"Stop saying such stupid things and get in the water!"
Minamoto Senya's words were too ambiguous.
Touka Takanashi turned sideways, and took a step forward as if to hide her embarrassment, not wanting him to see the most likely inappropriate expression on her face at the moment, leaving him with only her back.
I wanted to offer some resistance on the grounds that this was my serious business.
But what she didn't know was that her skin, which was usually covered by clothes and could not be observed, was now directly betraying her true thoughts at the moment.
Minamoto Senya also realized that he had made a new discovery.
It turns out that when Touka is shy, her body behaves so adorably. The skin from her neck to her arms and even her back changes from its original white to a very obvious light pink.
What? This setting is like the heroine of a girl's comic. It's too cute.
After a while, Touka turned around without receiving a response from Minamoto Senya.
But she met his gaze that was still fixed on her, a gaze that was even more unconcealed than usual... one that was filled with love and doting.
There was no one else at the swimming pool late at night. The only sound in the empty scene was soothing light music playing from the external speakers on the ceiling.
Apart from anything else, the atmosphere created is just right.
"...If you don't want to start, I'm going back."
Touka's whole body became increasingly red, and she was vaguely unsure of what posture to strike in front of Minamoto Senya. At this moment, she became increasingly aware that something was wrong with him tonight.
Even nine out of ten things are wrong.
Therefore, her slightly tough words at the moment were not so much pressure from a teacher's position, but rather a helpless act to protect herself from the chaos in her mind.
Her eyes, which were filled with moisture as she lowered her gaze, and her voice, which seemed a little trembling, made Minamoto Senya realize that the night had just begun and he couldn't be so hasty.
So now, just do as planned.
Feeling the heartbeat in my chest.
It is undeniable that he was a little nervous at this moment.
"Since we're here, we have to get started."
In front of Touka, Minamoto Senya was the first to go into the water.
The area of the swimming pool in front of him was shallow, and the water surface only barely reached Senya's lower abdomen.
Seeing that he finally became serious and no longer just staring at her attack, Touka breathed a sigh of relief.
She came to the edge of the swimming pool and did not rush into the water. Instead, she squatted down slowly.
"How about it?"
"It's very beautiful, didn't I just say that?"
"I meant the water temperature!"
"The water temperature..." Minamoto Senya said with a look that said, "You better explain yourself clearly." "...It's just right, very cool and comfortable."
This guy definitely did it on purpose...
"As long as it's suitable, you should get used to the water. When you're ready, start swimming. I'll see how ugly your swimming form is."
"Touka, aren't you going in the water?"
"…"
Touka lowered her eyes and pursed her lips, staring at the hand he extended. Finally, she took a deep breath, stretched out her hand, and let him hold it.
Originally, she wanted to sit by the pool and gracefully enter the water by touching the bottom with her feet.
But she didn't expect that the next moment Minamoto Senya smiled wickedly, held her hand and pulled it slightly, and the defenseless Touka immediately fell into the swimming pool.
With a "splash" of water, the two of them huddled together and sank to the bottom of the water.
"call"
Touka stuck her head out, took a long breath, tucked her wet hair behind her ears, and water droplets rolled down her shoulders and neck.
"Haha~…"
Minamoto Senya's prank was successful and he laughed happily.
Touka rolled her eyes at him angrily and punched him in the chest: "How can you be more childish than Rikka?"
"I saw that you looked too serious, Touka, so I wanted to make you relax a little."
"Then I have to thank you."
"That's not necessary. I'll be satisfied if Teacher Touka pays more attention to the teaching session that will begin later."
Under the water, Touka's feet also stepped on Senya's instep.
"Hiss, it hurts…"
It doesn't hurt at all actually.
Whether it was the boxing just now or the foot bath now.
But seeing Touka's pouting lips as if she was showing a little temper, Minamoto Senya felt that it would be best if he just pretended to cooperate and make her feel a little satisfied.
"If you know the pain, stop talking so smoothly. Don't forget why you invited me here."
"I know. It's to improve my swimming skills and not embarrass myself in front of others."
"If you know, let go of my hand quickly. This is not the vast ocean, and I am not a lifebuoy. There is no need to hold me so tightly. You lack a sense of security."
"Oh, sorry, I wasn't paying attention when I pulled you down just now... I didn't mean to."
Minamoto Senya hurriedly released his hands that had been tightly wrapped around Touka's waist and back.
Lies come out of his mouth without hesitation.
