Akira couldn't really believe the sight in front of her. She never had so many people eating with her. It has always been her brother and her, never more. Occasionally it would be with their parents. But now, there is a total of 5 persons. They had moved to the living room because the dining table won't fit all of them.

"Delicious!"

Makoto smiled at his younger siblings, it has been like ten times they said the food in front of them is delicious.

After getting Akira's stove back on, she continued her pot-au-feu and whipped additional kaarage. It was late dinner but the kids didn't mind waiting. Haru seems to be enjoying his food too. Akira smiled a lot too this night. Everyone on the table is very happy and content.

"Onee-chan, how can you cook so well?", asked Ren.

"Hmm, I had a lot of practice."

"Hey, can we go and have dinner here every day?", asked Ran.

"Ran!", called Makoto.

"Your mother would be sad if you skip dinner every day. But Ren and Ran can come here and have dinner once in a while."

Haru seems to be fixated on something as his eyes has been focusing on something else. He points his finger out.

"Kamikura-san, is that you?"

Everyone looked at the direction of Haru's finger. Makoto sighed, out of all things Haru has to ask about that. The mermaid photo.

"Yes.", answered Akira.

"Onee-chan, you became a mermaid?!", asked Ren and Ran together.

They stood up and went to the picture.

"How can you be a mermaid?"

Akira made a small laugh, something that surprises both Makoto and Haru.

"They make the tails and you just wear them."

"And you can take pictures underwater?"

"Well, there is a special case for cameras so that they don't get wet underwater."

Ren and Ran looked up at the picture in awe.

After dinner, everyone was very full and very happy, especially the twins. They volunteered to clean the table while Akira, Makoto and Haru wash all the dishes.

"So, Akira-san, have you made other friends yet?", asked Makoto.

"No.", answered Akira with a shake of her head.

"We're friends.", said Haru.

Makoto smiled at Haru, Akira gave a small smile at Haru's sincerity.

"Yes, we're your friends, Akira-san. I'm sure everyone in the Swim Club would want to be your friends too, it's not about swimming. Your classmates too.", said Makoto.

"Greeting them would be a great start.", advised Haru.

As the night grew darker, Akira's guest went home. Ren and Ran was all smiles and was looking forward for their next visit.

Akira felt a glow inside her heart. It was a strange feeling, because it has been a long time since she was this happy.

Akira stepped inside her classroom and went to her seat. The girl next to her was already there talking with her friends.

"Ohayou.", Akira said slowly.

The girls looked surprised, but it quickly turned into a big smile and they greeted Akira back happily.

"Ohayo, Kamikura-san!"

Makoto was wearing his shoes when Haru tapped him on his shoulders.

"Makoto."

"What is it?"

"It's Kamikura-san."

"Oh right."

Haru pointed at Akira that is walking towards the shoe lockers.

"Don't you want to bring her to the Swim Club?", asked Haru.

"What? Won't that be hard for her?"

"After last night, I think she can do it now."

"You think so?", Makoto asked.

"Yes."

"Let's just hope the others won't do anything crazy anymore."

With confidence, Makoto and Haru walked towards Akira. She wasn't that surprised to see them, unlike the early days.

"Akira-san, do you want to come see the Swim Club?"

"Eh?"

"Well, just come and see. You know the Swim Club in Tokyo would be much better than us, right? Maybe you can come and tell us what you think?"

Makoto spurted out whatever pops in his head as a sudden response. He was afraid that even the slightest thing would tip Akira off from her improvements till this day.

"Well, all right."

"We are not a big club, which is why Gou is so desperate in getting you in our club. Gou is our manager by the way. I'm the captain of the club, I do backstroke. Haru here..."

"I only swim free.", said Haru boldly.

"Then we have Nagisa with the breaststroke and Rei on butterfly. Rei was actually a track club member and he doesn't know how to swim. But he diligently learned and practiced, now he can do butterfly well."

Akira listened carefully on Makoto's words. Today has been a good day, it was different and it was better. Akira felt she can do everything, well maybe not. But she was feeling so much better.

And as she arrived at the Swim Club, she was surprised. Everyone was greeting her.

"Kamikura-san!"

The 2 boys and 1 girl approached her but it was a shock when they bowed their head down and one dropped to his knees.

"Kamikura-san! We are very very sorry!"

"Please forgive us, Kamikura-san!"

"Kamikura-san, what I did was stupid and I felt terrible. But I watched your swimming and your butterfly was beautiful. I learned everything about how to swim beautifully, but your swimming was something different and it truly needs years of practice and polishing to perfect it!..."

"Rei...", mumbled Makoto in disbelief.

Akira's mouth fell open as she was surprised, genuinely surprised. Makoto approached her with an awkward expression.

"We are ... quite a struggling club."

She was surprised, but she was okay about it. It wasn't so bad after all.

After all the guys of the Swim Club jumped down the water and resumed their routine, Akira was planning on leaving.

"Are you leaving?", asked Gou.

"Yes."

"So, are you swimming again anytime soon?"

Akira gave a slight surprised expression that knocked Gou off immediately.

"Well, Makoto-senpai told us, a part of your story. But he was doing it for you, he asked for advices, how to help you. He was very serious about it."

Akira gave no reply for Gou.

"I myself don't know how to swim. But my brother and everyone here seems to be very happy when they were swimming. In the water is where everything happened. It was their best of times. I know you felt it too before. We are going on prelims. Come and watch us."

It was time to restock the food in Akira's house again. Deep down, Akira actually looked forward to the twins. Seeing someone so happy because of her food actually made Akira happy.

As the train moved, Akira leaned on the sides listening to the music on her ears. One hand was holding her shopping.

'Next stop XX Station'

Some people got off at the station and someone got in. It wasn't that crowded, so Akira stayed on her place.

"Eh, it's you."

A masculine voice pierced through Akira's music. She took off one earphone and the sight of the men in front of him.

"Yamazaki-kun, right?"

Sousuke stood in front of Akira, both still in their school uniforms. Akira took attention of the station they just passed. It was also the station where they first met.

"The girl called Akira.", teased Sousuke.

"It's Kamikura. Kamikura Akira."

"You're here not because you're lost again aren't you?"

"Of course not. I'm doing some shopping.", answered Akira angrily.

"That looks heavy, want me to help you?"

Akira waved her hand and puts down her shopping on the train floor.

"Where are you going?", asked Akira.

"Back to Samezuka."

That was the end of their conversation. Akira wasn't going to ask any more questions, it wasn't her habit to do so.

But for Sousuke, he actually have a lot of things to say and ask to the girl in front of her.

"Hey, have we met before?", asked Sousuke.

"Are you joking? Of course we've met. You accused me of being an escaped hospital patient!"

"No, I mean before that. Somewhere else, like swimming competitions or ...?"

"Why did you think we met on a swimming competition?", asked Akira suspiciously.

"You're a swimmer right?"

"What makes you think that?"

Akira fixed her eyes on the man in front of her.

"Some coincidence.", answered Sousuke.

"What coincidence?"

"Some."

Sousuke wasn't going to tell Akira the whole story, it was a weird story after all and it made him look like a stalker.

'XX Station... XX Station...'

Akira picked up her things immediately.

"This is my stop, I have to go."

And with that, Akira left. Leaving Sousuke with even more questions unanswered.