The schedule on the board looked harmless until you actually read it.
P.E. (Swimming)
The moment the teacher wrote it up, a few heads snapped like dogs hearing a snack bag open.
I sat in my seat, resting my chin on my hand, and watched the boys start to vibrate.
Ike was the worst.
He leaned over his desk, eyes bright, whispering to Yamauchi like they were planning a bank robbery instead of a class.
Yamauchi's grin kept stretching wider and wider, like his face was going to split.
Behind me, I heard Ayanokōji's chair shift slightly. He didn't say anything, but I could practically feel the "here we go" coming off him.
Horikita sat beside him, arms crossed, looking like she wanted the whole class to fall into the ocean.
I exhaled through my nose.
This place really is just a zoo with uniforms.
The teacher kept talking like nothing was happening.
"Make sure you bring your swimwear," he said. "And don't forget your towels. That's it."
The bell rang.
The room instantly became louder.
Chairs scraped. Bags opened. People moved.
I didn't rush. I didn't need to. I'd already packed what I needed.
Including the one thing I absolutely needed.
A thick, black wristband.
It sat in my bag like a weapon.
Because my Omnitrix wasn't going to magically disappear just because the school decided we were swimming today.
And I sure as hell wasn't letting the entire class see it.
By lunch, the split was already clear.
The people with brains had listened to me.
Their lunches were simple. They weren't carrying shopping bags full of junk. They weren't acting like the school was going to hand them a new life forever.
Then the idiots existed.
Ike and Yamauchi were basically glowing with excitement.
They were talking way too loud.
"…I'm telling you, today's gonna be insane," Ike said, voice shaking with energy. "Like, it's finally happening."
Yamauchi nodded like a man possessed.
"We're blessed," he whispered.
I stared at them from my seat and felt my patience drain out of my body.
You two are not blessed. You're just loud.
They were sitting with Ayanokōji again, like they'd adopted him.
Ayanokōji looked the same way someone looks when they're stuck in a conversation at a family gathering.
He wasn't panicking.
He wasn't even annoyed.
He just looked… resigned.
I leaned back in my chair and looked over my shoulder.
"Ayanokōji-kun," I said. "Blink twice if you need help."
He blinked once.
Then looked at me.
"…I'm okay."
Ike spun around immediately.
"Senju! You eating here?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. "I enjoy suffering."
Yamauchi laughed.
"We were just talking about swimming class!"
"I noticed," I said. "The entire school noticed."
Ike grinned shamelessly.
"Bro, you get it, right? Like—" He leaned in, lowering his voice like he was sharing a sacred secret. "The girls are gonna be there."
I stared at him for three long seconds.
Then I said flatly, "Ike… the girls are also in our class. They've been 'there' since the entrance ceremony."
Yamauchi snorted.
"That's different!"
"It's not," I said.
Ayanokōji quietly sipped his drink.
Horikita wasn't here. She'd left to eat alone, like always.
And Kushida—
Kushida walked into the classroom like sunlight decided it wanted a human form.
She smiled at someone immediately. Then someone else. Then someone else. Her voice stayed warm, bright, and friendly like it never got tired.
But I noticed the tiny things now.
How she breathed out when people looked away.
How her shoulders lowered just a little when she got a second of space.
She scanned the room and her eyes landed on me.
She hesitated.
Then she walked over.
"Konnichiwa, Senju-kun," she said brightly. "Ayanokōji-kun too."
Ayanokōji nodded politely. "Hello."
Ike immediately straightened up like he was trying to look cooler.
"Kushida-chan! Over here!" he said, too eager.
Kushida smiled at him.
That perfect smile.
"Hi, Ike-kun," she said. "Are you enjoying lunch?"
"Yeah!" Ike said fast. "It's awesome! This school is crazy!"
Yamauchi nodded a little too hard.
Kushida laughed softly.
Then her eyes returned to me.
"Senju-kun, can I talk to you for a bit?" she asked.
Ike froze.
Yamauchi froze.
Ayanokōji looked slightly surprised.
I smiled, calm as ever.
"Sure," I said. "Right now?"
Kushida nodded.
"If you don't mind."
I stood up and grabbed my lunch tray.
"Come on," I said casually. "Let's go somewhere quieter before their excitement turns into a medical emergency."
Ike frowned.
"Hey—"
Kushida bowed slightly, still smiling.
"Sorry, Ike-kun. I'll talk to you later, okay?"
Ike's face lit up again like he'd been handed a prize.
"Y-yeah! Later!"
Yamauchi stared at me like I'd stolen his oxygen.
I didn't care.
