—Wow, it's so big ! Shouted Sora Amano while she started in astonishment at the swimming pool. This high school doesn't joke !

—Yeah, I agree.

As promised the day before, Hana accompanied her classmate who wanted to go to the school's indoor pool. Classes had ended two hours later than usual, and if at first the young woman felt a certain reluctance to have to spend another hour here, it was with regret that she thought of the fact that she should have carried her bathing suit, too. No more students were around. She could have taken the opportunity to dip in this ridiculously deserted pool instead of working on her classes...

—Do you think the water is warm? Asked Amano while tying her short hair into two small pigtails on each side of her head.

—According to how hot it is here, probably, said Hana regarding the moist air.

—It's because you're wearing your uniform that you feel that way, the student laughed. Are you sure you don't want to swim too? You could have taught me...

—No way, she flatly declined. I haven't taken my bathing suit. And I have my dissertation to finish, I will go to study in the stands.

As she spoke, Hana pointed to the high row of benches that rose near the entrance of the changing rooms. Her school bag was already waiting for her on one of the seats, in the third row, where she had abandoned it while Amano changed.

—Too bad for you, Hoshino, said her comrade before heading for the small equipment room. Well, I have to admit ...

The little brunette suspended her speech while she was looking for a swimming board, and the skater had to wait a few seconds before getting the last word of her sentence.

—From up there, you'll have plenty of time to get an eyeful of the baseball team, Amano said with a clear look.  Their training isn't over yet... maybe you could even go and say hello to Shirai?

Oh yes, that's right. Hana had almost forgotten why her comrade had dragged her here. It was only a pretext to admire the members of the club through the glass that separated the indoor pool from their playground. Hana's gaze slipped on some unknown faces before finding that of her childhood friend, Kazuya Shirai. The captain seemed to give orders to his comrades, and he was far too busy with them to notice the two students.

—I will not disturb Kazuya now, Hana replied.

—But don't you have notebooks to return? Amano innocently recalled.

—I'll do it tomorrow, she replied, turning to her heels. Concentrate and try not to swallow water.

─── ∗∙⋅❀⋅∙∗ ───

The lawn in front of the school pool had been converted into a large baseball field so that the club could train. Two teams had been drawn, and regular rotations ensured that everyone would play at every spot at least once, all under the authority of a young coach and an uncompromising captain.

Serious and diligent, Kazuya Shirai was undoubtedly one of the best students of the institution. He liked order, so it was only natural that the role of captain of the baseball club had returned to him. Despite his calm and introverted nature, Shirai had been able to establish his authority, making him a respected and appreciated captain. In general, none of his comrades and teammates willingly sought to challenge him, for fear of reprisals that counted in endless laps after training - already exhausting only by themselves.

Jokingly, his teammates had even pinned a list in the locker room, entitled «top three things to offend the captain». And even if it had a satirical purpose to tease Shirai on his meticulous side, the elements stated were indeed part of the things that the young man could not bear to see: lack of investment, poor lifestyle and, above all, lack of punctuality.

And of course, there was one who, on his own, daily transgressed these three golden rules ...

The second hour of training was coming to an end, and the players' concentration was beginning to weaken. And when they noticed that two students were a few steps away, behind the bay window of the pool, some of them could not help but ramble on about it. They planned to meet them, but it was without counting on the unexpected arrival of their captain.

—There's no way, said Shirai who had just arrived, alerted by the small gathering that had formed. No one is going.

Shirai had easily recognized Hana, sitting in the bleachers. But seeing her immersed in her revisions instead of joining her friend in the water, he had deduced that she must have greatly needed it. So he came to the conclusion that it was better that no one bothered her, especially not one of the guys at the club. They were not mean, but a little onerous. Especially with pretty girls.

—If I catch one of you at the edge of this pool, it will end badly, said Shirai in an authoritarian tone.

And before anyone can start complaining, the gong announcing the end of this second hour of training ringed out. The captain therefore had the entire team assembled to debrief the training. As usual, he and the coach took stock of both the positive and the negative. And as usual...

—That's it for today, exclaimed the coach with a big smile. You can go, I wish you all a good evening except Akaashi, who will honor me by staying a little longer, tonight as well.