He hugged me so tightly just now, thighs against thighs, chest against chest, so perfectly fitted, it seemed as if he wanted to become one with me... No one would believe that he didn't do it on purpose.
"Okay, now, don't waste time, start swimming. Anyway, let's see your specific level first."
"Yes, Touka-sensei."
Touka put her hands on her hips and spoke in a serious tone.
Minamoto Senya also became a little more serious.
The next moment, he leaned forward, submerged his upper body under the water, and began his performance.
Touka watched his gentle and slow swimming movements.
At first, she tried her best to hold it together, but in the end, she couldn't hold it in due to lack of professional training.
The reason lies in Minamoto Senya's swimming posture. His hands, like his legs, rhythmically paddle the water under the water.
This swimming style is commonly known as "dog paddle".
Minamoto Senya swam a small circle along the center of the swimming pool.
When he returned to Touka's side, she had restrained her smile.
But there were still traces of the laughter between his eyebrows.
"You seem very happy."
"No."
Of course, Touka flatly denied it.
Minamoto Senya didn't care about it. He wiped the water off his face with his palm, pulled up his bangs, and asked, "How do you feel?"
"I think I swam pretty well. I don't know why you are so unsure of yourself, Senya."
"There's no need to say such gentle words at this time."
"There is no tenderness. I am very objective."
"Did you see my problem during that circle just now, Teacher Touka?"
"Senya, your body is very coordinated, and your whole body moves naturally when you swim. You are not afraid of water, so we just need to teach you a new swimming style and let you master it. It should be no problem."
"I see... You're quite professional. Oh, and I forgot to ask you this before. I saw your swimming form so beautiful this afternoon, Touka. Did you learn it on your own or did you systematically study with others?"
"When I was in elementary school, a senior from the swimming club who I was very close to taught me."
"senior..."
"It's a girl."
"Oh~"
"Alright, let's not talk about this irrelevant thing anymore. Senya, which swimming style do you want to learn?"
"Do you know all the swimming strokes?"
"I wouldn't say I know all of them, but I do know most of the common swimming strokes."
"My judgment was correct. Touka is quite good at exercises that involve the entire body."
Although this is a compliment to me, why does it always feel weird?
Touka didn't think much of it.
"There's no need for compliments. Tell me what you think."
"Hmm... I want to learn the swimming style that Touka demonstrated at the beach this afternoon."
"Okay, I understand."
His body stretched out in the water like an arrow, extending from his fingertips to his toes without any hesitation.
The shoulder and back muscles are obviously bulging, and each stroke accurately cuts the water flow. The waist and abdominal core are as stable as an axis, allowing the propulsion force to be transmitted throughout the body without loss.
He was now like this, without even a trace of the clumsiness he had just shown when Touka was holding his hand and teaching him.
His talent for water perception is truly spiritual, and his technique control is as standard as a textbook.
Minamoto Senya swam back and forth in the swimming pool in a very short time.
When he came ashore and stood before Touka, whose eyes were wide open, she blushed again, bit her teeth, and punched him lightly in the chest.
"You already know how to swim, and your form is so beautiful and neat, so why do you need me to teach you?"
Touka thought he would make some excuses like before.
Say what?
It's because I taught him well, or maybe he just has talent... It's like this, either flattery or a rather cocky complacency.
After laughing it off, she took the opportunity to move on from the topic and no longer dwell on it.
After all, she really liked him...
I like talking to him, getting along with him, and staying close to him. Even if I do nothing and just look at him quietly, I can't help but feel happy and comfortable.
But this time, Minamoto Senya did not say any words of defense.
Facing Touka's feigned fierce expression, he took the initiative to hold her hands.
Many drops of water fell from his short hair, flowing across his face, ears and nose.
His face, which looked nonchalant the moment before, softened the next moment his eyes met hers.
"You understand it yourself, don't you, Touka?"
He spoke softly, no longer concealing his true feelings.
"I like you, Touka."
"!!!"
At this moment, Touka felt as if she had been shot. Her pupils trembled and she suddenly froze, unable to move.
Confession is the clarion call for victory, not the charge to attack.
There is a mutual affection, which then sublimates into love. Feelings slowly heat up in this process, and everything gradually becomes clear. Only after it comes naturally will there be the final stage of confession.
Minamoto Senya had a good idea, but he still underestimated the intensity of Touka's reaction.
She was stunned for a moment, and after blushing, she pulled her hands out of his.
