42. The Water Race And Her Least Favorite Person

**Manuel**

She stared at him with enough hatred to cause a water tank to explode. He couldn't tell what raced through her mind at that moment. If she wanted to cuss him out, now was the time.

However, Rosé swallowed her pride and regained her composure. She calmu turned to him and offered a faint smile. "I think I should be saying that to you. Your feet are large, but they're generally useless."

Someone gasped behind them. There were some snickers. Manuel's eye twitched.

"What?" He said. "Do you have a foot fetish or something?"

"That would imply there's something about you to be attracted to." Rosé gave his entire body a sweep with her eyes. "And you couldn't be more wrong."

Each team received a baton. Rosé turned away from Manuel and returned her focus to the teachers as they gave further instructions. Manuel took her in.

Her black bathing suit did nothing to hide her curves. But it did cover her butt, unfortunately. Her arms were folded over ample breasts, which signalized she was tired of his shit.

Manuel bit the corner of his lips. A corner of his lips tugged upwards.

Robin witnessed their exchange. She was used to the heated glares Rosé shot Manuel on a daily basis. What she wasn't used to was seeing her boyfriend this ticked off.

No, this was more than ticked off. His gaze never left her, even though she long since started ignoring him. Along with annoyance, there was a hint of… intrigue?

Robin wrapped around Manuel's elbow and leaned into him. That's the only time he stopped looking at her and turned his attention back to the teachers. Robin felt a sense of relief.

The instructions were as clear as day. Each team was meant to cross the lake five times. Two members would stand on one end while the other three stood on the starting side. They would pass the baton to the next swimmer. The first team that had all their members finish the race wins.

Strategies were made, and the whistle was blown.

Camilia, Joshua and Manuel were on the starting side. Robin and Rosé were on the other end. Another whistle was blown.

Camilia was the first swimmer. She gracefully sliced through the water with a red baton in one hand. The others were catching up to her but she was quick.

Robin positioned herself near the water to reach for the baton. Her blonde hair was in a ponytail while Rosé had hers in a french braid.

Suddenly, Robin said, "Rosy, can you stop arguing with Manuel for one day? I really hate seeing it."

"I know we're taking this one day at a time, Robin, but how come you only hear when I respond to him and not when he says something to me? He's your boyfriend now, and I'm not responsible for anything he does."

Before Robin could respond, Camilia was close. She grabbed the baton from her and dived into the water.

Robin wasn't the fastest swimmer, but she could hold her own so that she wouldn't end up as the last person to cross the lake.

On the starting side, Joshua stretched his arms as he prepared for his turn.

"Heh, I know that the world isn't ready for what a genius like me has in store," he said. Then he turned to Manuel and froze. "Not that I'm comparing myself to you! You're not a simple man by any means! Um… haha."

Manuel remained silent. Joshua followed his gaze and realized he was looking in the direction of Rosé. "Argh, so annoying, right?"

He sighed and glanced down at Joshua. "What is?"

"How much of an attention whore she is. You barely said a few words to her and she had the nerve to come after you. Who does she think she is? Even after that accident yesterday she didn't have the decency to stay in the hospital and hide her face. She just had to come here so people could look at her. Margo should have used a bit more force."

As Joshua laughed at his own jokes, he felt a sinister energy targeting the back of his neck. He spun his head around. All he could see was Manuel's smiling face.

"Joshua, I'm going to ask you one question," Manuel said. "Do you like being alive?"

Joshua blinked and nodded. "Y-yeah, as much as any other person."

A blush developed on his cheeks. This was the first time the hard-to-approach Manuel smiled at him! What a feat!

Manuel said nothing else.

Robin had crossed the lake. She handed the baton to Joshua. Now it was his turn.

_______

**Cameron**

A faint smell caught his nose.

Cameron stopped fanning himself and looked around.

The shade from the trees kept the sun out of his face. After this match it would be his team's turn to compete. He couldn't wait for Rosé to see him in his tight trunk. It won't be long until she thanks him for allowing her to view his immaculate abs.

Cameron chuckled to himself. Yeah, in his dreams maybe.

But he couldn't get that scent out of his head. It smelt like freshly plowed earth and dead fish.

He got up, promising his teammates that he was just going to take a piss, and wandered into the woods.

He followed his nose like a good dog, as Denis would say. Still, he couldn't find anything.

Cameron shrugged. They were in the wilderness after all, so it wouldn't be far-fetched for a wild animal to leave a fish carcass so close to the lake. He was about to turn back when he heard rustling.

Cameron changed the structure of his hands so that they were similar to those of bats. It came closer. He remained steady.

When Tommy rushed out, coughing, he changed back into his human form and helped him stand up.

Tommy managed to stand up with his help, but it was obvious he was having trouble catching his breath.

"Hey, come on man." Cameron padded his back. "Do you need me to blow some air into you or something?"

Tommy didn't fall for Cameron's jokes. He looked all around him. "Is it here? Did it come this way?"

"Did what come this way? Thomas, I've only seen you."

"A āhuicotl."

Cameron froze. Then he blinked several times. "A bloody water dog? Thomas, we're not in South America."

"Do I look like I'm playing around?" Tommy exclaimed.

Cameron took him in. His hair was a complete mess. Something red stained his right cheek. Dirt lay underneath his fingernails. His purple shirt seemed to have been torn by claws, exposing skin where a wound should have been.

He gulped. "What the hell happened? Are we supposed to be expecting bodies popping up with no teeth and nails now?"

"No, I think I killed it." Tommy wiped his face with the helm of his shirt. "Tore a piece of its heart out. I'll tell you what happened later. For now, show me to your tent so I can get changed."

_________

**Rosé**

Only one lap remained.

I kept my eyes locked on my destination. I was this close. After this it would be up to Manuel to make sure we won.

Someone got there before me, but that didn't matter as long as Manuel was a good swimmer.

My hands touched the bank. I handed Manuel the baton and he dived right in. I thought that was the end of it and prepared to get out of the water. However, a hand snaked around my waist and pulled me back under.

I held my breath and opened my eyes once I knew that I was fully submerged.

Manuel stared right back at me.

I pointed in the direction behind him, reminding him of the race. He didn't show any signs of caring. His movements said that he was relaxed.

His face was just a few centimeters in front of mine.

I glared at him. For some reason that made him smile. Manuel's hand remained at my side.

Soon both of them were resting on my waist.

Manuel's thumbs drew circles there.

I felt an unpleasant shiver.

His eyes glowed green in the murky water. Blue veins spread all over his skin, making him paler than usual.

A crooked smile graced his lips. I could hear his voice although we were both submerged.

"Don't worry about a little race. It's nothing for me."

After staring into my eyes for a second longer, Manuel let me go. He put the baton inside his mouth and swam faster than my eyes could keep up. In his trail was a cloud of bubbles.

That piece of shi-