Breathless (Free! Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

(Author's note: Don't be confused when Kaito uses Rei's and Nagisa's surnames. She's not close with them in any way, so she's not in a first name basis with them and it's a form of respect. Read on. ( • ̀ω•́ )✧)

When I went downstairs the next morning for breakfast, Mom already headed out to work. A plate of fried rice sat in the middle of the dining table. While eating breakfast, I rummaged through my school bag to check my things.

I couldn't find it. Where is it?

Cursing, I finished all my food and dumped the empty plate and utensils on the sink. I grabbed my bag and went to school, despite being so early. I wanted to have my last moments in the volleyball court.

Before I leave.

~

I was alone in the outdoor court. The early students preferred to stay in the school building, so it was quiet. But I felt at home. Beside me was a basket full of volleyballs, I wanted to practice, even though I was leaving.

I took a ball and went to the service area. A dull buzz was echoing in my ear. Those damned voices were never going to leave me alone. I released the ball and served. I did this several times.

"Perfect form, right amount of release," I heard someone mutter.

I turned and saw the same boy from yesterday with another guy just a few steps away from the court. Both were in their track suits. The guy with Hazuki Nagisa was a few inches taller than him. He had dark blue hair and violet eyes under his red rimmed glasses.

I recognized him as Ryugazaki Rei. He used to be on the track and field. When he used to do pole vaulting, I always saw him during our volleyball practice. He was one of the team's best players.

I wonder what made him leave.

Ryugazaki was muttering to himself as he rubbed his chin, his face in a thinking position. Hazuki, on the other hand, was cheering as his eyes sparkled. It was probably normal for him to do so, but for me, it was uncomfortable in many levels.

Instead of practicing my serves, I did more on my footworks, which involved running and jumping around in the court. I practiced my blocks and spikes. Being inside the court was better than being near them in the service area. Despite being far from them, I could still hear them, specifically Hazuki.

Once I felt like I was about to drop, I began to collect the balls that I used. Hazuki ran and helped me collect them. I turned around and saw Ryugazaki do the same.

"What do you want, Hazuki-san?" I asked after a while.

"I just came to watch you," Hazuki said, smiling brightly at me. "You can call me Nagisa, by the way." We walked together to the basket and placed the balls in. Ryugazaki followed the same.

Ryugazaki stepped right in front of me and looked directly in my eyes. "Nakahara-san, with your skills, why are you leaving the volleyball team?" he asked.

My eyes narrowed at him. "How do you know that?"

Ryugazaki flinched at my gaze and turned to Nagisa. Nagisa reached in his pocket a folded piece of paper. He handed it to me.

It was my club withdrawal form.

"You dropped it at the school lockers yesterday," Nagisa said.

That's why I couldn't find it this morning.

My grip on the form tightened. As much as I hated to, I planned to hand over the form to Coach Sasagawa today. I also can't tell my mother about this.

My mother was a star volleyball player here in Iwatobi High. Everybody loved her. Until she injured her shoulder during a game. An injury that never recovered. An injury that cost her a lot - her dreams.

Right after high school, she married my father and moved to Tokyo. Being so young, married life wasn't how they expected it to be. My father inherited his family's hotel, so we got through financially.

I don't really know what broke them up. There were no third parties. I guess they just got tired of each other. They got divorced and fought over me. Being an infant, the favor was given to my mother. She brought me to Iwatobi and lived in poverty.

My father still sent us money to make sure I had my needs taken care of, but my mother, being stubborn, sent it back everytime. She took different part jobs in different places around Iwatobi, so I hardly see her. During the holidays, I stayed at my father's. Despite his busy schedule and travelling to different countries, he loves to take me with him.

I've been to many places - Brazil, Australia, America, the Caribbean. All of which my mother always scowled at. She thinks my father his buying my affection with his money. I beg to disagree. Even though I only meet my father during the holidays, I spent more time with him than with my mother.

I realised that Ryugazaki and Nagisa was still there when I returned back to the present. "Thank you for returning this, Nagisa-san," I said. I turned and started to walk away when both guys called my name.

"Nakahara-san!"

"Kai-chan!"

I raised my eyebrow at Nagisa. I understood that he was friendly, but not that friendly. I decided to let it go since that's how he is probably with his friends.

"Since you're leaving the volleyball team," Ryugazaki began.

Both of them bowed and said, "Please join the swim team!"