With a cheerful stride towards the beach, Eda diverted to the swimming pool adjacent to the resort instead of heading straight to the sea. The reason was simple – Eda didn't know how to float in water.
Remi had learned to swim during her university days, and Jun, having trained as a runner, had also picked up swimming to enhance his endurance. However, Eda had never experienced immersing herself in a large body of water.
While Remi enjoyed the sea first, Jun decided to teach Eda how to float. Considering the constraints of time, it seemed impractical to teach her full-fledged swimming. Moreover, venturing too far into the ocean without prior experience could lead to accidents.
So, they agreed to focus solely on teaching Eda how to stay afloat. With the warm-up exercises already completed, it was time to get acquainted with the water. Her long hair was neatly tucked inside the swimming cap, keeping it all secure. And the vocalizer was left in the resort room.
The swimming pool was an indoor facility with a rounded ceiling. Four 50-meter swimming lanes were arranged, and safety features such as handrails and safety mats were installed around. To ensure a pleasant swimming experience regardless of the season or climate, the temperature was maintained at a constant level, around 28℃ according to Jun's perception.
The water was kept clear and clean, with amenities like kickboards, rescue equipment, and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) available. Windows were scattered throughout to allow adequate natural light, and artificial lighting was installed for darker hours.
"All right, Eda. Try entering the water. You can hold onto the edge if you want," Jun suggested.
"Mm-hmm."
As Jun, floating effortlessly in the pool, held onto the U-shaped ladder, he addressed Eda, who was reluctant to let go. Eda cautiously released one hand from the ladder, grabbing onto the edge of the pool. Despite her careful movements, her body seemed tense with fear, as if her muscles were resisting the unfamiliar sensation. With a firm grip on the edge, she pressed her entire body against the pool wall.
"Eda, the first thing to keep in mind is that to float in water, you need to relax your body. When you relax, your body naturally stays on the water's surface. However, if you panic and struggle with tension, you're more likely to sink. So, the key is to release the tension. While holding onto the edge, try to relax your entire body as much as possible."
"Yeah..."
Whether Eda understood Jun's instructions or not, her body lifted ever so slightly above the water as she clung to the pool's edge.
"Now, in that position, extend your legs and give a gentle kick. Remember to keep your body relaxed. As you kick, your body will naturally float, and your face will submerge in the water. Try holding your breath for a moment."
Splish-splash. Following Jun's guidance, Eda kicked her legs. Her body naturally straightened, and her back rose above the water.
"Well done. Try to maintain that position until you feel a bit out of breath."
After about a minute, Eda returned to her original position.
"Huff, huff... Like this?"
"Yeah. You're doing better than I expected. Can you feel the sensation of relaxing? Keeping your body parallel to the water's surface is the easiest way to float."
"Yeah, I think I got it."
"Great. How about trying to float in a horizontal position now?"
A moment later, Eda extended her arms in the pool, floating on her back in a T-shaped posture. Even in this position, Jun's instructions continued.
"While maintaining that position, try breathing naturally. Water might enter your nose or mouth, but don't worry; it's normal. Inhale through your mouth and exhale through both your nose and mouth. Keep relaxing your body. Let's hold this position for about two minutes."
Following Jun's guidance, Eda maintained the posture, feeling a sense of tranquility that seemed to detach her from reality. The sensation of being enveloped by a fluid with a density incomparable to air—water. It was a different feeling from the focus required when singing starsong, a sensation unlike any other.
"Alright, you're doing great. Now, how about trying to float while standing up? Like this..."
Jun's coaching continued for about two hours, and he nodded as if to say that they were done for now.
"Hmm, this should be enough. You're surprisingly good at physical activities, huh? So, what did I say is the most important thing?"
"Relax, keep the body parallel to the water's surface, and trust that you and Remi will definitely come to rescue me."
"Excellent. Shall we head out now?"
Jun exited the swimming pool first, extending a hand to help Eda climb out. After confirming that she had successfully emerged, Jun offered a final piece of advice.
"You seem to grasp the basics of floating, but for today, don't venture into places where the water goes above your ankles. Just to be safe..."
At that moment, Eda stepped on a spot where the water was deeper than expected. Her body slipped momentarily, and she found herself plunging into the pool.
Splash!
"Eda!"
Startled, Jun jumped into the pool after her. Amidst the bubbling foam, Eda could be seen thrashing in the water.
In reality, the pool wasn't very deep, and when Jun stood upright, the water only reached his chin. Keeping this in mind, Jun went beneath Eda's floundering form, reaching out to pull her up.
Then, Eda's struggles ceased. Her body gradually aligned with the water's surface, starting from her chest, and she began to float. Jun stopped moving, observing her actions.
"Huff, huff..."