I walked with Kushida out into the hall, and the noise faded a little behind us.
We found a quieter spot near the windows—still inside the school building, but away from the classroom chaos.
Kushida set her lunch down and sat.
I sat across from her.
For a second, her smile didn't change—but her eyes softened.
Like she was grateful to be away from the crowd.
I opened my drink and took a sip.
Then I sighed.
Kushida tilted her head.
"Long day already?" she asked lightly.
I stared at her.
Then I said, "Your fan club is unbearable."
Kushida blinked.
"…Fan club?"
I leaned forward slightly, lowering my voice.
"Those guys," I said. "Ike, Yamauchi… and a few others. They've been talking all morning like swimming class is some kind of holy event."
Kushida's smile twitched.
"Oh," she said, still polite, "I see."
My eyes narrowed just slightly.
"And I don't like how they stare," I added, tone calm but sharp. "It's not subtle. It's not respectful. It's just… gross."
Kushida froze for half a second.
Then she laughed softly, like she was trying to make it lighter.
"Ah… boys are like that sometimes," she said.
I didn't laugh.
I kept my voice low.
"Yeah," I said. "And boys can also learn manners."
Kushida looked at me. Really looked.
Her smile stayed, but it wasn't as bright.
"…Thank you," she said quietly.
I raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"For noticing," she answered, simple. "Most people either don't notice, or they pretend not to."
I leaned back.
"I don't pretend," I said. "It's exhausting."
Kushida's eyes softened more.
Her shoulders dropped a little.
"Yeah," she murmured. "It is."
We ate for a bit.
The hallway was quiet enough that the sound of wrappers and distant voices felt far away.
Kushida took a careful bite, still neat, still composed.
But I could tell she liked the quiet.
So I let it stay quiet for a moment.
Then I spoke again, casual.
"You're doing a lot," I said.
Kushida blinked.
"What do you mean?"
I gestured vaguely toward the direction of the classroom.
"Being friendly," I said. "Remembering everyone. Talking to everyone. Smiling for everyone."
Kushida's smile returned a little brighter, automatic.
"It's fine," she said quickly.
I stared at her until the automatic part started to crack.
Kushida's smile softened again.
"…It's not always fine," she admitted.
I nodded.
"I know."
Kushida looked down at her lunch.
Then she said, quietly, "That's why I wanted to talk to you."
I didn't respond right away.
I just watched her.
Kushida looked up again and forced a playful tone.
"You're easy to talk to," she said. "Even though you're… kind of scary sometimes."
I smiled.
"Good," I said. "I work hard on that."
Kushida giggled.
Then she paused.
"…Senju-kun," she said softly, "are you always this straightforward?"
"Pretty much," I replied.
I tilted my head.
"You don't like it?"
Kushida shook her head.
"No," she said. "It's… refreshing."
I smirked.
"Careful," I said. "If you say nice things like that, I'll start believing I'm lovable."
Kushida laughed again, cheeks warming faintly.
"You already believe that," she said.
I grinned.
"True."
Kushida watched me for a second, then looked away, smiling small.
We talked about smaller things after that.
The dorms.
The weird calm teachers.
How some students were burning points like they were allergic to saving.
Kushida sighed when she mentioned it.
"I tried to tell some people not to spend too much," she said. "But they just laughed."
I shrugged.
"Idiots learn by suffering," I said. "It's tradition."
Kushida frowned slightly.
"That sounds harsh."
"It is," I said. "But it's real."
Kushida looked down for a moment.
Then she asked, carefully, "Senju-kun… do you think the school will really take points away?"
I smiled faintly.
"Maybe," I said. "Maybe not."
Then I leaned in just a little.
"But the fact that we're asking that question already means the school won something."
Kushida stared.
Then she nodded slowly.
"…That's true."
The bell rang for the end of lunch.
Kushida's smile came back, but it wasn't forced.
It looked… calmer.
She picked up her tray and stood.
"I guess it's time," she said.
I stood too.
"Swimming," I replied, deadpan. "The national holiday."
Kushida giggled.
Then she looked at me, eyes warm.
"…Thanks," she said again.
I tilted my head.
"For what this time?"
"For sitting with me," she said softly. "Just… sitting."
I held her gaze for a second.
Then I nodded.
"Anytime," I said. "Just don't make it weird."
Kushida laughed.
"I won't."
We walked back toward the classroom together.
And I could already hear the boys getting loud again.
After lunch ended, it happened exactly like I knew it would.
Ike leapt up like his chair had shocked him.
"Alright! Pool time!" he shouted.
