I'm alive! Aaaaand also out of time so I won't be able to reply to everyone's reviews and idea '''' But thanks for the support, I really appreciate it! :D

Take this chap as a sort of... exercise...? I haven't written in a while so the personalities of the characters here is a bit... wobbly T-T. Also note that I don't know shit about swimming and the things here are half-based off of wikihow (yes, wikihow).

Desclaimer: I do not own Danmachi.

Bell didn't really expect his morning to go like this.

"... you." he slowly pointed at Ais and tiona. "want me." then at himself. "to go to melen with you."

Ais and Tiona nodded in unison and silence fell over them.

Everyone in the hearth mansion was busy today. From Welf being cooped up in the forge trying out some new forging material, to Mikoto and Haruhime visiting takemikazuchi's familia, to Lili heading over to help that little gnome man and finally to his goddess being pulled in for a shift at the Jagamarukun stand… and he, to his demise, had been ordered to rest.

Until two certain Loki familia members came knocking at the window and scared him to death.

"... why?"

"we'll explain after we get thereee!" Tiona droned, quickly draping herself around his arm and trying to drag him out the door.

"w-wait, you can't expect me to just- GO there!" Bell struggled against her hold, yelping.

Tiona paused and gave him a genuinely confused look. "why not?"

Bell couldn't help the slightly defeated sigh that left him. "because, currently I'm under supervision of the guild because of all the… uhhh, unfortunate incidents I was involved in. They'll never let me leave orario without a good reason behind it! and on another note, you haven't even asked if i want to go or not!"

"you… don't?" They turned to ais, who had been listening to them unsure of what she should do. "I mean… I was hoping you could help, but I think we shouldn't pull you out like this and be a bother…" the slightly saddened look in her pretty eyes crushed upon bell's shoulders as guilt warped him.

"No no no, you're not being a bother!"

"well that's what you're implying argonaut-kun!" Tiona pouted, crossing her arms with a huff. "you don't have to worry about the guild, since this IS technically a quest you're going on with the loki familia members. They won't say anything if we're with you."

"Riveria gave this exclusively to us two. please bell?" Ais leaned in closer, her hands moving to gently grasp him and bring it closer to her. She gave him a small but pleading look. "come with?"

on the other side Tiona again wrapped herself around her arm, and looked up at him with sparkling eyes. "yeah argonaut-kun, pretty please?"

These were the moments where Bell cursed his inability to say no to the innocent puppy-dog eyes.

As they stopped near the sandy shore and the sparkling seas of Melen, Bell recounted what he'd been told by Tiona through the trip here.

Both her and Ais had been hard at work in the dungeon and in the familia, so Riveria had decided they deserved a break. Said break was all the way in Melen, and the high elf had also added in a side mission for them regarding Ais: Give her a few swimming lessons to get rid of her fear of water. The reason was simple; so she can be ready for certain situations where she might be forced to go in the water.

It was easier said than done though, with half their familia members busy and the other half a bit incapable of teaching (coughbetecough). Tiona herself, although good at swimming, wasn't ideal to Ais (she'd been very offended by that). So in return, Riveria let her choose any person outside their familia to come along and help, so long as they were trustworthy and she knew them.

That person being himself.

"you're… ok with it, right?" he turned to ais, who tilted her head at him unsure. "I couldn't think of anyone else, and thought maybe you could…"

He smiled sheepishly. "Yes yes, I am fine with it! If it really is that important to you, then I can't deny it. I only hope my familia doesn't take notice…" he sweat-dropped. "But I am confused. why don't you know how to swim?"

"oh… that…" Ais trailed off, looking away as she recalled the scary experiences with Riveria and her punishments.

"... it's ok not to tell as well, Ais-san." Bell said, hoping he hadn't triggered some bad memory. which he probably had, with how hollow and dazed she looked.

"Now that we're done with everything-" Tiona started, motioning to her green swimwear, to ais' white on, and to his own- yellow trunks and a white tee-shirt. "let's start the swimming lessons!" She grabbed Ais and dragged her to the seas, the latter startled and slightly resisting the action. Bell could only follow with a sheepish chuckle.

Although she looked ok to be in water where her feet could touch, the real resistance came when Tiona tried to pull her further. She yanked her hand back, immediately latching onto bells arm to not fall and get grabbed by her hands.

