A Pleasant Time Playing with Hiyori Shiina

Sakayanagi's probing, Ichinose's curiosity, Horikita's subconscious attention... all of these indicated that there was some kind of "quality" in Kiyotaka that drew their gaze.

Perhaps it was that inscrutable indifference and sense of control, as if he were merely observing a game of chess from the sidelines.

"Yuefeng-kun."

A soft voice sounded beside him, interrupting Yuefeng's thoughts.

Yuefeng turned his head.

Hiyori Shiina was standing next to him. The gentle light of the setting sun filtered through the glass dome, casting a warm halo around her.

She was wearing a white one-piece swimsuit, simple and elegant in style, without any unnecessary decorations.

The white fabric set off her already fair skin, and against the backdrop of the shimmering water, she seemed to glow with a soft, natural light.

Her damp, dark brown hair clung to her neck, with droplets still dripping from the tips.

She seemed to have just finished a lap; her cheeks were slightly flushed and her breathing was a bit uneven, but those light brown eyes were brighter than usual, like amber infused with crushed diamonds.

Water droplets slid down her delicate collarbone, flowing along the line of her slender waist.

Her proportions were excellent—symmetrical and soft, carrying the unique youthful aura of a young girl, yet without losing her usual quiet temperament. She stood there just like that, like a lotus rising from clear water, natural and unadorned.

Yuefeng was momentarily dazed. He had seen Hiyori Shiina shyly lowering her head, and he had seen her calm demeanor when focused on her studies, but this was the first time he had seen her so full of vitality, even possessing a kind of... unconscious beauty.

Hiyori Shiina seemed to feel a bit embarrassed under his gaze; her cheeks reddened further and she lowered her head slightly, but she couldn't help but look up at him, asking in a small voice, "Yuefeng-kun... are you not swimming?"

"Ah, I was just about to get in." Yuefeng snapped back to reality, shifting his gaze and moving his shoulders to cover his awkwardness. He had truly been staring, which made him feel a bit flustered.

"Then... shall we go together?" Hiyori Shiina gathered her courage to suggest, her eyes filled with anticipation, yet tinged with a hint of nervousness.

"...Sure." Yuefeng nodded.

One after the other, they walked slowly into the cool water along the steps by the pool. The temperature was moderate, perfectly relieving the sweltering heat of the summer day.

Yuefeng's technique wasn't standard, but it was at least coordinated. He didn't focus on his swimming form like Horikita; he simply paddled in a relaxed manner, feeling the water brush against his body, letting his mind go blank for a while.

Hiyori Shiina's swimming style was graceful, her movements fluid and carrying a natural sense of rhythm.

She didn't swim very fast, maintaining a comfortable pace, stopping every now and then to wipe the water from her face, her eyes searching for Yuefeng's position.

The two didn't engage in deliberate conversation, only sharing a smile when they occasionally met in the water, or exchanging a simple "Tired?" "I'm okay." This silent companionship felt strangely peaceful amidst the noisy pool.

Yuefeng occasionally noticed that when Hiyori Shiina swam beside him, she would unconsciously slow down, trying her best to stay side-by-side with him.

Her gaze would occasionally steal a quick glance at his profile, only to dart away like a startled fawn, causing an even deeper blush to spread across her face.

Once, when Yuefeng accidentally choked on some water while breathing, he began to cough. Hiyori Shiina immediately swam over, asking with concern, "Yuefeng-kun? Are you alright?"

Her face was full of worry, her eyes clear and anxious. A single droplet rolled off her eyelashes, sparkling in the sunlight.

Yuefeng waved his hand to stop the coughing. "I'm fine, just choked a little."

"...Be careful." Hiyori Shiina said softly, appearing to let out a sigh of relief, though her cheeks remained flushed.

She didn't swim away immediately, but treaded water slowly beside Yuefeng, as if confirming that he was truly okay.

Beneath the shimmering surface, the two were very close. Yuefeng could smell the faint, soft fragrance of a young girl on her, mixed with the crisp scent of the pool water.

In that instant, Yuefeng's heartbeat seemed to skip a beat.

He quickly turned away, pretending to adjust his goggles, and took a deep breath to suppress that strange flutter in his heart.

Just then, a louder burst of laughter and splashing came from the other side of the pool. It seemed some students had started playing water volleyball.

"Do you want to go take a look?" Hiyori Shiina asked in a low voice.

Yuefeng nodded. "Sure."

The two swam over.

