"Ugh. It really doesn't cover much." I frowned as I study myself in the mirror in the change room. I could hear the splashing of water from outside. 'I guess they are all in the pool. ...I can't stay in here forever...' I sighed and started to head for the exit. As soon as I got to the door I caught a glimpse of the guys in the pool, 'They are all...topless?!' I gasped and jumped back into the change room and peaked around the corner. I couldn't help but stare at Eisuke's bare chest, 'My oh my. He sure is well built. I wonder if he works out... His skin looks so smooth, I want to touch it... Waaait, what am I thinking?!' I came back to my senses and shook my head after that incoherent thought.

"Hey, Elli! Are you coming out?"

"Eeep!" I could hear Joelle calling out to me. I knew I couldn't hide any longer. 'I guess It's time to face the music. So what if I'm showing a little...a lot of skin, I just need to be confident in myself.' I tried to reassure myself and with that I made my way out. "Sorry. I'm coming in." I said with a smile and at that moment all eyes were on me. 'Whhha? Don't stare! How rude!' I felt my cheeks starting to grow hot from the stares. My eyes wandered over to one person in particular, 'Why is he looking at me like that...?' Eisuke seemed as if he was surprised with how I was dressed, his eyes were firmly fixed on me. 'Does he like it...?' I felt a bit uneasy but tried my best to not worry about it and got into the large swimming pool. "What took you so long?" Joelle swam up to me. "Oh, I was just having trouble tying up my bikini." I quickly replied. "I could have helped you." Joelle replied and I shook my hands, an awkward smile on my face, "It's okay. I managed to tie it on my own." I replied. 'Phew. I couldn't tell her it was because the costume you gave me was so skimpy it was embarrassing. She might get sad...'

Everyone seemed to be having a good time, swimming around the pool together and laughing. However, I kept my distance, I knew I would only be viewed as a pest If I tried to join in. 'Sigh. It's always the same. I want to say something, I really do...' But, I knew If I said something, It would only end up worse for me. I couldn't defend myself as long as I had my friendship with Joelle on the line, even though I sometimes wondered what our friendship really meant. I kept hoping that one day things would change. '...I just can't be thrown out of the band. Of course my friendship with Joelle is important but if there is a chance I'm able to become famous with them someday, It might be the only way I find her...'

*Splash!*

"Huh?!" I was suddenly shaken from my thoughts when I received a face full of water. "Hahaha." I could hear the sound of laughter as I rubbed the water from my eyes, "Eisuke?" I blinked a few times as I stared at him, he was right in front of me. "How many times has it been now?" He smirked like he was teasing me. "Has what been?" I asked and he moved in closer, "The amount of times you have spaced out. It's like you live a whole other life in your head." He replied and I slightly drew back in embarrassment, "And?! Maybe I do!" I quickly replied in my embarrassment and he laughed. "You really do have the most intriguing expressions. They never get boring." Eisuke said with a smirk. 'Geez, I swear he does that just to get me riled up! Why must he always pick on me...' I roll my eyes in exasperation. Looking around the pool, I noticed nearly everyone had now gotten out. Only Kat, Joelle, Soryu and Ota remained besides me and Eisuke.

'I didn't even notice them getting out. I ws too focused on Eisuke...' Stephanie was reading a book as she laid on one of the pool chairs. Yumi was resting on her stomach as she laid on her towel besides the pool. Mandy was laying back on one of the pool chairs with her eyes closed and Baba and Mamoru were laying on a pair of pool chairs side by side.

