As one's eyes scan the indoor pool gym, it becomes evident that a large group of students has gathered, creating a buzz of excitement in the air. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation as it appears that a significant competition is about to take place.

Despite the event not having started yet, the majority of the audience is already on their feet, moving around, and engaging in conversations with their peers. Some are enthusiastically forming a cheering chant to show support for their campus.

The energy inside the gymnasium is palpable, and the crowd's enthusiasm is contagious. The anticipation builds as the start of the competition draws near, and the excitement continues to grow with each passing moment. The sense of community and togetherness amongst the students is tangible, creating a sense of unity and shared purpose.

"Where is Sana?!"

Jihyo's voice boomed over the din of the bustling gymnasium as she inquired about the whereabouts of their friend, Sana. She had to raise her voice several notches to be heard above the chatter of hundreds of students and other background noises. However, her loud voice was too much for Nayeon, who was standing close by, and she flinched at the sudden increase in volume. "Are you trying to break my eardrums?" she exclaimed, while Jeongyeon and Momo joined in with laughter.

The sound of their combined laughter reverberated around the gymnasium, drawing the attention of those around them. Nayeon felt embarrassed by their noisy antics, and she watched as several people in front of them turned their heads to see who was responsible for the commotion.

Jihyo had an ulterior motive for asking about Sana's whereabouts. She wanted to urge Sana to hurry up and take her seat before someone else got there first. Jihyo had spotted an individual hovering around, waiting for a chance to snag Sana's spot. It was located close to where the athletes would be exiting, making it a prime location to witness the competition.

"Jeongyeon, send Sana a message and tell her the competition has already started," Jihyo instructed, even though it was a blatant lie, and none of the competitors had emerged from the changing rooms yet. She hoped this white lie would spur Sana into action and prevent her from wasting time in front of the mirror, admiring her own reflection.

Jeongyeon scrolled through her phone to show Jihyo the multiple messages she had sent to Sana, all of which had gone unanswered. "I'm guessing she's still sleeping," Jeongyeon remarked with a shrug, indicating that Sana had yet to respond.

Momo chimed in, expressing her disappointment at Sana's absence. "That's her loss," she declared. "She already has this one chance to extend her hand out for a handshake as her crushie moves to the exit."

Nayeon nodded in agreement, adding, "She's really squandering that opportunity for sleep? Sleep isn't even usual in college, so why is she doing it?"

Jeongyeon chuckled at their friend's excitement, then playfully whacked Momo on the back of her head with the palm of her hand. "You're insane!" she exclaimed. "You know Sana is the busiest of the five of us, so when she has time to rest, she takes it."

Despite her friends' disapproval, Nayeon couldn't help but feel envious of Sana's ability to prioritize rest amidst their busy schedules. "I wish I could do that," she muttered, eyeing Sana's empty seat longingly.

Jihyo rolled her eyes at the bickering between her friends but couldn't help but smile at their close bond. "Let's just focus on the competition, guys," she reminded them. "We can catch Sana up later."

Nayeon nodded in agreement, but Momo couldn't let it go. "This is not the time to rest!" she protested, emphasizing her point with a playful jab at Jeongyeon's arm.

Jeongyeon rubbed her arm and shot Momo a mock-glare. "I'll send a message to Seungyeon," she relented. "But you guys owe me for this one."

"Why don't you just ask her to come here and join us?" Nayeon suggested, her eyes still trained on Sana's empty seat.

"Why would I even want her here?" Jeongyeon considered the idea for a moment before shaking her head. "I don't think she's interested in sports," she said. "But fine, I'll ask her."

"I just know that Yoo Jeongyeon is mean."

As Jeongyeon composed a message to her sister, Momo shared her own experience with having a sibling. "I understand," she said with a wry smile. "I have an older brother who does nothing except irritate me every time we see each other. That's why I chose to study in South Korea rather than stay with him in Japan. With him around, I simply cannot concentrate on my academics."

Nayeon pouted, visibly upset that Sana had yet to show up. "If she doesn't come today, I'm going to ignore her for a whole week," she declared, trying to get a rise out of her friends.

Jihyo chuckled at Nayeon's threat, while Momo shook her head in amusement. "She won't even care if you do that," Momo pointed out. "And besides, it's not like I'd be bothered if you ignored me for a week," she joked.

Jeongyeon chimed in with a similar sentiment, causing the trio to high-five each other in agreement. They found it amusing that Nayeon was taking Sana's absence so personally.

Fed up with her friends' teasing, Nayeon rolled her eyes and made a dramatic statement. "I'm going to leave our group chat and make new friends," she announced, hoping to get a reaction.

Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Momo exchanged amused glances, knowing full well that Nayeon wasn't serious. They had all been friends for too long for Nayeon to truly leave their group chat over something so small. However, they decided to let her have her moment and playfully encouraged her to do so.

Jeongyeon glanced around the crowded bleachers, searching for a new spot for her and her friends. "Should we find another seat?" she suggested, turning to Momo. Jihyo nodded in agreement, and Momo hummed in affirmation. As they stood up to move, Nayeon couldn't help but feel frustrated with their teasing behavior.

"How come all of you are mean?" Nayeon exclaimed, feeling left out of their playful banter.