Yamauchi slapped his desk like he was cheering for war.
Students started moving.
Ike pointed at Ayanokōji.
"Come on, let's go together, Ayanokōji!"
Ayanokōji blinked like he hadn't realized he was getting dragged.
"Huh? O-okay."
I watched him stand up, looking mildly doomed.
Congratulations. You've been adopted by idiots.
I walked behind them, hands in my pockets, calm.
Not stealthy.
I didn't have to be stealthy.
I could just walk like I belonged wherever I wanted.
Kushida walked with a group of girls. She waved at me lightly when she noticed I was nearby.
I nodded back.
Ike saw it and grinned like he'd noticed something exciting.
I ignored him.
The locker room smelled like chlorine and soap.
The air was warm.
Boys talked too loud.
Sudō didn't even hesitate. He stripped out of his uniform like modesty didn't exist and started changing.
His body was built from sports. You could tell. Strong legs, strong arms, solid shoulders.
Ike stared like he was impressed.
"Damn," Ike muttered. "Sudō, you're crazy built."
Sudō scoffed.
"Of course," he said. "I play basketball."
Then Sudō glanced at me while pulling on his swim trunks.
He paused for half a second.
"…Tch," he clicked his tongue, like it annoyed him.
I raised a brow.
"What?" I asked.
Sudō looked away quickly.
"Nothing," he muttered.
I smirked.
He noticed.
I wasn't just athletic.
This body—Senju Kōjirō's body—was unfair.
Lean muscle. Strong frame. Not bulky. Not soft. Just sharp, like it was made to move.
And I didn't hide it.
I changed calmly, no rush.
But I was careful about one thing.
The Omnitrix.
I slid the thick black wristband over my left wrist before anything else.
It covered the device perfectly.
From the outside, it just looked like a sports band.
Ayanokōji glanced at it for a moment.
Not long.
Just a quick look.
Then his gaze moved away.
He didn't ask.
Good boy.
Sotomura was there too—"Professor," as Ike liked to call him.
He looked uncomfortable, like he didn't want to be involved in any of this.
Ike clapped a hand on Sotomura's shoulder.
"Professor! You ready?" Ike said.
Sotomura pushed his glasses up, resigned.
"Don't call me that," he sighed.
Ike laughed.
"Whatever, Professor."
We headed out.
The indoor pool was huge.
Clean. Bright. The water looked perfect, like it was polished.
Ike's eyes shined.
"Whoa! This school is something else!" he said. "It's even better than the city pool!"
Yamauchi nodded like he agreed with the pool personally.
I didn't react much.
I just stared at the pool and felt the humidity on my skin.
This is still a school, by the way. A government school.
Ike scanned the room.
"What about the girls?" he asked, too eager. "Aren't they here yet?"
"They take longer to change," Ayanokōji said quietly, like he was trying to be helpful.
Ike leaned in and whispered something to Yamauchi.
They both snickered.
I turned my head slightly.
"What did you say?" I asked calmly.
Ike froze.
Yamauchi stiffened.
I smiled.
Not friendly.
"Say it out loud," I said. "If it's funny, everyone can laugh."
Ike scratched his cheek, suddenly nervous.
"N-nothing," he mumbled.
"Yeah," Yamauchi added, avoiding my eyes. "Nothing."
I stared at them for another second.
Then I said, "Good."
Because if they said something truly stupid, I was going to ruin their day in public.
And I didn't mind doing it.
Ayanokōji glanced at me.
His face stayed mild, but I saw it.
Curiosity.
Like he was quietly asking, How far will you go?
I gave him a small grin.
As far as I feel like.
A few minutes passed.
Then we heard girls' voices.
"Wow! It's so spacious!"
"It's way bigger than my junior high pool!"
Ike's whole body tensed like a hunting dog.
Then—
The twist happened.
The girls didn't appear on our side.
They appeared on the second-floor observation deck.
One by one.
Hasebe.
Sakura.
The other girls.
All up there, looking down.
Safe.
Far away.
Not where the boys wanted them.
Ike's face fell like his soul left his body.
"No way…" he whispered.
Yamauchi dropped to his knees dramatically.
"Why… why would they do this to us…?"
I stared up at the girls and smirked.
Smart.
Hasebe looked uncomfortable. She kept her arms close to herself like she hated being watched.
Sakura stayed near the back, shy and small, like she wished she could vanish.
Some girls glanced down at the boys with disgust already forming.
Ike groaned.
"This is the worst," he muttered.
I looked at him.
"You deserve it," I said.
Ike looked up fast.
"Huh?!"
"You heard me," I replied. "Act normal next time."
