She Will Be Loved

[Fuukami Haruka]

Time: 7:00 PM
Date: May 29, 2003
Location: the Fuukami Mansion

---

Iryna-neechan is a very strong young lady. Only one year my senior, I made her out to be my role model, but it seems she doesn't really mind in the slightest. Or if she does, she doesn't say it. Tonight, I had dinner with her; we tend to eat a lot because we live so close and, well, we're family. It's what families do. While I'm not the best cousin she ever had, I like to pride myself upon being her closest cousin ever. She's my best friend, even though she surely must have some other friends. I, on the other hand, don't...

I suppose it's because I'm a bit bossy with my other classmates. It could also be because they're scared of me?. But what is there to be scared of? I won't bite! I'm not a monster! Sometimes it's so hard to understand what on Earth my classmates could possibly ever want from me. I do my best to be friendly and nice and I try to be a good class rep, but all that results from that is acquaintanceship. It's disappointing...

When you think about it though, that kind of mindset is fairly selfish, and I'm so very sorry about that. Ever since my sister Tomoka got lost... I became so frightened that I couldn't be good enough to protect and do well for those I care about, including Neechan.

But no one was perfect. I tried to not let my concern show as I watched my older cousin hang up the phone. She was calling this guy name Mizukami or something and I know she likes him. She had told me about him right after she met him at her entrance ceremony and when I looked at her, there was affection. Faint but it was there. I know it. It's fairly easy to see if a young girl is in love. You just can't help it. Love is an unstoppable force of nature, so you better move with the flow or else you're going to get swept away.

Speaking of wave metaphors... this Mizukami guy was invited by Iryna-neechan to join us for our beach vacation. We still need to pack up and organize everything, but luckily, we have the money, clothes, etc. in order to do that.

"Hey, Iryna-neechan, when are we going to Okinawa exactly? Also, did he accept?" I asked with an anticipating smile on my face. "Also, please forgive me. I forgot to thank you for that wonderful dinner your chef cooked. It was absolutely delightful." Iryna was not a stickler for manners, sure, but it was always good to be polite to anyone older. Respect!

Respect was one of the teachings of Bushido I think. Ever since we had developed a complex society, particularly in the Edo era, Japan followed a strict code of morals, not just the samurai. Even Iryna, who was half Russian, did so too. it involved loyalty, rectitude, honor, honesty, courage, and last of all, respect. These were the seven Bushido values that resulted from the combination of Zen Buddhist, Shinto, and Confucianist values. Cultural diffusion was amazing.

It, after all, was why my favorite cousin was born too.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

"Yes? Oh, alright. That's good, then. I'm glad you can come. Call me if you need anything."

I close my cell phone, delighted at the answer on the other end of the line. He finally accepted my invitation. The most important step is done. I planned this trip with him in mind. He also said that a male friend of his is coming along. Some guy named Narukami. Okay, if that guy is Ayumu's friend, he should be fine, I guess.

Now I can focus more on planning the trip. Once the exams are over, we will enjoy ourselves to the fullest. It's a nice change of pace from the routine training on the rink. Swimming as you like is much more relaxing than balancing yourself on the ice and performing various complex techniques.

Now Haru-chan is asking me when we can go. She always has been a curious individual, asking about a lot of things. When I first met her, the first thing she inquire me about is Russia, Mama's homeland. Even though my description of that country might not have been totally pleasant, Haru-chan listened very attentively, just like a kindergarten kid listening to a fairy tale. I kinda envy her about her ability to focus on one subject intensely, as that's her primary reason for achieving good grades. While my grades are definitely not bad, I just can't concentrate the way she does.

"Oh, well", I turn to Haru-chan, "I still haven't planned the exact date yet, but we can go right after the last day of this term. Once we pass all our tests. And, yes, he accepted, and he will bring a friend of his along."

Haru-chan really is a good girl. Always sees me as my elder sister. Always polite, maybe to the point of being a little excessive. I just want her to be more like a close friend, a cute little sister whose company I can enjoy. She didn't really need to thank me about today's dinner like that. Just a simple "thank you" is enough.

"Now, now, Haru-chan, all the people in this place sees you as family. Grishin-san is glad whenever you come here, as you enjoys his Russian dishes. There's no need for so many formalities."

While being respected is a good thing, the formalities can cause barriers between people. Even though I enjoy my status as a rich girl, and use it to my convenience, I still want a company of friends who see me for who I really am.

"Hey, let's do homework together, then have a swim. We can talk more in the pool."

Spending time in the water should be a good way to clear my head after doing all that work. And doing it with someone else can be more enjoyable than just by myself. Haru-chan may ask more questions, especially about Ayumu, but at least I can feel more comfortable there.

[Fuukami Haruka]

"Yes? Oh, alright. That's good, then. I'm glad you can come. Call me if you need anything."

The smile on Iryna's face was bright as the sun. My older cousin was a fairly beautiful young maiden who did not seem to appear more Japanese nor more Russian. She was just both; she was unique. I'm very glad her offer got accepted by Mizukami because it's more than obvious that he was very important to her.

Now, Iryna can have some time for herself while putting aside the figure skating, modeling, school, etc. etc. beside her. I think she loves the ice, but sometimes you just need to take a break. It's summer vacation anyway; therefore she needs to take some time away from her job. I'm not one for sports, but even in the summer, I'm going to do my very best to be a studious pupil, as I was always. I have four essays due and three books to be read at the end of summer and if I don't start soon, I'll be damned.

Tight lipped, I tried to keep the fact that though I'm good with History and Classical Japanese, I struggled with Algebra and Physics. They're just weren't the classes for me. Barely making the A marks for Mathematics and the natural sciences, I had to rely on a tutor to help me. For English, I also relied on a tutor, but I did extremely well once the tutor provided me the perfect environment to learn such a difficult language. School was not the best place in Japan to learn English. During school, my curious nature helped me learn so many facts about the world, and my ability to focus on even just one subject for an extended amount of time only made my grades better. Unfortunately, this proved a problem for my ability to socially interact. I had no concept of "private space" as a young child. When I learned proper manners, that changed, but I became extraordinarily distant. I still don't know what to do with myself about that.

"I understand, Iryna-neechan. You're still busy at the end of the term." My smile widened as Iryna-neechan responded but in a formal way: a failure to make a properly sympathetic expression, but I knew she sensed the intention and that my words rang true. "In fact, so am I. That's why it's important that we study especially hard before the finals." Then I paused, my eyes blinking and staring at her like a newborn kitten seeing the world for the first time. "He agreed to come? That's great. I can't wait to meet him and his friend." I guess so. That was the polite thing to say, though I did mean it too.