The team members laughed, except for two people: Kazuya Shirai, who didn't find it funny at all, and the main concerned of the upcoming punishment: Keisuke Akaashi. The latter didn't even flinch; he was now used to doing additional laps since he was constantly late for training, which never failed to exasperate his coach or captain. But would he change his little habits? Of course not. The smoke break between classes and training is sacred. He couldn't skip it.

—Oh coach, be cool, exclaimed Naoki Igarashi with spite while he, as always, tried to avoid the torment that his best friend was about to endure. He made an effort since yesterday; he came only sixteen minutes late instead of twenty-two!

—It's sixteen too much, said the coach, looking up. But if you want, you can always run with him.

—Well, I'd rather not, Igarashi said before turning to his friend to give him a pat on the back. Sorry, dude, it'll be without me.

Akaashi shrugged, unmindful. Whether it was the announcement of the punishment or the fact that he was going to pass it alone, he was totally indifferent. The deductions were so usual for him that he could have noted them in the schedule of his agenda.

—Okay, I'm not explaining. You know what you have to do, said the adult, holding back with laughter, more amused than vexed by the persistence of this player to show up late. I'll be in the office, come see me when you're done.

—Yes, coach, replied Akaashi in a neutral tone.

Just before starting to run, the young man crossed the captain's reproachful gaze at his attention. Having attended the same establishments, they knew each other from their earliest childhood. But even then, there had always been some tension between them. They didn't hate each other, but they were light-years away from the term "appreciate each other".

The only reason Shirai couldn't exclude the latecomer was that he was still a pretty good player on the team. Lazy player who was content with the minimum effort, but a good player anyway. And then there was also the fact that, in addition to being the son of the CEO of a large pharmaceutical company, his appearance could qualify as rather «charming». As a result, no one ever seemed to hold him accountable.

Unfortunately.

In Shirai's eyes, the only positive thing about his comrade was that he was the perfect example not to follow; he didn't have the best of reputations, neither in his attitude with the teachers, nor in his relations. In addition to the fact that he came late at each beginning of training, this boy voluntarily intoxicated his lungs and didn't hide from his teammates. And the worst part is that he wasn't even looking up for an excuse for any of his faults. Shirai could tell him to stop ruining his health, but this idiot turned a deaf ear. The captain thought, and not in vain, that his teammate was deliberately doing everything just to annoy him. And it worked, even if the captain had never openly expressed it.

The two young men didn't appreciate each other, but each of them was mature enough not to argue at the slightest opportunity. It was therefore after a few last hostile glances that one of them turned his heels towards the dressing room while the other began the punishment he had received.

─── ∗∙⋅❀⋅∙∗ ───

His bath linen on his shoulder, Akaashi returned to the changing rooms with a dragging step, insulting as usual all of his teammates for having, once again, used all the hot water. In his opinion, the cold shower was a much more unbearable than having to run like an idiot for a quarter of an hour. There was no doubt about it.

Next time, instead of coming on time or late, he would just not show up at all. Problem solved.

The young man, however, didn't have the time to sulk any longer; several screams of panic from the pool caught his attention, and before he could even think any further, his curiosity had forced him to go to the source of the cries. He crossed the changing room in the opposite direction, passed in front of the showers, walked along the long tiled corridor, and then finally discovered what was at the origin of all this noise.

His gaze automatically rested on the two students, seated by the pool, and his eyes gathered for a moment, seeing that one of them was weeping with warm tears while clasping, in her arms, the other one... that was fully dressed in her school uniform, completely soaked.

What the fuck are those two doing ?

—Oh, my God, you were so brave, cried Sora Amano as she vigorously embraced Hana.

—Hey, let go of me, protested the young woman, who didn't particularly appreciate being shaken in all directions.

But Amano didn't listen to her, still under the blow of emotion.

—You saved my life, she shouted for the third time.

Hana rolled her eyes, thinking she was exaggerating.

—Let's not overdo it, she mumbled before being suffocated again.

—If you hadn't been there, I would have drowned!

—What's going on here?

Akaashi almost flinched when his coach's voice echoed right beside him. Just like the two students a few meters from him, he had not heard her arriving. The adult, however, didn't care about his case, directly approaching the students still sitting on the pool floor.

—Oh it's awful! Panicked Amano again. I had dropped my board in the water, so I bent over to get it back, but I fell too! But I can't swim, so if my friend hadn't been there to save me, I would have drowned by now!

