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

Chapter 4 - First Step to Recovery

            I was already back at Daichi-sensei’s pool, focusing my attention on the middle-schoolers. They were practically begging for my attention with their eyes. I smiled to myself; this is why little kids are so adorable. I gave them all a ten minute break before switching gears.

            “Group one, I want you all do work on the melody. Groups of four, in this order: breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle. Forms more groups if you have too many swimmers.” The older guys began to shuffle about, and somehow, the Iwatobi boys ended up next to me.

            “Mei-chan, are you okay today?” Nagisa looked at me with his lovely violet eyes. I was the same height as him. I beamed a bright smile at him as the middle-schoolers whined in the background.

            “Onee-sama! Mei-sama! Mei-sempai!” They began to whine.

            “Please don’t push yourself, Mei-chan,” Makoto gently said. I sighed irritably, “Just pretend I never told you guys about my condition. I’m actually perfectly fine. I can still do everything, including swimming.”

            “So it was you at the pool three nights ago,” Haru inputted. Startled, I had forgotten about that.

            “Erm, uh, yeah.” Rei sighed happily.

            “Now that I know Megumi-sama is doing well, I can live my life happily. Megumi-sama is the only one who I can say that I can look up to. Her form is even more beautiful that Nanase-kun’s.”

            Nagisa’s eyes lit up like a firework display. “Ne, ne, really, Mei-chan? Can I see? Haru-chan and Mako-chan’s heads were so big that I couldn’t see! They both hogged the windows, so Rei-chan and I didn’t see your dive!” His voice carried through the pool, catching everyone’s attention. Soon enough they were all shouting, “I want to see Mei-chan dive!”

            Nagisa realized his mistake and quickly covered his mouth. “Mei-chan, sumimasen!” I sighed once again – it seemed like I was often doing that now…

            “Will you all get back to practice if I dive? I have to train you guys to become professionals, you know.”

            “Hai! Hai, hai!” They all shouted gleefully. I could see the older guys beginning to drool as perverted thoughts crossed their minds.

            “Don’t push yourself too hard, Mei-chan!” the Iwatobi boys cheered on. Yeah, yeah.

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            I climbed up the 10m tall diving board, standing on the edge. My heart began to pound uncontrollably and my hand automatically reached towards my chest to clutch it. I could see Makoto and Rei whispering to Haru and Nagisa about something while pointing up at me. I’m alone. I’m practicing alone in the pool at night. The moon is out, shining brightly. It’s a full moon. Yeah, and those whispers are the leaves in the wind. I took a deep breath to steady my heart and allowed gravity to pull me down as I performed a ‘back three-and-a-half inward tuck,’ one different from when Haru and the other three saw me.

            I resurfaced up within seconds, to be greeted by loud cheers. I did it! I excitedly smiled, feeling alive to perform in front of everyone. It’s been almost a year and a half since I’ve swam in front of others.

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            Practice soon ended as the boys all filed out, bidding me goodbye. I smiled, waving.