Yamauchi frowned.
"Bro, you're killing the mood."
"You don't deserve a mood," I said.
Ayanokōji coughed softly, like he was trying not to laugh.
Then—
Kushida appeared.
She stepped in between Ike and Yamauchi like she'd just walked into the wrong scene.
Her school-issued swimsuit was simple, like the others. Nothing flashy.
But the moment she arrived, the boys' eyes snapped toward her anyway.
Not all of them.
But enough.
Too obvious.
Kushida smiled, still kind.
"Are you two having fun?" she asked them.
Ike almost choked.
"K-Kushida-chan!"
Yamauchi's grin came back like a switch flipped.
Kushida's smile stayed.
But her eyes flicked slightly—like she noticed what was happening.
Not in panic.
More like… here we go again.
I stepped forward, placing myself half a step closer to Kushida.
Not blocking her.
Just… present.
Kushida's eyes met mine for a moment.
Her smile softened.
Like she appreciated the silent support.
I leaned in slightly and spoke quietly, only for her.
"See?" I murmured. "They're doing it again."
Kushida's smile didn't change, but her eyes sighed.
"…Yeah," she whispered back.
I straightened up and looked at Ike and Yamauchi.
I didn't yell.
I didn't threaten.
I just spoke with calm disgust.
"Try not to act like animals," I said. "It's embarrassing."
Ike flushed.
Yamauchi's mouth opened.
Then closed again.
Because I wasn't joking.
And they could tell.
Kushida giggled a little, like she was trying to soften it.
But I heard the relief under it.
A girl from Kushida's group—Satō, I think—leaned toward another girl and whispered something.
I still heard it.
"Senju-kun and Kushida-chan look good together."
Kushida's cheeks warmed faintly.
She glanced away for a second, then back at me, smile still there.
I grinned.
"I heard that," I said casually.
Kushida choked slightly.
"S-Senju-kun!" she whispered, flustered.
I shrugged.
"What?" I said, smug. "They've got eyes."
Kushida's smile wobbled.
Then she lightly smacked my arm with the back of her hand.
Not hard.
Just annoyed.
"Don't make it worse," she mumbled.
I laughed under my breath.
"It's not worse," I said. "It's accurate."
Horikita showed up a little later.
She walked in like she didn't care about anyone, eyes calm, posture straight.
Even in swimwear, she looked sharp. Clean. Cold.
She noticed me almost immediately.
Or maybe she noticed the fact that people were staring at me.
Horikita's eyes narrowed like she'd spotted a loud problem.
Then she looked at my body—quick, clinical.
Not shy.
Not flustered.
Like she was analyzing.
She clicked her tongue.
"Of course," she said quietly.
I turned my head slightly.
"Horikita-san," I greeted.
She looked at me like she wasn't sure if responding was worth it.
"…Senju-kun."
Her gaze flicked down to my wristband for a second.
Then back to my face.
"What is that?" she asked.
I smiled.
"A wristband."
Horikita stared.
"I can see that."
I leaned closer a little, grin sharp.
"Then why'd you ask?"
Horikita's eyes narrowed harder.
"…It's strange to wear it while swimming."
I shrugged.
"I like it," I said. "And it's none of your business."
Horikita's lips pressed together.
Kushida stepped in gently, still smiling.
"Horikita-san, are you a good swimmer?" she asked.
Horikita looked slightly puzzled, but answered quietly.
"I wouldn't say I'm particularly good or bad."
Kushida nodded brightly.
"I was really bad at swimming in junior high," she admitted. "But I practiced a lot, and I think I've gotten better."
Horikita gave a short response.
"I see."
Then she glanced at Ayanokōji.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she was noticing something.
"Ayanokōji-kun," Horikita said. "Do you exercise?"
Ayanokōji blinked.
"Huh? No, not really," he said. "In middle school, I didn't have much going on after school."
Horikita didn't look convinced.
"Even so… your arms and back look above average."
Ayanokōji hesitated.
Then he gave that mild answer.
"I guess I have good genes."
Horikita stared at him.
"I don't think that's the only reason," she said.
Ayanokōji looked awkward.
Then I leaned toward him slightly and whispered.
"Horikita-san has a scary eye," I murmured.
Ayanokōji glanced at me, then back at Horikita.
"…Yeah," he whispered back. "It seems like it."
Kushida, beside me, watched that little exchange.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Then she smiled like nothing happened.
A loud whistle cut through everything.
A macho-looking middle-aged man walked in like he belonged in a sports magazine.
He had the posture of someone who lived in the gym. Broad shoulders, thick arms, and a loud voice that didn't need a microphone.
