"Alright, let's begin! Everyone, gather 'round!"
A muscular old man with the air of a dedicated jock bellowed. His large frame amplified his voice, and the scattered classmates immediately came together.
"Sixteen observers, huh... that's a lot, but I suppose it's fine."
I would've thought he'd be suspicious if nearly half the students skipped class, but the teacher didn't reprimand anyone. This laissez-faire, almost cold, educational style seemed to be consistent among all the teachers here. Maybe all high schools after compulsory education are like this, and I just didn't know it.
"What about you, Ayanokōji-kun? How's your swimming?"
Tsugumi, standing beside me, asked. He looked cheerful and seemed genuinely excited for the upcoming swim lesson.
"I'm decent. Average, I guess. Are you good at it, Tsugumi?"
It had been a week since I met Tsugumi. Even with my communication issues, I could talk to him without a hitch. The silence between us didn't feel awkward, and I'd say we were well on our way to becoming good friends.
"Well, yeah. I've got national competition experience."
Tsugumi smiled brightly and pointed to himself... I felt bad, but after hearing similar lies from Yamauchi, I couldn't immediately believe him.
"Ah, you don't believe me, do you? A little bit of a shock."
"Because you went to observe the soccer club with Hirata-kun, didn't you? If you'd competed at a national level, I'd think you'd join the swimming club," Horikita said, just as expected. Despite everything, it seemed she enjoyed our conversations, too.
"I went to nationals for soccer, too. If you don't believe me, try searching my name. You'll probably see my name in the paper for both. But in the end, I'm not planning on joining any clubs."
"Why not?"
"I was going to at first, but I came to this school with a childhood friend, and they have a weak constitution, so I'm taking care of them. I don't really have time for club activities."
Coming to this school with a childhood friend, a place with odds of entry in the tens of thousands... that person must be incredibly talented.
While I was thinking this, the teacher clapped his hands and started speaking.
"I want to see your skills, so after warm-ups, we'll get right to swimming."
"Sensei, I'm not a very good swimmer..." A student raised their hand nervously.
"That's fine. As long as I'm teaching, I guarantee you'll learn to swim."
"No, that's okay. You don't have to force me to learn."
No student would want to take supplemental lessons just to learn how to swim.
"That's not how it works. It's fine if you can't swim now, but you will overcome it. Being able to swim will definitely be useful, I guarantee it."
"Guaranteed," he said... While I agree that being able to swim is a good thing, his phrasing felt like it had some hidden meaning. Oh well, he probably just feels a strong sense of responsibility to his students.
After warm-ups, we did a 50-meter freestyle. Students who couldn't swim the full length were allowed to touch the bottom.
"Looks like most of you can swim."
"No problem, Sensei. In middle school, I was called the Agile Flying Fish."
"Is that so? Then we'll have a race. A 50-meter freestyle, men's and women's."
A race on the very first day? I thought that's something you'd do after a few classes. It seemed I wasn't the only one, as the students around me began to buzz.
"The first-place winner gets a special 5,000-point bonus from me. On the other hand, the slowest person will have to take remedial lessons, so be prepared."
The announcement was met with a mix of cheers and groans.
"Perfect. I'll take first place and prove it to you."
"O-okay. I get it."
Tsugumi said joyfully. His uncharacteristically earnest demeanor was a contrast to his usual laid-back and composed self. It seemed he had a childish side, too. Maybe that gap is what makes him so popular with girls... I should take notes.
"Since there are fewer girls, we'll split them into two groups of five. The student with the fastest time will be the winner. For the boys, the top five fastest times will compete in a final."
I never thought the school would offer points as a prize. Maybe it's a way to motivate the students who skipped class. It's a well-thought-out strategy.
Excluding the observers and the one student who couldn't swim, there were 16 boys and 10 girls participating. The girls were up first, so the boys sat excitedly by the pool, cheering... and judging.
As I was staring blankly at the girls getting ready, Tsugumi, sitting next to me, tapped me on the shoulder.
"Who are you rooting for, Ayanokōji-kun? Not in a crush way, but more like, who's your type?"
He leaned in and whispered with a smirk. "Who are you rooting for" was obviously a reference to the girls. This kind of topic was surprising coming from him, especially after he showed no interest in the "betting" that morning.
"That's unexpected. I thought you weren't interested in these topics."
"Just because I didn't join in on that morning thing? Come on. Just participating in that would kill your reputation with the girls."
So that's how it was. I thought what they were doing was what normal high school boys did, but it seems I was a bit off. Indeed, both Tsugumi and Hirata, the top two good-looking guys in Class D, didn't participate... It's better to not be so open about your desires.
"So, who is it?"
"...Does it really matter?"
