The bell rang dismissing us students. Informing them of the next item on the itinerary. Honestly this was a subject I was anticipating with a small amount of dread. I had noticed over the course of the last week. This class had an unnatural proportion of students which were particularly interested in physical activity. I couldn't act as I initially planned without inviting excess scrutiny.
On the other hand, I may actually get less attention if I achieve decent results. The difference between my physique and those of the other students might be overlooked simply due to their interests. As such maybe I'm worried about nothing. After all, there was something this class had that no other class did. We heralded the specimen of another race. We had the human wall known as Yamada Albert. Basically, anyone would seem small in comparison to that behemoth of a man, so I could effectively get by with little attention. He also clearly worked out as well, so not only his frame but also his actual definition should be impressive. The less eyes on me the better, that was the way I had seen it. It also meant the few glances I would steal of the girls would be less easily uncovered. Hey, I was a healthy young man. Of course, I take an interest in this sort of thing.
Attempting to justify the blatant perversion brought on by the influx of hormones responsible for most of the decisions teenagers make, I walked along to the changing rooms with the rest of the boys.
Entering the bland facilities revealed numerous lockers, all of which lacked the lock of the so-called locker rooms. It struck me as strange. It wasn't that the locks happened to be absent from the containers rather that they were purposely implemented like this. I didn't want to believe that my classmates were capable of heinous crimes such as thievery, considering the reputation of this school. But it also seemed like an oversight. Trust your classmates, I guess.
Unfortunately, with classmates like Ryuuen and Oda I was fairly put off of blindly trusting them. Who needs enemies when you have friends like these? The faint daydream or rather day-nightmare? Daymare? Was of Ryuuen taking my phone and wiring himself my entire monthly allowance… If it were possible he'd probably, do it, just to spite me. Fortunately, the school rules worked in my favour, any transactions could be traced so even he wouldn't try something like that. I didn't have to worry about my belongings. I wasn't a girl so the idea of my underwear or the like being taken as was the cliché wouldn't play out. I mean, unless someone in the room swung the other way?
Let's stop thinking about that…
I didn't have any items that others would covet, the positive of being minimalistic with little interest in material possessions. That wasn't for lack of trying, I decided I would buy one item every time I had an outing with friends, well in the event that it made sense anyway. So far, I had only purchased a single item… But it was better than that stagnant room all those years ago. Perhaps in the future I could have a small world bursting to the brim of my personal effects, tiny insignificant memories embedded in every one of them slowly making the whole that was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Wouldn't that be the day…
My mind was wandering to inane thoughts, before being removed from the comforting delusions and thrown back into reality.
"Ayanokouji-kun, you work out a lot?" Okabe asked, he was getting changed a locker to the right of my own. He wasn't particularly fat, thin or frail. Okabe was about what you might expect from the typical youth. He didn't focus on excessive physicality or health, but general habits allowed him to partake in these sports at his leisure.
"Somewhat often. Though I've been slacking recently." I had a brief reprieve from my usual routine whilst at the Ayanokouji manor. It wasn't to say that I never exercised, though the equipment at that place was a few grades below what I was used to. As a result I had sharply declined from optimal form.
"Really? Doesn't look like it to me." Whilst I appreciated the compliment, I didn't want to be the object of these sweaty boys' attention. Is this what the girls will feel like when we reached the pool? It certainly wasn't a feeling I was comfortable with.
"Jesus Christ. Just fuck already." Those crass words came from Oda, from the opposite side.
"Takumi…" A sigh escaped Tokitou's lips as he held a hand to his head.
"Although, you can wait until I leave. Don't really wanna watch that." He laughed a few times to himself. Was this the legendary locker room talk I had heard about? I was under the impression that women of interest were usually the subject of such conversations but far be it from me to change the subject.
"You say that, but it was your recommendation…" I responded to Oda.
"Huh!? No way! Okabe's the one making googly-eyes at you!" If you react so defensively then…
"Wow, what a clear underreaction. Yeah, this guy's definitely a straight shooter over here." Ryuuen piped up from the corner a distance from our group. A couple of the boys, Ishizaki's group included laughed at his provocation. He was paying attention even over there? I suppose he was always on the lookout to cause trouble, it's not like the large room helped to disguise our echoing voices.