Iryna-neechan is my all time role model; I hope that doesn't put too much stress on her. In order to prevent myself from being overly clingy, I decided to be just as formal as I am with the rest of the people in this world, but subtly I leave hints as to how I truly feel. Like the name I called her. Iryna-neechan. I wanted her to know how important and sisterly she was to me. She's closer than she knows, but I'm afraid that if I tell her all of my personal thoughts, I'd come across as being overbearing and arrogant.

What Iryna had to say next made my eyes shine brighter with happiness. It was good to be reminded I had a family there for me. "That's true, Iryna-neechan. I always ask for seconds for his stew." I agreed with her first two sentences but tilted my head in confusion at the last one. "Iryna-neechan, I still don't understand this 'formalities' concept. I thought you were supposed to be formal with your family or?" The only person I wasn't polite with was my sister or people who were rude and irritating.

I was less polite with my parents and family because they asked me to be so, but for some reason, they still think I'm not casual around them. Quite frankly, I didn't mean to seem like I objected to what Iryna thought. I didn't, albeit very confused. "Sorry," I said just in case if she thought the interjection was rude.

To make up for my (possible) rudeness, I nodded in compliance. I wasn't the best athlete, but I could swim for fun at least.

I loved doing my homework; the thrill of an intellectual challenge stimulated my mind and helped to make me a better person. But so did exercise. A weird theory would be if I needed to enter war like those famous samurai or priest-kings or war generals. I knew I didn't but, what if?

Either way, going swimming should be fun. I could float and do three strokes at least. I wouldn't drown.

Also, there was so much more to learn about Iryna's little boyfriend that she could totally be paired up with. I snickered mentally as I thought to myself about how to get the two together during the vacation.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

"Well, it's just that, you and I are about the same age. We should not bother much about how we address each other. Besides, even though I enjoy being a 'princess' and all, having lots of people doing things for me, who call me 'ojou-sama' all the time, I'd like to have somebody I can talk to freely without worrying about courtesy, and other things like that. Seriously, you don't have to be sorry."

Always a good girl, she is. I know she tries her best to be like that, but... does she take it a little too much on herself? Trying to be a perfectionist all the time can be... very exhausting. Fulfilling someone else' expectations is one thing, but one can crumbles under his/her own ambitions as well. Also, the higher you climb, the harder you fall. I have felt that kind of disappointment before, when a certain girl who keeps having one step ahead of me came to my life. The feeling of my invincibility being crushed like a piece of chalk was devastating.

Still, at least the upside of it is that girl's presence has boosted my motivation for training. I have refined many techniques since then. It's like being pulled by a motorboat. But one day, I can surpass it by my own strength.

Today's homework, well, at least we can do it quickly since we have each other's help. Haru-chan asking me for help on Maths still makes sense, somewhat, since I'm her senpai, but I still need her help on writing essays. Especially History ones. The tests for this subject always require us to write a lot for each question. I just don't enjoy writing much. It's rather vexing, but Haru-chan can provide some useful tips and ideas, so I manage to pull through.

After that, time for a swim.

I quickly change to my black sporty two-piece, tie my hair up into two round buns with tails like a certain magical girl warrior, then walk to the back of the estate. There lies a sizable swimming pool. Not too big, but the typical size you can see in many hotels around the world. Since it's already dark, the large body of water is illuminated by many yellow lights installed on the pool's sides, which produces a strange blend of light between yellow and blue. It's just been cleaned yesterday, too. Should be perfect for a dip.

I call out to Haru-chan, then jump into the water first. The sensation of being immersed in water is unique in its own right. While on the rink, it's the below-zero-degree cold emitted from the hard ice underneath my blades, dissipated in to the thin air above, alongside the winds from the air conditioners, make me feel both cool and sweaty. Being in the pool, the sensation of liquid water covering my entire body makes it much more relaxing. Even though the water here tastes rather... weird because of chlorine, and it's rather cold the moment one steps in.

"Hey Haru-chan, let's see who can make it to the other end first!"

[Fuukami Haruka]

"That's true, Oneechan." Unfortunately, I find myself adding the -san honorifics more than ever. Originally, it started out as something I'd adopt to help me transit in the workplace should I find myself in an internship at some point in time. But I should be more considerate. Politeness won't win over a confidant that Iryna wants after changing out of her ice princess ego. I knew it was part of her, just not all of her. "Mhm. I see what you mean." I did; I really did. Habits were so hard to break, especially if they're old, though.

I didn't take pride in my old habits. Most of them were quite disconcertingly, at least, with how extreme they were. I was an old nag, I picked up on every stain on a shirt, every blemish on an unhealthy face, and was always alert for any imperfection the world had yet to offer me. I still hadn't learned to accept anything less than perfect; I loved to organize the papers and toys and tools and books and whatever else I had neatly and color-coded. It was almost ridiculous, but I didn't care. Everything had to be perfect. I had to be perfect: for my family. I was afraid they would make a laughing stock out of me had I not done my best to be as wonderful as I possibly could be 24/7. Deep down though, I knew I was far from perfect. My self-esteem was nearly non-existent. Dd Iryna know about this? I prayed to God she didn't.

I understood that Oneechan knew that eventually my ambitions will bury me like a grave; she was lucky. That didn't happen to her. Instead she had met a rival she had told me all about in one huge fury when she found out she came in second.

Doing my best to cheer her up, I attempted to not be so ambitious either so that I didn't want to be better than anyone. The problem is, I'm always so unhappy when I do worse than what I could do. For all of my life, I wanted to bring out my full potential and refine it into something amazing to behold.

Homework was a breeze despite how much we have to learn in so little time. We were masters at this sort of thing; we've been at it for about a decade or so learning at a speed that lazy Americans would faint at; we'd be experts in our subjects compared to those immature students. We weren't exactly normal in Japan either, excelling at one thing or another. Athletics were for Iryna, and for me, academics. I wasn't that big on sports or anything. In fact, it's embarrassing to admit, but I was not very good at contact sports--no, I was horrible. I couldn't skip out on Gym though, so I adapted as well as I could.

As for academics, I wasn't even a jack of all trades. Algebra, geometry, and calculus... No... They weren't for me. The sciences were easier to learn, as long as I had a tutor to help keep me moving forward. I did my best in Math, despite how much I hated doing so. Apparently, I still was one of the best students regarding that subjects, but I treated it with apprehension and burning hatred. As dramatic as that may sound, it was true.

I loved writing essays; it allowed me to shine. According to the teachers, I had a very clear voice when writing so, and I easily picked up the pace the more and more I continued to write. It didn't stop me from being lazy or stingy when I was a cowed fool. But I'm pretty sure I was all over that stage in my life. I couldn't afford to make the same old freshman and middle school mistakes over and over again lest my grades got severely hurt.

