Swimmer Boy (Book 1)

Chapter 2 ~ Him

Makoto!

Makoto's POV

I couldn't believe it. There she was. Sakura. She was even more beautiful than all those years ago. She was taller and more mature, of course. But her hair had gotten longer and her eyes looked like the ocean.

I felt my heart skip a beat as our eyes met and I remembered how I used to feel about her all that time ago. How I think she used to feel about me. I wonder if she still feels the same.

Sakura's POV

There before me was one of my old best friends Makoto. "Long time no see." He said. I giggled and ran up to him to give him a bear-hug. He wrapped his big arms around me in return. I looked up to Haru drilling holes into the back of Makoto's head with his eyes. Awwwe...

I puckered my lips at him, mocking him. He took notice and rolled his eyes, turning to the mackerel on the stove. Of course. I mentally rolled my eyes. Makoto then pulled away from me.

"What are you doing here, Sakura?" He asked.

"I just moved back." I answered.

"Wait you moved back? As in you're staying?!" His voice sounded hopeful.

"Yep." I nodded. "I'm even going to Iwatobi High School!"

"That's great!" Makoto said and pulled me into another hug. I hugged back but blushed. Not on my own accord, though. It confused me until I remembered.

That's right.

I used to have a crush on Makoto.

I moved away the year before we were all about to start middle school. I had a crush on Makoto but it wasn't just a young, school girl crush. I really liked him. I mean, who wouldn't? He's sweet and charming, not too mention totally ripped... But that's beside the point. Sometimes it even seemed like he felt the same way back.

I was planning to confess to him before I moved away but was too scared. Scared of rejection and ruining our friendship forever. But I guess somewhere along the way these past several years I just kind of forgot about it. At least, that's what I thought.

"Hey, Haru!" Makoto said, snapping me out of my thoughts. My cheeks cooled down. "How about we have the whole gang over for dinner? Ya know, now that Sakura's back."

"Yeah! Pleeeaaase, Haru?" I asked in a pleading tone. He sighed.

"Whatever." Yay!

Time skip

Haru cooked while Makoto and I sat in the living room, catching up. I was glad to talk to him again since we used to be so close. But not only him, Nagisa and Rin, too, when they got here.

Oh right! Rin!

"Hey, Makoto." I said. "Where's Rin? Is he still in Australia?"

"No, he's back here." He said but in a bit of a sad tone, as if he were upset about something.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Rin's... changed." He said hesitantly.

"Changed? How?" I was confused. What does he mean?

"A few months ago me, Haru and Nagisa went to the old Iwatobi swim club because apparently it's shutting down." Makoto started. "We saw Rin there and he's just... changed. He's different. He challenged Haru to a race and treated me and Nagisa like we were just nobodies."

"That's awful." I commented. "Any idea on why he's acting that way?"

"No clue." He said. "We tried asking his sister Gou but she can't get anything out of him. He's currently at Samezuka Academy."

"Like... a boarding school?" I asked. He nodded.

"That's it." He said. Just then the doorbell rang. I gasped and ran over to the door. I flung it open and was met with an all too familiar face. Blonde hair and pink eyes.

"Nagisa!" I said and tackled him into a hug. He was shocked for a few seconds but hugged me back.

"Sakura?!" He asked.

"The one and only." I giggled.

"What are you doing here?!" He exclaimed.

"I'm moving back!"

"Really?!"

"Yep!"

I pulled away and smiled at him, happy to see another one of my old friends. But there was somebody else behind him. He had blue hair and purple eyes that were framed with red glasses. I don't think I've met him before.

"Oh, hello." I greeted him and held out my hand. He shook it and spoke in a very formal tone, but giving me a slight smile.

"Hello, I'm Rei Ryugasaki." He said.

"Oh yeah, you haven't met Rei, have you, Sakura?" Makoto walked over to us. "He's our newest addition to the swim team."

"Wait, you guys still have a swim team?" I asked.

"Yep! It's been going strong for about a week now." Nagisa said.

"Wow, congratulations!" I smiled at them.

"And don't forget about me!" Somebody said, still on the other side of the door. It was a girl with red hair pulled into a ponytail and red eyes.

"G-gou?!" I exclaimed. Her face dropped into a frown but changed after a second.

"It's Kou but yes!" She came in and we shared a big hug. She was my closest girl best friend back in the day.

"I've missed you!" I said.

"I've missed you, too!" She said.

"Ahem." A voice said. A very bored-sounding voice. Of course. "The mackerel's done."

We then sat down to eat and catch up. We talked about the new swim team and decided that I would be co-manager since Gou- ahem, I mean Kou, said she might need a little bit of help.

I went to bed that night with my heart full and wanting nothing else.