During Amano's tragic account of her almost drowning, Hana had to make an immeasurable effort not to raise her eyes to heaven, which didn't escape Akaashi, who cast a mocking glance at her. Only the coach seemed to take this story very seriously.

—Well, we'll do it like that, the adult exclaimed categorically. I'll take care of her. You, she said while glancing at Hana. There0s some extra clothes in the baseball club locker. They may not be your size, but at least you'll have something dry to wear. You—

Akaashi stopped sighing in boredom when his coach turned to him, knowing in advance what she was going to ask him.

—I'd like you to show her where it is, would you? Finish the coach while she was helping the short-haired girl get up.

—Yes, coach, he replied obediently.

—Great, thank you.

The coach didn't lose a moment more to go away with Hana's comrade. As they moved away, their voices turned into fragments of incomprehensible conversation before drying up completely, leaving the two students to themselves.

Without a word, the young man reached out to Hana to help her get up, and even if this gesture surprised her a little, she was not asked twice before accepting it. In a blink, she found herself again on these two feet, but she didn't even have time to think about thanking him that he had already turned his back to join the exit.

As she walked a few meters behind him, Hana could not help but glance in the direction of the puddles she left on her path, with her clothes soaked with water. She sighed for a long time. With chlorine, her uniform was ruined. How would she justify this to her grandmother? The only thought of the confrontation gave her a headache.

Mechanically, Hana gathered her long hair in her hands to wring it out, but instead of just hearing the sound of water crashing on the ground, it was the boy's amused laughter that almost completely covered that sound. Not expecting it, Hana's action remained suspended as she quickly raised her head towards him. She noticed that in addition to staring at her with his usual piercing gaze, he had stopped to wait for her, his hands nonchalantly stuffed into the pockets of his jogging. His face was not particularly expressive, but the mocking air that floated there didn't escape the girl, who automatically frowned.

—What? She let go abruptly. If it's to tell me that my shirt is see through, thank you, but I already know."

—I had noticed, said the young man in a calm voice. But that's not what I was going to say.

—Then what? She uttered impatiently as she crossed her arms.

—Do you really wanted to jump off a bridge hoping to drown...when you can actually swim?

A silence followed Akaashi's words, but Hana's reaction was not long to come. Her eyes widened as she gazed round them, fearing that an eavesdropping ear might have heard the nonsense he had just uttered. But seeing no one, Hana turned her attention to the young man, giving him a bad look.

—Hey, she whistled. How many times must I tell you that...

Hana stopped to see him giggling and sighed. The young woman was not stupid, she understood that he said this only to annoy her. She wouldn't give him the pleasure of getting upset for so little.

—Forget it, she said simply. So where's the extra clothes ?

—In the boys' locker room, replied the young man.

As he headed there, Hana stood still in the same spot. She wasn't sure what to do. Should she wait until he brings her the clothes? Or should she follow him? On one hand, the young woman couldn't let him do everything when he was in no way responsible for her state. But on the other hand, she couldn't see herself going into those locker rooms. What if there were still people inside? She would feel stupid. Especially while wearing a wet shirt.

Her questioning was quickly swept away when the young man held back the door, as an invitation to follow him.

—Is there no one left? Hana asked to make sure she wouldn't have any unpleasant surprises.

—I am the last one, he replied calmly. But would you rather wait here?

—No, that's fine, she replied, shrugging her shoulders. I follow you.

—If you could manage to avoid putting water everywhere, that would be cool. The coach will be mad at me again.

Hana could not help but chuckle at the words of her interlocutor, imagining without difficulty how he would be reprimanded by the adult while keeping his blasé look on his face.

—It's a changing room next to a pool, she replied as they headed for a row of metal lockers. Isn't it normal that the floor is wet?

—Yeah, but normal people don't swim with their school uniform, he said with a look over his shoulder.

—In my defense, it was not intentional.

—Yeah whatever.

Both stopped in front of a locker and Akaashi began to search for clothes about the size of the young woman.

—Take that, he finally said a few moments later before handing her a change.

—Thank you, replied to Hana, grabbing the clothes. It's nice that you helped me.

—Mmm, it's not like I really had a choice, he reminded her, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Hana raised an eyebrow, doubtful of his words.

—You could have left me to fend for myself, said she, leaning against her wall. And this without the slightest remorse.