Then, we had a go in the pool.

For years and years, I managed to keep my figure and weight down to a healthy minimum. Therefore, I could afford to wear the frilly cute bikini two piece that was fuchsia with darker magenta polka dots. I had to admit, this swimsuit was skimpy but cute. The skimpy part didn't matter as long as there were no boys around though. Thank god none were available. I changed into this bathing suit before I walked to reach the back of the estate and meet my Oneechan, who was absolutely gorgeous despite the fact she wore an athletic jet black two piece. God damn it, she looked totally badass and sexy, in the way that boys like her. Ugh! I'm not a lesbian, so it's really awkward to word it that way. Focusing myself on my appearance, I tied my hair up in a bun and put on swimming goggles. The pool seemed absolutely perfect tonight. The size of a five star hotel saline pool and illuminated softly by lights in the wall, I simply couldn't wait to take a dip in a pool just as wonderful.

A few seconds after Iryna, I dove into the water, enjoying the feeling of hundreds of air bubbles caressing me gently. Then, I surfaced and took a breath. I felt sure that there was absolutely nothing that could compare to this exquisite feeling. Even though it was at night and the waters were cold, nothing could change my mind that this was a truly wonderful experience. I wondered what we would do in the water first. Would we swim and chat at the same time leisurely? Or would we just hang out? Would we compete all the time? All I could tell was that by Iryna's calling out, we were going to start off with a competition.

"Hey Haru-chan, let's see who can make it to the other end first!"

"Alright! You're on!"

I gave Iryna-neechan a salute, a mock one, mind you before I took off swimming as fast as I could, trying to push myself against my previous records before even bothering to think of the competition between my half Russian cousin and I. I put an equal amount of speed, efficiency, and force in each movement as I performed a breast stroke. A frog kick did well to give me a great distance away from the wall. Then, I did my best to match the kicking pattern of my legs with the turning of my head and movements of my arms. Then, once I was halfway done, I changed into freestyle, kicking slowly as I pulled myself to the end to the pool.

Almost forgetting to, I checked whether Iryna came to the end before me or not. I would have apologized but then I corrected myself mentally. Assuming that because she was an athlete, she'd get there first, I wondered if I was in to see a surprise or not. I grasped onto the edge of the wall and floated as I simply enjoyed the feeling of the cold water.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Once the "race" starts, I stick to the front crawl, which I am most comfortable with. No wonder this style is considered the fastest. It makes full use of the body length and I can reach the other end of the pool in a jiffy.

Once I reach the wall and pull myself up, I look back at Haru-chan behind me. Even though I call this a "race", it's just a way to warm ourselves up. Especially at night, in this kind of temperature. Summer is around the corner, but it is still cold when the sun goes down. Besides, playing around with Haru-chan like this is one of the few times I can stop being competitive, something I cannot afford on the ice.

Haru-chan is diligent, even in activities like this. Despite not being athletic and having trouble getting in the water before, she has managed to master the basic skills, and can pretty much swim in any pool now, no matter how deep. She is not the one for sports competitions, so that should be enough.

The moment Haru-chan arrives, I give her a pat on the head, then invite her to sit next to me on the higher step below the surface. Time for a chat.

"Hey, Haru-chan, looks like your sense of fashion even extends to swimsuits. It's a lovely bikini. If you are in public, the boys will be all over you. That can be a problem." Even though it's just a lighthearted statement, I wince a bit at the thought of having boys around me. Being idolized is good, but the zealous actions from that instant fan club of mine really bothers me.

Still, Haru-chan really knows how to choose her own clothing. She looks good in anything she wears, casual or formal. Furthermore, those gothic lolita costumes of hers are so gorgeous that I want to borrow some of them.

"Well, the next time we buy swimsuits, you can help me choose."

Fashion tips from Haru-chan will definitely useful, just like studying. I'd like to look the best for him when we go on that trip.

Wait, since when did he come into my thought process? It's not for his sake. Not at all. But I wonder what he will think when he sees me in a bikini...

I quickly submerge, letting air bubbles come out where my head used to be. Why do I keep thinking about him? The water temperature feels like going up, especially around my face, and I'm absolutely sure there is no heating mechanism attached to the pool. I have to change the subject.

Bringing myself back to the surface, I turn to Haru-chan:

"Hey, how's Tomo-chan doing? Does she have any plans for the holidays?"

Haru-chan is always concerned about Tomoka's well-being, so asking about Haru-chan's dear younger sister should be a good diversion, I guess.

[Fuukami Haruka]

As I watched Iryna-neechan from the corner of my eye swim, I knew that my expectations were met. Of course she'd win the race, not that I planned to. She was an athlete, fit for the job even though her repertoire was much different, unlike me, the bookworm who'd you never expected to spend an hour out in the sun.

Strangely, that was kind of accurate. It's not that mentionable but I need to take my Vitamin D tablets; I'm pretty sure the doctors told me I have some sort of deficiency. Whatever, I really don't care, not at this point.

Well, I lost the "race", but mainly I didn't care if I lost to Iryna-neechan. She didn't mind so why should I? It was all just for good sport anyway. Fun and games, remember? I smiled though; I had won the race against myself anyway. I glanced at the clock and found that I swam two minutes faster. The air was not chilly, just cool. Soon it would be summer, but the warm breezes had not quite yet blown in.

The sun is down, and I realized that my attention has been focused primarily on the pool's still waters even after I had been done swimming. Even when I checked to see that Iryna had been there in front of me, the blue-green water was in the corner of my eye. Right now, I felt that this sort of exercise was absolutely incorporated into my routine. Not once did I consider myself an athlete; should I run at six or seven miles per hour, I would dizzy myself horribly. This has happened multiple times on the treadmill. Unfortunately, my senpai was there to see them all through.

The gentle pat on the head is comforting and soothing: a reminder of a job well done. I complied with her invitation and sat next to her on the higher step below the surface.

Waiting patiently, I did not make the first word.

"Hey, Haru-chan, looks like your sense of fashion even extends to swimsuits. It's a lovely bikini. If you are in public, the boys will be all over you. That can be a problem."

Alright, it's time for me to be a prude. I'm pretty sure my face looked like it belonged to someone who nearly got hit by a train conducted by someone extremely reckless, if there was such a thing (hopefully not). I blushed a deep scarlet at Iryna-neechan's comment and protested, "Oh, please. I'm not all that good at fashion. Really!" My skills with fashion only extended to color coordination and a bit of subtlety. Other than that, the trends of Japan never managed to pique my interests unless if they looked really cute. For instance, I simply loved gothic lolita, but my insights on the brands and styles involved with that were shared to none but the cousin next to me.