Eda, exhaling the breath she had been holding, brought her face above water. Jun quickly floated next to her, lifted her in his arms, and guided her out of the pool. Safely reaching the dry ground, Jun supported her to ensure she didn't slip back into the water. Seating her in a chair, Jun positioned himself in front, looking up at her as he spoke.
"You did really well just now, Eda. And, I should have caught you to prevent you from falling. I'm sorry."
"Oh, no. Thanks to you, I could float. Tha... ouch!"
"Ah... did you get a cramp?"
Due to the sudden tension in her muscles after being in the water, it caused a cramp in Eda's leg.
"Well, it might be better to stay away from the water today. Just relaxing on the sandy beach should be nice. We don't want to push our luck after what happened."
"Yeah..."
Kneeling in front of Eda, Jun lifted her cramping leg onto his shoulder and started massaging it.
"Uh, what's happening, Jun?"
Surprised, Eda asked Jun, who proceeded to explain, "When you have a cramp, it's good to massage the leg in a relaxed state. I'll take care of it for you."
"Uh..."
With a serious expression, Jun carefully pressed and kneaded Eda's fair leg. On the contrary, Eda's face turned as red as a beet.
Press and knead.
Jun's hands applied pressure, using palms and fingers to gently massage and knead the muscles of Eda's calf. Especially concentrating on the center of the calf and moving upward, Jun's skilled massage wasn't something he had tried just once or twice before. He also utilized techniques such as using his fingers to lightly rotate and move the muscles.
Each time a tingling and peculiar sensation coursed up her leg, Eda seemed unable to keep her composure. She understood that Jun's actions were purely for medical purposes, without any personal interest. Nobody knew Jun as well as she did. However, understanding something intellectually and feeling it emotionally were two different things. The situation of exposing her bare leg to a man's touch made her feel embarrassed.
While the swimsuit itself had become somewhat familiar, the sensation of Jun's touch against her bare skin was a different matter altogether. She had experienced physical contact with Jun on several occasions, but never in the context of wearing a swimsuit like this.
Nevertheless, despite everything, Eda didn't find the situation unpleasant. No, her heart was beating rapidly, and it seemed that her heart thoroughly enjoyed the current circumstances.
/
"...Why did you teach me how to float if we had that equipment?"
Eda murmured as she completely buried herself in the sand, with only her neck exposed. She was enjoying a full-body sauna in the scorching sunlight. Next to her, Remi wielded a plastic shovel for the sandy beach in one hand and rotated a yellow belt-like object with the other.
The identity of the yellow belt was a beach safety device. Normally strapped around the waist, when the button inside is pressed after falling into the water, the belt inflates into a straight tube shape, allowing the person to float. It also automatically sends a signal to the nearest lifeguard.
In response to Eda's question about leaving such a remarkable device behind, Jun, lying on a beach bench and sipping a drink, replied.
"Well, first, you need to be calm after falling into the water to think about pressing that button. And this isn't foolproof. It could inflate in a way that your head is submerged, or it might malfunction. Plus, it's good to learn this just in case."
"Umm..."
While Eda seemed to accept Jun's explanation, Remi, lying on the beach bench and drinking a beverage, spoke as she patted Eda's sandy cocoon.
"There you go, all done! From now on, you're a sand-woman, Eddie."
Amused to the point of laughter, Remi chuckled, and Jun, who had been sipping a drink beside her, shared it with Eda.
"You used a lot of energy just now, so take a break inside there. Have a good nap."
"...Should I?"
Eda didn't mind. In fact, she quite enjoyed it. Below her neck, the sand, warmed by the sun, covered her, providing a pleasant warmth. The natural orchestra of the beach, with the sound of waves and occasional cries of seagulls, along with the rustling of bushes behind the sandy beach in the wind, delighted her ears.
It was a completely different sensation from the sounds heard through resonance with Lumen. As the cool beverage provided by Jun flowed into her stomach, her body danced with joy at the harmony of warmth and refreshment.
As Remi created shade on Eda's face using her straw hat, Eda succumbed to the temptation of sleep. Having checked on her, Jun and Remi looked at each other and spoke.
"Eda, are you sleeping?"
"Yeah. Eddie has drifted off to dreamland."
"Let's quickly check and come back."
Having confirmed that Eda was sound asleep, Jun and Remi quietly got up from their spots. They disappeared behind the bushes beyond the beach and reappeared an hour later. Whatever they had been up to, their faces were now marked with machine grease and smudges.
Evening was approaching unnoticed. Jun and Remi quickly rinsed off the grease and smudges with seawater, then woke up Eda, who was peacefully sleeping in the sand.
"Eda, wake up. Let's go eat."
"Hmm... already?"
