*for the time at the end, please don't correct me if the time seems slow, racing times are always changing and I can't always keep changing it. Also, she took a break from swimming so it should be around five or ten seconds slower then she usually is.

starts season 1

It had been several years since Kiyoko last saw Rin. At the end of the year of his second year in Australia, he decided to leave back for Japan. Heartbroken, yes, finally feeling a person she was comfortable with suddenly left with barely enough time to farewell one another and for both not enough time to admit their feelings. 

Kiyoko walked out and making past security she walked with the other visitors and travellers, as on the side a cluster of people holding signs of their loved ones, at the end of the line the blonde's aqua orbs connected to her godmother's chocolate ones as she gave a soft smile as Kiyoko smiled pulling her scarlet red luggage behind her.

"Yui-San," her aunt said embracing her in a hug.

"You have grown Kiyoko dear, you look so much more beautiful than in the pictures," Yui quipped as they walked out of the department.

As soon as Kiyoko walked out, the sun's rays danced on her celestial complexion making others stare of the angelic maiden walking with her relative to the parking where Kiyoko got in her silver Toyota vehicle.

"How was the trip?" Yui said whilst looking into the side mirror at the cars behind.

"Fine, business class was nice, though they undercooked my steak," she sighed as Yui tutted in disapproval.

"So where will you be going, what about after school?" she questioned

"Just a few months ago since in Australia we start in January, I got offered to the state university UNSW early scholarship due to me taking a trial test and getting in. Only two in my grade got offered early invitations. I was supposed to go next year but... the incident... I negotiated with the head and they said it was okay for me to start in two years' time," she explained

"So what are you gonna be, or your courses-, Drive properly dumb*ss, how the hell did you get your licence! So continue dear," her expression changed rapidly as she adverted her attention to her goddaughter as the Eurasian's eyes widened blinking. 

"Ah, well I'm gonna pursue a career in marine architecture," she said, "I want to do a master's degree in architecture," she said as Yui's face brightened.

"Ah! I got such a smart goddaughter!' she bragged, "So you're going to Iwatobi high I presume, my house is near the station. Ah! It's a shame that Samezuka Academy is a boy's school, I heard they have a great swim team!'

"Yeah well I'm not sure I'm gonna even join a swim team, I mean I'm more focused on art," she said as her aunt sighed.

"You're in the top ten female junior swimmers in the world, and the top five in Australia aren't you?" her aunt urged

"Did mum send you all those pictures?" she chuckled

"You call Kate mum?' the obsidian-haired woman asked about her step-mum. 

"Yeah, I know my mum was close with you but ever since she died when I was young and Kate came along when I was ten I just always referred to her as a mum, I had no prejudice against her, it's not like she's going to stop me from going to a ball. I mean she's nice and she spoils me more than I deserve," she replied.

"I see," Her aunt nodded.

---

Kiyoko fiddled with her opal necklace that swung on a silver chain and the rainbow jewel twisted in diamond branches. As she wore the Iwatobi high's uniform she tilted her head observing the clothes. The skirt was shorter than expected and was outside her comfort zone and the bow was put on to tight that it was in reach of choking her.

Her hair vanilla blonde locks were done in a half up half down hairstyle tied with a red ribbon crafted into a bow.

She was nervous. Though she was fluent in Japanese and knew the customs and rules it was still nerve-racking starting school in a whole different country and her characteristics didn't help either, she was quiet and introverted. 

Sighing she grabbed her heavy bag of books, swinging it as she put on her polished shoes near the door.

"Kiyoko! I packed your swimsuit if you have second thoughts on it!" her godmother called out from upstairs as she stayed mute.

"Thanks," she replied softly as she reached for the door walking to the station.

As expected to Kiyoko the train ride there was much smoother than Australia's trains and also faster, Kiyoko manages to find some students bearing the same uniform as her but could never the courage to ask or greet them.

Suddenly on her right four students walk from one carriage to her's, though she was much closer to the other end of the carriage. Three boys, one with ravenette with sapphire eyes that seemed to be two or more feet taller than she was a boy with emerald orbs and champagne locks. The girl with maroon hair seemed to be quite bubbly as she babbled quietly to her friends.

"Hey, Makato, look over there! It's a really pretty girl! I've never seen her!" Nagisa shout-whispered as the group all looked at the girl with music plugged to her ears.

The two other boys blushed slightly, she truly looked a sight to behold even though she wore the same uniform as the other girls and a sloppy hairstyle she still managed to capture everyone's attention.

"Now that is what you call beauty," Makato mumbled as he then felt a pinch and yelped making everyone look at the group.

"Gou!" he scolded

"What about me!"

"uh... you are but I'm sorry but that girl there is on another level," as Haru coughed

"I can make you guys do laps till you drown," she scolded all of them as she then looked at the girl in realisation.

"Hold I think I know her! She's Araki Kiyoko!" she pointed out as all of them looked in astonishment except Nagisa

"Who?" the breaststroke swimmer questioned as Gou facepalmed

"You delinquent you're supposed to know this stuff," Gou admonished looking down at his peer, 

"she's is in the top ten female junior swimmers in the world according to last year's data and the top five in Australia,' Haru said cooly

"Australia?" the blonde second year  said, "And they have good swimmers,"

"Yeah," Haru nodded remembering his childhood friend's difficulties in the commonwealth country.

