For the team

Chapter 11

When it was finally my turn to swim I beat the person that beat me last year by a long shot. I thought about everything that had happened this year and it made me think more than I should.
When I looked at the score boards I was quite surprised at first, but then I remembered what Haru said in the change rooms and locker room. It made my heart shatter a bit and I got out of the pool and into the change rooms.
We were then watching Rei's and Rin's race. We watched them try their hardest in their heats however; sadly Rei didn't make it to nationals and neither did Nagisa.
After Rin's race Haru disappeared off to somewhere and I followed him. I didn't want to seem like I was doing it because I was suspecting something like a crime but I did it because I was worried about him and his well-being.
I watched as he was listening in on Rin's and Sousuke's conversation about how and what happened to his shoulder and how Sousuke damaged it. As Rin was in Australia, Sousuke was training himself to his limits causing his shoulder to break down. He realised that everyone started to surpass him and how he felt about it. He felt empty like he had no reason to live on and swim on. Until he then saw Rin swim with IWATOBI last year, that made his heart move and made him want to swim again. I watched as Haru's expressions changed as he listened on to Sousuke and Rin's story. Rin asked why Sousuke didn't tell him about it. Then, Sousuke told Rin that it was because he knew that Rin would cry. At that moment, Rin was crying; he was crying because Sousuke damaged his own shoulder because of him and he feels that because Sousuke did that, Rin is going to give it his all just for Sousuke to live on his dream, through Rin.
As I noticed Haru getting up and quickly ran back inside to meet up with Makoto, Rei, and Nagisa. I found that everyone was waiting for Haru to come back. They all asked me where he was until they saw him behind me. I walked back on the bleachers before giving a peck on the cheek to Haru for good luck.
The race was about to start and both Makoto and Momo were tied until Nagisa and Makoto made their exchange. Then, it was Nagisa and Rei; Rei was pulling ahead as much as possible as Yamazaki was forcing himself to swim. Then, it was Haru's and Rei's perfect exchange. And because of that perfect exchange both Haru and Rin were both neck in neck before IWATOBI beat Samezuka by a little bit. Now, IWATOBI is finally going to nationals.
Once we got back the next day, everyone was congratulating us for our hard work which made us shine so much more than we usually did.
Everywhere we went we got many congrats. We quickly went to practice with a grudge in my heart. The guys were practicing their relay exchanges while I practiced quickly on my freestyle. I quickened my speed and the tempo of my strokes as the other practiced.
Sasabe-san came to watch us practice and he was talking to Rei and Nagisa. I continued to swim and tackle the pool quickly, picking up speed and momentum as I swam.
Everyone sat around and talked as I continued to swim with Haru. I didn't want him to be alone but I didn't want to bother him either. He needed to keep his focus and prepare for the future, even though he doesn't know what he wants to do. I knew that Rei wanted to speak up about his feelings to Haru, but Nagisa cut him off by allowing him to do so.
Haru went and dived into the pool. The others left without him but I stayed with him, hoping to keep him company. After I walked out with Haru, we bumped into Sousuke. Sousuke wanted to talk about how Haru stopped in the middle of the race and how Haru is important to Rin and such.
I looked at Sousuke and see how much he has changed after the relay... It gave me a different outlook on him and I ran after Sousuke instead of staying with Haru.
Me: Yamazaki...
Sousuke: Nani?
Me: What you said...you've really changed didn't you? Because of the relay, because of Rin, because of your shoulder; I'm sorry I treated you harshly and I'm sure Haru doesn't mean any harm. He can be a little dense and a little guarded. If possible, would you come over to Iwatobi to give us some pointers? I heard from Nitori that you are a great coach.
Sousuke: Ha?