kscans

Chapter 152 - Midsummer and Youth (Part 2)

By the time Cecily and Avea's showdown reached the buoy, Avea had closed the gap to just a head's length. Cecily, like Famu, switched to treading water for a moment and made a minimal turn. Avea forcibly swung around her turn from the outside, as if to engulf her.

By the end of the turn, the two were neck and neck.

""Cecily's won.""

Mizuki and I muttered at the same time.

Avea had bet everything on catching up by the buoy. She had tried to get ahead of Cecily and crush her morale. However, Cecily had swum the first half at a faster pace than she'd anticipated, and she continued to swim at the same pace on the return leg. The development was almost a carbon copy of the battle between Famu and Fang.

But that wasn't all. Cecily started to pick up her pace. It was her pride. Avea, out of stamina, was left behind, unable to even give chase.

At the starting position, the fourth swimmers, Beers and Reeni, were getting ready.

"Heh heh heh... The ones so far were merely pawns to make up the numbers. You shall tremble in fear at the great leap forward that is to come."

Beers was still playing some kind of role. He seemed quite taken with himself. I wanted to kick him, but I held back because if he complained about the women again, I wouldn't have a comeback.

"The fastest one..."

Mizuki said with a troubled look. It was his unexpected talent.

"Is he faster than you, Mizuki?"

"Do you really think I would lose to anyone here in swimming?"

What confidence. She had the dignity of a demon lord waiting behind her Four Heavenly Kings. Either way, the only way to win was for Reeni and me to protect the lead Famu and Cecily had built. It was a simple relay. There was no complex strategy to be made. As I was thinking that, I noticed Reeni was about to take off her floatie.

"Hey, what are you planning to do?"

She turned and looked at me. Her gaze was filled with strong determination.

"I saw those two swim. Reeni wants to swim with her own strength too."

Famu and Cecily's efforts seemed to have ignited something in her.

"I understand how you feel, but right now you don't have the technique or stamina to swim this course. It's not a bad thing. You just can't do it right now. Eventually, you'll be able to swim too, Reeni. You have your flutter kick. If you keep at it, you'll be able to swim faster than anyone."

"If I'm in trouble, I'll do the back float. ...No?"

She looked up at me. Her sincere gaze hadn't changed. I sighed.

"Alright. But absolutely do not push yourself to your limit, okay? If you're in trouble, wave your hand immediately."

She nodded with a 'kokuri' and took off her floatie.

Cecily, true to her declaration, returned, having greatly extended the lead Famu had gained on Fang.

"Reeni, it's up to you! Get it to Mash!"

"Mm. Reeni, will do my best!"

The two exchanged a high-five. A sharp 'pachin' sound echoed. Reeni started off. The spectators applauded Cecily's performance. She raised her hand bashfully, and cheers were added to the applause. She headed towards me.

"Hey, why isn't Reeni wearing her floatie?!"

Before I could praise her, she erased the smile she had for the crowd and started protesting. Please, I wish you would smile at me a little more.

"Because she wanted to."

"Do you even want to win?"

"I do. But it's meaningless unless it's the result of everyone giving their all. The five of us are one."

"Honestly... you always try to smooth things over by saying things like that."

Hearing my words, Cecily sighed and shifted her gaze to the swimming Reeni. Her pace was slow, but her flutter kick was as intense as ever. In the meantime, Avea finished.

"Damn, I fell for Cecily's cheap provocation and went out too fast..."

Beers exchanged a high-five with the dejected Avea.

"Leave the rest to me. This much is barely a handicap."

Leaving behind uncharacteristically reliable words, Beers started swimming. There was no power like Fang's or Avea's. But his stroke was smooth. His breathing was good. He was fast. Meanwhile, Reeni kept swinging her arms until she ran out of breath. Then, she would take a breath. The way she lifted her face wasn't quite enough.

She swallowed some water and started coughing while treading water. After catching her breath, she resumed the crawl.

"Reeni, don't panic!"

I shouted, and from among the spectators, voices followed, shouting, "Go, Reeni!"

As if responding to the cheers, her flutter kick grew stronger. The powerful kicking force unique to the rabbit-eared race. The flutter kick was her strong point. However, in that time, Beers closed the distance and easily overtook Reeni before reaching the buoy. He quickly turned around the buoy and headed for the goal at an increased pace.