Oh, Bell realized with a red face when her body pressed against his arm. Her doing that in swimwear is not a good thing for me and my heart.

He was going to swim with her. In that swimwear.

… He hadn't thought this through.

Was it too late to take back his idea and just… flee from there?

But no, she'd asked him specifically for help.

But,,, would he really be able to teach if he was so flustered all the time?

"... Bell?" He snapped out of his thoughts, looking at Ais who was still holding his arm. she looked a bit worried. "are… you ok? you're very red…"

"ahahahaaaa, I-I'm fine!" he squeaked out in response and shook his head to get himself together. Come on Bell Cranel, Ais has done so much for you and she's asking for your help in return this once: don't let your heart be so weak to this!

He looked around. the water reached just their waists, and Tiona was farther ahead, floating in the water and waving at them to come in.

"it's so nice!" she laughed, diving into the water and giving Ais a mini-heart attack when she didn't reemerge. a few moments passed, before she did. "what are you doing just standing there!"

"it can't be that bad… right?" Bell sweat-dropped after Ais hid away behind him as if scared of both Tiona and the water.

"... i… i sink everytime i try to swim…"

how… well, they didn't say it was going to be easy. Bell smiled at her, scratching his head.

"well, you can't learn swimming without trying first. let's head in." he tried to move forward, but her grip stayed there as well as herself. he blinked, noting the slight pale look on her face.

Was water really the biggest fear of the sword princess, one of the strongest adventurers in orario? he chuckled lightly at the thought, and grasped both her hands. She looked surprised. "If it makes you feel safer, I'll hold on to you. s-so you don't sink."

she looked at their intertwined hands, then at the bashful looking bell, and gave her own small smile and hum. Beaming, Bell slowly led her to the water, watching her cautiousness as the water rose just bellow her shoulders. He didn't let go, and she didn't look like she wanted to let go.

"t-this…" she started, still looking at the water as if it was her biggest enemy. "this should be far enough… right?"

"Believe me, we tried to give her a few lessons, but they didn't end in our favor." Tiona swam closer to them, her feet still away from the ground and in more deep water. "She kept going under the water no matter how shallow or deep."

"Then, let's start with the most simple one- floating on your back." Bell decided with a nod.

"ohh, she can do that one easily, right Ais?!"

"..." They watched, as Ais let go of one of his hands and laid with her back against the water. Tiona was right, she could float there even if he let go of her hand (which he tried to but she didn't want to). But she didn't look all that relaxed, more tense and worried.

"Ais-san, there's no need to be so tense. Just relax. Let yourself go in the water and believe it will keep you above the surface. Be… it's friend!" He chuckled and Tiona nodded along. Ais glanced at them unsure before closing her eyes and following their instructions.

Be a friend with the water… Water had always been her enemy, she couldn't just befriend it. but, now that her heart wasn't racing and her nerves weren't acting up, she noticed how it was so… cool. it felt… nice, to just lay there and let the soothing feeling of freshness wash over it. Relaxing. She could understand why her familia members liked to play in it a bit.

"aww…" Tiona's voice caught her attention. she was pouting at her while Bell was just as confused. "I give you advice but you don't listen, but suddenly argonaut-kun comes along and you're following everything he's saying! I call this favoritism!" She crossed her arms with a huff. Bell flushed at that, while Ais-

"...! it's not-" Ais tried to sit straight up, but instead she lost her footing and went tumbling in the water. Both Bell and Tiona yelped, jumping forward to catch her and bring her back up again. "... it's not…" she continued while clutching onto Bell's arms for dear life. "I… only felt more assured because he was holding my hand…"

Bell sweat dropped.

"I think that's enough practice with floating, let's try out some actual swimming."

"...!" On impulse, she again wrapped her arms around his arm, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "must i…?"

If Bell had been shown this any other day he would have fainted and/or probably turned into a blubbering blushing mess. But this Bell was on a mission and couldn't focus on such things. Instead he smiled and lightly pulled his arm free, again grasping her hands.

"I promise, I'll hold onto you for this one too. Not going to let you sink."

Tiona joined beside them, nodding along with him. She then laid face first in the water and moved both her arms and legs, moving in a 'pedaling' motion.

