High☆Speed! [Free! Starting Days] [Reader Insert]

Chapter 10 : Crumbling

The walk home was full of silence for Asahi as he lost in his own thoughts. The sound of cars' engines which sped on the road, his shoes tapping sound when it hits the pavement, the rustling of his uniform and bag – it all went through his ears like a breeze. All the red-head knew was how messed up his mind was, along with his head as he walked while holding his green bag – eyes fixated on the ground.

"Asahi!" and Nao's call wasn't something he expected.

He stopped on his tracks and looked back. Nao was jogging towards him with his school bag slung across his shoulder and his other hand holding a black bag.

"Nao-senpai." Asahi greeted.

"Hey." The soft lavender haired male greeted back. "What Natsuya said was harsh, wasn't it?"

"No, it was the truth." Asahi said as the two started to walk side by side. Nao smiled lightly at his underclassmen when he heard the words, whilst Asahi didn't look at him and his head hung low.

"Senpai..." Asahi croaked out. "It's just as Ikuya said. I just think about myself while swimming..."

"...I think." He added softly.

"I see." Nao said in a more serious expression.

"Actually, it's more like I can't think about the relay." Asahi admitted. "It scares me."

Asahi's voice isn't stable and he tightened his grip on his bag. Nao watched him in worry.

"What do you mean?" he asked and Asahi stopped on his tracks with Nao a few steps ahead of him.

"Senpai," Asahi had his shoulders shook. "If..."

Nao didn't say anything. He just waited patiently for the boy to utter out his mind, what's been nagging him. Nao didn't want to rush, he wanted to be there when Asahi needed someone to talk to. He waited.

"If..." Asahi lifted his head up to face Nao. "If I end up not being able to swim other strokes too, what will I do?"

Nao couldn't help but surprised at first, seeing Asahi all shook and scared. He lost his ability to swim free and he's scared that someday and somehow, he lost his ability to swim other strokes. The once confident and brave red head was looking at him straight with fright.

And all Nao could do was to stay silent and approached him, putting a hand behind Asahi's head and pushed him to rest it on his shoulder. A gesture of comfort and Asahi sobbed.

.

.

On the other hand, Haru and Makoto walked home together with heavy atmosphere hung on above them. They didn't spark any conversation, just uncomfortable silence as they passed the beach side.

Haru looked at the ground in somber. He managed to turn his head so he could look at Makoto but he immediately turned his head away again. Makoto, too, could only look at Haru in sadness and looked away after he rested his eyes on Haru's figure.

It wouldn't be this unpleasant if [Name] was with them. But unfortunately, she decided to stay in the swimming pool and let the two go home first and not wait for her.

"I want to do some more training," she said. "You two can go home first, it's okay."

"Makoto." Haru called out suddenly, catching the said boy off guard.

"Wh-What?" Makoto asked.

"Today, you were practicing too much, weren't you?" Haru confirmed.

"I wasn't really..." Makoto said as his voice faltered.