Clouded Distance | Free! Fan Fiction

11. Small Concerns

Clouded Distance

Chapter Eleven

Small Concerns

The commentator was just listing to clubs participating in the upcoming race for Iwatobi Festival when Hana arrived.

"Ah, I'm just on time!" she panted, coming to a stop beside Gou and her friend, Hanamura. Hana bent over, hands on her knees, in an attempt to get her breath back.

All of this because I didn't set my alarm this morning.

It had been chaotic that morning. After another argument with her mother about two clubs, Hana had been so frazzled that she'd forgotten to set her alarm clock that morning. As a result, she had woken up with half an hour left until school, and it had been a rush from then. She'd only just arrived in time.

"Hana, we were wondering where you were!" Gou exclaimed, hands on her hips.

Hana looked up at her friend, a sheepish smile on her face. "Sorry." She straightened herself up and looked at the race before them. Haru was running the first leg of the race, followed by Makoto, then Nagisa, and then Rei. Her eyes narrowed at a few girls nearby who were giggling as they looked at Haru, who, like his teammates, stood in just his swim shorts.

Fortunately, the announcement for the beginning of the race sounded soon after she arrived, so the giggling ceased as everyone awaited the beginning of the race. 

"On your marks. Get set..."

The starting signal sounded, and all the competitors ran forward.

And instantly, Haru fell behind. 

"He's so slow," Hana moaned, burying her face in her hands.

"Could it be that Nanase-senpai's actually pretty slow on land?" Hanamura mused.

By the time Haru reached Makoto, the swim club was definitely in last. Fortunately, the baton pass went smoothly, and Makoto instantly made up for the lost ground as he caught up with the rest of the pack.

"That's amazing!" Hanamura exclaimed.

Gou grinned. "That's Makoto-senpai's power sprinting!"

Makoto neared Nagisa. They went out for the baton exchange -

"Ah, no!" Hana squeaked, watching the kickboard fly through the air. Nagisa caught it and continued running, but in the delay it took to recover the board, the swim club were in last place once again.

"We were so close," Hanamura moaned. "If only they hadn't dropped the kickboard."

Gou smirked. "It's not over yet."

"Huh?"

Hana grinned, watching Nagisa run toward the last member of their relay team. "It's time our former track team member to shine."

Sure enough, Rei, former track team member, was already getting ready to take the baton. Knowing Rei, Hana guessed that he was already running several calculations through his head to her the best receive possible.

Calculations or no, by the time Rei and Nagisa performed their exchange, it went perfectly. Rei instantly shot down the track. His running form was so much different to the other competitors. It was obvious he had once been a track team member.

Hana leaned forward as Rei passed the leader of the race and only continued to increase the distance between him and the rest, as he took a clear first place for the swim club.