Just Friends

Chapter 1

Notice: This is an alternative story, which means the facts might not be accurate, and the storyline will be different than the original anime storyline.

Haru's POV

I braced for the sound of a gunshot as I tightened my fingers on the kickboard, my feet ready to send me into the pool below.

I hastily brushed away a few loose strands of dark blue hair out of my face, taking a deep breath and exhaling.

You're here to swim for your friends, Haru.

"Ready!" The announcer boomed loud and clear, my luminescent, sea blue eyes shimmering as it reflected the pool water below.

I wait for the two letter word, my gaze focused in front of me and nowhere else.

Suddenly...

"GO!"

As soon as the gunshot rings in my eardrums, I rocket off the surface of the kickboard and plunge into the water, diving in with the other competitors.

Be one with the water. Embrace it.

I glide through the pool with a smooth, yet powerful dolphin kick, negotiating with the water around me as the after-effects of the water rippled out from behind.

The corners of my mouth raised slightly as I heard my friends cheer me on.

If I focused enough, even over the crowd I could hear Makoto, Rei and Nagisa's cheers of perseverance.

I had my mind set on winning now.

Now that I was one with the water, I felt like I could do anything.

But wait.

As I turned to my side to transition into a crawl stroke, a familiar crimson-haired competitor had quickly caught up to me.

My mouth opened in surprise as he grinned at me, his spiky, white teeth glistening in the water that surrounded us.

No way, it can't be Rin.

I quickly shake the thought out of my head, focusing on keeping my breathing steady and maintaining my speed.

Come on, Haru. This is regionals.

Stay focused.

With my newfound determination, I speed up my pace, my strokes more powerful than before as I approached the other end of the pool.

Now a few feet away from the wall, I quickly did a backflip into the wall, bending my knees to position for a strong boost off the wall.

I pushed with such force that I ended up doing a torpedo, arching my hands forward as I gracefully cut through the water, momentum on my side.

My face remains expressionless as I catch Rin's admirable gaze as he is a few strokes behind me.

Although I quickly gritted my teeth in persistence as he steadily advanced forwards, slowly catching up to me.

My eyes are dead set on the yellow wall up ahead.

Almost there.

One last powerful stroke.

With a finishing burst of speed, I am able to touch the wall.

There.