Poolside Rivalry
It was a scorching afternoon, the kind that made the air shimmer and the sun paint golden trails across the azure waters of the school pool. The sounds of splashing echoed around the empty space, intermingled with the laughter of students enjoying a rare break from the rigors of academia. Among them, two figures stood out—Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka, each leading their own very different lives, yet forever entwined in an unending rivalry.
"Why do I always get stuck cleaning this disgusting pool?" Scarlet grumbled to herself, pulling on her snug one-piece school swimsuit. She felt the fabric cling uncomfortably, as if even the swimsuit was reluctant to align with her grand ambitions of athleticism and perfection. Her red hair fluttered in the slight breeze, but her sharp merlot eyes narrowed at the task ahead. With newfound determination, she popped out her ahoge and pressed on, hoping to make the pool sparkling clean before anyone else arrived.
In stark contrast, Vodka strode onto the scene with an air of confidence that turned heads. Sporting a flashy yellow bikini that shimmered under the sun, she exuded an enticing blend of rebellion and charm, not caring one bit about the task at hand. "Cleaning? You mean having a pool party without anyone else around!" she exclaimed, tossing her dark brown and white-streaked hair with a cheeky grin. Her first thought was how perfect this would be for her social media.
"Don't just stand there looking like a ruffian, Vodka! We're supposed to clean, not lounge around!" Scarlet snapped, clenching her fists as she glanced over at her smirking rival. "You're never taking anything seriously!"
"Relax, Scarlet! You're making it too easy to push your buttons," Vodka teased, plopping down on the edge of the pool with an exaggerated sigh. "This is the perfect time for a tanning session!"
Scarlet, filled with the fiery spirit of competition and perfectionism, had had enough. "This isn't a game, Vodka! If we don't clean the pool, we'll be in trouble with the teachers!"
Vodka rolled over and propped herself up on her elbows, her enticing smile irritating Scarlet even more. "Trouble? Me? Never! I'll just charm my way out of it as always."
The two continued bickering back and forth, each exchange growing more intense, until Scarlet lost her patience completely. "Fine! If you won't help, then you can at least get out of my way!" She stepped forward, fists clenched. In a moment of frustration, she drew back her fist, aiming for Vodka who simply sidestepped, refusing to be intimidated.
But Scarlet's punch swung wide, her frustration heightened. In the process of missing, her fist connected with Vodka's bikini top instead! There was a brief, breath-held moment of silence before the top flew off into the air, fluttering like a fallen leaf until it splashed dramatically into the pool.
Vodka's eyes widened, both in shock and fury. "What the—! Scarlet, you ruffian!" She quickly covered her exposed breasts, her cheeks burning a furious shade of crimson. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is?!"
Scarlet stood there, equally aghast as her hands flew to her mouth in apology, but the moment faded fast as anger rose within her. "Well, maybe if you had taken this seriously instead of flaunting around, that wouldn't have happened!"
"Flaunting?! I'll give you flaunting!" Vodka charged at her, fists swinging, fueled by indignation and competitive fire.
What followed was a whirlwind of limbs and half-hearted dodges, both competitors throwing punches and shoves, all while trying to shield themselves against the other's attacks. The duel of rivals was hilarious and chaotic. It was as if a scene out of an absurd comedy had come to life, with water splashing everywhere, hair flinging about, and a cacophony of yells and playful insults volleyed between the two.
"Take that, you perfectionist!" Vodka shouted, launching a pillow of water Scarlet's way. Scarlet retaliated, catching Vodka off guard, as she splashed back, "And you, you delinquent! Stop acting like this is a beach!"
Their brawl was electric, the tension building even more until, out of nowhere, the voice of their history teacher boomed loudly, breaking apart the chaos. "What in the world is going on here?!"
Both girls froze, realizing they were caught mid-attack, panting hard with the remnants of anger and laughter still swirling around them. Scarlet's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. Vodka, equally flustered, desperately adjusted her hands over her chest.
"You two are supposed to be cleaning the pool, not engaging in a fistfight! It's absurd!" the teacher reprimanded, crossing her arms and glaring down at the two. "You'll both be serving detention for a week for this nonsense!"
"But—" Vodka started, but the deadpan look from the teacher silenced her immediately.
"Detention. Now, get it together and finish cleaning!" the teacher declared, turning on her heel, leaving the two girls to glance at each other in a mixture of disbelief and horror.
"Well, that didn't go according to plan," Vodka muttered, letting out a resigned laugh despite the situation.
Scarlet sighed heavily, throwing her arms up in exasperation. "It's all your fault, you ruffian!"
And as they begrudgingly made their way to the pool cleaning supplies, their rivalry still simmering just beneath the surface, the poignant realization dawned upon them: their absurd competitiveness, no matter how frustrating, had a way of turning bleak afternoons into some of the most entertaining memories they'd share.
"Next time, can we not start a pool fight?" Vodka smirked, catching Scarlet's eye.
Scarlet couldn't help but crack a smile, albeit unconfidently. "Only if you do your part in cleaning!"
As they began to work side by side, laughter and bickering resumed, the atmosphere settling back into a comfortable rhythm, one they both secretly cherished—a rivalry watered by chaos, thriving by laughter