Remi stood outside the pool office, his hand h uainly over the door hahe hallway smelled of chlorine and disappoihe tter being a st he'd bee all too familiar with after the ret football and crosse tryouts. A small pque beside the door read "Coach Sarah Ramirez - Aquatics Director," with a newer addition underh: "Synized Swimming Program Director."

  Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

  "e in!" called a voice from inside.

  Coach Ramirez sat behind a desk cluttered with training schedules and petitiutions. She was youhan Remi expected, probably in her early thirties, with the lean build of a former petitive swimmer and bright, analytical eyes that seemed to evaluate everything they saw.

  "Remi Halistaad?" She g the paperwork in front of her. "I have to admit, you're not what I expected when I saw your application."

  "Is that... bad?" Remi shifted unfortably.

  "Not at all." She leaned ba her chair. "Just ued. Most boys ye wouldn't sider synized swimming. What brought you here?"

  Remi sidered lying, making up some story about a lifelong passion for aquatics. Instead, he opted for hoy. "I didn't make the other teams. Coach Baker said I wasn't... the right fit for football or crosse."

  "Ah, Steven Baker." Something flickered across Coach Martinez's face—disapproval, maybe? "Well, his loss might be ain. Do you have any swimming experience?"

  "I've been swimming since I was little. Nothing petitive, but I'm fortable ier."

  Coach Martinez nodded, making a note on her clipboard. "This program is something new for the school. We're the first co-ed synized swimming team at our school. A few other schools in the district have already started programs, but we're still going to fae... unique challenges." She fixed him with a steady gaze. "Are you prepared for that?"

  "You mean the jokes?" Remi met her eyes. "I figured there would be some."

  "More than some. This isn't going to be easy, Remi. Synized swimming requires incredible strength, flexibility, and coordination. Plus, you'll be w closely with your teammates in a way that's different from any other sport. We need people who hah the physical demands and the social pressure."

  She stood up. "Go get ged a me at the pool. I want to see what you do."

  Remi headed to the locker room, ging into his pin bck swim jammers. They weren't team regution, but they'd have to do for now. After st his belongings in a locker, he made his way to the natatorium.

  Several students were already in the pool wheered, the afternoon sun streaming through the high windows and dang oer's surface. The pool itself was Olympic-sized, with dedicated nes for the regur swim team on one side and a deeper se where a few students were practig basic floating formations. Tawnee was among them, exeg a perfect back yout while anirl spotted her.

  "Hit the showers first," Coach Ramirez instructed, pointing to the pre-pool riation. "It's mandatory before entering the pool."

  After a quick rinse, Remi approached the pool's edge, water dripping from his hair.

  "Alright," Coach Ramirez said, "show me your basic swimming form "Four lengths: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly if you know it."

  Remi slipped into the water, grateful he'd brought his swim gear just in case. The water was cool and weling as he began his ps. He wasn't the fastest swimmer, but his form was det—years of summer swimming had at least taught him the basics.

  After the ps, Coach Martinez had him demonstrate various treading water teiques, testing his endurand stability. By the time she called him over to the pool's edge, his muscles were burning, but he felt surprisingly good.

  "Not bad," she said, making more notes. "Your upper body strength needs work, and y extensions could be er, but there's potential. Now, the important question: why should I put you on this team?"

  Remi grabbed the pool's edge, treading water as he thought about his answer. "Holy? Because I'll work harder than anyone else. I know I'm not the best athlete, but this feels... different. Like maybe I could be part of something new, something important."

  Coach Martiudied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she nodded. "Practice starts in fifteen mihe team's gathering for their first session today. sider this your qualifying trial—I want to see how you mesh with the others."

  Relief and ay flooded through Remi in equal measure. "Thank you, Coach."

  "Don't tha," she warhough there was a hint of a smile on her face. "Get ged and be back here in ten minutes. Let's see if you keep up."

  As other students started to arrive, Remi caught a glimpse of Tawnee Williams, her preseh exg and nerve-wrag. He'd shared csses with her before but had never really talked to her—she always seemed too intimidating, too focused, too... everything.

  This was his ce to prove himself, to find his pce. As he waited by the pool's edge in his pin bck jammers, Remi tried to quiet the nervous energy in his stomach. Whatever happened , at least it would be on his own terms.

  The wo hours would be his ce to prove himself. As the rest of the team began filtering onto the pool deck, Coach Ramirez called everyoogether.

  "Alright, team! Circle up!" She waited as twelve students gathered around, all in various states of pre-pool preparation. Remi noticed two uys among the predominantly female group - a stocky redhead and a taller boy with close-cropped dark hair. They both gave him encing nods.

  "Before we start today's practice, I'd like to introduce a potential new member. This is Remi Halistaad, and he'll be trying out with us today." Coach Ramirez's smile widened slightly. "If he makes the cut, he'll be our third male team member - a milestone for our program."

  The two guys exged a fist bump at this annou, and several of the girls nodded approvingly. Tawnee offered a small, encing smile from across the circle. Remi felt some of his nervousness ease - clearly, they wahis to work as much as he did.

