Reminiscences of our School Days

Chapter 2: Close Call

Kaori sulked as she unbuttoned her blouse to put on her school swimsuit. The mark was now purplish and it didn't take a genius to tell her how it should feel.

'Ouch!'

She winced slightly as she attempted to pull her arms through under the thin straps. Damn, that Mizuki and her unhuman-like strength, she glared at her PE bag to stop her from cursing, I think she fractured one of my ribs. Hearing a giggle from behind her, she turned around, whipping her black, glossy curtain of hair away from her face. Seeing Mizuki's uncaring face, she scowled and looked away, folding her uniform neatly into her bag.

'You know I'm sorry, right Kaori?', asking the direct opposite of what her expression showed, 'I didn't mean to poke that hard.'

Kaori pouted, 'I'd normally forgive you when my bruise heals…in a year. But since we have to do laps today, I'll forgive you now'

Mizuki grinned, she was definitely forgiven. Kaori had to reluctantly depend on her when they had swimming classes. After all, the difference in between their abilities was large. Mizuki was the star on the state swimming team and had countless medals strung everywhere in her house. Kaori, however, had gotten a YOU PARTICIPATED award for swimming 10 metres in a learn-to-swim program. But then again, Mizuki reasoned, it's the complete opposite on land. She's the favourite of our basketball teacher while I'm totally hated. Before she could continue pointing differences out, Kaori interrupted her intense argument.

'Mizuki, hurry up! Saato-Sensei is calling us!'

Shrugging, Mizuki turned and followed Kaori out of the change rooms.

'…Today we should be continuing on practicing racing dives. Would anyone like to demonstrate to us how to perform this?'

Kaori quickly hid herself from the teacher's vision behind Mizuki. No way was she going to dive off that narrow box into a 5m deep swimming pool. Basketball was her thing; she could victor over the guys whenever she wanted to. Swimming, however, involved her most hated thing: water.

The teacher quickly glanced around the room and then selected his victim.

'Sana-chan, please come up and show us what your racing dive looks like. Use the box instead of the edge, it gives you more leverage.'

A nervous brunette climbed stepped from the crowd and climbed shakily onto the box. Her actions were stiff and she almost fell into the water. Standing up, Sana arched her back and stretched out her arms, holding them together behind her ears. The coach fixed her position a bit then blew the whistle. Sana plunged into the water, to the applause of the relieved crowd; at least it wasn't them.

The coach waited until Sana had climbed out of the pool and then gave her some advice.

'Sana, your stance was almost perfect and the jump was pretty good, however, you split your legs apart as you hit the water. In a good racing jump, this mustn't happen. Keep on practicing.'

Saato-Sensei coughed and then began talking to the rest of the class again.

'Sana's jump was improvement to the last time, however, she does need more practice. Let's see someone from the swimming team now, to show us how it is properly done. Please raise your hand if you are a member.'

Kaori smiled at Mizuki as her friend raised her hand.

'Ganbatte, Mizuki!'

Saato-Sensei nodded at Mizuki. At last, he thought, we have someone with talent.

'Mizuki-chan, please show us your racing dive now.'

Mizuki clapped, delighted.

'Awesome, my turn.'

She stepped confidently up onto the diving box and then waved at Kaori, who was smiling hesitantly out of the crowd.

Mizuki waited for the coach's whistle, not even bothering to go into the stance. Swimming was something she could do.

At the signal, Mizuki jumping and placed her arms up in the right position. In a flash, she was cutting quickly and gracefully in the water.

Saato-Sensei was pleased but reminded her to put show the right position before diving so that he could check for any problems.

'Ok, mina-san, you are now allowed to freely swim laps. This lesson ends in forty-five minutes, so please get out fifteen minutes earlier so you have time to change.'

The coach walked to his chair in the middle of the swimming pool, where he could see if any trouble happened.

Kaori sighed in relief. Nothing bad had happened yet. Free lap swimming should be fine since the coach never pays attention. I can just do slow freestyle.

'Mizuki, come on! Shall we swim together?'

Mizuki skipped back towards her best friend.

'Sure, why not. I feel tired today, anyway. We can go really slowly.'

Kaori rolled her eyes. Sure, she thought, tired…right. She's pretty much jumping as she speaks.

'Okay, let's start then.'

Pulling her hair into a high ponytail she jumped cautiously into the water while holding onto the metal rails. Thank god, it was heated. Kaori saw Mizuki and laughed as her friend scowled, struggling to get her waist length curly hair into a swimming cap.

'You look ridiculous, Mizuki. Why do you even want to wear that? It looks horrible. I mean, it's a piece of rose and black coloured rubber that you pull over your head.'

Mizuki stuck her tongue out.

'It's not just me, nuff nuff. All the members of the swimming team have to wear it. It stops your hair from floating everywhere. And plus, I need it since my hair explodes when I was it unless I have this on.'

She jumped into the water, doing a somersault before rising to the surface again. 'Shall we start?'

Kaori was about to answer but out of the corner of her eye, she had spotted Lavi and his friends walking onto the basketball courts. Why couldn't we play basketball instead, she grumbled to herself, it's right next to the swimming pool…

'Yeh, let's start,'Kaori murmured absent-mindedly.

Mizuki pushed off the wall and started swimming with practiced hands but slowly, expecting Kaori to catch up. Following her, Kaori pushed off the wall without realising and then stopped studdenly.

'Wahh?'

Then realisation hit her and she sank with one last breath into the water into the water.

Kaori panicked.

Water was everywhere, water was everything. She couldn't see anything in front of her except for countless little air bubbles and her eyes squeezed themselves shut to the chlorine. Arms flailing, legs kicking desperately, she tried to move upwards…but which way was up and which way was down this place full of suffocating water?

'Mizuki!'

She tried to scream but water rushed into her mouth, choking her, sealing off her airways. It was cold, unnaturally cold water moving around her, slowing down her movements, capturing her. Killing her.

Am I. Going to. Die?

With the last of her breath, she yelled one last silent plea for help.

'LAVI!'

To be continued…

Dum dum dum DUM!

Will Kaori be rescued from the grasp of the water? Or will she suffocate and drown? Find out next chapter~ Remember more reviews equals faster uploads~

JenniAngel xx