"All right, everyone! Line up!"
Students moved fast.
The teacher scanned the group.
"There are sixteen of you, huh?" he said. "I thought there would've been more, but this is all right."
Some people had ditched.
And he didn't look even slightly angry.
That alone was weird.
He clapped once.
"Warm up," he ordered. "Then I want to see what you can really do. Swim for me."
A boy raised his hand nervously.
"Um… sir, I can't really swim…"
The teacher grinned.
"Since you have me as your teacher," he said, "you'll be swimming by summertime. Don't worry."
Some boys snickered.
Ayanokōji's eyes narrowed slightly.
Horikita looked indifferent.
I smirked.
This teacher talks like he's certain life is going to throw us into water someday.
We did warm-ups.
Ike kept glancing up at the girls' area like he was trying to steal memories with his eyes.
I caught him once.
He noticed me looking.
He immediately pretended to stretch.
I shook my head slightly.
Pathetic.
We got into the pool.
The water was warm, controlled, and clean.
It felt good.
I swam lightly for the warm-up.
Just a few strokes.
And even that made a few heads turn.
Because I moved too smoothly.
Too confidently.
Like someone who belonged in water.
Kushida noticed too.
She smiled at me from the side.
"Senju-kun," she said softly, "you're good."
I shrugged.
"I'm good at a lot," I replied.
Kushida giggled.
Horikita looked like she wanted to roll her eyes but didn't.
Ayanokōji stared at the water like he was already planning how to not stand out.
After the warm-up, the teacher clapped again.
"Alright," he said. "Swim fifty meters."
Simple.
The teacher watched.
Students swam.
The ones who couldn't swim properly were allowed to touch the bottom.
When everyone finished, Ike climbed out with a smug grin.
"Heh," Ike said. "Easy. Did you all see my skills?"
I looked at him.
"No," I said. "We were all trying to survive your voice."
Ike frowned.
"Damn, you're mean."
"I'm honest," I replied.
The teacher nodded.
"Well," he said, "it looks like most of you can swim."
Ike puffed up again.
"Back in junior high," he said, "people called me the flying fish!"
The teacher looked amused.
"I see," he said. "Then let's compete."
Ike's face fell instantly.
"C-compete?! Are you serious?"
The teacher's grin widened.
"I'll give out a bonus to the first-place winner," he said. "Five thousand points."
The room reacted.
Some students lit up.
Some groaned.
The teacher continued, calm and cruel.
"The student who comes in last place will take supplementary lessons."
That changed the air.
You could feel it.
Points.
Punishment.
The school really did use everything as a hook.
I smiled slightly.
This place gives, and it takes.
The teacher explained the setup.
Girls first.
Two groups.
Fastest overall time wins.
Then boys—top five times go to a final.
I heard some boys whisper excitedly again.
Not about winning.
About the girls.
And I finally got tired of it.
Before the first race even started, I turned toward Ike and Yamauchi.
"Oi," I said.
They looked at me.
I spoke plainly.
"You guys want a girlfriend one day?" I asked.
Ike blinked.
"Yes," he said instantly.
Yamauchi nodded like his life depended on it.
"Then stop talking like creeps," I said. "Talk like humans."
Their smiles twitched.
Ike frowned.
"Bro, we're not creeps—"
"You are," I said calmly. "And you're loud about it. Which makes it worse."
Yamauchi glared.
"You're acting all superior."
I smiled.
"I am superior," I said. "But that's not the point."
Their mouths opened.
I kept going, voice flat and sharp.
"The point is," I said, "if you want people to like you, be decent. Don't stare. Don't whisper stupid stuff. Don't act like girls are trophies."
Ike's face reddened.
Yamauchi looked offended.
Ayanokōji glanced at me like he hadn't expected a lecture.
Horikita glanced at me like she had expected it.
Kushida looked at me too.
Her smile softened.
Like she appreciated it, but didn't want to show it too much.
Ike muttered, "You're such a killjoy…"
I leaned in slightly, smile cold.
"I'll be a killjoy again if you need it," I said. "Try me."
Ike swallowed and looked away.
Yamauchi did too.
I turned slightly toward Ayanokōji and whispered, playful and wicked—
"Should I threaten to tell the girls what they were saying?" I murmured. "It'd humble them in ten seconds."
Ayanokōji blinked.
Then he whispered back, careful.
"…That would cause trouble."
I grinned.
"Trouble is fun."
Ayanokōji hesitated.
Then his mouth twitched slightly.
"…It might work, though."
I smiled wider.
"See? You get me."