  "Now, everyohrough the showers and into the pool. We're starting with a twenty-minute warm-up. Standard drills - rotatioweeyle, breast, and back. Focus on form over speed."

  The warm-up alone was more intehan Remi expected. Coach Ramirez had them switg strokes every four ps, maintaining strict attention to teique. By the time they finished, his muscles were already feeling the strain.

  "Good work," Coach Ramirez called out. "Now, pair up. We're w on basic support positions today."

  Before Remi could look around awkwardly for a partawnee swam over to him. "Want to work together? I show you the basics."

  "Thanks," he marying not to sound too relieved.

  The hour proved to be both fasating and challenging. Tawnee demonstrated how to properly support a partner in various positions, expining the importance of stable base positions and synized breathing. It was nothing like regur swimming - every movement had to be precisely trolled, and maintaining the right position while treading water was exhaustingly difficult.

  "Keep your core tight," Tawnee instructed as Remi attempted to support her in a basic back yout. "You o be solid as a rock or we'll both go under."

  His arms trembled with the effort, but he mao hold the position for the required t. When they switched roles, he gained a nereciation for the trust required between partners. Floating on his back, depending on someone else to keep him stable, was more unnerving than he'd expected.

  The final thirty minutes were devoted to learning a basic routine sequence. Coach Ramirez had them work in groups of four, practig simple movements in unison. Remi found himself grouped with Tawnee and two other students - a tall girl named Sarah and a stocky boy called Marcus who, like Remi, was o the sport.

  "Remember," Coach Ramirez called out as they attempted to coordinate a simple floating pattern, "synization is key. You o feel your teammates' movements, anticipate their timing. This isn't just about doing the moves - it's about doing them as one unit."

  By the time practided, Remi was exhausted in ways he'd never experienced before. Every muscle ached, and he'd swallowed more pool water than he cared to admit. But there was also a sense of aplishment. He'd made it through the full two hours, and while he certainly hadn't mastered anything, he hadn't pletely failed either.

  As they climbed out of the pool, Coach Ramirez pulled him aside. "Not bad for a first day, Halistaad. You've got a lot to learn, but I saw good things out there. Team suits are ordered through the athletics office. Get sized this week - you'll for Thursday's practice."

  Remi's heart leapt. "You mean...?"

  "Wele to the team." She handed him a folder. "Here's the practice schedule and team regutions. Don't make me regret this decision."

  Walking to the locker room, Remi caught Tawnee's eye. She gave him a thumbs up and a grin that seemed to say "told you so." His muscles might be screaming, but Remi couldn't keep the smile off his face. Maybe this wasn't where he'd expected to end up, but somehow, it felt right.

  The hot shower helped ease some of the ache in his muscles, though Remi had a feeling he'd be feeling this practice for days to e. As he finished ging bato his jeans and t-shirt, the other two guys from the team approached him.

  "Hey, wele aboard," the redhead said, extending his hand. "I'm Dave, and this is Marcus. Gotta say, we're stoked to have anuy joieam."

  "Thanks," Remi replied, shaking both their hands. "I wasn't sure what to expect, but that was... intense."

  Marcus ughed. "Just wait until we start the actual routines. But hey, at least ot each other during practiow. Having just two guys made some of the partner work tricky."

  "You heading out?" Dave asked, shouldering his backpack. "We usually grab smoothies at The Jun after practice. Sort of a team tradition. You should join us."

  Before Remi could respond, they heard the girls calling from outside the locker room. "Hurry up in there! We're starving!"

  "ing!" Marcus called back, then turo Remi. "Seriously, you should e. First smoothie's oo celebrate getting our third guy."

  The invitatio genuine, and Remi found himself nodding. "Yeah, okay. Just let me text my mom so she knows I'll be te."

  As they exited the locker room, they found most of the team waiting, including Tawnee, who was busy towel-dryihick hair. She brightened when she saw Remi had joihem.

  "Oh good, you're ing! You have to try their protein berry bst - it's perfect after practice."

  The enthusiastic wele from his eammates felt surreal after the disappoi of his previous sports tryouts. As they headed toward The Jun, their voices eg in the hallway, Remi felt something he hadn't expected - a sense of belonging. Sure, his muscles were screaming, and he had more chlorine in his system than he cared to think about, but he'd found his team.

  And somehow, that made everything worth it.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The house was quiet when Remi finally made it home, the setting sun casting long shadows through the front windows. His muscles protested every step up to the front door, but the post-practice smoothie and team hangout had been worth it. The porch light flickered on automatically as he dug for his keys, illuminating a small colle of Amazon packages stacked ly by the door - probably more of Rachel's endless online shopping.

  "Is that you, Remi?" His fourteen-year-old sister's voice carried down from upstairs before he'd even closed the door. A moment ter, she appeared at the top of the stairs, still in her school clothes but with her long dark hair now pulled up in a messy bun. "Mom's been w where you were. You're te."

  "I texted her," Remi said, dropping his swim bag by the stairs. The chlorine smell wafted up, making Rachel wrinkle her nose.

  "Ugh, what died in y?" She desded the stairs, then paused halfway down, sniffing dramatically. "Wait, why do you smell like a pool?" Her eyes narrowed with sudden i. "Did you actually join the swim team?"

