Sousuke took his shoes off and walked to the waters. He looked back towards Akira who is just sitting on the sand, establishing her distance from the water.

"Come on.", called Sousuke.

"No, I'll just stay here."

It was noon, it wasn't even cold, but Akira was hugging her knees close to her.

"It's not a date if it's just me having fun.", said Sousuke again.

"Then let's go somewhere else.", Akira sulked.

Sousuke stopped and rolled his uniform up to his knees. He jogged towards Akira and with swift motion took off both of her shoes and threw it away.

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

Like a sack of potatoes, Sousuke carried Akira and sprinted towards the ocean.

"Hey! Go back, go back!"

She was yelling right at Sousuke's ear but it was as if, he didn't hear any of it.

"It's just water, it's not going to hurt you.", he said.

Yes, it is!

As the water rises on Akira's legs, she closed her arms closer on Sousuke. She closed her eyes in fear. Sousuke can feel her nails digging deep on his back.

"Akira! Look! Open your eyes!"

She was too preoccupied on trying to shut her mind out of the world. Trying not to feel anything.

"Hey! Come on, open your eyes!"

With all the courage, she gathered, she opened her eyes bit by bit. And she was amazed.

Sousuke can see the amazement in Akira's eyes as she saw the view in front of her. The sun directly in front of them, sinking into the sea. Bit by bit.

He wanted her to see this beauty, wanted her to remember this view whenever she felt scared.

Maybe it's starting to take effect because he can feel Akira's arm relaxing around him and she wasn't as tense as before.

As the sun sets down and left the sky dark, Akira was calm in his hands.

"That wasn't so bad isn't it?"


Akira switched on the hair dryer and run it on her hair.

Everyone had tried the extremes on her. The Swim Club throwing her into the water, worst rehabilitation idea ever, and now Sousuke forcefully taking her into the water.

Why is everyone so desperate in making her return to water again? She herself doesn't really want it. The memory of that day was too scary, she prefers to not face it again.

Akira was alone at the pool, she was practicing for her next competition. Being alone in the pool with just her and the sound of water, calms her mind.

"Akira-chan!"

Akira looked up and saw her teammate walking towards the pool.

"You're still here?", she asked.

"Yes, just practicing for a while."

After that girl, was another two of her teammate.

"Oooh, Kamikura-san, you're still here?", they asked again.

"Yeah, what are you doing?" "She said she left her stuff, so we went back."

The three girls just sat and chatted with Akira. It was just normal, then one jumped inside the water and there's two of them underwater.

Her head was pushed into the water, 2 hands on her shoulders. She couldn't lift her head, take a breath, she wasn't ready.

She can hear voices. But that didn't last long.

She stopped fighting, she was dizzy, she felt weak.

"Hey, hey, wait! She stopped moving!"

"What? Is she dead?!"

The 4 girls took their hands of Akira and watched as her body floats.

"What should we do?"

"Girls, what are you doing? Is that Kamikura-san?!"


The walk back to the dorm had dried Sousuke's uniform a bit, but it was still uncomfortable. He opened his dorm room, Rin was already there.

"Hey, you're back late.", he said.

"Hey."

Rin sat back up and watched Sousuke as he had his back on Rin. He has been acting strange and skipping practices. Sousuke took off his clothes and Rin's eyes widened immediately.

"Sousuke.", Rin called seriously.

"What?"

"Where did you go?"

"Somewhere."

Sousuke looked back at Rin to see him looking shocked.

"What's wrong?", asked Sousuke.

"Nothing.", Rin answered as he looked away.

"I'm going to take a shower."

Sousuke walked into the showering room. There was no one, since it was late. It was then he walked past the mirror and found something odd. He turned his back to the mirror.

And there it was, Akira's clawing marks as she struggled him back in the ocean.

God, he needs to explain it to Rin. No wonder, he was so shocked.


Has she become the swimming expert? The swimming advisor?

Akira thought to herself.

Right now, even Gou is telling her about the Swim Club.

"So, you know, even Haruka-senpai has made a new regime for regionals. I wanted to help them too, as their manager!"

"And what do you have in mind?", asked Akira.

"You, Akira-san!"

"Me?"

Gou's gleaming eyes full of resolve was the opposite of Akira's clueless look. She didn't expect this.

"I need you to help me cater their meals!"

"What?"

"Well, I really liked to help them eat better since their bentos are awful and not nutritious enough. But they were so traumatized with what I made last time. The full of protein bentos I make. That's why, I need you! Everyone praises the food you made! Please, Akira-san!"

Akira was still thinking about the answer despite Gou being very eager.

"I'll help you shop, I'll help you cook, I'll do anything!"

"Okay, then ..."


Gou tagged along as Akira made the grocery shopping. For Gou, it was a valuable experience. Akira seems to know about cooking and all, just like a good housewife.

When they returned, Makoto was waiting at Akira's door.

"Oh! Makoto-senpai!"

"Makoto-kun."

"Hi, shopping took a while, didn't it?", said Makoto.

"What are you doing here, Makoto-senpai?", asked Gou.

"I heard about the catering and as the team Captain, I feel obligated to help."

Gou went all smiles as Makoto lend his hand to take the heavy groceries off her hand. Akira opened her door.

"Come on in, then."

Gou was amazed the first thing she entered Akira's house.

"Wow, Akira-san, you have time to study, cook delicious foods and still have time to clean your house?", said Gou amazed.

"It's not much, really."

"Come on, girls, time to start cooking.", said Makoto.

Makoto, being a frequent guest of Akira's house, knows his way around. But it was different for Gou. While carrying a pot of water, Gou crossed ways with Makoto, bumped into him and accidentally spilled the whole pot on him.

"Makoto-senpai!", cried Gou.

Akira can only freeze while the whole accident happened in front of her. In moments, Makoto was soaked.

"I'm so sorry, Makoto-senpai!"

"Thank goodness, you hadn't boiled it yet.", said Makoto.

"Nii-san still left some of his clothes here, follow me."

Akira led Makoto to the second floor bathroom. Makoto went inside and Akira went to look for some spare clothes. She knocked on the bathroom door and gave the clothes through the small opening.

Akira was stepping away when Makoto's voice came from the bathroom.

"Akira-san, why do you have a Samezuka jacket in your laundry?"