“Wow… it’s bigger than I expected.”
Having changed into his swimsuit ahead of time, Yuzuru looked around the indoor pool and murmured.
There were four types of pools.
A kids’ pool.
A walking pool for exercise.
A jacuzzi pool with bubbling jets.
And a standard 25-metre swimming pool.
The baths and sauna were located next to the pool area, directly connected.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuzuru-san.”
A voice called out from behind.
When he turned around, Arisa stood there, already changed.
“…No, I just got in myself.”
As he replied, Yuzuru couldn’t help but stare at her.
Since she was here to learn how to swim—and given the setting—
she wasn’t wearing a bikini, but a competitive swimsuit.
A simple design: black fabric with red lines.
The kind you’d see anywhere—something perfectly normal for school use.
Maybe it even was the one she planned to use at school.
(They say beautiful people look good in anything, but…)
The swimsuit clung tightly to her body, outlining her excellent figure.
Her chest curved softly, while her waist was neatly toned.
Her lower abdomen was somewhat boldly exposed—slightly daring—
and her long, slender legs looked especially striking.
There was a kind of healthy allure to her.
“…Yuzuru-san. What exactly are you staring at?”
Noticing his gaze, Arisa looked at him with a suspicious glare.
“S-sorry…”
Yuzuru apologised, then after a moment added—
“I was… captivated.”
“…I see.”
Arisa looked away, replying as if it were nothing.
But her cheeks seemed faintly red.
“Let’s go.”
With a slightly brighter tone, she began walking ahead.
Yuzuru followed after her.
(…Her back looks nice too.)
The swimsuit’s open back, designed to reduce water resistance, revealed smooth, beautiful skin.
Letting his gaze drift lower, the shape of her hips was clearly outlined.
Fortunately, Arisa didn’t have eyes on her back—
she didn’t notice his gaze.
She stepped into the water with a soft splash.
Yuzuru followed.
“So… what should we do?”
“Hmm…”
After thinking for a moment, Yuzuru answered.
“First, I want to see your level. Try swimming.”
“…Eh?”
Arisa looked troubled.
“I’ll drown.”
“…You can touch the bottom.”
“People can drown in thirty centimetres of water.”
That wasn’t entirely wrong.
But he couldn’t judge anything without seeing her try.
“I’ll definitely help you.”
“…Then if I can’t stand up after ten seconds, please help me.”
Taking a deep breath, Arisa sank into the water.
Then she began flailing her arms and legs.
“…”
She looked like a bug that had fallen into a pond.
Fortunately, she didn’t actually drown.
After ten seconds, she stood up.
Then she looked at Yuzuru, as if appealing to him.
“I don’t float.”
It seemed they’d have to start from the very basics.
This was… quite serious.
“Can you try just floating? No moving your arms or legs?”
“…I won’t float.”
“If you start drowning, I’ll help.”
“…You promise.”
Saying that, Arisa lightly pushed off the pool floor.
She stretched out her arms, legs, and back—
and quietly sank beneath the surface.
After a moment, she stood up again.
For some reason, she looked slightly annoyed.
Yuzuru let out a small laugh.
“Well, I think I understand the reason now.”
“…Really?”
She looked sceptical.
“You’re not about to say it’s because I’m too tense, are you? …Because I don’t think muscle tension changes my body’s mass or volume.”
It seemed she’d been told something like that before.
Judging by the results, it hadn’t helped.
“I’ll try to explain it as logically and practically as possible—not just in vague terms.”
Still looking doubtful, Arisa gave a small nod.