And one other thing to object to was that "boys" statement. There's no way that could possibly ever happened. I snorted quietly to myself, but I also dryly quipped, "And honestly? Being cute doesn't help the fact that I've never seen a boy who was interested in the brainy type. Either way, the boys who ever talk to me have half the wit of a cube of iron and seven times the density." Meaning, they're absolutely not into smart asses.

But for a smart ass, I have lots of ambitions. I want to become a historically important figure, and for that I have tons and tons of options. I could become a famous archaeologist like Indiana Jones, except real! Now, that's an exciting thought. Or I could write world-changing books on the history and the current state of the world like Guns, Germs, and Steel or perhaps even Empires of Food. I loved reading the translations of those books like no others.

However, it'd be pretty fun to expand my faint interest in fashion too, as Iryna has brought up. Maybe I could design a line of clothing for the world to behold for decades! You never know.

I'd have to say, Iryna would definitely be the model of my choice for whatever clothing I design. She is slender but curvaceous enough for the most tasteful of outfits. Light and dark colors alike seem to glorify her feminine figure. She is perfect for what I have in mind.

Laughing inside, I know I jest. That could possibly never happen. My parents would object, and that's totally the opposite of what I even plan to do in life. A job in the world of fashion is what I least expect to excel in sans athletics.

I wanted to give her a playful jab in the ribs for asking me to help her choose her bathing suits. To be honest, her fashion style was just fine!

For now, though, I just rolled my eyes and replied, "You do know that I've worn this skimpy thing for how many years? Three? I'm pretty sure that whatever fashion mojo I had then is long gone."

As always, it was good to be humble. After all, it was quite polite--wait, a second, didn't she want me to be less polite? Oh, heavens. I did it again.

On the other hand though, the dry humor was evident. Maybe that was good enough, or so I thought, anyway. A start is a start.

For a brief second, I widened my eyes, noticing that Iryna had seemed to have lost her calm! I wondered what kind of hellish la-la land she launched herself into now.

She did her best to not show it, but I have a keen eye for details. As a nitpicker, I could not allow this rare scene to evade my hawk-like vision. It was about as engrossing and interesting as a romantic comedy that I sobbed and sobbed as I watched the unsatisfying end to something so great.

I sighed as I collected all my thoughts into one solid entity before watching my red haired cousin re-emerge from the pool water.

"Hey, how's Tomo-chan doing? Does she have any plans for the holidays?"

One striking comment after another, huh, Iryna? You sure know how to push buttons, though that's probably the wrong metaphor since I'm not irritated in the slightest.

The one problem I have with this question is pretty simple. "I'm not quite sure. Her summer vacation already started and she's spending all of her time with Grandma." I kept a calm smile on my face because one: Grandma was a gentle and benevolent soul who wouldn't hurt a fly. She would definitely keep little Tomoka safe.

I knew she would be obliged to reject that comment if she were here since she's actually in her double digits by now. Still, there was no harm in saying it... just as there was no harm with what I was going to say next.

With a sly smile, I said, "The real question though, Oneechan, is whether you're alright? I saw your face flush as red as a Chinese lantern. tell me, are you thinking about that boy again? You must be." My sudden shift of attitude was to be expected. It was my attempt to be more "casual" as the half Russian girl requested of me.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

"She's with Grandma? That will be alright, then. She can enjoy herself there. Kagoshima is a beautiful place. We all know both she and Grandpa love spending their time with their grandchildren."

Our paternal grandparents have retire themselves to their private home in the city of Kagoshima for years now. It is most famous for lying under the shadow of Sakurajima, Japan's most well-known active volcano. It's like living next to a huge chimney there. Other than that, the scenery is beautiful, being a coastal city and a popular tourist destination. Both Haru-chan and Tomo-chan are intrigued by the region for various reasons: the younger one is curious about that volcano, and likes to enjoy herself in the local festivals, while the elder one is interested in the relics from the Satsuma Rebellion, led by Saigo Takamori against the Meiji government, as Kagoshima is that famous "last samurai"'s hometown. Me, well, I prefer enjoying the sight of the deep blue sea, and the picturesque surroundings.

Our grandpa, the former head of Fuukami Group, used to be against my father marrying a foreigner. However, he finally accepted my parents' marriage after much convincing from them, Grandma, and Uncle Shinjirou (Haru-chan's dad), as I was told. Once I was born, then Haru-chan a year later, he has become a typical doting grandfather. I guess most, if not all elderly people really like to have grandchildren, probably to keep them company.

Just as I'm thinking about our grandparents, Haru-chan decides to jab me with a piercing question. About me thinking about... "that boy". Yes, that's right. I was thinking about him, willfully or not. Why do I have to mind him seeing me in a swimsuit? I have done figure skating for years now. I have been wearing leotards and other form-fitting outfits for competition several times in public. I have also been modelling as a side job, posing for various photoshoots, mostly for sporting gear, but sometimes there are swimsuits involved as well. I have been used to wearing skimpy outfits for many people to see. So why should I care about that guy seeing me like that? He has already seen me in a leotard, too.

Why can't I stop being embarrassed from just thinking about it?

Even though I already expected this kind of question from Haru-chan beforehand, she still caught me off-guard. Did I blush so intensely that it's visible enough for her to see under the dim light? She really has a sharp eye for this kind of thing. Does she have Sherlock's observational skills or something?

"Yes. Yes. I was thinking about him." I reply to her while keep looking at my feet through the water below. "When we were talking about swimsuits, that guy just popped up inside my head. I was thinking about what he will say when seeing me in a bikini, okay?"

After letting all those sentences out in one breath, I take another breath in, then submerge again, in a rather futile attempt to hide my overflowing emotions. Yes, I'd like him to comment on how I look in a bathing suit, I'd like him to praise me. I am looking forward to it, even though it is a very embarrassing thing to me. This is the first time I admit this kind of thing to someone else. Even though that person is my close cousin Haru-chan, I'm still tempted to find a hole and crawl in there.

Looks like it's gonna be a long night.

[Fuukami Haruka]

"I'm typically used to having Tomo-chan with me nearly all the time, even when we visit Grandma and Grandpa, but this time, I'm going with you to Okinawa! Isn't it exciting? Also, you probably got some cute boys coming along too, huh?" I commented jovially. "I'm afraid that I don't know all of the people who are going though." Reading that in a literal sense, that is true. I don't really know any of my classmates or upperclassmen that well, but what I meant was that I didn't know if there were more people going than what I already knew.

