Marine Park is a the park located near Sakae Station, five stops away from Tengu Station.
The park is composed of a water area featuring various swimming facilities, large bathhouses, and indoor scenic spots, and an entertainnt area primarily consisting of an outdoor amusent park. During the sumr vacation, it's a highly popular destination visited by many families and couples from near and far.
However, since August had already passed, the signature outdoor pool area was closed. Unlike last ti, the number of visitors today was quite high. Fortunately, they set out early, otherwise, they might have had to wait in line at the entrance for a long ti.
If it were a date, this ti of year would indeed be quite crowded. But thankfully, most visitors were at the outdoor pool, so the indoor pools weren't too packed. It was quite convenient for learning how to swim.
Thinking about these minor details, Shido finished changing and walked from the locker room towards the pool.
However, before that, Yutsuki had already changed into the grey green, gender neutral swimsuit she wore last ti at the beach. She stood at the edge of the pool, seriously doing warm-up exercises.
"Oh, you changed really fast, Yutsuki!"
"Of course. If I stayed in a high-level area like the won's locker room for too long, I wouldn't be here, I'd be heading straight to the hospital."
A hint of helplessness appeared on Yutsuki's face.
"Well..."
According to what Yutsuki told him before, she possesses mories of being male in her past life. Although, as a modern youth, he didn't put too much stock into talks of past and present lives... after experiencing a series of surreal events, he couldn't completely deny such incredible claims either.
Because Yutsuki's gender in her past life was male, walking into the won's locker room now always made her head heat up. If she stayed too long, it could even harm her body. (Like getting severe nosebleeds.)
However, if that's the case, could Yutsuki walk into the n's locker room and strip right in front of him without changing her expression...
Pinch—!
"Ah—Owowow!"
Ignoring Shido's wails, Yutsuki pinched Shido's cheek, looking annoyed.
"I feel like you were thinking about sothing extrely dirty just now, Shido."
"Uh... it's your imagination."
Feeling a bit guilty, Shido pretended to cover his pinched, red cheek and looked down to avoid Yutsuki's gaze.
However, Yutsuki didn't press the issue and said,
"You should do so warm-up exercises too. It'd be a joke if the person teaching swimming got a cramp later."
"Well... that's true."
After doing so simple stretching exercises, Shido stepped into the pool and slowly waded over to Yutsuki.
Because the pool floor was designed with a slope, anyone taller than 1.4 ters(around 4.6 ft for western standard) could basically stand firmly at the beginning. As you moved forward, the water depth gradually increased, with the deepest area reaching two ters. Therefore, people would naturally divide themselves based on their swimming ability within the pool.
Needless to say, Yutsuki stood in the shallowest part at the very beginning, hands on her hips, waiting for Shido.
"So what do you want to do first? I'm sorry first, but my swimming skills are only average, and I have zero experience teaching anyone."
If he still had the earpiece, Shido could ask Kotori for support. But that beca impossible the mont Yutsuki threw the earpiece away. To avoid ssing things up by showing off, Shido honestly waved his hands and admitted.
"It's fine, Shido. Just tell how you felt when you learned how to swim."
"Even if you say that..." Shido smiled bitterly. After thinking for a mont, he slowly answered, "Anyway, let's start by learning to hold your breath. Take a deep breath and see if you can open your eyes underwater."
"Opening my eyes underwater... isn't it dangerous if water gets in my eyes?"
"Mhm, it'll be fine once you get used to it. After all, this is the basics of swimming. If you feel uncomfortable, just co up imdiately!"
"Understood..."
Although a bit hesitant, Yutsuki finally steeled herself. She took a deep breath and squatted down, subrging herself in the pool.
It felt slightly different from being in the air. She felt the surrounding liquid gently pressing against her, and her body experienced a strange sense of weightlessness.
After waiting quietly for a mont, Yutsuki gradually relaxed and slowly opened her eyes.
What appeared before her was a dark blue, crystal-clear water world. Yutsuki almost cried out in surprise. Luckily, she realized that opening her mouth now would make her choke on water, so she stopped herself.
Feeling soone gently tap her shoulder, Yutsuki turned her head. Shido was subrged right next to her, making hand gestures.
[How does it feel?]
[OK!]
Seeing Yutsuki's gesture, Shido nodded lightly and pointed to the surface, signaling that they could... go up.
"Pwah—"
After breaking the surface, Yutsuki took a deep breath of fresh air and pushed her wet, ssy long hair back.
