Troubled But Strong

Race of a Lifetime

  Y/N got dressed in her swim team's uniform, smiling at herself in the mirror.
'My hair might be gone, but I'm still me...'
Y/N placed the beanie on her exposed head, and a doctor's mask over her mouth. Hanako stood in the door frame, smiling at the girl before her.
"Now be sure to keep that on so you don't get worse okay?"
Y/N nodded, and grabbed her bag, running to the bus outside the hospital, her team awaiting on it.

"Hey guys!" Y/N exclaimed as she entered the bus.
All of their faces lit up, but gave her questioning looks on their faces about the mask.
"Eh Y/N-Chan? Why the mask?" Makoto asked, his green eyes showing some concern.
"Oh this ol thing keeps the germs away from my immune system. I can't really be exposed to large groups of people without getting sick anymore...so I have to wear this guy."
Everyone stood there silent, causing Y/N to pout.
"Oh come on guys it's no big deal. I'm sick, we all have to face it now. This is just an extra precaution so I don't die."
Makoto's breath hitched as she mentioned the word death. Y/N walked further into the bus, sitting in an empty seat behind Nagisa.

The event was far away, which gave everyone the chance to take a nap on the bus, everyone except Y/N. A few minutes later though, there was an unexpected visitor in her seat.
"Hm? Rei? Is everything alright?" Y/N questioned.
"I'm...I'm going to confront Rin today. The way he's treating his old team is something unacceptable. By the end of today....he will be reunited with them."
Y/N just stared, her E/C eyes shining. Rei was about to get up, but something held him back. He looked down, and saw Y/N holding his arm. A slight blush swept across his cheeks, as well as hers. Rei sat back down, and was immediately hugged by Y/N, "Thank you.." was all she said barely above a whisper, but enough for him to hear. He nodded and hugged her back. Y/N pulled back and smiled, but to Rei's displeasure, he couldn't see it. Y/N noticed his change in face, and took off the mask.
"Better?" Y/N giggled, causing Rei to look to the side.
Y/N placed a hand on his cheek, and kissed him gently, startling the bluenette.
"Win for me okay?"
Rei only nodded his head quickly, getting up back to his seat, and Y/N put her mask back on as the bus came to a stop.

As all of the teams checked in, Y/N was spotted by two scouts in the corner. They looked at her, then talked back to each other, their hands motioning to her. Soon enough they made their way to the teen, and asked her to take off her mask.
"Ahhh Y/N L/N. I knew it was you. I'm surprised you aren't competing. You have always been gifted in this sport..what happened?" the man asked.
Y/N's breath hitched in her throat, but with one deep breath she answered, "I ended up having leukemia. Since it's gradually getting worse, my swimming career is as good as done."
The two men looked at each other, sorrow filling their eyes.
"Can't you still train? Or is it that bad that you...can't breathe."
"If I over do it I can't breathe. The type of cancer I have causes my to now have shortness of breath, get hurt easily, have depression, and become bulimic. Most likely by the end of this summer my muscle will be gone."
The man put a hand on her shoulder, handing him his card, "If you ever want to train....we can help you get to the 2020 olympics. We've seen what you can do over the past 3 years, and you would be guaranteed a spot. We can help you regain the time you've lost with this sickness. So please, consider this offer."
Y/N smiled brightly, "I will," she said, then making her way back to the group.

First up were the individual races, aka Rin's race. Y/N wasn't up on the bleachers with her team, but was at the entrance of the natatorium. 'Good luck Rin' she said to herself. Then soon enough the alarm went off, causing everyone to dive off of their boards.

'He lost...No way....' Y/N thought, as she watched her maroon haired friend struggle to get out of the pool. He was in so much pain, her heart could barely take it.
Soon enough Rin made it out of the pool, and his way to the locker room. He met Y/N's gaze, and stopped in his tracks.
"You're actually here." Rin said, eyes wide.
"In the flesh," Y/N smiled. making her way to him.
Rin couldn't even look at her anymore. The realization hit him....he lost. He broke his promise to win this for her. He ran away until she was no longer in view, luckily it wasn't over with the promise.
'Now...it's my turn.'
Y/N made her way to the locker room, getting rid of her track suit, and into her bathing suit. Luckily with the way her records have been she was allowed to enter the finals. Before her body completely gives into this cancer...one more race can't hurt right?