As much as I love visiting my grandparents; they're truly lovely even though Grandma has to prod her husband sometimes so he gets into action. Kagoshima is a relaxing coastal city with a beautiful seaside view and an amazing active volcano, Sakurajima, and quite honestly, my grandparents were pretty lucky to buy some property there, not that it was any trouble for them in the first place, anyway. I knew that Tomoka loved exploring and was quite the geologist due to her fascination with this volcano. We were once there when it erupted, but it spewed out black, thick smoke, but nothing else thankfully; the birds were especially wild that day. Since the eruption was predicted, we made sure to cover up our car with protective covering so the ashes and smoke didn’t erode the paint. I, for one, was not interested in that.

The relics of the Satsuma Rebellion still remained, and I had done my research on Saigo Takamori especially, since the details of the event seem fairly commonplace for an educated populace which we live within. As a young man, he became a low-ranking government official who opposed the shogunate, and when Tokugawa gave up his permission, Takamori demanded that the Tokugawa be stripped of their wealth, land, and status, causing the Boshin War. He had started a great private military academy where faithful samurai could be taught. These samurai came to dominate the Kagoshima government, thus causing the central government to send warships to try and control the situation. Of course, this stirred up a lot of open conflict and he ended up having to commit suicide due to defeat. Enough about that though.

Now, Kagoshima is a relatively peaceful area near the sea where people could enjoy their lives. I know Grandpa sure did. It helped him keep a level head when he discovered that my uncle happened to marry a foreigner; he was upset, but Father, with persuasion of my mother, and Grandma all helped to pitch in their two cents of support for my uncle's decision. Soon, Irnya-neechan was born. Then I was. This led Grandpa to being a bit softer, reverting to a fond and kind grandfather who would do anything for his granddaughters. I suppose he'd like us to return the favor to him when we're older.

I coughed a little and cleared my throat, having accidentally swallowed the water when I swam over from the step and into twelve cubic feet of water to meet her properly, face to face, after I gave my snarky little remark. It sure got her thinking. Food for thought, food for thought. All I hoped was that she answered honestly and forwardly. Girls tended to beat around the bush way too often, and I wondered if Iryna would do the same, though she didn't really seem like that kind of girl, to be honest. She tended to be more open about what she thought, except about this. Oneechan's weakness was boys, particularly one boy, anyway. Mizukami must be quite attractive in order for her to crush on him, but I wondered if he returned the feelings by any chance. If he didn't, I don't know what to do, except to do my best to make sure he developed a romantic interest in her. She will be loved.

Maybe I should help her choose a cute swimsuit. Boys tended to be attracted to visual things, usually.

That is, if he's the typical shallow boy who does nothing but talk about sports and sex all day. I kind of hated those boys, though I'm not one to judge. I'm not the most healthy person, nor am I the most interesting or active one. My interests branch quite a distance away from the normal girl's, so what do I know about his own interests?

I think I may have to get to know this Mizukami guy first before or while we go on vacation. My older cousin shouldn't worry; I don't have an interest in him though. Also, I could ask his friends about him too.

On the other hand, though the lighting was dim, it didn't take a hawk to see that Iryna was blushing. Her cheeks were almost as scarlet as her pretty buns, gleaming and wet from the pool's water. She would be cute enough to attract any boy at this rate, I'd be honest. Wearing her current swimsuit, she might just do more than fine.

"Yes. Yes. You're right. I was thinking about him. When we were talking about swimsuits, that guy just popped up inside my head. I was thinking about what he will say when seeing me in a bikini, okay?"

"Wow, Oneechan, you've really fallen head over heels for him, haven't you? It's quite astonishing to some degree. I wonder if it's more than just love at first sight," I pondered, deep in thought. It was possible though. They were in the same grade for two years now. "Well, I'm assuming you've managed to acquaint him properly and maybe even become his friend, though usually, people usually stop crushing on other people once they see imperfections. However, you seem to like him even more! You must truly be in love with him!"

My eyes shone with pure excitement as I beamed at my cousin brightly as I concluded my thoughts as soon as possible. Then, I realized she just submerged herself underwater out of her meekness! Goodness! I huffed exasperatedly as I continued to speak. "If you'd like, I'll try and help you get him to be interested in you. I know you like him. It's been apparent for two years so there's no need to ask why I know." I crossed my arms as I floated in the pool before I sat on the step again and patted her back gently. She didn't have to be worried about a thing. I'd do my best to make sure she gets the guy! Any rivals in her way will be pulverized!

I sighed as I waited for the redhead to resurface. Patience is a virtue. I sure did hope that I have it.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Did I make a new record of staying underwater? Not sure about that, but it felt like hours down there.

I'm head over heels for him? No, no way. Not like that. I don't feel like that about him, I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't...

"H-Haru-chan!!! I do not feel that way. It-It's not the way you think. It's not anything... romantic. It's nothing like that. It's not like I want him to be my boyfriend or... anything. It's just that... he's already quite close to me, but not someone from our family, or from my jobs, so I feel... unsure about it. Furthermore... I invited him to come with me, so technically also invited him to see me in a bikini, too, so, I am nervous. That's all to it, really."

Why just him, anyway? There's another guy who will be coming, right? That guy might be very interested in seeing girls in skimpy outfits, just like many other blockheads his age out there. Why did that guy never come to my mind? Ayumu now gets stuck in my head like gum on my shoe. Impossible get rid of completely.

Why should I mind, now? It was no problem when he saw me in a form-fitting leotard. So the difference is just showing some more skin, right? Should be no problem, right?

"Wait, Haru-chan. You don't have to go that far. We are just friends and all. I already told you. I don't like him that way. Besides, it will be troublesome for him if any misunderstanding occurs. And then he will probably dislike me..."

The last sentence comes out under my breath and is barely audible. Haru-chan is a real busybody when she gets her ideas set in stone, and once she decides on something, it's very difficult to persuade her away from it. I invited him on this trip so that we can have a good time together, and get to know each other better. I invited Haru-chan along and let him invite someone else just so that this trip does not seem like a date. I even made Katsura-san, my family butler, come along for reassurance. This trip is just about relaxing, so I don't want any unnecessary trouble that may displease him. He's my guest, after all.

I swim around in a small circle to dissipate any excess heat inside me, then turn to Haru-chan:

"Haru-chan, just make sure you don't try anything funny. It can be a big problem. I can handle him on my own, okay?

I have to change the subject, immediately.

"That aside, you think you can be fine going with two guys? We don't know who the other one is yet. I wonder what kind of person he is."

[Fuukami Haruka]

So, yeah, Iryna dove under the water yet again, for about a minute. That would be a new and impressive record had we not talked about something totally embarrassing. I figured this would happen though.

I sighed as Iryna was launched into a flurry of internal struggle: most likely the denial of her very likely crushing of Mizukami.

Well, she can think what she wants to think. Who am I to cause her so much trouble about that; of course, it's inevitable I argue for my case though, but if Oneechan wants to find out about her love for that guy the hard way, then, so be it.