I felt like I was being handled by a drunk uncle. Even though I've never had that experience. Tsugumi seemed to have taken my silence as him being overbearing, and he lowered his head with an apologetic tone.
"Sorry. I should've gone first. Um... well, there's Horikita-san, right? And then... Karuizawa-san, Sakura-san, and Satō-san, I guess."
This was an unexpected selection. Horikita, Karuizawa, and Satō... their proportions weren't exactly anything to write home about. That's a terrible thing to say, even to myself. And then there's Sakura, who has a great body. They're all so different in terms of personality and looks. What do they have in common?
"That's surprising. With that many people, I thought Kushida would be on your list."
"As for Kushida-san... I get the feeling she's not suited for me. Just a hunch."
What was she not suited for? Just as I was about to ask, Horikita, who had already finished her race, walked over to us.
"What are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing. But that's amazing! You came in second, right after the current swimming club member!"
He completely changed the subject. That was a big help.
"...Well, I don't really care about winning or losing. More importantly, are you two confident?"
"I'm all set. If I don't get first place, I'll make you lunch tomorrow."
Tsugumi's lunch, huh? That's a little... no, it's pretty interesting. It's not every day you get a homemade lunch from a friend. Unlike me, Horikita tossed the offer aside with disinterest.
"I don't need it."
"Don't say that. It's a show of confidence. What about you, Ayanokōji-kun? You said you're average, but you don't want remedial lessons, right?"
"Of course not. I won't come in last."
"...That's nothing to brag about. I thought boys were more competitive."
"I don't like competing. I'm a pacifist."
I had already given up on getting first place. Avoiding remedial lessons was enough for me.
I was assigned to the first group in lane 2, with Sudō in the lane next to me. It would be impossible to keep up with an athlete like Sudō, so I immediately wrote him off. As long as I avoided being the slowest in this group, I wouldn't be in last place overall.
With that thought in mind, I dove off the starting block.
Sudō finished the 50-meter race with incredible speed, his face emerging from the water. Both the boys and girls were stunned.
"Not bad, Sudō. You're under 25 seconds."
I, on the other hand, swam a little over 36 seconds. It seemed I was 10th place. Good, no remedial lessons for me.
"Sudō, why don't you join the swimming club? With a little practice, you could easily aim for the national competition."
"I'm all about basketball. Swimming's just for fun."
Was swimming so effortless for him that he didn't even consider it a workout? Sudō got out of the pool looking completely unfazed.
"Good job, Ayanokōji-kun."
"Thanks. How impressive is Sudō's record?"
I asked Tsugumi, who had congratulated me.
"Hmm. If he could shave off about another second, he'd be competitive at nationals. It's incredible for someone with no experience."
"I see. You're up next, right? You talked a big game, so do your best."
"Yeah! If I get first, I'll tell you the rest of the story, okay?"
Did he really want to know my type that badly? Well, I suppose it's not a big deal. When I nodded, he looked satisfied and headed for the starting block.
"Kyaa! Hirata-kun, do your best!"
A joyful shriek came from the girls. I saw Hirata standing on the starting block. With his lean, muscular build, he was the very picture of what girls find attractive. It was no wonder they were so excited. Ike made a spitting gesture, and Sudō scowled at Hirata, clearly annoyed.
"If you make it to the finals, I'll crush you with everything I've got."
I thought swimming was just for fun...
"Tsugumi-kun, do your best. We're rooting for you."
"Yeah! I'll get first place and treat you to karaoke!"
On the other side of the pool, Tsugumi was surrounded by six or seven girls. Unlike the sparkly-eyed girls cheering for Hirata, these girls seemed a bit quieter and more reserved.
They were all calling him "Tsugumi-kun"... No, it wasn't a feeling of superiority that I was the only one calling him by his first name. Not at all.
It seemed there was a clear difference in type between the "idol-like" Hirata and the "approachable" Tsugumi. But both were undeniably popular. By the way, Kushida was on Team Tsugumi.
"Darn it! So even Saitō is popular!?"
As Ike whined, the race began.
Ike and the others were yelling jeers at first, but their voices trailed off. Horikita, who had been watching next to me, couldn't hide her surprise either.
"23.70 seconds..."
"Oh, that's not bad for my first time in a while."
I remembered Tsugumi saying that a time under 24 seconds would be competitive at nationals. If a non-expert could reach that level, it would certainly kill a person's motivation.
"...I'm sorry. To be honest, that was more than I expected."
"Yeah, you've pretty much got the win."
Even Horikita was apologizing.
"Hee hee. How was that? Pretty amazing, right?" Tsugumi said proudly, stroking his nose with his index finger. Unfortunately, his moment of triumph was short-lived.