As Eda rose, breaking free from the sand, Remi gazed at her with a regretful expression.
"Oh, my masterpiece."
"We can make another one tomorrow."
And so, the first day at the resort came to a close. The chef, who arrived at the scheduled time, prepared dinner – a large seafood pizza featuring local catches. Initially, they hesitated with the unfamiliar seafood, but once they tasted it, the flavors melted in their mouths, and they could enjoy the meal to the fullest.
Feeling tired from the first day, the three companions returned quietly to their room after dinner, took a shower, and settled in for an early night. Though the nighttime hours seemed a bit wasted, there was always tomorrow.
/
"Eddie, over there!"
"Yeah!"
The beach where the seawater tickled their ankles. In the midst of it all stood a green net, set up for beach volleyball. Unlike regular beach volleyball played on the sand, this setup allowed them to play in a place where the water would immerse their ankles.
On the second day after lunch, the trio decided to use the beach volleyball court that Remi had discovered on the first day. However, since there were only three of them, Eda and Remi formed one team, while Jun decided to be a team of one.
Swoosh-
Splash.
"Oops."
Remi couldn't catch the ball quickly thrown by Jun, and it slipped through her hands. The ball floated on the incoming wave for a moment before settling on the sand as the wave receded. Remi sighed as she picked up the ball.
"No, why are we losing in a 2-on-1 game? It's a match to 15 points, and it's already 13 to 8."
Eda, after receiving the ball from Remi, spoke up.
"Jun used to be a runner. In terms of physical ability, he's almost at an athlete's level. Even with just two of us, our athletic skills are relatively lower. And Remi, you're..."
Eda looked at Remi, whose height barely reached her chest. Sensing the gaze, Remi made a defiant expression and shouted.
"So sorry for being short!"
"Alright, alright. Stop fighting. At this rate, will I win?"
Jun, with both hands on his hips, chuckled while looking at the two women. With a carefree demeanor, Remi glared at him. Her pumpkin-colored eyes sparkled like flames. It was for a reason; this beach volleyball match was a bet. If Eda and Remi won, Jun had to carry Remi around for the rest of the day. If Jun won, Remi had to wear a bear-patterned pajama and record a video for L-Tube upload.
"Ugh... that guy..."
Remi prepared herself with a determination not to lose. With Eda's serve, another round began. However, despite Eda and Remi's hard-fought struggle, the difference in skill was too apparent. It was practically at the level where Jun was just going easy on them. And when Jun tried to jump high to block the ball with full force, Remi sensed it. She couldn't block that.
If it weren't for the sudden gust of wind, Jun would have scored the 14th point. The wind shifted the position of the ball, causing Jun to make a futile swing. The ball hit the net and rolled weakly towards Jun's side.
"Wow!"
"Hooray!"
Eda and Remi hugged each other and cheered. As the beach volleyball court was set up where the waves were crashing, scoring due to natural elements was also accepted.
"All sorts of things happen."
Jun was still quite relaxed. The score was still 13 to 9, and Jun was still far ahead.
However, after that, misfortune continued to plague Jun. Only at crucial moments for Jun, like a ghostly large wave crashing or a seagull passing by, or stumbling over his own feet, various incidents occurred. In the end, Jun couldn't score a single point after that. It was Eda and Remi's victory.
"We won!"
"Hooray!"
Eda and Remi celebrated their victory by jumping up and down. On the other hand, Jun slumped to the ground with an expression that seemed to say he couldn't believe the outcome.
"This can't be real. How did this happen...?"
With an expression that suggested disbelief in the outcome, Jun was approached by Remi, whose face was beaming with joy.
"Well, honorable clan master of the Lee. You'll keep your promise, right?"
With a wicked smile that seemed more sinister than ever, Remi pressured Jun. Jun nodded his head as if to say there was no choice but to accept the results.
"Alright. Just carry me around all day, okay?"
"Of course. Oh, my, my legs hurt. It's so tough."
Jun lifted Remi, who was happier than ever, off the ground. Remi, with a joyful expression, chuckled and patted Jun's shoulder, giving him instructions.
"Hey, stand still for a moment. Eddie! Take a picture for us!"
"Got it! Just a second!"
Eda quickly dashed toward the beach bench, then returned with the camera in hand. It was the same camera that Dan used to take a picture of Jun, Eda, Remi before. Eda adjusted her posture, raised the camera, and when she signaled, Remi urged Jun.
"Hey, smile. Isn't it a lovely day for both of us? "
"...Alright. I'll smile then."
With Remi smiling widely like a blossoming flower, forming a V-sign while being carried on Jun's back, and Jun smiling as if saying it's enough for Remi to be happy, Eda thought to herself.
'They really look like close siblings...'
"Alright, here we go! Three, two, one!"
Click!