コンペ - Konpe

1

I can feel it.

It's like a breathe of air for me when I swim.

I can feel the air fill my lungs when I come up from the waves.

"Rin hey what's up!? Nice job again!" My teammate Aiichiro smiled giving me a hand out of the water.

I looked past my maroon hair up at him taking his hand and pulling myself out of the water. I shook the drops from my face walking past him silently.

What's missing? What am I feeling right now?

"Hey Rin are you going to the Samezuka Meeting tonight!? It's at 7!" He continued to annoy me.

I sighed and looked at the ground.

"I don't need to, I'm going to go practice and race with Haru" I lied.

I needed something to cover up so he wouldn't come to my rescue like he always tries to do. Never leaves me alone.

"Oh alright" he replied looking sad.

I nodded and walked into the shower room reaching for a nozzle as the warm water hit my body. I rubbed my face and clenched my sharp teeth as I stepped on something poking at my feet. I looked down and saw a thorn. I picked it up flicking it in the other direction continuing to mind my own business.

"Hey Rin you coming to the meeting tonight?" I heard Seijuro's voice.

I turned around and looked at him coldly as he flashed me a smile.

"No I'm busy" I said turning the shower off and walking over to the towels grabbing one and drying my face and hair.

"Awe come on! One of our best members that you haven't met is coming back and we want to welcome-"

"Seijuro- I don't need nor do I want to come to some little party for someone I don't care for. I have lots of practicing to do" I said feeling my temper rise a bit.

Now I was getting annoyed.

"That's all you ever do" he mumbled to himself turning off the shower as the steam scattered at our feet.

I stood there staring at him and shrugged off what he said. He's not wrong, but I really do need to practice, I've been so distracted and lazy lately.

Nobody gets it, nobody gets my time and dedication to become the best I can be so that I can be a champion like I've always wanted. It's unfair they don't understand when I've explained multiple times.

I scoffed and continued to gather my things walking towards the exit.

"Hey Rin!" Someone else shouted.

Nobody wants to leave alone today. I looked past the night shadows to see Makoto and Nagisa. I rolled my eyes and continued to walk towards the exit.

"We heard your only girl swimmer is coming back! That's awesome!" Nagisa continued to talk.

"What are you two doing here? This is our swimming pool, you know that right?" I said sternly as possible.

"Yeah we know! But we wanted to come talk and see you! We haven't seen you in forever and we know you just got back but-" Makoto smiled cheekily like always.

"Look I don't have time for play dates" I scoffed slinging my back over my shoulder pushing back my maroon hair.

He sighed and rolled his own eyes making me walk in the direction of my house. The team doesn't need me at a meeting I'll go to the next week one right before competition, those are the most important ones anyways.

"Rin! How was school-" I heard Gou yell excitedly holding her hands together wearing an apron. 

I decided to stay home tonight away from the team, I'm always stuck with them. I just need a break from my dorm. But now I'm stuck with my obnoxious little sister Gou.

"It was fine, I'm going to bed" I said in a monotone voice.

"What? You don't want dinner? I'm making fried shrimp with some soy sauce mix! It's delicious" she continued to gloat.

"I'm not hungry" I replied soon slamming the door behind me.

I jumped on my made bed looking up at the ceiling. The darkness filling my room and the only resource of light was the moon. I saw a small picture sitting on my desk that I've never noticed. It was picture of my old swim team. It was me, Nagisa, Makoto, and Haru. We all looked pretty excited to win first place. I closed my eyes and sat up taking the picture into my hands staring at it for a while. I heard a knock at my door, dropping the picture into the trash can near my desk. I walked over and saw Gou standing there with a cup of green tea.

"Come on, Rin please eat with me" she smiled genuinely.

I sighed and rolled my eyes taking the cup and walking back out. We sat down on the ground tucking my feet underneath me and eating the food silently. I knew she was waiting for me to say something but I don't have much to say.

"Do you remember the girl that use to live next door to us? She was on your swim team when you little!" She finally broke the ice.

I looked up at her sipping my tea.

"She moved back in with her parents. I haven't gotten the chance to talk to her sadly!" Gou continued. "Hamano-"

"Kaiyo. Yeah I remember her..." I said taking the dishes into the kitchen and setting them in the sink.

"Kaiyo! That's right! Yeah!" Gou said holding her hands together.

"I have to get up early tomorrow, night Gou"

"It's Ko!" She shouted.

I rolled my eyes and hummed a bit at her response. I waved and walked into my room finally being left alone for a while.

Kaiyo Hamano was the fastest swimmer on our team when we were younger. I don't know how she did it, but she always seemed to pull through. Her name means 'ocean' which is fitting considering she swam like a dolphin.

I shook my head from the memories not quite remembering even what she looked like. I knew she was a good swimmer, better than any of my friends. I rolled over to face my desk staring at my cell phone. I sighed and fell into a deep sleep.