  "Synized swimming," Remi corrected, heading for the kit. He needed water - despite the smoothie, he felt dehydrated from all the pool time. The kit was warm and smelled like marinara sauce - his mom had obviously started dinner prep before heading to her evening yoga css.

  Rachel followed, a gleeful expression spreading across her face. "Wait, seriously? Like, with the nose clips and the sparkly swimsuits?" She burst into giggles, nearly dropping her phone. "Oh my god, this is amazing. Did you have to wear a flower swim cap? Please tell me there are flower swim caps."

  "That's petitive synized swimming, and no." Remi filled a rge gss with water, then thought better of it and grabbed the whole Brita pitcher. "It's just the school team. Co-ed."

  "There are uys doing it?" Rachel hopped onto one of the kit stools, clearly settling in for a full interrogation. She propped her elbows on the granite tertop, resting her in her hands. "Or are you the only one dumb enough to sign up? Oh god, please tell me you're the only guy. That would be hirious."

  "There are three of us now, actually." Remi couldn't keep the pride out of his voice as he finished his first gss. "Coach says it's a milestone for the program."

  Something in his tone made Rachel pause. She studied him for a moment, her teasing smile fading into something menuine. "You actually like it, don't you? Like, for real?"

  "Yeah," Remi admitted, starting on his sed gss of water. He leaned against the ter, feeling the good kind of tired in his muscles. "It's... different. Hard, but in a good way. You should've seen some of the moves we were learning today."

  "Huh." Rachel seemed to be processing this. She absently scrolled through her phone, but her attention was still on him. "Well, I still think it's hirious, and I'm defielling all my friends." She grinned mischievously. "But I guess it's kind of cool too. In a totally weird way. At least it's not as b as football."

  "Thanks for the vote of fidence," Remi said dryly, but he was smiling.

  "So who else is oeam?" Rachel's eyes lit up with fresh i. "Any cute girls? There have to be cute girls in synized swimming."

  Remi felt his face warm slightly, thinking of Tawnee. "It's not like that. We're just teammates."

  "Oh my god, there is someone!" Rachel practically bounced in her seat. "Look at your face! Who is it? Do I know her? Is she in my grade?"

  "Don't you have homework to do or something?"

  "his is way more iing." She tapped her thoughtfully. "Wait, isn't Tawnee Williams on the swim team? The one you've had a crush on since like forever?"

  "I have not had a crush on her since forever," Remi protested, perhaps a bit too quickly.

  "Please, you practically walk into walls whenever she's around." Rachel's grin widened. "Oh my god, this is perfect. You joined synized swimming to get close to her, didn't you?"

  "That's not... I didn't..." Remi fumbled for words.

  "Does Dad know yet?" Rachel asked, abruptly ging topi that way she had of using versational whipsh to her advantage.

  The question hung in the air. Remi set his gss down, suddenly very ied in refilling it. "Mom knows. She sighe permission form. Dad... I'll tell him when it es up."

  Rachel nodded, uanding perfectly. Their father's traditional views on sports - especially men's sports - were well known in the household. "Wao be there when you do? I run interference. You know, do that thing where I start talking about my period as all unfortable and leaves the room."

  "Maybe." Remi managed a small smile. Rachel might be a pain sometimes, but she had his back when it ted. "Thanks."

  "Don't mention it." She hopped off the stool, stretg dramatically. "Seriously though, if you ever have to wear one of those sparkly suits, I ictures. Like, so many pictures. I'm talking full photo shoot, maybe even video. For posterity."

  "Get out of here," Remi ughed, tossing a dish towel at her.

  Rachel dodged it easily, dang toward the doorway. "Make me, water ballet boy! Oh! That's your new niame. I'm telling everyoo call you that now."

  "You're the worst," Remi called after her, but there was in it.

  "Love you too, big bro!" Her ughter echoed up the stairs, followed by the sound of her bedroom door closing and music starting to pulse through the ceiling.

  Remi shook his head, finally allowing himself to sink into one of the kit chairs. His muscles were definitely going to hate him tomorrow, but somehow, it didn't matter. Rachel's teasi different from what he might face at school. There tance buried in it, ed in the fortable yers of sibling rivalry. Besides, he had a feeling his eammates would have his back, just like Rachel did at home.

  Now he just had to figure out how to tell his dad. But that was tomorrow's problem. For now, he had to figure out how to make it up the stairs to shower before dinner.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Third chapter in.I promise this book will eventually get to the Isekai part. It’s a slow burn up to the actual shift. I really wao develop Remi as a person and not just a “Oh Shit I’m A New World Hero with Cheat Skills!!!”. Overall I am trying not to trope out too mu that side of the Isekai genre.

  Edit:

  I’m putting my Discord el back up on perma invite:

  https://disc/NYjPU3auVy

  Join Me and some other people to talk shop, discuss artwork, stories, chatter, or just share fun videos or memes!

  I’ll put this link in other chapters as well.

  Also, feel free to PM me if you have any questions or wanna ent.

  TTFN Everyone.