All of the women lined up into their lanes, and Y/N looked up at her team, all but one were there.
'Great timing Rei," she chuckled, snapping on her goggles.

"Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or is that Y/N-Chan in the center lane?" Nagisa questioned.
Kou laughed, "Nope! It's her alright! There was another semifinals event, and we registered her shortly after you won the medley. Since she is getting worse we only entered her into one event. So, before you you will see Y/N swimming the 100m Butterfly!" Kou announced.

"READY..GO!" The announcer shouted, and all of the women swam as fast as they could.
Y/N got a head start, immediately pulling into first place. The drive, power, and determination drove her will to swim again. Though her cancer changed, doesn't exactly mean she's getting worse.
Y/N pulled through the entire race, and slammed her hands on the edge of the pool. The crowd went wild, and Nagisa and Kou were hugging each other with tears in their eyes.
Y/N pulled herself out of the pool, and took off her goggles. As the crowd was going crazy, Rei and Rin made their way back to their teams, but as soon as Rin saw Y/N, he smiled brightly.
'Well damn. You know how to keep secrets don't you Tater Tot?' he said to himself.
Y/N exited the natatorium, and was greeted by all of her friends, and lifted up by Nagisa.
"Surprise?" she giggled.
"I thought you couldn't swim anymore?!?!" Nagisa yelled.
"That is a story for another time. Now go get ready for the medley. I'll be watching you guys okay?"
Y/N ran to the locker room, showering, and changing into her normal attire, and made her way back to the entrance for the swimmers. Her eyes saw a flash of maroon before her, 'Rin....But where's Rei? Hm I guess that's what their little talk was about. Rin getting to swim with his old team one more time.'

The timer went off, and Makoto pushed off of the board with force, and so beautifully that Iwatobi immediately got a bit of a lead. Soon enough Nagisa jumped in, making his arms appear longer than they typically are. Next was Rin, using all of his force and drive, unlike what happened earlier that day. Lastly, Haru....beautifully dove into the water.
'They just won,' Y/N said to herself, her E/C eyes tearing up. As soon as Haru hit the edge of the pool, everyone went wild. Iwatobi had won the Finals. Y/N ran out to her team, and hugged them all, crying tears of joy.

Later that day....
"I can't believe we got disqualified!" Nagisa groaned, but was met by the hand of Kou.
"Well maybe if you didn't bring my brother to the wrong team we would've won!"
"Calm down you two...Besides we aren't leaving empty handed, and this stupid fight between Rin and the others is finally done, and over with." Y/N assured.
A hand came in contact with Y/N's shoulder, and she looked up to see Makoto smiling at her.
"If it weren't for you Iwatobi wouldn't have a title to bring home. How about a little celebration dinner?"
Y/N blushed, "Aw you guys..I really can't except-,"
"Dinner party at Haru's house!" Nagisa yelled, earning a death glare from the water obsessed teen.
Y/N looked at Haru, and earned a nod from him. Everyone smiled brightly, packing up onto the bus.
Y/N saw Rin staring at her, and ran over to him, jumping up into him.
"Congratulations!" She yelled, nearly knocking him over.
"Why congratulate me? You're the one who came in first place idiot," he smiled.
"Well you still unofficially won again with your team!" Y/N pouted, "Anyways, we're having a dinner at Haru's house so you should come! You can bring Ai and Mikoshiba, too!"
Rin blushed, "O-Okay fine. I'll see you in a bit."
Y/N pecked his cheek, and ran off to her bus, earning a special talk about how to 'woo a woman' from Seijuro.

Many laughs were shared at the dinner, just like the good ol days before Rin went to Australia, but soon enough new would be shared at this very night.

"I have an announcement!"

To be continued ....