Mokoto was gasping for breath as he ran up the hill to the schoolyard. He ran through the courtyard, and then tripped. He gasped again as he felt his ankle pop. He limped over to the nearest bench, and looked at his ankle. It was a bruised purple color, and was swelling. Mokoto scowled at the thought of missing practice the next day, but he got up and into the swim club just in time to see Haru and Rin on the Starting block, for a race.

"Yo" Rin almost grunted, and he turned back to the water. He put on his goggles, and pulled back the strap so that it snapped to his head and made a cracking noise, like that of a whip.

Haru barely glanced at Mokoto, thinking only of the water. Mokoto smiled, and said, "you go ahead and race. I'll sit here." Haru made no noise, lost in the crystalline sheen of the water in the swimming pool. "One, two, GO!" Mokoto yelled, and the race was on! Rin's kick was stronger, so he hit the water first, but Haru was easily catching up, his free stroke stronger and faster than ever. "Woah," Mokoto thought to himself "Look at him go!"  but Haru's mind was elsewhere, and he was thinking of his family.