Clouded Distance

Chapter Four

A New Club

Hana and the others managed to squeeze in between the lines of Samezuka swimmers to congratulate Rin. Their friend looked abashed, and maybe, did he looked a little scared as well? Hana would have stayed behind for a little while if she could, but they had to issue to get back to Iwatobi, just in tine for the first-year's introduction assembly.

After changing, they bid goodbye to Rin, Seijuro, Nitori and the others and left the Samezuka school grounds, caught the bus and made it back to Iwatobi High just in time. When they arrived, they were told to go backstage, their presentation two presentations away from then, almost one away die to the one currently going having almost finished.

By the time they reached backstage, they were next - the film society was currently presenting.

"The Iwatobi High School Film Society presents is masterwork!" the spokesperson was saying. Haru gazed out from their position in the wings to watch on. "Ten years in the making, a creature approaches, like none you have ever seen!"

"Amazing!"

Gou huffed. "You're too easily impressed, Haruka-senpai!" she muttered, attempting to pull him back from the film's society's brief video playing on the screen.

Hana looked back and rolled her eyes a little. Oh gosh, Gou, you're not going to get anywhere by going about things that way.

With a sigh, Hana walked up and joined Gou, attempting to drag him crack to the main group, "Haru, come on."

Pause.

"Haru, are you even listening to us?"

Haru didn't even turn around.

Hana sighed. "Gosh, I give up."

She was saved from restorting to drastic measures when the film concluded. "We look forward to welcoming new members!" the members on stage said, as the audience applauded. 

The PA crackled to life. "Next, the swim club will introduce itself."

It's show time.

Hana breathed in deeply. She wasn't used to standing before crowds. The thought of standing on that stage made small, faint butterflies appear in her stomach.

Remember. What you're doing is hardly worse than what Gou is about to put the boys through. If they can do that, then you can stand on that stage!

With that thought to encourage her, Hana looked back at Nagisa and Rei and sent one more encouraging, apologetic smile before she followed Gou out to stand at the podium set up for speakers.

The lights on the stage provided a clear path for them to walk, and it also illuminated the large number of first-years in the crowd. Hana breathed in. Just remember, be calm. Public speaking isn't hard.

When they came to a standstill, a spotlight turned on and focused on them. Hana blinked in response to the sudden bright light, but soon recomposed herself.

Gou was the one to get them going.

"Our swim club began last spring, when we repaired the pool and started the club ourselves," Gou started, with a smile. "I'm the swim club's manager, Matuoka."

"And I'm joint manager and freestyle swimmer, Etsumi Hana."

Gou grinned and retook control of the microphone. "And this is... our treasurer!"

Hana sneaked a small peek back at Nagisa as he cartwheeled on to the stage. She could already feel the laughter building up inside of her, remembering what Gou had told them to do and say.

When Nagisa came to a stop and threw off his jacket which left him in just his swimsuit, much to the shock of their audience, Hana had to turn around before she snorted and started laughing on stage.

"Hello! I'm second year, Hazuki Nagisa! My speciality is the breastroke! My charm point is my calf muscles, for sure!"

The charm points. Hana presed her lips tightly together as she felt her shoulders begin to shake slightly from silent laughter. She wondered how embarrassed Nagisa might be feeling at the moment.

"Our vice captain!"

Hana didn't even look back for the briefest second when Haru came on to the stage. She knew she'd probably just lose it if she did.

"Third year, Nanase Haruka. My speciality is freestyle. My charm point is... my triceps."

"Our secretary!"

Hana bit down hard on her lip as she envisioned Rei jumping on to the stage. Her eyes were tearing from the effort it took not to laugh. 

By now, the audience had gotten over the shock of the members taking off their shirts, and now were looking up as though unimpressed, or as though this was what they were now expecting.

"Second year, Ryugazaki Rei! My speciality is the butterfly stroke! My charm points are my deltoids and biceps!"

"And finally, our captain!"

Hana knew Makoto was the most embarrassed and put off by Gou's idea, and she could hear it in his voice when he spoke.

