Into The Water

Chapter Ten: Legendary Swimsuit

Now there is a challenge. And one Haruka is willing to accept, despite the damn near impossible chance of succeeding.

Mizuki won't be satisfied unless she makes some progress today. With her feet spaced apart and her lithe, tanned legs looking ridiculously long, she sure looks ready for action. All Haruka can do is stare from his position in the pool, the chlorine liquid reaching his chin.

Her swimsuit is hot—a black maillot style one piece, stylish white side panels, sleeveless, with a scoop neckline, racer back and high cut legs. It's a very tight-fitting style of swimsuit; perfect for effortlessly paving a way through the water. Her long hair is tucked away by means of a black swimming cap, emblazoned with a sports company logo. Black strapped swimming goggles with golden tinted lenses hang around her neck.

To Haruka, she's like some ancient Greek water Goddess: the mother of fish, seals and dolphins. Despite himself, the boy feels his heart leap more than once.

"I only have an hour to spare, so let's make this quick," Mizuki checks the time on her waterproof watch. Haruka swallows greedily, the beating of his heart growing louder, louder!

"Then get in," he mumbles inarticulately, with his hand outstretched to support her.

Mizuki freezes. He recognizes that look of fear in her eyes. Wading into the water, she feels horrified, but with a great deal of puffing she manages to stand tall, a foul expression gracing her face.

"Try to be in harmony with the water," Haruka encourages her; "you're too tense."

"I can't relax anymore than this."

"Yes, you can."

"No, I can't!" she snaps. "Water is an unnatural and threatening environment. It's not easy to relax, so don't. Push. Me."

Haruka places his hands on Mizuki's shoulders and pushes her lightly with the uneasy gentleness of a cat. As soon as the girl comes up, she struggles to the wall and puffs and pants and glares fiercely at her classmate.

"I'm going to kill you."

He glances at Mizuki. She's not looking in the least scared now.

More predatory.

Good.

"You're filled with so much tension and fear that you can't possibly move freely," Haruka moves closer, coming up beside her—reaching for her shaking hands and guiding her further into the pool. "When you don't move freely you don't flow. Water is a fluid; flowing freely through it is the answer."

"I can't do this," she protests. Why is he looking at her like she disappointed him somehow?

"You're giving up," he says, suddenly annoyed. "After you convinced me you were inspired to do better, too." He didn't know before, but Mizuki obtained inspiration from watching the club win their first relay—inspiration that played a vital part to overcoming her phobia.

Makoto pushed off the wall, got in a parallel position, curled his shoulders in, then started kicking, and kicking, and kicking. He kept his parallel line—kept his head back, noise pointing up—kept kicking, then switched shoulders, and breathed.

Nagisa took over and pushed off the block, deep into the water, then assumed a streamlined pencil position with his hands out in front. Rising to the surface with both his hands closing in on his chest, they shot out quickly side by side, palms up and performing the out-sweep, adding breath into his movements.

Pencil, out-sweep, in-sweep, extension, then pencil again.

Pull, breathe, kick, glide, and repeat.