UPDATE: this will now be seven parts long instead of four.
A certain day Miku would remember for the rest of her life... started out as a normal fun day in August.
The water in the lively spacious swimming pool was cool and clear. Shiny beads of mist splashed into the air as a blissful Miku eagerly ran down the shallow end grinning, with her friends Rin and Megumi "Gumi" following behind her. The neat little bow on her aqua one-piece top swayed as she ran, along with her skirt in the water.
The three were spending the day at the Otome Water Park, where everything was princess-themed. It was an agreeable place for the three of them. Miku admired princesses, Megumi (whom everyone called Gumi) loved drawing princesses, and Rin... she wanted to be a princess. The reason Miku wore such an elegant swimsuit was because she wanted to fit in with everything.
"Come on slowpokes, hurry!" The excited girl called back to them. Miku was bouncing and already already chest-deep in the refreshing water, hiding that she was reluctant to go any deeper.
"It's really cold..." Rin shivered. She was sensitive to temperatures.
"You're getting awfully eager for a girl who can't swim..." Gumi teased playfully. She didn't mean to sound brash.
"Gumi, that's mean!" Miku turned back to her friends and tried to splash the green-haired girl, who instantly dove underwater and swam away like a dolphin before the spray of water could drench her.
"Wow..." Miku eyed the sight of Gumi underwater and silently marveled at her skill.
"You aren't kidding. Gumi is a star swimmer." Rin stood by Miku and watched Gumi's stroke become breaststroke as she swam off ahead of them.
Gumi surfaced once, then dove deep again, clearly enjoying being surrounded by blue water. It was so perplexing how such a clumsy girl on land was able to maneuver like a dancer underwater. The pool was recently filtered and looked like clear like smooth glass, as if it were a window to another world inhabited by a mermaid. Of course, that mermaid was Gumi.
"She looks like a princess, doesn't she?" Miku whispered to Rin.
The mermaid surfaced to the sight of Miku clapping at her, a wide gaping grin on her face.
"You're amazing!" she beamed.
"Oh, brother." Rin smirked at Miku. That was her catchphrase, mainly because of her twin brother Len.
Gumi glanced away and blushed. Miku always got so carried away with cheering for her friends! She would clap when they did practically anything. She would even clap and cheer when Rin perfectly peeled a tangerine.
"Miku, I'm not that good..." Gumi sighed. She was gasping in air.
"Miku isn't just exaggerating this time. You really are great, Gumi." Rin had lowered her body into the water, bringing it up to her shoulders. "That's why you're such a great member of the school swim team."
Gumi was smiling sheepishly at the blonde girl. "Thanks." she said. She continued underwater and headed towards the deep end, looking to practice her swimming alone. She was quite modest about things and did not intend to receive compliments.
"I wish I could swim..." Miku made a fake pouty face.
"You could always start with taking lessons." Rin said, submerging her entire body in the cool water. "I don't think it's too late."
Rin ended her sentence with a dunk, before she spread her arms out and began to swim away.
"Wait, Rinー"
Miku suddenly felt a bit left behind. Rin was paddling towards the deep end as well, leaving Miku as the only one of the three who wasn't able to swim there.
Not to mention, Gumi and Rin were already best friends before Miku met them on the day of her transfer. She almost felt like a third wheel to their close friendship whenever they would go off somewhere together.
"My friends... they have left me." she thought with anguish. "I'm alone in the shallow end, looking like a loser. Am I a loser?"
Miku sighed and puffed out one cheek. She then realized she was being unlike her usual optimistic self. She decided to dance to the music that played around her to bring her spirits up. Dancing in the water was always fun! She slid, twirled, and flashed poses, her swim skirt elegantly hovering in the water with her every step. Other people were staring at her, but she decided not to care.
After a few minutes of dancing around in the shallow sea of loneliness (A.K.A. the shallow end), Rin and Gumi finally returned near Miku, red-faced and battered from racing through the water together.
"Hey, guys!" Miku raced over towards them, risking being in water that was now up to her shoulders.. "My favorite song is playing, let's dance together!"