Jeongyeon was about to retort when her phone buzzed, interrupting the conversation. She quickly checked her messages and read out loud, "Seungyeon-unnie says Sana is on her way."

The mention of Sana's name brought a sigh of relief from Jihyo and a small smile to Momo's face. "She better be," Jihyo muttered, scanning the pool deck for any sign of their missing friend.

Their attention was quickly drawn to a stunningly beautiful lady making her way towards them. "Ah, there!" Jihyo exclaimed, pointing towards the approaching figure.

Momo couldn't help but admire the stunningly beautiful Miyeon as her eyes followed the girl's movements. "Wow, Miyeon is really pretty," she muttered to herself, lost in thought. "It's no surprise that so many people have a crush on her," Momo added, unaware of Jeongyeon's reaction to her words. Jeongyeon quickly shielded her eyes, seemingly bothered by how Momo mentions Miyeon's name.

"Have you forgotten that Sana likes her?" Jeongyeon exclaimed loudly, reminding Momo that Miyeon was someone special to their friend. It wasn't uncommon for people to idolize and admire Miyeon. Everyone thinks, "Who wouldn't want such a perfect girl?"

"I didn't say I'd take her away from Sana!" Momo quickly defended herself, feeling defensive at Jeongyeon's outburst. "Plus, Miyeon doesn't even know our friend! Why are we acting as if something is going on between them?" she reasoned, hoping to calm Jeongyeon's nerves.

"Isn't that why we're here?" Jihyo interjected, her eyes rolling at the situation. It was clear to her that their group was here to support Sana, but the conversation seemed to have taken a turn towards Miyeon.

Nayeon couldn't help but express her intentions, "I am not even interested in swimming, but I came to support Sana and maybe, if fate allows, get her a chance to talk or snap a photo with Miyeon," she added while looking at the swimming pool with excitement. Jihyo listened and nodded in agreement. "Sana is also well-known around here because of her gorgeous looks," Nayeon continued, as if she had known Sana for so long.

Momo found an opportunity to tease Nayeon by asking, "Is that why you used to have a crush on Sana?" The teasing was short-lived, as Nayeon reacted by hitting Momo's shoulder repeatedly.

"Hey, I told you not to bring that up again!" Nayeon exclaimed.

Jihyo, on the other hand, was exasperated by their friends' childish antics. She sighed and held her forehead, hoping that they would calm down soon. "What Nayeon is trying to say is that there is a possibility that Miyeon might have a thing for Sana as well, but none of them has done anything about it," Jihyo clarified, hoping to bring the discussion back to its original topic.

Dahyun was trying to calm her nerves by stretching near the door of their changing room. She had already done plenty of stretching, but it seemed like she just couldn't stop. Her teammate, Mina, noticed this and decided to approach her to offer some support.

"Hey," Mina whispered softly, trying not to attract too much attention. Dahyun looked up from her stretches and focused her attention on Mina.

"It won't happen again," Mina attempted to reassure her. Dahyun's expression suggested that she was not completely convinced.

"I hope so," Dahyun said quietly, her voice full of worry.

Mina could sense the anxiety in her teammate's voice, and she wanted to help her feel better. "Have faith in yourself," she said in a calming tone.

"It's just..." Dahyun stood up straight and wriggled her arms in an attempt to relax. "I don't want to be the reason for our team's defeat," she confessed.

Mina understood where Dahyun was coming from. "A lot of swimmers get cramps while in the water. It's almost inevitable," she said, trying to reassure her.

"Well, not many people get it while competing," Dahyun said, still feeling concerned.

Dahyun let out a deep breath and nodded at Mina's words. Winning was all she could think about, and the thought of losing again made her stomach churn. The memory of last year's competition was still fresh in her mind. She had trained hard and was ready to give her all, but fate had other plans for her. The leg cramp had hit her at the worst possible time, and she had no choice but to slow down, letting their opponents take the lead.

Despite her teammates' reassuring words, Dahyun couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment. They had all worked hard, and she felt like she had let them down. However, Mina's words of encouragement were a balm to her soul. She smiled gratefully at her teammate, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

As they made their way towards the door, Dahyun couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. She knew that the competition would be tough, but she was ready to take on the challenge. As they stepped out into the hallway, Dahyun's eyes scanned the area for Jennie and Miyeon.

She caught a glimpse of familiar faces near the pool. "There they are!" she exclaimed, pointing towards the group.

Mina followed her gaze and grinned. "Let's go say hi!" she said, leading the way towards the group of girls. As they approached, Dahyun felt a wave of nervousness wash over her. She was never good at small talk, especially when it came to people she didn't know very well.

"Hey, guys!" Mina chirped, breaking the silence. Jennie and Miyeon turned towards them, their faces lighting up in recognition. "How's it going?"

"Pretty good," Jennie replied, her gaze shifting towards Dahyun. "Hey, Dahyun, how are you feeling about the competition?"

Dahyun swallowed nervously before replying. "I'm feeling good, but a little nervous," she admitted. "Last year was tough, but I'm ready to give it another shot."

"That's the spirit!" Miyeon chimed in, a smile on her face. "You got this, Dahyun."