"The hell you mean by that, huh?!"
"It really is sad sharing this changing room with a monkey. Can't even understand basic speech."
"Carry on and I'll rip that banana clean off." Stop, that can't regrow. That tree doesn't bear any more fruit.
"Keep your hands to yourself tiny, that's for mama monkey only."
"I swear, swim next to me and I'll make sure you drown." Death threats were always a good choice for making new friends.
"Why would I swim next to you? With your size the waves from my legs might as well be a tsunami warning."
"Wow, real original. I'm short, whoopity fucking do." Oda made a crass sound and pointed his middle finger at the offending student. Had he gotten over his height complex this soon? Just a few days ago he had nearly burst a blood vessel at my jibes. I could feel a tear coming on. They grow up so fast.
"I've got other jokes if you're bored of them. You're-"
"Alright, alright! Enough monkeying around you lot! It shouldn't take this long to get dressed. Good. Everything seems in order, proceed to the pool." The PE instructor burst into the locker room ordering the rest of us students towards the shared pool.
A lot of monkey jokes today. Was it emblematic of something greater, was it ape appreciation day and I just didn't know? Whatever was going on, I just hope I wouldn't be involved in the monkey business occurring. I would regret if such a thing were to happen, I Oran-guarantee it…
Hmph. See. Who needs Manabe and her hedonistic pleasures when I can experience the enjoyment of such fine-tuned comedy the likes of which will never be replicated in human history ever again. Make way comedians of the modern era, a new challenger ape-roaches…
"Ayanokouji-kun, what are you looking at?" Okabe, can't you see? My audience is awaiting another superb pun to entice them to read even further. Ah, but they don't know the golden rule of entertainment, subverting audience expectations. As such it means that I shouldn't tell another joke, to keep them on their toes… Ah, but they would know that I know that they know that I know… In which case I should make another pun when they least expect it… But they might expect even that… My brain hurts, this is even worse than chess. There's a reason computers calculate stringent movements and not art, it requires something more… Some sort of intangible essence of humanity I haven't quite grasped. By my macaque-ulations I should've achieved it by the end of the year…
I apologise, that was horrible. Comedy is hard… I give up.
Throwing aside the fantastical notion of an internal audience hanging on my every thought, I simply followed along to the facilities.
Whilst we were still awaiting the girls to change, our teacher a robust but well-adjusted middle-aged man gathered us up into a group. "The schedule will have everyone, even the most uncomfortable student, confident with swimming at least 50 metres by the end of our time together."
"Eh, who can't swim that far at least?" One of the boys said from the crowd.
"…I mean you know what they say?" I heard Ishizaki whisper to Kondou. What did they say?
"That's just a stereotype, and derogatory might I add." Kondou replied, was there something I was missing?
"Huh? I don't think Komiya knows how to… He's as dumb as a rock. He'll sink. What were you talking about?" Ishizaki said with a blank look on his face, peering suspiciously at Kondou.
"…Nothing." Whatever was running through Kondou's mind was never stated, though he did send a few apologetic glances over to the standing shadow, the towering figure of Yamada Albert. He was rather large, maybe he worried for his efficacy whilst swimming? The lanes weren't so thin that the juggernaut would have any such difficulty. Though I did worry if the doors in this establishment were made with Yamada's build in mind. Wait, is he wearing his shades even now? Surely that can't be regulation… I was half expecting him to pull out some shaded swimming goggles and act as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Forget that! The girls should be here soon." The boy that had swapped seats, the titular protagonist was speaking excitedly… I cannot remember his name despite hearing it in class so many times. It was as if his very existence bordered on inconsequential. Unfortunate.
"You looking forward to it neighbour? Or are you worried your precious Mio will be on show to the rest of us?" Ryuuen crept up behind me. Like a miniature devil on the shoulder. Unfortunately, no angel took residence on the other shoulder to balance out the ensemble.
"She isn't mine. Besides, it seems like she isn't joining us for classes." Ibuki had already taken a seat in the bleachers along with a few of the other girls. There were fewer up there than I had expected. Girls had an easier time getting out of these types of lessons than boys did. You know, women problems.
