Volume 1 - CH 8.1

Chapter 8 - Suffering (Part 1)

That day, I had been at school since early morning for the extra swimming class that had become my routine.

The material for this extra swimming class was quite simple.

The freshmen who had skipped too many swimming lessons gathered in the pool, then they had to swim properly under the supervision of the gym teacher.

If I have to atone for my sins in such a tedious way every day, it's better if I used to take swimming lessons seriously...

"Heh, heh, heh, Junya, how many times is that now?"

Shintarou, who was wearing a swim cap with his breath caught in his throat, talked to me at the corner of the pool.

Of course, I replied in a breathless voice as well.

"Haah, haah... .... It's already the... fifteenth... there's still... half to go... ".

The number of 25-meter swims you have to repeat depends on how many times you skip swimming class.

I have to repeat it 30 times a day, and Shintarou has to repeat it 35 times. Really, it's like hell.

There are 8 lanes in our school pool. Half of them are used by boys and half by girls.

I looked at the lane used by the girls. There were many girls crowded together, and there was Narushima Yoru, who seemed to be crawling around in confusion.

...No matter how many times you look at him, she's so lame. She couldn't even breathe under water. And finally, she kept sinking.

By the way, of the five of us, only three of us took the extra swimming class: myself, Shintarou, and Narushima-san.

The other two were sports maniacs, so they never missed swimming lessons. So they didn't take the extra class. Admittedly, actions have consequences, but I really envy them.

"Then...I'll start again. You too...should finish this soon..."

"Eh-eh, wait, Junya..."

I want to wait for him, but I want to end this torture soon and rest.

I left Shintarou and continued my thoughts, which were slightly better than Narushima-san's.

After I finished my laps for the day and rested by the pool, Shintarou approached me.

"Crazy... I can't do this every day for the next week..."

I totally agree with him. Until I feel like beating myself up for having fun while skipping class.

"Good job, you two..."

Narushima-san, who seemed to have finished her part today, came here.

She seemed very tired and her breathing was heavy. But because her extra large chest was printed on the school swimsuit she was wearing, it even sounded very erotic.

"Haah, haah, haah-this day...we're going home together, right? At the school gate later...wait for it..."

Narushima-san left the pool with staggering steps.

Then Shintarou, mesmerized by her backline, continued his sentence.

"Anyway, Naruhima-san is 'amazing' huh..."

"A-aahh..."

Of course, as him best friends, we could understand what she meant by "amazing" even if she didn't say it.

When we had an extra swimming class, we always met at the school gate after class and walked home together.

Even though it was summer vacation, the school made it a rule to wear uniforms when entering the school grounds, so we did.

"It seems like going to see fireflies on a day when we don't have extra classes is just right. I'm so tired already, I can't even pedal a bike."

"I told you that from the beginning. Junya's mind is just playing anyway."

"Ah... But it looks like it will be fun to see fireflies later..."

The decision was made to go on August 9.

It was a weekend, but the extra swimming class was already finished that day.

But the problem was that I didn't know if we could see fireflies that day or not. Because it's not strange if the fireflies are gone at this time of the year. I beg you, Lord. No, I'm begging you, O fireflies.

The three of us walked limply along the country road to the sound of tonggerets chirping under the scorching sun.

Finally, we approached the intersection cut by the railroad tracks, where we usually parted ways.

"Then, goodbye. And cheers for tomorrow's extra class."

"Etto... I hope we can survive for the next extra class..."

Narushima-san, who lives in the same apartment as me, replied as she turned around.

"Ah, wait Junya..."

Shintarou stopped me.

"Um, look, can I go to your place now?"

"Oh, that's fine. Come, come."

"Etto...are you going to do something? Or are you going to play?"

Narishima-san looked at me shyly with an expectant look.

Ah, I see. She wants me to invite her as well.

"Ah, if Narushima-san wants to come, too──"

"Wait, wait!"

Shintarou interrupted my invitation.

"Anu, how about we eat somewhere? I want to talk to Junya..."

What the hell are you doing? What do you want to talk about that Narushima-san can't hear?

"Oh, no problem. Are you going to the station?"

I don't know if she cares about me, but the look on her face from earlier has disappeared.

"Sorry. See you later, Narushima-san."

"Yes. You two too. Goodbye."

Narushima-san gave a small smile, then Shintarou and I walked towards the station.