After the semester officially concluded, Sam was now spending his time at the school, using its facilities to train himself.
However, he has been going out a lot with Rumi these days. He enjoyed spending time with her.
But lately, being around Rumi made his chest tighten in a way he didn't like.
Not panic. Not fear.
Recognition.
He felt it when he realized his feelings for Zola.
For Sam, the day Zola became his girlfriend was the happiest day of his life. But now, he is starting to have feelings for Rumi.
Part of him wanted to move on. He wanted to believe that Zola would want him to move on.
But part of him still misses her. Her touch, her kiss, her warm hugs, her beautiful smile.
And if he started to like Rumi, he began to think that he would be betraying her.
Sam isn't a fool. He also saw how Rumi began to act differently around him. She was more touchy with him, always giving him a hug when they finished hanging out. He also saw the looks she gave him. They were clearly hinting that she liked him too.
This has been tormenting Sam's mind since the semester ended.
Luckily, he was able to get his mind off of the topic when he got a message from Midoriya.
Apparently, the class was gonna use the swimming pool to train.
"Swimming?"
He looked at his phone, wondering if he should go.
After thinking it over, he responded to Midoriya, assuring him he would be there.
———
Sam saw that the boys were there and dressed in swim trunks.
"Sam!"
Iida marched up to him in a speedo.
"Yo. What's up?"
The boys were happy to see him.
The girls were already in the pool playing volleyball.
They waved when they saw Sam. He just gave them a little wave back.
Sam looked around and noticed a few of them were missing.
"Where is Midoriya, the two pervs, Chihuahua and Red Rocket?"
"Red Rocket?!? Ahahahahaha!!"
Sero broke down in laughter,
Sam rolled his eyes at the guys' childish behavior.
Iida clears his throat.
"They should be- oh?"
Ask and you shall receive. The door opens and it reveals Midoriya, Mineta and Kaminari.
Both Kaminari and Mineta looked devastated when they see Iida and the other boys.
"What?!? What are you guys doing here?!?"
Mineta demands.
"Since you said this was for training, I invited the others as well!"
Midoriya innocently proclaimed.
"What?!? Now our plans are ruined!!"
Kaminari lamented.
"Don't lose hope, the girls should be splashing around here!"
Mineta reassures him.
They look and see the girls and immediately felt disappointment, obviously expecting bikinis.
The girls greeted them.
Kaminari looked disappointed, but Mineta was drooling.
"School swimsuits are still hot…"
Sam rolled his eyes.
'The future of heroics, everyone!'
"Kaminari! Mineta! Nice work! You two wanted to do more training! I'm proud of you for suggesting this! You two are model students! Allow me to express my thanks!"
Iida walks up to them, arms open. Almost like he was going to embrace them.
Sam watched them struggle as Iida pulled them.
"So what are we doing?"
Sam piped up.
The boys were silent at that. The girls didn't care and kept playing volleyball.
"Let us work a sweat and work on our endurance!"
Sam smirked a bit.
'That… was very lewd, Iida-kun.'
Sam's thoughts could be childish sometimes.
———
They eventually decided to do a race, and right then, Bakugo arrived with Kirishima.
"Oh?"
Sam was shocked. He thought the little brat would be trying to get stronger.
"Sam, will you join?"
Midoriya asked.
"I don't have a quirk. I'd obviously lose in a race."
Sam admits.
"Oh…"
Midoriya looked guilty.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine."
He reassured Midoriya that he was fine.
Midoriya nods and joins the others for the race.
Sam decided that he was going to join the girls. It was hot as hell, and he wanted to swim.
He took off his shirt and shoes, and got in with the girls.
They were startled and stopped playing.
"Sam! What are you doing?!?"
Mina asked with a pout.
"I'm swimming. It's not like you guys said I couldn't swim in this pool."
Sam says nonchalantly.
The girls look at each other and can't really argue.
"Well, I guess that's fine. Do you wish to play with us?"
Momo recommends.
Sam thought for a second.
"Hmm… why not."
The girls smiled, happy Sam was being active with the class.
And so they returned to play, this time with Sam.
But there was a problem.
Sam spiked every single volley that came his way.
His spikes made volleyballs fly at them like bullets.
Sam didn't even realize he was doing it — he was holding back less than he should have.
After a few more spikes, they got fed up.
"Alright mister! No spikes!"
Mina said with a pout, once again.
"Dude, you nearly took my head off."
Jiro says remembering the spike that was almost shot at her.
"Why not?"
Sam asked innocently.
"This is just a fun game! Please try not to spike it, okay?"
Uraraka gives Sam her puppy dog eyes.
'Did she catch on that I'm weak to cute things?'
Sam grimaced.
Then he sighed.
"Fine… I'll just do lobs. Happy?"
The girls cheered.
After that rule was made, Sam did as he promised and only lobbed the ball upwards, allowing his teammate to spike it. The girls started having fun again, and Sam wasn't hating it.
It was getting intense and Sam made sure not to be too rough with his hits. The game was long, but fun.
Finally, 5:00 arrived and it was time to get out.
They were alerted by the arrival of Aizawa who had his quirk on.
"Well, that was fun ladies. Thanks."
Sam said with a small smile.
The girls also smiled, glad Sam had fun.
Sam got out and walked towards his clothes.
However, the girls got a glimpse of Sam's back and gasped.
They were aware that he suffered things unimaginable, but they saw burns, and deep claw marks all over his back.
No one said anything.
Sam didn't turn around.
He put his shirt and shoes back on after drying off.
"Hey! Were you playing with the girls?!?"
Mineta demanded as he and Kaminari approached Sam while the others got out of the pool.
Sam raised a brow.
"Yeah?"
Sam answered.
"How?!?"
Kaminari asked with distress.
"I just got in. They never said we couldn't play with them. After explaining that, they let me join them."
They just gaped at Sam.
Just like that, Mineta felt that the day was completely wasted.
Kaminari also felt like he lost a chance to get close to the girls.
Sam left the two alone to wallow in their misery.
He felt refreshed. He was in a bad mental state before this, but this outing with the others wasn't bad.
But Sam knew he was only delaying the inevitable.
He would have to confront his feelings.
Loving again felt like letting go — and he didn't know which scared him more.