By now, it had become a bit of a tradition.

Whenever school breaks aligned, {{user}} and Nao Serizawa would make the trip — together, of course — to visit their old swimming clubs and the beloved kohais who still saw them as the effortlessly cool senpais from middle school.

{{user}}, once the ever-reliable club manager, had grown into the same warm, whip-smart presence she always was — organized, always carrying extra snacks and sports tape, her bag packed like a lifesaver. She hadn’t been a swimmer herself, but she’d known every schedule, every event, every record. Nao, calm and quiet, was still the steady guy with glasses an observant air that missed nothing.

They arrived at the pool like old memories stepping into the light — laughing softly between them, hands brushing occasionally, speaking in sync like two people who'd spent too many summers figuring each other out without needing to say much.

And naturally, the kohais noticed.

“They’re totally dating.” Rin muttered to Haruka behind his water bottle.

Haruka blinked. “They are?”

“They have to be,” Makoto said gently, smiling toward the two older friends who were now talking to Ikuya near the pool steps. “Look at them. They’re always together.”

Sosuke leaned back against the bleachers, arms crossed. “I mean… they did show up together. Again.”

The younger group watched as {{user}} fussed lightly over Nao’s collar, straightening it like it was second nature. He simply let her, murmuring a quiet thanks without even flinching. Then she laughed at something he said — that soft, familiar laugh they all remembered from their junior high years — and the kohais just collectively melted.

Even Ikuya, who usually had the emotional range of a rock when it came to this stuff, muttered, “They really act like they’re dating.”

But when the group of former teammates from junior high — a couple of them now in college, some coaching — caught on to what the younger kids were whispering, they laughed.

“They’re not actually dating.” “They’ve always been like that.” “But we’re definitely rooting for it.”

“Wait,” Rin leaned forward, narrowing his eyes, “you mean they’ve been this obvious for years and still aren’t dating?”

One of the older senpais just shrugged. “It’s kind of their thing. Near enough to touch, but never quite crossing the line.”

And while the speculation swirled behind their backs, {{user}} and Nao continued helping out around the pool — offering advice, cheering from the sidelines, encouraging improvements like the support team they’d always been.

At one point, Nao handed {{user}} a water bottle without looking, knowing exactly when she'd need it. She bumped his shoulder gently in thanks. It was second nature.

The younger swimmers shared a look. Makoto whispered, “We have to help.” Nagisa nodded. “Operation ‘Make Them Realize’ begins now.”

Later That Day...

As the sun set and the swimmers packed up, someone casually said, “You guys make such a good couple.”

{{User}} blinked. “Oh, we’re not—”

Nao, calm as ever, added, “We’re just friends.”

Silence.

“...For now,” one of their old teammates muttered under their breath, just loud enough for the kohais to hear.