Disclaimer: I don't own Hot Gimmick, but I do own this plot!
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Chapter Twenty Two: Trapped In The Moment
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"You've got all your stuff? Did you tell your parents?" Ryoki asked Hatsumi.
"Yes, they said it was fine as long I'm back in time for dinner, and they trust you, and yes I've got all my stuff!" Hatsumi answered.
"Then let's go shall we?" Ryoki asked, offering a hand to help Hatsumi. Hatsumi nodded and Ryoki helped her get onto the rowboat. Hatsumi put her stuff in the rowboat and put on her lifejacket. Ryoki started to row.
After a ten minute row, they had arrived at the small island. Together, they both pulled the boat from the shores and settled it down by the forest and the clearing. Ryoki put a tarp over it to conceal it and began to walk towards the clearing.
"Do you know what's on this island?" Hatsumi asked.
"Nothing but trees and a lagoon I hear. Some old bloke bought it but he hasn't been here in ages, I asked the Greece government about it, they said as long he wasn't there or visiting there it can be open to the public however I was able to curry favor with them to make it private for us." Ryoki replied in an informational tone.
"Interesting…" Hatsumi replied. They had arrived at the end of the clearing and what they both saw surpassed their imaginations. Indeed there was a beautiful waterfall and a lagoon below it. Bordering rocks surrounded the lagoon and there was a stair-like type of stairs composed of rocks that lead to a cave, probably hidden behind the waterfall. There was no one around, and it was very quiet, except for the roar of the waterfall.
"…wow." Ryoki muttered out. Hatsumi let out a giggle and walked around to find a good resting spot. She found a rock that had a flat surface and she set all her stuff down on it. Taking off her shirt and boy shorts, she turned to the lagoon.
"Let's go swimming!" Hatsumi excitedly asked.
"Sure." Ryoki replied, taking off his white shirt and shorts. They both jumped in.
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"Subaru what are you doing?" Akane asked. They both were in the arcade room and he was playing Dance Dance Revolution where you had to step on arrows in time to the music.
"Playing DDR!" Subaru shouted out over the blaring music. Akane had no clue what it was but she laughed watching Subaru try to pass a hard song. After his three turns were over, he sighed in sweat and sat down on a nearby chair.
"So, how are you?" Subaru asked Akane.
"Good. I'd like to learn to play that." Akane replied, pointing to the DDR machine.
"Sure, we'll play together. Come on!" Subaru encouragingly replied, pulling Akane towards the machine. After going through the settings Subaru explained, "When the arrow comes up to the arrow holders here," Subaru pointed to the top of the screen where the arrow holders were, "You press that arrow on the mat right here," Subaru replied, pointing down to the mat and the four arrows. "Just like that got it?" he asked Akane.
"Right. Can we please play an easy song?" Akane begged.
"Of course." Subaru willingly replied.
For the next hour, the two played DDR and laughed at each other's mistakes.
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"Oh yeah? Well I dare you to go into that cave and jump off. It's a lagoon, it's clearly rock-less. There's nothing to be afraid of, except heights." Ryoki proudly dared Hatsumi.
"Sure." Hatsumi accepted. She got out of the lagoon, walked over to the path that led to the cave behind the waterfall, and she poked her head out of the waterfall, so Ryoki could see her. She looked down, and it was nothing but water.
"Jump!" Ryoki excitedly yelled out. Taking a sigh, she leaned forward and jumped, hitting the lagoon and felt as the cool rushing water enveloped her. She swam up to the surface, taking a big gulp of oxygen.
"Hatsumi." Ryoki coldly replied.
"Hatsumi." Two voices said in unison. Hatsumi opened her eyes quickly, still murky and adjusting to her surroundings. Never in her mind did she think that she would see those two people ever again, here on this island of all places.
A/N: Duh, Duh, Duh! A cliffhanger!
