Swimming Lesson

Watanabe Hayabara sat quietly in a corner of the venue, as motionless as a statue. His eyes were slightly closed, as if he had entered a state of meditation. He observed the entire process in silence, the surrounding clamor and noise seemingly having nothing to do with him.

After a while...

"Hey, Watanabe-kun." A soft call broke Watanabe Hayabara's stillness. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon Shiina Hiyori, who was standing beside him.

Shiina Hiyori smiled and tapped Watanabe Hayabara's shoulder lightly, as if afraid to startle him.

Watanabe Hayabara slowly collected his thoughts, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint smile as he replied, "Shiina-san doesn't need my company now, does she? After all, the club recruitment booths are all set up inside the gymnasium."

Shiina Hiyori smiled, seemingly unbothered by Watanabe Hayabara's words; her smile was like the spring sunshine, warm and gentle.

"Actually, I don't intend to join any clubs," Shiina Hiyori said softly. "For me, it would be more beneficial to use the club activity time for reading books."

"Then I suppose Shiina-san must have other business with me." As Watanabe Hayabara spoke, he thoughtfully rubbed his chin, seemingly pondering something rapidly in his mind.

Seeing this, Shiina Hiyori's lips curved into a sly smile, and she said in a sweet voice, "Actually, there's nothing, really. I just saw Watanabe-kun and suddenly wanted to say hello."

However, just as Watanabe Hayabara let his guard down slightly, Shiina Hiyori changed her tone, suddenly becoming mischievous: "But now that you mention it, I do actually have a question I'd like to ask you, Watanabe-kun."

Watanabe Hayabara felt a tightening in his chest, unsure of what Shiina Hiyori was up to, but he replied politely, "Please, go ahead, Shiina-san."

Shiina Hiyori blinked her jewel-like eyes, the corners of her mouth lifting into a faint smile. Her voice was soft and melodious, like a spring breeze brushing against one's face, making it impossible not to feel a sense of pleasure.

"Watanabe-kun," she said, her tone carrying a hint of mystery, "do you have any interest in the Student Council?"

Upon hearing this, Watanabe Hayabara was stunned for a moment before revealing a slightly self-deprecating smile. He shook his head and said, "Shiina-san, please don't tease me. I imagine the Student Council is a place of intense competition; surely there are many people breaking their necks trying to get in. With my abilities, I'm afraid I wouldn't stand a chance."

Shiina Hiyori did not change her attitude because of Watanabe Hayabara's words. She continued to smile, encouraging him: "I think you have a very good chance, Watanabe-kun. Don't be so quick to dismiss yourself. Sometimes, if you just try, you might find unexpected rewards."

Having said that, Shiina Hiyori checked the time and said apologetically, "Oh my, I still have to go to the library; I can't stay in the gymnasium any longer. I'll be heading off now, Watanabe-kun. Let's chat again when there's an opportunity. Bye-bye!"

She waved her hand lightly and turned to leave, leaving behind an elegant silhouette.

[Looking forward to our next meeting]

[Are there swimming lessons in April?]

Inside the boys' locker room.

Most students were wrapped in bath towels, changing slowly and leisurely. Only Sudo was nonchalant, quickly stripping off his clothes, standing naked, and then rapidly pulling on his swimming trunks, revealing the muscles he had built through long-term basketball training.

After Sudo finished changing first, he was the first to exit the locker room.

Watanabe Hayabara just shook his head, looking at Ayanokoji, who was changing without any rush beside him, and laughed: "I didn't expect Ayanokoji-kun's muscles to be so refined. It seems Ayanokoji-kun exercises often."

"This is just a gift from my parents; I don't have the habit of exercising," Ayanokoji's words were hollow, devoid of any emotion.

The boys changed into their swimming trunks and walked out of the locker room one after another.

"Wow, the school's swimming pool is this good!"

"Yeah! The water quality is truly great!"

Some of the boys exclaimed.

Looking at the standard fifty-meter swimming pool before him, Watanabe Hayabara found it quite ordinary.

"What about the girls? Haven't the girls finished changing into their swimsuits yet?"

Ike Kanji hummed a tune through his nose while searching for the girls.

"Girls take longer to change, so they probably haven't come out yet."

"Hey, what would happen if I couldn't control myself and broke into the girls' locker room?"

"Besides being beaten up by the girls, you'd probably be expelled and handed over to the authorities for investigation."

"Don't give such a realistic retort."

Ike thought about it and shivered.

"If you're too obsessed with swimsuits, the girls will end up hating you."

"Is there any guy who isn't obsessed!" Ike Kanji retorted.

"Wow! It's so spacious! It's even bigger than the middle school pool!"

A few minutes after the boys, the voices of the girls reached their ears.

"It's... it's coming!" Ike Kanji looked extremely excited.

Watanabe Hayabara watched Ike Kanji's excitement, feeling speechless.

However, the other boys were just as expectant as Ike Kanji regarding the girls' appearance after changing.

"Hasebe isn't here! This... what is going on! Professor!"

The Professor, who was auditing the course, looked flustered. He was overlooking the entire scene from the second floor of the auditing building, and with his small eyes behind his glasses, he should have been able to instantly spot the prey that Ike and the others had missed from such a high vantage point.

However... he could not catch a glimpse of Hasebe anywhere.

The Professor swung his head left and right, as if unable to accept the facts. Was she still changing? Or perhaps...

"She's... behind you! Professor!"

"What!"

Ike pointed his finger and shouted. It turned out that Hasebe and Professor were both part of the observing group as well.

The girls from the observing group poured out one after another, appearing on the second floor. Among them was Sakura.

"Wh-why... what is going on here!"

Ike Kanji, unable to believe his eyes, clutched his head and broke down on the spot.

"Disgusting." The girls' voices of condemnation rang out.

"Ike, now is not the time to be sad. We still have plenty of girls here!"

"Y-you're right. That's true. I can't lose heart here."

"Brother!"

Haruki Yamauchi and Ike Kanji affirmed their brotherhood and shook hands.

[They have absolutely no self-awareness.]

A sense of disgust welled up from the bottom of Watanabe Hayabara's heart.

"What are you two doing? You look like you're having fun."

"K-Kushida!"

Kushida Kikyo approached Haruki Yamauchi and Ike Kanji with a look of genuine curiosity.

Kushida Kikyo was wearing a school swimsuit, its fresh and elegant color clinging perfectly to her body.

Her figure was already graceful, and now, outlined by the swimsuit, her alluring curves were clearly defined. From her slender yet toned waist, flowing smoothly down to her long, straight legs, every line looked as if it had been meticulously sculpted. Her shoulders were soft, and her slightly exposed collarbones were delicate and small, adding a touch of playfulness and vitality to her overall charm.

The boys' gazes were all drawn to her, but after a few seconds, they all lowered their heads. It was clear that having a physical reaction at a time like this would not only be embarrassing and cause a huge commotion, but they would also be despised by the girls.