Royals

Chapter 7: Look, it's a liar

Yuto took a couple of snap shots of the school's swimming team, he focused on his role as a photographer for the school's newspaper. He framed the athletes through his lens, catching them mid-dive, their bodies slicing through the water with grace.

Click. Another shot of one of the swimmers doing a stroke in the water. Oakland was played well, they were the only competition the school had. Same tuition prices, same sports. Oakland  Parkwood High was a copy and paste. Or at least that's what the students thought.

After the first team ended their match, it was time for the last team where Grey played. In the auditorium family, students and teachers cheered their kids on.

Grey stood by the edge of the pool, adjusting his goggles, his face set with determination. His muscles were tense, ready to spring into action. But among the crowd, his father stood out—a towering figure, arms crossed, his expression unbearable. An Olympic champion in his own right, Grey's father had the presence of someone who knew exactly what it took to win, and his father reminded him every day.

The whistle blew, signalling the start of the race.

Click. Yuto took another shot through his lenses. 

Grey started off strong, his strokes slicing through the water. His arms pumped with power, each pull pushing him ahead of his competitors. The crowd's cheers blurred into a background hum, but the only thing that mattered to Grey was the sound of the water, the steady rhythm of his breathing, and the pressure to make his father proud.

From the stands, his father watched eyes narrow in focus. Every movement Grey intended in that pool determined his status as a swimmer and the son of an ex-Olympic champion.

But as the laps went on, something shifted. His energy began to fade, his strokes losing their sharpness. He could feel himself falling behind. He pushed harder, his muscles screaming in protest, but it wasn't enough. Lap by lap, he was overtaken by the other swimmers.

By the final lap, Grey was behind. He gave one last desperate burst, but it was too late. The crowd erupted in celebration—the team from Oakland Parkwood High had won the race.

Grey reached the pool's edge, panting heavily, his chest heaving with exhaustion. As he pulled himself out of the water, goggles and hat off, he glanced toward his father in the stands. His heart sank as he saw his father's face twist in frustration.

The sound of a cap slamming to the floor echoed through the auditorium. His father, unable to contain his anger, had thrown his hat down in disappointment. Grey's chest beat up and down; he was tired, and now his father would scold him once he came out of that building.

Yuto saw the scene that went off between the father and son, which wasn't pleasing to the eye.

He walked over to his changing room and waited for his to arrive. 

Yuto leaned against the wall in the changing room, his camera clutched tightly in his hands, waiting for Grey. The air was thick with the scent of chlorine and tension. He had watched the race unfold through his lens, capturing every stroke, every moment of effort, and—unfortunately—the final defeat. As Grey finally walked in, drenched and visibly exhausted, Zane straightened up.

"Hey, man," Yuto said, his voice soft, trying to sound casual.

Grey didn't respond. He barely looked in Yuto's direction. He had just lost—not just for himself, but for his school, his team, and with his father watching. He sighed, and he dropped his gear on the bench with a thud.

Yuto shifted awkwardly, unsure of what to say. He'd known Grey long enough to know when not to push. Still talent was in his family, in his blood. It's like he disappointed his entire bloodline.