The Little Camper

Camp 9 - Competition

Kokoro's POV:

"Alright, guys! After Sakura-chan teaches you how to do the egg beater style, you better watch out for the much awaited swimming competition between the Swimming club and the Scouting club! Oooh! I'm so excited! Hehehe!"

We're reaching the end of the educational part of the outreach swimming program for my neighbors. And now for the entertainment part! Hehehe!

I get out of the pool and do some stretching along with Emika and Ichika in preparation for the swimming exhibition with the scouting club. We always do this just before starting the competition...that we always win. Hehehe!

"Kokoro-san...ehehehe...are you sure that the scouting club will perform well later?" Emika asks me with concern.

"Of course. Yuko lend me a hand on our program. She volunteered to join us and she tag along Sakura and Aoi." I explain how the planning turns out. "She told me that they are excellent swimmers and I believe that. Besides, they had two weeks to prepare for this."

As we continue our stretching warmups...I saw Yuko watching Sakura teaching the eggbeater kick, which simply involves kicking legs in circular motion.

Hmm...she's seems to keen a close eye on every step my neighbors learn by the minute. And now I have this strange feeling inside me...I'm starting to worry about Yuko. I wonder she can finish the course today.

"Heya, guys! Thanks for participating our swimming lessons today." Ichika now leads to the second part of the program. "And now, please watch us on our swimming exhibition with the Scouting club!"

Yuko's POV:

I've learned backstroke...the only swimming style I know, and I think I memorized the basics on dog paddle and egg beater styles for backup.

Well, that's what I get for lending a hand for a friend...I feel that I'm gonna be in big trouble now.

But hey...I need to be as positive just like Kokoro. Perhaps my swimming knowledge will be enough to get me through this...and maybe I can beat Kokoro! Hehehe! I know it's a moon shot...but it's worth a shot.

The swimming club and the scouting club are now positioned at the starting board...waiting for the signal to start the match. By the way, we will only swim the entire stretch of the Olympic-size swimming pool...not like how Kokoro and her team usually compete: the entire pool and back.

"I'm gonna prove to you that I can swim better than you! Hehehe!" Nevertheless, I boast myself to Kokoro, which will compete beside me. "The scouting club will make that podium finish, just you watch!"

"Hehehe! Say as much as you want, but there's no way you can beat us!" Kokoro grins at me. "You'll never ever know our weakness! Hehehe!"

But just then, Kokoro's face changed emotion...as if she's worried about me. Did she read my mind? Or did she saw me practicing swimming skills earlier?

"Just stay safe, okay?"

I haven't able to react on Kokoro's whisper as the whistle blew. The exhibition match has begun! Kokoro's worries took me a split second before I noticed that my rivals are already gone...but I recompose myself, jumped into the pool and started swimming.

My ears are under water...so I can't hear anything, even the loudest cheer from the audience...only things that I can hear is my breathing...and my heart beating. I tried to concentrate and perform the style that I fare best...the backstroke.

During my swimming class last year, I tried every swimming style my teacher proposes, but it always leads me to seeing myself sinking in the middle of the pool.