"Oh, I'm actually taking Gumi to the bathroom." Rin informed Miku with a small apologetic smile. "Cold water makes her have to pee."
"Rin, d-don't tell her!" Gumi blushed and nudged onto the shorter girl's arm. Rin pat Gumi's back to calm her down.
Miku's heart sank, just a little bit. She concealed it behind the trademark goofy smile that was always on her face.
"Oh... Gumi and Rin are... just going to the bathroom. Together... without me..." she thought.
"Um, okay!" Miku faked a wink and gave them the thumbs-up symbol. "I'll wait right here!"
"Alright."
She watched as the silhouettes of Gumi and Rin became smaller and smaller as they walked into the distance. The lively music Miku had been dancing was now replaced with a slower, somber song.
Miku sighed, feeling her whole small body slump.
"For starters, if only I could swim... my day would've gone different. I would be able to spend time with my friends in the deep end, if only I could swim like them."
If only I could swim...
Miku desperately hopped in the deepening water, trying to float. It worked, kind of. She kind of had to flail her arms for it to work, but she gradually found her balance.
"Great start!" she thought. "Yes, I'll do it! I'm going to teach myself to swim while Gumi and Rin are in the bathroom! When they come back out, they'll be in for a surprise!"
The smile came back to her face.
Miku often had outrageous ideas she believed in wholeheartedly. This time was no different. Her take on everything was that it was possible if she believed in it. After all, she was the girl who still believed in magic and fairy tales.
"I feel like I can!" Miku clenched a liberating fist and said it out loud. She emphasized the words "I can".
Miku energetically hopped deeper and deeper into the pool, ever so slowly on her twinkle toes. She crept until the water was up to her chin and she was floating ever so slightly. It was a little bit unnerving to be in so deep, her heart was beating fast, yet she refused to turn back.
Suddenly, the whistle went off. Its shrill sound penetrated through the airーthe signal that the waves were going to come in a few seconds.
"Wait! No!" Miku began panicking. Extra blood pumped through her veins, painting her face red. The water was past her lips now. It was creeping up to her nostrils as the thin girl struggled to keep herself afloat.
"I forgot this was a wave pool!" she shouted in her mind. She scrambled helplessly to rush back into the shallow end before the ripples were to start tossing her around.
The waves in this particular pool were very realistic, much like the ocean's. They started when all the water got pulled back to the deep end, before being unleashed in succession.
"No, please!" Miku felt a brash tide beginning tug her to the undesired direction. Her flimsy strokes and slowed steps couldn't deter the strength of the water. Towards the deep end the sudden current whisked her.
"No!" Miku's head dipped under the chilling water as she struggled to keep it out and maintain her composture. She gasped in as much air as she could and kicked her legs erratically, causing a sharp pain to suddeny slice through her calf like a red-hot beam of agony.
"Owww!" the helpless girl wailed, sending the waves sailing into her mouth. Breathing was hopeless. She curled up, grabbed her leg tightly, giving in and letting the excruciating pain stun her. She let the pull of the waves sweep her limp body out into the open deep end. The stiffness of her curled-up pose resulted in Miku rapidly sinking to the bottom.
Suddenly, when all seemed hopeless, somebody on the side gasped and a different-sounding whistle blew. Miku couldn't hear it from her depth, but Gumi and Rin, who were making their way back from the restroom, could.
"What's going on?" Rin yelped. There appeared to be commotion at the pool before her.
The whistle-blower clasped her hand to her chest. Her blue pupils dilated at the sight of a girl trapped beneath the waves; her aqua-colored hair camouflaging her. She was as still as a statue.
Suddenly, off of the tall stand that faced the deep pit of water, the lifeguard dove in. She entered the blue water as swiftly as an arrow and quickly vanished into the water to retrieve the drowning girl.
"Oh no! Somebody must be drowning!" Gumi clasped her hand over her mouth and rushed towards the scene, her curiosity peaking. She needed to see the drowning person make it out okay. Plus, a heroic rescue from a lifeguard would surely be a sight for Gumi to witness, as she had pondered being one someday.