"Ah, there she is. Why not send a wave her way? No? I'll do it myself." After noticing my reluctance a grin formed on his face as he sent a few waves towards Ibuki, who was content with ignoring him. After a few moments he blew an exaggerated kiss towards her, getting the middle finger in response. I attempted to gaze at her but even from this distance she wouldn't look me in the eye. I scanned the rest of the seats.
I was not at all surprised to see a certain girl that was regarded rather highly in the class in the bleachers either. Isoyama Nagisa. Notably beautiful and talented, apparently, she had applied to the student council, though whether she had been accepted wasn't public knowledge. A strait-laced student placed with the rest of us miscreants made her stand out in comparison. Although that brought to mind another girl that didn't quite fit the mould of our class… Surprisingly, she wasn't present in any of the seats… I wouldn't have thought swimming held any interest with her. Imagining her in such clothing… Soothed the soul. It wasn't so much attractive or arousing but something that cleansed a person just by witnessing it.
The particular student I was thinking about was towed along with the other girls towards the pool. Thank you, Matsuo. Freedom truly is a wonderful thing, isn't it? A few rays of the sun's magnificent light entered through the window.
How can I say… Yeah, it was healing.
"Ishizaki." Komiya resolutely looked towards his two friends.
"Yeah?"
"I can die happy."
"I know! I know what you mean!" Ishizaki whispered loudly between the two friends.
The sight of Shiina Hiyori was akin to an oasis in a desert. Something that magical had to be an illusion the mind played on you, yet here it was right in front of you. Impossible to deny. What a wonderful day.
"This is how it's going to go down. We'll do 50 metre races for the boys and the girls, the fastest time for both will receive 10,000 points. The three worst times for the boys and girls will receive makeup lessons. After that you can have the rest of lesson to yourselves. Sound fair?" I wasn't sure if he wanted audience participation. Just before a student could agree or disagree, he laughed raucously and carried on. "Well it doesn't matter, that's what we're doing! You've got ten minutes, do some warmups. I'll be making the leaderboards for it." He wandered over to a standing whiteboard and started devising columns. 10,000 points, huh? Not even worth it.
In a rush the boys and girls respectively all ran to different lanes in groups, attempting to prepare. Trying everything they could to avoid the fate of being the unfortunate souls with makeup classes.
I wandered to the edge of the pool and begun to practice a few lengths, adjusting to the cool water. It's been a long time, suffice to say getting back into top form would take a few more lengths. Not that I intended to go that far. I reached the other end once more, a girl stood alone by the edge of the pool only a few feet from me.
"Ayanokouji-kun! Here, that was good swimming!" Manabe lowered herself offering a towel to me after running a length. Her friends didn't seem to be nearby…
"Thanks." I graciously grabbed the small towel after pulling myself out of the pool.
"Do you swim a lot?"
"When the chance presents itself, usually I just run instead." Swimming. Well, it entailed a pool at the very least to perform the desired action. I haven't swum for roughly a year now. I had already gotten used to it, but it was strange to think before that I was swimming nearly every other day.
"Wow. You must work out a ton." She approached a bit closer than before. The school's swimsuit left less to the imagination than the usual uniform I was used to seeing her in. The fabric hugged around her hips and the plump flesh of her thighs. Manabe didn't have particularly large breasts, but they were existent enough to make her femininity obvious. Her hand and its manicured nails reached forward to retrieve the small towel after I had dried my face. Her hand was slightly misplaced and touched my forearm, the fingers and the skin of her hand soft and smooth to the touch, untainted by the water and despite their dryness all the more nourishing than my own. That wasn't an accident, was it…
"Somewhat."
"What's wrong? You seem nervous."
"You're just a bit close."
"I see. I could always get closer, you know?" And in fact, she did.
"While I'm flattered, this isn't the time or place for this kind of thing." She was acting as if yesterday had never occurred.
"In a different time or place it would be alright, is that what you're saying?" One of her hands slid to her hip as she tilted her body to look up at me. She should know that isn't the case from the rooftop incident alone.
"That isn't quite right, either."