Ayanokōji quickly looked away like he regretted agreeing.
The girls' first race began.
Horikita was in it.
And the moment she dove in, she moved clean and sharp.
No panic. No messy arms.
Just steady, controlled swimming.
She took the lead early and held it.
She finished with a solid time.
Not perfect.
But fast.
The boys cheered, but not because they cared about the time.
I saw their eyes drifting again.
I sighed through my nose.
Kushida stood near me on the side.
She kept her smile up, but I saw the slight tightness in her eyes.
I leaned closer and spoke quietly.
"I'm serious," I murmured. "If they start acting stupid again, I'll shut them down."
Kushida blinked.
Then her smile softened.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
The second race began.
Kushida was in it.
She dove in with energy, swimming hard. You could tell she wasn't a natural talent, but she'd practiced.
A girl named Onodera—who looked like she actually belonged to a swim team—took the lead and stayed there.
Onodera finished first with a strong time.
Kushida finished later.
Not last.
Not amazing.
But she looked proud of herself anyway.
When she climbed out, she shook water from her hair and smiled, breathing a little heavier.
I clapped once, simple.
"Good job," I said.
Kushida blinked at me.
Then smiled more warmly.
"Thanks," she replied.
A girl from the group teased, "Senju-kun, you're supportive."
I smiled without shame.
"I'm supportive when people deserve it," I said.
Kushida's cheeks warmed faintly again.
Then it was the boys' turn.
The teacher pointed and called names.
Sudō got a lane near the front.
Ayanokōji got placed in the lane next to him, just like in the novel.
I leaned toward Ayanokōji before he stepped up.
"Don't come in last," I said simply.
Ayanokōji nodded.
"That's the plan," he replied.
Horikita glanced at him.
"That's not something to be proud of," she said flatly.
Ayanokōji looked tired already.
"I'm not proud," he said. "I just don't want extra lessons."
I smirked.
"That's the smartest thing you've said today."
Horikita looked at me.
"Don't encourage him."
I smiled.
"I'll encourage whoever I want."
The whistle blew.
Sudō exploded forward like a bullet.
He was fast. Ridiculously fast.
He hit the wall and finished with an impressive time, climbing out like it was nothing.
People reacted loudly.
Ayanokōji finished after him.
Not horrible.
Not amazing.
He climbed out looking calm, pretending it was just normal.
But I watched his breathing.
You're not as weak as you act.
I didn't say it out loud.
Not yet.
Then my name got called.
The teacher pointed at me.
"Senju," he said. "Lane four."
I stepped up without hesitation.
Some girls' eyes followed me.
Some boys looked annoyed.
Sudō stared at me like he wanted to prove something.
Kōenji, leaning against the wall like a prince, didn't even look interested.
Not yet.
I crouched at the edge.
The whistle blew.
And I moved.
I didn't hold back.
Not because of the points.
Five thousand points was cute.
But I didn't move for points.
I moved because my body liked winning.
I cut through the water like it wasn't water.
I could feel every tiny push, every angle of my hands, every shift of my hips.
Grey Matter's knowledge is disgusting, I thought, half amused. This is just physics.
I touched the wall.
Silence hit for half a second.
Then the noise exploded.
The teacher stared at his stopwatch.
Then stared again.
Then stared a third time like it offended him.
"…What the hell?" someone whispered.
The teacher cleared his throat, voice louder.
"Senju," he said slowly, "your time is—"
He paused.
Like he didn't want to say it.
Then he said it anyway.
"A time that doesn't make sense for a high school class."
People gasped.
Sudō's eyes widened.
Hirata looked genuinely surprised.
Kushida stared at me with her mouth slightly open.
Horikita's eyes narrowed like she was trying to solve me.
Ayanokōji's expression didn't change much…
But his eyes sharpened.
Like a knife getting pulled halfway out.
I climbed out of the pool calmly.
Water ran down my arms and chest.
I shook my hair back, not rushed, not even breathing hard.
I smiled like it was normal.
Because for me?
It was.
Kushida walked closer, voice quiet.
"Senju-kun…" she whispered. "That was… insane."
I tilted my head.
"I'm just good," I said casually.
Kushida blinked.
Then she laughed softly.
"You really don't hide it," she murmured.
"Nope," I replied.
Hirata went next.
The girls cheered the moment he stepped up.
Not subtle.
Not quiet.
They screamed like he was a celebrity.
Hirata looked embarrassed but smiled politely.
He dove in with clean form.
Smooth. Fast. Controlled.
He finished first in his group easily.
Girls cheered even louder.
Sudō looked annoyed.