A makeshift net had been set up in the center of the pool, and several boys and girls from different classes were divided into two teams, having a great time.

Ichinose Honami was among them, jumping up to receive the ball with a smile. Hirata Yosuke was on the other team, gently organizing the defense.

Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina leaned against the edge of the pool, watching them play.

The atmosphere was relaxed and lively, temporarily forgetting the heavy burdens of classes, points, and competition.

Yuefeng's gaze involuntarily fell back onto Hiyori Shiina beside him.

Water droplets rolled across her fair shoulders, and damp hair clung to her smooth neck.

She was watching the match on the court with focus, a faint, gentle smile on her lips. The sunlight shone on her, making her look... as if she were glowing.

His heart skipped another beat, uncooperatively.

Yuefeng shifted his gaze, forcing himself to watch the game on the court.

Just then, a figure silently slipped into the water from the other end of the pool, swimming toward them at a steady pace like a black fish.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

He didn't participate in any games, simply swimming alone in the water with an extremely standard, efficient, yet unadorned stroke, gliding calmly across the surface.

His movements were as precise as a machine, devoid of any unnecessary emotion or desire for attention.

As he passed by Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina, his speed seemed to slow down just a fraction.

Yuefeng felt that familiar, calm gaze land on him once again.

It was brief, lasting only a fleeting moment.

Then, Kiyotaka continued swimming forward, without pausing, without looking back.

It was as if that glance had been nothing more than a routine breath taken during his swim.

But Yuefeng knew it was no coincidence.

Kiyotaka was observing. Observing him, observing Hiyori Shiina, and observing the "game" unfolding across the entire pool.

Sunlight, pool water, laughter, occasionally intersecting gazes, and that trajectory belonging to the observer, silently cutting through the lively background.

This was the summer vacation at Advanced Nurturing High School.

Fleeting, relaxing, carrying the scent of water vapor and sunshine.

Perhaps, it was also laced with a trace of the raw, secret stirrings that quietly sprouted between boys and girls, far beyond the cold rules.

Yuefeng leaned against the cool pool wall and closed his eyes.

Let this moment of tranquility linger just a little longer.

The road ahead remained long, and the struggle never ceased.

But at least for now, there was a breeze, ripples in the water, the white silhouette of the girl beside him bathed in sunlight, and the lingering, cool sensation of water against his palms.

That was enough.

Sakayanagi's probing, Ichinose's curiosity, Horikita's subconscious attention... all suggested that Kiyotaka possessed a certain "quality" that drew their eyes.

Perhaps it was precisely that hidden, detached sense of control, as if he were merely watching a game of chess from the sidelines.

"Yuefeng-kun."

A soft voice sounded beside him, interrupting Yuefeng's thoughts.

Yuefeng turned his head.

Hiyori Shiina was standing next to him. The soft light of the setting sun filtered through the glass dome, casting a warm halo around her.

She wore a white one-piece swimsuit, simple and elegant in style, without any unnecessary decorations.

The white fabric reflected against her already fair skin, and under the shimmering water, she seemed to glow with a soft, natural light.

Her wet, dark brown hair clung to her neck, with droplets still dripping from the ends.

She seemed to have just finished a lap; her cheeks were slightly flushed and her breathing was a bit uneven, but those light brown eyes were brighter than usual, like amber melted with crushed diamonds.

Water droplets slid down her delicate collarbone, tracing the line of her slender waist.

Her proportions were excellent—symmetrical and graceful, carrying the unique youthful aura of a girl, yet without losing her usual quiet temperament. She stood there, like a lotus flower emerging from clear water, unadorned and natural.

Yuefeng was momentarily dazed. He had seen Hiyori Shiina shyly lowering her head, and he had seen her quiet focus while studying, but this vibrant, even... unknowingly beautiful version of Hiyori Shiina was something he was seeing for the first time.

Hiyori Shiina seemed embarrassed by his gaze; her cheeks reddened further and she lowered her head slightly, but she couldn't help but look up at him, asking in a small voice, "Yuefeng-kun... aren't you going to swim?"

"Ah, I was just about to get in." Yuefeng snapped back to reality, shifting his gaze away and moving his shoulders to cover his distraction. He had truly been staring, which made him feel a bit awkward.

"Then... shall we go together?" Hiyori Shiina gathered her courage to suggest, her eyes filled with anticipation, yet tinged with nervousness.

"...Alright." Yuefeng nodded.

The two of them, one after the other, slowly walked down the steps at the edge of the pool into the cool water. The temperature was moderate, perfectly relieving the heat of the summer.

