~Two Years Later~
“Megumi Haruno is clearing the way for Japan’s women team! Look at her go! Oh, what is this?! Her fourth gold medal in her first year of the Olympics! Follow Megumi as she will be competing in her remaining competitions of the 200m-individual melody and 800m-co-ed melody, as this is a new event!”
Aki and Hiro weren’t the only ones who were attached to their television screens. They scooted closer to the screen, watching Mei take over the competitions.
“That’s my imōto! Haruno Megumi is my imōto!” Aki crowed loudly – so loud that the neighbors could hear him. Hiroshi sighed, rubbing his forehead.
“You’re really a baka, Aki. If Mei could see you know, she’d probably want to run away,” he joked.
“Shhh shh shh!” Aki turned the volume up when he saw the camera zooming in on Megumi.
“And how do you think you will do in the final competitions?”
“As long as there will be people out there supporting me, I will do my best to win. Even it is just my brother supporting, I’ll win for him,” Mei replied, smiling.
“And what about your teammates? Do you have a possible romance with one of them?” The reporter pressed on.
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I looked at her. What. The. Heck? What kind of question is that?! The reporter and others were staring at me expectantly. I looked over at the bench where Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, and Rei were. They caught me staring at them, and they waved. I quickly looked away, back at the reporter.
“They understand that I don’t have time for a boyfriend right now,” I felt my face slowly flushing.
“But…” The reporters leaned in closer, listening to my words. I swallowed nervously.
“But,” I continued on, “there is one who is willing to wait for me to accomplish my dream.” A small embarrassed smile slowly crept onto my face.
“That time is coming soon. Who is it?” She shoved the microphone into my face and I backed up.
“I’m afraid that she can’t tell you.” I heard my coach’s voice behind me, startling us. I beamed a grateful smile at my coach and scampered away to where my friends were. Mako and Haru noticed me coming towards them and smiled.
“Meeeeei-chaaaaan!” Nagisa’s high-pitched voice hollered as he waved his arm around wildly. I walked quickly over to them – not paying attention – only to collide into a person, which successfully knocked the two of us down.
“……”
“I’m so sorry!” I quickly got off the man and reached a hand down to help him up. Burgundy-colored hair flashed under me. “Rin-chan?” I whispered. I was met with red eyes and shark-like teeth.
“Yo, Mei-chan.”
I heard the pounding footsteps of my friends, and in a flash, they were by my side.
“Mei! Mei-chan! Are you alright?” They noticed the teen at my feet.
“RIN-CHAN?!” They exclaimed. I smiled, pulling Rin to his feet, nuzzling his soft shirt.
“I missed you, Rin-chan.” He grinned, patting my head.
“You’re already eighteen, ne? Time sure does fly by, ne?” Rin’s rhetorical question caught everyone off-guard. I pulled away, retreating back to my friends.
“What are you doing here?” Haru demanded. Our coach decided to make a grand appearance then.
“Oh, I forgot, this is your new teammate for the last four competitions, boys. Our other member injured his arm just in his last race, so Rin here is a replacement,” Coach Aoi introduced. Mako wrapped an arm around my waist causing Rin’s red eyes to narrow. Mako pulled me a little closer to him and I responded by leaning my head against his side.
“Mei…?” Rin’s voice trailed off into confusion. I shrugged my shoulders, not wanting to answer him. Knowing Rin saw me as a little sister just like with Gou, I knew this wasn’t going to be pretty. I wiggled out of Makoto’s hold and skipped away, laughing.
“I’m going back to the hotel to practice, sensei!”
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I gasped for air, breathing in a lungful as I finished my routine.
“A new record, Mei.” I swivelled my head up to find Makoto perched at the edge of the large pool, watching me with interest. I laughed, pushing off the wall and floated around. Makoto lowered himself into the pool, swimming towards me. He gently grabbed me from behind, hugging me towards him as we stood in the middle of the training pool.
“Mako –” I began in a warning, only to be cut off by him.
“I know, Mei. But I just…can’t help it.” I felt his warm breath on my neck. “I love you.” I slightly shivered, still not used to his confessions.
“You only have to wait another two weeks until the Olympics is over. I’ll give you my answer then.” In my head, I already knew my answer. I loved him. Tachibana Makoto, the one who brought my stony emotions back to life, the one who influenced my mind on getting surgery. Not only was my heart stronger now, it would carry me on forever. I was forever grateful to have Makoto by my side.
I smiled at Mako, gently pulling away. “Race for 200m backstroke?”
“Wahhh?! You’re racing without us, Mei-chan?” A familiar voice echoed through the pool room, causing Mako and I to turn around. I grinned, catching sight of our teammates, plus Rin.
“Of course not, Nagi-chan!” I laughed. Rin, Haruka, Rei, and Nagisa jumped into the pool, swimming over to where Mako and I were, floating on our backs. The three of them followed suit, and the six of us held hands as we continued to float, looking like cheesy flower petals.
“Hey, minna, thanks for being by my side. I mean, since we first met up to now, I feel like I owe you guys everything.” I didn’t know whether they could hear me or not but I continued on. “I just wanted to say that I won’t let you guys down. I’ll win in my remaining competitions for us all. I know that you’ll all win too. I believe in us.”
I felt Haru and Mako squeeze my hands, signalling that they heard me. I smiled and closed my eyes, relishing in what we have.
I knew that I was going to win in my remaining competitions. After all, I came here to prove to everyone that nothing can hold me down – not after what I had been through, and definitely not with everyone supporting me. Nothing was going to stop me anymore.
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A/N: I am taking requests to do one-shots based on my fanfic :) So just comment below and I'll make the time to do your requests. Character pairings with/without the OC, lemon, you name it! Arigato :)
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Caught in the Act (A 'Free! Iwatboi Swim Club' Fanfic)
FanficWhen 16 year-old Megumi Haruno was involved in a near-death accident, she lost her confidence in swimming in front of others. Still never giving up, she continues to harbor her dream of making it to the Olympics by practicing. Megumi was the competi...
