COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 167: Karuizawa throws herself into his arms

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"Ah." x3

Shinohara, Mori, and Matsushita all looked at Karuizawa with expressions of exaggerated disgust. This girl was really something—forsaking all sense of fairness for the sake of a boy and completely unwilling to share!

Blushing deeply at their teasing, Karuizawa awkwardly tried to appease them. "Stop hushing! I'll buy you all drinks after school."

"You said it," Matsushita replied with a teasing smile.

"Yes, yes!"

"Alright, let's go."

"Yeah, we don't want to stay and watch this traitor who forgets all principles just because of a boy."

Bribing Matsushita and the others with the promise of drinks, Karuizawa successfully got them to leave her alone.

As Rin approached the pool, he glanced at Matsushita and the departing girls. "Your friends are good at swimming, aren't they? Why didn't you ask them to teach you?"

Karuizawa blinked, looking slightly embarrassed. "I did ask them before you came back, but after a while, they decided I was too clumsy to teach."

"Alright, Rin, come down and teach me already!" she urged impatiently.

"Okay."

Rin crouched down and slowly stepped into the pool. Karuizawa eagerly stretched out her soft, fair hands toward him.

"Come on, Rin, teach me step by step," she said with excitement.

"Alright."

Rin gently took hold of Karuizawa's arms. Her skin felt soft and slightly cool, and the touch was unexpectedly pleasant.

Meanwhile, Karuizawa could clearly feel the warmth of Rin's palms on her arms. The heat from his hands made her cheeks flush even redder.

Smiling, Rin looked at Karuizawa, whose face was now a deep shade of pink. "Kei, place your hands on my shoulders. I'll back up slowly, and you kick your legs. I'll guide you to swim."

"Got it!" Karuizawa replied enthusiastically.

Excited and determined, she placed her hands on Rin's shoulders. The firm and solid feel of his shoulders made her feel shy but also gave her a reassuring sense of security.

In the swimming pool, Karuizawa seemed unusually daring. Still pretending she couldn't swim, she frequently used her arms to push herself closer to Rin, practically throwing herself into his arms.

With splashes of water flying everywhere, her soft chest bumped into Rin's firmly toned chest. Both of them felt the fleeting yet undeniable sensation of their bodies brushing together.

Although the contact lasted only a moment, the strange and wonderful feeling left a deep impression on both Rin and Karuizawa.

The unexpected touch left Karuizawa's body weak and unsteady. If Rin hadn't been firmly holding her arms, she would have sunk into the water completely.

Looking at Karuizawa, whose ears were now bright red, Rin smiled with a mix of amusement and helplessness. Suppressing the ripples of emotion stirring within him, he teased her gently, "Kei, are you trying to mess around?"

Hearing his words, Karuizawa felt so embarrassed that she became dizzy. She realized Rin had seen through all her little tricks.

"No… I wouldn't dare," she mumbled weakly, unable to meet his gaze.

Originally, Karuizawa had planned to go even further—throwing herself completely into Rin's arms and wrapping her hands around his neck.

But… she had overestimated her courage. After her chest had brushed against Rin's, her entire body had gone limp with shyness, leaving her unable to muster the strength for her original plan.

After the emotionally charged moment had passed, the shy Karuizawa finally calmed down and obediently accepted Rin's swimming instructions.

Happy moments always seem fleeting. Arata, the lifeguard, glanced at the clock mounted on the indoor swimming pool wall and called out loudly:

"Class will end in ten minutes. Everyone, please leave the pool now, head to the shower room to rinse off, and then change into your school uniforms in the locker room."

"Already? Class is over so soon?" one girl said, reluctant to leave the pool.

"I want to stay longer!" added a boy who clearly wasn't ready to stop watching the girls play in the water.

"Kei, let's leave the pool," Rin said to Karuizawa.

"Okay," Karuizawa replied with a nod, though she was clearly reluctant. She looked at Rin with hopeful eyes. "Rin, can you teach me how to swim again during the next swimming lesson?"

"Sure," Rin answered.

"Great! It's a promise then!"

Karuizawa smiled brightly, her honey-colored hair clinging to her damp cheeks from the pool water. Her radiant smile made her look even more stunning.

Rin exhaled quietly, suppressing the emotions that had stirred within him.

Tsk, adolescent boys are so easily unsettled, he thought to himself.

Arata left the indoor swimming pool briefly, returning moments later with instructions for the students.

"The faculty has brought towels for everyone. Take one towel each—just one! Don't grab extras!"

"Okay~"

"Once you've changed back into your school uniforms, don't wander off. Gather outside the locker room. Understood?"

"Understood," the students replied in unison.

Rin and the others exited the swimming pool, took a towel from the table, and entered the shower room next to the locker room.

After a quick rinse, Rin grabbed a clean towel and dried himself off. Once he was fully dried, he left the shower room, got dressed in his school uniform, and exited the locker room. Outside, he spotted Arata's burly figure waiting.

"Matsuoka, go get your phone. I'll transfer the 5,000 points you earned for winning," Arata said.

"Got it," Rin replied.

Retrieving his phone from his locker, Rin accepted the transfer of 5,000 personal points from Mr. Arata.

Arata then addressed Rin seriously, "Matsuoka, you might not realize this, but your 50-meter freestyle time earlier actually broke the world record!"

"Really?" Rin said, feigning surprise. He genuinely hadn't known.

"Matsuoka, your swimming skills are extraordinary. I must get you into the swimming club. After class, I'll head straight to the chairman. Just wait for the results, Matsuoka."

"Alright," Rin responded with a smile.

- Arata, charge ahead on my behalf!

- Together, we'll kick out the petty, abusive, and power-hungry Vice President from the student council!

Meanwhile, the girls were still inside the locker room, taking their time as usual. Despite the class having ended, they hadn't yet finished changing into their uniforms.

In contrast, the boys had already changed and gathered outside the locker room, ready to leave.

With the class officially over, Arata instructed the students waiting outside to leave on their own. However, Rin chose to stay behind, waiting for Karuizawa.

While waiting, Rin pulled out his phone and dialed Manabu's number.