Yuefeng's technique wasn't standard, but it was coordinated. He didn't focus on his swimming form like Horikita; he simply paddled in a relaxed manner, feeling the water brush against his body, letting his mind go blank for a while.

Hiyori Shiina's swimming style was graceful, her movements fluid and carrying a natural sense of rhythm.

She didn't swim very fast, maintaining a comfortable pace, stopping every now and then to wipe the water from her face, her eyes searching for Yuefeng's position.

The two didn't engage in deliberate conversation, only sharing a smile when they happened to meet on the water, or exchanging a simple "Tired?" "I'm okay." This silent companionship felt strangely peaceful amidst the noisy pool.

Yuefeng occasionally noticed that when Hiyori Shiina swam beside him, she would unconsciously slow down, trying her best to keep pace with him.

Her gaze would occasionally steal a quick, fleeting glance at his profile, only to pull away like a startled deer, her face flushing a deeper shade of red.

Once, Yuefeng accidentally choked on some water while taking a breath and began to cough. Hiyori Shiina immediately swam over, asking with concern, "Yuefeng-kun? Are you okay?"

Her face was full of worry, her eyes clear and anxious. A droplet rolled off her eyelashes, sparkling in the sunlight.

Yuefeng waved his hand to stop the coughing. "I'm fine, just choked a little."

"...Be careful." Hiyori Shiina said softly, appearing relieved, though her cheeks remained flushed.

She didn't swim away immediately, but stayed right beside Yuefeng, treading water slowly as if confirming he was truly alright.

Beneath the shimmering surface, the two were very close. Yuefeng could smell the faint, soft fragrance of the girl, mixed with the crisp scent of the pool water.

In that instant, Yuefeng's heartbeat seemed to skip a beat.

He quickly turned around, pretending to adjust his goggles, and took a deep breath to suppress the unfamiliar stirrings in his heart.

Just then, a louder burst of laughter and splashing came from the other side of the pool. It seemed some students had started playing water volleyball.

"Do you want to go take a look?" Hiyori Shiina asked in a low voice.

Yuefeng nodded. "Sure."

The two swam over.

A makeshift net had been temporarily set up in the middle of the pool, and several boys and girls from different classes were divided into two teams, playing with great enthusiasm.

Ichinose Honami was among them, jumping up and smiling as she received the ball. Hirata Yosuke was on the other team, gently organizing the defense.

Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina leaned against the edge of the pool, watching them play.

The atmosphere was relaxed and lively, temporarily forgetting the heavy things like classes, points, and competition.

Yuefeng's gaze, involuntarily, fell back on Hiyori Shiina beside him.

Water droplets rolled down her fair shoulders, and her wet hair clung to her smooth neck.

She was intently watching the game on the court, a faint, gentle smile on her lips. The sunlight shone on her, making her whole being... seem to glow.

His heart skipped a beat again, against his will.

Yuefeng averted his gaze, forcing himself to watch the game on the court.

Just then, a figure, silently, from the other end of the pool, submerged into the water, like a black fish, swimming towards them unhurriedly.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

He didn't participate in any games, just swam alone in the water, with an extremely standard, efficient, yet unwatchable swimming style, calmly cutting through the water.

His movements were as precise as a machine, without any superfluous emotion or desire to show off.

As he passed by Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina, his speed seemed to slow down slightly.

Yuefeng felt that familiar, calm gaze fall upon him again.

It was very brief, only for a moment.

Then, Kiyotaka continued to swim forward, without stopping, without looking back.

As if that glance just now was nothing more than a routine breath during his swim.

But Yuefeng knew, it was definitely not a coincidence.

Kiyotaka was observing. Observing him, observing Hiyori Shiina, observing the "game" in the entire pool.

The sunlight, the pool water, the laughter, the occasional exchanged glances, and the trajectory of the observer, silently cutting through the lively background.

This was the summer vacation at Advanced Nurturing High School.

Brief, relaxing, with the scent of water vapor and sunlight.

Perhaps, it was also mixed with a trace of the nascent, shy, and hidden stirrings of young boys and girls, outside the cold rules.

Yuefeng leaned against the cool pool wall and closed his eyes.

Let this moment of tranquility linger a little longer.

The road ahead was still long, and the struggle would never cease.

But at least for now, there was a gentle breeze, rippling water, the white profile of the girl beside him bathed in sunlight, and the cool touch of water remaining on his palm.

That was enough.