"Good morning, Kanzaki."
"Good morning, Miyano. How unusual—you're actually saying hello to me."
"It's only the second day of classes. Is it really that unusual?"
"I didn't think you were the type to greet people, Miyano."
"Well, actually, someone confessed to me yesterday, so I'm in a good mood today."
"You and your childhood friend confessed to each other?"
Kanzaki Ryuji's eyes widened. He'd thought they would keep dancing around each other for another year or so. How had they suddenly gotten together?
"Actually, she confessed to me."
Miyano Makoto corrected him. He had clearly said that someone had confessed to him, and there was a world of difference between the two.
"...I don't think there's much difference."
Kanzaki Ryuji concluded,
"Class is about to start. You should get back to your seat."
"Do we have swimming class today?"
Back at his seat, Miyano Makoto asked Kanzaki Ryuji.
"What, are you looking forward to it?"
Kanzaki Ryuji glanced sideways at Miyano Makoto, certain that he'd seen through the other boy's true nature.
"Of course not. I only have eyes for Honami."
"Then why ask?"
"Am I not allowed to ask?"
"...You've got me there. I apologize. I was wrong."
"Admitting your mistakes is the first step toward improvement. I forgive you."
"Thank you for forgiving me."
For some reason, Kanzaki Ryuji found it exhausting to talk to Miyano Makoto. Was this what being lovesick was like?
"Swimming class is second period."
"Is that so? Then I'll have to put on a good show."
"Then why did you say that just now? You're clearly looking forward to it."
Kanzaki Ryuji couldn't help teasing him. What a man—he said one thing and meant another.
"I get a little excited just thinking about showing off in front of the class."
"Maybe I'll finally get to experience the life of a popular guy!"
"..."
"I think you're already living the life of a popular guy."
Kanzaki Ryuji wanted to get that fact across to Miyano Makoto.
"Am I?"
Miyano Makoto scratched his head and said no more, as the teacher for first period had arrived.
When first period ended, the swimming class Miyano Makoto had been looking forward to finally began.
"Let's hurry!"
Miyano Makoto said impatiently.
"Can you go back to how you were yesterday? I'm not quite used to you like this."
"Is that so? All right, then."
Miyano Makoto calmed down,
"Is this better?"
"Exactly! Let's go."
Kanzaki Ryuji nodded in satisfaction.
Miyano Makoto successfully blended in with the boys.
"Which girl in our class do you think has the best figure?"
"Amikura Mako."
"Shiranami Chihiro."
"Kobashi Yume."
Everyone had a different answer.
Miyano Makoto couldn't join in on this sort of conversation because he couldn't match the names to the faces.
"I'm such a failure. Sigh..."
Miyano Makoto sighed softly.
"What's wrong?"
Kanzaki Ryuji was very concerned about Miyano Makoto's state of mind.
"I still can't even recognize everyone in our class."
"That's perfectly normal,"
Kanzaki Ryuji explained,
"As you said, it's only the second day of school. Anyone who knew the whole class already would be incredible."
"Thanks. I feel a lot better after hearing you say that."
"You're welcome. It's the least I could do. Of course, part of the reason is that you ran off on the day of the opening ceremony."
Kanzaki Ryuji accepted Miyano Makoto's thanks without hesitation, then pointed out where the other boy had gone wrong,
"I hope you'll impress me in swimming class."
"I will."
After quickly changing into his swim trunks in the locker room, Miyano Makoto followed behind Kanzaki Ryuji.
"Why are you following me?"
"Because I want to follow you."
"Don't tell me you're into guys? I heard people like that exist these days."
"That's not true. Don't make things up."
Miyano Makoto flatly denied the absurd idea. His sexual orientation was perfectly normal, and he reacted to girls the way a guy should.
The girls gradually came out of the locker room, too.
"Teacher, why aren't all four classes having swimming class together?"
Miyano Makoto raised his hand to ask, immediately drawing the attention of most of the students.
"Because there are too many people. Four classes make a total of 160 students. Even if plenty of them aren't participating, that's still too many for our little pool to handle."
"All right! Everyone, gather around!"
The "little pool" was an Olympic-size, 50-meter swimming pool.
After answering Miyano Makoto's somewhat silly question, the swimming teacher gave the class instructions.
"Good. Only seven people have chosen to sit out."
He nodded. "Now follow me and do some warm-up exercises. After that, get in the water and show me what you can do."
Miyano Makoto went along with everyone else, paddled through 50 meters, and called it a warm-up.
"Okay, now we'll have the boys and girls compete separately. I'll reward the fastest student with 5,000 personal points. The slowest student, on the other hand, will have to stay for remedial lessons!"
"How about it? Confident you can take first place?"
Kanzaki Ryuji had blind faith in Miyano Makoto.
"I'll win."
Miyano Makoto had already declared victory.
"Then I'm looking forward to going head-to-head with you."
Hearing that, Shibata Sou was eager to give it a try, too. Swimming wasn't his strong suit, but he was at least a little decent at it.
The competition began soon after. Because of the number of students, the boys were divided into four groups and the girls into three.
Miyano Makoto was in the first group of boys.
He dived into the water with a beautiful form and swam toward the other side with all his might.
"What?!"
"That guy's way too fast!"
"What a terrifying talent."
Kanzaki Ryuji stood on the poolside and marveled. He hadn't expected Miyano Makoto's true ability to be this frightening.
He must have already surpassed the level of an ordinary college student by a wide margin, right?
"Twenty-two seconds? And that's with my manual timing being a little off. Have you considered joining the swimming club?"
"Unfortunately, I've already joined the Student Council. If you can convince the president, I'll consider it."
"I see. I'll go talk to them. Please, do join our swimming club!"
"Okay."
Miyano Makoto nodded, which was as good as agreeing,
"as long as it doesn't interfere with my daily Student Council activities. I'll leave the rest to you, Teacher."
Though he hadn't exactly gone to many of those activities.
"Leave it to me!"
The swimming teacher thumped his sturdy chest. He was already imagining Miyano Makoto dominating the competition.
"Everyone else, keep going!"
Miyano Makoto won first place in the boys' group without a hint of suspense and received the 5,000 personal points as promised.
His personal points now stood at 5,205,000.
He'd ask Ichinose Honami for 200 personal points at lunchtime.
That would bring him to 5,205,200 personal points. It was a very satisfying number.
"Not bad!"
Shibata Sou slung an arm around Miyano Makoto's neck,
"I admit defeat. Fair and square."
"Thanks. You did pretty well, too."
That was a lie.
Miyano Makoto hadn't even noticed Shibata Sou's time.
"Don't tease me."
Shibata Sou smiled wryly,
"After seeing your time, I'm too embarrassed to show my face."
"But you don't have to compare yourself to me. If you're always measuring yourself against people who are better than you, won't you end up exhausted?"
"Good point."
Before you continue