Itadaki no Hecate

And So It Was

Ogata pushed her hands on Hecate's chest, pumping the water out of her. For their Physical Education that day, they had their swimming class. Just as in the water park, however, Hecate sank like a rock. She had tried to apply what she had been taught a while back by herself while Yuji was with Ike. Thankfully, Ogata was quick to respond.

"Come back to us Konoe-san," Ogata said before she inhaled deeply and breathed Oxygen through Hecate's lips.

To the side, barred by the gym coach from crowding them like everyone else was, Eita stood stiff with a flushed expression and Ike's glasses were fogged up. As for Yuji, Kazumi and Yukari, they were genuinely concerned for the quiet girl as Ogata attempted to revive her.

Hecate soon opened her eyes, and sat up dazed. The first person she looked to was Yuji, rather than her own rescuer.

"Thank goodness!" said Ogata as she sighed with relief. "You gave us quite a scare Konoe-san."

The Priestess glanced at her and nodded. Her little way of saying thanks; Ogata and the rest of their little circle of friends was used to it by now. The sporty tomboy helped up her classmate, and Hecate's eyes strayed back to Yuji.

"I'm glad you're okay," he said, smiling, and Hecate smiled back a little as she nodded once.

"Alright, that's enough, all of you get changed!" the coach said after blowing his whistle and leaving the crowd to disperse.

Yuji walked with Hecate. "So, what happened back there? You know you still can't swim," he said.

"I wouldn't have died, only passed out for a while." The Supreme Throne averted her eyes. "I wanted to have another try now that I know a little more about it."

"Just because you know a little more doesn't mean you're ready you know? Even I know I'm not ready for the Fuzetsu yet."

Hecate turned to him with a frown. "I'm not as ignorant as I used to be, so you don't have to keep acting like my caretaker."

"I'm not as weak as I used to be either, but that doesn't mean I've stopped relying on you to keep us safe," Yuji said with a smile. Hecate just turned her eyes away, with a tiny smirk.

"Unlike swimming, your training would still take years to master."

"You really think human activities are that easy? Who's the one who almost drowned again?"

"Be quiet."

Kazumi watched the two as they walked away while arguing.

"She's gotten a lot more expressive compared to how she was like before, hasn't she," Yukari noted, standing beside the other human girl. She smiled as she posed with a wink and a thumbs up to one who wouldn't notice. "Nice job Sakai-kun."

"They've become so close," Kazumi muttered as her eyes drooped to the floor. Yukari clasped her hands in both of hers.

"Hey, it's not the end of the world; as far as we know they haven't even made any real progress yet, or else he would have stopped eating your bentos."

Kazumi nodded. "That's true," she said. She knew that Yuji was not the type to cheat either. "How can you still not be worried though?"

Yukari smiled confidently. "Because if there's one thing I know, it's that Konoe-san has just barely begun to understand her emotions, so we still have a chance."

Kazumi chuckled and smiled back. "It wasn't until after the field trip that you became sure you actually loved Sakai-kun though," she said teasingly. "So maybe you're speaking from experience."