In the locker room.
"Takahashi, I had no idea you were hiding those muscles. You're almost as ripped as me." Sudo flexed his muscles again as he spoke.
Ike curiously gave them a squeeze and said:
"I had no idea, Takahashi. You look so skinny, but you're surprisingly solid."
"Haha, it's nothing. I practiced karate for a while."
"Are you guys done changing? I can't wait to see the girls in our class wearing swimsuits."
However...
"Why? Why?!"
As Ike, Sudo, and Yamauchi knelt off to the side, clutching their heads and shouting in despair, Ayanokouji silently edged closer to Takahashi. The three of them were being so loud that some of the students sitting out heard them, and Hasebe, one of the class's cutest girls, even called them disgusting.
"Huh? What's wrong with you guys? You seem a little down."
When they saw who had spoken, the three of them immediately cheered up again. It was Kushida, dressed in a school swimsuit, and they all adored the lively, adorable girl.
Kushida's school swimsuit showed off her graceful curves, drawing the eyes of nearly every boy. Takahashi couldn't help sneaking a few extra glances at the more eye-catching spots.
What a great day. What a great day.
"Everyone, gather around."
A muscular man—the gym teacher—called the students together for class.
The muscular teacher looked over the students who had gathered, then at those sitting out, and said:
"There seem to be quite a few of you sitting out, but I'll let it slide this time. Now, follow me through some warm-up exercises, and then I'll see how well you can swim."
"Teacher, I can't swim."
One student raised a hand and spoke to the gym teacher.
"Haha, that's all right. As your gym teacher, it's my responsibility to teach you to swim before summer. Trust me, knowing how to swim will definitely come in handy later. Definitely."
After the warm-up exercises, the gym teacher told the students they could swim freely for a while, then announced that he would hold a fifty-meter swimming race.
"Ahem."
The gym teacher cleared his throat, then spoke in a loud, clear voice:
"I'll say it again: the boys and girls will race separately over fifty meters. I'll award five thousand points to the first-place finisher."
The girls' race would go first.
"Go, Little Kushida! Go, Little Kushida! Little Kushida, Little Kushida, Little Kushida! Go, go, go..."
Ike had clearly fallen head over heels for Kushida in her school swimsuit.
The girls' race ended quickly, with Onodera, a member of the swim club, taking first place.
Soon it was time for the boys' race.
One heat included Takahashi, Takagahara, Hirata, and Sudo.
With Hirata in the race, the girls cheered especially loudly.
When the race began, Takagahara surged into the lead and finished in an excellent time of just over twenty-three seconds. The students were amazed at how well he could swim. Takahashi also put up a time of twenty-four seconds, while Sudo finished in just over twenty-five and Hirata in just over twenty-seven.
None of the boys in the later heats beat their times, so Takagahara took first place among the boys. Takahashi glanced at Ayanokouji. The guy's swimming form was textbook, and he had a great physique too. Was he holding back?
As Takahashi wondered whether Ayanokouji had been holding back, Takagahara came over and said:
"Takahashi boy, you didn't give it your all. I'm disappointed."
"Haha, I already gave it my all."
Before you continue