Swimming Lesson

Inside the locker room, the clatter of metal locker doors opening and closing echoed incessantly.

Uesugi Hara had just stripped off his school uniform jacket when Hashimoto's boisterous voice rang out from behind him: "Uesugi, not bad! You've been hiding that physique pretty well."

When he turned around, he saw Hashimoto reaching out toward his arm, his fingertips nearly brushing against the defined muscle lines.

Uesugi Hara swatted his hand away without mercy. "Looking is fine, but why are you getting handsy?"

"Don't be such a stingy guy." Hashimoto rubbed the back of his hand, which had turned red from the slap, his eyes still scanning Uesugi Hara up and down. "You always look so sluggish, I never expected your lines to be this sharp—have you been training in secret?"

Uesugi Hara ignored him and proceeded to pull on his swim trunks. Laughter erupted from the other end of the locker room; clearly, someone had overheard the exchange.

He glanced at the still-muttering Hashimoto and simply turned his back to him. "Keep yapping and I'll spill the beans about you saying you like watching Kushida in a swimsuit."

Hashimoto's voice cut out instantly, like a cat being throttled, and he scrambled to cover Uesugi Hara's mouth. "Don't you dare go spreading rumors."

Uesugi Hara pulled his hand away. As he bent down to tie the drawstring of his trunks, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror—he certainly didn't look like his usual lazy self.

His shoulders and back were sharply defined, and the contours of his abs were faintly visible, the marks of someone who maintained a consistent exercise regimen. He hadn't paid much attention to it himself; after all, in this school, he wasn't the only one hiding his trump cards. And there was one right beside him.

"Speaking of which," Hashimoto said, seeing that he wasn't going to pursue the matter, leaning in and lowering his voice, "aren't you afraid of the Princess holding a grudge? The way she looked at you this morning was quite interesting."

"If she were that petty, would she still be the core of Class A?" Uesugi Hara slung a towel over his shoulder. "Besides, instead of worrying about that, you should worry about whether the girls will laugh at your doggy paddle."

"As if! I don't use the doggy paddle!" Hashimoto retorted.

The moment the words left his mouth, there was a commotion at the locker room entrance. Kamuro Masumi was passing by, and when she saw them, her footsteps faltered. Her ears turned red again, and she glared at them fiercely—clearly still feeling awkward about the morning's events.

Hashimoto immediately nudged Uesugi Hara with his elbow, gesturing toward Kamuro Masumi with his eyes. Uesugi Hara couldn't be bothered to deal with him and pulled his swim cap over his head. "Let's go, we'll be late if we keep dragging our feet."

Just as they reached the door, he heard Hashimoto strike up a conversation with Kamuro Masumi behind him: "Kamuro, do you think the girls will be staring at Uesugi's physique in the pool?"

Uesugi Hara's steps faltered. Without looking back, he raised his voice and said, "Hashimoto, about what you said earlier regarding Kushida, I think I heard someone from Class D outside the door."

A panicked shout from Hashimoto erupted behind him: "Don't spread rumors!"

Uesugi Hara curled the corner of his lips and stepped out of the locker room.

The afternoon sun made the tiles by the pool feel warm, and the sound of girls laughing could already be heard in the distance; it seemed the weather was perfect for a swimming lesson.

The water in the pool shimmered, warmed by the sun, and even his ankles felt comfortable the moment he stepped in.

This was the first swimming lesson, designated as free time, with a race to be held shortly after.

Many students from Class D had already arrived; several boys were lounging by the poolside, while the girls were gathered under parasols, adjusting their swimwear.

Sakayanagi Arisu had not skipped the class as she had claimed she would; she was currently sitting on a lounge chair by the pool.

She had changed into an outfit suited for the poolside atmosphere—a straw hat with a light brown ribbon that made her silver-white hair look even more translucent. She wore a simple white off-the-shoulder dress, the ruffled hem swaying in the breeze. She leaned back in the lounge chair under a parasol, holding a glass of sparkling water, her cane standing quietly beside her, the sunlight casting shimmering light across its surface.

She didn't pay attention to the horseplay in the pool like the other girls; instead, her fingertips occasionally traced the cool surface of the chair, her gaze drifting nonchalantly through the crowd.

Kamuro Masumi was already waiting quietly not far from her side, like a little maid awaiting orders, though her gaze drifted toward the pool from time to time.

As Uesugi Hara walked into the pool area, a sudden exclamation erupted from the crowd.

"Wow—that physique is absolutely insane!"

"My god, you couldn't tell at all under his uniform!"