I don't mind, though, if there's any rejection (which I will carefully plan to avoid, but also plan for just in case). In that case, I'll do my best to make it as painless as possible for the poor girl.

Under any circumstances though, I'll make sure he's good enough for her and not going to lead her into some dumbass fool's paradise, or I'll make him be good enough. Only the best is enough for my older cousin. Any less, and it would be a disgrace.

Boy, Irnya's stuttering in denial was really cute, but sooner or later, it might become annoying at some point in time. I did my best to hide my snort, but I did have to admit, my reply was quite snide. Friends, right? That's only now, but Iryna, are you sure you don't want more?"If you want to get away with lying, at least to me, you're really better off leaving out so much details. It's redundant and it's easy to catch you're making it up as you go," I pointed out, without meaning any harm while being as truthful as I can. "While it's not surefire that you do like him, it's also uncertain if you don't. Until then, we'll see how it plays out. I won't believe it if I don't see it."

It's the devil's proof essentially, I concluded mentally. We'll see when we can who's right. Until then, it's fair game to bet. I won't push her to believe what I thought; it's up for her to admit it or not. If she doesn't admit it though, it can't be guaranteed that it would be painless, so all I'm trying to do is to come up with the least agonizing solution there can be.

As for the other guy, I didn't even learn his name. I was sure I'd have a field trip even without Okinawa just imagining who this mystery man possibly could be. It'd be amusing to find out, but his sudden appearance couldn't do any harm, as long as he helped, or at the very least, didn't mess things up. But who was I to know? I didn't know. Thus, I'd have to find out myself.

"If he'd dislike you, why would he be your friend? A friend sticks through the thick and thin no matter what. If he's your friend for real, no doubt he'd be there for you despite whatever conflict is there. It's obvious he does like you, but it's up to you to make the moves to appear as someone who could be potentially more than a friend. That's only if you want to," I reassured.

"Right now, you keep on saying no to that possibility. Maybe you are right that he's not anything more than a friend, and that you don't want him as a love, but to be honest, you're the kind of person who doesn't want things until after she has them." I prided myself upon knowing my older cousin extremely well. On the other hand, I didn't promise to not go far; I'm an extreme kind of person.

Even though what Iryna said wasn't meant to be heard, I always had an uncanny ability to pick up certain things whether I wanted to or not. This made me come across as rude and intruding, which I unfortunately am at times. Also, I'm unbelievably stubborn. Even my parents tell me that I'm the kind of girl who never ever gives up. That's going to be helpful despite how much of a curse it is when I'm trying to get along with other people who hate stubborn teenagers. After all, I need something to keep me going as I root Iryna on and assist her in getting the guy. Maybe, if I'm lucky, and if I work hard enough, I will be able to see her first kiss. But, man, am I over thinking about just one sentence she never intended for me to hear.

But it was only a brief statement, and part of the previous thought. It all stands as the same entity. As I watched my red haired cousin swim around in a circle like a koi carp in a fish pond with wide eyes, I managed to earn some time to think about random thoughts that were of no relevance.

I shook my head as she pleaded for me to not meddle with her business. But she was my family, and family is always a Fuukami's business. "I won't do anything suspicious," I promised with all sincerity; anything like that would be wrong. But I had a fair idea of how things were supposed to work, and how I could make them work. I'm not dumb after all.

Therefore, my dear girl, it is only natural that I can uphold only part of the bargain. I do, however, feel absolutely certain that you will not be getting the short end of the stick.

"As for the other guy," I said, pushing all those love matters aside for my private musing, at least for one brief calm moment I spared for the ice princess. "I can only expect him to be rather interesting. Also, if Mizukami's inviting him, it's only natural to think he's a gentleman or at least someone capable of behaving. I do hope we all get along."

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

"I don't want things until after I have them? Can you elaborate, Haru-chan?" It's rather typical of Haru-chan to make statements like this. She can be rather philosophical from time to time.

Still, Haru-chan's words still pierces me like a thousand needles. "While it's not surefire that you do like him, it's also uncertain if you don't". It's true that I definitely don't dislike him. I enjoy his company. I made him my "sidekick" as an excuse to keep him around. I want him to be by my side. I want him to have fun times together with me. I want him to cheer me on in my competitions. I want him... to comfort me when I feel down, just like that time in the rain.

I want him to be there when I need him most. Those are my feelings.

"You... have a point, Haru-chan. I don't want him to be 'just' a friend. I... want him to be more than that. To be a... special one for me."

After that statement, my chest feels like it's going to explode, even though I have already emerged and the water pressure is definitely small at the surface. It's like admitting that I have done something very nasty or embarrassing in the past. I clutch my torso, hoping the tightness will go away quickly, just so that I can breathe properly. Maybe I should go see a cardiologist.

If this is really love, then Ayumu... is my first love. My... very first. My...

I can feel steam coming out of my face, just like a locomotive.

Iryna! Pull yourself together!

I shake my head violently, like a dog drying itself, to pull myself from the trance, take some deep breaths, then switch to the other topic: the other guy who will come with Ayumu. This should calm me down a bit, I think.

"Well, it's true that Ayumu is a good guy. I... trust him to make good judgement when it comes to friends. His name is Narukami, if I remember correctly. Still, I have made Katsura-san come along to look out for us. Should be less of a hassle if an adult comes with us, right? Maybe you should keep an eye on him, too. Narukami's still a boy, and you are very cute, so there's a chance he may be interested in you."

I giggle at the last sentence. Laughter's really good for one's health. This feels like a ten-tonne weight being lifted from my chest. It's payback for making me so embarrassed, Haru-chan! Don't think you are going to get away with this. Still, it's true that Haru-chan is lovely in her own way. Her shiny midnight black, silky hair. Her porcelain skin. She looks just like a life-size doll. Even though she likes gothic lolita, I'd like to dress her up in traditional Japanese outfits. They would suit her perfectly. Even so, I know she will look cute in anything.

[Fuukami Haruka]

I almost wanted to laugh. A bitter one nearly bubbled out of me, but I took good care to stifle it until it dried out. That wasn't much for me to be sour about; it was only a miniscule annoyance that Iryna doesn't understand herself. In no time, she'll grow out of it like the shoes we wear only for a year. The real problem was that I couldn't explain it. There were no magic tricks, no easy answers, and no simple equations. What I wouldn't give should there be one. No way I'd use it. The only way is the hard way. Still, I complied, answering as concisely as I could. "Well..." I began cautiously, trying to find the best words to weave into my answer without keeping her waiting too long. "Think of it this way: some curses become blessings when you don't have them, but the opposite is true." As cryptic as possible, I only repeated what I said in an even more bewildering way.