"Oh, I know what it is. So naughty, Ayanokouji-kun." I didn't like that fake knowing look on her face.
"I haven't even said anything." Yet.
"Your eyes say a lot. Are you wondering why I haven't taken a dip yet? You are, aren't you?" I can't say it never crossed my mind…
"…Well we've only got so long, and it is swimming class." Did she want to be one of the last students? Or was she just that confident in her swimming abilities?
"The answer is right… here!" She grabbed my arm and dove headfirst into me throwing both of us into the pool. It was the sort of flirtatious manoeuvre I could only expect from someone experienced with moving the hearts of boys. I didn't like how close she was getting, it's not good for my health. I wished she had just dragged me instead of diving into me like that. I could feel her soft body pressing against me clad in the school's one-piece swimsuit. Her soft hands pressing against my chest and body hugging into it. Though, if she had dragged me, I would land on her… That might hurt, or look worse depending on who sees…
Fweeet! A whistle sounded from the teacher along the other edge of the pool. He gestured for us to come out of the pool by the edge. Manabe just laughed to herself whilst grabbing the ladder. The swimsuit clung to her form as she stepped on each rung. With a hypnotic sway she escaped the confines of the pool. She gave a single look back as she reached the top, a sneer crossed her features. A smile that Ibuki or someone equally crass may have referred to as a 'shit-eating grin'. Did she know I was looking? Obviously. Scratch that, she wanted me to. Am I always so transparent?
"This isn't the place for your flirting. Don't play around at the pool edge. Seriously, what would you do if someone got hurt?" Why are you looking at me?
"Sorry! He didn't mean anything by it. Isn't that right, Kiyotaka-kun?" Suddenly, my first name? Manabe looked at me with a smug smile, her eyebrow raising up and down as if taunting me.
"…Apologies for the disruption, sir." I feel a great disturbance in the force…
"If you just wanted to play in the water with me, you should've asked. Silly, Kiyotaka-kun." She giggled and admonished me the same way a mother might admonish a child. The teasing and infantile manner with which she treated me was unbearable.
"I best not see any more fooling about. And keep some distance in the water, I'm watching you two…" I suppose on the outside it looked like two lovers playing around. Rather I just felt the strangling embrace of a viper that wouldn't let go of the food source it had been hunting. The teacher moved to one of the other corners to supervise.
"You had put off practicing that long just to push me in?" I had practiced enough, I'll just bide the rest of my time in peace until the races start.
"Push you in? What are you talking about? You were the one that pulled me in, everyone saw it. Besides, who else would I want to play with in the pool but you, Kiyotaka-kun?"
"And you're suddenly using my first name again…"
"I mean it just feels appropriate, doesn't it? You can call me Shiho as well! Go on give it a try!" She said with a happy-go-lucky smile on her face.
"No." Perhaps in the past I may have done such a thing. But I was aware of the meaning behind a male calling a female of the same age by their first name. That's right, I Ayanokouji Kiyotaka have evolved from my unknowledgeable self!
Thanks, to the internet.
"I could call you something more embarrassing you know? Like Ayanokouji Kiyobaka~kyun? Would you like me to refer to you from now on as Kiyobaka~kyun?" Manabe whispered delicately into my ear. What a frightening idea. This was an even greater threat than going back to my father. I was having trouble deciding which was worse between this and Oda's loving nickname he had thought up for me; 'Ball-boy'. On one hand I didn't like the idea of testicles being the defining feature of my name, on the other hand being called such a flowery name in public might as well be my death as a man.
"…Shiho." I relented. Like a coward.
"With more love! Say Shiho-Chan."
"Shiho. Take it or leave it." This was my paltry resistance to Manabe's otherwise flawless plan. I didn't much like the moniker of masterpiece. It was tacky and I always thought; so what if I am? But I'd take that nickname any day over the names these people gave me. This wasn't character building, it was character assassination.
"Honorifics are where you draw the line. Noted." Surprisingly she didn't push the issue. Her general composure shifted on a dime. She seriously took details about me like this and within a moment would begin another childish bout of teasing.