"Third year, Tachibana Makoto! My speciality is backstroke! My charm point are my back muscles!"

Hana didn't know how she was controlling herself. She felt her shoulders begin to shake. Envisioning what her friends were going through and taking in the reactions of their audience was getting to her.

"We look forward to welcoming new members with fabulous muscles!" Gou called, once all the members of the swim club had introduced themselves.

As soon as the presentation ended, Hana exited the stage as properly as possible, and as soon as she was hidden by the wings of the stage sh ran.

And then, when she was out of sight of her friends, she started to laugh.

*          *         *

After Hana recovered from her fit of laughter, their first day back at school began once again. Hana was happy to find she was once again in a class with Haru and Makoto. When they chose seats in the class, Hana snatched the desk in front of Haru's, and next to the window. She looked back and smiled to find Makoto had managed to get a seat nearby as well. Lessons were fairly alright, though Hana wished it could be one long lliterature lesson.

When the school day came to a close - when Hana spent the time wondering how the boys were surviving the aftermath of the opening ceremony and teasing them mercilessly about it - she didn't head down to the pool like she normally would, in order to greet possible new members.

Instead, she turned in the opposite direction to the way she'd normally take, and walked further into the school building. A single sheet of paper was clutched in her grasp, the edges of the white sheet crinkling where she held it too tightly. She scanned the classroom numbers as she passed, and finally came to a stop outside of the one she wanted.

The classroom where the writing club was held.

Hana breathed in and placed her hand on the doorknob, turning if slowly. She'd heard the writing club wasn't that large, but rather was a fairly small club - only a little bigger than their swim club consisting of six. She could guess this from the noise coming from the room. It wasn't too loud, but rather a content level.

She opened the door.

As soon as she stepped inside, Hana bit her lip, her eyes flicking around the small classroom with a hint of nerves. Sure, it wasn't too big, sized with only eleven members.

However, she didn't know any of them.

"Hi, are you here to join the writing club?"

Hana was caught off guard for a second, but soon recovered herself. She looked up and found a third-year boy in front of her. As was standard, he was taller than her, with tossled dark brown hair and eyes of only a slightly darker colour.

Hana nodded at him. "Oh, yes, I am." She handed her club application form out to him. Though flustered, she was relieved to have been approached by him. She surely would have handed her form to the complete wrong person otherwise.

The boy's eyes raked over her form. His eyes widened a little, and he looked back up at her over from the form. "Etsumi Hana, is it?"

"Yeah, it is."

He outstretched his hand, a large smile on his face. His friendly vibe caught Hana, and she couldn't help but relax as she outstretched her own hand. She clasped it within his and they shook hands.

"It's nice to meet you," he said, sounding and looking very genuine. "I'm Fugimura Hikaru, captain of the writing club. Our advisor said you might be joining us."

Hana's mind flashed back to their literature teacher, who last year was the one to recommend the club to her. "Oh, right. Yeah, he recommended this club to me."

Hikaru nodded, and then his smile turned wry. "I recognise you. Weren't you a member of the swim club, that presented itself today? You went before us."

"Oh, gosh." Hana flushed beet red as he brought this up. Shoot... he must think I'm as hopeless around muscles, like Gou!

Though she couldn't deny that they did look good...

Gosh, Hana, what are you thinking? Stop it!

"Yeah... the stripping was not my idea," she said, trying not to sound like she was defending herself. It was a little hard, with a number of eyes flicking over to her as Hikaru brought this up. "It was my friend's, who was the other manager. She sort of has an obsession with muscles."

"I see." He chuckled lightly. "Well, Hana-san, we'll be pleased to add you to our club. But, may I ask one thing?"

"What is it?"

Hikaru's expression changed, going from bright and welcoming to concerned. The corners of his lips, once pulled up into a warm, welcoming smile, were now tugged down into a frown. "How will you balance both this club and the swim?" he asked, sounding concerned. "You stated that you were a swimmer. Won't that take up a lot of your time?"

Not this topic again. She'd had enough with her mother. But Hikaru just seemed to be looking out for her rather than trying to force an idea on her, so Hana felt a little more at ease compared to when she was discussing this around her mother.

