Akira didn't pay much attention to Horikita, who was deliberately keeping her distance from him.
His words just now had clearly touched a nerve.
That's how it is with brother complexes.
Also, the weather was really hot.
The sun baked the tiles at the edge of the pool, and even his butt could feel the scorching heat.
Akira raised a hand to wipe away the constantly seeping sweat from his forehead.
'This heat... I need to find a cool place.'
His gaze involuntarily fell upon the shimmering swimming pool.
Thanks to the school's temperature control system, the pool water always maintained a pleasant temperature, never getting too hot from the sun nor too cold in the shade.
A few impatient classmates had already jumped into the water, their joyful splashing echoing across the surface.
With the sports teacher yet to appear, most classmates were still gathered in small groups by the poolside, chatting.
"Let's jump in and cool off."
Akira scanned the area, his gaze settling on the third unused swimming lane.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the pool, Kushida deliberately left the group and walked slowly toward Horikita, who stood alone.
"Horikita-san, where did Shimizu-kun go?"
"Is there something wrong with your eyes? Can't you even tell males from females?"
"Hehe, it's because you two are always together~" Kushida's smile didn't falter. "By the way, Horikita-san, how good are you at swimming?"
"...I can manage." Horikita replied curtly, her tone distant.
"My swimming grades in middle school were always bad, but after hard training, I finally improved." Kushida said softly, her gaze thoughtfully directed at the pool.
"If you want compliments, go find someone else." Horikita responded coldly.
Kushida smiled slightly. "You misunderstood, I didn't mean that. Oh, last week when I asked Shimizu-kun if he could swim, he said he hadn't practiced much. But look now—" She pointed at the pool. "He finished the whole length in just over twenty seconds."
At this moment, a commotion arose in the male area.
Sudo and Koenji had already eagerly cleared out classmates from a corner of the pool, each occupying a lane, unconsciously beginning a competition with Akira.
Among the onlookers, some whistled, others clapped and cheered, and the originally quiet swimming lesson instantly turned into a small arena.
Several boys shoved each other, seemingly eager to join the impromptu race.
After a lively discussion, everyone's gaze finally settled on Hirata and Ayanokoji.
"It's decided, you two!" A boy declared.
"Yeah, judging by their build, Hirata-kun and Ayanokoji-kun are the most suitable." The girls whispered among themselves.
Hirata showed a gentle smile. "Since everyone says so..."
Ayanokoji, on the other hand, remained as expressionless as ever, merely nodding slightly in agreement.
"See, other competitive boys can't hold back." Kushida observed. "Shimizu-kun's physical talent is truly amazing. It's enviable. He must be the kind of genius who would win first place in any sports competition he enters."
Because of her experiences in middle school, she had long understood that her greatest advantages were not a strong physique or exceptional intelligence.
So when she saw those exceptionally talented classmates, a feeling of envy and jealousy would still unconsciously surge within her.
"What were you doing at five-thirty every morning? Do you usually exercise?" Horikita suddenly asked.
"At that time..." Kushida blinked slightly, a confused smile on her face. "I should still be sleeping. But on holidays~ I make sure to run five kilometers."
Horikita's gaze went past her, landing on the agile figure in the pool. "That person has been getting up at five-thirty every day to train since the second day of school, and appears on the track at seven sharp to run laps. He said he's been doing it for eight years."
"How many days have you kept it up? It's just..." Horikita suddenly turned to Kushida, her eyes as sharp as ice blades. "Occasionally going for a run? What right do you have to casually comment on others' talent? At your current level, you don't even meet the threshold to discuss physical talent."
Kushida's sweet smile instantly froze, her voice trembling unnaturally. "This..."
"I-I'm sorry!" She hurriedly lowered her head. "I... I just said it casually. I absolutely didn't mean to belittle Shimizu-kun's efforts!"
Horikita didn't even bother to lift her eyelids, merely stepping back half a pace, building an invisible wall with her silence.
"Horikita-san..." Kushida forced a smile, her voice like a taut string. "Could you tell me... why you've always been unwilling to accept my friendship?"
The air solidified for a few seconds.
"...I understand." Kushida's smile completely froze on her face, a hint of darkness flashing in her eyes. "Even an explanation is deemed unnecessary. Then I won't make a fool of myself. I'm sorry for bothering you, Horikita-san. I will formally apologize to Shimizu-kun later."
'This arrogant bitch! How many times have I condescended to talk to her?'
'Die, die, die! Why doesn't Horikita just get struck by lightning and die!'
'I just accidentally let slip a bit of my true feelings, and this bitch seizes the opportunity to humiliate me!'
'Ever since middle school, I've lost in sports to those athletic girls. Why should I waste time on my weaknesses? Is her brain filled with cement! Luckily, I wasn't in the same class as her in middle school... otherwise, it would have been a nightmare.'
'Wait... could this woman be secretly in love with Shimizu-kun? She's defending him so much. She even remembers his morning run time perfectly!'
'Disgusting stalker! Who would like a stalker like you!'
She maintained her impeccable smile as she turned, her gaze once again fixed on the figure cutting through the waves in the pool.
'And this Shimizu-kun... he must have been faking it during the last selection, right? He actually chose Koenji-kun!'
'These muscles, he says he trained them? Eight years? Who's he fooling!'
'However... seeing him give up his seat to that old lady, he does seem genuinely naive.'
'This kind of simple good person... is the easiest to manipulate.'
'Now that the Horikita line is cut off, I can only get information about "that matter" from her through him...'
'And that Hirata-kun! So popular in class! This class only needs one core person—me!'
'Ahhh... I'm so annoyed! Why does nothing go my way!'
'Tonight, I'll have to "de-stress" properly.'
At this moment, Kushida's fingertips gently rested on her chin, and the gloom in her eyes instantly vanished without a trace.
She suddenly broke into a bright, spring-like smile, cupping her hands around her mouth and shouting toward the pool. "Shimizu-kun—you can do it!"