"How was it?"
"Not bad, this is fine."
"Mhm... next, try paddling a bit. Can we try freestyle?"
"Well, I've seen it on TV. That's the fastest way to swim, right?! Can you do it, Shido?"
"I'm okay at it..." Scratching his cheek a bit shyly, Shido acted a bit humble, then started the next part of the lesson.
Balance, breathing, kicking. Shido shared his experience with Yutsuki bit by bit. Yutsuki's comprehension was very high, and she grasped it quite easily.
"Mhm, next let's try swimming using both your arms and legs. Yutsuki, you hold onto my hands first and kick your legs. Once you get used to it, I'll let go."
"Understood!"
Yutsuki clenched her fists as if to encourage herself, then grabbed Shido's hands.
Feeling a pair of soft, delicate little hands holding his, Shido spaced out for a mont.
"Shido?"
"Ah, right... it's nothing. Let's begin!"
"Ooh!"
With a spirited low shout, Yutsuki started kicking her legs in the water.
He had to admit, Yutsuki's control over her body's strength was incredibly precise. Even though she possessed the physical constitution of a Spirit, which far exceeded a normal human's, she didn't use excessive force to create unnecessary splashes. Her textbook perfect movents made Shido silently praise her.
"Yes, yes! Just like that, don't rush, move forward slowly..."
Matching Yutsuki's swimming speed, Shido slowly backed away. Confirming that Yutsuki had gradually stabilized, Shido decided to let go.
"Yutsuki, I'm going to let go. Try moving forward using both your arms and legs."
"No problem!"
Shido slowly let go, stepped aside, and quietly observed Yutsuki's movents.
Yutsuki paddled her arms in the water, her arms and legs working together without any ss. Standard, smooth, and powerful. Even a professional swimr would be impressed.
However, even so, after slowly moving forward for barely two ters, Ryougi Yutsuki still sank into the water, leaving a few bubbles floating on the surface.
"...Yutsuki!"
Because her swimming stance was so textbook perfect, he didn't react imdiately. Shido hurried over in a panic and pulled Yutsuki out of the water.
"Cough, cough! I'm fine, just choked on so water, no problem." After coughing lightly twice, Yutsuki's expression relaxed, and she smiled bitterly. "And here I thought I could learn it smoothly and perfectly."
"Well, failing isn't strange. After all, everyone makes mistakes when learning for the first ti. You'll get the hang of it gradually."
After offering so comfort, Shido saw that Yutsuki's expression clearly showed no intention of giving up. He chuckled.
"Then, want to try again?"
"Of course!"
...
"Um, Yutsuki... do you want to take a break?"
"No, just a little bit more. Just a little bit more and I can learn how to swim. Shido, can I trouble you to do it one more ti?"
"Well... if you're okay with it, I don't mind."
Imdiately after, Yutsuki grabbed Shido's hands again and started kicking.
Shido's mood right now could be described as sowhat heavy.
Two hours. For a full two hours, Ryougi Yutsuki learned the preceding steps perfectly. But for so unknown reason, the mont he let go and she tried on her own, she sank into the water without exception.
During this ti, they also wondered if they should try a different swimming style.
Breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke. Yutsuki learned the theory for all of them, and Shido thought she would succeed every ti, but she just...
—Couldn't float!
"Yutsuki... I'm letting go."
"Bring it on, I will definitely succeed this ti!"
Despite the girl saying that, Shido still felt a bit uneasy. After hesitating for a mont, he slowly let go.
—Glug, glug, glug.
And then, just like before, despite her form and movents being absolutely textbook, Yutsuki still sank into the water.
"Cough, cough... one more ti."
Yutsuki gritted her teeth in frustration and said in a very strained voice.
"Yutsuki, how about trying a kickboard or a swimming ring first? They have a rental shop here."
"No. If I do that, wouldn't these past few hours of hard work be aningless."
Yutsuki rejected Shido's proposal without even thinking. After all, she had learned everything up to the very last step. She was just one final push away from succeeding. Giving up here would be an unacceptable choice for anyone.
"Uh..."
Shido looked troubled. Yutsuki's mood had clearly plunged into frustration, which was understandable. If Shido put himself in her shoes, being stuck on the last step for several hours, he would definitely be depressed to death too.