I watched him take two steps back, silent and trembling, his eyes wavering as if I was meeting him for the first time today.
"Stop...stop it."
Senya's confession came too suddenly.
Touka finally came to her senses. Faced with this sudden development, she suppressed her restless emotions and tried her best to save their relationship.
"You...you just like to joke around."
Minamoto Senya stepped forward again under Touka's gaze, and once again took her hands, pressing them against his left chest, letting her feel his heartbeat.
"I'm not kidding. I've liked Touka since a long time ago. It's not the kind of love between family members, but the kind that sees Touka as a member of the opposite sex, wants to interfere in Touka's future life, and wants all of Touka."
"…"
As he confessed his feelings more bluntly, the touch of their hands again was like an electric current that flowed through her limbs and penetrated deep into her nerves.
Something was paralyzed, and she was actually excited by what was happening at this moment.
With a trembling breath, she almost wanted to express her feelings to him.
But the reality between them stopped her in time.
Yes.
Senya is younger than me and doesn't understand what it means to say these words... but I can't.
The boiling thoughts cooled down again.
She tilted her head and let herself breathe shallowly and quickly.
She tried to pull her hands back again, but this time, Senya held them tightly, not allowing her any chance to slip away.
"Senya, do you know what you are saying now..."
"I understand that what I'm saying now is a bit too sudden for you, Touka, but please believe me, I know exactly what I'm doing now. I want to take care of you and want Touka to always be by your side in the future... In short, there's no doubt that I love Touka."
At the entrance of the swimming pool, two aunties in cleaning clothes were walking together, probably to clean the place.
Apparently, neither of them expected that there would be guests here at this time, so they looked over here a few more times with concern.
"Whether you accept it or not, Touka, at least give me a chance to express my feelings... Let's go back to the room and talk, okay?"
Senya loosened his grip a little.
But Touka, who noticed this, was now confused and lowered her head slightly, staring at their hands clasped together. She didn't say anything, but just nodded slightly.
Changing clothes didn't take much effort.
The moment when your feelings are revealed.
Neither of them had any intention of taking a shower in the shower room next to the swimming pool.
He simply wiped himself with a dry towel, put on his clothes, and then left the swimming pool together.
On the way, Minamoto Senya once again took the initiative to hold Touka's hand.
The two of them sat palm to palm as they rode the elevator all the way up.
When they reached the floor and before the elevator opened, Touka withdrew her hand.
Some things, some answers, do not require language to be understood by each other.
Senya smiled softly, causing Touka to knock on his chest for who knows how many times tonight.
The two walked out of the elevator side by side.
There was no scene like in comedy comics where the person is caught and discovered by other people traveling with him.
Minamoto Senya opened the door of his room and the two of them walked in smoothly.
The door was closed and silence returned to the corridor.
The first thing he did as he entered the room was to hold Touka's hand again and guide her to sit down beside his bed.
He then slowly squatted down in front of her, like a couple in love about to propose, and knelt on one knee.
"What are you doing? Get up."
"No need to help me, I'm fine the way I am. Let me think about where to start..."
Seeing that Senya also looked uneasy at this moment, Touka, who had just calmed down after dozens of minutes, now had some room to relax.
It is obvious that when you see him participating in a kendo competition or being interviewed by a TV station, he never shows such an expression.
"What? You were acting so cool just now, but now you're stuck?"
"I can't help it. After all, this is my first time to express my feelings to someone I like. If the experience is not good, please bear with me."
"I'm the same way. Someone confessed to me so solemnly, took my hand, and then directly dragged me to his room. Since this was also my first time, I'm not sure how I would respond, so please be mentally prepared."
Probably because everything was said and done.
The atmosphere in the room at this moment is much more relaxed than that by the swimming pool.
Taking this as an opportunity, some words that were difficult to say due to excessive nervousness and anxiety can now be said more fluently.
Minamoto Senya looked at Touka and smiled.
Yes.
He and Touka have lived together under the same roof day and night, and have been with each other until now. They know each other very well, unlike those couples who are close to each other simply because of their affection.
Even if it was a confession between them, there seemed to be no need to prepare it so solemnly and formally.
"I understand. So, in order to convince Touka that my liking for you is not a joke, nor a random whim, I'll start from the beginning."
"At the beginning?"
"Well, Touka, do you know when I officially started treating you as the opposite sex?"
"Have no idea..."
Touka replied this way, but in fact, she knew it very well in her heart.
After all, she had read Senya's diary countless times.