Clouded Distance

Chapter Five

Reopened 

"Though they hadn't yet gotten permission to refill the pool, if they wanted it to happen, it had to be cleaned. The following day, the pool had been emptied of water, and they got back to work cleaning and repainting.

"Coach Sasabe's new club would be great, but I think that we need to show potential members our pool first," Makoto voiced.

Rei nodded, "Indeed. Even if we don't have approval to fill it with water yet."

"Don't worry!" Gou chirped, appearing on the scene. She wasn't helping with the fixing of the pool, but stayed to offer support and agreed to go down to the store and get drinks should it be necessary. "I'm sure Amakata-sensei will take care of it!"

Miss Amakata going to talk the idea of filling the pool up with the school's supervisor, her argument being that the swim club needed to have a fully operational pool to attract possible new members. Hana hoped that it would end with a positive result for the swim club.

"I'm sure we'll get lots of new members," Nagisa said brightly, looking over at Haru. "Right, Haru-chan?"

Haru continued on with his job. "I just hope people who want to swim will join."

Nagisa moaned. "That again?"

Hana smiled. He's actually concerned about the swim club, isn't he? 

"But it's true," Rei voiced. "If we don't have more members by our third year, we won't officially be recognised as a club. Worse yet, we won't be able to compete in relays!"

Hana chuckled lightly. I didn't realise Rei loved relays that much. She'd always known it, but now she understood just how important the relay was to him. She didn't blame him. That was the only event he could compete in with all his friends.

Hana had only ever had one opportunity at a relay, and it looked as though that would be her last relay ever.

"We need to be more aware of the urgency!"

"We are," Hana reassured, looking over her shoulder from her position at her work, sending a reassuring smile his way. "We're still thinking of how to recruit new members, don't worry about that."

"Everyone!"

"Amakata-sensei?"

Hana's eyes widened as Gou squeaked out their teacher's name. She turned around and saw Miss Amakata approaching.

Could she have gotten permission from the school already? Could we be that lucky?

"I just got in contact with Coach Sasabe for you." Hana's spirits sank a little at first when Miss Amakata gasped that out, but her heart soon soared once more as she realised what this might mean for their club. "He says he wants you all to go over to the swim club. There's something he wants to talk to you about."

*          *          *

After receiving that news, they quickly finished up at the pool and headed on over to Sasabe's new swim club. Hana's mind whirred as she thought of what he might want to talk to them again.

That's actually a good question. What does he want to talk about? We haven't exactly seen him that much over the past few months - he's been busy rebuilding.

When they arrived at the swim club, where Hana was almost blinded by the amount of pink paint, Sasabe was waiting for them. They entered the club, and the first thing Hana noticed was the wall devoted to photos. She smiled as one photo in particular caught her attention - the photo of Haru, Rin, Makoto, Nagisa and Rei taken at the regional tournament the previous year.

As she was scanning the number of photos, Makoto was explaining their situation to Sasabe. Once he'd finished, the coach chuckled.

"What? You want new members? Just put up good results and they'll come to you!"

"That's easier said than done!" Rei said.

"So what was it you wanted to talk about, Coach Sasabe?" Makoto asked.

Sasabe grinned and he turned around yo see them. "I'm saying I'll help you put up some good results!" he replied, giving them a thumbs-up.

What does he mean by that? Hana shrugged to herself as the coach moved off, and they all followed. As they ventured deeper into the building, a though struck her. Did he really...

Sasabe opened a door, and they entered the room. The smell of chlorine instantly got to Hana and she gasped, along with the others as they stood facing the pool.

"The Iwatobi Swimming Club is back!" Nagisa exclaimed.

"You betcha!" Sasabe chortled." And it's called... Iwatobi SC Returns! I got the pool up and running so you can use it before we open."

Hana smiled. This is great. We'll actually be able to fit some swim practice in before the summer weather hits! She looked across at Haru, and laughed to find he looked even more excited than she was. It wasn't obvious to everyone, but Hana knew him well.

Well of course he's excited. I swear Haru was born in the water, or something like that.

"Goro-chan! Thank you so much!" Nagisa cried, and in his excitement, leapt at Sasabe like an excited child. Their coach tried to get him off but soon accepted defeat.

They had nothing else to say, other than, "Thank you very much!"

Sasabe laughed. "Use this to train hard and show us some good results during the public tournament next week! "

Oh. That's right. The public tournament. While it wasn't a strictly official tournament and open to all, they were all entering. It was a chance to get back into the swing of competition and actually swim.

For Hana, it would be her first exposure to a swim competition. She had watched on from the stands, but had never participated. This would be her first competition, and a chance to be exposed to the somewhat competitive atmosphere before the prefectural tournament arrived.

Despite the reassurances from all her friends that she'd do just fine, Hana was nervous. She guessed first competitions had that effect on you. Rei hardly slept before the prefecturals last year.

"And - hey!"

Sasabe's loud voice snapped Hana out of her thoughts, only for her mouth to drop as she noticed what exactly was going on. Haru had pulled off his uniform, leaving him in only his swimsuit.