Then, could she find the answer she wanted in a little something called subtlety. Oneechan could find that there was no answer, unless if she relied on herself to find the real one for herself. However, it was quite troubling that she might not get it. Now that was a possibility very much alive, though I needed to trust Iryna. So I did my very best to.

I stared at her, closing my mouth shut in alarm. I glanced at her pause and reeled back with self-apprehension, worried that I may have harmed her in sone way with my big mouth. As I watched her ponder, deep in thought, I wondered what this redheaded girl would be thinking about. Only then did it come to my mind that Iryna-neechan came into this state after I had mentioned the very double edged sword. It had caused plenty of painstaking hesitation to the point where I believed I shamefully disrespected her. But the tantalizing lead onto a possible truth could not be denied nor ignored. My adventurer's spirit raced with adrenaline, despite the sweet tempered caution my whole heart held.

Trembling as I approached her, I asked, "Are you alright?" As she responded stammeringly, I nodded encouragingly, listening intently, grasping onto every word like it was a golden coin of a limitless treasure I could never make contact with again.

Before I took notice of anything else, I simply needed to analyze Oneechan's conclusion. I just had to; no doubts. Of course, time was of the essence, as well as consideration.

My...This must have been quite nerve-wracking and embarrassing for her. A pang of guilt surged within my soul. "I'm glad you admitted that. I won't force you to do anything else, but whatever happens between you two is because of you two. I can do nothing but pray for your happiness." I seldom had power to do anything ese but act as her advocate and support, to smooth things out. Essentially, I believed my older cousin needed her little "happily-ever-after" more than anyone else. If she couldn't, unfortunately, she couldn't. Fate couldn't be convinced otherwise. Anyone who says different is selling something, and all that I can think of is that he's selling nothing: nothing but a dumb old Ponzi scheme! So, how do I handle that? Simple, I comfort her and try to make sure it leaves her stronger.

One must always, always sacrifice for true success. I know it best, having to know that it is of the utmost importance to give up the perfect situation for something just good or better, or even bad, instead of worst. After all, either way, we only need best. In the pursuit of truth, I had to give up ideas, and the same was only the true for the opposite.

I leaned forward slightly, taking note of every infinitesimal detail there wa to behold in all of Iryna's flustering. While she is a very interesting and even mysterious specimen--I watched her almost like an omniscient and uncaring myth master--I could not continue to risk my heart's own wrath and tried to make sense of her feelings and my own. Even though the temptations rose, it was she who mattered, and not anyone else, at this moment.

I furrowed my black brow in worry, feeling the tension boil off of her.

It was worrisome, as many things always were, and I wanted to help.

Not once could I help. She needed to help herself before anyone could even attempt at trying to calm her down.

Bowing my head down sullenly, I knew this was my fault. Oneechan, I'm so very sorry for upsetting you... Suddenly, I saw that she shook her head thoroughly and took extremely deep breaths before stopping. I sighed in relief.

To be honest, I thought I was too young for boys and typically did not concern myself with the thought of them. Tonight, I played along with Iryna-neechan and let them consume my thoughts, almost dangerously. Immediately, scarlet blush colored my pale face, mainly out of confusion and naivety. Maybe it was more than playing along. Yet I woyld fight back, try to disregard what she's saying. Oh... Oh but the laughter! the laughter--oh my!

I shrank into my own protective shell, futilely trying to understand. The first part was no bombshell; thank God. So his friend's name is Narukami, huh? That name sounded familiar. Obviously an upperclassman's, the name wasn't in juicy gossip but he seemed like a decent student. I passed him by once briefly, walking through the hallways; I do suppose he was a little handsome then, but what if he changed?

He'd be no frog, obviously, though it was more than plausible that he would have matured and developed a little: hopefully, quite attractively. Oh, God, what am I thinking!? Narukami's only a stranger, for crying out loud!

Anyway...what stood out the most was that a girls' manga, of all things, had a beautiful sky goddess with his surname as her title. This, of course, held little to no relevance though.

Now, don't get me wrong; I had been more than happy Iryna's giggling, but I was also doing all I can to not let a stupider-than I-thought verbal response--I'm quite the feisty and defiant girl--alas, to no avail. You win, Iryna. Nah, just joking, just joking! my smug smirk read as I faced Iryna, albeit shaky. With a pleasant smile, I provided a rebuttal. "I'm glad your butler's accompanying us. It feels even safer than it already is. As for Narukami... He may be a little cute; after all, most of the second years are. However, I would prefer intellect if I was searching for a boyfriend, and that, my dear, is hard to gauge with a stranger you don't know. Besides, it'd be useless." I fake-sighed in fake heartbreak and fake hopelessness. "You do realize that of all people, he'd most likely be pining after you! Tragically for him, we all know whom your eyes are set after, don't we?" Take that, Iryna! I'm still fighting back!

B-before I get all f-flustered and explosive like a volcano, you see!

I never met her eyes as I gave a punch of dialogue. My cheeks were still rosy red despite how much I tried to force their retreat.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Pining after me? It's true that I have attractive looks. I pride myself in my lolita-esque appearance, my natural cuteness. Some may say that I look too childish, but I have no problem looking the way I am (even though it will help a lot if I can get taller, just a little). I despise those who keep promoting large busts, which makes many women undergo surgeries to have them. I seriously dislike the idea of having my body operated on for reasons other than curing sickness, and those enhanced busts look rather fake to me. I mean, If I was not lovely by my own right, I wouldn't have that fanclub buzzing like flies around me, and model for magazines as a part-time job.

So, Haru-chan has a point that Narukami might have an interest in me instead of her. There's a chance that he has already seen me somewhere before. Maybe on TV, maybe on a magazine, maybe in school. If that's the case, I'll just have to make sure that he behaves on the trip, and makes it clear to him that flattery will get him nowhere. Besides, I already have Ayumu, like Haru-chan said. Wait, am I admitting that I have a crush on him? Even though I just confessed that I wanted Ayumu to be more than just a friend, it's still embarrassing for me if anyone implies that we are a couple.

Still, it will be great for Haru-chan if that Narukami likes smart girls. She can keep him company. This can help her socialize a little bit more. If he is patient enough to listen to her, that is. Haru-chan is like an encyclopedia, which many avoid due to its heaviness, but anyone interested in it will enjoy themselves reading through the pages. Especially history. I ask her about the information needed for my History tests all the time. She can remember even the slightest of details.

Then something catches my eye.

Haru-chan never looked at me when delivering her latest retort. Hmm. Now I see why she caught me blushing before, as right now I'm doing the same thing. Indeed, the scarlet shade on her face is rather visible, especially on her pearly white skin, and the lights are just bright enough to let me see it. Oh? Did I hit a nerve? The prim and proper, ice cold Haru-chan is crumbling, acting like a girl her age, no matter how hard she is trying to hide it. Seriously, she should show more of this side to her schoolmates, then everyone will adore her. Now I am tempted to tease her more. Strike at the opponent's opening, just like what she did earlier.