Hearing the commotion, Beautiful Guy perked up. From outside the crowd, he stared at Uesugi Hara for a few seconds, then pulled out a small mirror to check himself, flashing his signature narcissistic smile. "Oh my, although that physique is indeed beautiful, compared to me, it's still lacking just a little bit—ah hahahaha!"

He waved his mirror, his laughter ringing out loudly, looking every bit like someone intoxicated by his own "beauty," causing those around him who had been focused on Uesugi Hara to burst into laughter at his bizarre behavior. The scene was lively and peculiar for a moment, and the sunlight by the pool seemed to become a bit more vibrant due to this chaotic and interesting atmosphere.

Uesugi Hara nodded at Airi on the edge, a gesture of greeting. The girl instantly turned as red as a strawberry under the sun, hurriedly waving her hand, her fingertips curling in discomfort. She looked like a startled little deer wanting to respond, the movement of her arms cautious, as if she were afraid that a larger motion would disrupt this shy interaction.

Uesugi Hara strolled over to Sakayanagi Arisu's side, swept a glance at Kamuro, and teased Sakayanagi: "Didn't Miss Arisu say she wasn't going to attend the swimming lesson due to health reasons?"

His gaze, falling on Kamuro nearby, was filled with sympathy for her "voluntary" presence.

Sakayanagi tapped the rim of her glass with her fingertip, a faint smile on her lips. "One must see this drama in person to truly do this pool justice."

Just as the two were chatting, the teacher began organizing the swimming race.

"Miss Arisu, please excuse me." Uesugi Hara said to Sakayanagi Arisu.

Sakayanagi Arisu lightly swirled the transparent glass of sparkling water, her smile hidden behind the rim, her tone clear and gentle: "Uesugi-kun, do perform well; don't let this race become too boring. Kamuro, you go play as well."

By the time Uesugi Hara and Kamuro Masumi arrived, the contestants for the race had already been decided.

Men's Group: Class A: Uesugi Hara, Hashimoto Masayoshi, Kito Hayato Class D: Koenji Rokusuke, Sudo Ken, Hirata Yosuke

Women's Group: Class A: Kamuro Masumi, Morikawa Aoi, Takahashi Yuna Class D: Kushida Kikyo, Horikita Suzune, Onodera Kayano

Seeing that the candidates were set, the teacher began to announce the rules: a fifty-meter freestyle, one round for each gender group, and the first person in each group to touch the wall would receive a reward of 5,000 points. Remember, no false starts, and no illegal strokes.

As soon as he finished speaking, Sudo clenched his fists and moved toward the edge of the pool, the muscles in his arms tensed. "Hirata, watch me leave those Class A guys in the dust later!" Hirata patted him on the shoulder, but his gaze landed on the Class A lineup—Uesugi Hara was bending his legs to adjust his goggles, his fingertips nonchalantly wiping water droplets from the lenses, his profile looking sharp and defined in the sunlight; Kito Hayato was warming up his wrists, his eyes locked on the Class D direction as if staring at prey; Hashimoto Masayoshi stood between the two, a frivolous smile on his face. "Then you guys better give it your all."

On the other side, Koenji Rokusuke paid no mind to his opponents. He adjusted his bangs in the mirror, his briefs gleaming under the sunlight as if he were preparing for a fashion show rather than a race. "It is merely fifty meters," he hummed, his fingertips brushing through his hair behind his ears. "For the beautiful me, it is no different from a stroll."

In the girls' section, Takahashi Yuna had already begun her warm-up. Her knees were locked straight as she stretched, her gaze sweeping over the three from Class D: "Morikawa, let's just maintain our rhythm later."

Morikawa Aoi nodded, her fingers nervously twisting the straps of her swimsuit. Her gaze, however, couldn't help but drift toward Kamuro Masumi, who stood to their side with her back perfectly straight. She was neither warming up nor speaking, simply staring quietly at the pool as if checking the water temperature or awaiting some silent command.

Kushida Kikyo stood on her tiptoes, reaching out to adjust Horikita Suzune's swim cap, her voice dripping with honey: "Horikita-san, don't rush later, keeping your breathing steady is what matters most." Horikita brushed her hand away: "I don't need you to tell me that, I know what to do." Her tone was sharp and distant, showing no regard for Kushida's feelings. It seemed the black-hearted angel couldn't thaw Horikita; that would still require Ayanokouji.

Onodera Kayano stood behind Kushida and Horikita, her short hair ruffled by the breeze near the pool. She tossed her towel over her shoulder with a carefree, spirited air, but her eyes lit up like she'd found treasure the moment she heard the mention of "five thousand points."

