[A/n: i will be putting "*" on uncommon/common swim terminology which will be at a key on the bottom of the chapter. Hope this helps non swimmers.]

C h a p t e r
T w o

✿ alot of ass ✿

Ezume gasped as she turned her head to the side before dunking it back in the water, pushing herself until she hit the wall, lungs burning. The sound of her coachs voice echoed in the aquatic center, "If i can say more than the fist syllable of your name, you're breathing too long! Speed it up!"

Ezume groaned. The sets today were so long, and endurance building. Her weight training the day before left her muscles achey and sore, making swimming exponentially harder. She watched the clock for the bottom*, before starting the next set, 4321. These always sucked ass. 400 choice, 300 kick, 200 pull, and 100 swim. Typically they only did it for warmup, but her coach decided to put it in between all the sets. She dunked below the water, pushing off the wall and kicking before starting her pull out stroke*. She was the first in her lane, swimming ahead, mentally racing with Roku and Yukia who were in the lanes beside her. Once she finished the set, the coach paired them all to do resistance. Ezume was paired with Kito, one of the boys on the team. They weren't exactly friends, but he was nice enough. He walkes up with the harness and elastic rope attached. He smiled gesturing for her to put it on, "What strokes are you doing?"

She buckled the strap around her waist, tightening it and handing him the elastic side, "fly and free."

He nodded, "Okay, you ready?"

Ezume pushed her goggles in, slipping into the pool and holding onto the edge as Kito walked across the platform that cut the pool in half. The elastic stretched the whole 25 yards, almost pulling her off the wall, and she dove. She flew across the water so fast she couldn't even take a breath. When she hit the wall, Kito grinned down at her, "Was that good?"

She nodded with a smile, clutching the wall again as he walked back to the other side. Ezume watched as he braced himself, before diving under and pushing off. She loved the feeling of cutting through the water, and it was over all too soon. She unclipped the strap, climbing out of the pool as she held it out for Kito to take. He clipped it on, adjusting his goggles, and slipped into the pool. Ezume took the long elastic, carefully walking over the platform,  nearly falling in when the resistamce became very strong, but she made it to the other side. Kito sunk below the water surface, and Ezume began to pull. Kito wasn't the best on their team, but he was fast, cutting through the water even with breast stroke. He got to the wall, a wide grin on his face, and Ezume went to the other side, repeating the process but with free. He climbed out, slipping his cap and goggles off, his black hair falling out of the cap. "Damn! That's always so fun!"

Ezume smiled too, agreeing. It was fun. Their coach signaled practice was over, so Ezume headed to the locker room, towel wrapped around her body. She took a quick shower to try and rid the chlorine scent, but it never fully went away; she swam too much. She pulled her tight suit off, pulling on under garments, a pair of shorts, and her sweater. Ezume towel dried her hair, and slipped it around her neck while she slung the bags over her shoulders. Exiting the loud locker room she was greeted by Yukia's shining smile. "Hello!"

Ezume grinned and hugged her friend, "Sup. How was practice?"

Yukia pouted, "i couldn't beat you!"

Ezume laughed, "As it should be."

Yukia lightly shoved her, pursing her lips, "are you going to your boyfriends practice?"

"He's not my boyfriend," Ezume stated, throwing her towel at her friend. Yukia caught it and grabbed both ends, rolling it up before snapping it at her. Ezume yelped and looked at her friends smug face, "He might as well be you stupid bitch. C'mon, you totally like him."

Ezume scoffed, "i mean he's cute, but i barely know him."

Roku strode up looping his arms over both the girls' shoulders, "You guys are soulmates though, it's practically meant to be."

Ezume rolled her eyes, but she brought her hands up and held his forearms. Roku had been one of her best friends since middle school, and she may be annoyed by him 80% of the time, but he loved her, as she did him. Truth be told, she was going to see Asahi, and today the coach would actually be there. She had met Shimizu before, and had talked to the girl that was in fact in her class. She offered to help in managerial work during practice even if she wasn't a manager because she was already on the swim team. So she sheepishly ducked under her friends arm and smiled, "i uh... i am actually helping the volleyball team so i... i gotta go."

Yukia and Roku looked at eachother before bursting out laughing. They were teasing her, and they knew she was going anyways, but it was too much fun to tease her.

✿ ✿ ✿

Shimizu grinned as the wet haired girl stepped in the gym. They were halfway through practice and Ezume walked in to some spiking drills. Noya was practicing recieving them when he saw the girl enter, "TAKE--"

Noyas body collided backwards and Asahi stared wide eyed at his friend, "oh my-- im so sorry i thought you were going to recieve that!"

Asahi ran under the net to his friend, helping him stand after Asahi's powerful strike hit him squre in the face. His cheek was red and slightly swollen already, and Ezume winced. She jogged over, holding our her iced water bottle, "Here, I'll go get you some ice, use this for now. Sorry for distracting you Noya."

Ezume ran out, travelling to the trainers room. There was an ice machine that athletes could come in and get for injuries. Ezume was a regular, "Oh, hey Ezume, you okay?"

Ezume smiled at one of the students that was training to be am athletic trainer, "Yeah, i accidentally caused an accident in the volleyball practice, just getting some ice for them."