"Haru, wait!" Makoto cried, but it was too late: Haru had made a dive into the water and started swimming.

Hana groaned and covered her face with her hand, small water droplets splashing on parts of her skin and on her uniform. "Someone remind me why I'm dating him again," she joked.

"Listen when someone's talking to you!" Sasabe yelled after Haru, but he was showing no signs of stopping any time soon. Haru was contentedly swimming at his own pace, just enjoying being surrounded by the water.

When he was like this, Hana knew it would be hard to persuade him out of the water. He was going to get out on his own accord - and that might take a while.

"I'll swim too! I'll swim too!" Nagisa cried.

"Don't strip right here!" Sasabe barked at once, saving Hana the effort of turning and reminding Nagisa there were two girls in the general area.

"Aww!" 

Hana smiled and returned her gaze to Haru. Her smile softened a litte as she watched him. 

There's something about the water... he looks his most calm and peaceful while he's swimming. Like that's where he truly belongs. Where he can swim freely without a care in the world.

I hope that never changes for him.

*           *          *

Since they were told they could swim at Sasabee's swim club, their group had been going there to practice for the upcoming public tournament, and also so that they could get that little bit more practice in before prefecturals. Hana had forgotten just how tiring practice could be - but she loved every minute of it. She loved training with her friends, and she loved pushing herself to that next level. 

Hana had also been to the writing club a few times. They hadn't been doing much: Hikaru just wanted to see where their new members were at the moment, so the older students could help out and offer advice. Though she'd been popping up every day and receiving a few tasks ad completing them all at home, Hana had hardly spent much time in the clubroom.

At least they all seemed to like her writing. That had to be a good step, for sure.

Then, the day of the public tournament rolled around. Hana was surprised - she'd managed to achieve a good night's sleep the previous night. She hadn't been as nervous as she thought she was going to be.

Hana met up with the others, and they all caught the bus to the venue, all of them distinguishable in their crisp white and pale blue Iwatobi jackets and bags.

As they approached the venue, Hana recognised a small group in a familiar black uniform, all of them grouped around an even more familiar figure with red hair.

Samezuka. And Rin!

She wasn't the only one to recognise them.

"Rin-chan!" Nagisa called upon recognising their friend, waving.

"Huh?" Rin looked up, and shook his head a little as he saw them upcoming. He turned back to his team. "In short, I want new members to get a better feel for competitions here. That'll be all."

The other members nodded and walked off. Hana grinned and skipped ahead, coming to a stop beside him. "Hey. Congratulations again."

Rin chuckled. "Hana, I'm going to be sick of that word soon, you've said it to me so much."

"What? You deserve it." Hana punched him lightly on the shoulder.

They talked for a moment longer before they went inside, calling goodbye to Rin as he followed his team into the venue. Hana wondered what it must be like being captain - from what she'd seen so far, it looked like Rin was doing a fairly good job.

"Rin-san was surprisingly captain-like, wasn't he?" Rei voiced.

"Give it your best or I'll beat the crap out of you!" Hana smiled at Nagisa's interpretation of Rin, hiding a laugh behind her hand. "I thought he'd say something like that."

"He wouldn't say something like that," Makoto disagreed with a small shake of his head.

"You kids are late!"

Oh, Sasabe? Hana turned around as Sasabe spoke. Her jaw promptly fell to the floor.

What... is he wearing?

Sasabe was wearing a swimsuit... and it was horrible. Gou and Miss Amakata form either side, were looking across at him with mixed expressions of horror and embarrassment. Hana was sure that same expression was on her face. Where did he find that anyway? It's just hideous!

"Huh? You're swimming too, Goro-chan?" Nagisa exclaimed. Hana looked down at the line of boys and found they all looked just as surprised

"You bet I am!" Sasabe said, shining no embarrassment in what he was wearing. "There are races for the general public, too."

Gou looked over the edge, to where people were warming up, both young and old, male and female. There were a number of families gathered here also. It was obvious this was a competition for everyone, not just school team swimmers.

"This feels so much more relaxed than the prefectural tournament!" Gou said. "It's a nice change, isn't but? Though it's a bit lacking in terms of muscles on display."

"I'm disappointed that there's no relay event," Rei muttered.

"Me too," Nagisa sighed. "But at least there'll be one at prefecturals!"

You lucky things, being able to swim another relay. The only relay Hana would ever swim in her life was over a long time ago. She just had her freestyle left, but she wasn't going to complain. She loved swimming freestyle.

Hana glanced down at her watch and bit her lip. "The women's freestyle is the first event. I guess that I had better go and get ready, huh?"

Gou checked her own watch. "Yes, I'd advise it."

Hana nodded. "Right then, I'm off." She turned and waved to her friends, who waved back, calling encouragement out to her as she left.

For a moment, her eyes locked with Haru's. They looked at each other, and then Haru nodded at her.

You can do it. I know you'll do fine, his eyes seemed to say.

Hana flashed a grateful smile his way, hoping he got the full impact of her message.

Then, she turned and walked off, toward her event.