"Oh, yeah. Well, I'll be a part of both clubs, but it'll attend the swim club more due to upcoming tournaments. However, I'll receive any tasks here, and I'll complete them at home to hand in as soon as possible."

Hikaru raised his eyebrows a little. It didn't seem as though he was expecting that as an answer. "I like your attitude, Etsumi," he said, impressed, but concern still lingering in his voice. "But... will you be able to keep up with schoolwork?"

Hana smiled brightly. "No problem with that. I'll manage, come up with a study timetable or something."

But that bright smile was a lie. Truthfully, Hana felt nervous about taking up two clubs, especially considering this was her third and final year. She could see a lot of late nights ahead of her as she balanced the swim club, the writing club, as well as all of her homework and exam revision.

It definitely was a huge ask, and a huge workload.

"I hope you can manage."

"I will." Hana looked down at the watch on her hand and gasped. "Ah, I'm sorry, but I need to check if we receive any new members at the swim club!" she exclaimed, looking up at Hikaru and hoping he wouldn't be annoyed with her.

But instead, he was smiling. "Understood. We aren't doing anything today anyway, just meeting our new members and telling them how to club exactly works. Will we see you tomorrow?"

Hana gave him a thumbs-up. "I'll manage for sure!"

She quickly stopped by the bathroom to pull on her swim club jacket and tracksuit pants. Even if they couldn't swim, they still needed to look the part for any new members.

Once changed, Hana swung her bag over one shoulder and made a bolt through the corridors. She couldn't help but feel excited about the prospect of meeting new members.

That was, until she arrived at the change rooms.

"What? No new members?" Hana stared at her friends, shocked and disappointed. Her excitement wore off and she slowly deflated.

To think they put themselves through such an embarrassing situation only to result with nothing.

Makoto sighed. "Unfortunately."

"Damn." Hana knew they still had a while for first-years to choose their club, a fair few appeared to clubs they were interested in on the first day.

It was then that she noticed where her friends were standing. They weren't by the pool like she could have expected, but by the club and change rooms. "Wait, where are you guys going?" she asked.

"We're going to ask if we can open the pool early, to attract possible new members."

"I see." The others started walking off. "Hey,wait up, I'm coming too!" Hana called, running up to them. She smiled and fell into step beside Haru.

The group of them walked at a surprisingly brisk paced as they manoeuvred through the corridors of the school to the one place they wanted to go - the teacher's office, where they'd find Miss Amakata, their club advisor.

It didn't take long to find her.

"You want to open the pool?" Miss Amakata repeated, looking at the group before her with a blank expression as they explained their idea.

"That's right! Just a little early this year!" Nagisa enthused.

"We really need it to attract new members!" Makoto added.

Her face flicked between all members of the swim club. "I understand that, but it's still too cold to swim, isn't it?"

A small shiver passed down Hana's spine. She knew it would be too cold. Their pool had no heating or covering, leaving it to the mercy of the elements. Stepping in it now, in this type of weather, would be like stepping into a bucket of ice.

But if it could possibly mean that they'd get some new club members, Hana would willingly dive into the freezing cold. Nagisa and Rei needed those new members.

Obviously, the others were thinking similarly.

"I can swim," Haru said. Then again, this is Haru. He'll swim whether there is enough water.

"I'll just think of it as winter swimming!" Rei proclaimed, looking the most serious and determined out of the six of them.

"Please help us!" They all bowed.

"Huh? Er... in that case..." Caught off guard, Miss Amakata mulled the thought over. Then, without warning, she gasped. Hana's head snapped up instantly. "How about Coach Sasabe's swimming club?" their advisor exclaimed. "If I recall, it's opening soon, isn't it?"

Hana's eyes instantly widened and she sucked in a breath.

"That would be great, Amakata-sensei... but we still need to show potential members the pool they'll be swimming in, and watch us swim," Makoto explained.

Miss Amakata looked between the six of them, seeing how deadly serious they all were. After a pause she sighed, accepting defeat.

"I understand. I'll see what I can do."