The two girls stood stiffly at the edge of the shallow end, shock and concern in their eyes.
Underwater, Miku opened her eyes a tiny crack. She was curled up at the dark bottom of the pool and momentarily had no idea which way she was facing. Chilling silent water surrounded each and every area of her body and surfacing was something she simply couldn't do. Her lungs were nearly at their limit. She had nothing else to do besides close her eyes again, and wait…
But instead, her blue eyes shot right open again. A brilliant sight had caught her eye and wouldn't let her go.
Somebody was swimming to Miku from the distance, her movement rapid and graceful. She was soon close enough for Miku to see her face. Her eyes were open and as purely blue as the surroundings, and her face had an expression of fearlessness. Long hair trailed all around her body in ethereal ribbons, and the light patterns dancing on the surface above reflected on her clear skin.
Her stroke was powerful; she rushed with such beauty and force in every movement of her body. The moment her face was finally inches away from Miku, she took her strong arms and wrapped them around Miku's body. Using her legs, she propelled herself up, along with Miku securely in her grasp.
It was just like being in the fairytale she still believed in. Miku, who didn't know she could lose more breath than she already had, was knocked completely breathless. Winded by the gallant hero that had presented herself before her…
The subtle smile on her dazzling face was the final thing Miku saw before her eyes fluttered shut again.
"Miku… Miku!"
Faint calls of her name poured into her head. She tried opening her eyes. She was lying on a beach chair on her back, her swimsuit dripping and her cold skin warmed by the sun… the faces of her friends Gumi and Rin, along with a few other concerned people were surrounding her in a tight circle as she faced directly upwards.
"I…" Miku uttered. Everything that had happened slowly came back to her.
"She's conscious, everyone!" Rin said in relief. "Give her some time to herself…"
The other people made relieved comments and politely walked away to let Miku be.
"Miku, what happened?" Gumi's eyes were filled with concern. "You were… drowning. But the lifeguard saved you!"
"Lifeguard…"
The visions replayed in Miku's head. That face, that stroke, those eyes… her gallant hero. A warm chill swam through her.
"Miku, you really need to be more careful next time! We were worried sick!" Rin's face and words were brash, but Miku knew that was her way of caring. Deep down, she was an extremely kind girl who'd give everything for her frends.
"Gumi was even crying." Rin pointed to her.
Gumi turned pink again. "Rin! Don't tell her! And besides, you were crying too!"
"I… I had sunscreen in my eyes!" Rin shouted.
"That excuse is the oldest one in the book!" Gumi teased and began ticking Rin, who burst into a fit of giggles. Rin's ticklishness was her weakness.
"Ah! Gumi… okay…" she laughed.
"But both of us are very relieved you're okay, Miku. Miku…?"
"Rin, Gumi…" Miku stood up to confess. "I did something really stupid. While you were gone, I tried to teach myself how to swim."
Rin and Gumi guiltily looked at each other, then back at Miku.
"You guys… you do everything together. You swim together… I can't swim. I guess it was a bit petty of me, but… I felt left out."
"No, we're sorry." Rin almost interrupted. Her voice was modest and apologetic. "Miku… I'm sorry. I've known Gumi longer, and she is my best friend, but… you're my best friend too Miku. I care about you more than you ever could figure out… and I'm so sorry I caused this all to happen. I shouldn't have swam off with Gumi like that."
Gumi nodded. "Miku, we love you. " she said, shyly.
"Guys… thanks." Miku's eyes watered a tiny bit and she reached out to hug Rin and Gumi.
"Besides, the way you think you can do anything... that's what we like about you, Miku. You don't know what impossible is. You never get discouraged..." Gumi rambled.
"You're so kind, Gumi..." Miku patted her soft head as if Gumi were a puppy.
"Let's all play in the shallow end from now on." Rin said. "It's like, more fun there anyway."
Gumi agreed.
Miku was happy to have such good friends, but there was something else she would simply never forget.