"We should ask her to join the swim club!' Nagisa suggested, "A lot of people could possibly join!"

"Nagisa what are you doing?!" Makato shouted as everyone glared at his loudness.

"I'm gonna ask!"

"Excuse me!" the honey-haired nudged her with his finger on her shoulder as she took off her earphone.

"Hi," she said blankly, uncomfortable with the situation.

"Hey! Join the Iwatobi swim club! We could use an extra member! An especially a girl, we have a girl but she's our manager and-!" before she could finish Kiyoko moved to the next carriage swiftly.

"Great job, you scared her," Haru shot

---

"Hello everyone," Kiyoko bowed at the art club, "My name is Araki Kiyoko, and I am interested in joining the art club, here are some of my works, please accept me," she handed her art book as the students surrounded the person holding the book, flipping through the pages in awe.

"So what is your specialty?" one of the students asked

"my specialty is in painting - preferably watercolour- and sketching but I'm still capable of other stuff," she replied as she fiddled nervously waited for the reply.

"congratulations your in! I'm Fuji and I'm the president of the club, we're honoured for your talent to enter the club," he bowed as she smiled a little, "we usually do personal projects or for all of the projects for the school,"

"Okay," she replied quietly as she heard the bell ring for lunch.

"We start next week after school every Wednesday and Thursday," he said grabbing his bag, you can slowly quaint yourself later on.

As the students scrammed out of the classrooms Kiyoko froze as she watched the students join their friends and chatter.

Lonely.

Like that one odd note on a keyboard.

Or that one red flower in an ocean of white daisies.

As she walked silently down the hall, her lunch in a printed fabric bag her eyes glistened as she turned around to see the maroon haired girl, making her reminisce of a familiar boy of her past whom shared the same hair colour.

"Excuse me," she tilted her head smiling looking at her upperclassman, "Do you want to sit with me and my group, upstairs. It's nice and sunny and we sit under the shade if you are aware of your skin colour.

"Sure,' she replied softly as she followed the first year upstairs.

"Everyone! Kiyoko will be sitting with is!" she introduced the Australian born girl.

"Oh, hey! I'm Makato, this is Haru, Nagisa is the one who rudely disturbed you to which I'm terribly sorry about." the emerald-eyed one said

"so are you going to join our swim club?" Nagisa bursted

"Nagisa!" Makato scolded 

"Ah! I'm sorry! But, at least think about it! Oh, come after practice, after school! Just think about it please!" he whined

"I guess... but if I do join it can't interfere with my art club sessions-!" before she could even finish Nagisa pulled her into a hug as first hesitating patted his head chuckling softly.

"Aw, look at that she's warming up to you," Makato commented as Haru gave a soft smile.

---

After school, as said to her word Kiyoko walked up the stairs to the pool wear Gou was talking to Haru, Nagisa and one of her teachers stood from afar basking under her parasol. 

"Kiyoko! You made it!" Gou waved smiling brightly as she jogged to the girl with a bag slung around her shoulder.

"Is Amakata Sensei your advisor?" she inquired as the feminine brunette lady walked to them.

"Yeah, does she teach you?" Nagisa asked

"Oh, I do she's in my Year 2 class 7. She's absolutely lovely, your short story was absolutely captivating!" the teacher gushed.

"I've read a lot of books in Australia and some Japanese poem styles so it's more of a head start," she responded humbly as she then turned to the three boys, "I've taken into consideration and I suppose I would like to join as Nagisa started jumping up and down vigorously.

"So I have a swimsuit, I was hoping I could do a quick trial of my best stroke," she proposed.

"You're already on the team! But I wanna see what a top international junior swimmer looks like!" Nagisa said as the rest of them nodded.

"I'll go get changed," she stated heading down the steps.

---

Coming out the suit was a one-piece with a boat neckline reaching down all the way to her mid-thigh. The second-year boys slightly blushed at the girl's beauty and fatigue while Gou and Nagisa stared in awe and admiration of the angelic figure. 

"Do you need a cap Kiyoko-senpai?" Gou called out as Kiyoko shook her head as she snapped her goggles in place.

"I dislike caps, I only wear them in races since its compulsory," she prompted as she readied herself on the platform.

"Wow, even her form before the dive is so nice, cat-like and flexible," Makato observed.

The second the first-year manager said 'Go', like and elastic being shot she snapped instantly releasing all the energy stored as she curved slightly with her dive barely making any splash. Rolling her hips for the dolphin/mermaid kicks the use of her flexibility snapped second after second as if like a willow suddenly turned into lightning.

As she reached the surface the use of her arms managed to lift her above the water as a split second of adrenaline rushed down her body as she continued her butterfly stroke.

"So this what a top junior international swimmer looks like," Gou said as Haru's eyes just trailed the girl's flawless stroke swiftly guide her down the pool as she returned to the same place she started as she looked up, breathing calmly.

"Woah," Makato said still taking everything in.

"That was fast and your torso was high but just right above the pool," Haru noted

"yeah and your hips were so flexible but it could easily snap and bend your back the other way," Nagisa added, "How is your breathing rate seem so calm?"

"You can just suddenly tell your heart to beat slowly; when you get out you don't panic for air," she then looked to Gou.

"So what was my time?"

"Ah, fifty-eight seconds!" Gou said.

"fifty-eight, wow," Makato said.

"Welcome to the team!" Nagisa said holding a hand out.