"Third race, record... 23.22 seconds."
"My abs, my back, my psoas muscles are all in top condition as usual. Not bad."
Kōenji emerged from the water and smiled confidently, pushing his hair back. He wasn't even out of breath, as if he hadn't tried at all.
"Are you serious...?"
Tsugumi's mouth hung open, and he stood frozen. Kōenji, who had just posted a monstrous time, walked over to him. Kōenji maintained his arrogant demeanor and spoke as he passed by.
"Next, do it for real. I'll be waiting for you in the finals, Tsugumi-boy."
"...Looks like I can't afford to lose."
With those words, Tsugumi's face was that of a man who had made up his mind.
"I'm fired up!"
Sudō's eyes burned with fighting spirit; he hated to lose. But I'm pretty sure even he would have a tough time against these two.
----------
"Alright, we will now begin the boys' finals."
Oh man. I'm so nervous. I'm more nervous than when I competed in actual competitions.
I'd die of embarrassment if I lost to Kōenji-kun after talking such a big game. And he knew I was holding back.
Yeah, I did hold back a bit. But my height and muscle mass have grown by more than five centimeters since last year, and I knew if I went all out, I'd get a ridiculous time and get hassled with club invitations.
"I never thought there'd be such an interesting person like you here. With that kind of talent, why were you holding back?"
"What are you talking about... How could you know that about someone you just spoke to for the first time?"
"Who do you think I am? I can tell what kind of person someone is just by looking at them."
He's hassling me. Ayanokōji-kun, help me.
Anyway, 23.22 seconds... I think the middle school Japanese record is about 23.50 seconds. This guy is a monster.
I don't know if "I wasn't warmed up," "it's my first time in a while," or "I was holding back" are valid excuses, but I feel like I have the potential to beat that time right now.
"Remember the competitions... I can do this."
As I was mumbling to myself, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind. It was Ayanokōji-kun and Horikita-san.
"Do your best."
"It'll be embarrassing if you lose after saying all that, Saitō-kun."
"In other words, do your best."
"What are you talking about, Ayanokōji-kun? It was your fault in the first place—"
Are you serious? Horikita-san is actually encouraging me.
I feel so motivated now. I'm definitely going to win this match.
"Alright, the boys' 50-meter freestyle final will now begin."
I stood on the starting block at the signal. The teacher was unusually serious, and everyone around me was watching with bated breath. They were all curious about the outcome of the race between Kōenji-kun and me.
The moment the buzzer went off, I launched myself like a bullet.
"Whoa! He's fast!"
I could hear Ike's voice from the side. Kōenji-kun, in the lane next to me, was a whole head in front... This isn't good. My technique might be better, but his physical conditioning is probably superior. If I've already lost the initial burst, it will be tough to catch up.
"Tsugumi-kun, do your best!"
"Hey, Saitō! If you're going to get first place, you'd better treat me to some food!"
My classmates were running alongside the pool, cheering me on... Why am I letting myself get defeated by my own mind? I'll give it my all and beat this guy. I don't need to think about anything else.
"The gap between him and Kōenji is closing!"
With a little less than half the race left, Kōenji-kun and I were neck and neck. Now it was a battle of will.
And we touched the wall at almost the exact same time. Then, everyone finished the race.
"Who won! Who won!?"
I could hear Ike's voice from the poolside. I looked over and saw that about half the class had come over and were staring at the teacher.
The teacher took a breath, stopwatch in hand, and announced slowly.
"First place. Record... 23.08 seconds... Saitō Tsugumi."
"—Yesss!"
The moment I heard that, I unconsciously screamed. I'm usually pretty level-headed, but when it comes to sports, and especially my favorite ones, I hate to lose, so I felt a huge sense of relief.
"Saitō won!"
When I got out of the pool, my classmates, who were ecstatic, surrounded me. Everyone seemed to have been swept up in the heat of the race between Kōenji-kun and me and was unusually high-spirited.
"You're amazing! To have defeated that Kōenji!"
"I'm surprised myself. It was a huge personal best."
As I was receiving their praise, Kōenji-kun, who had gotten out of the pool a little later, walked over with a smile.
"I lost, a complete defeat. I never thought I would experience defeat in a genuine competition."
It seemed Kōenji-kun's time was 23.11 seconds. A really close call. To be honest, it was a level where the difference could be a matter of luck. But he didn't make any excuses and praised me instead.
"But I'm not a man who accepts defeat silently. I'll get my revenge next time."
With that, Kōenji-kun left without waiting for a reply.
"...Do I have a target on my back now?"
"...Don't even say it."
Ayanokōji-kun's words struck a deep chord with me.
============
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