Kamuro's gaze swept lightly over the three from Class D before returning to the Class A side, meeting the eyes of Takahashi Yuna. The other girl gave an imperceptible nod, and Kamuro responded with a slight inclination of her head. Not a single word was exchanged, yet it was as if they had silently confirmed their rhythm.

As the starting gun for the boys' race neared, Uesugi Hara stood by the starting block. He glanced toward Koenji, his tone carrying a hint of casual provocation: "Koenji, are you really going to keep holding back? Don't go making excuses if you lose." Uesugi Hara wanted to see the gap between himself and an heir to such a top-tier conglomerate.

Upon hearing this, Koenji slowly smoothed back the hair on his forehead dampened by the water. A signature narcissistic curve graced his lips, and he radiated an aura of "I am the most beautiful in the world," laughing as he replied: "Ha! How could my perfect form ever let victory slip away? Wait and witness the beautiful me crush the field!" As he finished, the starting gun fired. Both dove into the pool, and amidst the splashing water, a battle of looks (crossed out) strength officially began.

The moment he entered the water, Uesugi Hara glided almost flush against the surface. His arm strokes were as precise as if measured, each pull carrying the force to cleave through the current, keeping his wake low and shattered.

Koenji maintained his usual elegance, his body stretching through the water like a swan. His strokes were flawlessly beautiful, yet he intentionally stayed half a beat ahead of Uesugi Hara, as if savoring the sensation of the water against his skin, occasionally tilting his head to adjust his bangs—even in the water, he never forgot to maintain that "beauty."

Beside them, Sudo was already red-eyed, flailing his arms with brute force and kicking up more spray than the other two combined, yet he stubbornly clung to their wake without being shaken off. Hirata Yosuke maintained a steady rhythm, while Kito Hayato and Hashimoto Masayoshi followed close behind.

The cheering by the poolside was enough to nearly overturn the parasols. Kushida Kikyo clenched her fists, leading the chant of "Go, Hirata-kun!" While Horikita Suzune remained silent, her fingertips seemed to dig into her palms. On the Class A side, Takahashi Yuna stared at the water, quietly noting Uesugi Hara's stroke frequency, clearly preparing for the girls' race. Airi was also silently cheering for Uesugi Hara in her heart.

The moment his fingertips touched the pool wall, Koenji even had the leisure to lift his chin slightly.

The timer's digits flickered in the sunlight for half a second. The referee stared at the screen, stunned, unable to believe the data before him. After a long pause, he announced aloud: "Class D, Koenji Rokusuke, 21.23, first place!" He then extended an invitation for Koenji to join the swimming club, though Koenji paid him no mind.

Water droplets slid from Koenji's shoulders. As he surfaced, not a single strand of his hair was out of place. He brushed the water from his forehead, his gaze locking precisely onto Uesugi Hara, who had just steadied himself. "Did you see?" His laughter mingled with the sound of the water, narcissistic and flamboyant. "I said it before: beauty never suffers defeat."

Uesugi Hara wiped the water from his face, looking at the other's "matter-of-fact" demeanor, and raised an eyebrow: "You were indeed fast." Neither had used their full strength, but it was clear there was still a gap.

"Naturally." Koenji swam toward the edge, his fingertips tapping the surface as if admiring his own reflection. "But you are somewhat interesting—at least worthy of being an opponent to the beautiful me. It is just that this hair's breadth of difference proves you still lack a bit of talent to reach 'perfection'."

He stepped onto the pool ladder, his briefs gleaming in the sun. As he passed Sudo, he didn't forget to shake his hair: "Sudo-kun, remember to learn some elegance next time. Brute force won't win you a race." The remark made Sudo howl in the water, nearly splashing Hirata.

Uesugi Hara watched Koenji's retreating back as he headed toward the rest area, his fingers tapping against the pool wall.

Under a distant parasol, Sakayanagi was wiping water droplets from her cane with a handkerchief. Seeing him look over, she suddenly formed the shape of "perfect" with her lips—clearly, she had seen the entire duel clearly.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth and turned to swim toward the shore, the ripples trailing behind him seemingly still carrying the echo of Koenji's "beauty is justice."

Relatively speaking, the girls' race was not as intense.

Onodera Kayano from Class D took first place, and Kamuro Masumi took third.

With that, the first swimming lesson concluded.

I didn't manage the pacing well, the ending is a bit rushed, and the plot might be a little stiff. This is my first time writing a book, I hope everyone understands. (＞﹏＜)