Emotional instability leads to frequent mistakes. Although a Spirit's stamina is incredibly abundant, if this kept up, not only would Yutsuki fail to learn how to swim, but she would also be unprecedentedly depressed on the way back.
What should I do...
Just as Shido was looking troubled, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in his line of sight.
"Sorry, Yutsuki. Can we pause for a mont? I need to go to the restroom."
"Ah? Oh... go ahead."
Hearing Shido suddenly call for a break, Yutsuki was startled, then realized how much ti had passed and said sowhat awkwardly.
After waiting for Yutsuki to climb out of the pool to rest, Shido took the opportunity to run in a certain direction.
"Yo... you look like you're in trouble, Shin."
Not far away, at an ice drink stall, Murasa Reine—wearing a cool bikini with a small bear plushie tucked in her cleavage, attracting a massive amount of attention from male custors—whispered in a tired voice that sounded like she could collapse at any mont.
"Reine-san? Why are you here..."
"Well... I sowhat predicted that Yutsuki would refuse support from the Fraxinus... so I ca ahead to wait in ambush... to provide assistance in case Shin ran into trouble."
After buying a high-sugar iced soda from the stall, Reine slowly spoke.
"According to the report from the Fraxinus just now, Yutsuki's mood is quite low. Can you tell the details, Shin?"
"Yes..."
With a bitter smile, Shido briefly recounted the story of Yutsuki learning to swim for the past two hours and constantly failing.
"I see... failing on the very last step for two hours straight... no wonder she's feeling frustrated."
Reine rested her chin on her hand, pondering.
"Honestly, I personally feel there's absolutely no reason for Yutsuki to fail, but I just don't know why she can't learn how to swim."
From a bystander's perspective, Shido didn't feel the failures were caused by technical deficiencies or mistakes at all. It was almost as if she had been cursed by soone. (Author (side-eyeing): "...I know nothing.")
Constantly failing without being able to find the mistake—this was undoubtedly incredibly frustrating. It was like writing down the perfect, correct answers on a test, only to inexplicably receive a zero. Yutsuki's current feelings were easy to imagine.
If Yutsuki could maintain a stable mindset and continue, Shido wouldn't mind acting as her practice partner no matter how long it took.
But the current Yutsuki was entirely relying on sheer stubbornness to desperately force herself to keep trying.
This clearly wasn't what Shido wanted to see.
"Mhm... I understand."
Reine put a hand to her ear and whispered a few words, seemingly communicating with Kotori on the airship.
"We will record and analyze Yutsuki's learning process and have soone experienced in swimming analyze the reason for the failures. In the anti, Shido, take Yutsuki on a date to ease her mood, okay?"
"Even if you say that... I don't think Yutsuki will give up training to go on a date. After all, she specifically didn't invite Tohka and the others to avoid turning this into playti."
Shido knew that Yutsuki was soone who wouldn't easily waver once she made up her mind. Having resolved herself to learn how to swim, giving up here to go on a date... just thinking about it made it seem incredibly difficult.
"This is where Shin's eloquence cos in... After all, even when her powers are sealed, Yutsuki is quite sensitive to electromagnetic communications. It's inconvenient for us to give you detailed instructions from here, so we can only give you so recomndations beforehand. Good luck."
"Understood..."
Shortly after, Shido said goodbye to Reine and returned to the pool where Yutsuki was.
"Yo, Shido. That trip to the restroom took quite a while.A heavy one?"
"Hey..."
Being misunderstood by Yutsuki like that, but unable to say he was eting with Reine, Shido showed an expression caught between laughing and crying.
"Well, nothing to be embarrassed about. Alright... hurry up and co over so we can continue."
After a light sigh, Yutsuki jumped into the water and slapped the surface impatiently, urging him.
"Um... Yutsuki." Flusteredly organizing his words, Shido finally spoke nervously, "Let's put swimming aside for now. Do you want to go check out the other attractions?"
"What are you talking about, Shido..." Yutsuki frowned in displeasure. "Didn't I say today is for swimming training?"
"But taking appropriate breaks is also necessary, right? Even a tutor takes a break midway for tea and snacks."
"Uh... although that is true." Despite a montary wavering on her face, Yutsuki still shook her head, raised a finger, and said, "One more ti! Just one last ti! I feel like I've got the hang of it."
This sounded exactly like the excuse a teenager addicted to online gas gives when urged to sleep by their parents: "Just ten more minutes, let finish this match and I'll go rest." And then they end up pulling an all-nighter.