The girl nodded and let Ezume get what she wanted. Ezume tied the bag and ran back to the gym. When she was back, they were still spiking, but now noya sat on the side, water bottle pressed against his face. She bent down, squatting in front of Noya to hand him the bag and take the botrle back. "I'm so sorry Noya."

He laughed, "It's okay! Its not your fault i was distracted by your beauty!"

Ezume snorted and lightly nuadged his shoulder with the now warmer water bottle, "You stupid flirt."

She stood, aproaching Shimizu who was collecting the balls that were no longer being recieved by Noya. Ezume tied up her wet hair, taking another hairtie to bun it and she began running around and picking up the balls. The boys of the Karasuno team were either respectful, or gay. So most averted their eyes when she bent down to pick up the volleyballs. Namely a few stared. Sugawara, was was incredibly jealous of her ass.

Daichi who was trying to find what Sugawara was looking at, and his bi ass got very confused for a little while.

Asahi who kept glancing at her then the wall and back to her, blushing furiously.

Hinata who was mentally comparing their asses. Was his ass bigger than hers?

Ukai was wondering what all the boys had stopped practing for, looked up from writing notes on their spikes, before laughing to himself about his students and looking away.

Noya, from what he could see with his swollen eye, admired her. His freind truly had a beautiful soulmate. She was nice, strong, and had an ass. In Noya's eyes, she was perfect, especially for Asahi.

Tanaka refused to look at Ezume, only allowing himself to acknowledge Kiyoko as the most beautiful woman.

Ezume was calmly walking around with Shimizu, and she happened to glance up to see everyone staring at her. She was confused until Shimizu tapped her own thigh to signal. Oh, Ezume thought. She was always so used to swim that it hadn't occured to her these people didnt see someone's ass everyday. Ezume laughed at the immaturity of the boys before standing up and lobbing a ball at the boys. It flew towards Asahi, who fumbled to catch it, his face glowing. Ezume laughed at them, "If you're gonna stare at my ass, you could at least be less obvious about it."

Asahi just about died of embarrament, Daichi and Suga laughed at eachother and the rest were a little embarrased, but got over it. "ALRIGHT, STOP LOLLYGAGGING, BACK TO PRACTICE!"

The team jumped at their coaches voice, shouting back a quick, "Yes sir!"

Ezume rolled her eyes and strode up to Shimizu, "Are they always like this? Is that why you're always in leggings?"

Kiyoko laughed lightly, turning to the girl, "No, it's because i used to do hurdles in track and becasue i got alot of scars, but i dont really need to... i don't have much of a butt..."

Ezume laughed at her, "You're lying if you say you have no ass."

Kiyoko laughed, "I'm serious!"

Ezume nodded, "I don't believe you, you beautiful bitch."

Kiyoko smiled st the compliment, "Thank you."

Ezume groaned, "God, why couldn't i be gay? I'd fall so hard for you i swear."

Kiyoko laughed loudly, gaining attention of the team, who have never heard her laugh that hard. Kiyoko layed a hand on Ezume's shoulder, "Unfortunately you're Asahi's soulmate, you're exactly my type."

Ezume glowed scarlet. "ASAHI IM LEAVING YOU FOR SHIMIZU!"

"HUH?" came the response from the flustered boy. The two laughed so hard they clutched eachothers shoulders. The team snickered, and as much as Ukai wanted the team to train, he knew they needed these happy moments to keep them going and enjoying the sport they played. So he let them laugh and enjoy the company of their friends while he went to take a break.

Once they all stopped laughing Ukai came back in and announced they would start working on different drills. Shimizu and Ezume began to connect more, actually talking about themselves and their classes.

"So you've been swimming forever?"

Ezume nodded, "Since i was two. I've been competitively swimming since i was seven though."

Kiyoko smiled, "it must be nice to know how your life is going to play out..."

Ezume smiled sadly, "i know im always going to swim... but i dont know if I'll get recognized... there's never been anyone on a national team from the Miyagi prefecture. I can only hope and train."

Kiyoko smiled towards her, setting her arms on the girl's shoulders, "I know you're going to make it. Seeing you workout yesterday told me all i needed to know. You're strong, not just physically, but mentally too, and you are so persistant it's scary. Scouters would have to be blind to ignore you."

Ezume's eyes watered as her new friend reassured her. It was one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to her, and it was exactly what she needed to hear. Ezume always felt inferior, or not enough, and for someone she barely knew to tell her she was enough, more than enough in fact, made her heart swell. She asked Kiyoko if she could hug her, and she nodded.

Ezume wrapped her arms around the shorter girl, gripping her and she buried her head in the girls shoulder as she tried not to cry, "Thank you... i really needed to hear that."

Kiyoko smiled at the girls statement, "When you're swimming in the Olympics, remember me, okay? I'll be your biggest fan."

And it was with that, Ezume silently cried into her new friends shoulder.

[A/n if you're reading this, i literally love you sm. damn now i have to make a kiyoko story bc i love this queen sm... so should it be Roku or Yukia i put her with?]

*bottom - the 30 seconds on the clock

*top - the 00 on the clock

*pull out stroke - the first stroke that a swimmer does off a dive or the wall.