"Oh, sure. Narukami may be pining after me, yes. But seriously, Haru-chan. You sure you are ok with me getting both of the guys? You don't have any confidence in your own appearance? Look at you. Many girls are willing to do anything to have beautiful hair like you. You are more elegant than me. You look like a Yamato Nadeshiko. You are a force to be reckoned with. Many Japanese guys like traditional-looking girls, I'm sure of that. If you don't think you are attractive, then don't be jealous if those two guys pay all their attention to me."

I let out another giggle, then quickly dive underwater. Time for some more payback.

"Take this!"

I surface near where Haru-chan is sitting, and launched a wave on her using my own hands. You have made me embarrassed more than enough, Haru-chan. You have to be punished.

[Fuukami Haruka]

I smirked as I hit her vocally with a retort that I thought was sure to outsmart her. After all, I knew that I had a point, and I also understood that while she did not have hubris, she did know about her feminine charms and pretty figure and how to use them to her advantages. On the other hand, I didn't know how to do anything like that. While I kew that I wasn't ugly, I wasn't sure if I was average or fairer or not. To be honest, in school, I never really paid much attention to my appearance because I wasn't looking to impress any boys. School was for learning and nothing else, at least in my book. I was not going to take six hour bathes or undergo plastic surgery like a prima donna. .... Maybe I worded that wrong. Yes, I didn't mean to indicate Oneechan was like that; she never struck me as the kind of person who would do that. As far as I knew, she was comfortable in her own body.

Perhaps she was aware of her natural beauty (if she didn't, how could she manipulate her good looks to get so far in her athletic career and just public in general?) and knew she needed to go no lengths to keep her fans--for that, all she needs to do is skate. Speaking of skating... I wonder if it tires her out. It is an elegant and understated sport of beauty and technique, but it seemed vigorous enough to drain my older cousin of her energy, but that didn't apply always. Shaking my head, I concluded that my thoughts were blasphemy and my memories hallucinations. Always I refused to believe in stuff I didn't want to believe in; exhibit A: my nonexistent interest in older boys like Narukami. That applied at least for now. There was a need to deny it before it was too late: before it transformed into the truth.

But there could be no need to if Narukami liked her. Sure I was always impressed at how good of a guy magnet Iryna was, but I'd never be jealous. No one could name even a single reason for me too. High school, to me, was not for fun and games. Instead it was for serious studying and making sure I passed the entrance exam for entering the prestigious Tokyo University. There was no other options. Even then, college was something worth dedicating my efforts to, having a dream to become an archaeologist. Apparently, though, most people didn't take it as seriously as they could. They fooled around and still passed. Such a cycle, according to my gossip of a mother, happens annually. Of course, she desn't care. No matter what, I had to do well. Regardless, I'd have to find someone handsome and kind and smart to marry.

Even I, as cold and calculating as I am, dreamed of being a bride. I longed for the high school romance (sans drama) every ordinary school girl allowed herself to have. Then, it turned out that I was too strict for that. Coming to a fair conclusion with all my willpower, I relaxed my limitations by only a slight increment. Still, a start was a start. A crazy idea popped up in my head, if that is what it is. If Narukami was marriage material, only then I would date him. Anything else and he would be a big no no. Previously, I've always set high standards for myself and others, but even I was starting to think it was ridiculous. I only grinned. OK! Let's roll with it!

Enough about that though. I wrinkled my nose at the singular albeit very souring thought and tried to mask my feelings and thoughts with more answers that weren't answers. I was a professional at doing that but it didn't do me much good unless if I wanted a bachelor's degree in sass and insolence. As if my parents would approve of that! Though I did wish I specialized at something other than doing well at some form of work, whether it was at school or if it was for some kind of occupation.

Deep down I wanted to do something other than being the perfect office lady. I was good at creative writing and traditional dance, as I always could be a good maiko, or geisha in training, if I wanted to. The other girls in those after school training programs never seemed to like me, however. I never paid it much notice though since I couldn't care less about what they thought. Alienation was a little stinging, sadly. The teachers I had were nice enough, thankfully, and I knew the bare minimum about how to cooperate with others.

"Oh, sh-" I nearly cursed with an acerbic tone as I saw that she observed my blush. Before she noticed, I covered my own mouth with a pale hand as white as alabaster and as wet as a baby seal.

Immediately, I panicked. I couldn't let her see me but I also couldn't dive underwater like a coward! So what did I do? I rushed to the other end, my back facing her.

Carefully, I steamed off with my dark eyes reflecting only the glittering aquamarine water, with no vengeful redhead in sight. Quietly, I collected my thoughts with a ton of calm, crossing my arms, even, in indignation. "Humph." I sighed and took deep breaths. Most of the humiliation was due to that Iryna suggested it and that she mentioned such an unworthy topic that disgraced my mind, surely! Revenge, huh? Well, she got it! Now, though, I forgot exactly what I was embarrassed about. Narukami was just a guy I hadn't even met. Why would I care what he thought? With newfound confidence, I swam back to her, building up swagger to be used in place of a cool stride.

I gave a shrug with a coy smile. "I'm totally fine with it, at least now. You're not some kind of play girl though. Mizukami and Mizukami only would be your focus. Narukami'll have to give you up. And maybe then I'd have a little smidgen of interest in the poor young man and come in for the taking, if what you say really is true." I raised a skeptical eyebrow, wary if she was sweet talking me into letting my guard down. It sounded sincere so it very could be true. "Thanks for the compliment but I don't do traditional. Except when I'm at practice or ceremonies or formal events, you'll never catch me in a kimono alive! Though yukatas are fine but that's because they're summer clothes but we won't have any on the trip, I think." C'mon, Iryna-neechan, I want you to force me. I want to see you try and, ah, well, fail. Just try and see if you could get me into one of those colorful bathrobes alive and fighting!

Yet again, she found another weakness: an activity I had an especially sensitive soft spot for. Ohohoho, Iryna, you're going to get into a whole load of trouble.

"Oh no, you don't!" I yelled, in acceptance of this great challenge.

After I had made my response, I waited with a smug expression that was nearly washed off by the splash that Iryna sent after me right when she stopped lurking and attacked. Oh my god! You are so going to get it!

I sure as hell knew I was bad at sports, but tonight, I was a serious competitor! Athletics had no place in here with my mighty rush of adrenaline. Using both of my hands, at first delicately, I fired two different but powerful waves of water at her face. That's for the ambush, Princess!