Well... although the nuance is slightly different. The result is the sa. If Shido went soft here, this "last ti" would probably continue right until closing ti...
"No. Honestly, it's rare that we co to Marine Park. After acting as your practice partner for two hours, as a reward, you should accompany and play a bit."
Actually, originally speaking, since Yutsuki had the "Ownership of Shido for an entire day," Shido had no right to complain about her requests. But making the suggestion directly would make Yutsuki feel like he was saying she couldn't learn how to swim, which would hurt her pride. Rather than that, Shido decided to take the stance of making a request of her.
He had to admit, this phrasing was very effective on Yutsuki. If it were a suggestion made for Yutsuki's own sake, Yutsuki would thank him and then refuse. But since it was an idea Shido proposed for his own sake, Yutsuki's face clearly showed hesitation.
"Mhm... it is true that keeping you as my practice partner this whole ti is a bit unfair to you... alright."
Yutsuki muttered softly, then nodded in agreent.
"So, what do you want to play?"
"Mhm, how about the water slide?"
Saying that, he pointed at the giant rocky mountain towering indoors. Long slides extended from its peak, and occasionally, guests in swimsuits would slide down at a ferocious speed, accompanied by screams and rushing water.
"Well... if you like it, Shido, I don't mind."
After a mont of silence, Yutsuki shrugged and answered.
Climbing the stairs to the top of the rocky mountain. The staff mber at the entrance of the water slide was directing guests to slide down in order.
"Eh...? Yutsuki?"
"...What?"
"This posture of yours... could you maybe loosen up and move away a little bit..."
Right now, Yutsuki was sitting in Shido's lap, her hands wrapped tightly around his neck like a koala. A sweet, fresh scent lingered around his nose. Not just her chest, but her lower abdon, arms, and thighs—full body contact. The soft sensations constantly transmitting to him almost made him lose the strength to grip the edges of the water slide.
"I can't help it... you know I can't swim..."
Yutsuki's face was completely pale. She was completely oblivious to Shido's embarrassnt, her words trembling as she spoke.
Alright, Yutsuki wasn't afraid of heights, and she had no problem with roller coasters and the like. But the problem was, she was afraid of drowning.
"Even so..."
The water in this pool actually wasn't deep enough to drown anyone, and Shido didn't have the confidence to keep his balance while carrying another person.
Because there were an unusual number of visitors today, the line was quite crowded. Perhaps so impatient person pushed the line forward slightly, causing the guests behind them to move forward uncontrollably.
Well... it was just a slight jolt, nothing dangerous. But Shido's hands, which were already struggling to grip the edges of the slide, slipped.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh—"
"Kyahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—"
In a posture that would definitely earn them a scolding from the staff, the two of them, accompanied by screams, slid downward with terrifying gravitational potential energy.
Following a trajectory that almost sent them flying off the track, propelled by the fierce rapids, the two slid down the waterway screaming, charging towards the sharpest curve with unstoppable montum.
Then, a familiar feeling of weightlessness suddenly rushed over him. By the ti Shido ca to his senses, he and Yutsuki had flown out of the slide, tossed into mid-air. They plumted straight down toward the pool directly below.
With a terrifying splash, ripples spread across the pool.
"Pwah!"
"Wah..."
A few bubbles rose from the water, and then Shido pulled Yutsuki to the surface.
"Yutsuki, are you okay?"
"I'm fine... I didn't expect to fly off the slide."
Shaking her slightly ssy hair, Yutsuki said with a sigh.
"Well... this is the second ti for ."
Last ti, they flew off the track because of the combined weight of Tohka, Kotori, and himself. But because the slide they chose this ti was much steeper than the previous one, it unexpectedly resulted in the sa outco.
Wait a minute, that proposal was made by Kotori. She didn't do that on purpose, did she... (Kotori (snickering): "Plan successful.")
"Sorry, my mistake this ti. Next, let's go to..."
"No!" To his surprise, Yutsuki refused with an unexpectedly fierce intensity. Her eyes shone with an unprecedented light of excitent, and she said decisively:
"One more ti!"
"...Huh?"
...
"Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—"
"Ahahahahahahahahahahaha—"
Due to the deliberate actions of a certain girl, the boy and girl let out fierce wails and laughter in mid-air four consecutive tis.
In the end, Yutsuki showed her most refreshing smile of the day, while Shido, with a pale face, ran to the restroom to clear his stomach.
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