Ike looked jealous.
Kushida smiled warmly for him, because that was what she did.
Then—
Kōenji stepped forward.
And of course, he was wearing a tiny competitive swimsuit like he was starring in some weird advertisement.
A few students looked away out of sheer secondhand embarrassment.
Kōenji didn't care.
He stood at the starting line like the pool belonged to him.
Then his gaze slid toward me.
A slow smile formed.
"Well, well," he said smoothly. "Senju."
I smiled back.
"Kōenji," I replied.
He looked at me like he was inspecting a rival product.
"I didn't expect you to show such vulgar strength on day one of swimming class," he said, amused.
I shrugged.
"I like attention," I replied. "And I like winning."
Kōenji's smile sharpened.
"How honest."
The whistle blew.
Kōenji dove in with perfect form.
And his speed was ridiculous.
Even after what I did, it still shocked people.
He hit the wall.
Climbed out.
Smirked like a god.
The teacher looked at his stopwatch.
Then looked again.
His face tightened.
"…You," the teacher said slowly, voice strained, "are also not normal."
Kōenji casually swept his wet hair back.
"My abdominal muscles, back muscles, and core are in good condition," he said, like he was complimenting himself. "Not bad."
I laughed once.
"Still talking about yourself," I said.
Kōenji smiled wider.
"Of course," he replied. "There's nothing else worthy of conversation."
Students stared.
Some girls were impressed.
Some looked confused.
Some looked terrified.
Sudō was the only one who looked genuinely angry.
"Now I'm fired up," Sudō muttered.
Kushida—standing near me—leaned in and whispered, amazed.
"Kōenji-kun is incredible…"
I looked at her.
"Yeah," I said. "He's a freak."
Kushida giggled.
"You say that so casually."
"I mean it lovingly," I replied.
Kushida's eyes softened again.
Then she glanced at me.
"…And you're also incredible," she added.
I smiled.
"Thank you," I said. "Keep saying things like that."
Kushida's cheeks warmed, and she looked away.
"…You're impossible," she murmured.
I grinned.
"I know."
The teacher gathered the top times.
Just like he said.
Five boys.
Final round.
It ended up being exactly who you'd expect, plus me.
Sudō.
Hirata.
Kōenji.
Me.
And one other boy who looked like he'd played sports seriously.
The class gathered around the pool edge, the energy climbing.
Even the people who didn't care were watching now.
Because this wasn't a school race anymore.
This was ego.
Sudō stared at Kōenji like he wanted to punch him.
Kōenji stared at the water like the water owed him respect.
Hirata looked calm, friendly even.
And me?
I felt good.
Like my body was smiling.
Kōenji's eyes slid to me again.
"Senju," he said softly, "try not to disappoint me."
I smiled.
"Try not to lose," I replied.
Kōenji's smile turned sharp.
"Oh?" he said. "So you've decided to challenge me."
"I've been challenging you since we were kids," I said. "You just didn't notice."
That made Kōenji laugh—actually laugh.
Sudō looked between us, irritated.
"What the hell are you two talking about?" he snapped.
I glanced at him.
"Rich people history," I said. "You wouldn't get it."
Sudō's face reddened.
"Tch—!"
The teacher raised his whistle.
"On my signal!" he shouted.
Everything went quiet.
The whistle blew.
And we dove.
Sudō was fast. Angry fast.
Hirata was smooth and steady.
The other boy fought hard.
But it wasn't about them.
The moment I hit the water, I felt Kōenji beside me like a shadow.
He wasn't playing anymore.
His strokes were sharper. Stronger.
He was chasing me.
Or maybe he was chasing the idea of losing.
I pushed harder.
Not because I needed to prove anything.
Because it felt good.
Because it was fun.
Because if Kōenji was finally taking something seriously, I wanted to see how far he could go.
We hit the wall almost together.
I touched first.
Just barely.
The noise that followed was insane.
Students yelled.
Some screamed.
The teacher looked like his soul left his body.
He stared at the stopwatch like it was cursed.
Then he held it up like he needed everyone to witness the crime.
"This… this is absurd," he said, voice shaking. "You two… your times…"
He swallowed.
"You're both at a level that shouldn't be possible here."
Kōenji climbed out like he wasn't even winded.
He stared at me, eyes bright.
Not angry.
Not upset.
Just… thrilled.
Like he finally found something interesting.
He smirked.
"…You won," he admitted.
I smiled back.
"Yeah," I said. "I did."
Kōenji's lips twitched.
"I don't like losing," he said calmly.
I leaned closer, grin sharp.
