Swimmer Boy (Book 1)

Chapter 12 ~ Prefectural Tournament

"Sakura, wake up." I groaned as someone tried to shake me awake. "Sakura, we're here."

"Huh? Oh, finally." I yawned as I took my head off Makoto's shoulder. Apparently our train finally made it to the prefectural tournament.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" Makoto asked in concern.

"No, I was too nervous for today." I admitted.

"Don't be. We've worked too hard to fail now." He smiled at me. I smiled back and we all walked into the arena.

"Remember in middle school when they would check for our names under the girls' names?" Nagisa laughed. "You know, if this were Gou, they'd-"

"It's Kou!" Kou objected. I laughed as we finally made it to the pool. Nostalgia filled me as the scent of the water and the excitement in the air surrounded us.

"Oh, I have the roster." I pulled the list from my bag. "Freestyle in the morning, with Haru in the fourth heat."

"Woah, Haru's lane in right beside Rin's." Nagisa mentioned. Their times must have been pretty close then. This is gonna be one nerve-racking race...

"There's no reason to be nervous. Just swim like any other day." Mrs. A mentioned.

"Yeah, whatever happens out there, just remember to have fun." Makoto said. I smiled but then realized that Haru was gone. I looked around and noticed him climbing the stairs up the stands. I quickly but quietly followed him.

He eventually came to a hallway where Rin was sitting on a bench. "I'm here, like I promised." Haru said.

"Of course you are." Rin smirked. "And I'm sure you appreciate me matching your time so we can be in the same heat."

"That wasn't necessary." Haru said. "We would have met in the finals."

"I'm not a very patient person. Plus, who said we'll both be in the finals?" Rin snapped his goggles behind his head. "This race is between me and you, nobody else, and I will relish in destroying you."

I stood still as Rin walked by, not even noticing me. I slowly stepped out into the hallway where Haru was getting all his stuff ready. "You're not as sneaky as you think." He said.

"Haru," I started, ignoring his statement. "Go take what's yours."

                                    ~~~~~

I narrowed my eyes as the freestyle fourth heat swimmers started lining up. I was so nervous I felt sick. I care so much about both Haru and Rin, and I don't want them to get hurt any more than they already have been. "Hey, it'll be okay." Makoto held my hand. I looked up at him and smiled, but I was still anxious.

"Ready." A voice came over the speaker. I took a deep breath as my heart continued to pound in my chest. Finally, the gun sounded and the swimmers dove into the water.