Her smile… her embrace… how she had saved her life. Miku wanted to be able to talk to her hero. She was longing for it. What if they could become friends? Thinking about her made Miku's heart flutter and face turn pink. Oh, how she longed to simply know her name!
"Miku, are you okay?" Gumi layered her soft hand over her friend's forehead. "Your face is red… Miku?"
Suddenly, the words flew out of Miku's mouth.
"Beautiful… she was so beautiful."
"...Huh?" Rin and Gumi grew confused in unison.
"She was." Miku said, fondly. "I've never seen anything more gallant."
"You're talking crazy-talk now." Rin squinted. "Just spit it out! You're acting like you're love-dazed."
Gumi gasped.
"Dear, oh dear..." she said. "Could our little Miku be in love?"
Miku blushed even deeper. In a way, she was in love. It was the first time she had felt so... what was the word? Infatuated?
"The lifeguard." Miku flushed. "She had such beautiful eyes, such a kind face. She way she was swimming to rescue me... I can't put it into words. I admire her deeply for coming to my rescue. Since she saved my life, I want to know more about her. I want to know her name, I want to talk to her."
(Oh, why was Miku's face turning so red? Why was she feeling so tingly? Oh, stop it already! Be still Miku's heart!)
"Aww..." Gumi and Rin squealed in unison.
"But I do understand, she saved your life. Therefore, she's already an important person to you." Gumi said.
An important person...
"She is." Miku said. "In just those few moments when I saw her underwater, the world stopped and it just became me and her... the difference between my life and my death was her. Not to mention, she was so beautiful and inspiring. I must see her again..."
"That's such a dramatic way to put it." Rin said. "But, I could agree with it. We have to help! I kind of want to see her too. The least we could do is thank her for saving your life, Miku."
"Luka! Oh my gosh, that was incredible!"
Luka's shift as a lifeguard was over, and she and the rest of them were gathered on the edge of the pool, all congratulating and thanking her.
All of the female lifeguards wore colorful one-piece suits with crown symbols to fit with the princess theme of the park.
"I mean, you saved that girl's life... it was your very first rescue, and you were so calm and diligent." said one lifeguard. Her name was Chise.
Luka swallowed. To tell the truth, she wasn't really calm. She just kept all her fear and worry deep inside of her. Her placid face was a mask over all of her heart-thumping emotions, especially the ones she had felt while saving the drowning girl. She had almost wanted to cry from fear.
"Luka Megurine, you have been trained well. You surely are a treasure to this park's safety" the manager of the park bowed to her.
"Who knows, Luka. Maybe you'll even be featured on the news?" Chise said again. "I mean, you did something so big."
"I..." Luka cleared her throat. She was afraid her voice would come out strange-sounding from being so silent all the time. "I was just doing my job."
Everyone stared at her.
"Wow... she's so modest about it." one of the lifeguards thought.
"If I saved somebody's life, I'd be bragging about it. Luka totally gains my respect!"
"Go Luka!" everyone said.
Luka was feeling embarrassed right now from all the attention, but she hid it. She walked away calmly.
"She's off to do stuff." a male lifeguard said.
"Well, for a reward, I'm going to let her have the rest of the day off her shift." the manager said. "She deserves it. She can play around the park all she wants."
Luka was heading towards the lazy river, where the water was warm. Plus it was surrounded by hot tubs, where she could just relax and be away from people's attention.
But she was still thinking about the girl she had rescued. She seemed to be unconscious... was she okay now? They had said she would be okay. But Luka wanted to be sure. She wanted to see her smiling face.
"I was so worried about her that I had almost burst into tears." Luka thought. "I want to see her again. I want to know that she's okay."
A/N: This is just the beginning! Once Miku meets Luka again, all kinds of fluff will happen, yes. There will be Gumi x Rin too so stay tuned! Eeep I'm so tempted to put spoilers but I know I shouldn't...
Planned on being about four parts?
By the way, this "Chise" is an OC from one of my original series, Nichijou no Niji. She's here for a cameo! :p