Stealing Spree

Chapter 2415 Swimming Activity (2)

Chapter 2415  Swimming Activity (2)

With a sharp whistle blow from Orimura-sensei, the activity officially began. The students quickly split into their respective groups, their enthusiasm building as the excitement spread among them.

The experienced swimmers moved to the outdoor pool, while the beginners were guided to the indoor pool where they could feel more secure under closer supervision. Ryouko-san followed the beginners, ensuring they were settled and comfortable. Meanwhile, Orimura-sensei and I stayed with the more skilled swimmers.

Among my girls, Mio, Komoe, Aya, Misaki and Rae went to the indoor pool. They could swim but not on long stretches like what the activity for the skilled swimmers needed to accomplish.

Surprisingly, even the girl who invited me for a public pool date this summer vacation, Sachi, went along with them. She's so great at volleyball but she's probably not that confident in her swimming skills.

After a while, the first group of experienced swimmers lined up at the edge of the pool. The group consisted of one student per class. They way, the possibility of crashing against each other would be minimized.

Their eyes burned with determination, clearly hoping to get those bonus points by setting a record.

I stepped forward to address them while Orimura-sensei took the elevated seat for lifeguards, watching over the entirety of the pool.

“Alright, I don't need to repeat the rules, right? Carry the ball or the foam across the pool and return to the starting point. You have to finish within the time limit to get your bonus points. Show us what you’ve got!”

I looked at the first group one by one. As they're all girls, the boys were keenly watching them. This was one of their few opportunities to see the girls in a swimsuit, after all. Even if they wore identical swimsuits, the curves of their body were different. The sexy ones are noticeably standing out.

A ripple of cheers and playful jeering broke out as the four swimmers prepared to dive in. Orimura-sensei blew the whistle and they launched into the water with impressive speed.

The other students watched intently, some cheering their classmates on while others took notes on how they could do it quicker than anyone else.

I found my girls in one corner, devising their own strategies. When they noticed me staring, Nami smilingly waved at me and gave me a thumbs up. They're pretty confident, I must say.

But I couldn't look at them for so long. I was responsible for recording their time, after all.

And so, my focus returned to the pool, readying my finger to tap the switch and record their times.

Truthfully, the activity should pose a little difficulty. The length of the pool is 25 meters. Regular swimmers had an average of 30 seconds to realistically finish that if they only focused on swimming. Double it for a trip back. The time limit for the bonus points that Ryouko-san set was two minutes. However, the fact that they needed to carry something while swimming could affect their speed and coordination. If they're not careful, they might even feel the strain.

Thankfully, everyone was carried by the excitement. Because for the first time in a while, they only needed to think about themselves. They're more motivated to do better when their result hinges on their own performance.

And just like that, the first group finished. Among the four, the quickest was a girl from Class 4. The girl from our class was Esumi and she somehow managed to come in second place. Just a second slower than the girl from Class 4.

I recorded their times on the clipboard and announced them one by one to gather more hype.

"Great job, everyone. All of you got a surplus of a few seconds before the time limit where you can gain points." I announced which made the four jump in relief and joy. "And I'll repeat. Just focus on your time and nothing else. The bonus points will be given to everyone who completed the course within the limit and an additional point will only be given to the quickest among you. So, you can aim for that one if you're confident of your skill or just extremely competitive. We'll cheer on you."

"Pfft. What about you, Onoda-kun? Will you also swim?" Some girl from Class 4 asked a question that was instantly echoed by most girls.

"Me? Of course, I will. I'll go last. You know what they say. Save the best for last." I shamelessly answered while posing exaggeratedly, causing laughter all around. They liked that.

Naturally, I also received jeers, calling me a showoff. But who cares about them, no?

As the activity continued, I moved along the line, offering encouragement and tips before returning to my place.

For some, it was about maintaining speed and stamina, while for others, it was about improving technique.

A few students who were eager to show off even sought advice on shaving seconds off their time. But well, I answered them without giving them false hope.

When it comes to my girls, however, I attentively give them hints depending on my understanding of their bodies. Luckily, I had already caught a glimpse of their swimming forms a few days ago.

Continuing on, my girls truly stood out when their turn came. Hana, confident and radiant, swam with smooth efficiency, earning cheers from everyone, especially those who were caught by her angelic smile. Nami and Hina, while not as skilled, showed their determination that had others rooting for them. Then there was Chii who, despite failing to finish within the limits, enjoyed the activity so much she intentionally blundered to do it again. As for Satsuki, Saki and Maaya, they finished the activity perfectly.

Seeing them shine in their own ways made me feel proud, and a little possessive. I unintentionally glared at an idiot shouting Hana and Satsuki's names. The guy cowered in the end, making him unable to finish the activity within the time limit for bonus points as well.

Meanwhile, the indoor pool had its share of excitement as well. Occasionally, I glanced in that direction to see how Ryouko-san was faring with the beginners.

True to her thoughtful planning, the atmosphere there was lively but supportive. Students who initially hesitated to even step into the water were now smiling as they floated across the pool with their inflatable aids.

At one point, Ryouko-san and I exchanged glances across the distance. She gave me a small, appreciative smile that sent a wave of warmth through me. Even in the midst of a bustling activity, her presence had a way of grounding me.

Given that everyone wanted a better time for those points, everyone could give it another try after everyone finished their turn. Three tries maximum. Of course, if they're already satisfied with their time, they don't need to give it another try.

Anyway, as more and more groups finished, my turn eventually came.

Orimura-sensei who was lazily watching from the elevated seat even fixed herself, probably to laugh at me if I made a blunder. She's always looking out for things to tease me for, after all.

After handing over the stopwatch to Nami who would record the time for me.

"Ruu, show them. Get another record." She whispered encouragingly. And with the way she said it, she was already confident that I could do it.

"Mhm. Watch me." Upon saying that, I looked up at Orimura-sensei and grinned followed by glancing behind me, catching the encouragement coming from the girls.

With that, I walked over to the starting position, picked up the ball and took off my shirt.

Since I was the last one, everyone's eyes focused on me. Once again, I became the center of attention.

"Ready?" I called out to Orimura-sensei, holding the ball above the water with one hand while the other hovered over my head, ready to dive.

Her only response was a smirk and a nod before blowing into the whistle.