Bonding By the Poolside - Free! Iwatobi Swim Club [Makoto Tachibana]

(C2) Friends' Friend

Well, Makoto, Haru and I finally reached the school, only fifteen minutes early. Turns out I did ALL THAT EXERCISE for no reason. Thanks, thirty minutes fast watch.

We walked into our homeroom, I'm glad I'm with people I know on my first day. Apparently there is a new homeroom teacher, Miss. Amakata Miho. She's quite pretty. She's a brunette with brown eyes and has nice taste in clothes. Actually, she's pretty enough to be a model! I've got to say, she seems to have an evil aura around her. After I finished staring at her, I went to take my seat, but Miss. Amakata stopped me, saying that because I'm a new student, I should introduce myself to the class after the register. Great, confidence level dropped by 50% and awkwardness raised over 9,000%... Yay.

I sat at the back of the class behind Haru and Makoto's desk and waited for my name to be called.

"Mr. Ryoji Mizuki?" There it is. I sighed and corrected her, "Actually, I'm a girl..." I'd expected this to happen, and I also expected the laughs, but that's just something I still have to get used to. Miss. Amakata apologised and called the next name, "Miss. Nanase Haruka?"

"Uh, Haru's a boy." Makoto corrected. Everyone, including myself, laughed, and I was shot an icy glare by Haru. Yikes, he's scary! Best stay in his good books, Mizuki... I warned myself as I apologised to him. But, now we know each other's problem, I guess. Haru sighed and stared out of the window, thinking about... something.

After the register was taken, I walked over to the front of the class and gulped, me being a nervous wreck and all. "Uh... I... I'm Ryoji Mizuki, b-but you can call me Mizuki... Or Ryoji, I d-don't mind! Don't worry about honorifics!" I bowed and half ran back to my seat, wishing the floor would swallow me.

I banged my head on the desk and sighed, making Makoto turn around and smile, while Haru just stared out of the window. "Mizuki," Makoto rested his arm on the back of his chair and smiled, "don't worry about it. You're doing great!" I smiled back, "Thanks, but I can't help being nervous..." I looked into his eyes as I said that. It's funny, there's something so calming and comforting about them. He has a mother's eyes. "Tachibana! Ryoji!" Miss. Amakata called our names out, and we realised that we hadn't payed attention to anything she said. I laughed nervously and stood up, "Uh... Is the answer four?" The whole class laughed, Miss. Amakata scowled at me as her aura turned dark. She walked over to me, "You weren't listening to me, were you Ryoji? As an old Chinese proverb says: "The goat that leaves the village, must not return without milk." Do I make myself clear young ma-- I mean lady?"

No. I didn't understand a word of what you just said. Is that even an actual saying? Is what I wanted to say. Instead I cowered onto the floor on bent knees, almost curling up and crying.

"Y-yes, Miss. A-A-Amakata!" I gulped loudly. Weirdly, her aura turned normal and she smiled, "Wonderful! Now please, return to your seat." She smiled again and walked back to the front of the class. I sat in my seat and trembled, I have never been so scared of anyone in my life!

Throughout the lesson I just let the words go through one ear and out of the other. Honestly, my brain is like a fully absorbed sponge. With knowledge? No. I'm just thinking about why I felt so happy. Maybe it's because I read a fluffy fan fiction last night? Meh, probably. When I'm at home, I have nothing to do, so I just go on fan fiction websites and read manga. Then I watch TV, eat, and sleep. I was introduced to this thing called 'yaoi' by a good friend of mine. Now she's my best friend. I love ships of all kinds, including yaoi, yuri, lemon and lime (basically yaoi), fluff. I'm not a fan of neko and shotacon.

Why not shotacon?

Boku.

No.

Pico.

I think I'm going to be sick just saying the name.

I would ship people myself, but I don't have the necessary writing skills for that. Art skills? Meh.

After our lessons had finally finished, Makoto suggested that we all ate on the roof - there was a friend of theirs waiting for us. I met the old friend of Makoto and Haru, Hazuki Nagisa. Honestly, he's a little annoying, but at the same times he's adorable! We sat on the roof and ate our lunch. Getting to know each other.

While we talked, I got a good, close look at the boys. Haru definitely was that guy I ran into, there's no doubt about it. His short, bluish-black hair was neatly combed, drawing attention to those deep blue eyes. They're so blue, it's like I'm looking into the blue chemicals that I put in my toilet. Hey, number one poet right here. But, they are calming. His ever so slightly pale skin made them stand out even more.

I then looked at Nagisa. His skin looks so soft, I could feel it without touching it. His fuchsia pink eyes definitely stuck out from his messy, orange-tinted blonde hair. He also has a huge mouth, but I guess that means he just smiles a lot. Or never shuts up. But, he has the kind of cheeks that make you want to just pinch them and squeal.

Lastly, I looked at Makoto. I was oddly drawn to his face. There's something about it that I love, maybe his constant, sweet smile? Or his emerald green eyes? The little blushes he gets when you mention how cute he looks? Well I have yet to see that but I'm sure he does. His brown hair looked slightly olive green, but then it'd change again. I can't really tell what colour it was.

I stopped staring and looked around, thinking about stuff. Right now I live alone because my parents are working abroad. They said I needed to be more independent, so I couldn't move in with my grandparents. It makes sense though, I am seventeen.

You know, this school, it's kinda nice. There's a big, decaying swimming pool, sure. But everything else is just really well-kept.

I feel at peace on this roof, sitting with friends. Well, I don't know the Nagisa kid that well.

"Have you been here long?"

"Eh? Well, for about forty minutes."

"I meant this school."

He laughed, "Oh, sorry. No, only for a few days. It took me a while to find these guys!" He said, wrapping his arms around their shoulders.

"Well, I'm Ryoji Mizuki. It's nice to meet you." He jumped up and clapped, "It's nice to meet you, Mizu-chan!" He grabbed my hands and giggled. I'm not used to being held, so I couldn't help but blush, "Hey! Maybe I should call you Tomo-chan!"

"Eh?!" Makoto and I yelled in surprise. Haru just sat there and ate.

"Tomo-chan sounds like tomato! That's what you look like right now!"

I don't know whether I should laugh out of sympathy, or because it was kinda funny. Let me empathise 'kinda'. Makoto forced a smile, "N-Nagisa, try to be a little careful with what you say..." Nagisa frowned and pouted, "Aw, Mako-chan~... I'm sorry, To-- I mean, Mizu-chan..." He looked at me with apologetic eyes. Really big, pink, apologetic eyes. I can't stay mad at that! He's so cute! Like... like a penguin! He's small and cuddly, so why not?

"Nagisa, your spirit animal is a penguin, isn't it?" He shot up, "H-how did you know?! I love penguins! Of course it'd be one! Do you like Rockhopper penguins?! They're my favourite!" Wow, he really likes penguins. "I'm even wearing penguin underpants! You wanna see?" Whoa! Too much information!

...

I wonder if he really is?