"Do you plan to keep following me?" I asked. Anytime I moved in the pool, Eisuke would follow behind me. "Do you have a problem with that? It's not as if you have a sign here saying I can't." He replied in a smug tone. "Well, no. But, Why are you following me?" I asked and he stopped moving for a second as if to think about it, "Beats me. I guess I find you fun." He replied and I raised an eyebrow. 'Fun? Why am I always fun to him? Is that really all there is...' I pursed my lips. "What's with that face? You should be happy someone like me is interested in you." He sounded so conceited. "What did you just say?" My head snapped back, I definitely wasn't pleased, "Why should that make me happy? Honestly, it doesn't matter who you are. If you were the richest man on earth or the smartest kid in school, If you don't know how to treat someone kindly and with respect then no, I'm not happy someone like you is interested in me!" I spat and for once, Eisuke looked stunned by my outlash. 'Oh gosh. What did I just do... Everyone is staring at me.' I sunk down into the water in attempts to hide away, I couldn't believe I lost it like that but Eisuke went too far thinking he could treat me like that just because he thought of himself as important, someone above others.

"That was a side of you I've never seen." Eisuke muttered in disbelief. 'He looks... troubled. Ugh, I don't want to deal with this right now.' I shook my head and started to swim to the deeper part of the pool, I just wanted to cool my head.

'Ahhhh...!' As I was swimming, a sharp pain suddenly shot up through my leg, It rendered it unusable. 'Oh gods, I can't keep myself afloat.' I started to sink and with no where to grab on to, I had no way to stop myself from sinking. "Help!" I desperately screamed out, the pool was so big and everyone was at the other end. I prayed someone would come to my rescue. I now regretted my earlier outburst with Eisuke. If only that didn't happen... 'Please, somebody...anybody...' fully submerged underwater, I could feel my conscience start to fade, 'No...I can't die like this...not before I find her...' Just as everything started to go black, through my bleary eyes I could make out a figure and then everything faded away.

...

"E..lli..! ...El..li..!"

'Hmm, what? Is someone calling out to me.' In my unconscious state I could vaguely hear someone calling my name. 'Whhhat?' The next thing I knew my whole body was being shaken. I tried my hardest to open my eyes. "Hnngh..." Slowly, my eyes opened, I squinted from the bright sunlight. Once my eyes came into focus, I was met by two familiar faces. "Elli! I'm so glad you are okay. I thought you..." Joelle looked distraught, there was tears in her eyes. "I'm glad you are okay." Eisuke said, he looked down at me with relief, though the worry was clear in his eyes. 'He was worried...about me...?' I was still in a daze and couldn't keep my thoughts together.

"Is she okay?" I heard Ota ask from behind Eisuke. "I think so." Eisuke nodded, not taking his eyes off of me. Eisuke then said something to Joelle and the others and they left us alone. "Huh? Why did they go?" I muttered. "You scared me." Eisuke suddenly spoke, his eyes now focused on the chair I rested on. He looked pained. 'What is going on?' "When I couldn't find you anywhere..." Eisuke started to speak but paused for a minute as if he was reliving the moment, "I thought my heart would stop when I saw you collapsed on the pools bottom. ...I...I've never felt like that before." He muttered, like he didn't understand his own feelings. "You mean... you rescued me?" I asked and he nodded. "Wait...then, you picked me up and held me?" My eyes had now grown wide, "Of course." He responded. "Then...You...Oh my... You touched my practically naked body!" I cried out and my cheeks flushed. Eisuke seemed surprised by my sudden outburst and slightly leant back, "Well... Now that you mention it..." Eisuke seemed to realize what I meant and averted his gaze, "It's not my fault your costume is so...Well, you should cover up more." He quickly replied, it was almost like he was embarrassed. 'Is his ears red...?' He wouldn't let me see his face but I swear his ears were a few shades too red. "So you don't like my costume?" I asked and Eisuke's head immediately snapped back and he turned to me, "I never said that. I mean... It's not that I don't... You shouldn't wear something so skimpy when the guys are around." He stuttered. 'Pffft. That was actually cute. Does he count himself in the 'guys' I wonder?' I couldn't help but smile. I didn't know what it was, even though he made me so mad at times I couldn't help but find myself wanting to get to know him better. He can be so mean yet so kind. And... 'He really does care about me. I didn't realize he would get worried about me like that...' Thinking about it made my chest tighten, I didn't know what this feeling was that was growing inside of me. But It made me feel...happy?