Swimmer Boy (Book 1)

Chapter 15 ~ Part of the team

What is this... We all sat confused as Coach Sasabe insisted on having a hot pot during summer. I was grateful for him having us over, but still. "This is what experts recommend to swimmers." Coach said. "It has plenty of protein and minerals."

"Can you at least turn on the A.C.?" Nagisa asked.

"No such thing." Coach shrugged. "This is my special Sasabe hot pot, so dig in."

"It's really good." I admitted even though it was way too hot.

"Hey, look Rei!" Nagisa got up and chased Rei around outside with a firework.

"Don't point that at me!" Rei tried to run away.

"I haven't done fireworks in so long." I mentioned as I lit a sparkler.

"Me either." Makoto said.

"Hey, Coach, what's this?" Kou asked. "Is it from the old swim club?"

"Oh yeah, those are some pictures from back in the day." He answered. We all gathered around the back porch and opened the picture album. There were so many pictures from Coach's days on the swim team and even from when we were in middle school.

"Haru looks so serious, even as a child." Mrs. A pointed out.

"I like to always think that Haru is smiling on the inside." Nagisa said.

"That's from fifth grade." I pointed to a tournament picture. "Even then Haru always won."

"Is that Rin?" Kou asked, pointing to a red-haired boy in the background.

"Yeah, but we didn't know him yet." Nagisa answered.

"That's when Rin actually showed up." Coach pointed to a snow day picture.

"I remember that day. We all had so much fun making snowmen." I smiled at the memory. It all seemed so long ago. So much has changed since then, and not in a good way.

                                   ~~~~~

"We should definitely do that again soon!" Nagisa said as we all walked home.

"Just maybe not with a hot pot." I chuckled.

"But it was good." Nagisa pointed out. We continued walking over a bridge when I noticed that someone was missing.

"Rei?" I looked behind me. He was standing there with a confused and slightly hurt look on his face.

"What exactly happened between the four of you?" He asked quietly.

"You mean Rin?" Makoto asked.

"You all looked so close and happy in those pictures." Rei said.

"I don't know if it's worth anything talking about it now." Haru said. "But I can tell you everything if you really want to know."

"Please tell me." Rei said. "I'm tired of being the only one left out. I want to feel like a part of this team!"

The team looked down guiltily as Haru explained everything. Rin was obsessed with relays from the beginning. It was because of his dad and his dream. The swim team won the medley relay, and Rin went to Australia. During the first winter break, Rin came back and challenged Haru to a race. Haru beat him, and Rin said he was quitting swimming.

"I never knew about that." Nagisa mentioned. "Is that why you also quit in middle school?"

"He stopped swimming competitively because he felt guilty about what happened." I answered.

"But didn't your race the other day end all of that?" Rei asked. "You're free now, so you can swim the way you want. But why is Rin swimming the relay? I just don't understand."

"I don't understand either." Haru agreed. "But I am looking forward to racing Rin again."

                                     ~~~~~

"Do you think Rei will be alright?" I asked Makoto as we made it to his house.

"I hope so." He answered. "We should have told him everything sooner, but now he knows just as much as we do."

"Yeah..." I was concerned for Rei. He's a part of the swim team and I want him to feel like it. "Well, I better get going. Goodnight-"

"Wait!" Makoto suddenly exclaimed and then blushed. "Friday, um... would you, ya know, want to go out or something? Like we could get something to eat or hang out around town, or if Friday doesn't work-" I shut off his nervous rambling with a quick kiss.

"I would love to." I smiled. "See you tomorrow." I gave him a hug and skipped happily up t he stairs to my house. There Haru was gathering his things for a shower. "Haru." I spoke up.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Did you really mean what you said? Are you actually looking forward to racing Rin?"

"Yeah, I am." He let out a small smile.

"Great." I responded genuinely. I just hope Rin feels the same way.