Ais took in a deep breath, before positioning herself the same way so that her front was against the water and her back facing the sky.

"That's it! Now start moving your arms and legs!" Tiona cheered and Ais did as she said, paddling her feet in the water and feeling the water splash behind her. But when Bell tried to let go of her hands to let her move them as well, she firmly grasped them and pouted at him.

"... you promised…"

"ais-san, you can't move them with me holding them…" Bell sweat-dropped, before sighing. "how about this- i let go for a minute, and you try practicing moving them. If i see you sinking again-" Tiona muffled a snicker at that. The sword princess really was being treated like a human anchor. "-then i immediately hold you again. ok?"

"..." both him and Tiona were trying so hard to teach her something, the least she should follow what they say. with that thought in mind, her hands slipped from his, and the feeling of not having support immediately made her anxious again. Her legs, although still kicking in that same paddle motion, stopped. She let out a small gasp-

And suddenly, she found herself under the water. The sea on the side they were swimming in was not at all deep. She could easily stand on her feet and just let the water reach her shoulders. But as she fumbled with her legs and tried to stand, water invaded her mouth and she immediately clammed it shut.

The water around her was so… blue. It glowed a light glow, her hand feeling the sand under her. Her eyes caught the side of the more deep waters just up ahead, where more… life was. This side was simply sand and shells.

Another splash sounded next to her, and a fluff of white hair came into view. The water stung her eyes, but she could make out the worried look Bell had as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and helped her up. She broke through the surface, coughing and breathing in air she had been deprived of. Bell hadn't let her go, both her and Tiona fretting over her with how she was gasping for air.

"you're ok, right? you were there for a few seconds and the water isn't deep at all but-

"oh my god i'm so sorry that was a really bad idea-"

She shut both of them up but wrapped her arms around Bell and just… staying there. It felt comforting. It felt safe.

"... the sea… was really pretty."

…...

After that disaster of a lesson (Bell mourned over the fact he wasn't able to help. AT ALL.), they decided it was enough for one try and went to clear away the 'quest'- which was just taking out a few monsters near the woods.

It was a fun time, he had to admit, but he still felt dejected that he hadn't been able to do anything about Ais's swimming. Yes, it did give him a mini heart attack when she fell in the water and didn't come up, and yes, he did want to faint when she hugged him back and just… stayed there for a solid 5 minutes, but more so worried.

"I'm… fine. Don't worry." Don't worry his ass she wouldn't be holding on to him like this if she wasn't.

Now, as they stood in the guild and claimed the 'rewards' for the 'quest', he spotted Riveria walking up to them.

"Ais, tiona, you're back." She smiled. "And Bell cranel too." her tone sounded so amused. Bell flustered and gave a quick bow.

"Riveria!" Tiona immediately leapt and went to hug her, only for the high elf to sidestep and let her fall on the floor.

"how were your lessons in Melen?"

"They were… nice."

"W-we made some progress."

"She nearly drowned again but it was fun!"

"... I see." Riveria chuckled at the replies. "Thank you for your assistance, Bell cranel. You will be compensated for the extra effort."

"let's go hooome, I'm hungryyy!" Tiona groaned, already heading out the door and to the mansion. Riveria could only sigh in exasperation, before giving Bell a nod and heading out as well. Only Ais stood back, just for a bit longer.

Before Bell could say anything, she turned to him and took hold of his hand- like he had done many times to her during swimming- and gave him a warm smile.

"Thanks, Bell. I… enjoyed, today."

She left in a flurry of golden locks, falling in sync with the other two familia members waiting for her. The white-haired boy was left standing there, staring at their retreating figures in surprise. And no, what makes you think he was blushing of course he was not-

Let's just say, his familia members didn't look all too pleased when he stepped in through the doors of his home.

Goddess save him.

... Few characters, not so long chap and so much missed potential... yes, I need to fix that now that I'm back to fanfiction T-T This is definitely getting a 2nd part, but after Bell's revenge for April fools lol. Sorry if I got anything wrong, I tried to keep it as danmachi-like as possible. Thankfully, you'll know I'm still here so long as I keep updating the other crack fanfic xD

Hope you enjoyed, until next time!