Swimmer Boy (Book 1)

Chapter 6 ~ Butterfly

"This just might work." I smiled with the team as Rei stood on the pedestal, ready to jump into the water. He got his prescription goggles and a swim suit that he was comfortable in. Hopefully this will help him not to sink like a submarine.

"His entry was spot on." Makoto said beside me as Rei dived and broke through the water. But we all went silent as we looked and saw him. Again. Moving his arms and legs, but going nowhere but down.

"Why?!" Rei stood up in the pool.

"I feel so bad for him." I mumbled from my seat.

"Did you ever learn how to swim, Sakura?" Makoto asked me.

"Oh, no. The thought of having my face under water and not being able to breathe always kind of freaked me out." I chuckled.

"Really? Well then you should try-!" Makoto was cut off as Haru jumped into the water and swam towards Rei.

"I can show you how it's done." He said. What's gotten into him?!

"Please!" Rei bowed.

"But I can only teach you free." Haru added. I facepalmed. Of. Course.

"Yes!" Rei pleaded.

"I think we're going somewhere with this." Makoto smiled.

"With Haru, Rei can't fail." Nagisa said.

The next hour was spent by Haru attempting to teach Rei freestyle. I really hope this works. I gripped the papers in my hands as I noticed that our first tournament wasn't that far away. We don't have any other choice.

Rei placed his feet on the pool's side and propelled himself forward. He had perfect form. His posture was great and he looked like a natural born swimmer. Well... except for the whole... sinking thing... again.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!?!" Rei screamed from the pool.

"Hard work always trumps natural talent." Ms. Amakata said quietly.

"Not another 48 hours of hardcore training." Nagisa groaned.

Time skip

The sun eventually started to set as we still sat beside the school pool. "Hey." I smiled as I approached Rei.

"Sakura- oh, wait! I mean Nanase!" He freaked out.

"No, it's okay. You can call me Sakura." I sat down beside him. "You know, I never learned how to swim, so I can't tell you from personal experience, but someone once told me you just have to dive in with your heart. Let the water guide you." I chuckled as I remembered how inspirational Haru's words were but how they're still confusing to everyone that's not him.

"I just want to be free like Haru." Rei said.

"I'll tell you something..." I looked up at the yellow sky. "Haru... isn't free. He still has something to settle. So don't feel bad."

"How'd that go?" Makoto handed me a water as I walked back over to the team.

"We'll see the next time he tries to swim." I shrugged.

Time skip

"But can he really use a kick-board in the tournament?" I asked.

"I don't think there's any rules against it." Makoto said.

"Hey, someone's swimming butterfly." Kou pointed to the pool.

"Haru?" Nagisa asked.

"No, he only swims freestyle." Makoto said.

"You got that right." Haru suddenly appeared behind us.

"Wait, then who's out there?!" Kou asked. The swimmer finally stopped and came to the edge of the pool, reaching for his glasses.

"Rei?!" Nagisa asked. "When did you learn to butterfly?"

"It just kind of came to me." Rei himself even seemed shocked at his words. "Once I did it, I could swim."

"That's great." I smiled. "Do you know why?"

"I do." Rei smiled softly and then mumbled something about 'free.'

"What was that?" Nagisa asked.

"Nothing, it's fine."

"I want to see another lap. Make it beautiful!" Nagisa cheered.

"Naturally." Rei smirked and dove back under the water.

"We did it." I whispered as Rei perfectly swam the butterfly stroke. We may actually have a chance at this tournament!