As I crawled out of the water, my body aching from the intensity of the match and reached for my towel. I dried myself off and glanced at Nozomi, who was surrounded by our classmates, basking in her victory. Losing to her, it stung awakened something in me. She was something else.

Wrapping the towel around me, I walked over to the bench and sat down heavily. My headphones were right where I'd left them, and I slipped them on, the familiar comfort of my drama CDs starting to play.