Hana didn't pretend to know him, but from what little she could observe, the young woman could say that this boy was clearly not part of people that spontaneously worry about the well-being of others. As long as it didn't affect him in any way, Hana couldn't picture him willingly helping someone without the presence of an interesting counterpart. Of course, the coach had ordered him to help her, but he could simply have told her the way. She would have been able to manage on her own, especially to find clothes that fit her...

—Am I to conclude that it is because you expect something from me in return? Hana ended up to ask in a neutral tone.

A grin took possession of Akaashi's lips as he contemplated the brunette with an almost admiring air. Usually, he had to do much more effort so that his hook-ups understand his intentions. Now, she had just greatly facilitated his task since he hadn't lifted a finger before she got the message. Even if all the factors were put together so that her interlocutor could draw this kind of conclusion on her own, he didn't think she was as perceptive. And above all, he didn't think she would be brave enough to dare to take the first step and formulate aloud what she assumed.  

Without letting go of her gaze, he leaned gently against the lockers, interested in the sudden turn that things had taken, but above all, interested in hearing what she would find to reply.

—Maybe, he finally answered after what seemed like an eternity.

—But I thought that we should act as if nothing had happened, recalled Hana with a detached tone while tilting her head to the side. You have to make up your mind.

Her words sounded like reproaches, but her gestures betrayed her real thoughts; when she spoke, she had discreetly rested the clothes that cluttered her hands, but it was without counting the attentive gaze of the young man who had not missed a thing. Akaashi, however, didn't dwell on this detail, dismissing his comment with an amused sneer as his left hand twisted one of Hana's hair strands around his graceful fingers.

—That's right, replied the student, gradually reducing the distance between them. But I changed my mind.

He who thought he was disconcerting her by the frankness of his remarks was pleasantly surprised to see her so confident about his actions. Not an ounce of fear or hesitation had crossed her beautiful anthracite eyes, but just a glimmer of envy that he had had all the leisure to see grow deep in his eyes. This time, she was – or at least he assumed it – completely sober. Nothing could hinder her ability to think, and yet, not for a moment had he felt in her a form of hesitation which might have implied any reluctance. The conclusion he drew was that she wanted it. As much as he did.

Even though they were strangers to each other, she clearly granted him a form of blind trust that in turn gave the young man a sense of personal satisfaction. Without even trying, or even realizing it, she had just definitely stirred up the curiosity that he bore her.

An uncontrollable shiver ran through Hana as he touched her cheek with the back of his hand, grabbing another of her strands of hair. She couldn't tell if his fingers were cold or if her skin on fire. Her heart was beating loudly in her chest, preventing her from listening to any rational thought that still inhabited her mind. Her brain seemed to shout that she should leave while she still could, but the young woman remained totally impermeable to it. Just like the last time they were in such a situation, the adrenaline she felt as she considered his proposal filled her with such a strong feeling that even the fear of the consequences if they were caught was not enough to make her give up. It was almost with a certain delight that she had fun imagining the horror that would paint her grandmother's features if she were to learn what her vilegranddaughter was doing...

Not wanting to give him the impression that he had the upper hand over the situation, Hana reduced the little distance that still separated them, slowly climbed on the tip of her toes, and laid a light kiss at the corner of his lips.

—Then what are you waiting for? she murmured, sliding her fingertips along his arm.

Hana smiled as she felt his muscles stretch imperceptibly under her touch, but too focused on this element, she could not hold a squeal of surprise when her back was suddenly pressed against the metal of the lockers.

—Anyone could come in at any time, he warned before wrapping his arms around the young woman's waist. Aren't you afraid of getting caught?

Surrendering her terror, Hana chuckled as she locked her hands behind his neck, amused to note that one, he obviously didn't like to be led by the nose and two, he had not even bothered to include himself in the sentence he had just formulated. As if she was the only one of the two for whom doubt was allowed, while yet it was her who had taken the lead by kissing him first.

—You seem to know the school's schedule well since you didn't hesitate for a second to drag me here, declared Hana in a provocative voice. I guess we have time, right?  And if the worse had to happen...

Hana paused, giving him a challenging look.

—I must confess that I am not really afraid of what my parents may think of it, she concluded with a rude implication, which made them both laugh.

—Well let's say we have that in common, then, concluded the young man with an uneventful amusement.

In a tacit agreement, the little distance between them was further reduced.