Caught in the Act (A 'Free! Iwatboi Swim Club' Fanfic)

Chapter 2 - Secrets are Meant to be Kept Silent

"Megumi-chan?!" Makoto and Nagisa shouted in surprise. They pressed their faces against the windows, smudging marks on them. I would have to clean those marks tomorrow morning... Again.

"Megumi-chan swims?" Rei's face joined Makoto's and Nagisa's.

"Is it Megumi?" Haruka's fourth face completed the empty space left. I quickly duck back under the water and frog-kicked to the right side of the pool where their visions were cut off.

"To the right! Go to the right!" They all shouted. I quickly pulled myself up, not bothering to dry myself off. I slipped on my jacket, stuffed my shorts, goggles, and swim cap into my duffel and hauled ass outta there.

Good thing the door was left locked. I escaped into the boys' dressing room since it had an emergency exit, and it threw the guys chasing me off.

"Ehh? She went into the boys' dressing room?"

"It's not a girl then!"

"Don't you see her breasts? Obviously a girl!"

"Just follow her!"

I followed the rows of locker out. There's the exit! I shoved the door open and stumbled out less gracefully than I had planned. As the door swung shut behind me, I heard traces of their voices echoing in the empty locker room, "Where did she go?"

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"Mei! Get a move on!" Aki hollered for the third time this morning. I grudgingly got up and changed into a light blue one-piece with neon-green zigzag patterns on the sides. I pulled on a light purple long-sleeved jacket and white shorts.

"I'm coming, Aki!" I trudged down the stairs and grabbed two pieces of toast and a water bottle before heading out to the pool. It wasn't that far of a walk - probably around ten minutes. By the time I got there, I noticed that only the high school guys were there waiting for me. The Iwatobi boys weren't there. I sighed in relief and chased my worries away.

"Fifty squats in the water and then handstand all the way to the other side and back! It's timed. Winners get a prize!" That perked everyone up in a heartbeat. They got into rows of ten, and began doing squats in unison. Eight minutes later, the first ten people broke away and competed in their handstand walks. I noticed that Seijuro quickly broke away from the others to join the first ten. He quickly stood on his hands and speed walked (or speed handed?). Soon enough, Seijuro slowly overtook them one by one. More and more swimmers were quickly joining in in the handstand race. A couple of other swimmers closed in on Seijuro, but he powered ahead. His head broke through the surface as he gasped for air. I was standing near the edge of the pool as he placed his arms on the tiles and propped his head up. He grinned mischievously.

"So, what is my prize, Mei-chan?" One by one, the others finished their round and lined up at the edge too, in position like Seijuro.

"Ne, ne. Megumi-chan, what about us?" Their voices chorused into a jumble.

"Seijuro-kun, what do you want as a prize?" I smiled. I had a feeling that I knew what he was going to ask for.

"I want a kiss!" He declared boldly. Everyone's jaws dropped down in shock. Some of them were even blushing. I got down to my knees and gently held his face in between my hands. Seijuro automatically closed his eyes. Inwardly, I laughed. Little did he know that I was only going to give him a light peck on his cheek. I released him and he opened his eyes in surprise. I heard everyone else sigh in relief. I grinned mischievously and stood up.

"Okay, break time!"

Seijuro pulled himself up in front of me, pouting. "Ne, Mei-chan, you're so mean. I wanted a real kiss."