What else did she have planned? I doubted this was the extent of it… Please. If there is a God, be good to me… Casting my prayers to the heavens. Manabe was teetering closer and closer towards me as we walked side by side.
She flared her arms slightly as we walked, her arm nudging mine more and more. A constant reminder of the person next to me. I was half-expecting her to either grasp my hand with those slender fingers or just sandwich my arm in between hers. Wearing a swimsuit, whilst wet… Stay focused, damnit! I was prepared to separate myself from her by a few feet, but as soon as I gave the impression I would move, she dialled back the amount of touching. If I jumped away from her it would just look weird, and she would follow me again straight after. How troublesome.
Stopping suddenly, Manabe looked behind to see what I was doing.
How about that? Can't assault me if there's some distance. Now I could see her entire body, since we weren't walking in line…
After getting wet the swimsuit stuck to the… ahem… assets more than prior. Water trickled from all over, whether it was her thighs, face or hands it just accentuated her look from before. The wetness of her hair was more alluring than the perfect image she tried to portray earlier. Rather than the dry cuteness of her untouched form, there was the alluring wetness of the swimsuit. A dichotomy of sex appeal. She did this on purpose… Or interacting with Komiya has had profound effects on my brain… I'm worried. I just noticed, but where the hell did that towel go?
Manabe twisted her head so as to peer at my face whilst her back was still facing me. She looked at me in the eye as a single hand reached towards the rear of her swimsuit and adjusted it slightly… The water no doubt made it stick to her figure. The swimsuits left little to the imagination already I didn't need such gestures shortening my lifespan. Raising my eyes again. Hers glinted with recognition as she noticed, I had seen. She had made me witness it.
"Hmm. Oh, admiring the view, are we? You can watch from there if you want." Great, now it looks like I'm purposely perving on her. I might've been… admiring her beauty. Yeah, let's call it that. But it wasn't purposeful, she was orchestrating it every step of the way. It's not a conspiracy, I swear! I'm being framed.
Before she could walk ahead, I stepped in time with her again. A heavy sigh drawling from my lips as I realise, I have been outmanoeuvred once again. This girl is too much at times. If I leave to go elsewhere, I'm almost sure she'll follow me and do the same again. For now it was better to follow her plan, wait for her to make an error somewhere along the way or for another person to present the opportunity and I could be done with her for good.
In contrast to my tired countenance, Manabe portrayed a sunny exterior. She seemed to be standing a few inches taller. Or was that just because I was slouching? I couldn't help it, I was feeling deflated and defeated.
"I was wondering, Kiyotaka-kun. Why don't we both purposely lose? I haven't practiced at all… And we could spend even longer together… Wouldn't that be nice?" The snake tempted me to eat the proverbial apple. To which my only thought was; that I'm not hungry for that kind of thing. Sweets had their place, and I was inevitably drawn to them like anyone else. But what I sought after wasn't sweet, it was bitter. A rotten, infested apple. The type which bad thoughts and parasites had already called their home. Grown in the soil of humanity not the garden of Eden. And all the same despite its rot and malice you choose to bite into it to sate your hunger.
The mental note I made bubbled up to the surface once more. The cerulean haired girl in the bleachers had relieved herself from the class. I wonder. Ibuki how long will it take you to be honest with yourself? Even if she had no intention of making a move, she wouldn't be given the opportunity to hang on the sidelines for much longer. Ibuki's role wasn't to be a passive observer. Manabe's plan would fail and Ibuki would have to finally make a choice… And with that my first step can be taken.
If there was one major discovery consolidated today. It would be that…
Girls are troublesome.
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Word count: 4291
I don't know what brought on the onslaught of monkey centred jokes. I think Ryuuen mentioned it once and I kind of ran with it from there. I apologise that you had to read all those puns…
Interestingly enough I actually googled it after saying it but there actually is a national monkey day. Weird. It's in December though, so completely unrelated to this chapter, just food for thought.
I debated adding the race, but to be quite honest the chapter was getting long, and it isn't entirely central to the story. So, I kinda skipped it… If you must ask; the monkey jokes were 100% necessary for the story. Really integral to the character building and not just me shitposting, promise.
Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter, let me know any of your thoughts in the comments below.
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