A purple-and-black butterfly caught Chihiro's attention. She raced after it, waiting for it to land on some flower or bush. Once she nearly caught it, but it had somehow escaped again. She thought of giving up but then decided against it. If she decided to chase Another butterfly, she was afraid it might take a longer time to catch it. And Kumiko would have long finished Her share of the food.
The path beneath her feet leads to a huge lake. Momentarily distracted, she awed at the beauty laid out in front of her. A huge willow tree stood at the far end of the path, its branches dipping towards the lake. In the centre of the lake a pair of Mandarin ducks glided slowly across the surface, causing a ripple in their wake. On the other side of the lake more willow trees stood, and benches were set up here and there, especially for viewers to admire the scene.
The butterfly flew past her face, and Chihiro woke up from her day dream. She swooped the net at the butterfly, which to avoid her net, flew steadily closer to the lake. Chihiro realized that she would lose the purple-and-black butterfly, so she tried swinging the net the other way. But the butterfly ignored it and still flew closer to the bank.
Chihiro gritted her teeth. The damn butterfly was slowly fluttering at the edge of the lake, as if luring her to catch it. She knelt down on the back, and made a wild sweep with her net for the butterfly. It dodged the net and fluttered even further.
A drop of sweat trickled down her face. Her hand was sweating and her heart was beating fast. She was as close to the bank as the water would permit; another further and she would fall into the lake.
She was determined to get that butterfly. Not much had thought of getting a live specimen for their project, and the extra marks she got would probably make up a bit for her low marks on her Science paper. She Had to have that butterfly.
Eyes narrowed in concentration, she pinpoints the position of the butterfly and swung her net at it.
The net covered the butterfly completely and she gave a cry of victory. But her swung had totally caused her to go forward and she lost her balance. With a shriek she fell into the water.