Watching that, I headed to the starting point with Mizuki. The cheers calling Reeni's name continued to grow. Eventually, it became a 'Reeni' chant. She switched to treading water at the buoy, taking a break, breathing hard. As I watched her, Beers returned. He then exchanged a high-five with Mizuki.

"We've won!"

he declared, showing off a victory pose to the crowd. The crowd responded with a storm of boos.

"Wh... why..."

As Beers's shoulders slumped in disappointment, the 'Reeni' chant erupted again. She had resumed swimming after her rest. Shizuka came up close by.

"I'll go help if she's in trouble. But she will definitely reach the goal, so Mash, get ready to welcome her."

Her words were contradictory, but they were filled with concern and hope for Reeni. She had a maternal side to her, too. I found it endearing.

"You can decide on the rescue, Shizuka. But Reeni will get here on her own strength."

"Yeah, I know."

She patted my chest. In that time, Reeni swam towards the goal. Her pace had dropped considerably since she started. Her only weapon, the powerful flutter kick, was now only making modest splashes. But contrary to that, the cheers for Reeni were growing louder. They must be reaching her. Her bunny ears must be hearing the cheers. I glanced at Mizuki, who hadn't started even after high-fiving Beers.

"We've won,"

Mizuki repeated what Beers had said.

"You're right. A complete and utter defeat. Mizuki-sama."

"But I was wrong. I made them practice at my pace. I should have let them take proper breaks, and I should have taught them treading water properly..."

Mizuki had seen through the reason why Aira, Fang, and Avea had struggled.

"You weren't wrong. You're the one who won. So hurry up and start to end the match."

I wanted to grope the dawdling Mizuki's butt. This was just sour grapes.

"Mash..."

"What is it?"

"Today was a lot of fun. But, it made me remember..."

Swimming must have made her think about her club activities and school life in her original world. Contrary to her words, she didn't look happy at all. Her expression looked like she was about to cry. Had she become homesick? I wanted to comfort her, but I couldn't think of the right words. I didn't know about her life in her original world.

Reeni was about a third of the way there. She was resting again, treading water. She was taking deep breaths over and over. Her face was contorted in pain. She had decided to swim. I wanted her to get here on her own strength. I didn't want to lose because she retired. I wanted to exchange that final high-five with her. The cheers for her were getting stronger. Next to me, Shizuka was also shouting Reeni's name over and over. Reeni resumed swimming. Applause erupted from the spectators. Little by little, she was getting closer to the goal.

"Man, you even got Reeni to swim, not to mention Famu."

"I'm not amazing. Reeni worked hard. You're working hard too, Mizuki."

Mizuki hugged me. I could feel her warm body temperature. Come to think of it, the sun's heat had weakened, and the water temperature had dropped considerably. She pressed her lips against mine. And then quickly pulled away. Unlike her body temperature, her lips left a slightly cool, yet soft sensation on mine.

Mizuki started. Her straight limbs cut through the water. After a while, she surfaced and began to swim with a supple form. She was overwhelmingly faster and more beautiful than anyone else. I was captivated by the sight. Gasps of admiration rose from the spectators. Lost in that voice, I heard the sound of Reeni's flutter kick. Sensing the goal, she was squeezing out the last of her strength. And then, she reached out her hand with all her might. I grabbed that hand and pulled her up. Immediately, Shizuka embraced her. She took a deep breath, her shoulders shaking heavily.

"Reeni, you did great!"

"Hah, hah, hah... Mash..."

She gasped out words between heavy breaths. Famu, Myra, and Cecily gathered around her.

"Alright, everyone, let's give Mash a pep talk to send him off!"

"What are you planning to do?"

She smiled mischievously at my question.

"Mash, win!"

Cecily slapped my back hard with her open hand. A loud 'pachin' sound echoed.

"Master, this will hurt, but I'm sorry! Please win!"

Famu closed her eyes and slapped my back with her open hand just like Cecily.

"Mash, this is for fighting spirit!"

Myra followed suit. There were three spots of heat on my back, and in my hand, the warmth of Reeni's hand from when I grabbed it at the goal.

Shizuka grinned and got ready to slap me.

"Alright, then, as Reeni's representative, I'll put a big maple leaf on your cheek..."

"Hold on, you're not involved."

I hastily started off, as if to escape from her. Mizuki had already made the turn and was on her way back. She would never hold back. But Famu and the others told me to win. I would swim with all my might. Even if I already knew the outcome. I passed Mizuki as she swam towards the goal. She was like a dolphin. I put all my strength into my arms, trying to close the gap with Mizuki by even a single second.