were stretching before getting into the pool, I was getting the towels and drinks ready for them and Gou came running up gasping for air, "Big news!" she shouted, "My brother's swimming in the relay at regionals!" she announced
"What?!" Makoto, Nagisa and Rei shouted in unison
Rin's swimming in the relay? We were all left shocked…
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