"Get used to it," I whispered.
Kōenji's eyes flashed.
Then he laughed again.
"A splendid rivalry," he said, loud enough for others to hear. "How exciting."
Sudō climbed out too, dripping wet, glaring like he wanted to fight the air.
"Damn it…" he growled. "You're both monsters."
I looked at him.
"You're good too," I said. "But you're not winning against two freaks at once."
Sudō scowled.
"Shut up."
I smiled.
"No."
While the teacher processed reality, Kushida walked over with a towel, eyes still wide.
"Senju-kun," she said, voice soft, "that was… really amazing."
I took the towel, wiping my hair casually.
"Yeah," I said. "I'm amazing."
Kushida blinked.
Then she laughed.
"You really are," she murmured, like she couldn't help it.
I glanced at her and lowered my voice.
"You were cute out there," I said simply.
Kushida froze.
"…Cute?" she repeated, flustered.
"Yeah," I said. "You worked hard. It shows."
Kushida's smile softened.
For a second, it wasn't her "everyone" smile.
It was her "someone" smile.
"…Thank you," she said quietly.
A couple girls nearby watched us.
One whispered again, "They really look good together…"
Kushida's face warmed.
She tried to hide it by adjusting her towel.
I didn't hide anything.
I just smiled like I'd won something else too.
Ayanokōji stood near the back, watching.
He didn't cheer.
He didn't yell.
He just looked at me like he was re-evaluating what kind of person I was.
I walked over, dripping, towel around my neck.
"Ayanokōji-kun," I said casually, "you should race me sometime."
He blinked.
"…Me?"
"Yeah," I said. "Just us. No crowd."
Ayanokōji hesitated.
"I'm not fast," he replied.
I smiled.
"You're a bad liar," I said.
Ayanokōji's eyes flicked slightly.
"…I'm not lying."
I leaned closer, voice low.
"You're always acting like you're nothing," I murmured. "It's annoying."
Ayanokōji stared at me.
Then he gave a small, polite shrug.
"I just don't like trouble," he said.
I grinned.
"Then you're unlucky," I replied. "Because you're standing next to trouble."
Ayanokōji sighed faintly, like he already accepted that.
"…Yeah."
I laughed.
"Good," I said. "We'll race one day."
Ayanokōji didn't promise.
But he didn't shut it down completely either.
And that alone was interesting.
Swimming class ended with noise, chatter, and people still talking about the final race like it was a myth.
The teacher looked exhausted.
Kōenji looked satisfied.
Sudō looked like he wanted revenge.
The boys started changing back into uniforms.
I slid my wristband back into place carefully and kept the Omnitrix hidden like nothing happened.
Ayanokōji didn't say anything about it.
He didn't ask.
But I could feel his eyes notice again.
Kushida waited outside with the girls after they changed, smiling, talking, being the class's bright center again.
But when her eyes met mine, it softened.
Just a little.
When we regrouped in the hallway, she walked closer.
Then she smiled brightly, like she was talking to everyone—
But her words were aimed at me and Ayanokōji.
"So… Ayanokōji-kun," she said cheerfully, "Senju-kun too… do you want to stop by a café on our way back today?"
I raised a brow.
"A café?" I repeated.
Kushida nodded.
"Just for a bit," she said. "I want to talk."
Ayanokōji looked surprised but nodded slowly.
"…Sure."
Kushida's smile brightened.
Then she turned, eyes searching—
And she spotted Horikita putting her textbook into her bag, already preparing to leave alone.
Kushida stepped toward her without hesitation.
"Horikita-san," she said warmly, "would you like to come with us to a café today?"
Horikita didn't even pause.
"Not interested."
Kushida's smile didn't break.
"I see," she said gently. "Then I'll invite you again another time."
Horikita stopped.
For a second, it looked like she might actually say something normal.
Then she turned and said, cold as ice—
"Don't invite me again. It's a bother."
The hallway got quiet around them.
Kushida's smile stayed.
And she replied, like she'd already decided long ago—
"I'll invite you again."
Horikita's eyes narrowed.
Then she walked away.
Alone.
Kushida watched her go, still smiling… but her eyes were tired again.
I stepped closer to Kushida and spoke quietly.
"She's stubborn," I murmured.
Kushida exhaled softly.
"…I know," she whispered back.
Then she looked up at me and Ayanokōji again, smile brightening like she flipped the switch back on.
"Let's go," she said. "Before it gets too late."
I smiled.
"Lead the way," I replied.
And as we started walking—
I couldn't help it.
I glanced at Ayanokōji and grinned like a devil.
This is getting fun.